The Together “WE” Can Appreciation Dinner and Awards is a biennial event established to recognize the people, businesses, and organizations who promote the concept of Community Without Barriers.
Below is a link to the video from the night of the event:
THE HELEN HOOVER KLINGLER COMMITMENT AWARD
The Helen Hoover Klingler Commitment Award was established in honor of the late Helen Hoover Klingler who dedicated many years of service to what was then known as the “MR/DD” field. With the support of other parents, Helen established the Happy Hour School. The first class of Happy Hour School was held in September 1960. There were 12 students and one teacher located in the Junction City Elementary School building. The Perry County Council, established in the summer of 1960, raised the funds for this class by solicitations, donations, and special projects. Part of the transportation was furnished by parents, supplies were donated, and the facility was available free of charge. Candidates nominated for this award should exhibit similar qualities as the late Helen Hoover Klingler: knowledge, principles, lifelong advocate, leadership, commitment, and dedication to the DD program and community. https://youtu.be/RUjBkDFs_yw
2022 Award Winner: Ken Yuchasz
Ken Yuchasz was born long ago in a land far, far away…okay, a small town in Michigan. He grew up in a large family where he loved being outside and working on family cars in their rundown garage. In high school, Ken was active in theater, student government, and community service as President of the local JayTeens Chapter. In his youth, Ken spent most of his summers working, but he also attended a summer class at Michigan Tech for computers and traveled as a foreign exchange student to Arequipa Peru.
After high school graduation, Ken was awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship to cover most of the costs associated with a bachelor’s’ degree from Eastern Michigan University. While there, Ken served as a Resident Advisor and orientation counselor, as well as working full time in a local restaurant. Ken graduated and went off to California for his first two years of training to fly B-52s as a “navigator – bombardier”. Ken served in the Air Force for eight years, leaving as a Captain. He was stationed in Texas and northern Michigan (three hours north of Green Bay!). Nearly one-quarter of his time was spent “on alert”: living at the end of a runway in a hardened facility ready to launch for nuclear war.
After leaving the military, Ken settled in Perry County, Ohio. The area reminded him of his hometown before he left, and he felt good about being here. Ken found work in sales at Sun TV and a car dealership. He left his Service Manager job at the dealership to spend more time with his family in the wake of Y2K and 9/11. Ken later became the Perry County Coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters and United Way Co-chair. As funding for that job ran out, Ken began working with the local schools and pursued his master’s degree.
Ken earned his Master’s in Education degree from Muskingum University and has been teaching in New Lexington Schools for over nineteen years. In January 2009, Ken’s life with his children with special needs and working with at-risk youth led him to seek a board member appointment with the Perry County Board of Developmental Disabilities where he later served in the role of President before reaching the maximum consecutive tenure in this role.
Ken has been married to his wife Robin for over twenty years, and they are very proud of their children and grandchildren.
2013 award winner: Kathleen Cannon
2014 award winner: Sarah Winters
2017 award winner: Kay Stickdorn
2019 award winner: Dan Sech-Kar
2022 award winner: Ken Yuchasz
THE DEBBIE KING CHARACTER AWARD
The Debbie King Character Award is given to a person to recognize the recipient’s contribution as a self-advocate in Perry County. The award honors Debbie King in remembrance of her courage as a self-advocate and someone who was determined to support and defend people with disabilities. Debbie participated in many activities within PCBDD and was the driving force behind the start of PCBDD’s advocacy group. Candidates nominated for this award shall demonstrate similar character traits and qualities of the late Debbie King such as dedication and integrity and being a consistent, committed, caring, and determined promoter of leadership in our community. https://youtu.be/jOrej0gyCgw
2022 Award Winner: Doane Livingstone
Doane Livingstone is an avid sports fan, loving father, and hard worker who loves his community! Anyone who has been to a New Lexington Panther Football game has probably seen Doane helping and supporting the team. He is a big part of the New Lexington Panthers Football team and attends every New Lex Panther football game.
Doane also enjoys baseball and basketball and enjoys playing basketball for the PerCo Cougars.
Doane lives in his own apartment and is a hard worker who has become a valued employee at Wendy’s in New Lexington.
Doane is proud of his beautiful daughter, Isabel. He enjoys attending church every Sunday and helping with Vacation Bible Study.
Doane also attends Pioneering Possibilities and likes to learn about leadership and participate in community service projects.
Doane’s other hobbies include collecting fire/EMS stuff and going on outings with Expanding Your Horizons
2013 award winner: Morgan Deavers
2014 award winner: Danny Miller
2017 award winner: Cassandra Bolyard
2019 award winner: Robby Reed
2022 award winner: Doane Livingstone
THE COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AWARD
The Community Collaboration Award is given to a business or community organization that exemplifies the actions set forth in the PCBDD mission “making connections to promote abilities and enrich lives.” Businesses and/or community organizations nominated for this award partner with PCBDD through collaboration and resourceful efforts to better the lives of people with disabilities in Perry County. https://youtu.be/HXpKaDshQ6A
2022 Award Winner: Justin Gall, CEO, Mount Aloysius Corp.
Justin Gall is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Mount Aloysius Corporation in New Lexington, and he is responsible for the oversight and administration of their strategic plan and service delivery system. Justin’s career working with people with disabilities began 25 years ago as a Direct Support Professional working in Intermediate Care Facilities and Supported Living homes. He spent a number of years working within the private provider sector as a Support Living Manager and Qualified Intellectual Developmental Professional. Justin has also worked in the role of Service and Support Administrator in the public sector.
