(Announcements are compiled from press releases and in order received)
NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GEM promotes Nate Schroeder to vice president
WALBRIDGE – Nate Schroeder has been promoted to Vice President of GEM Inc.,
senior vice president Scott Kepp announced.
In his role, Schroeder, formerly GEM’s Mechanical Group Manager, will continue to
support the organization’s goals, including a focus on growth outside of Northwest Ohio
and promoting “one company” thinking among all Rudolph Libbe Group companies.
“Nate has been a key leader in the growth of our business and will continue to do so in
his new leadership assignment,” Kepp said. “His knowledge and expertise, combined
with his steadfast attention to the success of all Rudolph Libbe Group companies,
positions us well for the future.”
Schroeder served an internship with Rudolph Libbe Inc. and joined GEM in 2008 as a
project engineer. He subsequently was promoted to Project Manager and Mechanical
Group Manager. He is a member of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association. Active in the community, Schroeder serves as a youth baseball and football coach. He also serves as president of the Reserve Homeowners Association. (04/22)
Toledo Classic is looking for a few good men & women
This year, the Toledo Classic has a new format involving both the EPSON Tour, “On the
road to the LPGA” and former LPGA stars from the Legend’s Tour.
Every grouping will include two young women from the EPSON Tour and one
experienced professional from the Legend’s Tour. The Legend’s Tour was founded in 2001 and provides a series of professional golf tournaments for former LPGA professionals over the age of 45. The EPSON Tour features young women trying to earn status on the LPGA Tour.
This unique event will give the EPSON Tour ladies a chance to pick the brains of the
women that have gone before them and were successful in professional golf.
It is also a chance for golf fans in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan to meet future
LPGA stars, as well as former idols from the LPGA.
Various options for volunteering are available and can be reviewed at the website. Click
HERE to learn more, or to register. (04/22)
Toledo Museum of Art’s hosts new podcast
Episode 1 of the Toledo Museum of Art’s new podcast, Building on Brilliance: TMA’s Story, is now live on Spotify and Apple. New episodes drop every Thursday.
Hosted by Jennifer McCary, TMA’s chief culture and brand experience officer, the series explores the vision, process, and partnerships behind the museum’s transformational reinstallation project. This week’s episode features the museum’s president, CEO and director Adam Levine and deputy director Andrea Gardner. (04/22)
UToledo, Cenovus Energy celebrates new partnership
TOLEDO – The University of Toledo and Cenovus Energy celebrated a new partnership to support students during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 17.
The integrated energy company recently committed $1 million to UToledo, supporting student organizations and scholarship programs in the College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. In recognition of this support, the College of Engineering is renaming its High Bay Atrium, a shared programming and event space in the North Engineering Building, the Cenovus Energy Hub.
Cenovus’ gift will directly fund the Cenovus Energy STEM Student Scholarship Program, supporting high-performing students and ensuring they are able to complete their programs and enter the workforce without being limited by financial barriers, and the Cenovus Energy STEM Student Organization Grant Program, supporting student organizations at both the engineering and natural science and mathematics colleges with access to funds for programming, service and research projects, and conference attendance.
Cenovus Energy has also agreed to help bolster programming and networking opportunities with support for speaker fees, space enhancements, equipment, software and other needs that will enhance the student experience. Programming will include hands-on learning and discussions focused on experimenting, designing, prototyping and idea sharing through workshops, experienced guidance and engagement with Cenovus Energy’s industry experts.
Additionally, Cenovus is supporting the Cenovus Energy Professional Headshot Booth, helping Rockets prepare for their future careers by providing access to consistent, high-quality professional headshots at no cost. (04/20)
National Work Zone Awareness kicks off on April 21–25
National Work Zone Awareness Week will be observed this coming week, carrying the theme, “Respect the Zone So We All Get Home.”
National Work Zone Awareness Week is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones.
