Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Chris Burnham
President

The First President of The Development Finance Authority of Summit County (DFA) since 2000, Chris has successfully guided and financed numerous development and redevelopment projects in the region. With over 30 years experience in public and DFA to directly or indirectly be associated with the retention and creation of 11,077 jobs, including thousands of construction jobs. 

Chris has been an innovator in regional cooperation, guiding the DFA to provide economic development finance in eight Northeast Ohio counties. In 2003, DFA established the Fixed-Rate Common Jobs &  Investment Bond Fund Program, one of five rated (Standard & Poor'sBBB+) bond fund programs in the State of Ohio. 

As Director of Marketing for ASW Services, Inc., from 1994-2000, Chris was responsible for guiding the development of CAK International Business Park, Foreign Trade Zone #181, located at the Akron-Canton Airport. The business park attracted eight new businesses bringing $57.85 M of private investment and approximately 1,000 jobs to Summit County.

 Chris also served as Director of Development for Summit County with responsibility for economic development and community development programs, the Department of Building Standards, Capital Improvements, and the Planning Commission. 
​Brian Moore
Vice President

Brian is a partner with the law firm of Roetzel & Andress. He practices real estate and finance law and serves as Practice Manager for the firm's Real Estate and Banking Group.

​In addition to Summit Choral Society, Brian currently serves on several community boards including Northeastern Ohio Golf Foundation (Vice President), United Way of Summit County (Board Member and 2011 Campaign Chair), Downtown Akron Partnership (Executive Committee), and Blue Coats of Summit County (Vice Chair). His past board service includes Red Cross (Past Board Chairman), Portage Country Club ( Past Chairman), Akron Bar Association, Akron Civic Theater, Greenleaf Family Center (Past Chairman), Leadership Akron Alumni Association (Past President), and the Akron Jaycees (Past President).

Brian was the 2015 recipient of the Leadership Akron Alumni Association "Lieberth Community Vision Award". He is a past recipient of the Greenleaf Family Center's Betty Dalton Community Service Award. He is a cantor and choir member at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
​Linda Hetson
Treasurer

Linda is the Vice President of Professional Services at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. In this role she oversees Pathology and Labatory Medicine, Pharmacy, Radiology, Social Services and the Children's at Hudson Facility. Prior to serving in this role, Hetson was Director of Nursing Administration in charge of Patient Services Finance where she had oversight of over $500M in budgets across 80+ departments. She also served as the Director over Maternal Fetal Medicine overseeing the administrative component of the high-risk perinatologists' service at Children's. She was the Co-Director of the Decker Family Development Center in Barberton, Ohio, a collaborative of Akron Children's, The University of Akron and Barberton City Schools which served low-income children and their families to provide services which gave them a better head start in life. She was awarded the Community Partner Award from the University of Akron. Hetson was part of the team which oversaw the design and construction of the Centennial Building at Children's and was awarded the 2007 Distinguished Service Award from Akron Children's Employee Foundation. Prior to working in the Nursing Division, she held several roles at Akron Children's starting in the Laboratory and moving to the Planning and Grants Department and then becoming the Manager of Marketing Research. Hetson has a B.S. in Business Management from Malone College and an Executive MBA in Healthcare from Kent State University. She and her husband, Gary, reside in Green and have one daughter who is married and also lives in Green.     
Joseph M. Storsin, Jr.
​Asst. Treasurer 
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​Joe is a Certified Public Accountant and currently the Director of Accounting and Consolidation at FirstEnergy in Akron, Ohio. In this role Joe oversees various functions including Regulatory Accounting, Unregulated Accounting, Corporate Accounting and Accounts Payable. In previous roles Joe has also worked in the SEC Reporting, Investor Relations and Project Management functions. In addition to the Summit Choral Society, Joe also serves on the Board of Directors for the FirstEnergy Family Credit Union. Joe is a graduate of Kent State University where he earned his B.S. in Business Management double majoring in Finance and Accounting with a minor in Management and earned his MBA in Finance.
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Julie Firestone
Secretary 
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​Julie is a partner with the law firm of Brouse McDowell LPA where she practices in the area of estate and succession planning working with individuals and business owners on strategies for transferring and preserving wealth. She is also an inactive CPA and a graduate of Case Western Reserve School of Law and Miami University, where she earned her degree in Accounting.
In addition to Summit Choral Society, Julie has served many years on the Board of Trustees for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Foundation.
Julie has had a lifelong love of music concentrated mainly on the flute having performed for many years as a soloist and in band and orchestral ensembles beginning in grade school, throughout college, with her church, and most recently performing with local rock bands.
Julie lives in Brecksville with her family.

