PBS Western Reserve

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Canton’s Steve Coon

Taking a summer job as a teenager at a restoration company is how Steve Coon started in this industry. It helped him discover his passion for restoring buildings.

Today, Steve is the Founder and President of Coon Restoration & Sealants. In 1983, a few years after marrying his wife Jenny, they formed Coon Caulking and Sealants.

The first 10 employees hired by Steve and Jenny remain with the company today, which has flourished to well over 100 employees to date. With the help of their dedicated team of employees, the Coon family built the business into one of the largest restoration companies in the Midwest.

In fact, their 4 children are all currently active in the business in various capacities. Taking pride in the craft of restoration and gaining satisfaction in assisting customers with the restoration of their buildings, is what has inspired the Coon family for nearly 40 years.

Tune in to this interview as Steve shares his passion in building restoration and how these restored buildings have a story to tell.

 

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Canton’s Kyle Stone

Kyle L. Stone has deep roots in the Stark County community. He is a Canton native and a 2001 Canton McKinley Senior High School graduate. He obtained a BA in Law & Liberal Arts from The University of Findlay and, shortly thereafter, obtained a Masters in Public Administration from The University of Akron.

He is also an ordained pastor and holds a Master's degree in Ministry from Temple Baptist Seminary. Stone was elected as Stark County Prosecuting Attorney in November of 2020. Before this role, he served as a criminal defense attorney.

Prosecutor Stone enjoys spending time with his family and friends, specifically his daughter and granddaughter. Welcome Kyle Stone to this edition of the City Centric Podcast series focusing on the great city of Canton.

Tune in to this interview as Kyle shares his passion for providing what's right, fair, and equitable for the people of Canton.

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Alliance’s John Hampu

John Hampu is from Alliance, Ohio. He graduated from Alliance High School and played in The Nationally Known Alliance High School Marching Band and in the State Champion “Battle of The Bands” group The Far End, which finished 5th nationally in 1967! John has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Union College and a Master of Education degree from Kent State University.

John worked for the Alliance City Schools for over 37 years as a teacher, coach, principal, and central office administrator for over 37 years. He currently works at Robertson Heating Supply as the leader of the Business Support Department and continues to serve as a guest interviewer for Alliance High School’s Media Arts program.

John. has served as the OHSAA state swim meet announcer for 23 years in a row and has earned The Karl Wirthwein award for his dedication to the sport of swimming in Ohio. John is married to Carol, and they have 3 children and 9 grandchildren.

Tune in to this interview as John shares how others paved the way to his passion and caring for the community through music, sports, and teaching.

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Alliance’s Ed Albert

A city and community is made of its people. There are many that cherish their city from childhood experiences to things the city has to offer. How many actually cherishes the city's history? How many attempt to revitalize their city by maintaining its history? Meet Ed Albert, owner of Pocket Change Thrift & Antiques.

Take a listen to this interview with Ed Albert and learn about revitalization of a city through its history.

 

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Alliance’s Raymont and Brenda Johnson

Raymont is a motivational teacher and speaker with an extensive leadership, management, and educational background. He has spent over 40 years in corporate management and is a retired veteran of the United States Air Force.

After retirement from the Air Force, Raymont spent seven years as a JROTC Instructor in Maryland. Raymont is the president and founder of Family Empowerment Ministries Inc (FEMI), and senior pastor of the Spirit of Faith Christian Center of Ohio.

He is also the president and CEO of RBJ Properties, Inc. real estate investment company. Brenda, an ordained minister, serves as the assistant pastor at Spirit of Faith CC Ohio. She is the Vice-President of RBJ Properties, Inc. and Family Empowerment Ministries, Inc., (FEMI).

She is certified community health worker, helping the underserved community receive needed services to sustain healthy lifestyles.

Take a listen to this interview with Raymont Johnson and learn about social entrepreneurship and serving your purpose.

City Centric Podcast: An interview with Alliance’s Joe Mazzola

Joe Mazzola is a development and planning professional deeply versed in nonprofit, for-profit, and public environments.

