2025 OJACC Achievement Award Recipients
OJACC created four awards to be given to Ohioans whose work has contributed to the improvement of community corrections.
Representative C. J. McLin Award
The late Representative C.J. McLin, Jr., during his tenure in the General Assembly, actively worked to improve community corrections through funding and legislative change. The award is given annually to an elected official in Ohio who has worked towards the improvement of community corrections in Ohio.
Awarded to:
Judge Joyce V. Kimbler
Judge Joyce V. Kimbler has been a judge of the Medina County Court of Common Pleas since 2015, having won election in 2014 and re-election in 2020. Judge Kimbler presides over two specialized dockets certified by the Ohio Supreme Court, Drug Court and Mental Health Court. Judge Kimbler received a B.A. from Evangel College and her J.D. from the University of Akron.
She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1982. She then served as a judicial clerk for Judge William Baird at the Ninth District Court of Appeals. Thereafter, she was in practice as a trial attorney for 29 years. Judge Kimbler’s Drug Court was featured in a documentary entitled Second Chances: One Year in Ohio’s Drug Courts. Judge Joyce V. Kimbler’s Medina Intervention
Program (MIP) and the mission of the Medina County Drug Court is to improve the overall quality of life in the community by providing a court supervised program for substance depending offenders that will enhance their likelihood of being productive members of society, while keeping the community safe. The Medina Intervention Program is made up of a multidisciplinary team to ensure that best practices and standards are the core function when operating the drug court program. Drug courts are considered the most effective strategy for reducing addiction, crime, and recidivism while promoting real positive change in individual lives.
Judge Joyce Kimbler’s Drug Court celebrates the graduates and offers them a platform to tell their personal stories of success for Drug Awareness Month. These stories were shared with the Medina County Commissioners and others within the community to spread the word about the work of drug courts and more importantly, give a public face to the issues surrounding mental illness and substance abuse. A few of the comments from graduates:
“The Honorable Judge Kimbler has an amazing outlook on what a team of caring and dedicated staff is all about! Thank God!!!”
“Instead of getting the proper treatment I self-medicated and it took me down a rough road which landed me in a position where I got placed in front of a wonderful women named Judge Joyce Kimbler of Medina County.”
“I would also like to acknowledge the support of Judge Kimbler, she shows that for her, this is more than just another day on the job!! She wants to see us ALL succeed, and I admire that the most about her.”
Previous Recipients:
Sheriff Rob Streck
State Representative Phil Plummer
Sheriff Rob Streck
Hon. Teresa Ballinger
Honorable David T. Matia
Honorable Jim Slagle
Senator Merle Kearns
Sheriff James A. Telb
Honorable Charles E. Brown, Jr.
Commissioner John Dowlin
Honorable James D. Henson
Honorable Nancy R. McDonnell
Representative Cliff Skeen
Honorable Elinore Marsh Stormer
Honorable James A. Shriver
Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer
Honorable Thomas E. Louden
Honorable John Trebets
Speaker Vernal G. Riffe
Honorable James Ray
Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard
Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton
Honorable James DeWeese
Senator Rob Portman
Lieutenant Governor Mike DeWine
Honorable John M. Durkin
Honorable Luann Cooperrider
Michael J. Sage
Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio
Honorable G. Haas
Senator John Eklund
Judge Keith Spaeth
Senator Charleta B. Tavares
Judge Sherrie Miday
Senator Nathan Manning
Dr. Bennett J. Cooper Award
Dr. Bennett J. Cooper was the first Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Ohio. During his lifetime he has created many improvements in public policy towards corrections. He has worked on a national level to try to institutionalize needed changes. This award is given to a correctional administrator or policy maker who has shown a lifetime commitment to the improvement of community.
Awarded to:
Nicholas Emmons
Nicholas Emmons was nominated for the Dr. Bennet J. Cooper Award by Lanaya McDonald. Nick has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to reentry by working with community partners, building relationships within community corrections, programing and always going above and beyond for the individuals we serve. Nick has been instrumental in overseeing and hosting numerous Reentry Simulations throughout the state for both staff and justice involved people. He has continued to enhance relationships with community partners by keeping them engaged and offering opportunities for them to visit institutions and engage with staff and men and women being released. Housing, being the number one barrier identified for our population, Nick constantly engages housing providers and other entities offering housing, advocating for a fair chance and stable housing for clients. Nick is always willing to go above and beyond for clients and their families. He is ever deserving of this award
Previous Recipients:
Lanaya McDonald
Christopher Nicastro
Commissioner Marilyn Brown
Phillip Nunes
Maureen O’Connor
Geno Natalucci-Persichetti
Grafton S. Payne II
Lynn Grimshaw
Sandra Cannon
Reginald A. Wilkinson
Honorable Lynett M. McGough
Edward Rhine
Karhlton Moore
Loran Alexander
Ralph Starkey
Linda Janes
Senator Bill Seitz
James Kura (posthumous)
Randy J. Gorcz
Candace Peters
Hon. Nancy A. Fuerst
Joseph Janesz
Jill Goldhart
Terry Collins
Sara Andrews
Robert Denton
James Wichtman
Thomas J. Stickrath
Gary C. Mohr
Cynthia Mausser
David Ervin
Judge Ted Barrows
Christopher Galli
Dr. Simon Dinitz Award
Dr. Simon Dinitz, through his work at the Ohio State University, has dedicated his life to improving the knowledge base of corrections. He has served on state and national commissions whose purpose was to improve corrections. As an educator he has also been responsible for training many correctional practitioners in the state. This award is given to a community correctional practitioner who has made contributions to the improvement of community corrections in Ohio.
