ystark!

ystark! Where young professionals connect, grow and belong -- making an impact and building a future in Stark County.

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Tomorrow's Sunrise Session speakers are Ashley Gantz and Elise Watkins of the Stark County Minority Business Association...
08/31/2026

Tomorrow's Sunrise Session speakers are Ashley Gantz and Elise Watkins of the Stark County Minority Business Association (SCMBA)!

Ashley Gantz, PhD, is a scholar, author, and artist from Canton, Ohio. A proud graduate of Malone University, Northwestern State University, and Faulkner University, Ashley holds a doctorate in Humanities with a concentration in Language and Literature.

Her multifaceted career began as an intern with the American Kennel Club in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she contributed to the Legislative Affairs Department. Today, she brings a unique blend of academic rigor and creative vision to SCMBA’s business development efforts.

Elise Watkins, a native of Akron, Ohio, serves as SCMBA’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator. She earned both her bachelor’s degree in Communication and master’s degree in Marketing from Walsh University.

With a strong connection to Stark County, Elise has held several positions within the Stark County Catholic Schools marketing department, most recently serving as Director of Marketing for St. Thomas Aquinas High School. She is motivated by the difference this work can make for generations to come and is dedicated to contributing to the economic betterment of communities across Stark County and beyond.

Join us tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to hear more about their work with SCMBA and their upcoming golf outing!

08/28/2026

Clocked out and connected 🤝✨

Last night’s YP Meetup was all about good conversations, new connections and making time for your network after the 9 to 5. 🔥

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is Joe Jackson, Commercial Agent at NAI Spring Commercial Real Estate. Joe is a c...
08/21/2026

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is Joe Jackson, Commercial Agent at NAI Spring Commercial Real Estate.

Joe is a commercial real estate professional specializing in the acquisition, disposition, and leasing of commercial properties throughout Stark County. Joe began his career in 2022 with his father’s firm, Tom Jackson Commercial Real Estate, before joining NAI Spring in early 2024.

Prior to entering commercial real estate, Joe pursued a career in ministry and earned an Associate degree in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University. The communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills developed during that time continue to shape the way Joe approaches his work and serves his clients.

A lifelong Stark County resident, Joe is passionate about the community and looks forward to playing a role in its continued growth and development. He is committed to building lasting relationships with his clients and helping them make informed decisions about their commercial real estate investments.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys spending time with his wife and their one-and-a-half-year-old son, being outdoors, playing golf, and spending time with his friends.

Join us Tuesday at 8:30 AM at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to hear more from Joe and his story!

One week until ystark's YP Meetup is headed to La Sirena Mexican Grill!Join us on Thursday, August 27th from 5–7 PM for ...
08/20/2026

One week until ystark's YP Meetup is headed to La Sirena Mexican Grill!

Join us on Thursday, August 27th from 5–7 PM for an evening of good food, new connections, and a chance to unwind with other young professionals from across Stark County.

There’s no cost to attend, and complimentary appetizers will be provided by La Sirena! Additional food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Whether you come with coworkers or show up on your own, YP Meetup is all about making it easy to meet new people and build connections in a relaxed setting.

Registration is free, but please register so we can plan for an accurate headcount!

Register here: https://business.cantonchamber.org/event-calendar/Details/yp-meet-up-la-sirena-mexican-grill-1849444?sourceTypeId=Website

Mark your calendars! We've got a full lineup of ways to get involved in the coming months. Connect with fellow young pro...
08/19/2026

Mark your calendars! We've got a full lineup of ways to get involved in the coming months. Connect with fellow young professionals and spend some time giving back to the community. 🫶

For the full event schedule, visit cantonchamber.org/event-calendar.

Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Putt Street Social Pathway Caring For Children

Thank you to James Warnken, Owner of Clear Vision Digital Accessibility Consulting and Founder and Executive Director of...
08/18/2026

Thank you to James Warnken, Owner of Clear Vision Digital Accessibility Consulting and Founder and Executive Director of Stark A11y, for speaking at Tuesday's ystark Sunrise Session hosted by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

"Is your company’s website or mobile app accessible to everyone?"

That’s the question James opened today’s Sunrise Session with, asking for a show of hands. He then shared a statistic that caught the room’s attention: 97% of websites have accessibility issues.

James’s goal for the morning was simple: build awareness and help us experience digital accessibility from a different perspective.