Joe Mazzola has served as the Community Development Director with the City of East Cleveland, where he was responsible for nearly $10 million in federal entitlement funds in conjunction with the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and others.

He has been a special projects consultant with the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad (CVSR), Joe coordinated pre-development activities for the proposed $1.2 billion mixed-use project located in downtown Cleveland’s Warehouse District as the Director of Development with Stark Enterprises.

Joe Mazzola has a Master of Business Administration from Kent State University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and a Pastoral Ministry Graduate Studies from Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio.

Take a listen to this interview with Joe Mazzola and how economic development goes beyond new buildings. It is building the community and its people.

 

City Centric Podcast: An interview with Akron’s Tony Troppe

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Akron’s Tony Troppe

Tony is an Akron entrepreneur and preservationist. A student of the classics and architecture, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the College of Wooster.

Land planning, place building, and managing real estate development projects have been his primary focus for over 3 decades.

Tony has rehabilitated more the 300,00 square feet of Akron’s historic buildings, and is passionate about history, patterns of progress, and problem-solving and has used these passions to develop a successful real estate and construction career.

Tony views this work as his contribution to making Summit County and the City of Akron THE place to live and prosper.

Take a listen to this interview with Tony Troupe on how he amplifies the stories of historic buildings throughout the city of Akron.

 

City Centric Podcast: An interview with City Centric Host, Sthephanie Marie

The City Centric podcast kicks off with our City Centric host, Sthephanie Marie.

Sthephanie Marie was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2018, she graduated from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH, with a bachelor’s in communications complemented by her minor in theater.

In 2004, her grandmother, Maria, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Sthephanie saw how much this disease affected Maria and decided she would help raise awareness.

For several years, she has worked with the Alzheimer's Association for The Walk To End Alzheimer's. Her mission is to spread awareness and raise funds with her team, Unforgettable Love.

Sthephanie has her own YouTube channel, sharing memorable moments, funny videos, and a glimpse into her everyday life. She connects with over 11,000 subscribers and knows her memories will live forever.

When Sthephanie was 18, she started following her passion for the entertainment industry and has achieved great things in the pageant industry with her latest achievements placing top 15 at Miss USA as Miss Ohio USA 2020 and placing top five at Miss Universe Puerto Rico.

Take a listen to this interview with Sthephanie Marie as she shares her experiences in hosting the City Centric Podcast series.

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Akron’s Bronlynn Thurman

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Akron’s Bronlynn Thurman

Bronlynn Thurman is a creative and nonprofit professional in the Akron area. In her role at GAR Foundation, she focuses on equitable community development and arts in education.

In 2021, Bronlynn co-founded Black Women Explore, a Northeast Ohio outdoor recreation group for Black, Brown, Asian, and other women and fem-identifying folks of color.

An Akron Native, Bronlynn serves on several area boards and committees, including the Akron Black Artist Guild; Akron Civic Commons core team; City of Akron’s Planning Commission; the marketing committee for the Fund for Our Economic Future; Akron’s Bicentennial Commission; and many more.

Most recently, Bronlynn was a fellow in Big Picture Learning’s inaugural Ashé Leaders Fellowship program, a national fellowship focused on supporting leaders as they transform systems in their communities.

Take a listen to this interview with Bronlynn Thurman as she shares her perspective on the unique qualities of Akron.

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Akron’s Jenn Kidd

The City Centric podcast: An interview with Akron's Jenn Kidd

Jenn Kidd is a highly accomplished arts advocate and Executive Director of The Nightlight, Akron's nonprofit Arthouse Cinema.

With her exceptional eye for artistic expression and unwavering dedication to fostering cultural growth, she leads the forward vision for one of Akron's most exciting and influential cultural institutions.

Jenn is actively leading an ambitious Capital Campaign at The Nightlight, driving efforts to add a second screen that will double the cinema's capacity, expand its physical footprint, and offer an even more comprehensive range of community partnerships and captivating film choices.

This represents a remarkable milestone in the cinema's growth, transitioning from its beginnings as a small film festival with a big dream to an indispensable cornerstone of Akron's thriving arts scene.

Take a listen to this interview with Jenn Kidd as she shares her big picture of Akron.