SELECTED HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Professional Honors

·         Public Service Award, Summit County Children Services – 2012

·         Hudson Hero, Hudson Rotary Club – 2012

·         Elected Official of the Year, Ohio Public Images, for being “a community leader who consistently champions causes for people with developmental disabilities” – 2011

·         Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association Leadership Award – 2010

·         Woman of Achievement, Celebrate & Share, a Pittsburgh organization, in recognition of Prosecutor Walsh’s successful prosecution of Jimmy Lee Tayse – 2008

·         Special Achievement Award, Ohio Attorney General’s Office – 2008

·         Public Official of the Year, National Association of Social Workers – 2007

·         Prosecutor of the Year, Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association – 2006

·         Awarded Women’s History Project of Akron’s “Faye H. Dambrot Heroine Award” – 2004

·         MADD Red Ribbon Award for aggressive prosecution of drunk drivers – 2004

·         Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award for Government Service – 2004

·         MADD Red Ribbon Award for efforts in improving D.U.I. law – 2003

·         Urban Lights Award for Women in Public Service – 2003

·         Woman of the Year, Northeast Ohio Business & Professional Women’s Club – 2002

·         Recognized for exceptional commitment to innocent victims of crime in Ohio, Ohio Supreme Court – 1992

Child Support Enforcement Agency

     ·         Most Improved Collections on Current Support in the Metro Caseload Division, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services – 2011

·         Best Practice Award for Hospital Genetic Testing Program, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2010

·         Recognized for using billboards to locate felony child support offenders, Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Agency – 2009

·         Best Practice Award for development of child support workshops at churches throughout the community, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2009

·         Achievement Award for Child Support Days, National Association of Counties – 2009

·         Best Practice Award for using billboards to locate felony child support offenders, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2008

·         Best Practice Award for sting operation to arrest child support offenders, Ohio Family Support Association – 2005

·         Best Practice Award for REACH Program, Ohio Family Support Association – 2005

·         Most Improved Child Support Program in the Country, National Child Support Enforcement Agency – 2005

·         Best Practice Award for Child Support Enforcement Agency’s Procedural Handbook, Ohio Family Support Association – 2004

·         Most Improved for child support order establishment, State Office of Child Support symposium – 2004

·         Best Practice Award for new child support specialist training, Ohio Family Support Association – 2002

·         Best Practice Award for August Child Support Awareness Month activities and Administrative Lien Program, Ohio Family Support Association – 2001

Legislation

·         Drafted legislation with former state senator Leigh Herington that introduced stiffer penalties for habitual drunk drivers – 2004

·         Drafted provision of law requiring a sentence of life with no possibility of parole for offenders previously convicted of child rape and offenders who cause serious physical harm to a child victim – 2002

·         Successfully encouraged Ohio legislature to remove changes to the crime victim compensation laws that would have been detrimental to victims of violent crime – 1999 - 2000

VOLUNTEER WORK & MEMBERSHIPS

Akron Bar Association – member; Street Law Committee resource attorney

Akron Victim Assistance – board member

Great Akron Area Autism Society – board member

The Justice League of Ohio – board member

Leadership Akron Justice Day Planning Committee

National District Attorneys Association

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association – president (2010), president-elect (2009), vice president (2008), treasurer (2007), secretary (2006), executive committee (2001 – present)

Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force for the Northern District of Ohio

St. Mary’s Church – parishioner

State Victim Assistance Advisory Board, Attorney General’s Office – chair (2007 – 2010)

Summit County Child Fatality Board

Summit County D.U.I. Task Force

Summit County Drug Enforcement Unit

Summit County Multidisciplinary Team, Child Advocacy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital

Summit County Domestic Violence Coalition

Summit County Police Chief’s Association