Crain's Cleveland Business

VOL. 37, NO. 47

NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2016

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Theresa Carter talks about importance of giving back and overseeing a foundation.

Browns’ ticket market has tanked during brutal season. Page 2

The List Region’s largest savings institutions. Page 35

Page 31

CLEVELAND BUSINESS TOURISM

Cleveland is now coveted destination

By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com @millerjh

Destination Cleveland says meeting and convention planners are showing unprecedented interest in Cleveland, and the regional convention and visitors bureau believes it can capitalize on that interest by accelerating its strategy to attract more events to the city in the years ahead.

“Our lead volume has gone up by three times since 2012," said Mike Burns, senior vice president of convention sales and services. “And every month this year has been a record month in lead volume.”

A lead is an association or other group that has let Destination Cleveland know the city is on its radar for a future convention, some as much as six years out. It’s the job of Burns and his sales team of 12 convention salespeople, along with his key partners — SMG, the Philadelphia-based convention center operator that runs the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, and the city’s hotel operators — to turn those leads into contracts for conventions.

SEE MEETINGS, PAGE 35

FINANCE

Investment company branches out

By JEREMY NOBILE jnobile@crain.com @JeremyNobile

Entire contents © 2016 by Crain Communications Inc.

Photo mosaic of the Crain’s Forty Under 40 honorees since 1991.

Photoillustration by David Kordalski using AndreaMosaic

Some prominent Cleveland capitalists have quietly revived a dormant shell company to buy and sell small-cap businesses they think are flying under other investors’ radars.

Through Ancora Advisors, Ancora CEO Fred DiSanto, Ancora portfolio managers Brian Hopkins and Jeff Anderson, and McDonald Hopkins chairman Carl Grassi have taken on lead roles at what now is called Regional Brands Inc., a holding company most recently known as 4Net Software Inc. that was run out of California with intentions to invest in software companies.

But the new executives at Cleveland-based Regional Brands have plans to develop their first shell company from the inactive operation it once was into a vibrant and lucrative investment vehicle. Since Ancora took control in the spring, Regional Brands has attracted 93 investors and made its first acquisition under its new identity: a New York state-based building parts distributor and contractor called B.R. Johnson Inc. SEE BRANDS, PAGE 8

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Browns’ ticket market reaches ‘low point’ Browns at bottom of secondary market

By KEVIN KLEPS kkleps@crain.com @KevinKleps

Selling anything connected to a winless football team is difficult enough.

Selling seats for a Christmas Eve game against an opponent — the San Diego Chargers — that isn’t going to bring a bunch of fans to the lakefront is as tall of a task as getting Joe Thomas to miss a snap.

The Cleveland Browns’ historically bad start to the 2016 season — 0-10 heading into a Nov. 20 game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers — is a mess for brokers, but a gift for fans looking to buy $5 seats for an NFL game.

Mark Klang, who owns Amazing Tickets in Mayfield Village, said the market for the Browns’ last three home games — Nov. 27 against the New York Giants, Dec. 11 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals and Dec. 24 against the Chargers — is “disastrous.� “The final two games won’t get opposing fans, either, nor will the Giants really due to the timing of the game (the Sunday after Thanksgiving),� Klang said.

As if the possibility of a winless season wasn’t enough to keep fans away late in the season, the NFL schedule called for the Browns to play six of their last nine games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The closing stretch — once the marquee opponents (the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Steelers) are off the schedule, and as the frustration and/or fan apathy really begins to mount — is particularly brutal.

Klang calls it the “low point� for the team’s ticket market since the franchise returned in 1999.

The nadir is the Christmas Eve game against the Chargers — for which Vivid Seats had listings as of Thursday, Nov. 15, that started at $4,

A look at the remaining NFL games that are generating the lowest median sales prices on the secondary market (four of the top eight involve the Browns): Chargers at Browns, Dec. 24:

$30

Browns at Bills, Dec. 18:

$35

Dolphins at Bills, Dec. 24:

$36

Buccaneers at Chiefs, Nov. 20:

$42

Bengals at Browns, Dec. 11:

$44

Titans at Chiefs, Dec. 18:

$48

Giants at Browns, Nov. 27:

$50

Jaguars at Bills, Nov. 27:

$50

Source: StubHub

Cowboys fans scooped up many of the seats for Dallas’ 35-10 rout of the Browns on Nov. 6 at FirstEnergy Stadium. (Ken Blaze for Crain’s)

which was a buck or two lower than the get-in costs for the matchup on SeatGeek ($5) and StubHub ($6).

StubHub was selling parking passes for $24 for the San Diego contest — a price that was four times as high as the low point for a ticket to the game.

SeatGeek’s top deal scores for the Chargers-Browns matchup included several $21 listings for three seats in Section 117, located in the northwest corner of the end zone. The Browns’ 2016 season-ticket chart says seats in that area were $800 for 10 home games, which includes a pair of preseason contests.

Klang predicts that the Browns’ home finale on Christmas Eve could have an actual attendance that is

lower than the two preseason games — both of which were played on Thursday nights.

A half-empty stadium, and/or one that is overrun with fans of the opposing team, is nothing new for the Browns, who had lost 20 of their last 21 games prior to the Steelers coming to town.

The team confirmed to Crain’s after the 2015 season that the final four games of a 3-13 campaign didn’t sell out. The two-year renovation of FirstEnergy Stadium reduced the capacity to 67,431, which is 5,569 below the Browns’ 73,000 attendance norm in 2007 — one of their two winning seasons since 1999.

The Browns’ first four games of

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2016 did sell out, the team said.

Those efforts were boosted by two matchups — Oct. 9 against New England and Nov. 6 vs. Dallas — that were two of Klang’s four best-selling contests in the last 15 years.

The Patriots and Cowboys created so much demand, Klang said, that the Browns’ 2016 ticket market will finish stronger than the previous season. The sales for those games, though, “were all opponent-driven,� the broker said.

The Giants-Bengals-Chargers closing stretch doesn’t have near that demand, which has led to list prices that are at least three times cheaper in many cases than similar seats the Browns are trying to sell online.

StubHub provided data to Crain’s that showed the median sales price of the Browns’ final three home games ranged from $30 for the Chargers game to $50 for the Giants. Factor in the $44 median sales price for the Bengals contest, and the Browns’ last three home games are among the eight remaining contests on the NFL schedule that are

generating median sales prices of $50 or below on StubHub. The Chargers-Browns game has the lowest median price on the list, and a second Browns contest — this time a road date against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 18 — is second, at $35.

Jim Kahler, the executive director of the Center of Sports Administration at Ohio University and a former Cavaliers senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the single-digit list prices for the Browns’ last three home games could mean that brokers “overinvested� on the team prior to the season. “They are setting the tone for the market,� Kahler said. “They’re trying to unload right now.�

Kahler said he has read studies that say brokers can represent at least 25% to 30% of a team’s ticketing inventory. “Unfortunately and fortunately, the secondary market really dictates market values,� the OU professor said.

In the Browns’ case, the perpetual struggles often lead to a December schedule that depends on fans of the opposing team to fill FirstEnergy Stadium. In 2016, that timeline was sped up drastically.

As bargain hunters likely were seeing $4, $6 and $8 seats on the secondary market, the Browns’ website had similar seats available — spots in the Family Zone, mezzanine, upper level and Dawg Pound — for $60, $64, $66 and $68, respectively.

Six days before the Browns faced the Steelers for the first time in 2016, executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown told the media he didn’t believe the franchise was “in danger of losing our fan base.�

Brown stressed that “brighter days are ahead.�

Brokers, and plenty of others, would probably counter that it can’t get any worse.

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PA G E 3

NEO hospitals add to community benefits

By LYDIA COUTRÉ lcoutre@crain.com @LydiaCoutre

Although the cost that Ohio hospitals absorb for providing free or discounted care has dropped since the Medicaid expansion went into effect in 2014, other needs, such as covering any Medicaid shortfall and investments in education, have continued to help grow the community benefit of hospitals statewide.

In the first year after the state expanded Medicaid eligibility standards, hospitals in Ohio increased their community benefit activities by a total of more than $800 million in 2014 to $2.16 billion, according to a report from the Ohio Hospital Association.

The statewide report is on a two-year delay, but Northeast Ohio hospitals have released their community benefit reports for 2015, which show continued increases in the value they report for their contributions to the community.

Community benefit totals include investments in research, education and community health improvement initiatives, as well as costs the hospitals absorb for providing free or discounted care or to fill the gap of what Medicaid does not cover.

Summa Health, University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic all saw a growth in their community benefit totals from 2014 to 2015, building upon the shift that OHA reported statewide.

The Clinic and UH both saw modest increases in community benefit.

The Clinic’s increased from $681.8 million to $692.8 million. UH’s reported community benefit grew from $266 million to $275 million. A factor in that growth is the addition of UH St. John, Samaritan and Portage medical centers to the system in 2015, said Heidi Gartland, UH’s vice president of government and community relations for

University Hospitals.

Summa saw growth of about 43% in its community benefit total, increasing from $67.1 million to $95.9 million. Marlo Schmidt, Summa’s director of community benefit, says this was driven in part by how the system is capturing and reporting information, but also by increased patient encounters, expanded services and a more proactive effort to get into the community.

Summa’s strategy has been to transition to providing more health care education, more screenings and to get out in the community more, said Rob Whitehouse, Summa’s senior vice president of marketing and community relations. “That by its very nature is going to result in a lot more activity occurring as we are more successful out in the community,� he said.

Although MetroHealth is not required to report community benefit totals as the nonprofit hospitals are, it calculates that number anyway in order to be accountable and transparent, said Elizabeth Allen, MetroHealth’s senior vice president of external affairs.

In 2015, MetroHealth’s self-reported community benefit was $223 million. “It’s really important to our employees, if nobody else, to see the amount of funds that we are investing back in the community, because that’s what we believe in and what holds us together,� she said.

In 2014, hospitals statewide provided charity care at 80% the level they did prior to the expansion. “More Ohioans are getting health care coverage and being able to go to a more appropriate setting for health care beyond just emergency room and urgent care, things like that,� said John Palmer, spokesman for OHA. “That’s why we saw this decline in charity care, and that’s been one of

the benefits of having the Affordable Care Act. ‌ A lot of the Ohioans were getting access to care in more appropriate settings.�

Both UH and the Clinic continued that trend in 2015, each seeing a roughly one-third drop in charity care costs. Alongside that, the amount each spent covering Medicaid shortfall increased.

That Medicaid shortfall bucket grew from $76 million to $102 million for UH and from $217.5 million to $242.7 million for the Clinic.

Summa saw an increase in funds committed to charity care, the Medicaid shortfall and subsidized health services — a growth Schmidt said is simply due to more people accessing care because they have insurance.

Having more people insured is “terrific,� MetroHealth’s Allen said. “We just have to make sure that we figure out ways to care for more and more people at an affordable rate,� she said.

UH's Gartland said she’s excited to see funds shift from charity care to Medicaid shortfall, because it offers an opportunity to help patients find a medical home and access primary care rather than just going into the emergency room or an urgent care.

Charity care is the most expensive and least efficient way to support patients accessing care, she said. Instead, UH’s medical access clinic helps get patients to a better level of care by

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spending time with them to teach them how to use Medicaid and access services. Through that, more than 90% of those who had that support didn’t later show up in the emergency room for non-emergency issues.

That, she said, is what community benefit is all about — engaging and educating patients, finding the best use of health care dollars and investing in the needs of the community.

Beyond covering the cost of care either through Medicaid shortfall or charity care, also included in the community benefit calculation is investment in research, community health improvement programs and education and training.

Funding for community health improvement programs and initiatives increased at UH and Summa.

The Clinic’s investment in outreach programs (which include health programs, screenings, community building activities, cash grants and in-kind gifts or donations to other non-profits), decreased from 2014 to 2015.

Heather Phillips, spokeswoman for the Clinic, said the drop was due to a streamlined approach focusing more on community health and wellness through prevention and chronic disease management. Another factor was that as the exchanges and Medicaid expansion became easier to navigate and more people got covered, the Clinic didn’t need to spend

as much money supporting patients through that process.

All three systems reported increases in education investment and a slight decrease in their research investment.

Whitehouse attributed the drop at Summa to the natural ebb and flow of research projects in the pipeline at any given time.

Gartland said that UH received more grants and government funding for research — enough to increase the total amount spent on research at the system. But because those grant dollars aren’t counted in community benefit, the number decreases. “So we’re actually kind of excited that the number went down because we actually have more that’s research going on,� she said. “But we’ve done an even better job. We’ve become even more competitive in getting grants to help to offset the cost that we bear on our own.�

Questions remain for health care policy at state and federal levels with promises from the Republican Party to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Local officials, like many, are taking a wait-and-see approach.

At Summa, Whitehouse said a lot of the community benefit has been tied to the system’s strategy of population health management and being embedded in the fabric and health of the community.

Volume 37, Number 47 Crain’s Cleveland Business (ISSN 0197-2375) is published weekly at 700 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 441131230. Copyright Š 2016 by Crain Communications Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. Price per copy: $2.00.

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Prime Woodcraft Inc. provided incorrect financial data for the Crain’s 52 fastest-growing companies program. The correct numbers for Prime Woodcraft’s 2015 sales were $62.3 million, and it employs 510 people. The company’s CEO is Ansir Junaid.

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

National Interstate ‘bursting at the seams’ during big year

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It’s been quite a ride leading into 2017 for National Interstate Corp.

The property and casualty insurance underwriter specializing in commercial transportation and niche products was founded in 1989, and in 1992, it still had under $10 million in written premiums, a single product and barely two dozen employees.

But with exponential growth in recent years — annual revenues are trending at least 10% higher from 2013, clearing $625 million in the company’s last fiscal year — new president and CEO Tony Mercurio, who last spring replaced longtime CEO Dave Michelson, said National Interstate is “bursting at the seams.” He said it’s realizing some of its fastest growth ever and is plotting the largest expansion in company history.

The significance of the company’s progress wasn’t lost on Mercurio, who celebrates two decades with National Interstate next year, as he reflected last week at its Richfield campus on two major milestones for the company: a completed merger with its parent company, American Financial Group Inc. of Cincinnati, and the official groundbreaking for a five-story building that will connect offices at its Northeast Ohio headquarters.

“With the physical expansion and the ownership changes, I can say with full confidence the next several years here are going to be fantastic,” Mercurio said.

American Financial, which has a portfolio for insurance companies under its umbrella, has been a majority shareholder of National Interstate since

1990. It tried to buy up the remaining shares to complete a 100% ownership stake a couple years ago and was rebuffed, but ultimately came to a deal this summer that closed last week. At a $32-per-share purchase price, American Financial is paying about $320 million to secure the remaining 49% of shares it didn’t already own.

After already having a controlling position, that deal wasn’t truly necessary. The capital could’ve been spent elsewhere.

But American Financial executives see even greater future potential in the company and have taken the business private with the transaction. Carl Lindner III, co-CEO of American Financial, has said the deal is all about making additional investment in a firm they know incredibly well.

The National Interstate expansion underway now, though, was planned more than a year ago regardless of American Financial’s interest.

The company has about 500 employees in Richfield and 145 in a St. Louis office. With a national business, National Interstate considered moving operations elsewhere — including shifting its headquarters to St. Louis — but ultimately decided to stay in Northeast Ohio. (A seven-year tax credit from the state of Ohio helped sweeten the deal).

A third building at the Ohio campus marks a $25 million project that will add capacity for about another 450 people. There’s an expansion underway in Missouri, as well with a renovation of the St. Louis office. That operation, which was established with their 2010 acquisition of Vanliner Insurance Co., marks an investment north of another $1 million that will add room for another 75 to 80 staff.

National Interstate currently has

openings for another 50 employees.

The other staff will come over time as the company's growth trajectory continues — something that's expected to accelerate with the addition of more niche products that have fueled past growth.

Coverage for crane and rigging operations is one of its more niche transportation products. And while it has some competition in those kinds of spaces, National Interstate continues to see the most opportunity in niche markets.

“Many of those niches aren’t looked on as favorably by other insurance companies,” Mercurio said. “And that’s what we like. These are underserved niches we think need help.”

An expansion of national accounts has been achieved in recent years through specialty underwriting where clients share a portion of the risk and National Interstate’s coverage kicks in at different tiers, like after the first $50,000 to $100,000. It’s a fresh approach to serving large insureds, said Chris Mikolay, vice president of national accounts.

A product that launched in June, branded as Turbo, covers independent FedEx Ground contractors. It already has grown into a multimillion-dollar business.

Other specialty areas the company has jumped into in recent years include heavy hauling, waste hauling and ambulances — all areas that have less completion compared with the general commercial insurance space.

Expect more of those in the future.

Mercurio wasn’t ready to divulge what new areas might be on tap in 2017, but he said new products are on the way.

Chief financial officer Julie McGraw said additional growth may come in other acquisitions of add-on value companies, staff or books of business.

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While still small, the Brook Park plant of coatings company Greenkote PLC grew significantly this year, installing new equipment that will more than double its capacity.

The company uses a proprietary process to apply corrosion-resistant coatings to steel for industries including automotive and construction. Most coatings build up on the surface of a metal, but Greenkote uses a thermal diffusion process to actually mix the zinc coating with the steel, said CEO Mark Gore. The coating adheres well, allows other materials to bond easily and is quite strong, he said.

And, as the company's name makes apparent, it aims to be environmentally friendly. Sean Smith, manager of engineering, said that many coatings companies have to use a lot of chemicals in their processing, but the Greenkote process doesn’t use aggressive chemicals in its cleaning. Additionally, its coating process is dry, and the post-finishing process uses just water, which, Gore noted, is reclaimed afterward.

It’s taken a while for the process to get traction. Gore said markets often demand “new ideas and new coatings and new techniques,” but it takes a while to qualify them.

“It’s a very long, tedious process,” Gore said. “But the markets we’ve explored — automotive is far and away the largest market for coated parts — they’re accepting it. And some traditionally difficult-to-coat applications like rubber bonding. We’ve got proj-

A new oven is part of Greenkote’s recently installed production line, which applies corrosion-resistant coating to steel. (Courtesy of Greenkote)

ects in appliances, we’ve got projects in electrical transmission hardware, recreational vehicles, heavy construction equipment. So we’re seeing interest in a variety of different markets and starting to turn that into coatings service business.”

The technology is relatively new, in terms of coatings. It began to be developed in Israel in 1999, and commercialization started to get underway around 2005, said chief operating officer and chief financial officer James R. Thomson. At that time, holding company Greenkote PLC registered in the United Kingdom. It’s still registered there today, though it’s headquartered in Brook Park and oversees operations across the globe.

Greenkote moved to Brook Park almost seven-and-a-half years ago,

after briefly being headquartered in Norwalk. The move gave it room to install equipment to apply its product for customers in the United States. Greenkote previously aimed to get companies to invest in the technology, but without a customer base, it was hard to convince them to do so, Thomson said.

“It gave us a credible source of supply,” Gore said. “And we could talk to potential users and they’d say, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’ And they’d test a few samples and they’d say, ‘Oh, we like it.’ And then the question would come up: ‘Where can we get it done?’

That’s when we realized we had to have, not just the technology, but a place to apply it in North America for it to take off.”

SEE GREENKOTE, PAGE 8

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Service sector sparks October jobs gain

By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com @millerjh

The region reversed two months of job declines in October, adding 2,498 jobs, according to the Ahola Crain’s Employment (ACE) Report.

Seasonally adjusted, the region saw employment rise to 1,171,849 from 1,169,351 a month earlier, a 0.2% increase.

While the service-producing sector shows a year-over-year gain of 5,407 jobs, the goods-producing sector declined by 2,181 jobs. Smoothing out the month-to-month figures, on a year-over-year basis, the seven-county workforce increased 3,226 jobs, a gain of 0.3%, since October 2015.

CLEVELAND BUSINESS 700 W. St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 44113-1230 Phone: (216) 522-1383 www.crainscleveland.com @CrainsCleveland Elizabeth McIntyre Scott Suttell Tim Magaw David Kordalski Damon Sims Sue Walton Kevin Kleps Stan Bullard Real estate/ construction Reporters Jay Miller, Government Dan Shingler Energy/steel/auto Rachel McCafferty Manufacturing/ energy Jeremy Nobile, Finance Lydia Coutré, Health care Data editor Chuck Soder Cartoonist Rich Williams

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The regional decline in the goods-producing sector echoes the national pattern. The United States lost 9,000 manufacturing jobs in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Service employment has been growing, but manufacturing payrolls are either sluggish or declining,” reported Jack Kleinhenz, the Cleveland Heights economist who created the ACE model. “The factory sector continues to face stiff headwinds, including weak global demand due to sluggish growth abroad, a strong dollar and low commodity prices.

