 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/11/04
And the Winner Is . . .
[Cleveland, Ohio] – The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) is pleased to announce that the inaugural winner
of the Annual Walter F. Ehrnfelt Jr. Award for Outstanding Regional Contribution is Lorain County Commissioner and Governing Board member Betty C. Blair. Blair received the award this afternoon from Anne Ehrnfelt and NOACA Governing Board President Daniel P. Troy at the 2004 Summit hosted by NOACA.
(left to right): Howard Maier, Commissioner Betty Blair,
Mrs. Walter F. Ehrnfelt, Jr. and Board President Daniel P. Troy.
“Commissioner Blair deserves this award,” noted NOACA Executive Director Howard R. Maier. “She exhibits and promotes the type of regional cooperation exemplified by the late Walter F. Ehrnfelt, former Strongsville Mayor and Governing Board member.”
The Ehrnfelt Award recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the betterment of the region. Qualifications for the award include leadership, regional impact, cooperative attitude, and dedication.
Blair was selected by a six-member panel of former Governing Board members from the City of Cleveland all five counties in the NOACA region. The panel included:
- Seth Taft, former Cuyahoga County Commissioner
- Charles L. Patton, former Cleveland City Councilman
- Daniel McDermott, former Newbury Township Trustee
- David E. Anderson, Mayor of Willoughby
- Don Simmons, former Medina County Commissioner
- Jeffry J. Armbruster, Ohio State Senator, 13th District
NOACA expects to recognize an individual with this award annually at its Summit. NOACA expects to gather nominations for next year’s award early in 2005.
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