New City Leaders Bring Experience and Energy to Avon Lake

Beth Krosse, Finance Director

With more than 30 years of finance experience and a CPA certification, Beth Krosse provides seasoned leadership as finance director for the City of Avon Lake. She joined the city in December 2024 after serving 17 years in Oberlin’s finance office and a decade in private education in Strongsville.

Her priority is ensuring city leaders have clear and accurate financial information to guide decisions. “My goal is to support the mayor, council and staff so that resources are used wisely and residents remain at the forefront,” she says.

Outside of work, Krosse enjoys time with her three grown children and five grandchildren, playing pickleball, traveling and staying active in her church. She also values her family’s long connection to Lake Erie, a place she has always considered a resource and a retreat.

Caleb Robinson, Police Chief

Caleb Robinson became Avon Lake’s police chief in May 2025, after nearly two decades of service with the department. Hired in 2006, Robinson began his career as a patrolman before serving seven years as a detective and contributing as a crisis negotiator on the Eastern Lorain County Response Team.

Now leading a staff of 32 full-time officers, along with dispatchers, animal control officers and community services staff, Robinson emphasizes culture and collaboration. “We have a strong tradition here — professional when duty calls, but supportive of one another like family,” he says.

He points to programs such as the department’s long-running Citizens Police Academy and new active threat training for local businesses as examples of connecting with the community. Nearly half of Avon Lake officers currently live or grew up in the city, adding to that connection. 

“You see our officers coaching, volunteering and raising families here — it strengthens our service to residents,” he says.

 Lynn Kernya, Human Resources Director

For Lynn Kernya, a career that began in training and development has come full circle in Avon Lake, where she now helps shape the growth and well-being of the city’s workforce. She joined as human resources director in June 2024 after 20 years in HR leadership roles spanning recruitment, compliance, employee relations and organizational development. 

Along the way, Kernya also earned a law doctorate from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, adding a legal lens to her work in human resources.

Kernya holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Baldwin Wallace University and says she was drawn to the city by the chance to serve the public and by the strong, collaborative leadership at City Hall. Her vision is to ensure employees work in a safe, positive environment while equipping them with opportunities to learn new things and build leadership skills, as well as advance professionally.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring Avon Lake’s restaurants and spending time with her family.

Jon Liskovec, Public Works Director

Jon Liskovec stepped into the role of public works director in March 2024, bringing more than two decades of experience in municipal operations. He leads a department he describes as the city’s “Swiss Army knife,” responsible for a wide range of essential services that keep Avon Lake running smoothly — from maintaining roads, storm sewers and bridges to caring for parks, athletic fields and public facilities.

Since arriving, Liskovec has managed major projects, including the ongoing rehabilitation of Walker Road, upcoming bridge repairs and the two-phase ALPS improvement, which blends contractor work with contributions from city crews. His team also leads seasonal efforts like concrete and roadway repairs, brush collection and composting leaves into mulch for residents.

He values the variety and pace of the work. “Every day brings new challenges, and that makes the job exciting,” he says.

Looking ahead, he’s focused on collaboration and fresh perspectives to keep the city’s infrastructure strong.

Judge Allison Manning, Municipal Court

Elected to the bench in November 2023, Judge Allison Manning began serving the Avon Lake Municipal Court in January 2024. Her jurisdiction covers Avon Lake, Avon and Sheffield Village, with the court based in Avon Lake.

Manning has 20 years of legal experience, including private practice in criminal defense and prosecution, 13 years as a magistrate at Elyria Municipal Court and six years as a mayor’s court magistrate in North Ridgeville. She says those overlapping roles prepared her well for the variety of cases she now hears, ranging from traffic offenses and civil cases to more serious matters such as domestic violence and OVI.

“What I enjoy most is connecting with people,” she says. “Even on difficult days, the court can be a place to link individuals with resources that reduce recidivism and help them move forward.”

Manning’s docket outside the court is full with three children and their activities. She also serves on the Lorain County Law Library Resources Board and volunteers at Avon Lake City Schools.

Rob Rua, Communications and Technology Director

After 17 years building experience that truly “stacked up” at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, Rob Rua brought his combined expertise in communications and technology to Avon Lake in March 2025. 

At the library system, he advanced from communications coordinator to marketing director, leading a systemwide rebrand, promoting a decade-long facilities master plan and managing openings for new branches.

Rua also expanded into technology, completing the data analytics program at Case Western Reserve University to strengthen the digital side of his work. That mix of marketing and tech — what the mayor calls a “unicorn skill set” — now helps the city enhance both communication with residents and the tools that support city services.

Rua says the most rewarding part of the role has been the collaborative spirit among Avon Lake’s leadership. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for what we can accomplish together, and I’m excited to help build on that foundation,” he says.