Crain's Cleveland Business by Crain's Cleveland Business

NOTABLES IN LAW: A cross-section of area firms and approaches. PAGE 10

BREWERIES Ohio brewers look to reform in state franchise laws in wake of a recent report from the U.S. Treasury. PAGE 3

CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM I FEBRUARY 28, 2022

The case for a hydrogen hub in Ohio

BENESCH LANDS KEYS TO TOWER

BY KIM PALMER

A coalition of energy producers, industrial consumers, research institutions, elected officials and community leaders is assembling in support of pursuing federal funding to help build out a hydrogen-powered economy in Ohio. Ohio Clean Hydrogen Hub Alliance member Kirt Conrad argues that Ohio is uniquely positioned to become a leader in an emerging clean hydrogen economy resulting from a U.S. Department of Energy program dedicating up to $2 billion for each of four hydrogen hubs nationwide. Conrad, who also is CEO of the Stark-Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) believes that funding could jump-start the infrastructure needed to make low-carbon hydrogen an accessible energy source in the region.

Law firm inks lease, taking eight floors

See HYDROGEN on Page 24

Wanna bet?

Answers to 10 key questions about sports gambling in Ohio BY JOE SCALZO

Key Tower, the tallest building in Ohio, has landed a major office tenant. | COSTAR

BY MICHELLE JARBOE The Benesch law firm plans to move to eight floors at Key Tower, ending a quest for new office space that spanned the better part of a decade. Benesch will occupy 164,000 square feet at downtown’s tallest building. That’s a slight increase from the firm’s current footprint at nearby 200 Public Square. The Key Tower lease — the largest move in Cleveland’s central business district in years — is a coup for the Millennia Cos., which has made major investments since buying the Key Center complex in early 2017. The long-term deal with Benesch comes as law firm Squire Patton Boggs is preparing to pare its footprint in the tower. “We’re very excited about the move and the opportunity to have a brand-new, efficient workspace,” said Gregg Eisenberg, Benesch’s managing partner. See KEY TOWER on Page 25 



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“WE HAD A VISION, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY … CELEBRATING THE FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, LANDING ONE OF THE LARGEST LEASES IN RECENT HISTORY.” — Frank Sinito, Millennia CEO

LAND SCAPE

It’s been just over two months since Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 29, legalizing sports gambling in Ohio. Since then, it’s a safe bet that you’ve asked — or heard someone ask — this question: “So, when can I place a bet?” Adam Suliman can relate. The vice president of Sports & Digital Gaming for JACK Entertainment gets that question a lot — and not just from reporters. “My friends and neighbors certainly ask me frequently, but I’ve answered them enough that they’ve left me alone at least for this past weekend, but I’m sure I’ll be asked again See GAMBLING on Page 24

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Business

BREWERIES

Ohio brewers look to reform franchise laws BY JEREMY NOBILE

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK PHOTO

Saucy Brew Works is content with its current beer distributors, but it had to be liberated from some previous wholesalers before reaching this point. In most cases, getting out of a wholesale contract is anything but easy and creates a dynamic that holds back smaller brewers, suppliers say. “The only way out is a legal battle that takes months and possibly longer,” said Saucy CEO Brent Zimmerman. “Most do not even attempt that due to legal dollars involved and the ability of the distributors to stifle the brand. They can literally make or break a brand with no consequence. That’s not a good platform for doing business.” Reforming state laws to make it easier for alcohol manufacturers to get out of these distributor contracts is one of many ways the country could enhance competition in the beer industry and support suppliers, according to a first-of-its-kind report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury published in February. The report was produced as part of

the Biden administration’s push to promote competitiveness among various U.S. industries. It’s being celebrated by craft beer trade groups and criticized by wholesalers. The report takes aim at a variety of anti-competitive rules and regulations in the beer, wine and spirits sector that it suggests could be tweaked to the benefit of businesses and consumers. It calls for greater scrutiny of acquisitions by mega brands such as Anheuser-Busch InBev and an evaluation of trade practice rules by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, among other things. But one of the most important takeaways for Ohio brewers is a call to re-examine state-level franchise laws. In the Buckeye State, these laws provide the legal backbone for contracts between alcohol beverage suppliers and distributors. They are especially relevant to growth-minded breweries looking to garner more share of the estimated $94 billion U.S. beer market dominated by behemoths like AB InBev and Molson Coors Beverage Co. “This has been a point of contention for small brewers across the country in states governed by franchise laws where they have to enter contracts with wholesale distributors,” said Justin Hemminger, deputy director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Those contracts tend to be exclusive by territory and virtually unbreakable. We rarely see these things go to court because they are extremely expensive to litigate, and wholesalers have tremendous financial advantages over suppliers.” Great Lakes Brewing Co., the oldest craft brewery in Ohio, was sued in 2016 by Southern Glazer’s Distributors of Ohio when an acquisition by the latter triggered a clause allowing the former to terminate its wholesale contract. This is because certain M&A deals among wholesalers can provide an opportunity for sellers to renegotiate or vacate their contracts without having to demonstrate a “just cause” for doing so in court. Glazer’s argued Great Lakes Brewing didn’t have the right to break up with it. But the case was settled a year later, with

Charles Edwards, a canning line operator for Saucy Brew Works, assembles a pallet of beers. | CONTRIBUTED

Great Lakes Brewing cleared to move on. “If it takes that amount of time and expense for one of our largest breweries to enforce a cut-anddried part of a franchise contract, clearly the wholesalers have the resources to make litigation a non-option for smaller breweries,” Hemminger said. “If litigation is off the table, breweries have no recourse.” The first distributor the Saucy brand ditched was a startup that struggled to get its bearings. The other was more established but simply did an “absolutely awful job,” Zimmerman said. He declined to name names. In each case, Zimmerman said underwhelming performances from prior wholesalers hindered what has otherwise been aggressive growth for his 5-year-old company, which continues to expand across Ohio and push into additional markets. Saucy had its prior wholesaler contracts bought out each time. The craft brewery now partners with House of LaRose and Heidelberg Distributing Co. But Zimmerman winces when thinking about how difficult and expensive it may have otherwise been — or could possibly be in the future — to vacate those wholesale contracts through the courts. Court costs alone are enough to discourage most smaller beer suppliers from going that route, said Kevin Connell, a beer lawyer and co-founder of Ohio Beer Counsel. “This is literally the only business arrangement in my 20-plus-year career, in any industry I’ve been a part of, where if you don’t do a good job and meet targets etc., I can’t just fire you,” Zimmerman said. “During the pandemic, you could fire your whole sales staff and not replace them. But we are supposed to keep the same contract with the same distributor despite the fact they might not have the ability to sell our beer like they did two years ago. There’s just no accountability.” Ohio’s franchise laws were crafted in the mid-1970s, decades before the explosion of craft breweries. At the time, big beer companies

were pulling brands from wholesalers at their whims, Connell said. This proved detrimental for the distributors. So franchise laws were then put in place to make it harder for these companies to pull out of relationships with wholesalers. “There was thousands of small beer distributors in Ohio and a handful of breweries. Now, the script has literally flipped,” Connell said. “You have hundreds of small breweries and a handful of large distributors. So laws that were meant to protect distributors are now actively harming breweries.” Jacob Evans, a lobbyist with the

brand the attention they expect after a deal is inked. Connell says he hears about this regularly. Suppliers tend to be reticent to speak up publicly, though, lest they annoy a wholesaler they are still contracted with. But there could also be any number of factors at play as to why a supplier might see sales drop off in a given region covered by a distributor that goes beyond them simply not doing their job of promoting the brands they carry, Evans said. That may simply include the shifting preferences of an oft-fickle craft beer consumer. Regardless, Hemminger argues the

“ THERE WAS THOUSANDS OF SMALL BEER DISTRIBUTORS IN OHIO AND A HANDFUL OF BREWERIES. NOW, THE SCRIPT HAS LITERALLY FLIPPED. YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF SMALL BREWERIES AND A HANDFUL OF LARGE DISTRIBUTORS. SO LAWS THAT WERE MEANT TO PROTECT DISTRIBUTORS ARE NOW ACTIVELY HARMING BREWERIES.” — Kevin Connell, a beer lawyer and co-founder of Ohio Beer Counsel

Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio, argues there’s nothing wrong with state franchise laws today. More broadly, he said the Treasury report wholly “missed the mark.” Pointing to the size of the craft industry, Evans outright dismisses the notion that wholesalers are holding back smaller suppliers that he contends benefit greatly from distributors. There are nearly 400 craft breweries in Ohio, with dozens more in planning stages and more than 8,700 craft breweries in the country, according to the Brewers Association. “In Ohio in just the last 10 years, the number of breweries has quadrupled,” Evans said. “Explain to me how an industry can have that sort of growth and the argument is that regulations are holding them back. I just don’t think the facts align at all.” Brewers say there are many cases of a distributor not giving their

scales of power tip more in favor of distributors under Ohio laws, and this holds back the craft industry. To be sure, many of the distributors in Ohio today have grown quite large. Heidelberg Distributing, for example, which is based in the Dayton suburb of Moraine, was acquired by a private equity firm last fall in a deal beer industry reports have suggested is valued close to $1 billion. “By contrast, Ohio’s craft breweries are, by and large, very small businesses and nearly half of them are fewer than 5 years old,” Hemminger said. “Wholesalers have leveraged the advantages afforded them by the 1974 franchise law for decades to become a powerful force in the industry. By nature of their financial clout and protection under the law, wholesalers are able to operate without any real accountability to the independent breweries that rely on their services to grow in the market.” Jeremy Nobile: jnobile@crain.com, (216) 771-5362, @JeremyNobile

FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 3

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Today’s classroom increasingly sees learners setting their own goals to bring meaning into the educational experience. The University of Akron has created an interdisciplinary playground for students, faculty and community stakeholders alike, drawing on open-space teaching concepts as well as principles of “unlearning.” While the notion of unlearning sounds radical, applied in practice it simply means stripping away old ideas around teaching and implementing new approaches. Akron’s [EX]L Center for Experiential Learning is navigating students into this brave new world through its ever-growing “unclass” concept. Unveiled at Akron in fall 2016, unclasses are open to any student hungry for a hands-on learning environment. Learners enjoy small class sizes where they have a voice in projects and course design, often problem-centered examinations of real-world issues. “It takes away from the framework of what you’d expect in a class,” said [EX]L Center co-director Christin Seher. “There could be a barebones syllabus, and there is no set reading list. It’s counter to your traditional structured classroom.” Akron’s unclasses were developed as one-shot experiments for classrooms of any size. Since launch, the university has hosted 48 unclasses, with 525 students absorbing an array of eclectic topics — from zoology to candy-making — across the program’s history. Small classes let faculty and students craft curriculum in progress, starting with exploration of an idea or problem. Although Behrman some unclasses are more structured than others, student collaboration on content is a common thread woven throughout the experience. “We told faculty how much control belongs to the students as this unfolds,” said Carolyn Behrman,

professor of anthropology and a former [EX]L Center director. For example, the candy-making course could have a PR component integrated into the exploration of how food products come to market. Active recruitment of marketing students for the course emphasizes the flexibility of the larger unclass concept. The willingness of faculty to cede some control over coursework, meanwhile, illuminates the powerful impact unclasses can have on learners of all ages, Seher said. “There’s a commitment from faculty to the flexibility,” Seher said. “The draw for students is the real-world applicability, and the idea that you can creatively contribute to solving a problem. You’re not sitting in a classroom with the work you’re doing not going out into the world. It’s applied learning, and it’s also fun.”

An unusual learning experience Unclasses are taken for credit, much like any traditional lecture-based class. But instead of a syllabus with its usual slate of assignments, readings and tests, the unclass curriculum changes as students consider a topic from multiple angles. Chelsea Phares, a political science major with a minor in pre-law, recently took an unclass based on a 1938 public opinion survey on Akron’s pre-war growth. The course — “Life, Liberty and Property: Akron in 1938 and 2021” — encouraged learners to develop a comparable survey to determine changes within the community over the last eight decades. “Property rights have always intrigued me,” Phares said. “Our professor brought in community members who were experts in social sciences and the history of Akron, or knowledgeable about starting up a business. We learned why people moved to Akron in the first place, or why certain areas are epicenters for

business.” Though held entirely online, the course’s small size motivated Phares to participate in discussion alongside an eclectic group of fellow students. Even if the class doesn’t directly relate to Phares’ future career, she’s glad for the opportunity to tackle a complex topic from varied perspectives. “It was eye-opening for me to understand all of the reasons why people think in different ways,” Phares said. “That’s just a good life skill to have.” No two unclasses are alike, which is a vital aspect of their appeal, note the program’s creators. Standard assignments such as papers and portfolios are leavened with atypical activities including activism and community service. Students taking this spring’s “Menus and Manuscripts Unclass,” for instance, will produce a cookbook for sale at Akron’s Hower Mansion gift shop. Anecdotally, learners emerge from unclasses armed with ways they can assist their communities, or about disciplines outside of their comfortable bubbles. “The goal is to help students and community partners see themselves in this shared world differently,” Behrman said. “We’re also helping students shift toward ownership of their education, in the sense they should be designing the way they get knowledge more actively.” In the fall, the program will welcome additional non-student community members across every available course. For Akron enrollees, unclasses will continue to spark imaginations and sharpen critical problem-solving skills. “In the business world, you need that mindset of resilience and flexibility,” Behrman said. “These (unclasses) are a real intersection of that. What higher education wants for students is what the evolving business world wants, too. There is a genuine connection there, which is good for all of us.” Contact Douglas J. Guth: clbfreelancer@crain.com

4 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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MANUFACTURING

Advanced Polymer Coatings works to balance growth, culture BY RACHEL ABBEY MCCAFFERTY

mer has always been very much a family-run company. He watched his David Keehan sees a lot of similar- mother and father work hard and sacities between coaching a football rifice to make it a success, and he has employees with more than three deteam and running a business. And he knows a lot about both. cades of experience with it. All six of Keehan is president of Advanced the Keehan children have been inPolymer Coatings in Avon, and he volved with the company at one point was previously a state title-winning or another. And David Keehan said his high school football coach for St. Ed- mother and father created a culture of ward High School in Lakewood, as philanthropy at the company, which continues today. well as in Texas. As president, David Keehan said he Departments in a company are like different units on a football team, he wants to maintain that family-run culsaid, comparing a sales department to ture, but balance it with growth. There’s a culture of accountability at the offensive coordinator. Successful coaches have a process in place, and the company now, he said, much like they fill their people into that process. there is on a sports team. He wants to Even if they lose a “big-time” player, give employees autonomy to work in those teams can still succeed, he said. their way toward the company’s larger “And that’s how I look at our busi- goals. The best teams he coached were ness. We’ve got to be to that point also the easiest, David Keehan said, where we’re very process-driven. We because the students felt like they know what we want to achieve, and were accountable to each other. “From our standpoint, that’s what we stay focused on that, and we get the team around us to be able to step we’re trying to build within our organiup and fill those roles and push each zation, too, is being accountable to each other and understanding that the other,” Keehan said. Keehan is the second generation of decisions and the choices we make leadership at Advanced Polymer and the effort that we put in is going to Coatings. The company makes pro- affect not just us but everybody in the tective coatings for use in chemical company,” David Keehan said. Advanced Polymer Coatings is transportation in industries like marowned by members of the itime and rail. For example, Keehan family, including Advanced Polymer’s prodDavid Keehan and his paructs would coat the inside ents, and the company does of a steel tank and protect it not share annual revenue. It from corrosion. employs nearly 30 in Avon David Keehan is the son and another 45 people of the company’s founder, across the globe. Donald Keehan Sr. Donald In 2021, Advanced PolyKeehan Sr. is an entrepremer saw maritime sales neur, having started multigrow by 40%, with total ple companies in Avon after David Keehan sales reaching above that. moving to Northeast Ohio in the late 1960s. The coating business David Keehan prefers to stay under that became Advanced Polymer got its the radar of his big competitors and start in the rail industry, moving into said he tries to “stay humble” when the maritime industry in the mid-’90s. it comes to the company’s success. The company’s MarineLINE prodIt was “slow-going” at first, as maritime is a conservative industry ucts are designed to repel absorpthat wants to see results over time, tion. (On the rail and industrial side, Donald Keehan Sr. said. But some Advanced Polymer offers a similar changing requirements in the indus- line of products under the Chemtry around the turn of the century LINE name.) The polymer system developed by led to more ships being built, giving Advanced Polymer Coatings more Donald Keehan Sr. is “tightly crosslinked,” David Keehan said, noting chances to sell their products. The company, which David Kee- that it’s like the difference between han said took on its existing name in mosquito netting and chicken wire. “Virtually nothing gets into the 1997, established offices across the globe, from China to Turkey to En- coating,” he said. That gives the company an advangland, and sales started to grow. David Keehan first joined what tage in the marine industry, because it became Advanced Polymer Coat- makes it faster and easier to clean the ings in 1992, moving from place to tanks on which the coating is used. place — Portugal to Arkansas to Some competitors’ coatings allow Ohio to Texas — to learn different chemicals through, so tanks have to desorb any chemicals they’ve abaspects of the business firsthand. He moved back to Northeast Ohio sorbed before they can be used again. A news release noted that the comin 2008, staying with the family business through 2011. At that time, he pany’s MarineLINE products cut avertook on an advisory role with the com- age tank cleaning times by two days pany and started teaching entrepre- per trip compared with standard coatneurship at St. Edward High School. ings, letting customers use less fuel But near the end of 2017, his dad and cut carbon emissions. David Keehan said the company’s asked if he’d consider coming back to Advanced Polymer full time, this time growth is due to the benefits it can offer customers, but also to brand recas president. He said yes. Donald Keehan Sr. said he was ognition. The company has estabpleased to get to pass the leadership lished itself over time, and people of Advanced Polymer to his son, and now know it’s not a “novelty,” he said. everyone’s been “extremely happy” with the change. Rachel Abbey McCafferty: (216) David Keehan said Advanced Poly- 771-5379, rmccafferty@crain.com

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FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 5

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REAL ESTATE

Realife adds development to its portfolio pursuits BY STAN BULLARD

Realife Real Estate Group, the property company run by Yaron Kandelker with an office in Independence, has bought and sold millions of dollars of Northeast Ohio commercial real estate over the past three years. Now the company — which also operates an affiliated company in Israel, according to its website — is poised to start another phase in its real estate activities here: its own ground-up real estate developments. Moreover, it’s looking to do both urban and suburban developments in the same way its buying spree since late 2018 assembled a portfolio of apartment, office and retail buildings in Cleveland and the suburbs. Two projects have surfaced for locations in Cleveland, and a third is pending for potential consideration next month by the city of Westlake’s planning commission. The biggest, by far, is a seven-story

apartment building proposed for the southeast corner of Columbus Road and West 25th Street in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. Designed by Bialosky Cleveland, it would tower over the St. Wendelin Catholic Church and Stas Funeral Home landmarks just south of the West Side Market. Realife has yet to seek final approval from the Cleveland City Planning Commission for the 188-suite project, which has been on and off the agenda the past few months. However, Realife showed its seriousness on Jan. 20. That’s when, through RL Columbus Rd LLC, which is led by Kandelker, Realife shelled out $1.05 million for the roughly 2-acre site. The other project is a six-suite townhouse project at 9803 Lake Ave. near the Cleveland Metroparks’ Edgewater Beach, which received final approval from the planning commission in January. The complex incorporates an existing home that

would be renovated as two units and another four on the remainder of the site that sits between single-family homes and a century-old apartment building. The bulk of the project, which is designed by Horton Harper Architects of Cleveland, would consist of three-story townhouses. It has not yet broken ground. The third project is pending with the city of Westlake for potential inclusion on its March 7 city planning commission agenda. That 19-unit townhouse project, designed by LS Architects of Fairview Park, is proposed for the northwest corner of Hillsborough Path and Center Ridge Road. The townhouses would consist of three-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath suites and may be built as either two-story townhouses or single-story attached units. Realife, though a company led by Kandelker called Go Life Westlake LLC, paid $230,000 to Hillsborough Point LLC for the 4-acre parcel on

