Phil Maynard and the
Maynard Family Foundation
Phil Maynard and the Maynard Family Foundation
BIOGRAPHY
Philip H. Maynard was the founder of The Maynard Family Foundation, a private, charitable foundation formed in 1993 to coordinate the philanthropic efforts of his companies and personal holdings.
Phil, born and raised in Akron, Ohio, graduated from Archbishop Hoban High School in 1960, and majored in political science while attending Kent State University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency in 1963 and spent the next four years in the Far East during the Vietnam conflict. In 1967 he enrolled at The University of Akron to complete his education.
While attending The University of Akron, Phil worked as a dock worker for Akron Storage & Warehouse Co. and progressed through various positions including warehouse supervisor, warehouse manager, general manager, and assistant to the president. In 1981, he purchased Snyder Distribution Centers, Inc. and in 1983 changed the name to Akron Storage & Warehouse. In 2006 he sold his logistics company to baseball legend Andre Thornton.
ASW companies were involved in many facets of economic development in the region and one company, Gilchrist Polymer Center, was featured in the January 1992 Wall Street Journal for its role in the growth of the Akron region’s polymer industry.
Phil loved construction and economic development and was always looking for ways to improve the area’s competitive advantage. In 1998, Phil, along with Rick Briggs and Bob Merzweiler, designed and constructed condominium airplane hangars at Akron Municipal Airport, as well as a later project at Delaware Airport near Columbus.
Over forty plus years, Phil and his companies owned, operated, and managed over 15,000,000 square feet of warehouse, manufacturing, distribution, and other specialty facilities, including Gilchrist Road, CAK Industrial Park, Gables Assisted Living facilities, Town Park Center in Green, Spicer Village luxury apartments and various residential housing developments. Phil was well known and frequently recognized for his attention to detail, operational excellence and on-time, on-budget delivery.
During his “retirement years,” Phil loved to mentor young entrepreneurs, business owners, and not-for-profit leaders, often providing investment dollars and loans, but most importantly time and counsel on an ongoing basis. His open-door policy and hard work/common sense approach to business helped dozens of businesses in the area to thrive. In every encounter, he would weave the discipline of “giving back” into his teaching.
AWARDS
In 1991 Phil received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Archbishop Hoban High School and in 1992 the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award from the Small Business Council of the Akron Regional Development Board (Greater Akron Chamber) as well as the “Award of Appreciation” from the Village of Mogadore. In 1995, his company received the prestigious “Eagle Award” from FirstMerit Bank for outstanding economic contributions to Northeast Ohio. In 1999, Phil received the University of Akron Distinguished Alumni Honor Award. Phil was honored as 2000 Executive of the Year by the Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Akron. In July of 2004, the International Warehouse Logistics Association presented him with the distinguished designation of Certified Logistics Professional (CPL) denoting individuals who have set the highest standards of excellence and professionalism throughout the third-party logistics industry. In 2005 he received the Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Fundraiser Award and in 2006 the Boy Scouts Community Service Award. In 2007 he was awarded Akron Community Foundation’s esteemed Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award. Leadership Akron named him a Lifetime Trustee in 2008 and in 2009 the Association of Fundraising Professionals presented him with the National Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2011 Phil was given the Norman Cohn Hope Award by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. At the 2012 Pinnacle Awards presentation, he was named the first recipient of the Lisle M. Buckingham Leadership Award. Also in 2012, he received Akron Children’s Hospital Champions for Children’s Award, in 2013 the Salvation Army Community Award, and in 2015 the Child Guidance Friend of Children Award. In 2016 he was presented with the Cleveland Catholic Diocese Edward F. Hoban Medal for distinguished service and Greater Akron Chamber presented him the H. Peter Burg Award in 2018. In 2019 he received the first-ever “NO HARM” award from the Battered Women’s Shelter and the Urban Leadership Award from East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation.
BOARD SERVICE
Phil Maynard was past Board chair of Akron Children Hospital’s Board, the Akron Children Hospital’s Foundation Board, the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation, Archbishop Hoban High School Board, International Warehouse Logistics Association, and the Ohio Warehouse Association. He served on numerous other not-for-profit and corporate boards, including the Executive Committee of the United Way of Summit County and Open M Board.
RECOGNITIONS
Phil began serving on the Akron Children's Hospital Foundation Board of Directors in 1996, a role he held until his passing. He also served as the chair of the Building on the Promise Campaign, which raised $60 million in support of expansion on the Akron campus, including the construction of the Kay Jewelers Pavilion. In recognition of his generous support, the Maynard Family Foundation wing of the neonatal intensive care unit in the Kay Jeweler’s Pavilion at Akron Children's Hospital was named in his honor. The wing was opened to patient care on February 9, 2016.