On the third Thursday of each month, State and Federal Communications attends the Akron Roundtable luncheons. However, July 17th was a special day for us. The luncheon featured keynote speaker Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, author of the book Home Sweet Homes: How Bundt Cakes, Bubble Wrap, and My Accent Helped Me Survive Nine Moves.
 Our President and CEO Elizabeth Bartz, a dear friend and fellow Kent State alum of Fitzpatrick, introduced the Ohio native at the Roundtable to talk about how “The Journey of a Thousand Miles… is for Amateurs” and just how she has redefined the meaning of “stay-at-home-mom.” The entire audience was often thrown into spells of laughter as Fitzpatrick comically recalled the eight lessons she learned through her 7,000 mile journey across the states.

Immediately following the program, State and Federal Communications hosted a reception for the speaker, held on the second floor of our building. A large portion of the crowd from the Roundtable luncheon attended the gathering and enjoyed the refreshments as well as a second opportunity to talk with Fitzpatrick. Towards the end of the reception, Elizabeth presented the speaker a Greater Akron book with a spread featuring State and Federal Communications. It was the perfect gift for Fitzpatrick to keep Akron in the back of her mind just in case she ever wants to return!

State and Federal Communications proudly sponsored today’s Akron Roundtable luncheon at the Quaker Station in Akron, Ohio. “Bringing the World to Akron” is the motto of this crucial speaker series and today’s event was one of the best.

Elizabeth Bartz, president and CEO of the company, introduced the distinguished speakers, Ohio State Senator Frank LaRose and former State Representative Ted Celeste. Their topic was timely and well-needed: “Building Trust Through Civil Discourse.”

The discussion was amazing. You can listen to the Akron Roundtable broadcast this evening on 89.7 WKSU at 8:00 p.m.

Elizabeth Bartz, our president and CEO, invited me to attend Project Grad’s Achieving Dreams Celebration along with a team from our company. This is the first time I have attended the dinner-fundraiser and I admit I was not familiar with Project Grad’s work in Akron. I certainly am familiar now.

Project Grad’s website describes their aim as follows: “The mission of the program is to ensure a quality public school education for all at-risk children in economically disadvantaged communities so that high school graduation rates increase; graduates are closing the achievement gap and preparing to enter and be successful in college.”

I was amazed by the work of this organization – since 2006, they have awarded $1,300,000 in scholarships to Buchtel High School graduating seniors. I heard compelling testimonies by award recipients and former students. I felt proud that our company, State and Federal Communications, is a part of this effort by contributing money and auction items. Elizabeth Bartz was also a member of the Achieving Dreams Steering Committee this year.

Enjoy this picture of John Chames and Elizabeth Bartz at the Achieving Dreams event last night.

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic offers his congratulations to State and Federal Communications on its 20th Anniversary! We thank the mayor, who is a longtime friend of Elizabeth Bartz, for taking a moment amid a busy schedule to offer his thoughts:

Akron City Council has increased the city’s campaign contribution limits, to take effect for the council elections in 2013.

The limit for mayoral and at-large candidates will increase to $650 from $450, and the limits for ward council candidates will increase to $400 from the current $200 limit.

The limits were previously raised in February 2011.

President Barack Obama is coming to speak on August 1, 2012 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron. Here is a picture of our excited interns, who were waiting in line to get tickets at the center.

Social media is constantly changing the way people communicate and receive information in today’s society. Through an organization of public relations professionals, the managing editor of Fox 8 spoke at a local event about news coverage in the Akron area.

The Public Relations Society of America hosted a luncheon at the Martin University Center to discuss the launching of a new Fox 8 bureau on the Akron University campus. Managing editor Toni Garbo addressed the audience about local news coverage involving social media and new technology.

Social Media Coordinator Joe May of State and Federal Communications, along with the company interns, attended the event to better understand the importance of accurate news coverage and communication. Garbo addressed topics including the significance of informative press release headlines and the value of objectivity in the field of journalism, especially now that Fox 8 is inaugurating a bureau on the university campus.

Garbo allowed the audience to ask questions during her presentation, and the interns had a chance to hear different perspectives and learn how Fox 8 will provide new opportunities for communications students at the University of Akron.

By attending local events, the interns at State and Federal Communications are learning the importance of social networking and becoming involved with issues in the Akron community.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, was recently the master of ceremonies for a parish banquet recognizing the achievements of the church’s recent graduates. The event was held on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio.

The keynote speaker for the banquet was Dr. Lester Lefton, President of Kent State University.

State and Federal Communications will be attending the State of the County Address for Summit County, Ohio.

Summit County Executive Russel M. Pry will be delivering his fifth address today at 11:30 in the John S. Knight Center in Akron, Ohio.

Elizabeth Bartz, President and CEO of State and Federal Communications, and staff members attended Akron’s State of the City Address, which was presented by Mayor Don Plusquellic. The luncheon was held at the Tangier.

Mayor Plusquellic discussed the challenges Akron faces in the difficult economy amid state and federal budget cuts to local causes. He also praised the hard work of City of Akron employees, as well as the dedicated work of the police, the firefighters, and the school teachers.

Plusquellic spoke of balancing the city’s budget, of exciting economic opportunities with the development of Akron’s biomedical corridor, and of manufacturing initiatives such as $1 million in seed money from Medical Mutual to help establish small businesses.

You can read the full text of the address here.

This week our Highlighted Site of the Week is the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s Harvest for Hunger Campaign. The Foodbank is a distribution center that supplies food to 430 community outreach organizations, which in turn help nearly 180,000 people in need in eight counties of Northeast Ohio. It is a Herculean effort.

I have seen the operation first-hand: The place is huge (85,000 square feet), super-organized, and amazingly clean. The people who work there are my heroes. They work hard, they are friendly to the many guests who arrive in need, and they love to share with the community about the work of the Foodbank.

Each year the Foodbank has a drive called Harvest for Hunger. As their website says, Harvest for Hunger is “one of the largest food and funds drive campaigns” in the nation and is a model for other communities. But with the pressures of a very difficult economy, the Foodbank has found that the level of need has greatly increased. They need our help.

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In 1998, State and Federal Communications worked with Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic’s blue ribbon committee reviewing campaign contribution limits. Unfortunately, city voters approved very low contribution limits and it has taken 12+ years for a charter change to increase them.

On Monday, city council approved legislation increasing the limits for contributions from individuals for mayoral and at-large council candidates from $300 to $450 and ward council candidates from $100 to $200.

The city will continue to study other potential changes to Akron’s campaign finance guidelines.

Elizabeth Bartz nominated Mayor Don Plusquellic for recognition as one of this year’s honorees. “Mayor Plusquellic has been an outstanding leader of our city, in our region, and as past President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, in our nation. As a member of the business community, it was an honor to nominate Mayor Plusquellic for this richly deserved recognition. Together with Summit County Executive Russ Pry, we have an outstanding leadership team in our city and county,” said Elizabeth Bartz.

Mayor Plusquellic, Executive Russ Pry, Medina County Commissioner Stephen Hambley, and Portage County Engineer Michael Marozzi today joined the ranks of other local elected officials honored by the Greater Akron Chamber. The annual luncheon recognizes exemplary contributions to the advancement of the greater Akron area by removing the barriers to economic growth, streamlining government requirements for economic development, and pursuing creative and alternative funding for infrastructure development and enhancement. Each year the Greater Akron Chamber recognizes local elected officials in Summit, Medina, and Portage Counties for their commitment to economic growth and development as well as community improvement.