June 28, 2021, according to Cuyahoga County land records. A prior plan to develop 25 townhouses on the site under the prior ownership was dropped in 2018 after getting bitter opposition from residents of the adjoining Prestwick neighborhood. Why Realife is turning to its own real estate development projects essentially requires a review of real estate fundamentals. Robert Simons, chair of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, who teaches real estate finance classes, answered the question simply. “Higher returns. Why else?” Simons said. “They’ll get cap rates (a measure of real estate return on investments) that will make your mouth water.” Rich Moore, president of real estate investment fund Lionhead Capital Management LLC of Pepper Pike, said in an interview, “In real estate, development is where you find the visionaries. I’ve seen some be wildly suc-

cessful over the years. They see something on a site other people don’t see.” Accepting the risks of development, from getting something built properly to leasing it out, creates greater potential returns than buying properties with established track rates. “It’s a global and golden marketplace out there for real estate,” Moore said. “Everyone can analyze a real estate transaction. You or I can estimate the amount of return we might get on an established real estate project.” However, with a real estate development project, he said, a successful project might fetch a 5% return without debt or 15% if the developer uses the leverage of borrowed money. James Asimes, director of acquisitions for Realife and its spokesman the past three years, declined comment for this article. Stan Bullard: sbullard@crain.com, (216) 771-5228, @CrainRltywriter

GOVERNMENT

A new leader has big plans for the St. Clair Superior neighborhood BY KIM PALMER

During his job interview with the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, Jeremy Taylor made it clear to executive director — and now Cleveland City Councilwoman — Jenny Spencer that in five years he wanted her job, but he wanted to do it on the East Side. “Jeremy … was very transparent from the beginning that his goal was to learn from Detroit Shoreway and then to take those learnings back to his community,” Spencer said. In his six years, from 2014 to 2020, at one of the city’s most successful community development organizations, in the position of safety and community engagement coordinator, Taylor was always preparing to head back east. He got his wish in 2020, when the board of the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation (SCSDC) named him executive director in 2020. It was a homecoming for Tay- Taylor lor, who grew up on in Cleveland Heights and then moved to the Hough neighborhood, where his family has lived for the last 17 years. “I could not be happier for (him) that his vision has been realized and that he’s serving his community in this important capacity,” Spencer said. The move is a good fit for Taylor, who in 2020 bought his first house in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood and also serves as the first and current president of the Hough Community Land Trust. In addition, he’s a member of the boards of both Bike Cleveland and Neighborhood Solutions Inc. “My mom and dad bought a house on the East Side of the city years ago,” Taylor said. “It was inspirational for

me, because this was back when people weren’t looking to move into the East Side or even West Side of the city from the suburbs.” The SCSDC covers the area from E. 30th Street to Martin Luther King Boulevard, and everything north of Payne Ave. up to East 55th Street and then Superior Avenue. The community, according to Taylor, is the most diverse in the city, boasting a population that speaks as many as 23 languages and dialects. For those unfamiliar with the term, a community development corporation, or CDC, is a nonprofit, community-based organization funded in part by federal Block Grants and focused on revitalization, including housing and economic development in areas that have experienced significant disinvestment. To help with SCSDC’s growth, Taylor has overseen a five-year strategic plan and a redesign of the SCSDC logo and website with a new job and business board courtesy of a local firm, Jetpack Group. He plans to hire an assistant director for stakeholder and real estate development, a new position for the organization. “A key element of the strategic plan is the buildout of a program that supports existing and future businesses in the community through small grants or loan program,” Taylor said. “It is important to connect our business community, our residents, to the resources that are available to them.”

East vs. West

Although the distance between the Detroit Shoreway and the St. Clair Superior neighborhoods means a trip across the invisible line delineating Cleveland’s East and West sides, Taylor said he sees the two commu-

An aerial view of St. Clair Superior community is featured on the organization’s website. | ST. CLAIR SUPERIOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

nities as similar. “What’s fascinating is if you took a measuring tape from West 65th to Public Square and East 55th and St. Clair to a Public Square, you’re about the same distance, and looking at the lake you even get the same view,” Taylor said. “It’s got that same kind of flavor.” It is fair to say that the East Side has not benefited from the same level of growth as Detroit Shoreway. Taylor sees a lot of room for growth and added storefronts in St. Clair Superior, which has more than 600 businesses both large and small. St. Clair Superior is bordered by the burgeoning Midtown, Hough and Glenville neighborhoods, and it’s located between the Cleveland’s two largest employment centers: downtown and University Circle. Taylor said he’s determined to partner with those adjacent communities and be part of the rising tide of economic development.

Looking to the lake

The SCSDC last summer partnered with Metroparks and Bike Cleveland for an event promoting safe routes to the community’s greenspaces, including Gordon Park, which is part of the group’s lakefront.

“The lakefront is key to more development in the area,” Taylor said. “The excitement that comes with the development of the eastern lakefront and the protected pedestrian and bike infrastructure. Those are just incredible investments that are being made in our community.” Taylor said he believes Metroparks’ plan to redevelop the eastern lakefront’s inaccessible shoreline will help transform the entire community. Through a partnership that includes the Port of Cleveland and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, $2 million has been raised for the design part of the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Study (CHEERS) that eventually will create a protected shoreline, allowing visitors to safely access the water. Sean McDermott, Metroparks’ chief planning and design officer, said the long-range plan, which includes building 80 acres of parkland between the East 55th Street Marina and Gordon Park, represents “a modern and ecological approach to development … that provides a direct connection to neighborhoods that before really were not able to touch the water.” The lakefront project, along with

the $47 million Midway Protected Bikeway project that will create pedestrian- and bike-friendly connections from East 55th to Playhouse Square, is part of Metroparks’ goal of providing green space access to communities that previously lacked that connection. “We are better at understanding that green spaces are in themselves economic engines, and when they are well maintained, they lift up a neighborhood, a city, a region. That is why we are working so hard to connect all of these places for all ages and abilities,” McDermott said. SCSDC’s strategic plan also calls for creating a development plan and exploring the possibility of establishing a Special Improvement District along key corridors. Taylor plans to look to his board, which includes former Cleveland Mayor Mike White, retired City Architecture partner August Fluker and CHN Housing Partners’ Claire Billingsley, to help with those plans. “We are a small but mighty organization right now, with a new and exciting board with so much talent,” Taylor said. Kim Palmer: kpalmer@crain.com, (216) 771-5384, @kimfouroffive

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OK, who celebrates fifth? Bank of America does. For the fifth year in a row, Bank of America has shared the success of our company with our employees with a valuable Sharing Success compensation award. To recognize the team’s hard work, this award is over and above regular compensation. And this year, we’re proud to commemorate a first — nearly all these awards are in Bank of America stock.

That means 97% of our employees shared $1 billion worth of Bank of America stock this year, above regular compensation.

“I want to thank my teammates here in Cleveland for their continued hard work and dedication. While other banks might make awards like ours every once in a while, I’m proud to work for an organization that has rewarded our employees for five years in a row. Because success is better when it’s shared.” Jeneen Marziani President, Bank of America Cleveland

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PERSONAL VIEW

Tap into internal experts for leadership development

HYPERLOOP/CONTRIBUTED

BY RONALD MICKLER JR.

EDITORIAL

Back to basics T

he hype over the hyperloop, as least as a passenger-focused technology, is pretty much dead. And it offers some lessons about getting carried away with the possibilities of the new rather than improving what we already have. Virgin Hyperloop — one of the leading companies developing the technology, which in theory reduces the energy demands of high-speed trains by placing them in vacuum-sealed tubes where air resistance is minimal — recently laid off almost half its staff as the company switches its focus from transporting passengers to shifting freight. The Financial Times, which broke the story of more than 110 layoffs at Virgin Hyperloop, reported that current global supply chain issues and COVID are contributing to the change. But tech-focused website The Verge noted that Virgin Hyperloop, like many companies trying to bring the experimental technology to fruition, has “struggled with attracting funding and talent, and meeting deadlines.” The company in 2017 expected to see working hyperloops around the world by 2020. Then the target was 2021. We’re into 2022 and there are no working hyperloops anywhere in the world. None of this means the hyperloop is dead as a passenger concept. Other companies are working on the technology. But it’s not a great sign, at least in the near term. It wasn’t that long ago that local officials were talking up the potential benefits of the hyperloop for Northeast Ohio. In December 2019, for instance, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, NOACA, released preliminary findings from a $1.3 million feasibility analysis for a Cleveland-Chicago-Pittsburgh hyperloop route. The projection was that the line would boost local jobs, incomes, property values and economic activity while eliminating as much as 143 million tons of carbon-dioxide emissions. There was, though, plenty of reason to wonder if the technology was anywhere near ready for use in passenger settings. So far, the evidence is that it’s not. We’re not here to bury hyperloop, or feasibility studies about it, with hindsight. It’s useful, though, to think about the attention and resources that get lavished on something like

the hyperloop while existing systems — in this case, plain-old trains and public transit — receive much less attention. How might things be different for public transit systems, in Cleveland and elsewhere, if they attracted the level of interest in innovation that has been paid to hyperloop technology? Public transit has struggled through the pandemic. Ridership at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and other systems has continued to decline, as health concerns and the changing nature of work schedules have kept some people off the trains and buses they might normally use to get to their jobs. For RTA, a blast of traditional winter since mid-January has proved to be challenging to keep those trains and buses running on time. Seems like we need more feasibility studies about keeping transit efficient through the worst of winter. RTA and other systems are getting fresh help with federal money. We hope, and expect, there are opportunities for innovation in public transit that will help bring back some riders. The state of the world is perilous these days, and with it, gas and other prices are rising even more rapidly than they have in recent months. This is a good time for public transit to get its groove back.

