Established in 1971, the Akron Press Club is a professional association that includes more than 120 members from Summit, Medina, Portage, Stark and Wayne counties.
The Akron Press Club represents the area's only association whose membership encompasses all communications fields, including professionals from newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, and public relations; business and nonprofit communications, as well as education, business and government.
Bob Dyer
David Giffels
Diane Evans
The Beacon Journal - Past, Present and ???
May 19, 2006
The Akron Press Club concluded its 2005-2006 Public Affairs series on Friday, May 19 with a panel discussion featuring three Akron Beacon Journal columnists.
"The Beacon Journal - Past, Present and ???" included David Giffels, Diane Evans and Bob Dyer talking about their personal experiences - and hopes - during a period of extreme uncertainty. The program was moderated by Abe Zaidan, former Beacon Journal columnist and senior editor.
Ted Strickland
Congressman
April 17, 2006
Congressman Ted Strickland was born in Lucasville, Ohio - the son of a steelworker, and one of nine children. Professionally, Strickland has served as a minister, a psychologist, and a college professor.
In 1992, he was elected to Congress. After narrowly losing his congressional seat in 1994, he was once again elected to the 6th Congressional District in 1996, and he has represented the district in Congress ever since.
During his last five terms in Congress, Ted has served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has fought to secure a meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare and to reform the managed care industry.
Strickland is an active member of the Congressional Steel Caucus, and last term he also became a member of the House Committee on Veterans? Affairs.
Strickland announced his candidacy for governor in May of last year.
Betty Montgomery
Ohio Auditor of State
March 29, 2006
Betty Montgomery, Ohio?s first woman Auditor of State, was the speaker at the Akron Press Club?s March 29 program at the Martin University Center. Sworn in as Ohio?s 30th State Auditor in January 2003, Montgomery has also served as a criminal prosecutor, state senator and Ohio?s first woman Attorney General.
As a state senator from the 2nd District, Montgomery served as chair of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and as vice chair of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission. Her work included drafting Ohio?s first living will law, its first brownfields legislation, and its Victim?s Rights Law. Much of her work centered on crime and law enforcement, as well as efforts to help protect consumers, children and the elderly.
As Ohio Attorney General, Montgomery fulfilled commitments to provide increased state support for local law enforcement and to upgrade the state?s crime labs, joining only 4 percent of the nation?s law enforcement agencies by earning accreditation for both the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
During her tenure as state attorney general and as auditor, Ohio received national awards for its legal work, background check program and consumer protection efforts.
James McCarthy
March 8, 2006
"The State of Summit County"
James B. McCarthy has served the citizens of Summit County since 1974. His first position was that of Summit County Clerk of Courts from 1974 through January 2, 1989, where he developed the statewide procedure to administer the Victims of Crime Compensation Program in cooperation with the Ohio Court of Claims. He also initiated computerization of the Automobile Title Division, which was a model for the state of Ohio.
Appointed to the office of Auditor in 1989, James B. McCarthy became one of Ohio?s most innovative county Auditors. He computerized the Auditor?s office and retrained staff for a more efficient and cost effective operation. His understanding and knowledge of technology, teamed with a strong desire to serve the public, made the Auditor?s office a model for the 21st Century while making a complicated office more user-friendly.
As Auditor, McCarthy?s office was awarded the "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting" by the Government Finance Officers Association. This certificate is awarded for the highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting each year he served.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) awarded McCarthy and his staff with an "Excellence Award" for outstanding accomplishment in the field of county public information for developing a program designed to take real estate information out to the people.
In 2000, James B. McCarthy was elected as county Executive. The office of Summit County Executive was established in 1980 when voters in the community passed a measure to create a Charter to govern county operations and elected offices. The Charter intends for the Executive to serve, among other duties, as the chief budgetary officer of county government, submitting a yearly operating budget and overseeing the expenditures in excess of a billion dollars annually, which are channeled through various offices, departments, and programs within the governmental branch.
Dr. Lawrence Krauss
January 5, 2006
"Science Under Attack?"
The Akron Press Club continued its Public Affairs series on Thursday, Jan. 5 with a talk by Dr. Lawrence Krauss, an internationally known theoretical physicist, renowned lecturer, and best selling author. For 12 years, Krauss served as chairman of the physics department at Case Western Reserve University, where he now serves as Professor and Director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics.
Krauss is the author of a half-dozen acclaimed books, including the best sellers The Physics of Star Trek and Beyond Star Trek. Stephen Hawking wrote that ?Lawrence Krauss has Carl Sagan?s knack for expanding the imagination and explaining the mysteries of the universe in simple terms.? Because of his engaging style and sense of humor, Krauss is a sought-after guest on national TV and radio programs.
His talk addressed the hotly debated topic of intelligent design. It was followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman
November 17, 2005
Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
The Akron Press Club continued its 2005-2006 Public Affairs series on Thursday, Nov. 17 with a talk by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
Coleman is serving his second term as mayor running unopposed for re-election in 2003. He started his career in public office in 1992 when he was appointed to Columbus City Council and was re-elected to two terms in office. He served as City Council President from 1997 until his election to mayor in 1999.
Coleman was introduced by Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. Coleman?s talk was followed by a question and answer session with the audience
Ohio Attourney General Jim Petro
September 28, 2005
Republican Gubernatorial Candidate
The Akron Press Club continued its 2005-2006 Public Affairs series on Wednesday, Sept. 28 with a talk by Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro, Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Petro took the oath as Ohio's 46th Attorney General in 2003. His experience spans more than 30 years in both the public and private sectors.
Petro's presentation was followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
