Terri Lanham
Dementia Education Advocate
Pulling back the curtain from the mystique that shrouds dementia was one driving force behind Terri Lanham’s desire for North Ridgeville to become a Dementia-Friendly Community. The 35-year resident, who is also a care coordinator for Kendal At Home in Westlake since 2011, says her passion for earning the distinction from Dementia Friendly America reached a fever pitch when a woman approached her after an information session at the library and tearfully admitted her husband had dementia and questioned why she had no knowledge of the services available to them. Lanham says she hopes to soften misconceptions of the condition through education. “It’s not like measles or the flu. You can’t catch it,” she notes. “But you can surely help people with dementia. A smile goes a long way.”
Lanham continues to host Dementia Friends sessions locally and in the business sectors.
Dawn and Dale Fitz
Volunteers For Every Cause
Behind the scenes is where Dawn Fitz prefers to be, but her credits run a mile long. The mom of two has been volunteering everywhere from the PTA and Girl Scouts to the Lions Club, Leo Club as an advisor, Citizens for Better Schools as treasurer and Charter Review Committee member since her family moved to North Ridgeville in 1997. Also the HR/personnel specialist at North Ridgeville City Schools, Fitz doesn’t shy away from hard work or a project that could use a little muscle to propel it along, such as the Veterans Memorial Committee, where she currently serves as secretary.
Right beside her lending brawn and brains to each passion project is her husband, Dale. His list of community service credits includes moving pavers and laying mulch for the Veterans Memorial,
member of the Lions Club and former high school band booster treasurer.
Nicole and Brenden Hales
A Fresh Take on Health Care
It’s been a year since Nicole and Brenden Hales opened the doors to Transcendence Health on Center Ridge Road. The husband-and-wife team created the alternative medicine practice as a way to connect with and individualize a care plan for each patient — something Nicole felt was lacking in her former corporate health care position. While Brenden looks to treat chronic pain with functional medicine, chiropractic care and neuro-acupuncture, the goal is to answer the plea for quality health care — something the Hales hear loud and clear. And with a focus on “health span” instead of lifespan, clients can expect to find support on how to achieve the strongest version of themselves. “Transcendence Health is … a whole new way of what health care should be versus just sick care,” Nicole says.
Frank Krupka
Community Comes First
It might take Frank Krupka “forever to buy a gallon of milk,” due to the number of people he runs into, but the man of many hats wouldn’t have it any other way. The veterinarian, who is part owner of Avon Lake Animal Clinic and a resident of North Ridgeville since 2005, is a passionate supporter of all pet animals, community service and coaching soccer. When he’s not working at home on his farm among the chickens, goats, mini donkey, market hogs, market lambs, market steer and mini horse, he’s leading a pack of Boy Scouts or volunteering his time with the Lorain County Fair. And after 10 seasons on the soccer field, he frequently runs into the boys he mentored who still affectionately refer to him as “coach.”