Life well lived In late January, the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University announced it would award its 2022 Inamori Ethics Prize to Dr. Paul Farmer, a physician and medical anthropologist who dedicated his life to improving health care for the world’s people most in need. That award, sadly, will wind up being given posthumously, as Farmer died on Monday, Feb. 21, following an “acute cardiac event” on the grounds of a hospital and university he had helped establish in Butaro, Rwanda. He was just 62. Take some time to read about Farmer’s life and work. In a week when malign influences in the world took center stage to create chaos and destruction, it’s worth reflecting on the efforts of someone who was trying to make things better.

Executive Editor: Elizabeth McIntyre (emcintyre@crain.com) Managing Editor: Scott Suttell (ssuttell@crain.com) Contact Crain’s: 216-522-1383 Read Crain’s online: crainscleveland.com

Organizations in all sectors are faced with many challenges. Rapid changes in technology, diversity of the workforce, employee engagement, and leadership development have had a crippling effect among many profit and nonprofit institutions. While these challenges existed before COVID-19, in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing society, organizations not flexible enough to adapt and Mickler is overcome these challenges will have an executive uncertain future. Given the volatile director of MBA changes occurring in the workforce, the programs for the culture of the institution will be impact- Dauch College of Business and ed. Workforce stagnation impacts the Economics at ability to meet the challenges organiza- Ashland tions are facing. The onslaught of “The University. Great Resignation” has contributed to a demoralizing situation, where experienced employees have either been laid off, forced to resign or acquired a different opportunity. Those that are still employed operate in a mode of being overworked, or, doing just enough to be safe versus taking risks and doing things differently. As a result, customers are impacted and caught in the middle which compounds the already existing challenges of organizations. However, with these challenges come opportunities. Many organizations have an untapped resource of expert employees who can design, implement and provide feedback on innovative leadership development programs. With the appropriate communication and most importantly compensation, not only would relying on internal experts be more efficient in terms of cost, it would be more efficient in content delivery, feedback and tracking outcomes versus outsourcing these types of leadership development initiatives. Depending on the situation, there can be advantages to outsourcing leadership development initiatives. However, relying upon internal expert stakeholders can improve employee morale and lead to innovative and technological solutions. Human capital is the talent and skills internal stakeholders contribute to the organization’s health and potential for growth. Assessing human capital can be a complicated undertaking. However, analyzing employee contributions is necessary in the creation of leadership development opportunities that directly address the growing and accelerating challenges impacting organizations today. Organizations can tap into their diverse talent pools in order to grow. Leading experts among all levels of employees with a concentrated effort are not being used to the fullest extent in many organizations. Organizational leadership can create opportunities for these stakeholders to implement leadership development programs. These leadership development programs will help the organization’s stakeholders understand each other better, create effective team dynamics, and foster a systemic culture. This will ensure that teams formed maximize diversity, creativity and innovative ideas to overcome challenges and grow. The creation of these opportunities will fuel leadership development via internally designed dynamic leadership development programs. Organizational leadership teams must participate in the creation of dynamic leadership development programs. The internal creation of leadership development programs will

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 ClevEdit@crain.com. Please include your complete name and city from which you are writing, and a telephone number for fact-checking purposes.

See LEADERSHIP, on Page 9

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8 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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A turning point in our COVID response BY DR. APARNA BOLE AND DR. DAVID MARGOLIUS

Masks in schools are an emotional flashpoint in our COVID response. Due to Omicron’s contaAs primary care physicians, we have cared for adults, giousness, the availability of children and families in Cleveland who have experivaccines and relatively unrestricted enced serious illness and loss from COVID-19, and also adult activities, strict masking and those who have suffered from isolation, educational distancing in schools and child care loss, economic hardship, delayed medical care and desettings now offer diminishing increased physical activity. cremental benefit. Although some We’ve been concerned about persistent difficulties in local school districts are easing openly considering COVID mitigation strategies’ COVID restrictions, there is still sigtradeoffs. Even more, we worry about how our health nificant variability between dismessaging has become entangled with politics and tribtricts’ masking, distancing, testing alism. This has gotten in the way of COVID harm reducand quarantine practices. This wintion, and it has damaged public trust in science and ter, many schools unfortunately health institutions. doubled down on punitive apOur community is at a turning point in the pandemic. proaches to enforcing masking and Omicron cases are falling in Northeast Ohio, and vacdistancing, with kids facing discicines that confer sustained protection against severe plinary action for violations, and illness are available to everyone over the age of 5. We teachers and staff placed in the have masks with superior filtration and fit that protect Bole is an onerous position of policing. the wearer and effective COVID treatment options. associate We know that American children Some restrictions that once made sense have margin- professor of and teenagers are experiencing a al, if any, benefit today. We are seeing a trend toward pediatrics at mental health crisis. Without derolling these back, both regionally and nationally, Case Western bating the multifactorial reasons though mandates continue to vary geographically, often Reserve for this, in the extraordinarily traudriven more by political factors than local COVID trends University. matic context of a global pandemic, or evidence-based harm reduction. Our colleagues, pa- Margolius is an we should be able to agree on at tients and neighbors have been exhausted and trauma- associate least two things. First, kids experitized by the past two years, which surely has contributed professor of encing an outsize burden of guilt to challenges in communicating with nuance and com- medicine at and fear about their responsibility passion about COVID policies. Now is the time for us to MetroHealth in controlling the spread of the reflect, reframe and refocus our approach. and CWRU. pandemic has been unhelpful. SecAcross the country, we’ve observed an unfortunate pattern of prioritizing COVID mitigation measures that ond, we should prioritize returning children and youth are politically and practically easier to implement, over to unrestricted social, educational and recreational inthose that are most impactful in preventing severe out- teractions. Mandates that now have, at most, modest comes. This has contributed to the baffling and inequi- and diminishing benefits should be dropped. At the same time, we should focus our finite energy table reality that populations at relatively low risk (such as children in school and child care settings) have expe- and resources on protecting older adults and other atrienced disproportionately strict COVID restrictions, risk groups, including those with immune comproeven while adults are free to pack bars, restaurants and mise or other co-morbidities (including medically vulsporting events. All the while, focused protection for nerable children), emphasizing vaccine and booster vulnerable populations that would have the greatest ef- outreach to those groups. Those at higher risk or who wish to do so for any reason, in any setting, also can fect on saving lives often lacks deserved attention. wear high-quality masks. We en“COVID POLICY CONVERSATIONS ARE TOO FREQUENTLY courage individuals and families to discuss their COVID risks and conFRAMED AS A FALSE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN TAKING cerns, and any vaccine questions, with their primary care providers. COVID SERIOUSLY AND NOT DOING SO.” As a Greater Cleveland commuCOVID policy conversations are too frequently nity, we should deliberately move away from COVID framed as a false dichotomy between taking COVID se- mandates and messaging that favor absolutism, judgriously and not doing so. Those extremes do exist, but ment and moralizing. Health messaging grounded in there has always been plenty of room for good-faith compassion, nuance and humility builds public trust debate. We also continue to hear messaging that in our leaders and institutions. We can protect the vulequates adherence to public health recommendations nerable, while returning to defining health as more with being a good and caring person. This is unlikely to than an absence of COVID, but rather a state that inmotivate, through shame and judgment, those who are corporates physical, mental, social and spiritual already marginalized or mistrustful. In particular, be- well-being. This will be essential for our community to heal in cause masks are outwardly visible, they became highly the months and years ahead. symbolic of Taking COVID Seriously.

LEADERSHIP

From Page 8

not only improve stakeholder engagement, but also expose and capitalize on the diversity and talents embedded in the organization. Organizational leaders who do not have this focus are missing unique engagement opportunities. In lieu of focusing on the costs of compensating internal expert stakeholders with designing leadership development programs, the focus should be on the opportunity costs of not developing them. These internal leadership development programs will produce intrinsic and extrinsic benefits to the organization not currently experienced. Using the organization’s expert stakeholders is not only financially efficient in comparison to outsourcing, but also can lead to improved morale and engagement. The ability to recognize the human capital of internal

stakeholders will have a trickle-down effect on everyone involved with the organization. Done correctly, the creation of in-house dynamic leadership development programs will build team commitment, organizational pride and improved engagement, leading to organizational change, improved culture, retention of talent and fiscal benefits. Organizations are in a unique situation to grow and thrive. To do so, a self-directed examination among senior leadership and appreciation of internal expert stakeholders are required. Once this examination occurs, organizational change and successes not currently being experienced will result. Organizations have the tools needed to succeed and overcome the challenges and rapid changes in today’s environment. In order to grow and thrive, organizational leaders need to incorporate stakeholder self-assessment into the organization’s strategy and tap into the existing internal human capital for the creation of dynamic leadership development programs.

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CRAIN’S 2022

Our list of 37 notable attorneys represents a cross-section of area firms and approaches. They include partners, founding partners, managing partners and partners-in-charge. There are general counsels and legal directors. They are a collection of diverse, forward-thinking individuals whose belief in doing things the right way transcends their practices. One of the attorneys was called a local legend, another is driving a large firm’s efforts toward recognizing and appreciating the importance of diversity. The group includes veteran barristers and younger attorneys who represent up-and-coming generations. The level of collective community involvement shows the commitment these attorneys feel to Northeast Ohio. Those efforts include work for MetroHealth, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, SPACES in Ohio City, the Jesuit Retreat Center, the Akron Symphony and the Anti-Defamation League. In a time when the working world continues to adjust to and recover from the changes brought by COVID-19, the effort to help the community at large becomes more and more vital.

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK PHOTO

METHODOLOGY: The honorees do not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from the nomination materials submitted. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after a review by editors. To qualify for the list, nominees must be based in Northeast Ohio. They must be currently serving in a senior-level role (partner, shareholder, practice group chair, etc.) at a law firm with a staff size of at least 10. They also must have been practicing in the legal profession for a minimum of 10 years. They must be active in the community and/or philanthropic activities, mentoring programs and/or diversity and inclusion initiatives.