Longer term, employment in the goods-producing sector peaked in July 1979 at 25,163,000. Since then, sector employment has declined by 5,548,000 — or 22% — to its current

level of 19,615,000. Those jobs have been lost largely to automation and shop-floor tracking systems that increase efficiency and, to a lesser degree, to globalization.

A bright spot at the national level, Kleinhenz said, is the 0.4% gain in average hourly earnings, up 2.8% over the past year.

Economists at Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial Services Group called that growth in average hourly earnings the fastest increase in seven years.

“As the job market gets tighter, firms are responding to tougher competition for workers by raising pay,” the financial services firm said in its Nov. 4 economic report. “This is very good news for incomes and consumer spending.”

The ACE Report AHOLA. CRAIN’S. EMPLOYMENT Crain’s Cleveland Business has partnered with The Ahola Corp., a payroll and human capital management firm in Brecksville, and local economist Jack Kleinhenz to provide monthly data — and clarity — about a key factor in business decisionmaking: the size of Northeast Ohio’s workforce.

Seasonally adjusted employment numbers, Northeast Ohio JUNE: 1,172,025 JULY: 1,175,213 AUGUST: 1,171,067 SEPTEMBER: 1,169,351 OCTOBER: 1,171,849 1,155,000

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PA G E 8

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

GREENKOTE

BRANDS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Representatives from a couple of existing customers gave different reasons for choosing to use Greenkote.

Mechanical engineer Martine Lavoie of Canadian rubber molding company Soucy Baron said it helps the company save money, because it lets it bypass the step of sandblasting steel before applying rubber to it.

Bob Harvey, supplier development manager for North America for German Vibracoustic, said he likes the product’s corrosion resistance and the fact that it’s environmentally friendly.

The U.S. part of the company is small. Greenkote doesn’t make the raw material for the coatings at its Brook Park plant — Gore said that’s done in Israel — but it applies them here. Just eight employees work out of the location, including Gore, who often works remotely.

The company doesn’t disclose annual sales, but Thomson said Greenkote saw four-fold growth in sales of coating services at the Brook Park plant from 2015 to 2016. He expects that to increase about two-and-ahalf times next year. Greenkote also has licensees across the world that use the process and coatings in their own plants, Thomson said, which is the ultimate business goal.

“We got involved with Regional Brands not to do just one acquisition,” DiSanto said. “We want to grow this into a great holding company with multiple different companies within it.”

This marks the first shell company for its leadership team of veteran investors.

“There is a real opportunity here to use the public markets as a way to create value,” Hopkins said. “If we can become fairly valued in equity markets, we can use stock to acquire other companies. And if the stock gets cheap, we can use the balance sheet to buy back stock.”

The vehicle itself offers some new opportunities for investing in the potential of smaller, privately held businesses with strong brands and revenue growth.

A clear vision and the recent acquisition mark more activity and direction than the legacy holding company has seen in years.

A sampling of typical Greenkote-coated metal parts. (Contributed photo)

Greenkote’s main customers are in automotive, Smith said. Those customers are looking to open new product lines, he said, which led to Greenkote's investment this year.

The company tried to keep up with increased demand by going to three shifts last January, Thomson said. Ultimately, Greenkote decided to instead invest almost $1 million in new equipment, which includes machines for pre-cleaning and post-finish, as well as an oven for the processing of the coating.

That highly automated equipment will be running by the end of the year and will increase the plant’s capacity by about two-and-a-half times, Thomson said. A news release on the expansion noted that it would allow the company to process about 150 tons of parts each month.

And the company still has room to grow. Currently, it’s leasing about 10,000 square feet of a 100,000-square-foot building for the processing, half with the old equipment and half with the new.

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How it happened Hopkins, who runs Ancora’s alternative investments group, learned of 4Net while looking for acquisition targets.

The shell company was incorporated in 1986 as Medtech Diagnostics Inc., which ceased operations in 1991 and later was revived as a holding company led by Steven Bronson, CEO of California-based BKF Capital Group, who became a director at the restored 4Net in 1996.

According to corporate filings, 4Net had intentions to make acquisitions, but it lacked revenue to make any deals, particularly through the last few years. Bronson had been lending money to cover operating expenses since 2009. The 2014 and 2015 fiscal years alone yielded a combined net loss of more than $82,000.

Then, in April, Ancora stepped in.

4Net sold $5 million worth of common stock to two Ancora investment funds: Merlin Partners LP and Ancora Catalyst Fund LP. With that, Ancora owned just shy of 90% of the company. Debt to Bronson was canceled, its directors resigned as Hopkins and Anderson took over, and the name was changed officially to Regional Brands.

Shortly afterward, Regional underwent a reverse stock split, and about $12 million in capital was raised.

To provide for the first acquisition of B.R. Johnson — a company founded in 1928 that specializes in windows, doors, hardware and specialty products — Regional sold $12.7 million worth of common stock in a private placement and partnered with New York private equity firm Lorraine Capital LLC. All costs combined, the acquisition, completed earlier this month, was valued at about $16 million.

With that transaction, the Ancora affiliates now control about 40% of Regional. That deal also brought DiSanto and Grassi to Regional as CEO and chairman, respectively.

“I liked the concept of Regional Brands and using the public structure to go after privately held, smaller, nicely branded businesses that have been around for a while,” Grassi said. “It excites me in terms of playing a role with this team that is in place, helping grow B.R. Johnson and certainly Regional Brands on a longer-term basis.”

“I liked the concept of Regional Brands and using the public structure to go after privately held, smaller, nicely branded businesses that have been around for a while.”

— Carl Grassi, McDonald Hopkins chairman

Plenty of opportunity The strategy of using a public shell company, in this case, could be particularly useful in investing in smaller enterprises to raise their value, which is why this investor team was drawn to it.

Hopkins noted how he sees a variety of privately held companies with strong brands that are simply unable to draw the same high multiples other publicly traded companies are seeing in today’s market.

“If we could use this shell to acquire these regionally branded companies,” he said, “we think we could get a similar type of valuation.”

That’s the intent with B.R. Johnson, which Regional intends to see grow through expanded geographic reach.

Add-on acquisitions to achieve that are quite likely, DiSanto said.

Acquisitions being made through the holding company itself provides for a wide range of flexibility in terms of what businesses they’ll seek out.

There’s no particular industry focus, but rather a goal of identifying those attractive privately held companies with strong growth potential. There's no overall goal of making a certain number of investments, or holding the companies for any specific period of time.

“If you know me and Carl and Brian, you know we are very risk-averse on the balance sheet,” DiSanto said.

“We like companies generating cash that don’t need a tremendous amount of capital to grow. If there are any companies that meet that sweet spot, we are clearly going to take a look at them.”

With aging company leaders in the baby boomer generation looking for exit strategies in today’s landscape, there’s going to be a large transfer of wealth and an ongoing swath of executives looking to cement succession plans.

And that bodes well for the Regional strategy, led by a team of conservative, veteran investors, to come into play.

The challenge will simply be finding the best targets.

“We won’t be buying five or six companies at a time,” DiSanto said.

“We’re going to be very selective. But we think there are a lot of opportunities out there.”

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The Dish: Susan Condon Love

Food pantries complete final prep work for holiday rush

GIVING Y

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Across town, at the nonprofit St. Augustine Hunger Center on West 14th Street, Sister Corita Ambro and her brother, retired industrial engineer Bob Ambro, sat in the nearly empty dining area. While a smaller SEE DISH, PAGE 32

n·

r

The old-fashioned way

o

WAY· a k

ens of beeping front loaders, plus a fleet of 14 trucks. Upward of 16,000 volunteers donate 72,000 work hours per year, and hundreds of visitors flock to the free-food store every weekday.

That’s a lot of activity to coordinate. That’s where food bank vice president of operations Dwayne Brake comes in. Tall with a ready and warm handshake, Brake is the calm in the storm. And his system would make any large business hum a happy tune.

“Technology is allowing us to be extremely efficient,” said Brake, who has worked at the food bank for seven years.

In particular, he said, the food bank uses a routing software called Appian Route Optimization for Delivery Fleets. With the food bank’s truck fleet making 31,000 stops a year to deliver food, agencies place their orders electronically and the software works out a specific route map for each truck and each delivery.

“We used to have to type in the orders,” said Drake. “This system automatically imports it.”

In the warehouse, Drake also supervises a computer system that tracks inventory, including government-supplied items (monthly), purchased items and donated items (bimonthly).

“This satisfies the (legal) requirements for inventory, so we do not need to shut down once a year to do a manual inventory,” said Brake.

Another business-minded move that has saved the food bank time and money year-round and is especially vital during the holiday season is the use of software called Voxware.

This program enables headset-wearing workers using the front loaders to efficiently fill orders in a systematic, organized way, aisle by aisle.

“This system ensures that the heavier, bigger items are on the bottom, working up to the smaller, lighter items,” he said.

The food bank also is constantly evaluating its processes.

“Once a month, we participate in a nationwide conference call with food banks similar in size,” said Brake.

“There are about 20 of us from such cities as Oklahoma City, Kansas City, New York City, Houston and Santa Clara, Calif. We are always looking for ways to improve and be more efficient.”

o

Susan Condon Love is a freelance writer who was an editor and writer at The Plain Dealer, The Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News and The Annapolis Capital.

UR O

During three months — October, November and December — more than 11 million pounds of food will be distributed by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to over 800 food pantries and shelters in a six-county area.

That’s a lot of yams going from the nonprofit food bank’s East 152nd Street headquarters in Cleveland — and mash potatoes, and pies and turkeys (7,000 of those, to be exact).

Across town at the St. Augustine Hunger Center in Tremont, organizers are preparing for the Thanksgiving Day serving and distribution of 14,000 meals. About 5,000 of those meals will be served in the center’s small, basement hall, and the rest will be sent out through 28 different agencies.

Both of these endeavors — which serve the estimated 1 in 8 people in Northeast Ohio who turn to hunger centers for assistance — require planning and in some cases specialized computer programs to keep the assistance flowing in an organized and efficient manner.

The numbers are daunting. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank expects to prepare 53 million meals in 2016, with officials hoping to increase that number to 58 million meals annually by 2018.

“In October, November and December, our kitchen prepares (and distributes), on average, the equivalent of 5,000 meals a day to hot-meal agencies,” said Karen Pozna, director of corporate and public relations for the food bank.

The food bank is housed in a 120,000-square-foot facility filled with floor-to-ceiling shelves and doz-

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Opinion From the Editor

Handing off to the next generation

Editorial

Change in direction The city of Cleveland may have chosen the right direction for the future of bus traffic around Public Square, but its process for getting there was chaotic, and it leaves us with less confidence about the Jackson administration’s planning abilities on major endeavors.

In a hastily called news conference last Tuesday, Nov. 15, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority General Manager Joe Calabrese announced that the remade Public Square would remain closed to buses, as it has been since its debut over the summer. Jackson said the decision was based primarily on safety concerns and what he characterized as strong public opinion in favor of closing Superior in the square to make it more accessible and enjoyable for the people who use it.

On that last point, we agree. The $50 million renovation by acclaimed landscape architect James Corner has been a hit since its unveiling and has brought new vitality to the center of downtown.

During the Republican National Convention in July, the new Public Square proved to be a beautiful and functional space for large numbers of people, and national media took notice of its symbolic value for a rejuvenated Cleveland. Events in subsequent months that have included food trucks, farmers markets and more on the Superior Avenue portion of the square have proved popular, attracting visitors and drawing workers out of their offices and onto the streets of downtown. It has been a triumph of design that helps to shape city life for the better, and keeping buses off Superior makes Public Square a more unified, useful space.

The way we got here, though, is not ideal.

From the start, the square’s bisected design to allow buses to run east-west through a two-block stretch of Superior was a compromise between the city and RTA, based in part on input gleaned from public hearings. Buses had been re-routed around the square through construction and then after it opened, though they were supposed to start running

through it again in August. That never happened. As much as people enjoy the bus-free center of Public Square, it’s unfortunate that there wasn’t a test for a couple months of whether the space could indeed have accommodated buses safely.

There are big consequences from the change in direction.

The Plain Dealer reported last week that in a Nov. 7 letter to the city, Calabrese said the square’s closure has significantly affected RTA’s “on-time performance, with the number or late buses increasing by 43 percent.” He also noted in the letter that RTA buses are on pace to make an additional 1.2 million turns per year around the square, which eventually will push up maintenance costs. (A study conducted during the planning process estimated RTA would lose $2.6 million a year if the square were to be closed to buses.)

Calabrese last week said RTA will work to find operational efficiencies outside Public Square that will reduce the economic impact on the transit agency, which faces many financial challenges these days. That’s critical, because a public transit system with consistent delays in getting people where they need to go is not good for citizens or businesses.

The new direction needs the approval of the Federal Transit Authority, which provided funding to RTA to create a “downtown transit zone” that ended in Public Square as part of the development of the successful HealthLine along Euclid Avenue. The FTA could rule that closing Superior in the square would violate their agreement.

The city and RTA are working to submit a new plan that will win the federal government’s approval. Assuming that happens — and it’s no sure thing — the city will need to undertake an additional redesign of Public Square, adding more costs to the project that will need to be picked up by the philanthropic community.

Public Square is and will remain a gem for downtown, even if this period of trial and error has taken off a bit of that shine.

Publisher and Editor: Elizabeth McIntyre (emcintyre@crain.com)

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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Contact Crain’s :

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I’m a sports lover. All kinds of sports. Even the ones that only make headlines when the Olympics roll around.

And one of my favorite events in track and field is the relay race. The precision and grace the runners display as they hand off the baton to the next competitor looks so smooth and easy.

But it’s practiced again and again until calluses form.

That practice is essential. When the race begins, trust between the runners is ingrained. When a runner reaches back, she is sure the baton will be there. And passing the baton takes trust that the next runner won’t drop it. If it’s done right, momentum is not lost.

In this week’s issue, we celebrate 40 young professionals who have either just grabbed the baton or who are running at Elizabeth full speed, ready to take the handoff.

McIntyre When you read their stories, you’ll be as convinced as we are that the baton is in good hands.

The 2016 class of Crain’s Forty Under 40 is a special one, not only because of the remarkable individuals who make up this year’s cohort, but because they are the silver anniversary class.

For the past 25 years, Crain’s Cleveland Business has recognized more than 900 Northeast Ohio young leaders who were rising in their professions while contributing to their communities.

Looking back at that first class of Forty Under 40s from 1991, you’ll see an impressive list of people who went on to contribute greatly to our community and who have had lasting impact on Northeast Ohio: Richard Shatten, Fred Nance, Lorraine Rojek, Brian Hall, Frank Sullivan, Umberto Fedeli, Greg Skoda, Mitchell Schneider, and 32 more impressive young leaders.

The list continues throughout the 1990s into the next century of professionals who made their mark early and continued on a successful path. Entrepreneurs and innovators like Michael Petras, Packy Hyland and Baiju Shah; civic leaders and newsmakers such as Sandra Pianalto, David Gilbert and Ann Goodman; and business owners and bosses like Scott Mueller, Jenniffer Deckard, Randy Myeroff and Julie Boland. I invite you to check out the list of Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 alums by visiting our interactive database of previous honorees on www.CrainsCleveland.com/section/40under40 This year’s class is just as impressive as the ones we’ve honored in the past. Carly Cahlik co-founded her first company when she was in her early 20s. Lyvian Loh is fluent in seven languages. Matthew Previts, from Logicalis, recently completed a two-month active-duty assignment in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he was assigned to an intelligence unit. Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz is an Iraqi War veteran. Hayley B. Williams adopted three children and changed her law firm’s adoption leave policy.

Jade Davis, who spent 10 years away from his hometown, boomeranged back to Northeast Ohio to grow his career. Contrast that to Dominique Moceanu, who became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in U.S. gymnastics history at the age of 14. Moceanu wasn’t born in Northeast Ohio, but she has made it her home and now runs her own business here. Joseph Connolly, a native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., is a NASA Glenn aerospace engineer who finds time to regularly tutor local Native American students at the Iroquois reservation in Canada where many of his relatives still live.

It’s easy to see why we are so excited about this year’s Forty Under 40 class. The baton will be secure for years to come. And there’s no reason that Northeast Ohio can’t lead the pack.

Write us: Crain’s welcomes responses from readers. Letters should be as brief as possible and may be edited. Send letters to Crain’s Cleveland Business, 700 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 44113, or by emailing letters@crain.com. Please include your complete name and city from which you are writing, and a telephone number for fact-checking purposes.

Sound off: Send a Personal View for the opinion page to emcintyre@crain.com.

Please include a telephone number for verification purposes.

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PA G E 11

Stock

the

Web Talk Re: Source Lunch with ...

Andre Knott I remember when Andre was carrying equipment for Kenny Roda remotes. Now he’s a broadcasting star. It shows what a man can do if he works hard and takes advantage of opportunities. Very proud of you, Andre! — 174841

Re: Future of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Richard Cordray, the head of the CFPB and former Ohio Attorney General, is a pretty ideologically rude dude. He'll stop at nothing to dictate his ideas. I'm glad he'll soon be gone from Washington.

Hopefully he doesn't return to Ohio. — Greg Greene

Re: Redeveloping two Flats buildings It's nice to see some familiar names — Mike Samsel and his sister, Kathy Petrick, with the Catanese family and real estate developer Fred Geis — involved with this effort to remake two pre-Civil War buildings on the waterfront side of Old River Road.

They know how to make it happen with a track record to prove it.

Cleveland is really coming alive again. — Neil Dick

Re: Buying American It may not be 100% made of parts from the USA, but the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry are over 96% made of parts produced here and assembled here. Just go to a dealer and read the sticker on the window, and you will find both of these cars have more U.S. content than any of the Big 3 carmakers. My wife just retired from Honda with a great pension and benefits. Over 80% of the Accord parts are produced within a 100-mile radius of Marysville, Ohio. All of Honda's engines and transmissions are made right here in Ohio. — Walt Oshinsky

Re: Salute to vets Thank you to Rachel Abbey McCafferty for sharing a fascinating personal story in such a humble, honest way in the Nov. 6 blog post headlined “Veterans Day connection hits home decades later.” I have visited similar gravesites and cemeteries in and around Normandy and, say what you will about the French, they take impeccable care of them all.

The stillness and tranquility at these places belies the staggering fact that such an incredible number of young American men, far from their homes, lost their lives in a violent manner, making the ultimate sacrifice. They are truly, as Tom Brokaw dubbed them, the Greatest Generation.

— Bill Stevens

Personal View

Barriers to small business capital will hurt Ohio

Pantry

St. Augustine Hunger Center is expecting to serve over 8,000 meals per holiday this year.

Donations are needed to address the needs of the less fortunate.

Help them during this busy time.

Most Needed Items Canned Peaches Canned Fruit Ground Meat Onions Hot Cereal

Cold Cereal Potatoes Peanut Butter Jelly

By DAVID VITAZ

Not only is Ohio a great place to live — you can’t beat how close the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Erie, Cuyahoga National Park, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame are — but it is also a great place to work.

Our state is home to more than 900,000 small businesses, which employ over 2.1 million Ohioans, or 46.2% of private sector employees. Needless to say, small businesses keep Ohio strong, but we need to do more to help foster a sense of innovation and business friendliness in our state.

Recent data shows that the number of Ohio small businesses leaving the state or closing completely continue to outnumber state startups. While this trend is slowly reversing, the change isn’t occurring at a quick-enough pace. In 2015, the state lost 3,000 private sector jobs when more than 300 businesses shut down or moved. For Ohioans, and people considering a move to the state, this is not encouraging news.

After the financial crisis in 2008, Congress absolutely needed to take action in order to protect the American people from a repeat of what happened under their watch.

While the Dodd-Frank Act served as a step in the right direction, certain provisions among its 22,000 pages penalize the players that make up the backbone of the banking industry and have ultimately led to unintended consequences for businesses around the country, including in Ohio.

