Leadership Lorain County kicks off 40th anniversary with 2024 Difference Makers Gala

Leadership Lorain County is kicking off its 40th anniversary year by honoring community activism with the announcement of the 2024 Difference Maker Award honorees. The Difference Makers Gala will be held on Feb. 15. The event will pay homage to four people and an organization for their outstanding leadership and profound impact in the Lorain County community and beyond, Leadership Lorain County said in a news release. More than 45 nominations were submitted to the Difference Makers selection committee for this year's ceremony. The committee "diligently undertook an extensive review process for each of the nominations," according to Leadership Lorain County. The chosen honorees "represent a group of individuals and an organization who have demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and have made a significant impact on the community." The 2024 Difference Makers are: Eric Nord Award for Excellence in Leadership: Gayle Reeves, attorney and partner, Dooley Gembala McLaughlin & Pecora Reeves was called "a visionary, innovator, and servant-leader in Lorain County for over 40 years." She began her private practice as an elder law attorney when there were few female attorneys in Lorain County and even fewer who practiced estate planning and probate law, according to Leadership Lorain County, and was one of the first to embrace long-term care planning as a new area of practice. Reeves "committed herself to helping her clients and their families navigate the complicated world of long-term care planning" and "provides exceptional counsel to individuals and families with her elder care practice." Reeves has served on the Elder Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Probate Committee of the Lorain County Bar Association, and the International Committee of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, traveling the world "to learn unique solutions adopted by other countries to manage the legal challenges facing the elderly," according to Leadership Lorain County. She has held numerous leadership positions on the Lorain County Bar Association, mentored young female attorneys and "continues to be sought out by her peers when they have elder law questions because they know Gayle always takes the time to assist her colleagues." Reeves also received the bar association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023 and was honored at its 100th Anniversary Gala. She served on the board of the Epilepsy Foundation, is past chairwoman of the board of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, past board member and chairwoman of the board at the Second Harvest Food Bank and helped raise $5.1 million to fund a new food distribution center. Reeves also volunteers on the Medical Ethics Committee for Kendal at Oberlin. Excellence in Leadership Award: Dr. Mark Ballard, CEO, WNZN 89.1-FM radio and Lorain City Schools Board of Education Lorain born and raised, Ballard "is the quiet force behind many of the social services and initiatives that ensure Lorain County is a great place to live, learn and work," according to Leadership Lorain County. "His time and voice have contributed to the development of policy, programming and support benefiting public schools, law enforcement, faith-based organizations, healthcare, environment, politics and perhaps most significantly, our children and families." Ballard not only is CEO of WNZN 89.1-FM radio, but a member and past president of the Lorain City Schools Board of Education; chaplain of the Lorain Police Department; member of the executive board, Northeast Ohio Boys and Girls Club; trustee at Greater Victory Ministries; member of the Mercy Health Diversity and Inclusion Board; member of the City of Lorain Sewer Water Advisory Board; member of the Executive Committee of the Lorain County Democratic Party; founder of 100 Men of Lorain County and the PACE Foundation; and president of the Lorain County Association of Black School Educators. Ballard's work with the nonprofit PACE Foundation focuses on youth development, job training and workforce development, and economic development projects. When gang violence disrupted the community in the early 2010's, he founded 100 Men of Lorain County to connect male mentors with at-risk juveniles to develop their respect for family, spirituality, justice and integrity, according to Leadership Lorain County. A 1986 graduate of Lorain High School, he worked to remove the Lorain City Schools from state control in 2023, and he and his wife Sandra have life-long ties to the city, according to Leadership Lorain County. Their children, Mark Anthony, and Moriah Alyssa, graduated from Lorain High in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Excellence in Leadership Award: James Vandemark, owner, Vandemark Jewelers, Elyria Vandemark started his career at Brandau Jewelers in Elyria at the age of 16 in 1981. