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Laurie Zuckerman chosen as Read Award recipient

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Headshot of Laurie Zuckerman
Laurie Zuckerman

Laurie Zuckerman, president of Zuckerman Consulting Group Inc., has been named the 2018 recipient of the Women's Endowment Fund's Judith A. Read Tribute Award for Service & Advocacy for Women. She will receive the award Tuesday, March 6, at the fund's "For Women, Forever" annual dinner, which celebrates women as philanthropists and supports the fund's grantmaking to programs that improve the health, safety and economic empowerment of women and girls in Summit County.

Named for one of Greater Akron's most influential philanthropic leaders, the Judith A. Read Tribute Award was created in 2016 to honor Judy Read's lifetime of service and extraordinary commitment to empowering women and girls. It is presented annually to the individual or couple who best exemplifies Judy's service, advocacy, leadership and passion in the community. Last year's recipient was Marie Covington.

Zuckerman, who co-founded the Women's Endowment Fund in 1993, has been a lifelong champion of women and girls in Greater Akron through her leadership in both the business and nonprofit communities. As president of Zuckerman Consulting Group, she has been coaching and consulting to organizations for more than 30 years. Zuckerman is also a skillful facilitator known for helping groups wrestle openly with ideas, really hear each other, and reach decisions that engage everyone. She most recently facilitated the Women's Endowment Fund's biennial Forum on Women and Girls, which brought nearly 100 local experts and service providers together in September to discuss the growing issue of infant mortality in Summit County.

Zuckerman has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, an MBA in marketing, and more than 10 years of training in human behavior at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and the Gestalt International Study Center. She is the author of "On Your Own: A Woman's Guide to Building a Business."

As a volunteer, Zuckerman co-developed and facilitated the first-ever Closing Retreat for Leadership Akron's Signature Program, and she developed and co-facilitated Akron's successful Jewish Women's Leadership Initiative. She has served on boards and committees for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, Women's Network, Women's Entrepreneurial Growth Organization, Greater Akron Chamber, Mental Health America, Planned Parenthood, The Lippman School, Temple Israel, Stewart's Caring Place, Leadership Akron, and the Women's Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation.

Zuckerman has received the prestigious Athena Award for Akron, Leadership Akron's Distinguished Leader Award, Women's Network's Woman of Achievement Award, Fairlawn Chamber of Commerce's President's Award, the Jewish Community Board of Akron's Leadership Award, and Sales and Marketing Executives' Distinguished Marketing and Sales Award.

Zuckerman was unanimously selected as the third Judith A. Read Tribute Award recipient by a committee of current and former Women's Endowment Fund board members and past award honorees.

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