Awarded to:
Dr. Myrinda Schweitzer Smith
Dr. Myrinda Schweitzer Smith received her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati School of Criminal Justice and is the Executive Director of the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute. Dr. Schweitzer Smith has co-authored publications, presented nationally and internationally on effective interventions, and served as a project director for over 300 projects involving program evaluation, the development and implementation of cognitive-behavioral programs for delinquency, criminality, substance abuse, employment, and sexual offending, and effective practices for community supervision and support. As a cognitive-behavioral interventions specialist, she presented at the 5th International Training School on Core Correctional Skills through a partnership with the Confederation of European Probation and has also appeared as a guest speaker on Rehub, an international App highlighting the latest global developments in rehabilitation. She is currently serving as co-co-Principal Investigator on a 7-year National Institute of Justice grant exploring effective reentry practices, as well as Principal Investigator on a 3-year Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant aimed at transforming the Juvenile Justice workforce. Also, serving in her second year as research co-chair of the International Community Justice Association, Dr. Schweitzer Smith serves and participates on a multitude of advisory boards and professional organizations supporting the health and wellbeing of those working in and impacted by the justice system. She has published in both academic and practitioner journals including Criminal Justice Policy Review, Victims & Offenders, Journal of Crime and Justice, Perspectives, and Federal Probation.
Even with everything on her very busy plate, Mindy gives tirelessly of her time and talents to assist Ohio community corrections agencies in their efforts to improve themselves.
Previous Recipients:
David Magura Jr
Molly Gauntner
Kevin Bonecutter
Misty Cromwell
Veronica Perry, CPO
Jennifer Burnside
George Pownall, Ph.D.
Eugene Gallo
Tony Ingram
Anne Connell-Freund
Ed Dimond
Wendy Niehaus
Denise Robinson
Donna Martin-Hamparian
George Farmer
Gayle E. Benson
Merel Pickenpaugh
Mary Spottswood
Dr. Edward J. Latessa
Linda Modry
Gayle Dittmer
Bud Hite
James J. Lawrence
Mike Cantrell
Gary Yates
Brian Lovins
William D. Kroman
Daniel Peterca
Christopher T. Lowenkamp
Melissa Litteral
Juli A. Tice
Tracy Walcnciej
Cheryl Gerwig
Scott Fulton
Wichtman/Gauntner Award
Jim Wichtman was a founding member of the Ohio Community Corrections Organization—now the Ohio Justice Alliance for Community Corrections (OJACC)—and served on its Board of Trustees for many years. Molly Gauntner faithfully served on the OJACC Board for more than a decade. Both Jim and Molly devoted their careers to the progressive advancement of community corrections, approaching their work with vision, passion, and unwavering commitment. They were leaders who sought to transform the field, improve outcomes, and enhance the lives of those we serve. Through their tireless efforts, they strengthened OJACC and left a lasting impact on community corrections in Ohio.
The Wichtman/Gauntner Award celebrates an OJACC Board Member whose leadership, service, and vision embody the legacy of Jim Wichtman and Molly Gauntner, ensuring their commitment to collaboration, innovation, and compassion continues to guide our work.
Awarded to:
Melissa Pierson
Melissa Pierson serves as the Interim Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Franklin County Office of Justice Policy and Programs, where she has dedicated two decades of distinguished service. Over the years, she has advanced through the ranks as a Justice Program Evaluator and Grants Administrator, and now provides leadership in policy development, fiscal oversight, and program innovation. In this role, she directs the Franklin County jail MAT program, guided the launch and implementation of the Rapid Resource Center, administers more than $10 million annually in federal formula grant funding, and has successfully secured multiple large-scale discretionary awards advancing smart justice initiatives across the county.
Earlier in her career, Melissa served as Programs Manager with the Franklin County Common Pleas Adult Probation Department, where she was instrumental in launching the county’s first day-reporting program and supervising a variety of specialized probation caseloads.
Since 2021, Melissa has been a valued member of the OJACC Board of Trustees. In 2022, she assumed the role of Treasurer and, with meticulous attention to detail, elevated the organization’s financial processes. She has lent her expertise to numerous projects and committee assignments, always approaching her work with passion, dedication, and integrity. These qualities reflect the very spirit of this award’s namesakes, making her a most fitting and deserving recipient.
Melissa earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Dayton.