Beacon Journal staff report

Leadership Akron has selected 34 people for the 2008-09 program.

This year's class includes participants from the business, government and nonprofit sectors.

This marks the program's 25th year of encouraging participants to reach higher levels of involvement in the community.

The program covers a variety of activities, including tours of many of the city's assets.

Members of the new class are:

• Bradford A. Beckert, senior engineer for the city of Akron.

• Paul J. Belair, president/ CFO/owner of Roth Bros. Inc.

• Leslie Belfance, executive director of Rockynol Retirement Community.

• Kevin K. Crum, principal of Crum, Buchanan & Associates.

• Thomas A. DeBord, chief operating officer of Summa Health System Southwest Region.

• Rochelle D. Fisher, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County.

• H. Sean Fremon, president of Cole Industries Inc.

• Peggy L. Harper, purchasing manager of Lockheed Martin in Akron.

• Michael J. Haught, vice president of human resources, Time Warner Cable in Northeast Ohio.

• John K. Hedges, executive director of Weathervane Community Playhouse.

• Stephen R. Hendricks, senior vice president, FirstMerit Bank.

• Mark J. Heppner, vice president of museum services, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens.

• Pamela J. Hickson-Stevenson, assistant director Akron- Summit County Public Library.

• Andrew P. Holland, president EYEMG.com, LLC.

• M. Diane Johnson, president and CEO of VIP HomeCare Inc.

• John W. Judge, director of Integrated Business Planning for FirstEnergy Corp.

• Danielle J. Kimmell, senior manager, audit department, Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Co.

• Wade E. Lucas, superintendent, Green Local Schools.

• Thomas J. Lyzen, vice president of finance/CFO, Visiting Nurse Service & Affiliates.

• Donna J. Martin, vice president of programs for the Akron Urban League.

• Thomas W. McDowell, manager of account development for ComDoc Inc.

• Quincy L. Miller, SVP retail branch banking director of Ohio for Charter One Bank.

• Angelina L. Milo, principal of Cohen & Co. Ltd.

• Duane K. Myatt, manager, executive compensation for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

• Donald J. Pavlik, vice president of National City Corp.

• Jason T. Poulton, manager, polymer development for Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology.

• Tia M. Ramlow, president Great Work! Employment Services.

• Peter M. Reagan, business unit executive, customer loyalty offerings for IBM.

• Christine M. Savage, vice president of services for Oriana House Inc.

• Carla L. Sibley, special projects coordinator for Akron Public Schools.

• James S. Simon; associate attorney for Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs.

• James A. Sneed, human resources supervisor for A. Schulman Inc.

• Sylvia D. Trundle, captain, Akron Police Department.

• Michele L. Williams, vice president, Credit Operations Sterling Jewelers Inc.

For information about Leadership Akron, visit http://www.lakron.com.