ANN-MARIE AHERN

BRENT D. BALLARD

JASON R. BRISTOL

DENISE A. CARKHUFF

Principal McCarthy Lebit Crystal & Liffman

Managing partner Calfee, Halter & Griswold

Partner Cohen Rosenthal & Kramer

Partner Jones Day

As Ann-Marie Ahern has risen at the McCarthy Lebit law firm over her 14 years there, she hasn't shied away from taking on responsibilities. Ahern in 2015 became the first woman elected strategic partner and executive board member in the firm’s more than 60year history. Assuming that level of leadership added duties, and Ahern oversees marketing and human resources functions across the firm. The legal work she does at McCarthy Lebit runs the gamut from “representing employees in complex whistleblower cases” to “standing with women at the forefront of the #MeToo sexual harassment awareness movement,” according to the nomination. In 2014, Ahern was recognized by the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association as a “Woman in Law Making a Difference.” Ahern's selection recognized her involvement in establishing McCarthy Lebit's Women’s Professional Committee and Women’s Initiative program, aimed at helping the firm's female lawyers advance professionally. Last fall, Ahern was inducted into the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Hall of Fame. For more than 10 years, she was a trustee for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, and she currently serves on the executive committee of the C|M Law Board of Visitors and chairs the career placement work group. She also is on the board of trustees for Saint Joseph Academy in Cleveland. — Scott Suttell

For almost 20 years, Brent D. Ballard has been the steady hand at the helm of Calfee, Halter & Griswold. Under his stewardship, the Cleveland-based law firm has grown from two offices in Ohio to six offices across three states and Washington, D.C., serving clients across the U.S. and in Canada, Europe and Asia. His legacy as managing partner “includes leading Calfee through the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic while preserving the firm's unique culture based on mutual trust and respect for the firm's members, its clients and community partners,” according to the nomination. Ballard, who joined Calfee in 1985 and was elected managing partner in 2004, has advocated for diversifying the legal profession and actively works to “leverage his contacts in legal and business circles to provide resources and support for diversity and inclusion goals,” his nominator wrote. Outside of his day-to-day roles at Calfee, Ballard serves on various boards, including the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Playhouse Square Foundation, University Circle Inc. and, since 2004, for Bluecoats, a charitable organization contributing significant financial and education assistance to families of local first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty. — Elizabeth McIntyre

The nomination form for Jason R. Bristol, who leads the labor and employment practice at Cleveland’s Cohen Rosenthal & Kramer, sums up his job succinctly: He represents underdogs. Since becoming a partner at the firm in 2004, he “has dedicated his career to workers’ rights, civil rights, and consumer rights,” according to the nomination. Bristol and his co-counsel have achieved class settlements and judgments “in excess of $100 million.” The Bowling Green State University and Cleveland-Marshall College of Law graduate has “represented people ranging from farmworkers and shop floor employees to C-suite executives,” the nomination said. That in turn is a reflection of his life and values. “As a member of the LGBTQ community, Jason has an important lens on social equity,” the nomination said. “He brings an important diversity perspective to the Cleveland bar.” And not only there. As chairman of its board from 2012 to 2018, Bristol and his team led Near West Theatre’s successful capital campaign to build a new home in the Gordon Square Arts District. He and his husband shepherded through the first LGBT Historic Marker on West 29th Street, and for several years he has played Santa for kids at the May Dugan Center. No wonder Law & Politics magazine dubbed him a “Super Lawyer.” — John Kappes

Dealmaker. Counselor. Role model. Entrepreneur. Denise Carkhuff has performed a number of roles in a career spanning more than 25 years — and has done them all well. Professionally, Carkhuff is among the few women private equity lawyers who have led hundreds of transactions with billions of dollars in accumulative deal value. She helped organize and lead Women in Transactions, a networking group for women active in the deal transaction process. She also is a co-founder and leader of RRAIN (Recruitment, Retention, Advancement in Networking), Jones Day’s women’s group in its Cleveland office. Carkhuff is on the board of the Achievement Centers for Children, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower children and adults with disabilities, and First Tee, a youth development organization introducing golf and its values to kids and teens. She has also served on the board of Friends of Breakthrough Schools and is the founder of Adrenaline Monkey, an adventure sports center in Warrensville Heights. "Mentorship and paying it forward has been an important part of Denise’s success," said Dave Petrou, senior manager, global public relations, at Jones Day. "She thrives on helping others have the same opportunities she was given and sharing the lessons she’s learned along the way." — Joe Scalzo

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DAVID CROFT

DEAN DEPIERO

DURIYA DHINOJWALA

STEVEN DIMENGO

Partner Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis

Of counsel; law director; assistant law director; prosecutor McDonald Hopkins; city of Aurora; city of Broadview Heights; village of Linndale

Partner Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Managing partner Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs

Vice Vory

Duriya Dhinojwala’s passion for legal justice and commitment to the betterment of the community led her to help establish a pro bono committee at Brennan, Manna & Diamond. An attorney specializing in immigration, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights — representing clients in federal and state courts and in mediation and arbitration proceedings — she uses that expertise as a volunteer attorney working with Community Legal Aid. Dhinojwala, who was honored as one of the 2020 Crain’s Women of Note, serves as a board member of the nonprofit aid organization addressing the legal needs of low-income individuals and families in central Northeast Ohio and helps lead an annual Neighborhood Law Clinic that provides direct legal help to Akron-area low-income residents. Whether representing her corporate, higher education, governmental or individual clients, “she passionately pursues our mission of transforming lives through justice, exemplifies our values in her daily life, and strives to make our community a more equitable place,” colleague Maria Duvuvuei wrote in her nomination. Dhinojwala received the 2021 Elam Pro Bono Attorney Award from the Ohio State Bar Foundation, for time and talent dedicated to pro bono causes. — Kim Palmer

Attorney Steven Dimengo doesn’t just run one of the largest business law firms in the region — he’s been growing it. Not even COVID slowed down Dimengo’s expansion of the firm, and, in the past few years, he's added 44 attorneys and staff to a stable that was already full of thoroughbreds. An Akron native, Dimengo is a top-rated tax lawyer and litigator who has successfully represented clients before the Ohio Tax Commissioner, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court — helping to shape the state’s tax laws in the process. He’s been consistently named one of the best lawyers in Ohio for 20 years and has also been recognized as one of the best in the nation on more than one occasion. Dimengo is also devoted to not only his firm — he sends a motivational message to his staff every morning — but to his profession and his community. Dimengo serves as an adjunct professor in the University of Akron’s Master of Taxation Program, focusing on state and local tax laws. He’s also a trustee for the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce Chair's Circle and a member of the board of trustees for United Way of Summit and Medina. — Dan Shingler

F tion H

David Croft’s background as a general counsel and chief operating officer gives him a unique perspective on business law and helps him to better understand his clients in fields as diverse as software development, medical marijuana and plastics manufacturing. As a partner at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis in Cleveland, Croft helps businesses and entrepreneurs launch new businesses, buy or sell businesses, review investment opportunities and more. Of note, he assists companies in identifying competitive advantages and then protecting the intellectual property behind them. Croft is also chair of the firm’s blockchain and cryptocurrency practice group, representing clients in areas related to those topics, like commercialization and mining. The nomination called Croft “a diligent and thoughtful partner,” noting that he had worked with the nominator’s company. He is also “a “champion for others,” it said, highlighting his involvement in organizations like the Ohio State and Cleveland Metropolitan bar associations. “As we have worked with him and come to know him more, we have come to appreciate his generous spirit and heart,” the nomination said. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

Among the projects Dean DePiero helped shepherd through the political landscape in his nine years as law director of Aurora was the effort to rezone the Geauga Lake area via a ballot initiative that led to the former amusement park’s redevelopment. DePiero also has negotiated a favorable Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) agreement with Bainbridge Township so the area of Geauga Lake in Bainbridge also could be developed. He helped launch a Land Acquisition Program that allowed Aurora to preserve more than 200 acres of green space, and sold select lots to fund the program. And he challenged FirstEnergy’s Aurora transmission line project, securing a favorable settlement. DePiero has more than 25 years experience in law. He founded DePiero Law and is of counsel with McDonald Hopkins. He has been a member of the Ohio House, was the Democratic House leader, and was a councilman and mayor of Parma. DePiero “navigates the tensions that inevitably occur between the legislative and executive branches of government,” his nomination said. “He understands the political dynamics of the relationship and serves the city incredibly well.” — Pat McManamon

Congratulations to all of the Crain’s Cleveland 2022 Notables in Law.

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We take particular pride in recognizing our partners:

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JARED OAKES

MICHAEL SNYDER

MICHAEL STOVSKY

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JONATHAN TODD

Thank you for your outstanding contributions to the firm and to the legal industry in Northeast Ohio.

