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Distinguished Alumni 2007

Five Great Oaks alumni who have achieved career success and have contributed to their community were recognized as Great Oaks Distinguished Alumni for 2007.

The distinguished alumni include a business owner, a former Olympian, an award-winning salesman, a nursing instructor, and the former Mayor of Blue Ash.

Dale Bartholomew 
Live Oaks Welding Program, 1975
Anderson High School

Dale Bartholomew completed the Live Oaks Welding program and graduated from Anderson High School in 1975.  He immediately began his career in the kitchen equipment industry. He worked for a dealer for 13 years and became an expert in the field of commercial kitchen design and installation for all types of foodservice operations. In 1990, he launched Daleco, a company that has grown steadily through the years to serve clients in greater Cincinnati and across the United States.  Customers include large chain fast food operations, the Great American Ball Park and the recently renovated Cincinnati Convention Center.

Dale served on the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council for six years. He is also a very active participant in Anderson Township community life. He has been the Anderson Township Park Commissioner for 12 years and chairs the Anderson Development Advisory Committee. He served on the Anderson Firefighters Association Memorial Committee to help raise funds for the Firefighters Memorial. A member of the Mt. Washington Baptist Church, Dale has provided invaluable leadership as the chair of the Board of Trustees.

Darrell O. Pace
Scarlet Oaks Communications Electronics Program, 1975
Reading High School

Darrell O. Price completed the Communications Electronics program at Scarlet Oaks and graduated from Reading High School in 1975.  He served in the United States Air Force from 1976 through 1981 as an Electronic Computer Systems Specialist. He joined the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in 1986 and continues to work as a telecommunications technician coordinator and network administrator in the radio section of the Office of Information Technology.

Darrell is considered by many to be the greatest archer in history. Among his many awards and achievements, he received Olympic Gold Medals in 1976 and 1984, and a Silver Medal in 1988. He earned the Olympia Award, which is given to those who exemplify Olympic ideals, in 1984.

Darrell has continued to provide leadership in the sport of archery by serving as president of the National Archery Association from 2004-2006 and as director of the Cincinnati Junior Olympians for several years. He was selected as one of 100 Golden Olympians in 1996 and was an Olympic Torch Runner the same year.

James W. Sumner
Scarlet Oaks Environmental Science Program, 1975
Sycamore High School

James W. Sumner completed the Environmental Science program at Scarlet Oaks and graduated from Sycamore High School in 1975.  He continued his education in Environmental Science at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he received his Bachelor of Science with Honors in 1978. He has taken graduate courses in air pollution at the University of Cincinnati. He was the supervisor of Air Pollution Control Unit at the Dayton Office of the Ohio EPA for ten years, then became an environmental engineer for General Electric. Since 1991, he has served as the manager of Group Environmental Programs for General Electric Aviation’s Environmental Affairs and Safety Department.

Jim also serves his community in many ways. He has served on the Blue Ash City Council since 1991, where he was the Mayor from 1997 to 2001. He has been the Council’s representative to the Blue Ash Planning Commission since 2001. He is a member of the Ohio Public Works Commission and serves on the Executive Committee of the Hamilton County Municipal League. In addition, he is a member of the Hamilton County Convention Facilities Authority Board of Directors and the Ohio Kentucky Indiana (OKI) Regional Council of Governments.

Joseph Vonderhaar
Scarlet Oaks Business Management and Operations Program, 1986
Moeller High School

Joe Vonderhaar completed the Scarlet Oaks Business Management and Operations program and graduated from Moeller High School in 1986.  He began his career in the insurance industry in 1985 as a senior co-op student for Thomas Wood Insurance Agency. Today he is vice president of the Professional Healthcare Division of USI Midwest, which bought the Thomas Wood Agency several years ago. He works with physicians and hospitals and has been the top salesperson in the Cincinnati office for ten years. He has earned the Pinnacle Award, which is given to USI’s top 50 sales producers in the nation, eight times.

Joe earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UC Raymond Walters College.

Joe was active in DECA as a high school student. He attended the Ohio DECA Summer Leadership Retreat and won first place at Ohio DECA and second place at National DECA for his Entrepreneurship Written Manual. Joe has visited former instructor Ed Pregitzer’s classes numerous times over the years to provide students with insight into the insurance industry. He has also served on the Live Oaks Marketing Advisory Committee.

Susan Williams
Great Oaks School of Practical Nursing, Scarlet Oaks Campus
1997

Susan Williams graduated from the Great Oaks School of Practical Nursing at the Scarlet Oaks Campus in 1997.  She had been out of high school for 18 years when she took the first step towards her career as a nurse and an educator. Susan loved her new career and was motivated to continue her education in order to advance in the field. She earned her RN degree at Cincinnati State in 2001, and a BSN from the University of Cincinnati in 2003.

Susan has served as a Great Oaks School of Practical Nursing part-time instructor, teaching at Scarlet Oaks, Diamond Oaks and the Health Professions Academy. A few years ago Susan moved to Clermont, Florida to be close to her family. She is the program coordinator and nursing instructor for the Certified Nursing Assistant program at East Ridge High School in Clermont. Most of her students pursue further education in the healthcare field. She also initiated a CNA program for adults at Westminster Health Center. Because of her many contributions to improving the quality of healthcare education, she received the South Lake County Humanitarian Achievement Award.