SELECTED HONORS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Professional Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Award for Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards - 2021
- National Child Support Enforcement Agency’s Inspire Event’s Most Innovative Solution for Drive-Up DNA Testing - 2020
- Marsy’s Law for Ohio - Victims’ Rights Champion Award - 2019
- Dr. Harvey L. Sterns’ Award for Distinguished Service to Seniors from the Jewish Family Service of Akron – 2017
- Summit County Victim Assistance Program 2017 Bernard Rosen Community Service Award
- 2018 Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Best Performance Collections on Cases with Arrears in the Metro Caseload Division
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Best Overall Performance in the Metro Caseload Division – 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Best Performance Paternity Establishment in the Metro Caseload Division – 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Best Performance Support Order Establishment in the Metro Caseload Division – 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Most Improved Collections on Current Support Cases in the Metro Caseload Division – 2019, 2015, 2013, 2011
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Most Improved Collections on Cases with Arrears in the Metro Caseload Division – 2019, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013
- 2016 Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center Models of Justice Prosecutor of the Year
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Most Improved Paternity Establishment in the Metro Caseload Division –2013
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association’s Recognition of Summit County for Superior Performance in Current Support Collections for June 2013
- Ohio Child Support Director’s Association, Most Improved Support Order Establishment in the Metro Caseload Division –2012
- Public Service Award, Summit County Children Services – 2012
- Hudson Hero, Hudson Rotary Club – 2012
- Elected Official of the Year, Ohio Public Images, for being “a community leader who consistently champions causes for people with developmental disabilities” – 2011
- Woman of Achievement, Celebrate & Share, a Pittsburgh organization, in recognition of Prosecutor Walsh’s successful prosecution of Jimmy Lee Tayse – 2008
- Special Achievement Award, Ohio Attorney General’s Office – 2008
- Public Official of the Year, National Association of Social Workers – 2007
- Prosecutor of the Year, Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association – 2006
- Awarded Women’s History Project of Akron’s “Faye H. Dambrot Heroine Award” – 2004
- MADD Red Ribbon Award for aggressive prosecution of drunk drivers – 2004
- Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award for Government Service – 2004
- MADD Red Ribbon Award for efforts in improving D.U.I. law – 2003
- Urban Lights Award for Women in Public Service – 2003
- Woman of the Year, Northeast Ohio Business & Professional Women’s Club – 2002
- Recognized for exceptional commitment to innocent victims of crime in Ohio, Ohio Supreme Court – 1992
Child Support Enforcement Agency
- Most Improved Support Order Establishment in the Metro Caseload Division, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services – 2012
- Most Improved Collections on Current Support in the Metro Caseload Division, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services – 2011
- Best Practice Award for Hospital Genetic Testing Program, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2010
- Recognized for using billboards to locate felony child support offenders, Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Agency – 2009
- Best Practice Award for development of child support workshops at churches throughout the community, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2009
- Achievement Award for Child Support Days, National Association of Counties – 2009
- Best Practice Award for using billboards to locate felony child support offenders, Ohio Child Support Director’s Association – 2008
- Best Practice Award for sting operation to arrest child support offenders, Ohio Family Support Association – 2005
- Best Practice Award for REACH Program, Ohio Family Support Association – 2005
- Most Improved Child Support Program in the Country, National Child Support Enforcement Agency – 2005
- Best Practice Award for Child Support Enforcement Agency’s Procedural Handbook, Ohio Family Support Association – 2004
- Most Improved for child support order establishment, State Office of Child Support symposium – 2004
- Best Practice Award for new child support specialist training, Ohio Family Support Association – 2002
- Best Practice Award for August Child Support Awareness Month activities and Administrative Lien Program, Ohio Family Support Association – 2001
Legislation
- Drafted legislation with former state senator Leigh Herington that introduced stiffer penalties for habitual drunk drivers – 2004
- Drafted provision of law requiring a sentence of life with no possibility of parole for offenders previously convicted of child rape and offenders who cause serious physical harm to a child victim – 2002
- Successfully encouraged Ohio legislature to remove changes to the crime victim compensation laws that would have been detrimental to victims of violent crime – 1999 - 2000
VOLUNTEER WORK & MEMBERSHIPS
- Vice President, National Association of District Attorneys – 2014-2017
- Ohio State Director, National District Attorney Association (2013-2014)
- Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section Victims Committe (2013-2014)
- Executive Committee Member, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2011-present)
- President, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2010)
- President-Elect, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2009)
- Vice President, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2008)
- Treasurer, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2007)
- Secretary, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association (2006)
- Member, Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Executive Committee,
- Legislative Committee & Victim/Witness Committee (2001-present)
- Chair, State Victim Assistance Advisory Board, Attorney General’s Office (2007-2010)
- Board Member, Ohio Crime Victim Center (non-profit agency to protect rights of crime victims)
- Member, Akron Bar Association
- Board Member, Akron Victim Assistance
- Member, Leadership Akron Justice Day Planning Committee – 2001-present
- Member, National District Attorneys Association
- Member, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
- Member, Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force for the Northern District of Ohio
- Member, Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force
- Member, Summit County Child Fatality Board
- Member, Summit County D.U.I. Task Force
- Member, Summit County Drug Enforcement Unit
- Member, Summit County Multidisciplinary Team, Child Advocacy Center at Akron Children’s Hospital
- Member, Summit County Domestic Violence Coalition
- Member, Summit County Police Chief’s Association
- Resource Attorney, Akron Bar Association, Street Law Committee
- Volunteer Legal Guardian, Summit County Probate Court, 1991-1999
- Board member, Greater Akron Area Autism Society
- Parishioner, St. Mary’s Church
