State and Federal Communications, Inc. announces Jennifer Jaketic as a new compliance assistant.

She assists in the company’s Corporate Contribution Compliance department, also known as C³, which monitors the rules associated with corporations making political contributions.

“I like obliging by the rules and the ethical considerations of campaign finance,” Jaketic added. ”I enjoy working with numbers and the compliance aspect of it, which is why my position at State and Federal is such a valuable experience.”

“We started vetting contributions for our clients in 2008 and it is a piece of business which has grown. Nola Werren, Esq. from our staff has the experience needed with Jennifer to keep the work in progress for our clients,” said President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz.

Jaketic has more than 12 years of experience in campaign finance. Immediately following graduation from George Washington University with a bachelor’s in political science, Jaketic worked for the Federal Election Commission in its Reports and Analysis division, where she reviewed campaign finance reports of Political Action Committees. Jaketic is currently pursuing a master’s degree in accounting at Cleveland State University.

AKRON­, Ohio— Project GRAD Akron honored Elizabeth Z. Bartz and State and Federal Communications, Inc., with 2015 Community Service Awards at the Ninth Annual Achieving Dreams Celebration on Oct. 1.  The award honors those who have shown exceptional service in the community and a commitment to Project GRAD. Also receiving the award was Judi Hill, retired educator and administrator from the Akron Public Schools.

Dr. Beverly Warren, president of Kent State University, and Honorary Chairperson for the event presented the awards. Bartz has served on the Achieving Dreams Steering Committees and chaired the Silent Auction Committee. The staff of State and Federal Communications also donated their time with administrative, technical and communications support for Project GRAD.

Project GRAD Akron is a non-profit organization that provides educational programming and support for students in Akron Public Schools. Proceeds raised from the Achieving Dreams Celebration are used to support Project GRAD Akron’s programs, services, and scholarship fund.

On Friday, October 30 State and Federal Communications is hosting its sixth annual Halloween Donut and Apple Cider sale. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of Summit County.

Drop in and say hello from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and enjoy a delicious treat. We’ll be in the lobby of 80 South Summit St. in Downtown Akron, across from Quaker Square.

The Krispy Kreme donuts are $1.00 per donut or $7.00 per dozen. The apple cider will be $1.00 per cup or $8.00 per gallon.

To reserve your donuts, you can email Nicolette Koozer at nkoozer@stateandfed.com, or call us at 330-761-9960.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of State and Federal Communications is excited to stand with the Akron community in celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Akron Urban League. The Urban League held its 90th Anniversary Gala event on Friday, August 21, 2015. Our company was proud to be a Gold Sponsor.

Bartz took to the stage to help with the event’s live auction. She serves as a member of the Urban League’s Board of Directors as well as on the 90th Anniversary Gala Committee.

On June 29, State & Federal Communications’ Team Intern attended an Akron RubberDucks afternoon game at Canal Park.  Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State & Federal Communications, extended the invitation to our parents or family members to accompany us.  It was really exciting to be able to meet the parents of team Intern and learn a little bit more about them.  Most of Team Intern brought at least one parent, and Elizabeth Bartz brought her husband, John Chames, as well as her parents and visiting sister and brother-in-law.

Seated in a suite, the air conditioning was very much appreciated by everyone.  Near the end of the game the team mascot, Webster the duck, came into our suite and we were able to take pictures with him.  The game itself almost went into extra innings, but the away team, Bowie Baysox, scored the winning run in the 9th inning.  Despite the loss, the game was a fun experience for all of us.  After the game ended Elizabeth Bartz took the opportunity to say goodbye to two of the interns, Elizabeth Scozzaro and Costa Janos, who were finishing their internship two days later.

Today is the last day Team Intern will be Team Intern. We say goodbye to Elizabeth Scozzaro and Costa Janos as they venture on to continue their college studies. Over the last two months, we have all grown incredibly close. Every day we met in the first floor kitchen and ate lunch together. We have attended and graduated from Intern Edge, a weekly meeting of Akron area interns to connect us with local leaders and help us to develop as leaders.

