Wishing our best to ERC president

BOUQUETS >> To Kelly Keefe, on being named president of ERC, the Highland Heights-based provider of human resources and workplace programs, training and consulting.

Keefe, who also lives in Highland Heights, will take over as ERC president on Jan. 1. She’ll become the first woman to lead ERC in its 97year history in Northeast Ohio.

“This is an incredible opportunity and I look forward to leading the talented professionals at ERC as we begin this new chapter,” she said.

Keefe will succeed Pat Perry, who has served as president for nearly 20 years. Perry will continue with ERC as chairman, supporting the leadership transition; and focusing his efforts on North Coast 99, a program honoring 99 great workplaces for top talent; the ERChealth insurance program; and client relations.

Keefe, who now serves as ERC’s vice president of training, consulting and coaching services, has been with the organization for almost 13 years. She has built the training, consulting and coaching services into highly successful national practices, a news release stated.

We wish Keefe all the best in her new role at ERC.

BOUQUETS » To the Mayfield School District, on being nationally honored as a School of TechXcellence by District Administration magazine, Hewlett-Packard and Intel.

According to a district news release, the magazine, based in Trumbull, Connecticut, is honoring 11 schools and districts in reading and writing instruction, and professional development initiatives, as part of its Schools of TechXcellence program. This is the second round of honorees for this national recognition program.

“Now that technology is an aspect of every classroom, teachers, principals and district leaders are finding more and more exciting and innovative ways to successfully implement it into learning,” said JD Solomon, editorial director at District Administration. “We hope our readers are inspired by the creativity demonstrated by these honorees to launch similar initiatives in their own schools.”

Mayfield Schools is being recognized for its “Transforming Education 3.0 The Wildcat Way” professional development program, in which educators learn how to best integrate technology into instruction. The initiative included a year-long study, by students, teachers and administrators, focused on what practices and approaches were most effective in engaging students and improving instruction.

We congratulate everyone in Mayfield Schools who played a role in garnering the national award.

BRICKBATS » To the three area residents who recently were sentenced for defrauding the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

• Geoffrey Cigany, of Chardon, pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to a first-degree misdemeanor count of workers’ compensation fraud for working while receiving BWC benefits.

An anonymous allegation led to an investigation that found Cigany worked as a handyman/carpenter for WC Gotts Holdings Inc. while receiving benefits between March 2014 and September 2014. Cigany paid restitution in full in the amount of $8,499. A Franklin County judge also ordered Cigany to pay a fine and waived court costs.

• Laitanya Dinkins, of Euclid, pleaded guilty Nov. 2 to a first-degree misdemeanor count of workers’ compensation fraud for working while receiving BWC benefits. A database cross match with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services tipped investigators off that Dinkins returned to work as a home health aide while receiving BWC benefits. A Franklin County judge sentenced Dinkins to 90 days in jail (suspended) and three years of community control. She also was ordered to pay restitution of $3,716.

• Christopher Gattarello, of Lyndhurst, pleaded guilty Nov. 22 to a fifth-degree felony count of workers’ compensation fraud for working while receiving benefits from BWC. The investigation began after a claims representative noted construction noise in the background during every phone conversation with Gattarello about his injury claim. Investigators found Gattarello, the owner of several Clevelandarea garbage-hauling companies, returned to work as a driver/heavy equipment operator. Gattarello was sentenced in a Franklin County courtroom to 186 days in jail with credit for time served. He was already serving 57 months in prison on federal charges of money laundering and violating the Clean Air Act.

It disturbs us to see anyone fraudulently collect workers’ compensation, which is intended for injured workers who truly need the financial help.