No two banks are the same, varying in asset size, types of lending, branch numbers, customers and more, but all banks with assets totaling over $50 billion are subject to Dodd-Frank regulations. This means our state’s regional banks — Fifth-Third, KeyCorp and Huntington, none of which exceed $150 billion in assets and which do not engage in risky trading activity — are being lumped in with JP Morgan, Wells Fargo and Bank of America, which all have more than $1.5 trillion in assets.

Not only do these regional banks lack the resources, both in manpower and money, to comply with thousands of pages of regulation, but it also hinders their ability to serve their customers.

Before my retirement, I was CFO of an Ohio business and witnessed firsthand the financial challenges businesses face in today’s regulatory environment. Obtaining necessary capital to improve business function, expand operations or train employees is difficult to come by and, if capital is available, it likely isn’t the full amount needed. One small business survey found that while the median loan request from business owners is $100,000, typically only $40,500 is actually secured.

This trend is unfortunately not just seen in Ohio, but around the country. The rate of new businesses starting up is still below 2005 levels, a majority of startups can’t fulfill funding requirements, and those that do begin operations are hiring fewer workers than two decades ago.

This comes as Dodd-Frank compliance costs continue to rise as more parts of the law go into effect. A 2015 study found current regulations are reducing regional banks’ lending by $2 billion to $3 billion each year, with most of that money going toward compliance.

It is time to recognize that one-size-fits-all regulations do more harm than good. Regulations that are too strict end up harming the very small businesses helping our economy grow, as we’re seeing now. This country needs regulations that appropriately reflect a bank’s business model. For smaller banks primarily focused on small business and consumer lending, it does not make sense to pile on the same regulations the largest money center banks have.

Ohio is lucky to be rich with several regional banks that support our state’s economy and help businesses grow, but we need Washington to help them do their jobs.

If regional banks have more capital to lend, businesses can start, more jobs can be filled and communities can prosper. Ohio’s leaders must enact laws tailoring bank regulations to help small businesses.

Vitaz is the recently retired CFO of Blue Technologies, an office technologies and services company serving Cleveland, Akron and Columbus.

elkandelk.com/stockthepantry

In Memory of David M. Gleason President and CEO of Austin Powder Company

The Village of Glenwillow extends its sincere sympathies to the Gleason family and the employees of the Austin Powder Company on the passing of David M. Gleason, President and CEO. Mr. Gleason was instrumental in promoting and assisting the Village of Glenwillow’s economic and residential development. The Community is grateful for Mr. Gleason’s impact and continued support through the years.

29555 Pettibone Road Glenwillow, OH 44139 www.glenwillow-oh.gov

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MIDMARKET PERSPECTIVES

GOJO leaders cite humility, agility and market intimacy as competitive advantages

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iddle market companies that find themselves competing with large global enterprises are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing capital, high-level corporate decision makers and external innovation.

Yet, with greater specialization in their product lines, more intimate contact with customers and the ability to react faster to new technologies and changes in the marketplace, strategic midmarket businesses can gain a competitive edge even over some of the world’s largest conglomerates.

Joe Kanfer, chairman and CEO of GOJO Industries, and Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, vice chair of GOJO, shared their experiences navigating competitive waters as a midmarket enterprise. Moderated by Jennifer Keirn, a contributor for Crain Content Studio-Cleveland, the discussion was the keynote presentation of the MidMarket Perspectives forum, held on Nov. 3 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown and presented by Crain’s Cleveland Business and title sponsor law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs LLC. The following are highlights of that conversation.

Keirn: GOJO is a company that has been able to thrive in the middle market, facing competition from enormous global corporations. What would you say are some of your secrets to success?

Rolnick: When you are a small company, you are hungry, you are fully aware of the competition and the people you are trying to unseat so you are inherently humble. As you grow and have some success, maintaining that humility is important. It’s not just that nervousness about what can happen or how you can be unseated, but truly being humble and saying, ‘Wow we still have a lot to do and a lot to learn.’

Kanfer: Middle market companies have this experience of being close to the business. You can develop a true intimacy — and I don’t just mean that selling relationship, but it’s the understanding and the empathy for the needs of your customers and the market — and you are able to stay focused on that over the long haul. You are not making those quarterly decisions. The giants that we compete against, Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Ecolab, probably have some different constraints on them that we don’t have.

TRACK SESSIONS ACA, FACTA AND DOL REGULATIONS HIT HARD Compliance with the Affordable Care Act, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act and the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule are costly, and those investments bring little or no value to companies, making these regulatory burdens real “pain points” for middle market business. In the “Playing Nice With Uncle Sam” track moderated by Thomas A. Stewart, executive director, National Center for the Middle Market, Peter DeMarco, vice president of the tax services group at Meaden & Moore, said many of his midmarket clients struggle with ACA reporting requirements in particular. “It’s difficult for a business, and even for accounting firms, to discern and interpret all the rules,” he said. I.D. Images CEO and president Brian Gale added that some companies purposely stunt their growth to avoid regulations like those levied on companies with 50 or more employees. Steve Peplin, CEO of Talan Products, also participated in the discussion.

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Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, vice chair of GOJO Industries, and Joe Kanfer, chairman and CEO, kicked off the MidMarket Perspectives event Nov. 3 at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.

Keirn: What are the unique opportunities you have as a midmarket company?

Kanfer: The way you operate is more agile. You are not quite as constrained by policy or inability to change.

And, that comes through. By way of example, we will get a new technology brought to us and people will tell us, ‘I took this to a major Fortune 500 company, and I got lost in their legal department.’ Or, ‘I took it to a small company and it did not seem like they could take this technology and run with it.’ Midmarket puts you in the sweet spot – large enough to be able to do something with it, but not so large that it gets lost in the bureaucracy.

Rolnick: The relationships that can develop over time — there is no replacement for that. In business, we all know that trust is so important. You have to really believe the person you are about to do something with has your interests at heart as well as their own. When you are in a large corporate structure, it is really hard sometimes to discern where is that center of gravity. In our case, especially as a family business, there are faces around for five, 10, 15, 20 years.

Keirn: Joe, you’ve talked before about capital constraints. Do you have some challenges that your larger global competitors don’t have?

Kanfer: (Larger companies) can go out and make some rather good offers because they are spending cheap

cash. Midmarket companies have a higher cost of capital. We are pretty proud of a pretty steady double-digit growth rate for decades, but we’ve gotten to that internally financed and with the help of our friendly bankers.

That is a constraint that some of our competitors don’t have.

Rolnick: Related to the capital constraint, it’s also buying new technology. It’s a challenge to make sure you get access to the deal flow and you have a shot at integrating it to fuel that future growth. We are learning how to do more scanning and integration to bring in opportunities from the outside in ways that larger companies are probably more developed at doing.

Keirn: There’s this other trend of enormous global consolidation. As that trend continues, how does it affect midmarket companies like yours?

Kanfer: This mass relationship issue is what I think is the biggest challenge of all for midmarket companies. There are companies that are less capable in individual areas but they have bundled these capabilities together — probably over acquisitions over time — that gives them a very big footprint. They have this relationship capital that they can extend.

Rolnick: The challenge is to be very clear. Where are you truly differentiating? Where are you creating a meaningful competitive advantage so you can be in the game too?

Positioning your company for outside investment begins with accurate and up-to-date financial records, according to Mike Gibbons, senior managing director and principal, Brown Gibbons Lang. “I’ve met absolutely brilliant people that come in with a set of financials that are on the back of a napkin,” said Gibbons, one of the participants in the “Show Me The Money” panel, moderated by Dale W. Vernon, principal, Bernstein Wealth, and executive vice president in charge of programming and innovation, ACG-Cleveland. Not a financial whiz?

Not a problem. Consider trading services that you can offer for help on the company’s books, he suggested. Other financing secrets include reaching out to banks that specialize in your line of business or developing relationships with smaller local or regional banks rather than banking on large financial institutions, said Carl Dyczek, partner with Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. Jim Pshock, founder, CEO and president of Bravo Wellness, also participated in the discussion.

MILLENNIALS WANT TO BE ENGAGED Engaging young talent is the key to cultivating an organization’s leadership pipeline. “The Millennial Workforce” panelists Kathleen Vegh, manager of employee engagement, Hyland, creator of OnBase, and Andrew Bader, co-founder and vice president of Additive Engineering Solutions, said millennials who have a voice and are connected more holistically to a company tend to stay longer and work harder. “If you want turnover, don’t engage. It’s as simple as that,” said Bader, during the discussion moderated by Ashley Basile Oeken, president, Engage!

Cleveland. Rotational programs are one way to engage young employees. These can be as simple as one-day shadowing opportunities or as structured as multi-year terms in different positions. Other engagement strategies discussed included inviting younger employees into a senior-level meeting and providing professional development and community outreach opportunities.

PLANNING FOR GROWTH IS BALANCING ACT Growing a midmarket company effectively requires a delicate balance of planning and agility, according to panelists in the “Readying Your Business For Growth” track, moderated by Robert Malone, business practice group leader, Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. Catherine Shew, a certified executive coach and business adviser, said that while it is critical for companies to plan for the long-term and have a vision for their future, equally important is “being prepared for when an opportunity comes along that you can pretty quickly vet it and move on it.” Charlie DeLacey, vice president, corporate development, The Kenan Advantage Group, agreed, saying some of his company’s most impactful growth decisions were not “perfectly scripted.” “You have to be flexible around strategy,” he said. “It’s a construct, but it’s not a perfectly defined path.” Also participating in the discussion was Raju Patel, senior vice president in global commercial banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF THE EVENT, GO TO www.CrainsCleveland.com/midmarket

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25TH ANNIVERSARY CLASS

FORTY

UNDER 40 Northeast Ohio is on the rise, and these individuals are doing much of the heavy lifting. They are innovators, entrepreneurs, educators and public servants. While their backgrounds and expertise differ greatly, they all share one common trait: a commitment to this region.

For an interactive database on previous winners, visit CrainsCleveland.com/section/40under40.

MEET THIS YEAR’S CLASS BEGINNING ON PAGE 14

Tickets are still available for the reception honoring the 25th Forty Under 40 class, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at Cleveland Public Auditorium.

For post-event coverage, visit crainscleveland.com/40u40 Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

FORTY UNDER 40

Michael J. Beder, 39

Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz, 39

Serial entrepreneur, Water Street Tavern, Tree City Coffee & Pastry, The Venice Café, Taproot Catering, Franklin Hotel Bar

Senior legal counsel, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

Carving out a niche in the bar and restaurant scene in any city is no easy task. But with the right connections, plenty of hard work, lots of support and a bit of luck, Michael J. Beder, a Connecticut native who never really dreamed of starting his own business, has become one of Kent’s most successful entrepreneurs and a veritable institution in the college town.

“I was always the kid with the lemonade stand,” Beder said. “Even though I didn’t really know it necessarily, I think I always had the entrepreneurial spirit.” — Jeremy Nobile You started with one small college bar and now operate a series of businesses in Kent with more on the way. What’s been a key to your success?

I think I just know the Kent community pretty well. There are a lot of resources here and I have a good network here, so when I think about how I’ve grown, it’s basically about identifying niches for an underserved audience or starting something that doesn’t exist already that I think people would like. I feel confident about what I’m doing, and my biggest comfort zone is Kent. But find those niches. I think that’s advice I could apply anywhere.

What’s been the most satisfying part of being an entrepreneur?

I think building something that didn’t exist before that you get to see people take to and enjoy, and then that becomes ingrained in the community. That’s the most enjoyable thing to me. To see something come together that you thought up, and then see that it’s something people

Nancy Berardinelli-Krantz has a serious legal resume that any seasoned lawyer would be proud of — let alone someone who might not yet be at the peak of her career. For the past year, she’s been a senior legal counsel at Goodyear, and before that she was an in-house counsel at Eaton Corp.

Today, she handles commercial law, regulatory matters and other legal issues that confront Goodyear across North America.

Oh, and before entering the civilian legal profession, Krantz was in another tough job: She was an army judge advocate in military courts. — Dan Shingler

No, I’m the first one in my family.

I’m also former military, so I’m also the first person to go into any branch of the service.

Do you come from a long line of lawyers?

It was not nice. I definitely would not want to go back there again. I was

Did you always want to be an attorney?

I didn’t always want to be a lawyer. I really wanted to design clothes for a very long time. Then my parents kind of looked at me like I had three heads and said, ‘You’ll never make a living doing this, why don’t you look for a real job?’

You were in Iraq in 2005 and 2006, at the height of U.S. fighting there, what was that like and what did you do there?

Hayley B. Williams, 37 Attorney, Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP Hayley B. Williams had studied to Five things

Five things Last concert: Paul McCartney in Cleveland Top bands or artists: Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, Paul Simon Entrepreneur he looks up to: Pickwick & Frolic’s Nick Kostis Favorite show: ‘Breaking Bad’ Breweries of choice: Samuel Adams, Harpoon Brewery and Platform Beer Co.

really want or seem to need, that’s all very rewarding.

If all these businesses hadn’t panned out as they have, what do you think you’d be doing?

That’s hard because I’ve never known anything different in my adult life. But I do manage my friend Mike Polk Jr., the comedian. I’ve always en-

joyed that. And he’s given me a lot of opportunities to do and see things I otherwise wouldn’t. So I’d probably do something in talent management — or maybe production in television or music. I enjoy the aspect of creating, and there’s some of that in the music and comedy-type productions where you build something up and then get to see it put on in front of an audience.

become a doctor, but it wasn’t the right fit. So, she channeled that passion for helping others into the study of health care law and, perhaps more importantly, a commitment to community service.

The Pennsylvania-native doesn’t volunteer for the sake of volunteering. In fact, her volunteer work is focused on two areas close to heart. For one, her work with the Cleveland-based JD Breast Cancer Foundation, which recently honored her as volunteer of the year, was inspired by her own family’s hardship. She also volunteers with Bellefaire JCB, where she adopted her three children. — Kimberly Bonvissuto Describe your commitment to JD Breast Cancer Foundation.

My mom, who lives in Erie, Pa., is a breast cancer survivor who came to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment.

She was able to continue to work throughout her breast cancer treatment. I wanted to find a way to help people who couldn’t work. The foundation helps the individual woman focus on survivorship by helping to

SHOW OFF YOUR SUCCESS.

In 10 years: Still at Taft, in a diversity and recruiting role Bucket list plans: A trip to Greece for her 40th birthday Role model: Michelle Johnson Tidjani, deputy chief legal officer at the Cleveland Clinic, gave a speech that made her realize you have to prioritize, and that prioritization has to be respected by your employer and people around you.

Cleveland is home: ‘My friends have really been my family in Cleveland. I want to thank all of them for stepping up and helping us with our kids and everything we’ve needed over the past 12 to 13 years.’

Favorite book genre: Escapism

pay her day-to-day expenses.

Why did you choose to maintain open relationships with the birth families of your adopted children?

My husband and I wanted children, and we didn’t really care how they came into the family. We waited

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VOL. 36, NO. 47 VOL. 36, NO. 47

Like many youth soccer players of her day, Kate Fox Nagel dreamed of becoming the next Mia Hamm. Lucky for Cleveland, today Nagel leaves the strikes and hat tricks to her children.

The Atlanta transplant is chief administrative officer at Care Alliance, a nonprofit that provides health services to Cleveland’s homeless and some of the city’s lowest income families.

As a pre-med student, Nagel said she enjoyed the preventative aspects of medicine and soon realized public health — rather than private practice — fell more in line with her passions.

“I wanted to be able to reach more people than that one individual person sitting in front of me at the time,” she said.

Over the last three years, Nagel has helped Care Alliance extend its reach through partnerships with other support organization and the opening of a new clinic in the Central neighborhood, which has the highest concentration of public housing in Northeast Ohio and where nearly three out of every four families live in poverty. Statistics show infant mortality and Type 2 diabetes rates among Central residents are twice the city average. Opened in April, Central Clinic has the capacity to see 12,000 patients annually.

Daniel Anstandig started a radio broadcast program in his parents’ basement at age 9 and sold a company to Microsoft at 17.

Today, Futuri Media, an angel-funded startup Anstandig launched with the help of the Zapis Capital Group in 2009, has a combined 55 employees in its Cleveland, Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices.

Futuri, which assists media companies with listener-driven programming, custom mobile apps and social analytics, has about 600 clients in 11 countries. Anstandig said the company spent $250,000 on renovations when it moved into its new headquarters in the Brownell Building, an old schoolhouse east of Progressive Field.

“We really felt with LeBron back and the economic development in Playhouse Square and so on and so forth, we felt this would create a positive environment,” he said.

WHAT DOES THE MEDIA DO WELL, AND WHAT DOES IT NOT DO WELL? I think new players like Pandora and Spotify have really changed the expectations of local listeners when it comes to broadcast radio. Pandora, Spotify and products like theirs have created an expectation for listeners that they’ll be able to interact and have a relationship with a local broadcast station or media outlet. I think one of the biggest challenges for media today is to create that interaction and create community around their brand when they have fewer people and less money to create that.

NICK CATANZARITE Partner, real estate practice; Walter | Haverfield LLP Nick Catanzarite first really saw himself in the legal industry as his older brother — a construction litigator today — went to law school. His family runs Pat Catan’s Arts and Crafts Stores, but it was that exposure to law school that “opened his eyes,” Catanzarite said, and helped him realize he could dabble in almost any sector with a law background.

He’d probably be a developer today if not an attorney; that or a professional athlete, probably in basketball. So it’s little surprise he has carved out a niche in real estate, an industry that appeals to him partly because a lawyer can see and touch the fruits of their labor.

“I like working on transaction where both sides are working toward a common goal,” he said. “And at the end of the day, there’s something tangible that validates all the work that goes into it. You can see a building or a house or a project materialize from beginning to end.”

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A REAL ESTATE LAWYER IN CLEVELAND RIGHT NOW? The amount of development activity in and around the central business district is exciting to see. I think

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? It’s always been important to me that I go home at the end of the day feeling like I made a difference, and as a parent, I want to be sure I teach my children to give back. My job allows me to do both. At Care Alliance, we take care of those most in need in our community.

YOU COULD BE RUNNING THE COMPANY IN SILICON VALLEY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE. WHY CLEVELAND? Cleveland has so much to offer young entrepreneurial companies. The investment happening in downtown Cleveland over the last few years has really been unparalleled in other cities like ours. We’ve seen a great base of talent here from Case Western, John Carroll and Baldwin Wallace. There is a lot of up-and-coming talent in this market. It’s a good market for recruitment, a great market for cost of living and local events, and there are perks for our employees.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: WHAT ARE SOME OF DANIEL’S BEST QUALITIES? “He is an extraordinary leader. He’s a visionary. He is both hands-on while empowering others at the same time, and he has a good balance in doing so,” said Laura Griffith, Futuri’s senior vice president of finance.

— Kevin Kleps

NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29, 2015

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KATE FOX NAGEL, 38 Chief administrative officer; Care Alliance Health Center

DANIEL ANSTANDIG, 32 CEO; Futuri Media

YOU SAID YOU LIKE TO WRITE. HOW DOES THIS STORY END? HOW FAR DOES THIS GO? I think that we’re not just a story of technology and media converging, but really our company is a story of success for businesses in the Midwest. You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley or have millions of dollars in funding to start a company. We’re a picture of true entrepreneurship — angel-funded in Cleveland, Ohio, with good ideas and a true grit to build a team. It works when you have that level of commitment.

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

CLEVELAND BUSINESS VOL. 36, NO. 47

with each new project, you are seeing developers set the bar a little higher with their design, amenities, etc. It’s fun to see this type of competitive marketplace and it is keeping our real estate group very busy.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE THE CITY IS MISSING AND WHY?

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING PUBLIC HEALTH? I think there are a number of public health challenges right now — infant mortality, violence, chronic disease, to name just a few — that illustrate the importance of addressing the social determinants of health at the neighborhood or community level. … That’s why our work at Care Alliance is exciting. We are an important part of broader systemic change, working alongside our safety net and hospital partners as well as leaders in housing, behavioral health and essential services, positively impacting the health of our patients.

The lake is our biggest asset from a development perspective, and yet it’s also our

IF YOU COULD BE OR DO ANYTHING ELSE — WHAT? I like the life I have now — a wonderful family, working for an organization that truly makes a difference in our community and a very supportive network to help keep it all in place. I’m excited for whatever comes next.

Dash, several half marathons and a triathlon. My goal is to stay active enough to

front, there is a noticeable difference in the overall maintenance, upkeep and appearance of these areas.

