First Woman and First Person of Color to Serve as the Executive Director

Akron, Ohio After a comprehensive search, the Summit County ADM Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Aimee Wade as Executive Director during the May 2021 meeting. Wade, a life-long resident of Summit County, has worked with the ADM Board for more than a decade, most recently as the Associate Director of Clinical Services. She has served as the Interim Executive Director since January 4, 2021.

John Williams, ADM Board Chair said, “Ms. Wade has been an outstanding member of the ADM Board team. The Board of Directors deliberated and concluded that hers was the direction we believed will move the ADM Board into a stronger and more collaborative direction with our stakeholders and community. We look forward to a new perspective under her leadership.” After the public vote, Wade thanked the Board of Directors, ADM staff, and community partners for their confidence in her leadership and vision moving forward.

Wade explained that her vision for the ADM Board focuses on building education, awareness and access to a culturally competent, comprehensive array of resources designed to help prevent or delay the onset of disorders and to provide exceptional treatment and recovery supports for Summit County residents. After an unprecedented year, she plans to review and update the ADM Board’s current approaches and outcomes to ensure the most effective use of agency resources.

Wade is the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the Executive Director of the ADM Board. “I recognize the significance of this role in our community, and I am committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that quality, effective and equitable behavioral healthcare services are available for all Summit County residents,” she said. “Moving forward, I am concentrating on providing HOPE for the community: Health and Wellness, Outcomes, Potential and Equity. I firmly believe that together our collective impact has infinite potential.”

Wade holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminology from The Ohio State University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Akron. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and an Ohio and Internationally Certified Prevention Consultant (OCPC).