Marisa Rohn is currently the vice president of Advancement, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Stark State College. She also serves as executive director of the Stark State College Foundation. Rohn has held both positions for the past three years and previously spent one year as Director of Marketing and Communications at the College. In her current role, Rohn focuses on advancing the College’s image and reputation locally, nationally and internationally, while working to enhance philanthropic and workforce relationships and monetary support for both the College and the Stark State College Foundation. In addition to leading the Stark State College Foundation, Rohn oversees Advancement, Strategic Grants, Marketing, Strategic Partnerships, Career Services and Workforce Training for the College.
Prior to joining Stark State College in January 2015, Rohn served as the vice president of marketing and fund development at Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. for nearly 12 years. Previously, she was a market manager for United Way of Central Stark County and gained other experience in global communications at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and in development and public relations at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Rohn, named a member of The Repository’s 2013 Twenty Under 40! class, and graduate of the 23rd class of Leadership Stark County is active in the community, including roles with Leadership Stark County, Stark State’s English advisory board, Alliance Development Board and Women’s Impact, Inc. She also is a board member for Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. where she also serves as a member of the organization’s Executive Committee.
She holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing as well as a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications with a minor in Spanish from Walsh University. She also holds a certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University School of Philanthropy.
Rohn lives in Jackson Township with her husband of 17 years and two teenage daughters.
It is with great sadness we must inform you of the passing of longtime Canton Rotarian, Jack R. Baker. Jack was a member of the Rotary Club of Canton for the past 38 years.
Please see Jack’s obituary below which was posted in The Canton Repository on January 27, 2019.
We ask that you please keep Jack’s family in your prayers.
Jack R. Baker 74, of North Canton, passed away on January 20, 2019. Jack was born in East Liverpool, Ohio on April 8, 1944, to the late Jack F. and Hazel Baker. He was a graduate of Bowling Green University, where he was elected student body president his senior year and the University of Cincinnati Law School. He was the founding member of the law firm Baker Dublikar Beck Wiley and Mathews. Jack was a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio Bar Association, Stark County Bar Association, the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, the International Association of Defense Council, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Council, the Defense Research Institute, and a past member of the Stark County Association Executive Committee. In addition to professional organizations, Jack has served his community through participation and leadership in numerous local and civic organizations. These involvements included Rotary, YMCA, Camp Tippecanoe, and North Canton Chamber of Commerce, serving on its TAP committee.
He is survived by his loving wife, Paulette Baker (nee Kerr); children: Jennifer (Philip) Kozen, Susan (Mike) George and Jonathan (Lynn) Baker; grandchildren: Ben, Sammi, Alden and Emery; and sister, Norma (Fred) Ahlborn.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at Faith United Methodist Church, 300 9th St., North Canton, Ohio 44720, with Rev. Steve Costello officiating. Family and friends may visit from 2-4 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Donations can be made in Jack's name to Faith United Methodist Church. The family invites you to visit:
During the January 25, 2019 meeting, Rotarian Steve Fettman (sponsor) welcomed our newest member to the Rotary Club of Canton, Wilbur Allen.
Pastor Wilbur Allen, III is the son of Pastor Emeritus Wilbur Allen, Jr. and Sister Charlotte Allen. He is a graduate of Timken Senior High School. He is also a 1988 graduate of Mount Union College, earning a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Accounting. During his time at Mount Union, he was President of Student Government, listed in the Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities, as well as a Dean’s List Student. Pastor Allen is a 1994 Graduate of Pittsburgh Seminary, where he was Treasurer of Student Government as well as the Treasurer of the National Association of Black Seminarians. He was again included in the 1994 edition of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities.
In 1999, Pastor Allen was appointed as First Administrative Assistant to Bishop James Miles Foster (Jurisdictional Bishop of the First Jurisdiction of Western Pennsylvania), where he was responsible for all pastoral duties at the Jurisdictional Headquarters. The year 2002 marked his return to Canton, Ohio. He was appointed Assistant Pastor of All Saints Temple, Church of God in Christ, assisting his father in parish ministry.
Wilbur and his wife, Asha, are the parents of four children.
The Canton Repository featured a story in their January 27, 2019 edition entitled "Canton Sign Co.'s Inventory of Old Photos, Relics Depicts Business Development of the Area - HISTORY IN STORAGE" written by Tim Botos, Repository staff writer. Below is an excerpt of the story and link to read it in it's entirety:
"Matt Franta's great-grandfather was a pack rat, which has turned out to be a thrill for the younger Franta. The Franta family has operated Canton Sign Co. for 109 years. Plenty of Frantas have come and gone: John, Joseph, Edward, Thomas, Mark.
The shop on Fifth Street NE dates to 1920. From the outside it resembles an abandoned building. The inside hasn't changed much since those olden days. Employees still hand-shape metal for signs they produce. In recent years, 39-year-old Matt Franta has explored and organized the four corners of the shop building. From the second-floor room in the corner that once was his late great-grandfather John Franta's office, to crevices that unveiled a largely hidden crawl space attic.
"I'm pretty sentimental," said Matt Franta, who operates the company along with his dad, Tim Franta. Matt Franta has uncovered piles, boxes, folders, envelopes and drawers full of old photos of signs, glass slide negatives which he developed into photos, drawings, blueprints and other company records, which together provide a mini-history of business and development in Canton."
