Brian Wagner is new chairman of Akron Children’s Foundation Board

09-15-2020 ( Ohio )

Brian Wagner, the founder and president of CCG Automation Inc., has been named chairman of the Akron Children’s Foundation Board of Directors.

Brian has served on the foundation board since 2017, and he and his wife, Lisa, have long supported Akron Children’s in appreciation for the care of their three children.

In 2015, a family gift created the Brian and Lisa Wagner Family Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Clinic Fund within Akron Children’s Department of Allergy and Immunology. Most recently, they established the Brian and Lisa Wagner Family Neurobehavioral Fund to create a patient navigator position in the hospital’s Neurobehavioral Health Program.

Richfield-based CCG Automation is a solution-based building automation provider focused on high quality, comfortable buildings with low-energy consumption and easy-to-use systems.

“We are pleased to welcome Brian as the chair of the Akron Children’s Foundation Board,” said Shelly Brown, executive director. “He has come to know Akron Children’s mission well and brings great business and entrepreneurial insight to our board. Above all, we value his commitment to helping Akron Children’s grow and better serve the needs of the children and families we serve. We are also thrilled to welcome several new foundation board members who are dedicated to our mission."

“I am honored to serve as the chair of the Akron Children’s Foundation," said Wagner. "Support for the invaluable work of Akron Children’s and the patients and families it serves is more important than ever. I would also like to thank Paul Dutton, recent past board chair. His leadership has continued to build a strong foundation of philanthropy and I look forward to growing our base of support for the health and wellness of our children."

Foundation officers serving with Brian include Brown, executive director and vice president of development of Akron Children Hospital Foundation. Mark W. Oelschlager president, chief investment officer and co-founder of Oelschlager Investments, will serve as the foundation board's vice president and secretary, and Spencer Kowal, chief financial officer, at Akron Children’s will serve as treasurer.

Others joining the Foundation Board, include:

• Lou Altman, partner of the A. Altman Company, a full-service real estate development firm based in Canton. 
• Shefali Mahesh, M.D., director of Pediatric Nephrology at Akron Children’s and vice president of the hospital’s medical staff.
• Marci Matthews, philanthropist and founder of the Grace Initiative Foundation Tree and distribution committee chair of the Cynthia Parker Matthews Family Foundation.
• Bill Scala, chairman and president of Akron-based Kenmore Construction, and a former member of Akron Children’s Board of Directors.
• Amy Sheehy, vice president of Innovation at Signet Jewelers, where she is responsible for delivering revenue and culture improvements.
• Paul Thomarios, president of Thomarios, an Akron-based company offering construction management, design/build, general construction and other services.
• Ellen Tressel, philanthropist and volunteer with many organizations in the cities in which she and her husband, Jim, have lived and built their careers, including Youngstown, Akron and Columbus.