YOU SAID YOU LIKE TO STAY ACTIVE. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITIES? I’ve gone skydiving, ziplining through rain forests, completed a Tough Mudder, Warrior keep up with my four young kids.

“The most striking thing about Nick is his young age belies his maturity and extraordinarily sound judgment, and I don’t think that’s always consistent with someone of that age. He’s very constructive and thoughtful and has the ability to keep an even temperament. When he talks, he has something to say,” said Walter | Haverfield

Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights reserved.

Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visit www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15031

Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights reserved.

Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visit www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15029

WE ARE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS.

most underutilized asset. Since the Metroparks took control of the beaches and lake-

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: WHAT SETS NICK APART FROM OTHERS?

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: HOW IS KATE MAKING AN IMPACT? “With her connections and her collaborative spirit, Kate is expanding the concept of primary care in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio,” Care Alliance CEO Francis Afram-Gyening said.

— Judy Stringer

575 JOBS. THAT’S WHY.

managing partner Ralph Cascarilla.

— Jeremy Nobile

Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights reserved.

Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visit www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15038

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FORTY UNDER 40 Five things Favorite restaurant: Joe’s Deli, Rocky River Favorite spots: West Side Market and Cuyahoga Valley National Park Favorite artist: Patty Griffin

in the Trial Defense Service, and we defended soldiers who got in trouble for all sorts of crimes.

Are you happy now in a corporate setting at Goodyear?

Yes. I wanted something more conthree years for our son Finley, 4, three months for our daughter Remy, 3, and three weeks for Wesley, 18 months. I want my kids to know their birth moms made a difficult decision, and we support them.

How did you change your firm’s adoption leave policy?

I felt the adoption leave policy — two weeks — was unfair compared to the 12-week maternity leave, and I helped them change their policy to make it equal. Taft has been extremely supportive of me in everything I do.

sumer facing. That was a primary reason I came to Goodyear. I’ve always wanted to work for a big consumer brand that had retail outlets, and it’s a brand that everyone can identify with.

And it’s so neat and cool to see the Goodyear blimp on television.

Favorite memory: Spending the summer in Italy with her grandma.

Favorite book: ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ by Khaled Hosseini

Matthew J. Previts, 37 Five things

Account executive, Logicalis

Southern twist: He was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where his dad was teaching at the time.

Matthew J. Previts has a family he loves, a full-time job at Logicalis he enjoys, and he’s on the board of directors at The Foundry — a massive, high-performance rowing and sailing center in the Flats.

He added something else significant to his plate in May 2015, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Previts recently completed a twomonth active-duty assignment in Florida, where he was assigned to an intelligence unit.

“I view it as a blessing — the opportunity to serve our country in that manner,” Previts said. — Kevin Kleps How flexible is Logicalis with your military commitment?

Work is more than flexible. They support what I do. When I was gone for more than two months, they said, ‘Go do that. Don’t be looking over your shoulder wondering what’s going on back here. We’ll take care of that.’ I have a lot of gratitude for them. The days were long. You start at 5 (a.m.), you end at 7 or 8 (at night), you go home and you study, and you do it all over again.

Why is rowing such a passion?

It’s very formative for me. When I was at St. Ignatius, that’s when I learned how to row. It taught me an awful lot about self-imposed limits.

You will go beyond what you think you’re capable of if you know other

Football fanatic: Yes, he’s a Crimson Tide fan.

people are depending on you. One of my early mentors, (Ignatius rowing) coach Bob Valerian, would say basic things like, ‘If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late.’ This isn’t about you. This is about the other people depending on you.

What’s your proudest accomplishment?

With coaching especially, it’s seeing young men and young women growing from young boys and young girls to men and women of character.

We talk about character, confidence, work ethic and selflessness. Now some of them are out in the professional world. Just to know you might have had an impact on someone, that’s pretty cool.

Plan your next corporate event at

Visit clevelandmetroparks.com/rentals or call 216-635-3304

Apple of his eye: Previts and his wife, Lisa, have a 7-monthold daughter, Abby.

Wildcat at heart: He was the head rowing coach at St. Ignatius, his alma mater, from 2003-11.

Not surprising: Matthew and Lisa met on a boat. Of course.

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

FORTY UNDER 40

Dominique Moceanu, 35

Valissa Turner Howard, 34

Founder, owner, and jewelry designer, Creations by C&C

Deputy Inspector General, Cuyahoga County

Five things

Dominique Moceanu’s gymnastics career involved heights such as uneven bars and beam, but competing for her country as early as 9 years old kept her grounded. “Competing at the highest levels in my sport at a very young age forced me to have really great discipline and an incredible worth ethic that translated into everything that I did post-gymnastics: getting my business degree, starting a business, speaking in front of many different audiences,” said Moceanu, who at 14 became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in U.S. gymnastics history. — Michelle Park Lazette

All she wants for Christmas is: Happy, healthy children Her proudest achievement: Being a mother Least favorite gymnastic competition: Uneven bars

You’re the first in your immediate family to obtain a college degree. What drove you to do it?

Favorite gymnastic competition: Beam and floor

I always knew education was important. I was happy to have stayed dedicated. My single goal there (at John Carroll University) was to learn as much as I possibly could.

How do you balance your professional pursuits and parenting?

others who also have been abused?

The key to balancing both is making sure you dedicate the appropriate amount of time to everything you can. We always believed no matter how difficult our jobs get, we have to make sure that we place our children and their needs first.

We understand there’s give and take.

The nomination says you suffered abuse in the past. What message do you have for

I’m an adult now. I understand a lot more why my father was abusive in the manner in which he was. It goes back to the way he was raised. I don’t condone the behavior, but I forgave him and we made peace before he passed. Recognize that you don’t have to live with guilt and sorrow for the rest of your life. It doesn’t define you. I had to be strong and surround myself with good people who wanted the best for me. We have to educate our youth — what is OK and what is not OK.

CITY OF CLEVELAND Mayor Frank G. Jackson

The City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation congratulate David Ebersole, Assistant Director for the

Favorite personal jewelry: Frosty gold Pave set

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

school I did that through Valissa Turner Howard Five the ‘Big Buddies’ program. describes herself as a things Cleveland school kids “Navy brat.” Her mother would come to the law was an officer in the Judge Role model: school once a week and law Advocate General Corps of Michelle Obama students would be their the U.S. Navy. Her half-dozFavorite ‘Big Buddies.’ We’d do en homes stretched from dessert: homework, and they were Naples, Italy, to Memphis, Anything apple exposed to a profession Tenn., before she spent her that they had no other high school years in San Di- Vacation she’s planning: San knowledge of. ego.

So, of course, she chose Diego to go to Case Western ReWhat’s your focus at the Musical serve University’s School of Inspector General’s instrument: Law, in a city she’d never office?

Flute even visited.

What I’m drawn to here “I felt welcomed. I felt In 10 years: A is the writing and research. like it was going to be a corporate This job allows me to conschool that was really inter- diversity officer tinue to practice and hone ested in me,” she recalled. those skills. I do interviews “And then they said, ‘We’ll give you a and investigations but the bulk of my scholarship.’” time is spent researching and draftShe returned, briefly, to California ing ethics opinions. That really drew to practice law. But Cleveland, her me to this job. husband-to-be and the opportunity to clerk for U.S. District Judge Benita How is investigating situations Pearson, drew her back. “I tried to where county employees may practice law, but I wanted to do have acted improperly different something non-traditional,” she said. from being a more typical — Jay Miller situation for a lawyer?

When I have subject interviews, they can be very difficult and contenWhat do you mean by a tious. What a person has to lose is very nontraditional path for an important, which is their job and their attorney?

I found a passion for helping peo- livelihood. In litigation, if you’re not in ple navigate through situations they criminal court, what you’re fighting had no experience with. At law about is pieces of paper.

Department of Economic Development on being selected to the Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 Class of 2016

John Litten, 37 Executive director, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Asked what drives his work as the leader of a nonprofit and a councilman in Northeast Ohio, John Litten recalls a time when a priest was asked to explain how he effects change. The room fell silent, waiting.

“His answer was simple: ‘It takes presence over time,’” Litten said.

“There are a lot of people who will say they see how something could be better — why don’t they just try this? Not enough people connect the dots that make changes actually occur. It’s oftentimes messy. It’s wrought with challenges. It’s something that requires presence.” — Michelle Park Lazette Your organization feeds 13,000 people monthly. How can more of us help?

I can buy four cans for the price you buy one. We get things at very low cost. So when people give, we’re able to do the most good and feed the most people. We’re always look-

ing for more volunteers. A regular commitment helps so we can count on it.

You were elected to Lakewood City Council in 2015. What’s a lesson you learned on the campaign trail that you will take with you?

Simply put, that democracy is alive and well in our country. I went door to door around our whole ward. I attribute getting elected to simply pounding the pavement — getting out there and getting to know people. If residents didn’t like me and didn’t elect me, it wouldn’t be for lack of knowing me.

You were director of Camp Christopher for six years, and you wrote a book on being a camp leader. What camping skill would we be wise to use in business?

Emotional intelligence: where

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FORTY UNDER 40

Andrew Pacyna, 38

Carly Cahlik, 32

Deputy medical center director, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

President, Ohio High Reach Five things

When the going got tough during the recent recession, Carly Cahlik’s first company, Coast to Coast Equipment, continued to sell construction equipment. Then, she founded her second company, Ohio High Reach, which rented construction equipment. The former’s sales recovered, and the latter turned a profit in its first year. How did she achieve it?

“I think it’s one, by identifying your customer base really quickly and forming a strong customer relationship right off the bat, and two, finding creative ways to keep your costs and overhead low until you can build up your revenue to afford expenses,” Cahlik said. — Michelle Park Lazette

Four words of advice she’d give her 30-year-old self: Don’t worry so much.

All she wants for Christmas is: Flying lessons Favorite piece of equipment she sells or rents: GTH-5519 Telehandler

What advice do you have for other women eyeing business moves in predominantly male industries?

Andy Pacyna has always wanted to help people with their health.

“So hospitals I always thought of as the place where you get to do that every day,” he said.

While he initially wanted to be a doctor, he shifted to the administration and business side.

He’s worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for 14 years, starting at the VA in Syracuse as a graduate health administration student. He joined the team in Cleveland two years ago. — Lydia Coutré What’s kept you interested in working with the VA?

Five things Hobbies: Guitar, golf and basketball Favorite spots: MetroParks Favorite movie: ‘The Avengers’ Role model: Brian Hawkins, associate director at the VA in Baltimore for ‘his ability to focus on personal growth and well-being just as much as business’

I’ve been involved in mentoring students ever since I was a student, and I was mentored. I saw it as my chance to give back and pass on all the things that I learned to those who are put in the same position that I was. Over time, it’s just become a passion of mine.

The construction industry appeals to me. It’s fast-paced and there’s a high level of customer service, so it’s constantly challenging. I never thought about if it’s male-dominated or not. My advice would be, if you’re passionate about it, who cares as long as you’re doing well?

You co-founded your first company beginning in 2006, and then sales dropped when the recession hit. What did you learn during the downturn that you take with you?

I learned that even in a downturn, there are opportunities. If you don’t panic and if you keep your mind open, there are ways to stay

profitable and continue operations.

You’ve adeptly adapted your company when the economic realities and business demands required it. What about the way you’ve grown up prepared you to react in such a way?

My mom has a really strong work ethic and is a creative person, and she was always good at finding the humor in situations. When I’ve needed to be resilient, she’s helped me find ways to find humor in it. Most things work themselves out.

Owning a business makes her: Grateful In high school, she was voted or should have been voted: Most likely not to graduate Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

Given the health care environment we’re in today, what do you see as the biggest challenges in leading health care organizations?

I think universally, health care has become, rightfully so, more customer-satisfaction focused.

And it’s not just how great are the outcomes or the quality of care you can provide but how great was the manner in which you provided it.

I have two family mem- Skill he wishes bers that are veterans. So he had: Ability there was always a tie to the to predict the mission specifically and future just helping veterans. And then personally, the VA was part of the frontier of the electronic What’s the best way to address medical health record and a lot of that challenge? clinical innovations.

It’s gotta be personal. To not lose sight of the fact that this is a human business. And it’s not about just proI understand you’ve done some cedures and medications, but it’s work mentoring students. How about health and well being of indidid you get involved in that and viduals. why?

INSPIRED BY TOMORROW Forest City congratulates this year's Forty under 40 class, including our very own Luis Cabrera.

Five things If he won a mega-lottery, he’d: Buy a summer camp First job: Papa John’s pizza-flipper Best dish: He burns grilled cheese Family tradition: Sunday dinners Proudest achievement: Being a good dad and husband

you’re aware of yourself, aware of others and aware of the context. At camp, there’s a coming together of people who don’t know each other,

and it makes you embrace diversity.

Every person is an opportunity for growth and understanding and learning.

At Forest City, we’re dedicated to creating exceptional placeswhere people live, work and shop. For more information, visit www.forestcity.net.

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FORTY UNDER 40

Dr. Jennifer Sweet, 38

Gregory C. Hutchings Jr., 39

Neurosurgeon, UH Cleveland Medical Center; Assistant professor of neurosurgery and psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University Dr. Jennifer Sweet always knew she wanted to be in medicine, but she didn’t find — and fall in love with — neurosurgery until her final medical rotation.

“It’s amazing how the brain works and how you see these little miracles every day that can happen,” Sweet said. “It’s just a very humbling and awe-provoking field.”

Sweet performs general neurosurgery, which includes working on tumors and spines, but her research and specialty center on stereotactic and functional neurosurgery, which involves neuromodulation using electrical stimulation. One day, she hopes, her work will help find the “button” in the brain for addiction, bipolar disorder or “really any diseases.” — Lydia Coutré What does your work involve?

Basically, we stick electrodes in the

Superintendent of schools, Shaker Heights Schools

brain or the spine or somewhere in the nervous system. By utilizing electrical stimulation, we can modulate the circuitry of the body, of the brain or spine.

So we can change abnormal circuitry for Parkinson’s disease, or for tremor or for chronic pain for other things. A lot of these patients don’t have anything abnormal on their brain imaging or in their spine imaging, but it’s just we know that their pathways are somehow working abnormally.

What can that potentially mean for patients?

For patients who’ve been on medicines for a long period of time and aren’t really getting a lot of benefit for certain diseases, it means we’re able to put a little electrode somewhere in the brain usually. And we can improve their symptoms. It’s really for movement disorders, but there are a lot of new applications because the

brain is sort of the final frontier of medicine.

What has drawn you to teaching?

Teaching is where it all starts. It’s passing on the passion and the excitement for what you do, and really trying to get people as enamored with our field as we are, so that they can carry the torch and become new researchers and discoverers and scientists. That part is really exciting to me.

Five things Favorite vacation spot: Santorini, Greece Superpower: The ability to freeze time Languages: Her family speaks Toisan, a dialect of Cantonese. She took French and Japanese from kindergarten through grade 12.

Favorite Cleveland landmark: East Fourth Street Most famous person she’s met: Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

LITIGATION

TRANSACTIONAL

ESTATE/PROBATE

congratulations

Allison M. McMeechan on being named a “40 Under 40” honoree

by Crain’s Cleveland Business.

We are honored to call you our colleague and friend.

AKRON CINCINNATI CLEVELAND COLUMBUS SANDUSKY TOLEDO YOUNGSTOWN INDIANAPOLIS FT. WAYNE NORTHWEST INDIANA FT. MITCHELL LEXINGTON LOUISVILLE

Hobbies: Golfing, swimming, hot yoga

Gregory C. Hutchings Jr. said he became an educator by accident. He was working as an admissions counselor for Old Dominion University, where he attended college, when a mother of one of the students he was trying to recruit — an elementary school principal — told him he’d make a good teacher.

Hutchings gave her a call a couple months later and got a job. He was working as a director of preschool through 12th grade in his hometown of Alexandria, Va., when he learned about the job in Shaker Heights.

— Rachel Abbey McCafferty

Favorite book: ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho

What do you enjoy about the field?

Five things

Favorite band: Guns N’ Roses

The joy for me is having the opportunity to change lives. And the moment when — I think most teachers will say this — the light bulb goes off above someone’s head and they understand the material you’re trying to present.

Amanda T. Quan, 31

Nicholas Alexander, 39

Associate attorney, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart

Account vice president and wealth adviser, UBS Financial Services

Amanda T. Quan’s colleagues describe her as a rising star and a huge asset to Ogletree Deakins’ Cleveland office. That praise, however, hasn’t gone to her head.

Quan, a transplant from Canada, represents employers in all types of litigation in her work at Ogletree Deakins. She’s taught at Case Western Reserve University and mentored high school students about the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution through a program at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. She also serves on the board of Applewood Centers.

Before law school, she interned at the United Nations in New York and with the Canadian Parliament. She also spent two years as the youngest member of the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. — Kimberly Bonvissuto

After his daughter, Ava, was born at MetroHealth Medical Center in 2012, Nicholas Alexander felt a special connection to the hospital — one that spurred him to join like-minded Clevelanders in the establishment of MetroHealth N.E.T. (Now, Everyday, Tomorrow) in 2013.

Alexander was founding chairman of the organization, which seeks to engage young professionals in community projects aligned with MetroHealth’s mission. He left that role recently to join the MetroHealth Foundation’s board.

“I guess I got promoted,” he quipped. “MetroHealth N.E.T. is still going strong. They are building on the foundation of what our group put together, and that is wonderful to see.”

When not stumping for MetroHealth or other philanthropic initiatives, such as Welcome House or the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation, Alexander works in the wealth management practice of UBS Financial Services. — Judy Stringer

Guilty pleasure: Reality TV Favorite spots in Northeast Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance Hall, MetroParks

How did you settle on a career in law?

My mom says one day in eighth grade I came home from debate club and declared I wanted to be a lawyer.

How did you become involved with Applewood Centers?

In high school, I volunteered at the Queen Alexandra (QA) Centre for Children’s Health in Victoria, British Columbia, which provided day camp services to youth with physical, developmental and/or emotional/behavioral challenges. Applewood is similar, providing mental health services, social services and education to children, adolescents and families in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.

What are you most looking forward to in the next five years in Cleveland?

Results. Period.

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This year has been an incredible and memorable year for Cleveland — the Cavs championship, the Republican National Convention, the Indians’ recent success. The city has never felt so alive. I am looking forward to watching as the city carries on the excitement over the next few years.

What about your work makes you most proud?

I get to live vicariously through my clients. We develop such lasting deep relationships as I help them plan and save for these amazing life events, whether it’s retirement, taking a vacation around the world or building a dream home.

When did you know what you wanted to do professionally?

I wanted to be a chef or a stockbroker since I can remember. I contemplated going to culinary arts school, but decided to go to Kent State University and study finance. Now I cook for fun.

What has surprised you most about civic involvement?

There can be a lot of bureaucracy and hurdles, making it difficult to get things done. But, you also find these individuals who are just as passionate as you for the cause and just as willing to work to overcome the hurdles.

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FORTY UNDER 40 Five things

Five things

Film connection: The coach portrayed in ‘Remember the Titans’ was his PE teacher.

Reads: Wired and Architectural Record Favorite place in Northeast Ohio: Cleveland Public Square

Something people might not know: He was a lifeguard.

Vacation: Disney World Music: Classical and electronic, such as Chill on Sirius

Favorite band: Run-D.M.C.

What do you want to accomplish?

I want to have an impact on solutions for narrowing the achievement gap. I think that is one area that is near and dear to my heart to ensure that students regardless of their background, regardless of their socioeconomic status or their life experience, that they are afforded a high-quality education. When I think about what I want to be known for, it would be as someone who

fought for all children, every step of the way.

What do you wish people knew about your generation?

We’re comfortable within our own skin. The title doesn’t mean a whole lot to us. We’re more so about collaboration. And we’re about being transparent, so telling people how we feel in a professional way.

But we don’t bite our tongues.

Best local spots: Bourbon Street Barrel Room in Cleveland and Sarah’s Vineyard in Cuyahoga Falls Book that changed his life: ‘The Autobiography of Malcolm X’

Five things Cleveland hang-out: West 25th Street, Ohio City area Vacation spot: Chicago Binge-worthy show: ‘Downton Abbey’ First job: Busboy Secret superpower: He cooks a ‘mean meal.’

Michael Christoff, 34 Project architect, Vocon Michael Christoff is well known in Cleveland’s architecture community through trade and volunteer activities.