Directors

Patricia Biddle
​​Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Retired 

Patricia Biddle is the Secretary of the Summit Choral Society Board of Directors and has served for over 20 years. In 2011, she received the prestigious Founders Award in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the organization. She is one of the longest tenured singers of the Masterworks Chorale, having sung with the group since it was formed in 1990.

Patricia hold an Associate degree in Executive Secretarial Science from The Wayne General & Technical College of  The University of Akron and a Bachelor's degree in Comprehensive Business Education from The University of Akron. She taught as an Adult Education Instructor at the Coshocton County Joint Vocational School in Coshocton, Ohio, and retired from Bridgestone Americas, Inc. where she worked as a legal administrative assistant. 
Benjamin Comston
Genesis Financial Services 

Ben Comston is the Director of Operations,  Workforce Management at Genesis Financial Services in Akron, OH. He previously held director, management and financial positions at Sterling Jewelers, where it worked for over 10 years. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering as well as Kent State University where he graduated with a M.A. in Economics. Ben serves on Summit Choral Society's Finance Committee

Ben also serves on the Board of Directors of Project GRAD Akron in Akron, OH and Spring Garden Waldorf School in Copley, OH. He places an extremely high value on education and believes that the availability of enriching educational experiences benefits everyone in the community. He also respects the profound impact music can have on anyone's life, regardless of their background. He lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife Laura.
​​Kelli Fetter
​Downtown Akron Partnership 

​Kelli Fetter is the Director of Events for Downtown Akron Partnership where she oversees the outreach efforts of DAP by planning innovative programs and events that engage downtown workers, visitors and residents. She has several years of experience in event coordination at the University of Akron and as a board member for the Akron Alumnae of Delta Gamma. Kelli earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Management and a Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Akron. 
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Hannah Flesch
​Financial Advisor
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Hannah A. Flesch is a Financial Advisor at a large financial services organization. She is a proud Kent State University alumnus where she earned her Bachelor's Degree.

Hannah has a diverse musical background. She performed as a child in numerous productions at the Carousel Dinner Theater and also sang the National Anthem at the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Akron Aero's sporting events. Hannah spent time working at Walk Disney World in the entertainment department performing for thousands of guests every day. She has a love for the arts and is excited to be a part of the continued growth of the Summit Choral Society.
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Andrew Gordon-Seifert
​Vorys, Sater, Seymore & Pease LLP

​Andrew is an attorney at Vorys, Sater, Seymor and Pease LLP where he practices commercial litigation. He has Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Music (Cello Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. Andrew has been active in music since he was in elementary school and has played in various orchestras and chamber groups from that time until the present. He also has been active on cello with several folk singers and rock groups such as Mike Wojiniak, The Castros, and Heather Evans by recording and touring.
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Jeffrey Jenkins 
PNC Bank 
Jason Lorenzon 
​Lorenzon Law
Francis Mencl, MD
​Emergency Physician 
Professor of Emergency Medicine NEOMED

​A lover of music, and the proud parent of two daughters, both of whom have sung with the SCS, Dr. Mencl has been on the Board of Summit Choral Society for several years.  He is the former medical director for the Summa Center for EMS, a professor of emergency medicine at NEOMED, and currently works in the emergency department at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls.

Although a native of Northeastern Ohio, Dr. Mencl spend 4 years growing up in Africa, and has spent considerable time in the Caribbean as well as Europe.  His interests include international emergency medicine and EMS, reading, movies, travel and time with his family, and of course music, even though he can’t sing.

Dr. Mencl is eager to see the SCS Programs grow and is excited about the recent changes. He is also interested in seeing the organization work more closely with other arts organizations and schools and in serving some of the more economically disadvantaged children in our community.     
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Gary E. Mosteller  
​Integrity Print Solutions, Inc.  
​Melissa A. Orenich, CPA, MT
​Skoda Minotti

Melissa is a tax manager with the CPA firm Skoda Minotti. She focuses on serving a wide variety of clients in diverse industries, including manufacturing and distribution, insurance services, and non-profit organizations. Melissa holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master of Taxation from The University of Akron. Melissa serves on the Finance and Governance Committees. She lives with her husband, Tim, in Montville Township, Medina County.
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​Drew Reilly
​Judicial Attorney - Akron Municipal Court
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Drew C. Reilly is an Executive Assistant in Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro's Office, where he has worked since 2013. In this role, Drew runs many diverse projects including the Summit County Student Help Internship Program, Welcoming Communities, the Information Technology Board, and any legislative affairs that pass between the Executive's Office and County Council. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He is currently finishing up his Juris Doctorate at the University of Akron School of Law. He plans to sit for the Ohio State Bar Exam in July of 2017.