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From the Vorys office in Cleveland, Bryan Falk co-leads the firm's national finance practice. He also serves as vice managing partner for Vorys in Cleveland. With a focus on real estate and finance, Falk joined the Columbus-based law firm a decade ago, after stretches at McDonald Hopkins and Squire Patton Boggs. “Bryan has helped to grow our Cleveland office through the recruiting of strategic new hires and mentoring younger attorneys,” wrote Anthony O'Malley, managing partner of the Vorys Cleveland office, in nominating Falk for recognition. Outside of work, Falk sits on the board of directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, an agency that serves children and adults with disabilities. He's a member of a slew of organizations, including the Association for Corporate Growth, the Secured Finance Network, the International Council of Shopping Centers and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. Falk studied economics and political science at Miami University before obtaining his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. “Owners and CFOs seek out Bryan for his broad and deep experience and reputation as an effective legal project manager and problem solver,” O'Malley wrote. “His team approach leads to efficient and successful outcomes for clients.” — Michelle Jarboe

IAN FRIEDMAN Founding partner Friedman & Nemecek Every criminal defendant in Ohio since summer 2010 has been impacted by Ian Friedman even without him representing them. Friedman is a renowned and celebrated defense lawyer who regularly takes up cases pro bono. He teaches a course on cybercrime at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and helped champion diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the local legal community as president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association during a 2019-20 term. Embracing his role as a teacher, Friedman also started and hosts the CMBA’s annual New Lawyer Boot Camp. However, one of his greatest contributions to the legal community came over a decade ago. While serving as president of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Friedman established himself as a driving force behind the drafting of a revised Criminal Rule 16, or what’s more commonly known as the “open discovery” rule in relation to criminal cases. This rule requires that accused individuals in Ohio be provided all evidence intended to be introduced against them by the government during a trial. Put into effect by the Ohio Supreme Court in July 2010, the rule effectively altered how criminal law is practiced in the Buckeye State to the benefit of the accused. — Jeremy Nobile

FRANK GALLUCCI III Principal Plevin & Gallucci With some support from his friend and mentor Leon Plevin, Frank Gallucci III took over and grew his father’s solo practice into one of the Buckeye State’s largest plaintiff firms. But his greatest contribution to the legal community has been his work securing recompense for Northeast Ohio counties devastated by opioid distributors. Gallucci was co-lead counsel for Cuyahoga County, which together with Summit County sued in a high-profile case settled in 2019 that resulted in more than $325 million for those governments, averting what would have been the nation’s first federal opioid trial. That result also played a role in the massive $26 billion national settlement. Additionally, Gallucci represented Lake and Trumbull counties in the nation’s first jury trial holding pharmacies responsible for their role in the opioid crisis — a bellwether case that resulted in the first national verdict in opioid litigation. This work helped position Gallucci as a lead lawyer in the drafting of OneOhio, the first agreement of its kind in the United States that designed the allocation model for communities to access funding from these opioid settlements. To date, the plaintiff legal team in which Gallucci played a critical role helped secure more than $1 billion in settlement money for communities across Ohio. — Jeremy Nobile

NOMINATIONS OPEN DEADLINE: MARCH 7

crainscleveland.com/nominations

Back to learning new things.

tri-c.edu/startnow 22-0108

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DOLORES GARCIA

ROBERT HAGER

MATTHEW HEINLE

KATE HICKNER

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President Brennan, Manna & Diamond

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In her work at Ulmer & Berne, Dolores “Lola” Garcia has represented organizations as varied as national financial service providers, local real estate developers and health care facilities. She has expertise in compliance and government investigation defense cases, and has extensive experience with litigation regulating business conduct and competition. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Garcia joined the firm in in 2017 after working as an associate at Jones Day and as an assistant U.S. attorney. Garcia was named an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2019. In 2020, she was named to AmMore Consulting’s list of “100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know.” Her community work is extensive. She serves on the board of directors of SPACES, a nonprofit, artist-driven gallery in Ohio City, and has served as a board member for the Near West Family Network, an organization committed to providing resources and recreation for families choosing city life. She also served multiple terms on the board of Ohio City Inc. As part of her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, Garcia serves on DEI committees for Ulmer and for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. — Pat McManamon

A construction attorney, Robert Hager specializes in complicated business disputes — from class-action claims to fights involving sewer systems, landfills and condominiums. Since 2019, he's been a member of the executive committee at Brennan, Manna & Diamond, an Akron-based law firm with offices in four states. Hager joined the firm more than 12 years ago, on the heels of two decades at Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. He studied political science at John Carroll University before obtaining his law degree from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. In 2017, he was recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the John Carroll Alumni Association, which noted Hager's professional achievements and his devotion to both faith and family. The following year, he was honored by the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma for the way he has integrated Ignatian spirituality into his life. In addition to leading BMD's design and construction practice, Hager is a trained mediator and arbitrator. “Over the course of Bob's successful career as a commercial litigator, his experience and commitment to excellence have provided our clients with outstanding client service and winning results,” wrote Jennifer Shankleton, BMD's marketing director, in suggesting Hager for inclusion on this list. — Michelle Jarboe

As the president and a founding member of Brennan, Manna & Diamond, Matthew Heinle is responsible for the strategy and overall management of an Akron-based firm that has nine offices in four states. Heinle has been with BMD for more than two decades and has a health care practice that spans 25 years. He advises clients in joint ventures and other partnering models, mergers and acquisitions, real estate ventures, contract negotiations and other matters. He also represents a variety of nonprofits, startups and manufacturing companies. Heinle’s clients describe him as a problem-solver and strategic thinker who can “simplify the complex” and shares “their sense of urgency,” the nomination said. He recently represented Olympic Steel in a pair of significant deals: the national metals service center’s acquisition of a Georgia company and a $58.4 million sale of its Detroit assets and operations. According to the nomination, many clients have named Heinle their general counsel and asked him to oversee all of their legal affairs. The nomination added that he’s “a trusted adviser to entrepreneurs, senior executives and boards of directors.” — Kevin Kleps

In the ever-changing health care landscape, made even more complex during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate Hickner strives to help her clients succeed. As a member of Brennan, Manna & Diamond’s national health law practice, Hickner has served as lead attorney on significant health care transactional matters, including acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. Her clients include physician groups, hospitals, large health systems, retail and compounding pharmacies, accountable care organizations, home health agencies, hospices, nursing homes, ambulatory surgery centers, medical device companies and businesses that provide practice management and related services to health care providers, according to her nomination. “She is passionate about expanding access to quality health care while improving the efficiency of care delivery,” her nominator wrote. “That passion translates into Kate’s work serving clients in nearly all areas of health care law.” An avid bike rider who competes in charity bike events like VeloSano, which benefits cancer research at the Cleveland Clinic, Hickner is also active in professional groups and as a board member for the McGregor Foundation. She recently rolled off as board chair for the Care Alliance Health Center. — Elizabeth McIntyre

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OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALE LAWYERS HAS INCREASED SLOWLY. IT STOOD AT 33% IN 2011 AND GREW TO 37% IN 2021. — American Bar Association

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Congratulations to our partner,

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for this well-deserved recognition of his Notable career in law and decades of leadership in our community.

Here for you. Here for life. Even the smallest choice has the power to significantly

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change your life. Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, is committed to innovation. Its nationally recognized SmartPaTHTM approach to service delivery is a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. Learn more at ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

www.ncafinancial.com 6095 Parkland Blvd., Suite 210 Mayfield Hts., Ohio 44124 (440) 473-1115 NCA Financial Planners, LLC is now Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC. Investment advisory services offered through Sequoia Financial Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. www.sequoia-financial.com Securities offered through Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (RAA), Member FINRA/SIPC. RAA is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of RAA. RAA does not provide tax or legal advice. Sequoia Financial Group is not affiliated with RAA. 6095 Parkland Blvd., Suite 210, Mayfield Hts., OH 44124. Phone: 440-473-1115 www.ncafinancial.com

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KENNETH B. LIFFMAN

BARBARA LUM

Managing partner Gertsburg Licata

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Partner Benesch

With his keen understanding of domestic and international business law, Louis J. Licata is known as someone who gets deals done. Moreover, during his four-decade career, Licata has brought an innovative touch to the practice of law. According to the nomination, Licata started one of the first internet law practices in the United States. Also, back in 1998, he implemented a paperless office initiative in his firm — a rarity, at the time, in terms of management practices. A civic force in Greater Cleveland, Licata served on the board of directors of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce, and as chair of the Council of Smaller Enterprises, or COSE, the regional small-business advocacy group. Notably, he also served on the global board of directors for Entrepreneurs’ Organization — a global network of 14,000 business owners in 45 countries, according to the nomination. While there, he served as the chief adviser to three different chairmen. In recent years, Licata has played an important role connecting the Northeast Ohio business community with China. Also, in 2021, Licata’s firm, Licata Law Group, and Gertsburg Law Firm merged to form Gertsburg Licata. — Timothy Magaw

Kenneth Liffman has built a sterling reputation in the legal community with an approach centered on connecting disparate parties in ways that would move a transaction forward. Liffman joined the only firm he’s worked for in 1979, and his practice has grown to include the complete buffet of corporate/business transactions. Liffman was managing principal of McCarthy Lebit Crystal & Liffman for more than 20 years. In 2021, the National Law Journal named Liffman a Real Estate & Construction Law Trailblazer, one of only five honorees in the Solo/Small Firm category. His extensive community work includes being on the board for InMotion, a nonprofit that helps people manage their Parkinson’s disease. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, and is a longtime member of the board of directors for the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, where he serves as chair of the Holocaust Memory Survivor Project. Liffman also did work for former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner earlier in his career. He quipped to Crain’s in 2019 that “even when I was doing everything right, I was getting fired three times per week!” — Pat McManamon

EDITOR’S NOTE: Barbara Lum began a new position at Collins Aerospace the week of Feb. 21. A powerhouse attorney, Barbara Lum has represented numerous Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 clients in commercial disputes, including business tort cases, breach of contract cases and multimillion-dollar supply chain disputes. She’s also a trailblazer at Benesch. For one, Lum serves as the firm’s first woman Asian-American partner. Always an advocate for diversity efforts in the legal field, she cochairs Benesch’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee — a panel that helped craft a multiyear strategic plan that, among its many facets, supports the hiring, promotion and retention of diverse and female attorneys and staff, according to the nomination. “She continues to be an important voice for practicing law during the pandemic,” the nomination said. Outside Benesch, Lum is involved in local and national bar associations. Notably, Lum brought new energy to the venerable Asian American Bar Association, which had been dormant, according to the nomination. She’s also served on the board of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, which serves 50,000 Asian-Pacific American legal professionals and students. — Timothy Magaw

LOUIS MCMAHON Partner McMahon DeGulis Louis McMahon’s background in history has come in handy as the McMahon DeGulis partner has worked to make water law easily understandable. McMahon, according to the nomination, “is the preeminent lawyer in Northeast Ohio for negotiating complex regulatory compliance under the Clean Water Act.” Such a specialty, the nomination added, requires an attorney who is a skilled listener and open to all ideas. McMahon has been involved in several notable local cases, including Lakewood’s integrated wet-weather improvement plan (the first of its kind in the state) and the extended dispute in which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was forced to fully dredge the Cleveland harbor and Cuyahoga River shipping channel. The attorney’s practice, the nomination said, has improved Lake Erie’s water quality “as much as any other lawyer in Ohio.” McMahon has served as counsel for a variety of local municipalities, as well as Cleveland Metroparks, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. The longtime Lakewood resident is a former chair of the city’s planning commission. McMahon also is active with the Ohio Stormwater Association and the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. — Kevin Kleps

I mentor Y.O.U. youth “because having the opportunity to connect with young students has been one of my favorite aspects as an employer. I show them a glimpse of my world and hopefully help them decide a path to take (or not take) with their career. As a woman & a small business owner, I think it's important to show young kids anything is possible with hard work, commitment, and having the right support system!”

