And the Oscar goes to...

Yep, that's the Outstanding Service Committee Award Recognition!

I'm here to tell you, our Leadership Orrville Steering Committee has always been a very dedicated and enthusiastic  group. When meetings are held at 7:00 am and everyone comes in the door raring to go, you know they are totally dedicated.  I've never experienced such a mix of downright serious work and zany fun.

Front: Reusser, Miller, Vernon.  Back: Meyers, Lehman, Badertscher, McElwee

This has been going on since Andy Vernon and Dave Miller approached the Chamber in early 2003 about starting a leadership program. They were quickly followed by Bob McElwee, David Lehman, Helen Meyers, and Maribeth Badertscher, who formed a seven member task force to design the program and to launch the first class in the fall of 2004.

But the real reason I want to award an OSCAR is because of what's happening right now. No make-believe acting is going on here, folks. This is about real people who are engaged for the right reasons, ready to renew, reinvent and revitalize our already successful eight year program.

Leadership Orrville has always been held in high regard, not only because it goes beyond offering fascinating field trips, but also because we offer real leadership training.  The morning class session curriculum, based primarily on Covey Leadership materials, was aptly launched by McElwee, and adeptly picked up by Amy Mast and David Lehman when McElwee moved to New Hampshire. 

In early January 2012 a spark was lit and the flames were quickly fanned. This committee is on fire, undertaking a complete review of where we've been, asking ourselves why we do what we do, what key values must guide our decisions, and what true receivables must be delivered to personalize the L.O. experience. 

We're not sure yet what the final script will look like, but we guarantee that our already awesome Leadership Orrville program is reaching for the gold.  Watch for an official unveiling in May.

In case you were wondering, here's a list of our 147 L.O. graduates (including this year's current class, who will graduate in May.)

• Bekaert Corporation: Diana Morris
• Ben D. Imhoff Construction: Scott Imhoff 
• Central Christian School:  Bethany Nussbaum
• City of Orrville: John Lorson, Kristin Endsley, Dave Handwerk, Rachel Baney, Janet Strimlan, Steve Wheeler,  Sheri McGrew, Walt Sampson
• ComDoc, Inc: John Hray
• Commercial & Savings Bank: Betty Lyon
• Daybreak Community Church: John Beck
• Digit Speak: Stephanie Wasniewski
• Dunlap Community Hospital: Andreas Ellis, Steve Knox, Lori Josefczyk, Loretta Raff, Lori Detweiler, Barbara Schwarzer, Mary Korte
• Dunlap Family Physicians: Marilyn Mahoney
• Ferro: Sean Reagan, Kevin Northup
• First Merit Bank: Brenda Ferroni
• First National Bank: Amberly Wolf, Bob Ralston, Cody Utt, Nathan Quinn, John Schantz 
• FJ Designs: Vicki Dreher
• General Building Maintenance: Jennifer Deal, Jessica Corbett
• Gerber Poultry: Eliza Kasnyik
• Grace Community Church: Paul Vance 
• Goodwill Industries:  Carolyn Basista
• Heartland Education Community: Amy Allen, Rita McAllister
• Hummel Group: Tony Rohrer, Steve Rohrer, Mitch Pertee, Scott Nussbaum, Hank Reifsnyder
• Haislip State Farm Insurance:  Justin Haislip
• JLG: Darrell Mosley, Brady West
• Kropf, Wagner & VanSickle: Tim VanSickle
• LetterGraphics Sign Company: Jim Webster, Chris Butdorf
• Living Water Community Church: Marc Harvey
• Main Street Orrville: Darrin Wasniewski
• Mennonite Mutual Insurance Co.: Mark Zook, Jennings Carpenter, Dawn Sprowls, Todd Neville, Andrew Vernon, Ric Hostetler, Steve Flack,Melanie Alger, Ron Falb
• Moog / Flo-Tork: Barbara Wyant
• Nagy's Collision:  Maria Hostetler, JR Noe
• National City Bank: Doug Metzger, Jamie Pittman, Donna Miller
• OrrViews: Debbie Smith, Carol Ubelhart
• Orrville Area Chamber: Jenni Reusser, Lori Reinbolt 
• Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club: Tom Troyer 
• Orrville Area United Way: Helen Meyers, Sandra Sheffield 
• Orrville Christian Church: John Mulpas, John Pape
• Orrville City Schools: Jerad Buck, Dave Dunn, Shawna DeVoe, Phil Hatton, Dave Sovacool, Tim Adams, Beverly Waseman
• Orrville / Dalton YMCA: Bob Witmer, Mistie Ankenman
• Orrville Historical Society: Sheri Stallsmith
• Orrville Mennonite Church: Bill Seymour
• Orrville Plumbing and Heating: Terry Shane
• Orrville Public Library: Leslie Picot, Brienne Fetty
• Orrville Utilities: Todd Fetty, Dean Kallenborn, Dick Smith
• PackShip USA: Diane Jarrett
• ProForma: Michael Sollenberger
• REFCOTEC: Bill DeWood, Doug Bailey
• Resident: Vanessa Brower, Jim McAllister
• Riverview Wood Products: Dan Lorson
• Schantz Organ Company: Nick Yeagley
• Smith Dairy: Heather Zimmerly, George Delaney, Tamara Scruggs, Michele Koch, Anita Bille, Amber Phillips, Janene Holme, Dan Brimm
• Sprenger Retirement Home: Wendy Morris
• The Salvation Army: Stacey Underwood
• The J.M. Smucker Co.: Sue Corfman, Diane Little, Chad Robinson
• Tring Corporation: Roger Rehm, Tim Rehm, Lysa Rehm
• Trinity United Methodist Church: Susan Vernon, Rich Corfman
• QMI: Jared Gravatt
• The University of Akron Wayne College: Gordon Holly, Maureen Lerch, Nan Whitsel, Lorri Graham, Carol Pleuss, Cathy Cooper, Amy Haynes, Lindsie Webb
• Venture Products: Arlin Steiner 
• Wayne County Common Good: Lee Peart
• Wayne County Community Federal Credit Union: Chris Blough
• Wayne County Community Foundation: Ferenc Relle
• Wayne County Schools Career Center: James Young, Josi Weaver-Krantz
• Weaver Custom Homes: Phil McFarren
• The Will-Burt Co.:Andrea Russell, Gary Cassidy, Marlin Nicol,  Sam Cooke, Jeff Conrad, Scott Falb
• Wooster Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine: Elsie Hydash
• Your Human Resource Center: Keith Waggoner 
• XL Pattern: Rico Warfel 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Oscar goes to...

Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Orrville Steering Committee