Autism Society of Greater Akron Announces Board Officers
(Jan. 4, 2024, Akron, Ohio) — The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) today announced a new slate of officers to serve a term from 2023 – 2026. Tim Piatt was elected as its new board chair, succeeding Carol (CJ) Haines, who has served as chair since 2020.
“We want to welcome Tim Piatt to the Chair’s position,” said Laurie Cramer, Executive Director of ASGA. “I look forward to working with Tim to manage ASGA’s ongoing growth as we serve over 15,000 local individuals and families living with Autism in our community. Tim has been involved with ASGA since 2014 when his family started a walk team to honor his son, who has Autism. He quickly turned into one of ASGA’s most committed champions. Becoming Chair is a natural step to continue his support of the Autism community. Tim has served on ASGA’s board since 2018.” Tim is President and Managing Partner at the law firm of Macala & Piatt, based in N. Canton.
Cramer continued, “I am eternally thankful to CJ Haines for her leadership through turbulent times for our country and organization,” said Laurie Cramer, Executive Director, ASGA. “Like everyone, we had to adapt quickly to achieve our mission through a pandemic. Our programs and services didn’t suffer due to her support, including helping us to navigate fundraising with virtual events. She also was instrumental in 2017 in securing seed money to help us start our water safety program, which she will always be connected to given her commitment to preventing the drowning of individuals with Autism.” CJ lives in Green, and is the Sr. Vice President of Power & Sustainability for Core Scientific. She has served on ASGA’s board since 2017 and now becomes ASGA’s Immediate Past Chair.
Other officers elected include Secretary John Huber of Akron (Director, Emergency Preparedness, FirstEnergy) and Treasurer, Terri Burns, of Mogadore, (Director of County Executive Ilene Shapiro’s Department of Job and Family Services).
Cramer concluded, “We thank all of our board members and especially our officers for their leadership and commitment to ASGA. We cannot serve our community without their support.”
Additional ASGA Board Members include: Jon Bluebond, Retired, Czarina Caluya-Fini, Berkshire, Berkshire Hathaway Realty, Dr. Jessica Foster, Akron Children’s Hospital, Jessica Hudson, Summa Foundation, Dr. Laura Markley, Akron Children’s Hospital, Anita Murphy, OneBridge Support Services, Zachary Strickler, Kent State University, Rev. Jonathon Turner, Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, Barbara White, Retired, Sarah Wenner Bloomhuff, SeibertKeck Insurance Partners.
The Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA) is part of a nationwide network of affiliates that are part of the Autism Society of America, the nation’s largest and oldest grassroots Autism organization. ASGA serves Summit, Stark, Wayne, Portage, and Medina counties (OH) and works locally to achieve its mission – We create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully.