The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame have named two long-time volunteers to leadership positions for the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

 

Daniel J. Fuline, CEO and executive director of Community Services of Stark County Inc. will serve as general vice-chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Enshrinement Festival department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. Jim Bednar, commercial/industrial realtor with Putman Properties Inc., will serve as general vice-chairman of the Enshrinement Festival activities planned by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

 

Fuline served on and chaired numerous Enshrinement Festival committees, including Security & Logistics, Communications, and Balloon Classic Invitational, before joining the Souvenir Committee, which he chaired in 2008 for the third and final year. He and his team of highly energized volunteers were responsible for selling official Enshrinement Festival souvenir and commemorative items at nearly all 15 events throughout the 11 days of the Enshrinement Festival, thus bringing a broad and unique perspective of all Enshrinement Festival activities to his new role as vice-chairman. A graduate of Youngstown State University, Fuline holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University, is a licensed independent social worker, is certified through the Academy of Social Workers and holds a Diplomate in Social Work. He was the 1991 Social Worker of the Year, 1999 recipient of the Good Samaritan’s Award and 2001 recipient of the Golden Dove Award. Past-president of Canton Rotary Club and current president of Family Service Council of Ohio, he serves on the Salvation Army advisory board, Sisters of Charity board, Prescription Assistance Network board and Advisory Social Work board for Malone University. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Louisville and are the parents of two sons and grandparents to five.

 

Bednar was born in Canton, graduated from Perry High School, and continued his education at Stark Technical College and The University of Akron in the area of business administration. He enjoyed a long career with The Hoover Company, retiring as vice president of the company, and an officer of the Maytag Corporation. He was a member of the executive board of Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, is past-president of Junior Achievement, Stark Technical College President’s board, and North Canton Chamber of Commerce executive board and economic development committee. Bednar was honored with the North Canton Outstanding Leadership Award. He has been an avid Hall of Fame volunteer, serving as committee assistant-chairman for many years. He and his wife, Chris, reside in North Canton and have two grown sons and four grandchildren.

 

Enshrinement Festival leadership will work together with the professional staffs at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Pro Football Hall of Fame, as well as a team of more than 4,200 dedicated community volunteers, as they plan and stage the 2009 Enshrinement Festival, tentatively slated for July 31 through August 9, 2009. The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival features a total of 15 unique and diverse events over a ten-day period, expected to be enjoyed by nearly 700,000 people.

 

The central focus and highlight of the festivities will be the Aug. 8 induction ceremony for the 2009 Class of Enshrinees, who will be announced on Jan. 31 during Super Bowl weekend activities.

 

Back to News Headlines