DONALD H. MESSINGER Partner Thompson Hine The guiding belief that drives Donald H. Messinger’s work in corporate law came from his mentor, attorney James A. Weeks, who told Messinger: “Learn more about your clients’ businesses and their industries than they know themselves.” In his career at Thompson Hine — he’s been at the firm since 1968 and a partner since 1976 — Messinger has orchestrated mergers and acquisitions, public offerings of securities and finance matters. He has been a member of the firm’s executive committee and served as partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office. In Messinger’s early days at the firm, he became a trusted resource about the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which greatly impacted nonprofit organizations. This knowledge led to Messinger’s longtime involvement with charitable organizations throughout Northeast Ohio on a pro bono basis. Among those efforts: He volunteered at Legal Aid in his first year at Thompson Hine and has supported it since. He founded and held board positions at Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU), which connects business professionals in Cleveland and Akron with nonprofit boards. He helped establish the United Way of Greater Cleveland and was a volunteer legal counsel for the Gateway Economic Development Corp. In 2021, Messinger was named one of Cleveland Jewish News’ 18 difference makers. — Pat McManamon

Melissa Khoury Summer Jobs Program Employer Owner and Operator of Saucisson Butcher Shop Invest today in Northeast Ohio’s future workforce • youthopportunities.org FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 15

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Congratulations to Adrian Thompson on being honored as a Crain’s 2022 Notables in Law.

Adrian D. Thompson Co-Partner-in-Charge, Cleveland Taft Chief Diversity Ofﬁcer

JEFF MILLER

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Managing partner, Cleveland Brennan, Manna & Diamond

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You might imagine that when a law firm with a major presence in a midsized city such as Akron has an office in a larger city like Cleveland, they assign one of their best attorneys to run it. Akron’s Brennan, Manna & Diamond firm certainly did, which is why Cleveland has the services of Jeff Miller. A graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Miller has a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. He brings a strong background in labor employment law and a wealth of litigation experience to the market and chairs his firm’s labor and employment practice. A hands-on managing partner, Miller provides specialized counsel to companies, individuals, and financial and investment firms, ranging from employment and non-compete agreements to complex arbitrations. He’s also got the skills of a veteran litigator experienced with high-stakes litigation in both state and federal courts. It's not all negotiations and billable hours, though. Miller also wants his clients to know how to handle matters on their own. He’s a co-developer of BMD Gateway, which provides solutions-based training and cost-effective compliance systems to small to midsized businesses. — Dan Shingler

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M. ELIZABETH MONIHAN

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Partner Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell

Taftlaw.com

NOMINATIONS

OPEN

DEADLINE: MARCH 14 | crainscleveland.com/nominate

Hahn Loeser congratulates

CRAIG OWEN WHITE

Secr Roe

M. Elizabeth Monihan, partner of trusts and estates at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell, is a trailblazer. She was the first female president of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland in 1994. Plus, Monihan was on the forefront of legal issues surrounding assisted reproductive technologies, according to her nomination form. She’s become a noted author and presenter on related legal topics. In addition to her many accomplishments in the legal world, Monihan serves on the Foundation Board for the Union Club and sits on the development committee for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Ultimately, though, she believes her biggest contribution to the community is by mentoring. “Through mentorship she helps young attorneys build their skill, gain confidence in their career, and accelerate their personal and professional development as a lawyer,” nominator Judith Bodenhamer wrote. “She recognizes that mentoring strong and talented attorneys creates a lasting impact on our community and the world.” — Amy Morona

APPROXIMATELY 70% OF LAW FIRM LEADERS WERE WHITE MEN IN 2020. — American Bar Association

He is an innovator within our firm, an influential member of our community, and a mentor to his colleagues. Congratulations to Craig and all of the 2022 Notables in Law honorees!

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Since joining Walter | Haverfield as a partner in 2016, T. Ted Motheral has grown his book of business 10-fold, to an annual tally that tops $3 million. Motheral has also climbed the ranks to co-chair of the Cleveland-based law firm’s business services group. The group of a dozen-plus attorneys assists large corporations with a wide range of business needs. Motheral, according to the nomination, “prides himself on his long-term relationships with clients,” as well as the high-profile transactions he helps to facilitate. “He is a trusted colleague and mentor who is keenly focused on the success of those he leads and the clients the team serves,” the nomination said. Best Lawyers recently recognized Motheral’s work in mergers and acquisitions. And for five consecutive years, Ohio Super Lawyers selected him to its Rising Stars list in M&A and corporate M&A. Motheral is an active board member of the local chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, and he’s passionate about his involvement with Promise Partners, a Cleveland organization that empowers members to achieve their goal of business ownership. The attorney, the nomination said, also is a proud father, husband and youth flag football coach. — Kevin Kleps

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N OTA B L E S I N L AW JARED OAKES Partner and vice chair Benesch Jared Oakes conquered Everest. OK, not the mountain. But Oakes, partner and vice chair of Benesch’s real estate and environmental practice group, is one of the youngest participants in the company’s Everest program. It’s “a competitive, invite-only program comprised of Benesch’s top performing attorneys and is based on high standards related to revenues received,” nominator Julie Gurney wrote. Oakes received an award there for most successful team-based business development success. There’s a lot of success to celebrate, too. He was involved in more than $3.5 billion in commercial real estate transactions in the retail, multifamily, health care and industrial/manufacturing sectors. “In his legal practice, Jared is a zealous advocate, but he is more notably a highly pragmatic and collaborative deal maker,” Gurney said. “This makes transactions go more smoothly and has garnered him enormous respect both from clients and opposing counsel.” Active in the community, he sits on the board of CHN Partner Services as well as the advancement subcommittee of the Lake Ridge Academy board. He’s also a member of the Cleveland Bridge Builders class of 2010. — Amy Morona

CONGRATULATIONS, STEVE DIMENGO MANAGING PARTNER

BUCKINGHAM, DOOLITTLE & BURROUGHS, LLC

a passionate and driven leader with the unique ability to guide, motivate and inspire those around him

ALBERT SALVATORE Secretary-treasurer and shareholder Roetzel Andress

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It would be easy to point to the mega-deals and complex legal maneuvers Albert Salvatore has handled over his lengthy career, but according to the nomination, his integrity is his defining quality as an attorney. “He has always been an advocate for his clients and consistently puts them first,” his nominator wrote. “His level of integrity is beyond reproach.” For over 35 years — 20 of which are at Roetzel — Salvatore’s business and tax expertise has set him apart from his peers. He’s advised firms of all sizes, from entrepreneurial startups to high-growth private firms and publicly traded giants. That work includes navigating, often without costly litigation, countless clashes between shareholders, corporate directors and C-suite executives, according to the nomination. Salvatore is also a staunch advocate for the use of advisory boards — basically, groups of diverse business professionals that can be tapped by executives for business advice. In fact, he serves on many advisory boards himself for smaller startups, according to the nomination. Salvatore is also active in the community, volunteering his time on boards and committees for organizations like Cleveland Clinic, the Singing Angels and Benedictine High School. — Timothy Magaw

RICHIK SARKAR Partner Dinsmore & Shohl Richik Sarkar is a problem-solver — in the courtroom, boardroom and community. At Dinsmore & Shohl, Sarkar directs commercial, consumer and cybersecurity litigation and strategy for clients of all sizes. In the community, he’s a champion for diverse leadership and business and economic development. According to the nomination, he uses his experience “to broaden access to economic opportunities and executive leadership by supporting innovation, reducing barriers to entry, and building strong institutions and communities.” “One of my passions is promoting diversity in the business world,” Sarkar is quoted as saying in the nomination. “I help company boards diversify their membership and guide companies toward a better understanding of diversity issues. Then I give them the tools to address those things.” Sarkar is a member of the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Commission on Economic Inclusion and serves on the American Bar Association’s diversity and inclusion committee. He is also active in The 50 Club and serves on the board of directors for the Union Club of Cleveland. “Richik’s diverse background brings a unique perspective, as he quickly identifies business and vision gaps and develops and implements creative solutions to ensure success,” the nomination said. — Timothy Magaw

bdblaw.com

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EMPLOYERS IN OHIO 2022

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CONGRATULATIONS T. Ted Motheral

Chair, Walter | Haverfield Business Services Group Crain’s Notables in Law 2022 Honoree

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Congratulations! As a Crain’s 2022 Notables In Law, we are honored to call you our accomplished Partner and friend.