Justin earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree from Kent State University and has had the opportunity to manage both private and public agencies, dealing directly with service delivery, customer satisfaction, and developing strategies to enhance self-sufficiency, safety and well-being of individuals. After a 15-year hiatus as an administrator of Investigation and Assessment within the child welfare system, Justin’s passion for working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead him back to his home in Perry County.
Justin is proud to serve Mount Aloysius and work alongside great professionals who understand the importance that partnerships make to protect, support, and enrich the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Justin and his wife Adele are lifelong residents of Perry County. They have three daughters, Maggie, Lauren, and Charlotte, who keep them busy with sports and other activities.
2013 award winner: Perry County Health Department
2014 award winner: Perry County Tribune
2017 award winner: Allwell Behavioral Health Services
2019 award winner: Hopewell Health Centers Early Childhood Programs
2022 award winner: Justin Gall, CEO, Mount Aloysius Corp.
THE ‘INSPIRE BY EXAMPLE’ AWARD
The PCBDD ‘Inspire by Example’ Outstanding Volunteer Award is designed to recognize a person or family who has gone above and beyond to help promote awareness or provide services and supports to children or adults with developmental disabilities. Candidates nominated for this award should have dedicated time and support to volunteer and serve as a champion for people with disabilities. This person also by demonstrates a commitment to our agency and the community. https://youtu.be/7cJH-tgbsYs
2022 Award Winner: Scott Pfettscher
Scott Pfettscher is the pastor at the Somerset Church of Christ. Scott and his wife Hannah came from Indiana to Perry County in 2017 when Scott began his full-time preaching position. He graduated from the Florida School of Preaching in 2017 in addition to receiving his BA in Youth Ministry from Anderson University.
Soon after Scott and his wife moved to Perry County, he began efforts to become acquainted and connect with the local community. At a commissioner’s meeting, Scott stated he was looking for ways to get involved in the community, and it was suggested for him to attend a Pioneering Possibilities Community Leadership session.
Since then, Scott has tried to attend every meeting. He has helped with decorating parade floats and walking in parades with Pioneering Possibilities. Scott has also assisted with the Someone Special Breakfast and attended the Pioneering Possibilities Thanksgiving Dinner in 2019.
Scott has supported Pioneering Possibilities by inviting his church members to the events. Through the relationships Scott has built with Pioneering Possibilities, they have showed up to work and offer help through a community service project at the Somerset Church of Christ. The church members enjoyed this so much that they are asking when they will be doing it again.
Scott has also connected and built relationships with people at Mount Aloysius. This past July, he started monthly Bible Study where he hopes to continue to be involved as long as possible. Scott also teaches a Bible Study group at Primrose Retirement Center in Zanesville.
2013 award winner: Dean and Teresa Stevenson
2014 award winner: Judge Cooperrider
2017 award winner: Steve and Belinda Lee
2019 award winner: Dave Horn, Dave’s Feed & Seed
2022 award winner: Scott Pfettscher, Somerset Church of Christ
THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Visionary Leadership Award was established and was initiated as a collaborative leadership award. The purpose of this award recognizes extraordinary leadership within our local communities. Candidates nominated for this award shall demonstrate the highest level of integrity and dedication to leadership. The recipient of this award adds value and enriches the lives of people by instilling passion in those around them to make our schools, our workforce, and our communities better. https://youtu.be/6tgihGPZTyI
2022 Award Winner: Casey Coffey
Casey Coffey is the Superintendent of the New Lexington School District where he has served in this capacity for the past eight years. Prior to that, he has held many levels of leadership positions in education that include Athletic Director, Assistant Principal, Middle School Principal, High School Principal, and Assistant Superintendent.
Casey has dedicated over 30 years of public service to kids through teaching, coaching, volunteering, and leading in many capacities. He has coached junior high basketball, baseball, and high school football. He currently helps coach his daughter’s New Lexington 8U softball team. Casey also has an extreme love of the outdoors. He is an avid bass fisherman and upland game hunter. Casey served as Bass Fishing Coach and Youth Advisor for Perry County Junior Anglers for many years.
Casey has also proudly served on numerous boards throughout his career. Currently he is a board member for the Perry County Chamber of Commerce and Mt. Aloysius. Casey is a man of strong faith and strives to be a better believer and servant leader each day and is motivated by the people that surround him.
Casey received his BA and MA at Muskingum University and was a part of the Rural Superintendency Cohort at Ohio University and University of Dayton with concentrations in Educational Leadership and Special Education Law. He began his career as a Special Education teacher and Physical Education/Health teacher. He has taught a broad range of ages from elementary through high school.
Casey is married to his wife Erin, and they have two kids: 20-year-old Kobe and 8-year-old Hadley. Casey is originally from McConnelsville and a graduate of Morgan High School. Casey and his family reside in Perry County, near Saltillo.
Casey stresses three things: kids, community, and relationships. Casey feels we are living in a time of opportunity, and we have to embrace change as an opportunity to move forward with our VISION and transform our future. Driven by a “Why Not New Lex?” attitude, Casey believes that we have an obligation to provide the maximum access for kids that we can, and we have to hustle to do so at all times. Focusing on the student as a whole is extremely important as we move into the future. Specifically, Workforce Development is a crucial ingredient for achieving a healthy and dynamic community and education and training programs are more important than ever as we navigate an ever-changing world.
2017 award winner: ALA Leadership Award Greg Holbert
2019 award winner: Cheryl Boley, Perry County Job and Family Services
2022 award winner: Casey Coffey, New Lexington City Schools
