Mentor Man Inducted Into Lakeland Hall Of Fame

Gary Swanson, the president and CEO of the Mentor-based company Thermotion, was inducted into the Lakeland Community College Alumni Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Swanson graduated from Lakeland in 1976 with an associate degree in arts.

He went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Lake Erie College.

He runs Thermotion, a company that designs and manufactures electro-thermal actuators for automotive, appliance, HVAV and aviation industries.

Over the years, he has been involved with many community activities including Lake Erie College, United Way of Lake County and Boy Scouts of America.

Swanson was joined in the 2012 Hall of Fame class by Robin Baum, Robert Foley, Lori Kilpeck and Charles Stennis.

Baum, class of 1998, has worked for since 2000 as manager of media relations. She has been involved in a number of area nonprofits including Western Reserve Junior Service League; Lake County Medical Alliance; Lake Hospital Foundation; American Cancer Society; LEAF; United Way of Lake County; Leadership Lake County; and currently serves as board chair of the Rabbit Run Community Arts Association.

Foley, class of 1974, is the general manager of Dynamic Drinkware, a large manufacturing company with worldwide sales, supplying organizations such as the NFL, MLB and major universities. He is an author and a motivational speaker and has held a number of positions in professional basketball. Foley has been involved in many volunteer activities including Boys and Girls Clubs in North Carolina, youth basketball clinics, and United Way of Lake County.

Kilpeck, class of 1996, is an attorney with Ziegler Metzger at both their Painesville and Cleveland offices. Kilpeck is an acting magistrate in Willoughby Municipal Court and teaches probate law and paralegal studies at Lakeland. She is active with the Lake County Bar Association, Northeast Ohio Mothers of Multiples, and previously served with the Women’s Initiative for the United Way.

Stennis, class of 1997, serves on boards and in leadership positions with many local organizations including Lake Metropolitan Housing Authority, Forbes House, Salvation Army, Western Reserve Housing, Lake County NAACP, and the American Legion Post 336, where he previously served as commander for Lake County. A veteran himself, he has been recognized by local newspapers for his outstanding community leadership and planning involvement with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Outpatient Clinic for hosting the annual Veterans Appreciation event that draws more than 500 veterans.