He has also worked on a variety of projects with various firms ranging from the master plan for Flats East Bank and helping design Ernst & Young Tower to working on car dealerships. — Stan Bullard Have you always been a joiner?

People who knew me in high school and college are surprised at the activities I have undertaken since I began practicing in Cleveland. I went to class, I studied, that was it. In my last year in architecture school, I started to think about how architects need to be involved in the community. When I joined AIA Cleveland, I worked to get more young people involved. Almost everyone on the board was in their 50s and owned a firm. They asked me to be on the board at 24. At 26, I was running the Cleveland Design

Awards. You learn how to lead at organizations before you can lead in a company.

What sparked your helping found the Cleveland Design Competition?

Several friends and I had good jobs but decided we would join some design competitions in Cleveland to get some wider experience.

We found none. So we started one.

Since 2007, more than 500 designers from over 25 countries have submitted entries.

What was a decisive moment in your life?

I had packed up stuff from On” my “Count apartment at Kent and stopped for gas. I was headed to Chicago.- I6” ranx 6” Crains into Bill Mason (then a KSU prof, now an AECOM executive), who asked what I was going to do. He told me it was possible to make more of Portraits by an impact in Cleveland. I haven’t Jason Miller for looked back.

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FORTY UNDER 40

Renjun Bao, 39

Jessica Jung, 39

Business development manager and senior sports writer, Tencent

Senior vice president, director, property and casualty, Oswald Cos.

Renjun Bao says becoming a flourishing entrepreneur requires zest and perseverance.

“They have to love what they’re doing because if you want to build a successful company, it’s a long journey,” the University Heights resident said.

Bao ought to know. At 39, his path so far has stretched from a boyhood in a rural Chinese village with no electricity or running water to a job as a business development specialist lining up sponsorship deals with NBA teams for China’s largest internet service portal.

Along the way he has covered the Cleveland Cavaliers for major Chinese newspapers, taught LeBron James some basic Mandarin and started the Cleveland Chinese Entrepreneurs Association.

Bao’s day job is with Tencent, a $256 billion holding company that in September became China’s largest corporation. It is the exclusive digital partner for the NBA in China. — Alison Grant Were you already a basketball fan before you were in the U.S.?

Yes. At the time there was a Chinese player called Yao Ming. He used to play for the Houston Rockets. LeBron came to the league in 2003. That’s exactly the year I came here. The first game I went to in Cleveland was between the Rockets with Yao Ming and the Cavs with LeBron. After the game I wrote something for a Chinese website, because I like writing. A Chinese newspaper editor contacted me and said ‘Can you do reporting for us?’ I said ‘Why not?’

How did your academic work focus on basketball?

Five things

Because I went to a lot of games, I met an NBA official and we had dinner together. He talked about how the NBA schedule was made. He told me it was done manually. I was really surprised. My Ph.D. research is about mathematical modeling and solving the NBA’s scheduling problem.

Family: Wife, Qiao Zheng; daughter Deja, 10; and son, David, 6

Why did you found the Cleveland Chinese Entrepreneurs Association?

Because when I was in China running a business, I knew a lot of investors. When I came back, I found out, among all the local Chinese professionals, guess what? They get good jobs. Lawyers. Doctors. Businesses.

Professors. Technology. They get their skills, and that’s it. They don’t know how to get the most out of their skills, get the most out of their technologies.

How he met his wife: Online. They communicated for about four years before meeting in person.

Favorite restaurant: Szechuan Gourmet What he likes to read: Traditional Chinese literature Business leader he most admires: Steve Jobs

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

Jessica Jung set out to be a clinical psychologist, but today she's an executive with Oswald Cos., the Cleveland-based insurance brokerage.

An incongruous career path? Not when Jung explains how emotional intelligence helps in learning what motivates people. If you can figure that out, she said, results will follow.

Jung put herself through college as a psychology major at Fairfield University in Connecticut. As a junior, sizing up her student debt, she decided to put off plans for graduate school and get a “solid, sustainable” job.

She was recruited right out of college by Chubb Insurance and worked on the East Coast before moving to Cleveland to head its office here. In January 2015, she left the insurance giant for Oswald. — Alison Grant

Five things In her office, she has: An under-desk elliptical she uses while on conference calls Best work tip: Don’t try to boil the ocean Entertaining an out-of-towner: A Cavs, Tribe or Browns game to capture Cleveland’s spirit Favorite restaurant: Dante in Tremont Family: Husband Christian, an RN, and twin 9-year-olds, Jake and Cole

When you made that move, did you get a different perspective on the industry?

Absolutely. I wanted to be able to come to a smaller company that was looking to do some really differentiating things and drive our firm’s growth, be strategic, have nothing in my way of doing that, and lead these great people that we have here to do that.

There’s a ton of different exposures that every business has. Nobody really likes to buy insurance or spend time buying insurance, but they have to. Our job is to educate them on what they need and also place their insurance. We manage risk for our clients. We’re their chief worry officer.

What inspires you in your work?

Our people inspire me.

Every day I have kind of a wheel in my head: Where are they? What do they need? What’s in their way.

That generates my to-do list. Making sure they have a clear path. If I do that everywhere, great things will happen. Regardless of what industry I am in, I was meant to lead people. It’s my passion.

How do you organize your work day?

I try to have a meal with somebody every day of every week. Spending time with people and listening is probably the most important thing I can do. I will map out breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner with who I need to be talking to and asking questions of and listening to. I look at my week and sort of create that framework.

Ethan Karp, 29 CEO, Magnet

Congratulations!

We applaud Chris Bellamy for being recognized as a 2016 Crain’s Forty under 40 honoree

330.579.1040 | cohencpa.com

Ethan Karp always wanted to make a difference. It’s what made him fall in love with science at a young age and what drove him to enroll at Miami University at age 15.

And it’s what drives him as CEO of Magnet, a role he took on in 2015. He joined the nonprofit, which works to help manufacturers grow, from McKinsey & Co. in 2013 to oversee its Prism program, which offers companies more of a long-term relationship with Magnet and other manufacturing resources. That program is now the framework Magnet uses for all its consulting.

“When you’re at McKinsey, you’re making changes on a global scale, but sometimes it’s hard to feel the direct impact because the companies you’re working with are so large,” Karp said. “At a place like Magnet, I could see every single day the lives of the owners, the lives of the people that go into these companies and

how it changes individuals’ lives.” — Rachel Abbey McCafferty What’s kept you in manufacturing? What is it about the industry that you like?

So, there’s the macro view, which is, I want to be where things make a difference to the economy. I care deeply about Cleveland’s communities and strengthening them, and manufacturing is what drives that. The second one is that manufacturing can be and has been that social elevator, bringing people into the middle class. The third is the coolness factor.

What inspires you on a daily basis?

It’s team. And it’s not the clichéd, trite team that everybody talks about.

It’s simply me doing something that enables another person to not just get more excited about what they’re doing, but to actually contribute more to the cause.

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Jade Davis, 35

Brent M. Pietrafese, 38

Vice president, external affairs, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority

Partner, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

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A passion for business and finance didn’t simply predicate Brent Pietrafese’s legal career, it enabled his success in it. With a practice focusing largely on dealmaking — he heads the wealth and investment management and complex commercial contract business at Calfee — working on large, complicated transactions helped him make a name for himself quickly .

He became partner at just 34, making him one of the youngest partners at the firm. And he couldn’t be happier.

“I tell my wife that even if I won the lottery tomorrow,” he said, “I would still work here.” — Jeremy Nobile was born in St. Luke’s. I saw Jade Davis grew up in the Five the outmigration of people Buckeye-Woodland neighfrom there, and now I’m borhood on Cleveland’s East things seeing energy coming back.

Side but left for a decade for Role model: I see the ball rolling in the a career as a public policy Martin Luther right direction. analyst and advocate in CoKing Jr. lumbus and Washington, D.C. He returned home last Next vacation: What drew you to the year with his Akron-born A tour of Italy public policy sector? wife and 2-year-old daughter and Greece My father. He got me inand quickly became the Recent read: volved in politics and iswatchdog at the Cleve- ‘Between the sues of neighborhood and land-Cuyahoga County Port World and Me’ by community. He was a steelAuthority over the U.S. Army Ta-Nehisi Coates worker. I went to union Corps of Engineers treat- Professional meetings with my father and going up to the old ment of the Cuyahoga River goal in high Harvey Rice School with shipping channel. school: my parents to vote. Then, at The Port Authority and the Pharmacist Benedictine I took two Ohio Environmental Proteccourses, African-American tion Agency have been fight- Favorite Studies and Current Affairs. ing the Army Corps over the musician: 2Pac Those two classes really Corps’ preference to dump river bottom dredgings into Lake Erie gave me more of a perspective of, not rather than on land. The local agencies only history, but how that history ties believe the material is toxic and a threat into our present and where we could to drinking water and aquatic life. The go with our future. issue is now in federal court.

Davis is also charged with raising You spent four years in Washingthe Port Authority’s profile in Colum- ton, working for the American bus. That effort earlier this year trans- Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, lated into a $2.5 million state budget as an advocate for a controversial allocation to help rebuild the collaps- issue. What was that like? ing hillside above the Irishtown Bend Energy issues bleed into everything of the Cuyahoga River. — Jay Miller — health and quality of life issues, economic development and environmental issues. It was a good opportuWhat surprised you after a decade nity, it allowed me to grow my experworking outside of Cleveland?

I never thought about sustained de- tise and build relationships outside velopment around St. Luke’s Hospital Ohio and that’s been good for the Port and that Shaker Boulevard corridor. I Authority.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career?

The short answer is I’d like to change the world by helping people, which is, you know, the stupidest answer you can come up with. It’s just so trite. And I never get beyond that. So I guess the elements of that is I would like to be a part of something that causes a sea change, and that sea change helped people in fundamental ways, be it poverty or health, it raised the quality of life of a large, large group of people.

Five things Favorite spot in Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Natural History with his 3 year old Growing up, he wanted to be: A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Recent read: ‘Walking the Bible’ by Bruce Feiler Something others don’t know: His age Hobbies: Golf

What is it about dealmaking that has appealed to you so much?

A lot of clients and people we deal with are local and regional people who contribute every day to the economy and growing Cleveland.

And to me, that’s a great thing to be invested in. But I really just enjoy learning about businesses, what makes them tick. You really learn about a lot of different industries.

With what I do with middle market businesses, when you’re their outside counsel and a trusted legal adviser, we get a seat at the table where important business decisions are made.

What have been some of your professional keys to success?

It’s the little things, like responding to emails or a phone call in a timely manner, or being responsive when a client needs you on a weekend or night or whenever. But I’d say the

other part is putting yourself in their shoes. The more you can learn about someone’s business, the better service you can provide.

In terms of your nonprofit work, you’ve focused a lot on programs for children with learning disabilities, even founding Claire's Crusade. Why is that something of personal importance to you?

I got involved with special learning needs through the Julie Billiart School through a partner of mine in 2009. It really changes lives, and you just want to be a part of it. Some of the most powerful conversations I’ve ever had were with parents from the school who'd say their kids were unhappy or terrified of going to school, but that JB gives them hope. The kids feel needed and wanted and accepted. And when they’re happy, you focus on other things.

Five things Favorite hobby: Golf Spirit of choice: Lagavulin Scotch whisky Favorite movie: ‘Stripes’ Childhood heroes: His dad (former mayor of Mayfield Village), Blase Pietrafese Secret talent: He can talk like Donald Duck.

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

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FORTY UNDER 40

Chris Bellamy, 39 President, Investment Industry Services, Cohen & Co. Sure, there is a lot of buzz around Cleveland now, but that was not the case 10 years ago when Chris Bellamy was helping Cohen & Co. market its burgeoning investment industry services (IIS) division on Wall Street.

“People did not get it,” Bellamy said. “Up until 15 months ago, we did not even have an office in New York.

We were truly a Midwest firm going into New York and telling them why they should hire us.”

The sell is a little easier these days — and not because of the Cavs, Monsters or the Indians. The firm’s IIS arm is the fifth-largest auditor of registered funds in the United States and growing at 20% per year. Bellamy, who was named a partner at Cohen & Co. in

2006, became president of the IIS division earlier this year. — Judy Stringer You became partner at age 29.

Considering your age and responsibility, did you encounter any unique challenges?

In our world it’s a regulated environment, our clients have formal boards of directors, and generally speaking those people are much older, than I was, and very well credentialed. I have learned to be prepared and understand the subject matter well.

What are some of the keys to your success?

One thing that has always been

Lyvian Loh, 33 Marketing analyst, Spang & Co.

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At her day job, Lyvian Loh works as a marketing analyst in the male-dominated manufacturing space, orchestrating sales of magnetic components and other high-tech solutions to a variety of industries. Fluent in seven languages, the native of Malaysia leads translation of company website content from English to Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

Loh is also digital marketing director for the nonprofit MotivAsians for Cleveland. She also trains with a former American Gladiator and captains the MotivAsians dragonboat team. Harnessing an inner fearlessness and energy, Loh strives for continued success in all facets of being.

— Douglas J. Guth

What motivates you at work?

I work across departments with production, manufacturing, purchasing, accounting, corporate and IT. Interacting with all departments gives me a big picture of the company, not just the boring small corner I’m in every day. Connecting everything together makes me feel like the job is more meaningful.

What do you want for the future of women in manufacturing?

From what I’ve seen, the industry does have women in administrative positions. However, I’d like to see more women in engineering, because women bring a different vibe and emotional intelligence to the of-

Trevor Gile, 37

Managing partner, Motorcars Honda

What’s Your Competitive Advantage?

In business today, often the only advantage over your competition is the talented people who work for you. At Nesco Resource, we

Trevor Gile isn’t satisfied with the status quo. Instead of being content to be the managing partner of the family business, Motorcars Honda, Gile and his brother have continued to add on new businesses: a dealership focused on wheelchair accessible vehicles, car washes, a downtown service center and, most recently, a marketing and software development company.

That newest company, Edge of the Box, has taken up most of his focus this year.

Motorcars Honda has put a focus on becoming more green in recent years, starting with installing a large, single-structure solar panel. The

company even received a carbon neutral award from BP this summer.

The new marketing company grew out of that, as Gile said many companies don’t know how to market or grow their own green programs. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty What do you enjoy about your work?

I like pushing the limits of what people expect when they come into a business and creating something that they say, ‘Wow. I didn’t think a car dealership could do that or a marketing company was able to accomplish that.’ That’s something that I think just intrigues me.

put over 60 years of experience into our work with companies to understand their needs and find the right talent to meet their goals.

Christopher Faircloth, 36

From tech startups to industrial giants, we’re matching talent

Akron lending manager, Economic & Community Development Institute

with opportunity to grow business. And with some of the highest satisfaction ratings in the industry, Nesco Resource is working for both the companies and talent we serve.

Let Nesco Work For You www.nescoresource.com/works

A Nesco, Inc. Company

Nesco Resource is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nesco Inc., a privately held diversified holding company focused on sectors including manufacturing, human resource services, and real estate.

Chris Faircloth was a banker with a heart of gold — and a heart with a bent toward community involvement. He used to be a lender for some well-known names — Countrywide, Chase, Huntington — making loans to the usual cadre of safe borrowers. Today, he’s still a lending officer, but as the point person for the nonprofit Economic & Community Development Institute in Akron. He spends his time finding ways to make loans to people and businesses too small, too new or too unknown to get loans from regular banks. — Dan Shingler

How did you get into finance?

That was entirely coincidental. In college, I had a string of part-time jobs, mostly telemarketing, but there was a bank looking for someone with sales experience. I guess I was the closest they could find.

What kind of lending do you do?

The role that our organization plays is to be able to lend to at least some of the people who have been turned down by banks. It’s all business loans. It’s bakeries, restaurants and we have accountants and barber shops.

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Five things Hobb es Go f and he s a b g C eve and spo ts fan Favor te profess ona go fer Ph M cke son B nge worthy show B g Bang Theo y S te of ast date n ght The F ats

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Everything you need for a great meeting is right in front of you.

Getaway Hawa SM

mpor an o me s don be a ra d o mak ng m s akes h nk you earn a o rom mak ng m s akes You have o ake some r sks f you weren t n account ng what do you th nk you wou d be do ng?

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paced grow ng organ za on — does no have o be n an accoun ng ro e — ha s wha s mos mpor an o me and why have had so much un We are runn ng a bus ness a sma e d v s ona bus ness Havng ha c en -cen r c men a y s very mpor an o me

Five things Recent favorite read: ‘Strong is the New Beautiful’ by Lindsey Vonn Her inspiration: My late father, Mr. Loh Leong Kee Favorite Cleveland hot spot: Dim sum in AsiaTown with friends

Proud Host Of

The Republican National Convention

Role model: Debbie Yue, whom she met at MotivAsians for Cleveland Favorite musical artists: Zee Avi and Norah Jones

fice. Women can help soften conditions among groups in a meeting, and balance the chemistry during interactions.

How did you get the nickname ‘Mighty Mouse Power House’?

That was started by my personal

trainer, who was Siren (real name Valerie Waugaman-Gal) on ‘American Gladiators.’ I’m 5-feet tall, but I’m able to achieve most of the tasks designed for me, like flipping tractor tires or lifting weights. Training helps me build confidence and lets me know I can achieve what I want.

Five things

Submit An RFP at This isCLEveland.com/Meeting | #Meet inCLE

35th Anniversary

PROMOTE.

35th Anniversary

CLEVELAND BUSINESS VOL. 36, NO. 47

NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29, 2015

35th Anniversary ALLYSON O’KEEFE, 37 Partner; Porter Wright

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

VOL. 36, NO. 47

NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29, 2015 Allyson O’Keefe started her legal career at Porter Wright in 2004 after completing a summer internship there as a Case Western Reserve University law student. Since then, she has worked on many significant deals across Cleveland, including Flats East Bank, The Metropolitan at the 9, Uptown in University Circle and Steelyard Commons, and has been promoted to real estateALLYSON partner.

O’KEEFE, 37 “Young professionals who live downtown are so excited about the city,” said O’Keefe, a Partner; Porter Columbus native who lived downtown forWright 10 years before moving to Rocky River. “The ones who aren’t from here are often more excited about it. When you move here from somewhere else, you don’t for granted.”

VOL. 36, NO. take 47 it Allyson NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29, 2015 O’Keefe started her legal career at Porter Wright in 2004 after completing a sumWhen O’Keefe is not working or spending time with her husband and two children, she can mer internship there as a Case Western Reserve University law student. Since then, she has be found volunteering on the boards of nonprofit organizations and watching college football. worked on many significant deals across Cleveland, including Flats East Bank, The Metropolitan at the 9, Uptown in University Circle and Steelyard Commons, and has been proWHAT INSPIRES YOU U ABOUT ABO AB OU UT T YO YOUR Y OU UR R WO WORK? W OR RK K? K ? moted to real estateALLYSON partner.

O’KEEFE, Just seeing what Cleveland has gone through in the time that I’ve 37 been here, there’s obvious“Young professionals who live downtown are so excited about the city,” said O’Keefe, a ly a lot of excitement around real estatePartner; development.

I started in 2004 when we were crazy Porter Columbus native who lived downtown for Wright 10 years before moving to Rocky River. “The ones busy with development. That was sort of the boom from ’04 through ’08. I saw it go through who aren’t from here are often more excited about it. When you move here from somewhere the downturn, then I saw it rise again, even stronger than before locally. else, you don’t take it for granted.”

Allyson O’Keefe started her legal career at Porter Wright in 2004 after completing a sumWhen O’Keefe is not working or spending time with her husband and two children, she can internship as a Case Western Reserve University law student. Since then, she has WORKED ON there ARE MIXED-USE URBAN PROJECTS. IS MANY OF OF TH THE T HE E PR PROJECTS P RO OJJE EC CT TS S YOU YOmer YO be found volunteering on the boards of nonprofit organizations and watching college football. on many significant deals across Cleveland, including Flats East Bank, The AN AR AREA A RE EA A OF OF EX EXPERTIS E XP PE ER RT TIIS Sworked ?

