Local entities applauded for creating partnerships | Editorial
**The Power of Partnerships: Celebrating Community Collaborations in Lake County**
In Lake County, Ohio, the importance of partnerships is being highlighted through two significant projects that showcase how collaboration can lead to successful outcomes for communities. The first example comes from the city of Mentor, where a vibrant new logo—”Mentor Rocks”—has been painted on the Reynolds Road water tank. This initiative is the result of a fruitful partnership between Mentor city leadership and Aqua Ohio, the water utility company responsible for maintaining the tank. As reported by The News-Herald, the project not only involved aesthetic enhancements but also essential repairs and upgrades to the tank itself, which had not been refurbished for over two decades. Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak emphasized that the logo serves as a beacon of community pride and a testament to Mentor’s dynamic spirit, enhancing the city’s image as an active and engaging place to live.
Councilman Scott Marn, who played a pivotal role in advocating for the logo, recounted how he and Aqua Ohio’s area manager, Bill Bowers, established a strong working relationship during their participation in Leadership Lake County back in 2018. Marn’s enthusiasm for the project was evident as he shared the history of the water tower and expressed his commitment to ensuring that the new logo would be part of its rehabilitation. Bowers echoed this sentiment, highlighting Aqua Ohio’s ongoing collaboration with city officials to enhance water infrastructure, which is crucial for maintaining adequate water pressure and emergency services. This partnership not only beautifies a key landmark but also reinforces the community’s identity and pride.
The second noteworthy collaboration comes from Lakeland Community College, which has been recognized as the 2025 Collaborative Partner of the Year by Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio. This award celebrates the partnership between Lakeland’s Information Technology and Computer Science (ITCS) program and Goodwill, particularly for their joint initiative—the Computer Basics Workshop. This free, weeklong program equips participants with essential digital skills, including proficiency in the Windows Operating System, Google Suite, and Microsoft Office applications. By working together, Lakeland provided the necessary facilities and commitment to workforce development, while Goodwill delivered instruction to empower community members seeking careers in technology.
Lakeland President Sunil Ahuja praised the award as a reflection of the dedication of the ITCS faculty and staff, stating that such collaborations are vital for bridging the digital divide in the community. Both partnerships exemplify the spirit of cooperation that can lead to meaningful improvements in community services and opportunities. The News-Herald commends these initiatives, showcasing how when organizations unite for a common goal, they can create lasting benefits that resonate throughout the community. Through these examples, Lake County serves as a model of how strategic partnerships can foster growth, pride, and resilience in local communities.
Establishing partnerships often plays a key role in helping entities of all kinds to achieve success.
We were reminded of that principle in two recent News-Herald stories involving events in Lake County.
Let’s begin with a highly visible project in the city of Mentor that involved collaboration. To be specific, The new Mentor Rocks logo painted on the Reynolds Road water tank was the result of a partnership between city leadership and Aqua Ohio,
The News-Herald’s William Tilton reported.
And as Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak stresses, the logo is more than just a reference to the summer concert series.
“When you see that Mentor Rocks symbol on a universal landmark it does more than just remind people of the music series, it puts us on a cutting-edge opportunity to promote the fact that Mentor is a cool city, we are on the move and an active community not sitting still.”
Bill Bowers, the area manager II for Aqua Ohio Lakeshore Mentor Division, said the Reynolds Road water tank was due for rehabilitation work, which included tank repairs, resurfacing and painting.
Other needed site work also included valve replacements and general repairs such as new fencing and tree trimming. This type of work is usually completed every 20 years, depending on overall tank conditions.
Bowers said he and Councilman Scott Marn attended Leadership Lake County in 2018 and have an “excellent working relationship.”
Marn took a particular interest in the Reynolds Road tank rehabilitation and was excited to work with Aqua on the new logo addition to the tank.
“I told the story of the old water tower when it was repainted we didn’t have the money in the city to put the Mentor logo on, and I told Bill we have the money now and we should put the Mentor Rocks logo on the water tower when we redo the logo,” Marn said. “Bill agreed and with the backing of Aqua Ohio we were able to finish the water tower. It is something to be proud of. It looks pretty neat.”
Besides this project, Bowers said Aqua routinely and positively collaborates with city leadership on needed water projects.
“Water towers are an important element of any water distribution system,” Bowers said. “They help supply adequate water pressure to surrounding homes and businesses and provide vital water storage for potential firefighting needs.”
Bowers said the project on the 700,000-gallon standpipe, which is owned by Aqua Ohio, took about six weeks to complete from start to finish.
As for seeing the Mentor Rocks logo on display with so many people driving by the busy area on a daily basis, it gives Aqua an equal amount of satisfaction as it does for city leaders and the residents of Mentor.
“Absolutely, we are excited to see the new logo and proudly display Mentor Rocks,” Bowers said. “We support the city of Mentor and their fantastic summer concert series.”
Now, let’s turn to a story involving an area institution of higher learning.
Lakeland Community College’s Information Technology and Computer Science program has been awarded the 2025 Collaborative Partner of the Year by Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio,
The News-Herald’s Chad Felton reported.
The award serves to recognize “an outstanding organization that has provided valuable outreach and services to the community and exemplified the spirit of collaboration.”
The award specifically honors the partnership between Lakeland’s ITCS program and Goodwill for a joint effort in hosting the Computer Basics Workshop.
The free, weeklong program offers foundational skills in “essential areas,” including the Windows Operating System, Google Suite, Microsoft Word and Excel basics, and general computer hardware knowledge, “empowering community members with the digital literacy needed for today’s job market.”
The workshop offered multiple sessions throughout the summer, serving students and community members looking for career paths in information technology.
The collaboration leveraged both organizations, officials noted, as Lakeland provided facilities and a commitment to workforce development, while Goodwill provided instruction to participants looking to enhance their existing skills.
Lakeland President Sunil Ahuja said receiving the award is a true testament to the dedication of the ITCS department’s faculty and staff.
“This partnership (also) embodies Lakeland’s mission to serve as a catalyst for community success,” he added. “When we collaborate with organizations like Goodwill, we can effectively bridge the digital divide and provide tangible skills that lead directly to meaningful career opportunities for our residents.”
The News-Herald commends Mentor and Aqua Ohio, and Lakeland Community College and Goodwill, for embarking on these respective partnerships. Both alliances are good examples of what can be achieved when separate entities decide to work together on important projects.