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1983 and continued working at Brandau Jewelers, obtaining his certification from the Gemological Institute of America, being certified in diamonds and diamond grading. He opened Vandemark Jewelers, located on Broad Street in Elyria, in October of 2002. Vandemark was president of the Elyria Jaycees 1990 to 1991, established the Elyria Jaycees scholarship fund, and was involved with Elyria Noon Kiwanis for 25 years, running their annual Halloween parade for 15 years. Vandemark also served on the board of the Elyria Downtown Commons group, reorganized as Main Street Elyria, for over 25 years, and was chairman of the board for three years. He has been on the Elyria City Schools Endowment board since 1996; co-chaired two school levy campaigns for Elyria City Schools; is a past board member for the Lorain County Historical Society; and a past member and president of Sales and Marketing Executives of Lorain County. Vandemark serves on the board for the Elyria Apple Festival, helps coordinate the car show and is the emcee for the Century Club fund-raising dinner for the festival. He served on the Community Foundation of Lorain County's board from 2008-2015, was board chair in 2014 and remains involved on the grants committee. Vandemark also is involved with the Elyria Public Library Endowment Board, serving as president from 2020-2022, and is a member of Elyria Noon Rotary and a trustee of the Ely Trust. Emerald Award for Inspirational Leadership: Christopher Cocco, senior designer, Clark & Post Architects Inc. Cocco "has always felt a strong connection to place. His first job at The Lorain Palace Theatre would cultivate a lasting bond to Downtown Lorain and its nearby waterfront. These formative experiences as a youth would instill core Lorain values of celebrating diversity, loyalty, and community," according to Leadership Lorain County. A graduate of the Ohio State University Department of Design, with a bachelor's degree in design, he became interested in the human-centered approach to design and how improved interactions and experiences between humans, spaces and objects have profound impact on lives and society, according to Leadership Lorain County. In 2019, he was part of a group at the Lorain Historical Society that formed Main Street Lorain and served as the board president and vice president. His professional work with Clark & Post Architects Inc. includes "a proud history of working with the nonprofit sector in Lorain County," including on projects with the Lorain Historical Society, Neighborhood Alliance, United Way of Greater Lorain County, Road to Hope, Blessing House, Oberlin Community Services, and Second Harvest Food Bank, according to Leadership Lorain County. Cocco enjoys making pizza with his wife Alison, finding beach glass along Lake Erie, listening to a good record, and still kicking the soccer ball around, according to Leadership Lorain County. Excellence in Leadership Award Organization: Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City School District Student Services Team The Student Services Team of the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake City Schools provides behavioral health and social-emotional learning support for the communities of Sheffield and Sheffield Lake. A district social worker, family engagement specialist, and five school counselors work to provide support by identifying gaps in service and environmental barriers that impede student learning, according to Leadership Lorain County. The Student Services Team helps address food insecurity, housing, and clothing, educational tools, training, and information nights for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers as well as students. A mobile food pantry started in 2019 through a partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank — one of four county distributions initiated during the onset of the pandemic that continues to serve more than 400 families per month. Available to residents of Lorain County, its service has reached over 6,000 families and over 21,000 individuals since then. The team coordinates grant-funded literacy and resiliency kits, geared to increase adult-child interactions by providing kitchen and other family-oriented activities via hands-on learning experiences. There is a locally developed clothing "store" and community clothing/shoe distributions so students can go to school in clean, fitting clothes and have access to hygiene and laundry services. No-cost vaccination clinics help keep communities and schools safe, according to Leadership Lorain County. The team works closely with Second Harvest Food Bank, SoulToSole, Santa's Little Helpers, Sheffield Village Lions Club, area churches, pharmacies, community mental health agencies, behavioral health private practices and Good Knights of Lorain County. Students serve as the volunteer workforce in these outreach projects, earning community service credit. More information on each of the 2024 Difference Makers honorees, sponsorship opportunities, and 40th anniversary events can be found on the Leadership Lorain County website at www.leadershiploraincounty.com or on the organization's Facebook page.