Note: Earth Day will be observed during the week as well on April 22. ODOT crews will be cleaning up litter along the highways. (04/20)
BGSU partners with Toledo on $2M grant to combat gun violence
BOWLING GREEN – Bowling Green State University researchers are partnering with the City of Toledo to strengthen community-based violence prevention programs as part of a $2 million federal grant to combat gun violence.
During the three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, BGSU researchers will evaluate existing program initiatives to better align efforts with evidence-based violence intervention and prevention services.
Dr. Nichole Fifer, director of the BGSU Center for Regional Development (CRD), will lead the project for the University, which is supported by a $250,000 subaward from the Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) site-based grant.
Docherty shared recent findings as part of the study on April 16 at the main branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. Presented by the BGSU Institute for the Study of Culture and Society, the presentation offered insight on community sentiment around gun violence, explore prevention strategies and highlight support systems for survivors and victims’ families.
UToledo, Cenovus Energy celebrates new partnership
The University of Toledo and Cenovus Energy will celebrate a new partnership to support students during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 17.
The integrated energy company recently committed $1 million to UToledo, supporting student organizations and scholarship programs in the College of Engineering and College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. In recognition of this support, the College of Engineering is renaming its High Bay Atrium, a shared programming and event space in the North Engineering Building, the Cenovus Energy Hub.
Cenovus’ gift will directly fund the Cenovus Energy STEM Student Scholarship Program, supporting high-performing students and ensuring they are able to complete their programs and enter the workforce without being limited by financial barriers, and the Cenovus Energy STEM Student Organization Grant Program, supporting student organizations at both the engineering and natural science and mathematics colleges with access to funds for programming, service and research projects, and conference attendance.
Cenovus Energy is headquartered in Canada and operates the Cenovus Toledo Refinery in Oregon, Ohio. The company also operates a refinery in Lima. (04/17)
ECHL Hockey Operations is Department of Year of the Award
(Toledo, OH) – The ECHL on Wednesday, April 16, announced that the Toledo Walleye are the 2024-25 recipient of the League’s Hockey Operations Department of the Year Award.
The award is presented annually to the team judged to have the best hockey operations department in the league and is determined by a vote of ECHL coaches.
The Jacksonville Icemen finished second in the voting, followed by the South Carolina Stingrays, Florida Everblades and Kansas City Mavericks.
Toledo finished the 2024-25 season with a record of 44-17-11 for 99 points, and captured the Central Division regular-season title for the second consecutive season and the seventh time in the last 10 seasons. Walleye head coach Pat Mikesch was selected as the Western Conference coach on the ECHL Midseason All-Star Team. (04/17)
Walleye announce 2025 Kelly Cup playoffs roster
TOLEDO – The 11th overall and 9th consecutive Toledo Walleye “Run for the Kelly Cup” hockey gets underway at the Huntington Center on Thursday, April 17, as the Indy Fuel return to the Huntington Center to begin the Central Division Semifinals.
Fourteen total forwards make the Kelly Cup playoff roster: Will Hillman, Sam Craggs, Cole Gallant, Billy Moskal, Brandon Hawkins, Tyler Spezia, Trenton Bliss, Conlan Keenan, Nolan Moyle, Brandon Kruse, Darian Pilon, Mitchell Lewandowski, and Colby Ambrosio, along with Carson Bantle, who currently with Grand Rapids.
Eight total defensemen make the roster: Jalen Smereck, Nick Andrews, Matt Anderson, Brendan Michaelian, Bobby Russell, Colin Swoyer, Jed Pietila, and Dylan Moulton.
The goaltenders are Jan Bednar, assigned from Grand Rapids, and Carter Gylander, assigned from Grand Rapids by Detroit.
The active roster will consist of Hillman, Craggs, Gallant, Moskal, Bliss, Keenan, Moyle, Kruse, Pilon, Lewandowski, Ambrosio, Smereck, Andrews, Anderson, Michaelian, Swoyer, Pietila, Moulton, Bednar, and Gylander.
