Northeast Regional Director
Special Olympics Ohio is ple
ased to announce that Libby Schafer was recently selected to fill the vacant position of Northeast Regional Director, located in our Amherst office. She will report directly to our Senior Director of Field Operations, Jeff Vermillion and will manage all the local programs and regional sports, as well as fundraising activities for the 22 counties of our Northeast Ohio Region beginning January 6, 2020.
Libby Schafer is a graduate of John Carroll University. Shortly after graduation, Libby started working at John Carroll in their development office. She played an active role in implementing the university’s first crowdfunding campaign. In 2015, Libby moved to Case Western Reserve University to work in the Office of Annual Giving. During her almost 5 years with the university, Libby helped streamline processes, bring new fundraising software to the university, and was a part of the successful $1.5 billion campus endowment campaign.
Outside of work, Libby is a lifelong Clevelander and an avid Cleveland sports fan. (GO TRIBE!) She enjoys working out, especially hot yoga and playing sand volleyball during the summer. Libby enjoys spending her evenings taking in all Cleveland has to offer with her husband, Andrew. They currently reside in Avon Lake with their two boxers, Cooper and Moe. Libby is excited to join the SOOH staff and can’t wait to officially meet everyone after the New Year!
South Central Regional Manager
In addition to the Northeast Regional Director, we are also announcing a change within the South Central region: Current Regional Manager, Steve Weaver has decided to step down from the position after a year of exemplary service to the local co
ordinators and athletes of the region. He will be replaced in January 2020 by current local coordinator for the Columbus City Schools program, John Esson.
John started volunteering with the Columbus Schools program in 2014 as a coach for powerlifting, swimming, softball, and basketball. He has contributed as a key volunteer by helping with fundraising and as an event director. John expanded his role with SOOH by accepting the role of Powerlifting Sport Director in 2018.
John was a small business owner for many years and was hired as local coordinator for the Columbus City Schools Special Olympics programs after Sherrie Andrus’ retirement in June of 2019. He was recently selected to succeed Steve as Regional Manager for the 23 central and southeast Ohio counties and will support local coordinators and manage regional qualifiers in his new role with the assistance of his regional management team.