THAT AN EXPERTISE? Metropolitan at the 9, Uptown in every University and Steelyard Commons, and has been proYes, definitely. Real estate is extremely interesting because deal Circle is differWHAT YOU WORK? W HAT IINSPIRES NSPIRES Y OU ABOUT ABOUT YOUR YOUR W ORK? moted to real estate ent. You can never get bored because there’s so partner. much variety there, from tax Just seeing what Cleveland has gone through in the time that I’ve been here, there’s obvious“Young who live downtown so excited about the city,” said O’Keefe, a credits to historic renovations, from professionals ground-up development to rehab, are from ly a lot of excitement around real estate development. I started in 2004 when we were crazy mixed-use to residential. Columbus native who lived downtown for 10 years before moving to Rocky River. “The ones busy with development. That was sort of the boom from ’04 through ’08. I saw it go through who aren’t from here are often more excited about it. When you move here from somewhere the downturn, then I saw it rise again, even stronger than before locally. you LEADERSHIP don’t take it for granted.”

HOW WO WOULD W OU UL LD D YO YOU Y OU U DESCRIBE DESCRI D DE ES SC CR RIIelse, YOUR STYLE? ?

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Why not?

Le he Cus om Rep n Depa men he p you eve age h s g ea p ess

O’KeefeI expect is not working or spending timeI work, with her husband and two children, she can I definitely believe in leadingWhen by example. the people with whom work,RBAN M ANY O FT HE P ROJECTS YOU YOU W ORKED O NA RE M IXED-U USE URBAN U PROJECTS MANY OF THE PROJECTS WORKED ON ARE MIXED-USE PROJECTS. IS be found volunteering on the very boards of nonprofit and watching college football. my associates, to work hard, and they see me working hard.

For me, it’sorganizations all T HAT A N AREA AREA OF OF EXPERTISE? EXPERTISE? THAT AN about working hard and doing good work.

Yes, definitely. Real estate is extremely interesting because every deal is differWHAT INSPIRES YOU ABOUT YOUR WORK? ent. You can never get bored because there’s so much variety there, from tax seeingWAS whatITCleveland has gone the time that I’ve been here, there’s obviousRE SA RE SAY S AY Y Just WHAT WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: LIKE TO WORK WITHthrough O’KEEFEinON credits to historic renovations, from ground-up development to rehab, from ly a lot of THE FLATS EAST BA PROJECT? BANK B AN NK KP ? excitement around real estate development. I started in 2004 when we were crazy mixed-use to residential. busy with development. of the boom from ’04 through ’08. I saw it go through “Allyson is extremely bright and quick witted, butThat whatwas trulysort distinguishes her the downturn, then I saw itpeople rise again, even from most successful attorneys is her exceptional skills.

Shestronger has an than before locally.

H HOW OW WOULD WOULD YOU YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE? uncanny ability to encourage the ‘adversaries’ in her negotiations to work in I definitely believe in leading by example. I expect the people with whom I work, OF THE PROJECTS YOU WORKED concert with her to achieve win/win MANY solutions to difficult problems,” said ON ARE MIXED-USE UR my associates, to work hard, and they see me working very hard. For me, it’s all THAT AN AREA EXPERTISE?of the Scott Wolstein, CEO of Starwood Retail Partners andOF co-developer about working hard and doing good work.

Yes, definitely. Real estate is extremely interesting because every deal is differFlats East Bank project. ent. You can never get bored because there’s so much variety there, from tax — Lee Chilcote WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH O’KEEFE ON credits to historic renovations, from ground-up development to rehab, from THE FLATS EAST BANK PROJECT? mixed-use to residential.

“Allyson is extremely bright and quick witted, but what truly distinguishes her

For more information contact Krista Bora, Reprint Account Executive kbora@crain.com • tel 212.210.0750

successfulInc. attorneys is reserved. her exceptional people skills. She has an Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015from Crainmost Communications All Rights HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE? ability to encourage the ‘adversaries’ in her negotiations to work in Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visituncanny www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15040

I definitely believe in leading by example. I expect the people with whom I work, concert with her to achieve win/win solutions to difficult problems,” said my associates, to work hard, and they see me working very hard. For me, it’s all Scott Wolstein, CEO of Starwood Retail Partners and co-developer of the about working hard and doing good work.

Flats East Bank project.

— Lee Chilcote WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WORK W THE FLATS EAST BANK PROJECT? “Allyson is extremely bright and quick witted, but what truly distinguishes her successfulInc. attorneys her exceptional people skills. She has an Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015from Crainmost Communications All Rightsisreserved. ability to encourage the ‘adversaries’ in her negotiations to work in Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visituncanny www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15040 concert with her to achieve win/win solutions to difficult problems,” said Scott Wolstein, CEO of Starwood Retail Partners and co-developer of the Flats East Bank project.

Reprinted with permission from the Crain's Cleveland Business. © 2015 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights reserved.

Further duplication without permission is prohibited. Visit www.crainscleveland.com. #CC15040

Favorite TV shows: ‘Million Dollar Listing’ and ‘Shark Tank’ Alternate occupations: Tracking great white sharks or travel-planning Trip he’s looking forward to: Africa this winter Best spot around town: Quintana’s Barber & Dream Spa (and the speakeasy upstairs) Fun fact: He’s won a charity dance competition.

Do you have any examples?

What inspires you day to day?

The carbon neutral award. It’s a cool feeling knowing that we’re actually making a difference. We’re a car dealership in Cleveland, Ohio. We’re the last place that somebody would think that we should be carbon neutral.

If I can wake up and keep on pushing those limits, but also find ways to become more successful in areas that I didn’t know about or that I’m able to grow and become the best at.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2016

FORTY UNDER 40 AWARD RECIPIENTS THANK YOU FOR LEADING CLEVELAND TO SUCCESS FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT

Five things Favorite music: Old school hip hop.

He recently saw Grandmaster Flash and Wu-Tang Clan.

Cheap eats: If it’s inexpensive, he’s there. He’s not above eating at gas stations.

In his free time: He volunteers in Akron and around Highland Square.

Binge watches: ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘The Walking Dead’ All-time favorite thing: Naps Does your job also fulfill your desire to help others?

Yes. A lot of times, if we had not been able to do it, it would have been very difficult for that business to get off the ground.

Po t a ts by Jason M e fo C a n s

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I’m very involved in the community, things like PorchRokr in Highland Square, Torchbearers and the EXL Center at The University of Akron.

Howard Boiner

Megan Foley

Client Consultant (216) 658-7857 Howard.Boiner@BrittonGallagher.com

Client Associate (216) 658-7852 Megan.Foley@BrittonGallagher.com

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

FORTY UNDER 40

Stephanie Y. Pope, 39 CONGRATULATIONS 2016 Forty Under 40 Award Recipient³Lyvian Loh

Spang & Company is proud to for her honor leadership, professional success, and civic contributions.

Cleveland Business, we congratulate Lyvian for her outstanding leadership skills in the workplace and in her community.

Founded in 1894, Spang & Company is a diversified manufacturing company with three unique product lines. We design, produce and supply precision soft magnetic components to the electronics industry and custom engineered solutions to the SRZHU LQGXVWU\ 6SDQJ &RPSDQ\·V GRPHVWLF ORFDWLRQV DUH LQ Ohio and Pennsylvania.

STAY CONNECTED.

Stephanie Y. Pope didn’t realize she grew up poor in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood until she was older. Still a resident of Collinwood today, she recalls her parents trying to maintain a good life for their children despite prejudice-related challenges.

“Those challenges and those experiences as a young child allowed me to see things differently,” she said. “It has shaped me in a way that I want to give back to those who have less opportunity so they can see that there’s more opportunity than what is surrounding them.” — Michelle Park Lazette You founded The Destiny Project.

,Q FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK &UDLQ·V

AT HOME. IN THE OFFICE. AT THE GYM. ON THE GO.

Probation officer, city of Cleveland; Commissioner, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

Facebook.com/CrainsCleveland Twitter.com/CrainsCleveland Instagram.com/CrainsCleveland

What’s its destiny?

It is a youth empowerment program for girls, ages 9 through 16, to provide programming for young ladies to inspire them to live a life of purpose. The destiny is to have a sustainable program that can change the lives of young women. It’s important to me because I believe that I have been afforded opportunities in my life where people have spoken into my life, and I want to reach back to help the next generation move forward and be successful.

What’s something you learned since becoming a CMHA commissioner?

Allison M. McMeechan, 38 Co-chair, elder and special needs planning group, Reminger Co. LPA Losing her mother to cancer in January, Allison M. McMeechan is all too familiar with the challenges facing aging adults and caregivers — not the least of which is navigating a confusing maze of benefits, trusts, wills and long-term care options. Her practice centers on clearing up that confusion.

“I like doing something that at the end of the day I feel like I can go home and say, ‘I really helped someone and made a difference,’” she said.

McMeechan admits she sort of “fell into” elder law. After working briefly in general practice, she joined Schraff & King in Willoughby to focus on estate and long-term care planning and

worked there for 10 years before being recruited to co-chair Reminger Co.’s elder and special needs law practice in 2015. — Judy Stringer What was your first job?

It was with a solo practitioner. I did a little bit of everything, criminal work, domestic relations. It was also the first time I had the opportunity to administer an estate through probate court. I had more of an attraction to that transactional type of work.

What do you like most about your current job?

Luis Cabrera, 36 Application systems analyst, Forest City Realty Trust Inc.

Congratulations, Sarah!

We are proud to recognize our partner, Sarah C. Flannery, and her fellow honorees in the Forty Under 40 Class of 2016.

Sarah is making her mark around the world by helping clients develop and implement immigration strategies that support their global talent management goals.

She is also a leader in our community, making a difference in the lives of many closer to home.

Sarah C. Flannery Partner Chair, Spotlight on Women 216.566.5718 Sarah.Flannery@ThompsonHine.com

A Smarter Way to Work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals.

Atlanta | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Columbus Dayton | New York | Washington, D.C. | ThompsonHine.com

Luis Cabrera has crossed multiple divides in his life. Born in the Dominican Republic, he emigrated to the U.S. with his family as a child, learning English as a second language.

Growing up in Lorain, he attended classes at the joint vocational school to learn about technology. A college degree in digital art landed him in Forest City’s public relations department.

However, his technical skills are such he moved into the information technology side of the business. — Stan Bullard Is it challenging to do computer applications for a real estate company?

It’s not really the technology that’s

challenging. I’m comfortable with change, but you have to get people on board with the change. You can know the tools but need people to accept them to be successful.

What’s it like to be Hispanic in corporate America?

You’re often the only one in a situation. At Forest City, we have associate relationship groups. The Hispanic one is the smallest. You can’t just default to yourself. Because of cultural differences, you have to take extra steps to relate to your colleagues.

Tell me about your job.

I design and support business ap-

Mark Panzica, 39 Executive vice president, Panzica Construction Co. The hope for any career, Mark Panzica said, is to create something lasting. The projects his company has completed recently — among them, the Flats East Bank apartments and renovations to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History — have changed Cleveland’s landscape and its cultural institutions.

“We have the opportunity to help be part of making someone’s dreams a reality,” Panzica said. “These are homes, these are places of people’s work, places that bring further care to patients. To be part of that, it feels pretty good.” — Michelle Park Lazette

Why has your family business succeeded for generations?

As a family rule, we made it that any third generation would have to work somewhere else before coming in. I’m the first one of the third generation to do so. We’ve had the opportunity to experience other cultures, other ideas and bring that knowledge and that experience back as an asset as opposed to knowing only one way.

What’s been important to you to maintain, even with the torch passed to you?

Even as we grow in size and in the

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FORTY UNDER 40 Five things Four words of advice she’d give 30-year-old self: Focus. Love yourself. Purpose.

Family tradition: Putting up the Christmas tree Best board game: Monopoly. She’s ‘old school.’

All neighborhoods need: Unity Favorite quote: ‘Titles are good but purpose is better.’

Congratulations C L E V E L A N D S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y M B A A L U M N U S

People underestimate the number of success stories that come out of CMHA. People stereotype groups of people.

Someone I know, one of my friends, her husband grew up in CMHA. He ended up going to college, he got his accounting degree, and he’s in a key position with Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

When your mother and you speak to incarcerated women once a month, what’s your aim?

Really, we do it from a ministry standpoint. It’s to give them a measure of hope, an understanding that the position they’re in right now doesn’t determine where they’ll be in the future.

Five things Favorite book: ‘The Long Goodbye’

by Meghan O’Rourke

Jason Estremera M B A 2 013 CONGRATULATIONS on being named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 for 2016.

JASON is the Director of Business Services at the HISPANIC BUSINESS CENTER and Owner of TRUNK

Workout jam: ‘Bangarang’ by Skrillex Bucket list destination: Italy Biggest fear: Failure Favorite dish to cook: Anything Italian

Take the Next Step Invest in yourself, your career and your earning potential. thecsumba.com ∙ cbacsu@csuohio.edu ∙ 216-687-3730

Whether someone has passed away, a parent has been diagnosed with dementia or a client has a child who is highly disabled, usually it’s a highly emotional state when they come to me. They are looking for someone to not only help them, but they are looking to

connect. I enjoy making those connections.

What is the best professional advice you ever received?

If you make a mistake, own it. People are more inclined to forgive you and appreciate your honesty.

Five things Something others don’t know: His voice was used to record an emergency alert in Spanish for a building.

Hobbies: Homebrewing Job wanted at age 10: A mad scientist Advice he would give his 18-yearold self: Take more risks.

Mentor: His mom, Felicita Nunez

plications. I enable people to do better work by improving and streamlining business processes with automation of low level tasks that in turn free up people to focus on value added work and provide quality products and services.

What do you do with your free time?

I spend a lot of time mentoring young people, both at Esperanza and College Now. They remind me of me when I was their age. I also volunteer with the Mound School Techie Club.

Five things Favorite room in his home: Kitchen.

He loves to cook.

First job: Paper boy Family tradition: Making ravioli for Christmas Proudest moment: Birth of his sons Favorite construction tool: Hammer

scale of the work we do, it’s important to me to maintain the family environment, the open-door policy, the one that my father and my grandfather had. It keeps us unique in that it’s about the people that we work with.

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

What are the primary levers you’ve pulled to achieve success at the company?

Garnering the support of those who work with me, giving them a sense of responsibility, a sense of buy-in.

LEARN ARN MORE TODAY ABOUT HOW CRAIN’S CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR CONTENT MARKETING PROGRAM. Contact Amy Stoessel at 216.771.5155 or astoessel@crain.com.

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FORTY UNDER 40

Brian Barnes, 35

Sarah Flannery, 39

Director of African-American strategic initiatives, Ohio Republican Party

Partner, Thompson Hine LLP

Brian Barnes wasn’t involved in politics prior to being selected by the Ohio Republican Party to lead African-American strategic initiatives in 2013.

He said one of the things that guides him politically is a letter written by his late mother, Anna Barnes.

“Paraphrasing, she said the worst thing that you can do for your children are the things that they could do and should do for themselves,” Barnes said. “That statement there has really impacted me to really become more independent and what I call participate in my own rescue, and teach others to do the same.

— Kevin Kleps How difficult is your job in Cuyahoga County, which is so predominately Democrat?

The challenge comes in the establishment of relationships. I have had various people around the county appreciate what I do, because they get it. They know that communities of color and people in the inner city need representation on both sides.

Are you proud of the strides you’ve made?

We had a (presidential) debate watch party themed around issues that matter. What are the issues that really matter when it comes to criminal justice reform, public safety, economics, employment and education?

That type of constructive dialogue being led by Republicans is something that has not taken place within the county or in many urban environments. I pride myself on being a leader and pushing that envelope,

bringing that dialogue, and to come up with solutions, and not just talk about problems.

How would you categorize your reaction to the election? Were you surprised?

From my position as a member of the Republican Party but also as a black male, it is bittersweet. There’s a lot of work to be done. Personally, I would have loved to have seen more focus on issues that communities of color have. And as you see, some of the reaction to the election from the African-American community and Hispanic community is that of fear.

One thing that I would love to do going forward is to begin to work on solutions to those issues that are in the community and be an advocate, continue to advocate on behalf of the community.

Five things What a ride: He’s a ‘thrill-seeker’ and ‘roller coaster enthusiast.’

Join the club: He’s a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, which means he gets to ‘ride them first.’

Favorite steel coaster: The Maverick at Cedar Point Favorite wooden coaster: The Beast at Kings Island Prep flashback: Barnes played football and ran track at Shaker Heights High School.

Sarah Flannery joined Thompson Hine as a first-year associate in 2002, and ultimately built the firm’s immigration practice from a small subgroup with only a few clients into a major practice area that serves employers across the globe, including several Fortune 500 companies.

Under her leadership, the practice — which helps clients develop strategic immigration policies that meet their global talent recruitment and retention goals — has grown 30% each year since 2011.

Flannery also chairs Thompson Hine’s Spotlight on Women program, an effort designed to advance women in the firm and the communities it serves. — Kimberly Bonvissuto Why focus on immigration law?

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

Congrats,

Jade!

I had an opportunity in my first year in practice to assist a partner who had immigration as part of his broader employment practice. It gave me the opportunity to get a lot of experience and responsibility at an early stage in my career.

I love working with companies to help them with global talent needs and adding value to those companies, and helping foreign nationals, as part of a collaborative team practice.

Five things Hobby: Running Bucket list item: Travel Favorite vacation spot: ‘We bought a boat two summers ago, so going around to Chicago or north, deeper into Canada.’

Role model: She had many mentors. ‘I value finding different people who show different styles you can pull from.’

Recent read: ‘Strengths Finder 2.0’

by Tom Rath Why is service important to you?

I was very privileged I have always found support in mentors and sponsors. As chair of Thompson Hine’s Spotlight on Women program and chair of the Mentoring Program of United Way of Summit County’s Women’s Leadership Council, I remain passionate about attracting, retaining and developing women in legal fields and business communities.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to continue to be innovative in our immigration practice and continue to provide legal support and business solutions to our clients.

Panzica Construction is proud to congratulate…

Executive Vice President Mark Panzica on being named to Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 Class of 2016!

His hard work, energy and dedication to reshaping the Cleveland landscape is inspiring to all of us!

MAKING WAVES IN CLE! Construction Management Design-Build General Contracting

Congratulations to Port of Cleveland’s Jade Davis!

A Crain’s Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 award winner.

portofcleveland.com

panzica.com • 440.442.4300

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Priyanka Chaudhry, 38

Ethan McPeake, 38

Tax partner, Ernst & Young

Owner, president, New Era Benefits Consulting

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Sometimes, you have a plan.

Sometimes, you just find yourself doing what you love and are good at naturally. Ethan McPeake took the latter path both into the insurance and benefits industry, as well as into entrepreneurialism. He's got no regrets, though.

McPeake admits he got into the insurance business largely by accident.

But today, the Akron native and current Bath resident says he not only loves what he does, but loves that he gets to serve others who are often engaged in running important nonprofits in and around the Rubber City. — Dan Shingler

Priyanka Chaudhry was a voracious reader growing up in Delhi, India, and always figured she might pursue a career in literature.

But after marrying and moving 20 years ago to Birmingham, Ala., where her husband was completing a medical residency, Chaudhry’s path took a different turn.

“As I started thinking about career options, the idea of business really appealed to me because it’s strategic and analytical and it brought both things together,” she said.

At Ernst & Young, Chaudhry is a tax partner, as well as the firm’s Northeast Ohio leader of inclusiveness and diversity priorities. That “people side” of things is one of the most rewarding things about her job, she said. — Alison Grant What inspires you in your work?

I’ve worked with really good people. They mentored me and have been very supportive. If I can do the same thing for others, it’s really meaningful to me. Some people call it lifting as you rise. I think of it as opening up opportunities for others.

What does your diversity role involve?

I guide our local leadership in driving our diversity and inclusiveness

Five things Family: Husband Mundeep, a physician; two puppies, Zen and Kona Current reads: Daniel Silva’s ‘The Black Widow’ and John Grisham’s ‘Rogue Lawyer’ Faraway travels: Iceland, Austria, Bratislava, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, India, the United Kingdom, Germany and Portugal Best work advice: Success is not final, and failure is not fatal.

So, you’re a benefits consultant, was that something you planned?

No. When I got out of college, I sort of stumbled into becoming an insurance broker. That was vastly different from what my parents did.

There were a lot of nights staring at the ceiling and saying ‘What am I really doing for people?’ Now, I have a lot of clients working to help people, and I help them. I like to think I’m indirectly helping them to serve the people that they help.