Drew has a passion for musical performance, having performed at many levels throughout his life in musical theater and drama. As a child and adult, he has performed at Carousel Dinner Theatre, Weathervane Playhouse, and ANTIC Theatre. He is excited to work with Summit Choral Society in order to share his love of performance with a diverse group of people. 

Drew lives in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife, Samantha.
Whitney Spencer
County of Summit

Whitney Spencer is a Senior Administrator in the Department of Administration and Public Information at the County of Summit.  Prior to working at the County, Whitney was the Manager of Programs and Property Management at the Summit County Land Bank.  She attended Notre Dame College and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Liberal Studies, and soon after completed her Masters of Public Administration at the University of Akron.  Whitney’s parents exposed her to the arts at a young age, fostering a deep appreciation of arts and culture.
Matt Stein 
Medical Mutual of Ohio

Matt Stein is the Vice President of Enterprise Technology Development & Innovation at Medical Mutual of Ohio, where he has worked since 2011.  He previously held technology leadership roles with American Greetings, Goodyear and IBM.  He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.  In addition to Summit Choral Society, Matt serves at the Chairman of the Weymouth Community Church Elder Board in Medina, OH.  Matt's wife and two daughters both perform with Summit Choral Society.
Charles Uray
Engineer & Land Surveyor, Retired 
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Charles' interest in music started at a very early age as a result of his attending the many occasions on which he heard and watched his Father perform in many operettas, church solo performances, and many weddings that his Father was asked to sing. This was followed by Charles' singing in the Church Choir, with his Father, for many years. While serving in the U.S. Naval Service, Charles always sang in the various Naval Base Chapel Choirs wherever he was stationed.

While living in Youngstown, Ohio, he was a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra office staff. He principally served in fund raising efforts for the support of the Youngstown Symphony.

Charles' professional work life was as a Professional Civil Engineer. In his career, he directed the planning, development of funding, design and construction of major transportation programs in the USA and overseas. One such assignment was as the Chief Engineer for an international Engineering/Architectural firm, in their Tokyo, Japan office, managing a combined staff of American/Japanese engineers and architects for the planning design and construction management for the rebuilding of major World War II military air bases in the Far East Theatre of Operations for modern jet aircraft operations. This included air bases in Okinawa, Japan and South Korea, and included a new joint S. Korea/U.S. Air Force base in South Korea. 
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Suganthi Alagarsamy Verrappan MD, MPH
Summa Senior Care Services 
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Diane Kilo
Business Manager
​Emeritus Director , Past President

Diane Kilo is a retired educator with 30 years of experience in Tallmadge City Schools. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and an MS in Educational Supervision from the University of Akron with a specialization in gifted education. As a gifted program coordinator and teacher, she coached and directed several creative and academic competitions, conducted in-service trainings, presented at state and national gifted education conferences and served on several district-wide committees. She joined the Board of Directors of Summit Choral Society in 2013 and previously held office as Treasurer before her election as President in 2014. She served as President of the Board from October 2014 to July 2016. She was named an Emeritus Director at the end of the 2017-2018 season and continues to serve Summit Choral Society as the Business Manager. Ms. Kilo and her children have shared many musical experiences. She has served as a cantor and choir member for her church and performed in several community theater musical productions, often with her children. Ms. Kilo has been involved with Summit Choral Society since January 2004 when she joined the Masterworks Chorale. Both of her children participated in the Children's Choir Program for several years, and her son now sings along with her in the Metropolitan Chorus. 

Past Presidents

Ms. Diane Kilo, 2014-2016
Mr. Alexander Looney, 2014
Mr. Brian Watkins, 2012-2014
Ms. Lou Albertson, 2011
Dr. Steve Hallam, 2007-2011
Ms. Denise Byrd, 2005-2007
Mr. Mitchell Allen, 1999-2005