The High 5 Awards recognize those advertising and marketing professionals in our area that go above and beyond the 9-to-5 workday in big and small ways. Maybe they come in early or leave work late, or maybe they show knowledge and experience well beyond their years in the industry. Maybe they are the go-to problem solvers, go-getters, or are always there to volunteer their time. We are proud to recognize our 2025 High Five winners.
Account Service Award
Nina Seifert
General Manager/Office Manager
Minuteman Press Youngstown
Nina came into this career with zero experience to join the family business. She is an account exec, sales rep, project manager, office manager, director of traffic and a great work-mate. Her natural ability to listen sets her apart. She listens to customers’ needs and solves their problems in simple, creative, and effective ways.
Her ability to manage multiple workflows while maintaining a deep understanding of the needs of each is impressive.
She makes work easier. She makes MPY’s products and services better and makes customers happy. MPY wouldn’t be where it is today without Nina’s instinct, drive, and passion.
MarComm Award
Kate DeAngelis
Director of Marketing
Barberton Community Foundation
Kate is a communications professional with 10 years of public relations, marketing, and grant writing experience for nonprofits. Her strengths include her ability to engage with audiences, develop strong relationships, and deliver results. She is a creative thinker, storyteller, and community advocate.
She is responsible for conceptualizing and coordinating the effective deployment of marketing initiatives that build and promote the Foundation’s brand, image and strategic goals. Under her guidance, she came up with consistent branding that united all aspects of the Foundation. She has an amazing work ethic that not only benefits the Foundation, but benefits the donors and citizens of Barberton.
She also gives back to the community. She has been a member of Torchbearers for over 3 years. fosters for local dog rescues and serves on the board of the Akron Parks Collaborative.
Production Award
Devan Weckerly Lambert
Director of Marketing
Better Business Bureau Akron
Devan is an outstanding team member who always goes above and beyond. She has created numerous new videos for BBB to showcase, which have the highest level of editing and graphics-never produced by a BBB employee prior.
Devan has taken the new annual print publication from BBB, BBB Trust Guide, and created her own mark on it. From graphics to content writing and ad creation, she has made this a must have magazine in the area.
Devan is very quick to seek more education and knowledge both in her trade and across the BBB system.
Most Valuable Peer
Katie Janota
Director, Creative Content & Project Management
United Way of Summit & Medina
Katie is a project-managing, social-media-wrangling, photographing, videoing, creative-team-leading marketing powerhouse – a jack of all trades and master of many. Whether she is interviewing clients about how United Way has touched their lives or coming up with new ways to get the word out about our services, Katie puts her heart into her work and is always eager to find a way to help others. Katie exemplifies the idea that marketing can be a tool to create meaningful positive change in our community.
Intern of the Year
Taylor Smith
(former intern)
Kleidon & Associates
Taylor started with Kleidon & Associates as a graphic design intern a year ago at the start of her senior year at the University of Akron.
Over the first six months of her internship, she immediately started creating client-ready work. As a professional, she had a hand in all of the campaigns that won ADDY awards for Kleidon this year. Individually, she won multiple student ADDY awards and went on to win a silver district ADDY award.
Taylor impressed the Kleidon team so much that they hired her full-time immediately after she graduated in the spring. She continues to be a tremendous asset to their team.