We were also able to volunteer at  the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Good Samaritans, a monthly distribution of food to those in need in the local community. Sans Costa Janos, Team Intern also shoveled mulch at the United Way Day of Action at the Lake Anna YMCA.

Helping Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church prepare for their Grecian food festival in September, we prepared filling for numerous items, most of which involved rolling. We were also blessed with enjoying countless doughnuts and treats from Damascus Road, a local coffee shop throughout the summer provided by Joe May and Michael Beckett.

We bonded outside of work as well, meeting up at Akron RubberDucks games, the local double “A” affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and enjoy a relaxing evening on Elizabeth Scozzaro’s aunt’s pontoon boat.

Some of Team Intern will be sticking around for a few more weeks. I finish up on the 19^th, David Trujillo on the 20th, Sophia Avouris on the 21^st, and David Jones back to his normal, year round internship here at State and Federal Communications.

Here is a little bit about each of us.

Elizabeth Scozzaro, a senior marketing and business administration major at Baldwin Wallace University. Also a member of the sorority, Alpha Phi, is best known for making us create a pyramid. Elizabeth Scozzaro spent the summer assisting on projects with Elizabeth Bartz.

Sophia Avouris, the youngest member of Team Intern. Just graduating from high school, Sophia is an incoming freshman to Kent State University and plans to study political science. Sophia worked under Joe May in the Social Media department conducting SEO (Search Engine Optimization) research and Lobby Comply blog posts.

Costa Janos, transferring this year from the University of Kentucky, he is now attending THE Ohio State University as a sophomore studying Finance with a minor in communications. Team Intern never was able to bond with Costa outside of work because of his intensive golf outings. Costa worked with the research department checking primary election dates and tracking legislation.

David Jones, the veteran of the group, studies network administration with Cisco at Stark State College. Has graduated twice from Intern Edge and has at some point helped each intern with an electronic device. David Jones works under Ken Kelewae in the IT department.

David Trujillo, who for a time left us to fulfill his commitment to the Ohio National Guard just rejoined us this past Monday. Trujillo is majoring in public relations and organizational communications with minors in Arabic and creative writing. Oh, and he is studying for the LSATs in September. *exhale* David Trujillo also worked with the research department throughout the summer.

I, Nikos Frazier, am a junior photojournalism major at Kent State University. Team Intern will never forgive me if I don’t add that I drink tea by the gallon and if I am not drinking tea, I am drinking coffee. I have worked under Joe May in the Social Media department researching SEO research, photographing and blogging events attended by State and Federal Communications and lately researching the 2016 presidential Candidates’ social media accounts and usage.

As we all part ways, we will always remember this summer. For most of us this is our first internship. State and Federal Communications has given us incredible opportunities. We have been able to perform numerous community outreach to help give back to Akron. Intern Edge stressed how great Akron is and how we, Millennials, need to comeback and create an even greater Akron. But even if we do not return to Akron, we know now the importance to give back to the community, create a network and help create something great.

So as I try to finish this post in a great way, I am at a loss of words. So I leave everyone with Korean Proverb I learned while visiting Seoul, South Korea this last March, “Aim high in your career, but stay humble in your heart.”

Goodbye Team Intern, and for once more, “Team Intern Unite!”

Last week, State & Federal Communications attended the monthly Akron Roundtable luncheon at Quaker Square. Previously, Akron Roundtable welcomed Michael Morell, former Deputy Directory of the CIA to talk about his new book, The Great War of Our Time. This week, the host of NPR’s Morning Edition, David Greene talked about his experiences with NPR from his time as one of the White House Correspondents to hosting Morning Edition. After speaking at the luncheon, State and Federal Communications hosted a reception in the office for Greene and WKSU.

Enjoy more photos from this great event on our Facebook.

