Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro presents the annual State of the County address at the John S. Knight Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. Doors will open at 11 a.m., with the program starting at noon. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions following the speech.

Register today to reserve your spot at this important event. We look forward to seeing you at the State of the County address!

Event details

REGISTER HERE 
Alternatively, you can contact Morgan Shaw, Press Club administrator, at akronpressclub@gmail.com


Speaker: Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Time: Doors open 11 a.m. Lunch served at 11:30 a.m. Program begins at noon.
Location: John S. Knight Center, 77 E Mill St, Akron, OH 44308
Cost: $40 Individual tickets | $400 per table of 10
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation requests must be received no later than 48 hours before the event. After that time, there will be no refunds and an invoice will be issued for payment.

  

About Ilene Shapiro

Ilene Shapiro was appointed as Summit County Executive in 2016 following the death of county executive Russ Pry and elected to the office in November of the same year, making history as Summit County’s first elected female county executive. Currently serving her second term, she is running unopposed for re-election in 2024. Shapiro previously served as the county council president for nearly a decade.

As the chief fiduciary officer for Summit County, Shapiro manages a budget of over $500 million and oversees 10 departments. Her leadership achievements include:

  • Negotiating significant financial settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors
  • Attracting new business investments to the county
  • Enhancing security conditions at the county jail
  • Implementing cost-saving measures for a state-of-the-art consolidated 9-1-1 dispatch system
  • Emphasizing workforce diversity
  • Maintaining a strong credit rating for the county


Throughout her career, Shapiro has received numerous accolades, including recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Women's Network, ATHENA International, the Akron Urban League, Crain’s Cleveland, Team NEO, and Direction Home. In 2022, she was honored with the Greater Akron Chamber’s H. Peter Burg Award and the Victim Assistance Program Bernard Rosen Community Service Award.

REGISTER HERE 
Alternatively, you can contact Morgan Shaw, Press Club administrator, at akronpressclub@gmail.com

Zero Waste Event

We are pleased to partner with Summit County ReWorks once again to make this a Zero Waste Event.

Support for Akron Press Club Scholarships

Proceeds from Akron Press Club events, including this speech, support scholarships for journalism and public relations students. In 2024, the Press Club, along with the John S. Knight Memorial Scholarship Fund, awarded $5,000 scholarships to 10 deserving students. The Press Club extends its gratitude to Summit County, Dr. Aileen Thong, and Elizabeth Bartz for their generous contributions to the scholarship fund.

One of the scholarships is named in memory of the late County Executive Russ Pry, a dedicated supporter of the Akron Press Club. Ilene Shapiro continues this legacy of support through her participation in the State of the County address.