Hawkins, Spezia, and Russell will begin the playoffs on reserve, while Bantle is on the playoff eligible list. (04/15)
BGSU remains a top choice for graduate education in 2025
BOWLING GREEN – Reflecting continued momentum at Bowling Green State University, several of the University’s graduate degree programs have once again been nationally recognized in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate School rankings.
BGSU remains a top choice for graduate education, supporting students’ career advancement and leadership development, while positioning them for success in ever-evolving industries.
Topped-ranked programs include sociology, speech-language pathology, applied stats, RING Center for Experiential Learning in Art and Design, clinical psychology and public administration. (04/15)
Toledo ranks 3rd in most affordable U.S. city to buy happiness
TOLEDO – A new report by Vegas Aces has revealed the top U.S. cities where money makes Americans the happiest, including the most affordable cities where money can buy happiness. Vegas Aces determined the ranking by analyzing the average household incomes, life expectancies, quality of life scores, and depression rates of the 150 most populous U.S. cities.
Toldeo ranks as the #3 most affordable city where money can buy the most happiness. With an average household income of $62,023 among its more than 265k residents, locals benefit from a lower cost of living while still enjoying the comforts of a fulfilling lifestyle.
The city has a livability score of 66 and life expectancy of 73.8 years, suggesting that even on a modest income, substantial quality of life remains within reach. While the depression rates stand out at 22.8 percent, Toledo’s access to plenty local attractions and a strong sense of community reinforce the idea that happiness isn’t just about wealth.
For the full study, please visit here. (04/15)
Arts Commission launches free digital public art guide
TOLEDO – The Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program, which
manages the City of Toledo’s public art collection via the One Percent for Art
Program, is launching a new digital public art guide as a free resource via the
Bloomberg Connects platform.
The guide is available as both a mobile app and web browser, with a wide array of
features to equip all visitors to explore Toledo’s Public Art collection, including
on-site tours, a live map showing user location for wayfinding within the
collection, audio descriptions for selected works, and a slate of accessible
features including translation and screen reader capabilities, transcripts, subtitles,
alt-text, and more. Select works also include individual on-site accessibility notes
highlighting transit, parking, seating, and other site conditions.
This guide is the result of an ongoing accessibility initiative for the Art in Public
Places collection, informed by an accessibility audit completed in 2024 in
partnership with The Ability Center, and supported by an Ohio Arts Council
ArtsNEXT grant.
The guide contains over 50 major sculptures throughout the city, and The Arts
Commission aims to expand access to include other works in the Art in Public
Places collection including murals, benches, bike racks, and signal box wraps.
The Digital Public Art Guide can be found here. (04/11)
Kat Cole, CEO at AG1, announced as keynote speaker for the
2025 Women’s Leadership Summit presented by Owens Corning
TOLEDO – The 2025 Women’s Leadership Summit announces this year’s event theme, “Driving Excellence Through Mentorship” and will feature Kat Cole, CEO of AG1 – a global health company focused on foundational nutrition – as the keynote speaker.
The 2025 event will be held on Thursday, July 10, at the Glass City Center. In its ninth year, the Summit will continue to empower women, develop individuals and give back to the community. This year’s event launches a new format that will provide networking and mentorship opportunities throughout the year.
Cole is CEO at AG1, a global health company focused on foundational nutrition. In her role, she is responsible for leading AG1’s next phase of growth, global expansion, and innovation. Cole is a seasoned business leader and sought-after advisor with more than 20 years of operational, brand, and executive leadership experience. She has been a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, a member of the United Nations Global Entrepreneurs Council, and named to Fortune’s annual 40 Under 40 list.
Funds raised will benefit local northwest Ohio children’s charities.
Sponsorship opportunities are available including Full Tables for $5,000 (10 seats), Half Tables for $2,500 (5 seats) and Individual tickets for $500, which include the luncheon and full day of programming. Individual tickets for the program only are available for $50.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call Savannah Wagener at 419-531-3277 or email at swagener@toledoclassic.com. (04/11)
