StanHywetFallMag

Stan Hywet
President
Linda Conrad
Set to Retire
The Stars Were
Aligned for
Midsummer
Night’s Gala
Honoring the
season theme, Community
– Not For Us Alone,
Stan Hywet shared the
historic estate with a
sell-out crowd of 550
guests as it hosted the
22nd annual Gala, Starry,
Starry Night. The event
was chaired by Pam
and Patrick O’Neill and
generously presented
by The Lehner Family
Foundation and The J.M.
Smucker Company.
The celebration
took place at the close
of a midsummer day,
Gala numbers
550
Guests
$25,000
Bidding for Dinner in the
Dining Room
$175,000
Evening’s proceeds
just as shadows began to dance on the distant hills,and
a palette painted in blues were giving way to the first
glimpse of twinkling stars. The evening evoked a sense of
community and togetherness as guests socialized, dined
on exquisite cuisine, and danced the night away.
A highlight of the evening was an auction for 20
guests to enjoy Dinner in the Dining Room, an exclusive
experience hosted in the Dining Room of the Manor
House. Guest auctioneer, Dave Lieberth did the honors.
Bidding was brisk and tied a previous record, selling for
$25,000.
Stan Hywet is grateful for the support of the Gala
chairs, corporate sponsors, table hosts, contributors, guests,
and volunteers whose combined efforts help achieve
over $175,000 in net proceeds to ensure the continued
preservation of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens.
Long-time CFO Sean Joyce
takes the helm
Linda Conrad will step down
from her role as President &
Executive Director of Stan Hywet
Hall & Gardens in October, and
retire from the organization at the
end of February 2018. Linda has
led the organization since 2009.
On behalf of the Board
of Directors, Chairman Brian
Cherkala confirmed that its
succession and transition plan
calls for Linda to continue in the
top role until October 31 of this
year, when she will transition to
President, Executive Director
Emeritus. At that time, Sean M.
Joyce, CFO & VP of Operations
for the past seven years, will be
appointed to Interim President,
Executive Director.
“The Board is thankful to
have had Linda’s leadership over
the past eight years. Under
her direction, the estate has
experienced a dramatic
transformation financially,
strategically and culturally, and is
well positioned to continue to
prosper,” said Cherkala.
“It’s been a true joy, honor and privilege to lead this
wonderful organization and to steward its transformation to
growth and sustainability,”said Linda.
Sean has had a key role in the transformation and
“Under her
direction, the estate
has experienced
a dramatic
transformation
financially,
strategically and
culturally, and is
well positioned
to continue
to prosper.”
success of the estate. His 23-year career includes positions as
the CFO of Goodwill Industries and Integrity Parking. A
Leadership Akron graduate, Sean is also the Board Chair of
Dancing Classrooms, Vice Chair of the University of Akron
Finance Advisory Board, and was an Akron Chamber of
Commerce 30 for the Future award recipient.
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