SHAFER AWARD: Jay Verno
Jay Verno may have recently retired
from business at age 60, but not from
promoting Meadville and the surround-
ing area.
With a constant drive to have Mead-
ville thrive, Verno has earned this year’s
Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Award for
Distinguished Community Service.
Named for former Gov. Raymond P.
Shafer of Meadville, the award was ini-
tiated in 1991 to recognize an individ-
ual who has made a positive impact on
the quality of life in western Crawford
County through volunteer service.
To be eligible, a person must have
lived or worked in western Crawford
County. Recipients are chosen based
on the nominee’s volunteer efforts
and commitment of time, accom-
plishments, community impact and
enhancement of the lives of others.
Things done as part of a nominee’s
paid employment are not considered.
The award is presented by Allegheny
College, the Shafer Law Firm, and the
Meadville-Western Crawford County
Chamber of Commerce.
An Erie native, Verno, the now-re-
tired president of Hagan Business
Machines of Meadville, said he’s
humbled to have been chosen for the
prestigious community award.
Jay Verno
28 FOUNDATIONS 2022/2023 Diamond Awards
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Verno said his love of Meadville community and they were mentors to
and the surrounding area comes out
of following a theory of enlightened
self-interest.
“When you do good things for
others and your community, you’re also
furthering your own interests — you
can be happier, more productive,” Ver-
no said. “You do well by doing good.
If you do good things for other people,
ultimately it makes you feel better.”
Doing good for Verno has taken
many forms during his more than 35
years in the Meadville area, being
involved in a number of volunteer and
community organizations.
“Jay is the consummate Mead-
ville-booster,” one person wrote in
nominating Verno for the award. “His
love for his adopted hometown is
obvious. He’s made his living here and
has given back of his time, talent and
treasure.”
He first got involved with the com-
munity in the 1980s with things like
coaching youth soccer when his daugh-
ters were little to service organizations
like the Meadville Jaycees and Sunrise
Kiwanis Club. The Jaycees and Kiwanis
led to his involvement with the Cham-
ber of Commerce.
“I saw a lot of people involved in the
me,” he said of volunteering through
the Chamber.
Verno cites names like business lead-
ers Denny Watson, Clark Hoffman and
Dennis Frampton as people he wanted
to emulate as they were involved with
the Chamber as well as other orga-
nizations — all in betterment of the
community.
He’s taken on other roles, too,
including involvement with the Junior
Achievement business program for
students. He’s served on the Meadville
Medical Center Foundation Board,
been vice chairman of the Crawford
County Convention and Visitors
Bureau. He’s served the Chamber of
Commerce serving in numerous capac-
ities including as a board member and
president of that organization.
“Because Meadville is a small com-
munity you have to try to work with
people from all different perspectives
and personalities and belief systems,”
he said of trying to make the area
better. “You’ll not be able to please ev-
erybody, but you’ve got to try, you’ve
got to make the effort.”
But his best known effort probably
has been his championing the Mead-
ville Area Recreation Complex (MARC),
having served on both its governing
board and its foundation. Verno has
worked for years to make the complex
financially stronger, update equipment
and offer new programming.
“Because of Jay the MARC is in a
much better position than at any other
time,” said Gene Wisiniski, a former
vice chairman of the authority under
Verno. “Today, the people of this
community benefit from the many rec-
reational opportunities Jay has stood
strong to make available.”
“I’ve always tried to be the best
community person I could be within
the roles I was given,” he said.
“It’s supporting not just the business-
es, but the community at large.”
“
I’ve always tried to be
the best community
person I could be within
the roles I was given.
It’s supporting not just
the businesses, but the
community at large.
Jay Verno
”
6/9/22 4:31 PM