To read the article in its entirety, please follow this LINK. Photo by: Canton Rep.com/Scott Heckel
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the weekly 50/50 raffle drawing! Here is a breakdown of the money raised for the Club fund from this event to date:
At the January 25, 2019 weekly meeting, President Michelle Mullaly welcomed the 46 members and 3 guests to the meeting.
Rotarian Kim Kroh gave the Invocation.
Congratulations to Rotarian Jeff Scott for holding the winning 50/50 ticket worth $44.00
President Elect Mark Rojek filled in for traveling Club Secretary, Suzette Matthews, and welcomed the following guests: Christen Sedmock (principal of Allen Elementary/daughter of Rotarian Ernie Schott); Patti Schott (guest/wife of Ernie Schott); Ron Haines (Washington State Rotarian).
The "Happy News" was then provided by the following:
Mark Clendenin - happy to not have to buy a brisket thanks to President Elect Mark Rojek cancelling his planned get-together with himself and Drew Pelger;
Steve Fettman - celebrating his Mom's 80th birthday this week;
President Michelle updated the members on the District 6650 Art Auction taking place on February 1, 2019, from 6:30 - 9:30 pm at The SOAP Art Gallery in Youngstown.
Rotarian Steve Fettman introduced and welcomed the newest member to the Rotary Club of Canton, Wilbur Allen. (*Please see story above).
Steve also took the opportunity to remind everyone about the North Canton Rotary's upcoming Chili Open. He has tickets available for purchase if anyone is interested in attending.
Rotarian Jon Adland made an announcement asking for volunteers to provide an Invocation during upcoming meetings. He had a sign-up sheet for anyone interested. *Editors note: May 31st is the only date left in need of an Invocator.
Rotarian Mark Clendenin took to the podium to ask for volunteers to become a committee member for the "Non Event Raffle". There was to be a brief meeting immediately after the Rotary meeting for committee members. He stated he would like to minimize the stress on Rotarians and look at different resources for the prizes. His committee so far includes James Boggs, Bruce Hale, Paula Mastroianni, and Terri Barry.
President Michelle then welcomed Christen Sedmock, principal of Allen Elementary School, who presented a power point regarding the "Pack The Bus" program and the impact it had on the students in Canton City Schools. Christen is the daughter of Canton Rotarian Ernie Schott.
President Michelle concluded the Fellowship meeting with the following announcements:
everyone could turn their cell phones back on
reminder to purchase tickets for the District 6650 Art Auction of February 1st;
next week's meeting will be Julia Gulley-Resource Development for the Salvation Army (*Editors Note: The February 1st and February 8th speakers will be in reverse order. Next week's - Feb. 1st - speaker will be Marisa Rohn from Stark State College with a topic of "Why Stark State?". Julia Gulley from Salvation Army will speak on February 8th. Her topic will be "A Global Movement With a Local Mission")
she thanked January speaker chair Jim Molnar and Greeter Leader Don Peterson for their efforts the past month.
The following Rotarian turned in a makeup during Friday's meeting: Mark Clendenin (North Canton).
The following Rotarian received a makeup for attending the "Non Event Raffle" committee meeting: Mark Clendenin (Chair), Bruce Hale, James Boggs, Paula Mastroianni and Terri Barry.
The following Rotarians received a makeup for attending the "Oktoberfest" committee meeting on February 16, 2019: Raquel Raderchak (Co-Chair), Bruce Hale, Dennis Dent and President Elect Mark Rojek.
In my travels over the past year, I've visited many strong, vibrant clubs and districts that are transforming their communities. When I attend their meetings, I can feel the energy. When I meet their members, I can see they are people of action. And when I look at their communities, I can recognize the impact of their work.
I've also visited communities with Rotary clubs that were hardly more than social clubs. It shouldn't ever be that way. Fortunately, there's a simple approach that I believe can help revitalize any club.
I'd like to challenge every Rotary club to come up with at least one high-impact service project. Each club already has the potential, the resources, to make it happen. It has the power to change people's lives — completely.
It doesn't take millions of dollars. One of the most transformational projects I've been a part of involved providing a Jeep to a group of midwives in Haiti. We had asked the midwives what we could do for them, and they told us they needed a way to reach expectant mothers in a remote part of the country. We supplied a Jeep, painted it pink, and put the Rotary logo on it. Three years later, we went back to see how they were doing. They were excited by the outcomes: They told us that the mortality rate for mothers and infants in that region had dropped by 50 percent.
That's what I call transformational service.
But Jeeps don't last forever, and after eight years on the road, that vehicle was on its last legs. So we bought a pink Land Cruiser. It's still on the road, allowing the midwives to provide prenatal care to women in that remote region.
What makes a project transformational? It doesn't have to involve a lot of money, but it has to reach people and have a major impact in the community. That is the key, and that is where careful planning and thorough research come in. So do your research. Leverage your resources. Seek partnerships that can increase your impact. And then take action.
Of course, service is only part of what a strong club must offer. It must also have good speakers, provide leadership development, involve Rotaract and Interact, and bring value to its members and reasons to participate in Rotary events.
If your club is transformational and well-organized, everything else will follow. Members will be engaged, and new members will be eager to join you. Fundraising will be easier: People love to give when they see how their money is making a difference and when they know the organization is accountable. Your club will be vibrant, relevant, and alive — and it will Be the Inspiration to those within its ranks as well as to the community it serves.