Just days after stating he would not step down before the November election, interim Akron Mayor Garry Moneypenny has announced his resignation.

Moneypenny admitted on Friday, June 5, to inappropriately touching a city employee before being sworn in. Upon reflection, he now believes he will not be able to operate effectively for the next seven months and it is not in the citizens’ best interests for him to stay on as interim mayor.

His resignation is effective at midnight on Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Just days after being sworn in to office, interim Akron Mayor Garry Moneypenny announced he will not be seeking election this fall after admitting to an inappropriate encounter with a city employee. In his last week as president of City Council, he crossed a professional boundary during a good-bye hug when the employee came to wish him well in his transition to mayor.

In a statement made Friday, June 5, Moneypenny apologized to the citizens of Akron and acknowledged the incident calls into question his character and trustworthiness.

Moneypenny became Akron’s 60th mayor on Sunday, May 31, in the wake of the resignation of long-term mayor Don Plusquellic.

After decades in office, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has announced he is resigning his position.

In a letter to the citizens of Akron, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and wished only the best for the community’s future.

Plusquellic’s resignation is effective at midnight on May 31.

More than 26,000 Summit County (Ohio) residents and their families turn to the ADM (Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health) Board for treatment and support. The care runs through their lifespan: from services and programs for toddlers to older adults. ADM provides preventive and treatment services, housing support, employment assistance, transportation, respite, peer support, recreation, and education services.

How does State and Federal Communications, Inc. help ADM? We contribute annually to its ADM Recovery Challenge 5K. The campaign helps raise money for when ADM has to go to the ballot and ask the Summit County voters to vote to support the levy. The State of Ohio allows the County Board of Elections to charge the groups going on the ballots so ADM needs to raise even more money.

Why am I bringing this up? Because your county has some form of an ADM program helping those who cannot help themselves. The road to recovery is challenged by many obstacles. In recognizing the challenges of recovery, ADM provides this obstacle course for fun competition for athletes of all ages and abilities. The obstacles included in this race course metaphorically represent the challenges persons often face during the process of recovery from an addition or mental health condition.

There are always ways to help in your own community. Help those less fortunate. It is amazing how appreciative the group is towards your involvement. Until next month, make a change for yourself and for your community.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Z. Bartz
President and CEO
@elizabethbartz

Professor Wilson Huhn [kneeling on the right] from the University of Akron School of Law presented a one hour CLE about Abraham Lincoln’s influence on the interpretation of the Constitution.

State and Federal Communications had a team of 10 attending the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) 36th Annual Conference. It was held from December 7-10 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the beautiful OMNI William Penn Hotel. COGEL always offers great sessions concerning lobbying, campaign finance, governmental ethics, and election laws and best practices. It was good to see many familiar faces and meet new members.

In December we gathered together at Flemings in Akron for our annual holiday party. We had a relaxing night with good food and time to talk to each other. The staff presented Elizabeth with their gift to her – a pair of tickets to see Jay Leno and dinner beforehand at District. Elizabeth also presented the winner of the door decorating contest and gave each employee Akron’s famous TEMOs chocolate tree to enjoy.

On Monday, the Akron City Council rules committee voted to wait to make changes to the city’s campaign contribution limits.

Council President Gary Moneypenny’s proposal would have increased the limits for mayoral and council candidates by $100.

Former Councilman Warner Mendenhall, who promoted a petition for the original contribution limits in 1998, protested the proposed changes during the afternoon committee meeting.

The Akron City Council is considering legislation to increase campaign finance limits for mayoral and council candidates. Limits for mayor and at-large council candidates would increase to $750 and the limit for ward council candidates would increase to $500.

The council is waiting to take action on the legislation until after public hearings have been held. Hearings will take place at the Rules Committee meeting and at the regular council meeting later today.

The 10 ward council seats, the three at-large council seats, and the mayoral seat will all be on the 2015 election ballot.