You’re also an entrepreneur, how did that come about?

practices. I also guide and advise our professional networks in Northeast Ohio. I also represent EY in marketing events and events with clients. That’s something that’s really important to me personally — to really elevate that conversation, bring other businesses, other community leaders, and talk about the topic of diversity and inclusiveness.

I was let go from CPI-HR. People tell me, ‘You’re such an entrepreneur,’ but I don’t really feel that way.

My back was against the wall. But, now, I don’t ever want to work for anyone else.

What was the key to your business’ success?

Five things

Having done this for 15 years, I know a lot of people and companies. That makes it easier than if you were starting out fresh. But I had to go backwards at first. You go from a certain income to earning zero, initially.

His Saturdays: Gardening. ‘We have kind of a mini farm at our house — with chickens!’

Beyond the office: He loves travel, especially internationally. His wife, Janine, is from Australia.

Favorite place to visit: Thailand

You founded your business in 2013, and there’s been a lot happening with regards to benefits, especially medical benefits. How was your timing?

Social activity: Volleyball at Whitey’s (Booze N’ Burgers) in Richfield

Right now, people need a ton of help, so services are needed. And there’s a lot of uncertainty right now. I think services are needed more than ever — along with trusted relationships that people can turn to.

Where he takes visitors: Swenson’s for burgers

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

What about your career keeps you awake at night?

I sleep really well at night. I feel like I’m supported by such a strong team.

Part of the culture at EY is a very consultative culture internally. I never feel like I’m on my own.

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FORTY UNDER40

Kathryn Bryan, 38

Jason Estremera, 34

Financial planner, Skylight Financial Group

Director of business services, Hispanic Business Center; co-owner, Trunk

After 12 years in biomedical research — as an undergrad at what is now Baldwin Wallace University, a behavioral neuroscience doctoral student at Kent State University and in postdoc programs — Kathryn “Katy” Bryan traded her lab coat for pantsuits in 2011, joining Skylight Financial Group.

There, she found digging into her clients’ accounts to discover how they got to their current financial state was not unlike analyzing the biological mechanisms that contribute to human disease or disorders. At Skylight, Bryan specializes in helping families who have loved ones with special or long-term care needs.

“I have to look at the whole picture and identify the gaps,” Bryan said. “Then I can put all the pieces together and find the best strategies to fit their goals.”

— Judy Stringer What inspires you professionally?

The ability to meet so many people and do so many different things, like sitting on boards, being a volunteer, being active in the community. I also really like to teach, so providing clients with information and education is a rewarding part of my job.

How do you maintain balance in your busy life?

Five things

A supportive husband, a supportive family — that is the only thing that allows me to do all of the things I am able to do.

As a child, she dreamed of: Being a marine biologist

What is the biggest challenge facing your profession?

Role model: Her mom

The ability to provide personal, customized client relationships, but also give clients access to all the electronics and computer-based programs that they would like.

Favorite pastime: Playing with her kids Last vacation: Cape Cod Ideal meal: Anything Chinese

CONGRATULATIONS 2016 FORTY UNDER 40 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Jason Estremera assists entrepreneurs in his day job at the Hispanic Business Center.

At night and on the weekends, you can usually find him at Trunk — the men’s clothing store he opened in Gordon Square in 2015. He also serves on the board of Cleveland Public Theatre, performs in Teatro Publico de Cleveland plays and is the treasurer of the Young Latino Network.

His time-prioritization motto: “You make time for things are truly important to you, and those things that just are not, you self-identify as things you will not do.” — Kevin Kleps How are things going at Trunk? Has it been what you hoped for?

The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) is proud to honor Commissioner Stephanie Y. Pope for her leadership, professional success and civic contributions.

We join Crain’s Cleveland Business in recognizing one of our outstanding board members who has made a significant impact as a leader in our community.

Since 1933, CMHA has been providing safe, quality, affordable housing opportunities and improving the quality of life for the communities we serve.

Five things Most enjoyable hobby: Kayaking at the Rocky River Reservation On the move: He also enjoys running, though Trunk ‘really is the hobby.’

Favorite designer: Vivienne Westwood Flashbacks: He loves ‘old-school horror movies’ such as 1922 classic ‘Nosferatu.’

Favorite part about Cleveland: The opportunity

When this happened, it was like, ‘Is this too good to be true?’ I literally won a (Detroit Shoreway business plan) competition for something that I work with clients every day on? And now I have my store. This is amazing. In three months, it’ll be a year, and it’s transformed from just having used clothing to having used and new clothing. When I look back at it, it just blows my mind. You can’t help but be

8120 KINSMAN RD., CLEVELAND, OHIO 44104 CMHA.NET

What’s the best part of owning your own business?

People who learn something new about themselves. The store, you think it’s quite silly because it’s just clothing, but there have been people who have come to the store and they’ve gone through a transformation in their body weight. They’re in transition from where they were to who they hoped to be, and they feel so amazing when they step out of the store.

How is Northeast Ohio doing in building up the Hispanic business community?

There’s definitely room for improvement. As the population is growing, there’s definitely not as much investment as you would find in other neighborhoods. The good thing is there are a lot of people out there who are really committed to being inclusive and looking to embrace the community. It’s great because our center is growing because the interest is growing, the population is growing.

We’re getting there.

Ann McCarthy-Garland, 35 Credit executive, PNC Financial Services Group Ann McCarthy-Garland doesn’t shy away from risk at PNC, a good attitude considering her position requires management of multimillion-dollar transactions for a high-profile portfolio of universities and nonprofit organizations.

Whether it’s assessing a new museum build or college-directed loan, the Detroit native and current Ohio City resident enjoys serving as an instrumental facet of PNC’s centralized credit team. — Douglas J. Guth What about your work makes you most proud?

COMMITMENT | ACCOUNTABILITY | RESPECT | EXCELLENCE | SAFETY

like, ‘I did this.’ It’s crazy.

this type of work?

I’m curious by nature. I enjoy learning about new organizations I’m not familiar with and understanding what they need to be successful. Researching an outlook based on risks that impact an industry is very interesting. I’m also fortunate to work with a team focused on these industry sectors.

There’s a lot of brain power in the room painting this picture from different angles.

Do you have any key mentors or people who influenced you?

I take my credit authority and risk management responsibilities very seriously. Every day I use not only my business experience and level of bank training, but also my foundation in research and analytics. For every loan decision, I’m managing risk for the bank while doing the best I can for the customer.

My parents Patty and Tim McCarthy had a huge commitment to their professional and civic lives. I got to observe and participate in that growing up, so I work to emulate that now for my own children. My husband and kids influence my outlook, too, and instill a sense of humor that’s critical for maintaining professional decorum.

What most motivates you about

What advice would you give

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FORTY UNDER 40

Gabrielle Christman, 35

Katie Watts, 35

President, Hunter International Recruiting

Vice president, Colliers International

At age 25, Gabrielle Five Christman launched a staffing and recruiting firm things with two employees. The Favorite Avon-based venture has Cleveland hot since rocketed into the in- spot: Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Deli ternational stratosphere, finding top-shelf engineer- Last movie she ing, manufacturing, life sci- saw: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Curly Sueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; What was a challenge ence and IT staff for For- Favorite you faced in the growth tune 500 companies facing vacation spot: of your company, and challenging hiring needs. how did you overcome it?

Montreal Shaking up the industry When the job market took has placed Hunter Interna- Something a spin (from 2008-2011), we people may not tional Recruiting among were able to poise ourselves the fastest-growing wom- know: She was for growth. We were small enâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business enterprises in afraid of her own compared to competitors, so the Midwest. For her part, shadow as a we were able to stay nimble.

Christman is committed to child.

When companies didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sustained success of wom- Hobby: Hot yoga have the budget to take on en in business, via organi- at Inner Bliss engineers full-time, we shiftzational outreach and voled to contract work. We conunteer duties with groups like tinued to grow by adapting to our clinonprofit empowerment effort Dress entsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; changing needs. for Success. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Douglas J. Guth a deep database of candidates who wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t search anywhere else. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fortunate weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had clients like Lubrizol and DuPont that have allowed us to be part of their growth story, too.

What makes your company special or unique?

We thought there was a hole in the market when it came to speaking to the science or engineering candidate.

We look for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;passiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; candidates who are already doing good work â&#x20AC;&#x201D; people who may poke their head out of the ground once a year, then go back to their jobs. That type of employee can be difficult to attract for new business opportunities. However, we have

someone considering a move to Cleveland?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook city living or living in one of our great neighborhoods, because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much to offer.

Secondly, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say welcome the help of others. I found the Cleveland community to be so gracious in welcoming my family in all aspects. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re willing to accept help, the generosity of Clevelanders can be almost alarming.

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Katie Watts launched her office brokerage career in 2007, which she calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;a blessing and a curse.â&#x20AC;?

The curse was that the economy was in the worst recession since the Great Depression. The blessing was that she learned to be more creative and proactive in finding assignments and solutions in the office market than would have been needed in easier times.

At Colliers, she works on everything from a proposed building in Broadview Heights to downtown skyscrapers. She has been actively involved in transactions with a total value of $550 million. Her first job was research and marketing at the former Staubach Co. She was named â&#x20AC;&#x153;rookie of the yearâ&#x20AC;? after she joined CB Richard Ellis as a broker.

She joined Colliers Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cleveland office, which her father, Brian Hurtuk, heads, because it provided growth opportunities. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Stan Bullard What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job?

The opportunity to become so fully engaged with many different types of people and organizations is fascinating to me. No two deals are alike.

Also, as a native Clevelander, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-

vigorating to be intimately involved in the resurgence that has been taking place in the city over the past few years, with even more development in the pipeline for the years to come.

What is your favorite part of doing a deal?

One of the things that really energizes me is getting to know my clients and their long-term goals. Then looking for ways real estate can help them achieve those goals. There is a strategic asset to finding that equation for each client.

Five things Vacation: Spain for 10 days Sport: Golf Car radio tuned to: National Public Radio Desired superpower: To be in two places at once Favorite place: Downtown Cleveland with varied architecture

What kind of outreach work are you involved with?

Giving back to other women-owned businesses is very important to us, as is empowering women to stay in their industry. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been mentoring women through Dress for Success, helping them be successful in their job search and find rewarding work. To see these women and learn their challenges has brought me back to what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to be a job seeker and have a deeper understanding of that.

Five things Board service: Near West Family Network, Ohio City Inc. Favorite movie: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Good Will Huntingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Something others may not know: Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run a couple of marathons, including one from the U.S. to Canada and back.

Favorite book: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Giving Treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by Shel Silverstein Hobbies: Running, skiing, spinning

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

FORTY UNDER 40

Shibani Faehnle, 36

Joseph W. Connolly, 35

Initiative development manager, KeyBank Five things

Aerospace engineer, NASA Glenn Research Center Five things

Role model: Sheryl Sandberg (author and COO of Facebook)

Few know: He has triple citizenship (U.S., Canada, Six Nations Haudenosaunee).

Hobbies: Meeting friends, eating out

Ice job: He plays hockey on Team Navy in Cleveland Heights.

When she grew up, she wanted to be: Marine biologist, advertising executive or someone who works with orangutans

NHL team: The Pittsburgh Penguins Choice app: NPR One

Biggest fear: Bugs

Tagalongs: His kids attend daycare at NASA Glenn.

Career advice: Be humble, work hard

An insatiable hunger to try new things has built Shibani Faehnle’s resume into one rivaling the experience of a professional twice her age.

A native of Bombay, India, Faehnle studied economics before taking to banking.

Her specialized role at KeyBank today somewhat reflects the customized career she’s created for herself, which includes writing (she’s a cofounder of SheintheCle.com) and sales (she also runs an online accessories store called Bombay Taxi Boutique).

“I’m just driven by continuous learning,” she said. — Jeremy Nobile You’ve developed quite a passion for the city. What’s made you so keen on Cleveland?

I first visited the city when I was in college at Miami University (of Ohio). It definitely wasn’t on my top 10 places to live. But then I met my future husband and moved from Bombay to Oxford, Ohio. I remember sitting at Market Garden Brewery around 2005 when he said everything here is going to change. And I was like, ‘Yeah, right.’ But there was this underlying energy. It’s sort of

carved out this renewed identity since then. I was surrounded by people who were so enthusiastic and passionate about the city, and that was infectious. The city grew on me pretty fast.

So you’re a banker, a blogger, an entrepreneur and you’re active in a variety of civic and professional groups. What motivates you?

It all comes from a desire to do more and know more. I didn’t really expect to get into banking, but I studied economics because I knew it would have wide applications. As I did all that, I had a vision of wanting to sell jewelry — and in India, jewelry is art, and I wanted to bring some of that to Cleveland. Some of the boards I got into so I could meet people I don’t encounter in current social circles.

What’s your key to balancing everything?

I think balance is a fallacy. It all works because I want it to. If any side hustle becomes too much, I will walk away. But my rule is to just continue to do it all as long as it’s still enjoyable and I’m getting something from it: learning, meeting new people or demonstrating creativity.

When Joseph Connolly told people about his dream of working for NASA, they often responded with a chuckle.

He understands. Connolly grew up relatively poor in Niagra Falls, N.Y. — about a 90-minute drive from Six Nations of the Grand River, an Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) reservation where many of his relatives still live. So even he had a hard time imagining that he'd be leading a team that uses computer models to improve turbofan engines.

Connolly still visits Six Nations, and he regularly tutors local Native American students.

He says it's "upon the people who've done relatively well for themselves to help (the poor) as much as they possibly can." — Chuck Soder At Ohio State, you earned a duel degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering as well as sociology. How did you end up choosing two majors that are so far apart?

Ever since I was really little and saw a shuttle launch I knew that I wanted to work for NASA. I was also passionate about social

justice issues and American Indian issues. If the NASA thing didn't work out, I was going to try to be a Native American studies professor.

To get your language arts credits in college, you helped your grandmother back in Six Nations create a class on the Onadonga language. Why?

The Onadonga language is a language that is very much in danger. There are probably about 50 people who are fluently speaking it anymore.

My grandma was always very passionate about trying to preserve the language.

What might people not understand about life on Native American reservations?

The reservations for the Haudenosaunee in the New York, Ontario and Quebec areas, I would say they're not too dissimilar from other rural, somewhat poor communities. There are some people doing well, there are some people who are getting by not too bad and there are some people very much economically struggling.

David Ebersole, 34

Jasmin Santana-Fernández, 37

Assistant director, Cleveland Department of Economic Development Five things

Community engagement coordinator, Hispanic Alliance Inc. Five things

Role model: His father

Hobby: Watching movies

Vacation: To England, to visit his wife’s family when our daughter is older.

Favorite movie: ‘The Notebook’ Favorite spot in Northeast Ohio: Lake Erie

Favorite websites: Slate.com, SI.com, FiveThirtyEight.com, ESPN.com

Guilty pleasure: Potato chips

Favorite restaurant: Tremont Tap House

Favorite book: ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry

Favorite meal: Burger and a beverage

Strongsville native David Ebersole graduated from the Case Western Reserve University Law School in 2008 but has never practiced law, thanks in part to Tracey Nichols, who is now the director of Cleveland’s department of economic development and Ebersole’s boss.

Since he started at the department, his specialty has been putting together plans to redevelop brownfields, the parcels of commercial and industrial land that may have rundown buildings on them and environmental contamination in the ground that require demolition or cleanup to make them attractive to a developer.

In eight years, he’s risen from development officer to development manager to assistant director. He’s led a team that applied for and received $68 million in state and federal funds for brownfield cleanup projects in Cleveland and he leads the city’s commercial and industrial land bank, which has redeveloped more than 60 acres of brownfield land that allowed companies like Great Lakes Towing Co. and Miceli Dairy Products Co. to expand. — Jay Miller

Why law school?

In high school I thought I wanted to work in government and (law school) was a logical option coming out of college. Then one day, Tracey Nichols came to a class on community development law and said she had a job opening.

What has been your toughest challenge?

The Miceli Dairy expansion. They had so many constraints to making their development happen — environmental, title, utility, legal issues. I’ve been working on it since 2010, and now they are ready for the second phase that will allow them to grow in place for the next 50 years.

Has Cleveland’s recent success made it easier to get developers interested?

It has made my job easier and harder. It’s easier because we’ve got more opportunities. You see the big headline projects, the large scale developments. But we’re also seeing people my age or younger, saying, ‘I want to do something for myself,’ and they’re putting in a lot of their sweat equity into something that allows them to live their passion, like Platform Beer Co.

Jasmin Santana-Fernández is uniquely aware of the challenges and opportunities in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood, where she works to advocate for and support the community where she was born and raised. Before joining the Hispanic Alliance, she worked with the breast cancer education and early-detection program at MetroHealth, where she realized the need for health care access and health education.

“That need was just as much as when I was younger and even more so with all these social issues,” Santana-Fernández said. “And so I left MetroHealth to go back to school to get my nonprofit administration degree.”

Now, she looks for issues in the community and develops and coordinates initiatives to address them. Right now, she’s focusing on housing issues, health access and giving community members a voice through a local resident community council. — Lydia Coutré Why is it so important for you to stay in that community?

Many times I have woken up and my kids are like, ‘Why don’t we move to another suburb?’

That’s for me, the easy way out. And for me, staying in this community where I’m actually every day seeing what I’m trying to fight for, is very important for me.

How would you measure success of your efforts to improve the community?

Once I see at least small streets thriving, where houses look a little bit better or it’s safe for my children to walk down the street to me, I measure that as we were successful. And everything comes little by little, but at least if we could work street by street, community by community, area by area, and achieve that, to me, that is success.

What keeps you motivated in this work?

My children, because I don’t want them to feel that when they’re living in a community like this that they just grow up, make money and leave and forget where they came from. I want them to know that with their experience and their hard work, they’re able to give back and contribute to where they came from. And not many stay. So for me the true heroes are the ones that stay and contribute to change.

Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

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BUSINESS OF LIFE

Source Lunch When Theresa Carter was growing up in the South during the 1960s and ’70s, “there wasn’t anybody who looked like me leading anything,” she said. But that didn’t stop Carter, who was among the first African-American students on student council in high school. She said she owes that conviction and confidence to her mother, who raised Carter and her two sisters to stand up for what they believe in and to understand the importance of giving back. Those traits helped Carter, president of OMNOVA Solutions Foundation, find her passion in philanthropy and her role as a community leader. Carter recently was presented the Lieberth Community Vision Award for her work in Akron, she lives and sits on more than a half-dozen community boards, as well as mentors young women. Her career, which began at General Tire Corp. after she graduated from the University of Alabama, has taken her on a path from communications to philanthropy, but to Carter, giving back isn’t a choice, it’s just who she is.

— Sue Walton

Community service is in your blood. Tell me more about your upbringing and how that influenced you.

From an early age, I witnessed my family giving back. Whether it was in the community or at church, they were known for their thoughtfulness, kindness and wonderful generosity.

My mother kept my sisters and me involved, from Girl Scouts, to 4-H, to helping everyone in our neighborhood.

We were the “go to” family. I remember my mom being in a social club of her peer educators where they sponsored a pageant of young, talented African-American women, affording them an opportunity to travel and compete, while securing scholarship support along the way. Servant leadership runs deep!

What kind of issues/organizations are closest to your heart and why?

Personally and professionally, my passion is for the empowerment of children and families to ensure they are equipped with the tools to be successful and have the opportunity to experience a quality of life that we all deserve. Education in every aspect is critical. Therefore, programs and services that provide those needed resources are extremely important.

How do you inspire others to get involved?

There is no better way to get others involved than by inviting them to be on the front line with you. Leading by example always seems to work. I won’t ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself, and I don’t

participate unless I have passion for the work I am doing and willing to be all in throughout the entire process.

You’ve basically worked for the same company your entire career (General Tire to GenCorp to OMNOVA Solutions), a rare thing these days. What has that been like, and what has made you stay?

From the very beginning, the culture at our company was very welcoming. I built some tremendous relationships over the years and quickly found mentors who wanted to help me succeed. As the company transformed, so did my role and opportunities, and I purposefully capitalized on each one. It wasn’t always an easy journey but one worth the perseverance. Once I moved into the corporate atmosphere and began working within the foundation and community relations, I knew I had found my passion and purpose, and the rest is history.

How have your career goals progressed from the time you started at General Tire, in communications, to now, overseeing OMNOVA Solutions’ $25 million foundation?

