Ilene Shapiro (born 1947) is an American businessperson and politician. She has served as the

Executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dire ...

Summit County, Ohio Summit County is an urban county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 540,428, making it the fourth-most populous county in Ohio. Its county seat and largest city is Akron. The county was formed on March 3, 184 ...

since August 1, 2016. Her predecessor Russell M. Pry died in office on July 31, 2016. She was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 and is currently serving a four-year term that ends in December 2024. Previously, Shapiro was a member of Summit County Council for ten years and Council President for three years. Prior to her time in public service, Shapiro was a businesswoman.

Business Career

Before her time on County Council, Shapiro was a businesswoman and a small business owner. She was an executive at First Merit Bank and the Summa Health Foundation. She later became an entrepreneur, and created a beauty supply company and consultancy firm based in Akron. Shapiro was the head of Shapiro Consulting, a

business consulting A business consultant (from Latin ''consultare'', "to discuss") is a professional who provides professional or expert advice or service in a particular area such as security (electronic or physical), management, accountancy, law, human resources, ma ...

firm.

Summit County Council

Council Member at-Large

Shapiro was elected to Summit County Council in 2006 as an at-large councilmember. She served as the chair of the planning and economic development committee for her seven years.

Council President

Shapiro was elected council president in 2014.

Interim County Executive

As President of County Council, Ilene Shapiro was next in line for County Executive. When Executive Russ Pry died in 2016, she was named Interim County Executive on August 1, 2016. The Summit County Democratic Party then voted and selected her to complete the remainder of Pry's term and to replace him on the ballot in November 2016. During her first few weeks as County Executive, Shapiro sought to continue the initiatives started by the late Russ Pry.

2016 Election

In 2016, most Democrats in Summit County won their elections against their Republican rivals. Shapiro faced

Bill Roemer William (Bill) Roemer (born August 21, 1956) is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, since 2019, representing the 31st districduring a time when the Ohio House Districts were heavily Gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates.The dis ...

(R) in the general election. Shapiro won 58.94% of the vote compared to Roemer's 41.06%. Her term ends December 31, 2020. Shapiro ran a campaign focused on economic development, workforce training, and diversity inclusion. Her campaign planned to continue and expand upon the work of Russ Pry.

County Executive

Economic Development

Shapiro made economic development and workforce training a priority of her first term in office. The county is attempting to attract businesses-small and large- to the region. In March 2019, the county launched its new Economic Development Tool, Summit4Success. A website aimed at increasing business relocation to Summit County. This website also allows for individuals to connect with economic development employees of the county.

Veterans Services

Executive Shapiro announced the creation of Summit Liberty House, a shelter for

veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

women in Summit county, at the 2018 State of the County. The project was completed in September of 2019.

Opioid Crisis

In October 2017, Executive Shapiro announced plans to sue the companies that make and distribute addictive painkillers. She declared a

state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to be able to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state du ...

in the county and said the

opioid epidemic The opioid epidemic, also referred to as the opioid crisis, is the rapid increase in the overuse, misuse/abuse, and overdose deaths attributed either in part or in whole to the class of drugs opiates/opioids since the 1990s. It includes the sign ...

has cost

taxpayers A tax is a compulsory financial charge or some other type of levy imposed on a taxpayer (an individual or legal entity) by a governmental organization in order to fund government spending and various public expenditures (regional, local, or n ...

$112 million from 2012 to 2017. In 2019, Summit County and Cuyahoga County reached a settlement with several large pharmaceutical companies for $260 million; Summit County received $104 million in total. Executive Shapiro then directed the creation of the Opiate Abatement Advisory Council (OAAC) to oversee the immediate and future distribution of the funds. In addition to the lawsuit responding to the

crisis A crisis ( : crises; : critical) is either any event or period that will (or might) lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affair ...

, Executive Shapiro facilitated the gifting of land that was once the Edwin Shaw rehab hospital to two nonprofits that aim to combat the opioid crisis, Restore Addiction Recovery and Hope United.

2020 Election

In 2020, Shapiro faced John Chapman (R) in the general election. Shapiro won 58.04% of the vote compared to Chapman's 41.96%.

Awards and recognition

Shapiro received the "Women in Business Advocate" from the

U.S. Small Business Administration The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and stren ...

and received the Athena Award from

ATHENA International Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of va ...

prior to her time as County Executive.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shapiro, Ilene 1947 births Living people County executives in Ohio 21st-century American women politicians 21st-century American politicians American company founders American women company founders American women business executives 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople Ohio Democrats 20th-century American businesswomen 21st-century American businesswomen