One exercise had attendees close their eyes or put on a blindfold while James described an image only as “Image 4.” With no other context, we had no idea what the image actually showed. It was a simple but powerful demonstration of why something like descriptive Alt Text matters for someone who is blind or has low vision.

Throughout the session, James challenged us to think beyond images, exploring color contrast, accessible audio and video content, links, readability, and the many ways someone with a disability may experience the same digital content differently.

He also shared how his work with clients goes beyond identifying accessibility issues. His approach includes discovery, auditing, user testing, remediation, ongoing support, training, and documentation to help organizations make accessibility part of how they operate moving forward.

We’ve come a long way since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, but James reminded us that there is still plenty of work ahead to create experiences that are truly accessible for everyone.

Thank you, James, for giving our Sunrise Session attendees a new perspective and practical ways to think differently about accessibility in our websites, social media, documents, and everyday work.

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is James Warnken, CPACC, who is the owner of Clear Vision Digital Accessibility C...
08/14/2026

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is James Warnken, CPACC, who is the owner of Clear Vision Digital Accessibility Consulting and the found and Executive Director of Stark A11y.

While studying business marketing at Walsh University, James began his professional career in digital marketing, cybersecurity, and technology. At the same time, he started Clear Vision, which originally began as an apparel line.

Today, James works as an accessibility consultant, combining 20 years of lived experience with a visual disability with nearly 10 years of professional experience to break down accessibility barriers so everyone has access to the same great experience.

From testing websites and building strategies to implementing fixes, James is committed to lowering the barrier to entry and making accessibility easy, actionable, and sustainable.

James has led more than 100 accessibility projects and initiatives and trained more than 500 professionals on accessibility best practices, helping create more accessible experiences for more than 10 million users.

Join us Tuesday at 8:30 AM at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to hear more from James and learn how accessibility can create better experiences for everyone.

08/14/2026

Calling all young professionals! Join ystark for our next YP Meetup at La Sirena Mexican Grill on Thursday, August 27th from 5:00–7:00 PM.

There’s no cost to attend, and La Sirena will be providing complimentary appetizers for the group. Additional food and drinks will also be available for purchase.

Whether you’re looking to meet new people, reconnect with familiar faces, or just unwind after work, YP Meetup is an easy way to build connections with other young professionals in Stark County.

Registration is free, but please register so we can plan for an accurate head count.

📍 La Sirena Mexican Grill
📅 Thursday, August 27 | 5:00–7:00 PM

Register here: https://ow.ly/fGk650ZzOs4

Thank you to Rachel Pittman, Community Relations Specialist with Herzing University, for speaking at Tuesday's ystark Su...
08/13/2026

Thank you to Rachel Pittman, Community Relations Specialist with Herzing University, for speaking at Tuesday's ystark Sunrise Session hosted by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

We learned how much Rachel also enjoys traveling! You might find her traveling across the state building relationships for Herzing, or planning her next beach vacation!

Rachel shared Herzing University’s evolution from a computer training school in 1965 to a nonprofit university with a strong focus on healthcare education. With nursing among its areas of study, Herzing is working to help address the nursing shortage by preparing students for careers in a field where the workforce need continues to be significant.

A big focus of the morning was the power of partnerships. Through her role, Rachel works with employers, healthcare organizations, and community partners to connect people with educational opportunities, support workforce development, and create pathways for internships, clinical experiences, and employment.

And in true Sunrise Session fashion, Rachel got everyone talking with a “Common Ground Challenge,” asking each table to find 8–10 things everyone had in common beyond the obvious.

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is Rachel Pittman, Community Relations Specialist with Herzing University - Akro...
08/07/2026

Next Tuesday's Sunrise Session speaker is Rachel Pittman, Community Relations Specialist with Herzing University - Akron Campus.

In her role, Rachel gets to builds meaningful relationships with employers, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and community partners across Ohio. She is passionate about connecting people, creating opportunities, and supporting workforce development that benefits both students and the communities Herzing serves.

One of Rachel's favorite parts of her role is being out in the community, meeting new people, learning about the work they do, and discovering ways organizations can collaborate to make a greater impact. She believes some of the best opportunities begin with simply showing up, starting a conversation, and seeing where it leads.

Join us Tuesday at 8:30 AM at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank to learn more about her story and the work she's doing in the community through education.

Address

222 Market Avenue N
Canton, OH
44702

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+13304567253

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