It has been an amazing journey over my 31 years with OMNOVA. My career goal was to find a position where I would be happy going into work each day, using my skills and passion as a guiding principal. My career path at OMNOVA has offered me just that, with many different experiences, from a purchasing clerk to numerous positions within the communications department, to my role now as president of the

Theresa Carter

foundation. The important work that we do each day in touching lives and making a positive impact in the community is absolutely worth the time it took me to be in the position to lead the effort.

How have corporate foundations changed the philanthropic landscape?

With many demands for support and limited resources, some corporate foundations have begun to focus their philanthropic efforts on organizations and causes that tie into their core competencies/ priorities as a company. Others have begun to target support around the interest of their employees in an effort to increase community involvement. The bottom line however, is that companies view giving back in their communities as part of their core responsibility and often will step up to the plate to join in with others on initiatives, projects and programs that will yield impactful, sustainable results.

Elevating the role of women and minorities in the workplace is important to you. How is the Northeast Ohio business landscape faring in terms of diversity and gender equality?

I believe our community is becoming more intentional around diversity and inclusion. Indeed, that is what it’s going to take to see some real change. There is still some work to do, but at least conversations are being had around the value of having diverse talent around the table, especially at our highest levels of leadership.

Philanthropy

Six Things: TRAILBLAZER In 1979, Carter was among a group of seniors to push for and organize her high school’s first integrated prom.

FAVORITE SPOT FOR FUN “Our park system is fantastic for walking, relaxing and bike riding,” she said.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT “Alabama — home is where the heart is.”

BEST MOVIE LINE EVER “If you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention.” — Sister Mary Clarence (“Sister Act 2”)

WHAT’S ON IN THE CAR? Urban radio

GUILTY PLEASURES Red Hots, chocolate; entertainment TV (“Dancing with the Stars,” “The Voice”)

Lunch Spot Cafe Bricco 3150 W. Market St., Akron

The meal

Caesar salad with chicken; mixed-greens salad with Parmesan-crusted calamari, chorizo and peppers; diet soda, water.

The vibe

Each of the restaurants in the Bricco chain has its own identity and menu.

With a sleek, modern look, Cafe Bricco doesn’t seem like a “hotel” restaurant despite being inside the DoubleTree. The contemporary fare includes unique spins on familiar items, such as sandwiches and pizza.

The bill

$ 26.86, plus tip

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

DISH

And after that? Well, there’s always Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter and, well, even the summer school holiday.

“That’s another really busy time for us,” said Pozna of the food bank. “We have a lot of children who, when they do not have access to a hot lunch at school, may do without.”

Whether it be a computer inventory and routing system or a good old pen-and-paper spreadsheet, the job is getting done — for the good of all.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 operation, the hunger center deals with the same logistical problems as the food bank — how to efficiently distribute thousands of meals a year.

Both laughed when asked if they used a computerized organizational system.

“Oh no,” said Bob Ambro. “This is my system.”

Saying that, he pulled out a pink binder and flipped it open. Inside, in neat order, were spreadsheets listing in detail what is needed for Christmas Day, when 9,000 meals will go to 28 shelters and centers across Northeast Ohio and 5,000 meals will be served at St. Augustine.

Ambro calls on what he learned as an industrial engineer with the Lithonia Lighting Co. in California to help organize the food distribution.

“This is my 13th holiday here. And I thought I was going to retire,” he added, laughing.

Restaurant closings

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank expects that it will prepare 58 million meals annually, beginning in 2018. (Susan Love for Crain’s)

“Everything I did working as an engineer, I use in organizing these meals,” he said. “It’s all the same principles. I helped build a plant for Lithonia in California. I had a year and a half to do that. Here, every-

thing happens on one day.”

As Thanksgiving Day preparations kick into high gear, food pantries big and small across Northeast Ohio are getting ready to serve those in-need.

Two restaurants closed unexpectedly in recent weeks, both located in areas known for up-and-coming eateries and an active nightlife.

Arcadian Food & Drink in the Gordon Square Arts District shut down earlier this month after only four months of operation. According to news reports, it was closed by its owner-investor Tim Kopp with no notice to the owner, operator chef Cory Hess, whose wife, Rebecca Hess, was the executive chef at Arcadian, which specialized in seafood

and innovative drinks.

The second unexpected recent closing was the Willeyville Restaurant on the East Bank of the Flats.

Willeyville featured “seasonal American comfort food with a twist.”

Owner and executive chef Christopher DiLisi said in an email that a lack of customer traffic and revenue made it just too difficult to sustain the restaurant.

“I am very saddened by our closing,” said DiLisi. “Willeyville encompasses five years of my life and 15 years of my career building toward the skills needed for it. We have put everything we had into the success of it — emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially.”

Including DiLisi and his wife, Willeyville employed 10, most of whom have found new places of employment, he said.

“I wanted for this to work so badly, as we had a very committed staff whom have, almost to a man, been with us since we opened.”

DiLisi said he and his wife have no plans to open another location in the near future.

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INSURANCE

FINANCIAL SERVICES

INSURANCE

Crain’s People on the Move promotional feature showcases Northeast Ohio job changes,

Jeremy Bryant

Karen Dulaney

Jennifer Morrissey

promotions and board

President

Senior Vice President

Chief Information Officer

Britton Gallagher

KeyBank

Oswald Companies

appointments.

Britton Gallagher, a Cleveland based employee benefits and commercial insurance broker, announced the appointment of Jeremy Bryant to the position of agency President. Bryant has been with Britton Gallagher since 2012, most recently serving as one of the agency’s Executive Vice Presidents. He has over 20 years of experience managing multiple client portfolios providing expertise in operations, best practices, commercial brokerage design and placement, along with niche program development.

Key Private Bank, one of the premier private banks for affluent individuals and their families, today announced the appointment of Karen Dulaney to senior vice president and senior relationship manager. She will be responsible for delivering customized investment management, trust and estate planning, financial planning, and banking solutions to high-net worth clients on Cleveland’s West Side. Karen will also be responsible for expanding and retaining high-net worth clients, including individual.

In her role she is responsible for driving growth and sustainable operational excellence by means of data, digitalization and technology. Morrissey joins Oswald with over 18 years of progressive experience directing the strategic information technology initiatives of global organizations. Her background includes executive leadership in insurance and risk management with Willis Group Holdings (WSH) and Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

HOSPITALITY & TOURISM

LAW

Geoff Cox

Brooke L. Hamilton

Vice President of Sales

Associate

KHM Travel Group

Gallagher Sharp LLP

KHM Travel Group is proud to announce the promotion of Geoff Cox to Vice President of Sales. In this new role, Geoff will utilize his passion for leading others and 20+ years of experience in the travel industry to help grow the company’s network of agents and travel sales. He will also continue to work with supplier representatives to find creative and innovative ways to promote their travel products to both travel agents and consumers. [www.khmtravel.com]

Gallagher Sharp is pleased to announce that Brooke L. Hamilton has joined the firm as an Associate and will be active in the firm’s General Litigation, Professional Liability, and Transportation Practice Groups. Brooke is a 2016, summa cum laude, graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where she served as Managing Editor for Cleveland State Law Review and Captain of the Trial Team.

She received her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Baldwin Wallace University in 2013.

HEALTH CARE T.J. DeAngelis Chief Nursing Officer Summa Health System Barberton Campus Summa Health names T.J. DeAngelis as chief nursing officer for its Barberton Campus. DeAngelis previously served as the nursing vice president for Medical-Surgical, Telemetry and Patient Experience at the Summa Akron Campus. He began his career at the Summa Barberton Hospital, first as a nursing assistant and then as a staff nurse in the Coronary Care Unit. DeAngelis earned his bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Akron and his MBA from Ashland University.

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How the radical expansion of the Joint Employer Doctrine will impact the workplace The National Labor Relations Board’s redefinition of the test for determining joint employer status will have dramatic ramifications for all employers, especially those that use contractors, subcontractors, staffing agencies and any type of contingent workers.

Don’t miss this opportunity to find out how companies in such relationships may be deemed “joint employers,” and thereby subjected to a wide range of liabilities, from union representation and EEO exposure to overtime and back pay.

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N O V E M B E R 21 - 2 7, 2 016 |

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

The Week THE BIG STORY

the results of billing delays that affected the system’s ability to collect for services.

Ohio can impose its commercial activity tax on out-of-state businesses lacking a bricks-and-mortar presence in the state, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week. In a 5-2 decision, the justices found that three online retailers were subject to the tax. Justice William M. O'Neill wrote that while an in-state physical presence may be necessary to collect sales taxes from a retailer, the U.S. Constitution commerce clause does not forbid the collection of a “privilege to do business” tax such as the commercial activity tax. The tax has been collected since 2005 and brings in about $1.7 billion a year for the state.

CITY LIFE

TIME TO PACK

The old Ben Venue Laboratories complex soon will become a packaging and distribution hub for Xellia Pharmaceuticals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Xellia the go-ahead to use the complex for those purposes. The Danish company aims to begin using the enormous complex for its originally intended purpose, drug manufacturing, in 2018. To do that, it will have to continue working with the FDA, which put the Bedford complex under a consent decree in January 2013, when it was owned by Ben Venue Laboratories.

Xellia Pharmaceuticals is taking over the former Ben Venue Laboratories complex. (Contributed photo)

HONORING A LEGEND

LeBron James is contributing $2.5 million to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, to support the museum's exhibition “Muhammad Ali: A Force for Change.” The exhibit has been on display since the museum opened in September. The museum said James’ business partner Maverick Carter “will also be part of

the $2.5 million contribution,” and that both Carter and the LeBron James Family Foundation — the vehicle for James' donation — will join the list of “founding donors” for the institution.

BIG CHALLENGE AHEAD

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Youngstown announced he will challenge Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California to be the

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House Democratic leader in the next Congress. The leadership election is set for Nov. 30. Democrats pushed the election back as they took stock of a terrible showing in the Nov. 8 election that has the party re-assessing its future as it contends with Republicans holding the White House, Senate and House. In a letter to his colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus, Ryan wrote that he was “disheartened by the results, but I also realized that Democrats must not let this opportunity for change pass by without a fight.”

OOPS

Lake Health is recording a loss of $30 million for 2015 and 2016, representing about 9% of total annual revenues. Lake Health officials attributed the loss to problems from an IT system conversion in 2015. The $30 million, which officials say is a one-time writedown, represents both the added implementation costs and

It's no secret that residential housing has been a key talking point for plenty of Akron officials about how to invigorate downtown. Now that issue — and focusing on a revitalized Main Street — is front and center in Phase 1 of the Downtown Vision and Redevelopment Plan Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan unveiled on Nov. 15.

The plan is meant to steer city officials as they look to improve downtown. Phase 1 includes 10 planning principles to help improve downtown, leading with a focus on Main Street vitality and residential housing. In terms of Main Street, the plan suggests making the Lock 3 Park area the “epicenter for the city, serving as a catalyst for spurring development.” The plan also looks to improve lighting and making use of Main Street spaces.

READY TO GROW

CardinalCommerce, a Mentor company that makes software used to secure online purchases, has secured its own future in the region with a new headquarters building and plans to hire about 40 people in the next several months. The company on Friday, Nov. 18, officially opened its new HQ at 8100 Tyler Blvd. in Mentor.

The 40,000-square-foot, leased building more than doubles the space of its previous home at 6119 Heisley Road, also in Mentor. Mike Keresman, founder and CEO of CardinalCommerce, said the company has about 160 employees in the new space now, and it plans to hire 40 in the coming months. Positions to be hired include software developers, system engineers and customer support personnel.

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

MEETINGS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The pipeline in 2012 had conventions that could book about 200,000 room nights. Now, Burns said, the Destination Cleveland pipeline has 600,000 room nights. Burns said the conversion rate — the number of hotel room nights in the pipeline that turn into booked room nights — is 17% to 20%.

Burns attributes the growing interest to the opening of new hotels and the broader awareness created by the Cavaliers winning the NBA championship and the Indians going to the World Series. And, of course, the hosting of a Republican National Convention where, in Burns’ words, “everything went well.”

The new strategy includes wooing conventions of associations of meeting planners to meet in Cleveland — by offering discounts, if necessary — and hiring additional staff in Washington, D.C., where many convention-throwing associations are headquartered.

Burns and his partners are opti-

mistic that the city can grow its convention business.

Success in booking conventions into the county-owned convention center, which opened in 2013, had been hampered by the lack of an attached, 500-room-plus hotel. That changed last spring when the 600room Hilton Cleveland Downtown opened.

The opportunity to bag more, and bigger, conventions also is boosted by the addition of other new downtown hotels that expanded the downtown room count by 55%, to 5,000 rooms, Burns said.

Booking conventions is a complex equation, since they are often booked three to five years in advance. Hotels, of course, like the business but don’t want to tie up too many rooms years in advance — usually at a low room rate — because it hampers their ability to accommodate business meetings, tourists and one-off business travelers who want to be able to get into their favorite hotel on shorter notice and will pay a higher room rate.

“Our sweet spot is anywhere from 800 and 1,500 rooms for the peak night, using three or more hotels,”

The List THIS COMPANY NAME YEAR MAIN LOCAL OFFICE

Burns said. “Our role is to go and find the big stuff for the future so the hotels can fill in with their own sales teams (for business meetings) to book the 150-room meetings.”

To build the business, Destination Cleveland will be focusing on showcasing the city and its hotels to meeting planners.

“Sixty-five percent of the big business comes from third-party meeting planning companies,” Burns said. “In 2012, when I came aboard, there wasn’t a strategy around that because we didn’t have a lot to sell.

We’ve taken a hard look at accelerating lead development by bringing in organizations that are meeting-planner heavy.”

That push began in August, when the Society of Independent Show Organizers held its annual convention here. SISO, as it’s known, is made up of firms that put on trade shows, consumer shows and other similar events. The event attracted 101 show organizers, and the city made an impression.

“Cleveland was a wonderful host for this year’s SISO Leadership Conference,” SISO executive director David Audrain told Trade Show Ex-

|

ecutive, a trade publication. “We heard great reports from our attendees on the conference content and the city.”

The convention bureau also is working to increase the number of meeting planners who have not been to Cleveland since the opening of the convention center and the recent hotel growth spurt to inspect the city. Those familiarization visits have been running about 75 a year. Burns hopes to increase that to 110.

“An Austin, Texas, or a Nashville are probably five or six years ahead of us as far as how people see us as a convention destination,” Burns said.

Burns also has grown his operation by adding two sales managers from Visit Baltimore, that city’s convention and visitors bureau, to his one-person operation in the District of Columbia, the home of more than 1,000 trade associations.

Destination Cleveland also has a sales manager based in Chicago, another popular home to member associations.

The strategy is being embraced by Destination Cleveland’s key part-

N O V E M B E R 21 - 2 7, 2 016

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PA G E 3 5

ners.

“The pipeline is very healthy,” said Mark Leahy, SMG’s general manager. “We applaud (Destination Cleveland’s) efforts to put people where the majority of our clients are, which is Washington and Chicago.”

Leahy said the convention center has 114 events contracted for the years ahead, and about 60% of those are conventions. The rest are shows that attract locals, such as the Wizard World Cleveland Comic Con and the Cleveland Home & Remodeling Expo, both of which will run in March 2017.

Ronnie Collins, director of sales and marketing at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, also is pleased with the strategy. He applauded the way the convention center, Destination Cleveland and the hotels are working together to attract convention business.

“So far, the convention business is as expected or better,” he said, noting that the six-month old hotel already has booked rooms for conventions as far into the future as 2022. “The lead volume is staying in line with what we expected.”

LARGEST SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS Ranked by Northeast Ohio Deposits

LOCAL DEPOSITS (MILLIONS) 6-30-2016

6-30-2015

% CHANGE

2016 LOCAL TOTAL ASSETS MARKET SHARE (2) (MILLIONS)

TOTAL DEPOSITS (MILLIONS)

(1)

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE TITLE

1

Third Federal Savings & Loan 7007 Broadway Ave., Cleveland 44105 (800) 844-7333/www.thirdfederal.com

$6,067.9

$6,069.7

-0.0%

6.2%

$12,588.6

$8,455.5

Marc A. Stefanski chairman, president, CEO

2

Ohio Savings Bank, a division of New York Community Bank 1801 E. Ninth St., Cleveland 44114 (216) 588-4100/www.mynycb.com

$2,136.2

$2,130.8

0.3%

2.2%

$45,416.9

$26,645.2

Cynthia Flynn executive vice president

3

Dollar Bank FSB 1301 E. Ninth St., Cleveland 44114 (3) (216) 736-8900/www.dollarbank.com

$1,801.2

$1,763.8

2.1%

1.8%

$7,376.6

$5,775.3

William M. Elliott executive vice president

4

First Federal Lakewood 14806 Detroit Ave., Lakewood 44107 (216) 529-2700/www.ffl.net

$1,275.5

$1,289.8

-1.1%

1.3%

$1,614.3

$1,275.5

Thomas J. Fraser president, CEO

5

Home Savings & Loan Co. 275 W. Federal St., Youngstown 44503 (330) 742-0500/www.homesavings.com

$1,133.5

$1,112.6

1.9%

1.2%

$2,078.8

$1,487.6

Gary M. Small president, CEO

6

Northwest Bank 457 Broadway Ave., Lorain 44052 (4) (440) 244-8014/www.northwestsavingsbank.com

$931.4 (5)

$53.6

1,636.1% (5)

1.0%

$9,001.0

$6,771.6

Kevin Nelson president, Ohio region

7

Westfield Bank FSB Two Park Circle, Westfield Center 44251 (800) 368-8930/www.westfield-bank.com

$899.6

$792.4

13.5%

0.9%

$1,146.1

$899.6

Jon W. Park chairman, CEO

8

Wayne Savings Community Bank 151 N. Market St., Wooster 44691 (330) 264-5767/www.waynesavings.com

$349.4

$330.1

5.9%

0.4%

$449.5

$378.2

H. Stewart Fitz Gibbon III president, CEO

9

First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Lorain 3721 Oberlin Ave., Lorain 44053 (440) 282-6188/www.fflorain.bank

$329.7

$332.3

-0.8%

0.3%

$425.8

$355.9

John R. Malanowski president, chairman

10

Geauga Savings Bank 10800 Kinsman Road, Newbury 44065 (440) 564-9441/www.geaugasavings.com

$220.0

$212.4

3.6%

0.2%

$367.6

$220.0

Jim Kleinfelter president, CEO

11

Hometown Bank 142 N. Water St., Kent 44240 (330) 673-9827/www.homesavingsbnk.com

$151.0

$140.3

7.6%

0.2%

$182.7

$151.0

Howard T. Boyle II president, CEO

12

CFBank 3009 Smith Road, Suite 100, Fairlawn 44333 (6) (330) 666-7979/www.cfbankonline.com

$120.2

$131.4

-8.5%

0.1%

$362.9

$299.8

Tim O'Dell CEO

13

Conneaut Savings Bank 305 Main St., Conneaut 44030 (440) 599-8121 /www.conneautsavings.com

$60.8

$62.8

-3.2%

0.1%

$77.8

$63.0

Jim Greenfield president, CEO

14

Home Federal Savings & Loan Association of Niles 55 N. Main St., Niles 44446 (330) 652-2539/www.homefedniles.com

$59.0

$59.6

-1.0%

0.1%

$97.1

$59.0

Lawrence Safarek president, CEO

15

Pioneer Savings Bank 6701 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 44102 (216) 961-0422/www.psb1922.com

$16.6

$13.7

21.2%

0.0%

$35.4

$16.6

Virginia C. Barsan president, CEO

16

First Federal Bank of Ohio 140 N. Columbus St., Galion 44833 (419) 468-1518/www.firstfederalbankofohio.com

$4.8

$5.1

-7.2%

0.0%

$234.5

$179.8

David B. Beach president, CEO

RESEARCHED BY CHUCK SODER Source for financial data: FDIC Summary of Deposits. Crain's Cleveland Business does not independently verify the information and there is no guarantee these listings are complete or accurate. We welcome all responses to our lists and will include omitted information or clarifications in coming issues. Individual lists and The Book of Lists are available to purchase at www.crainscleveland.com.

(1) Deposit information includes branches located in Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties. All other numerical data is institution-wide as of June 30, 2016. (2) Includes all financial institutions in the 15-county coverage area. (3) Headquarters is in Pittsburgh. (4) Headquarters is in Warren, Pa. (5) Northwest acquired LNB Bancorp Inc. in August 2015. (6) Headquarters moved to Columbus area in mid 2016.