M. ELIZABETH

MONIHAN Partner

sssb-law.com CRAIN’S THOUGHT LEADER FORUM FOCUS: Logistics and supply chain solutions PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: March 21 | CONTACT: conner.howard@crain.com

JEANA SINGLETON

JAM

General counsel and member Brennan, Manna & Diamond

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Jeana Singleton has a national health care law practice that focuses on state and regulatory compliance, public health initiatives, corporate law and business strategy. She was named general counsel at Brennan, Manna & Diamond in 2019 and has been a member of the firm’s executive committee since 2017. Her career at the Akron-based firm spans more than 16 years. Singleton’s clients include a variety of health care providers and organizations, including physicians and advanced practice providers. Her extensive experience, according to the nomination, helps “clients navigate complex legal issues” that “impact their business performance.” Singleton serves as general counsel for the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses. In 2021, she was honored as the association’s Advocate of the Year, marking the second time she received the award. She regularly presents on a wide variety of topics that includes compliance, employment contracts and regulatory issues. Singleton is a co-chair of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’s executive leadership committee. The organization, part of the American Cancer Society, helps fund breakthrough research. She’s also a member of the Akron Symphony Orchestra’s board of trustees and a Goodwill Industries of Akron board member. — Kevin Kleps

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Some people run from complex legal work. It appears Michael Snyder gravitates toward it. Snyder, for example, has served as lead trial counsel for several manufacturers in complex product liability cases around the country, according to the nomination. He’s represented large utilities in connection with natural gas and pipeline explosions. Snyder has also represented companies and large utilities in complex land, easement and pipeline-related matters. In one case involving a biomedical firm, Snyder’s client, after a three-week trial, received the largest intellectual property verdict in the United States that year, the nomination said. According to the nomination, Snyder is “concerned about all parties in a deal” and negotiates with “professionalism and respect.” Snyder is also active in the community, serving as a stake leader in his church — a designation that makes him responsible for more than 3,000 members in Northern Ohio, according to the nomination. Also, for many years, he’s served as a board member for the Greater Cleveland Council of the Boy Scouts of America. — Timothy Magaw

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JAMES STIEF Member, board of directors McDonald Hopkins

Committed to excellence. Congratulations to Dolores (Lola) Garcia for being named to Crain’s Cleveland Business 2022 Notables in Law list. Lola is a committed client advocate, a trusted leader, and a true role model in the legal profession. Her dedication to her work and her community inspires us every day. ®

Our business begins with you.

CLEVELAND

CINCINNATI

CHICAGO

COLUMBUS

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James Stief talks often about how he models his management style on the communication style of his large family. That includes openly discussing problem-solving opportunities when things go wrong and, perhaps most important, complimenting colleagues when things go well, according to the nomination. That sort of culture has resulted in the business department he chairs experiencing 40% growth over the last four years. According to the nomination, Stief has “built a culture that encourages attorneys to create their own environment, be entrepreneurial and grow their practices individually and in teams.” “The attorneys who work under Jim love the transparency within the culture he has developed,” the nomination said. Stief also remains active in the community, particularly as an advocate for disabled adults. According to the nomination, Stief has served on the board of directors for Deepwood Industries, an organization that offers workshops and other services for individuals with mental and physical disabilities. “His passion for his work in this area stems from his love for his brother, who is developmentally disabled,” the nomination said. “As an attorney, Jim has been in a unique position to help Deepwood continue to provide important services to the community while navigating an increasingly complicated regulatory landscape.” — Timothy Magaw

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JAMES STONE Principal Jackson Lewis Pragmatic, persuasive and effective — that’s how the nomination describes James Stone, a veteran management-side labor lawyer in Greater Cleveland. Stone is the co-founder, along with his long-term colleague Jeff Keiper, of the Cleveland office of Jackson Lewis, the second-largest labor law firm in the country. He served as the Cleveland office’s managing partner from 2006 until 2020. Since 2019, Stone has co-chaired Jackson Lewis’ national manufacturing industry group. For more than 30 years, Stone has represented a wide range of national and international companies and even consulted on international labor matters in Canada and Mexico. A defining characteristic in his practice, according to the nomination, is his ability to focus on clients’ end goals and largely “avoiding unnecessary posturing.” Stone is active in a number of organizations locally, especially those focused on the arts. He’s served on boards for the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. He’s also supported organizations like the Beck Center for the Arts, Karamu House, Near West Theatre and others. “He has come to believe that development and promotion of the area’s arts and culture are essential to Cleveland’s resurgence,” the nomination said. — Timothy Magaw

CONGRATULATIONS AL SALVATORE!

Roetzel & Andress congratulates shareholder Al Salvatore for his selection as one of Crain’s Cleveland Business Notable in Law for 2022. Both in business and in his community endeavors, Al is a natural leader who invests in the success of his clients and colleagues. Congratulations to Al and all of the other 2022 honorees!

MICHAEL STOVSKY Partner Benesch Given his deep understanding and expertise in intellectual property law and technology transactions, Michael Stovsky’s clients routinely say that he adds value to every deal, according to the nomination. That expertise stems from three decades of experience representing technology companies of all sizes — from startups to Fortune 50 companies and national venture capital firms. At Benesch, he leads the firm’s innovations, information technology and intellectual property group. Of note, he represented one of the largest manufacturers in the United States in connection with a $65 million outsourcing transaction that involved operations throughout the world. “He is intellectually curious and cares deeply about his clients' success,” the nomination said. Stovsky’s commitment to Greater Cleveland runs deep, as evidenced by the number of boards on which he’s served over the years. Currently, he serves on the boards of the Anti-Defamation League (Ohio region) and the Friendship Circle of Cleveland. Previously, he served on the boards for Providence House, the Beachwood Schools Foundation, DigitalC and The Music Settlement. Stovsky is also active with a number of initiatives at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. — Timothy Magaw

ADRIAN THOMPSON Co-partner-in-charge, chief diversity officer Taft Stettinius & Hollister Adrian Thompson became the second partner of color at his firm in 2005. A few years later, he was named Taft Stettinius & Hollister’s first firm-wide chief diversity officer, a duty he still holds. Thompson believes that diversity of background and thought strengthens a business, and he said clients want diversity. He has led firm-wide implicit bias training, organized a diversity and inclusion committee, and contributed to making D&I part of the firm’s strategic direction. “You have to be intentional,” Thompson said, pointing out that D&I is now one of the “key points in our strategic plan.” In 2020 and 2021, Taft earned the prestigious Mansfield Certification, demonstrating the firm’s commitment to staffing client matters with racial, gender and ethnic considerations in mind. Thompson grew up in Willard, Ohio, where his grandparents moved during the Great Migration to work for the railroad. His aunt was married to comedian and civil right activist Dick Gregory. With support from the railroad, Christopher Smith, his grandfather, in 1921 built, founded and was first pastor of the First Baptist Church on Elizabeth Street, a church that remains open. — Pat McManamon

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PROMOTE YOUR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM TO FUTURE STUDENTS & EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATION DEADLINE: March 28 | CONTACT: conner.howard@crain.com

Congratulations to our partner, David Croft, on being recognized as a Notable in Law 2022 by Crain’s Cleveland Business. We applaud him for his exceptional contributions to business law, particularly in the areas of blockchain & cryptocurrency and cybersecurity. Well-done, David!

meyers roman Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis A Legal Professional Association

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FEBRUARY 28, 2022 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 19

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Congratulations Ken & Ann-Marie!

Kenneth B. Liffman

Ann-Marie Ahern

Practice Areas: • Real Estate & Construction • Mergers & Acquisitions • Business & Corporate • Banking & Finance

Practice Areas: • Employment • Litigation • Alternative Dispute Resolution

Chairman of the Board kbl@mccarthylebit.com

Principal ama@mccarthylebit.com

Crain’s has honored them on their “Notables In Law” list. It always pays to work with leaders. And when you’re working with Ken, Ann-Marie or any of their exceptional colleagues, you’re working with an amazing group of dedicated attorneys. Get more from your law firm. 216-696-1422. McCarthyLebit.com

JONATHAN TODD

Partner Benesch

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As an expert in supply chain management, Jonathan Todd’s work has been even more impactful during the pandemic. Todd, a partner at Cleveland-based Benesch, represents manufacturers, distributors, retailers, carriers, brokers and freight forwarders. Prior to joining one of Northeast Ohio’s largest firms, Todd served as senior corporate counsel for a global transportation and logistics provider. “His combination of background, experience and influence in areas of supply chain management are as unique as they are valuable to clients in this environment,” the nomination said. Todd’s work is widely published in industry trade journals, and he often is asked to present as a thought leader at national conferences. In 2021, he was recognized as a Pro to Know by Supply & Demand Chain Executive magazine. Todd is a board member of the Northern Ohio District Export Council, a member of the Executive Order of the Ohio Commodores and a voting member of the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee. The Benesch partner, according to the nomination, “understands that stakes are high because supply chains are more than operational performance. They are key to competitive advantage and enterprise value.” — Kevin Kleps

THE MEDIAN AGE FOR LAWYERS IN 2020 WAS 47.1 YEARS OLD, WHICH MEANS HALF ARE YOUNGER AND HALF ARE OLDER. — American Bar Association No aspect of this accolade has been reviewed or approved by the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct.

CALFEE PROUDLY RECOGNIZES Notables in Law 2022 | Brent D. Ballard, Managing Partner Our heartfelt congratulations to Brent Ballard for his dedication and ongoing commitment to Calfee clients and colleagues. • Calfee Managing Partner for nearly 20 years • Legal advisor to Calfee’s privately held business clients • In-house counsel to the management teams and multi-generational family owners of many of Calfee’s privately held business clients We’re better because of Brent’s continued focus on strategic growth and dedication to attracting the best legal talent available.

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Cleveland | Cincinnati | Columbus Indianapolis | New York | Washington, D.C. ©2022 Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. All Rights Reserved. 1405 East Sixth Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44114. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING MATERIAL.

20 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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TRACEY TURNBULL

AMANDA WAESCH

Partner-in-charge, Cleveland Porter Wright Morris & Arthur

Vice president Brennan, Manna & Diamond

Tracey Turnbull used a tried-and-true analogy when describing her approach to the law. Quoted on her nomination form, Turnbull said: “The practice of law is not a sprint; it is a marathon. This applies to learning how to run a case and developing business. You have to do things over and over and eventually you will see positive results.” Turnbull has been with Porter Wright’s Cleveland office for 25 years, working in commercial and employment litigation. She also chairs the firm’s class action practice, and is partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office. Her work includes taking commercial disputes and employment cases to jury trials in state and federal courts. She has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers, including in its Top 25 Women in Cleveland and Top 50 Women in Ohio in 2020. Turnbull served as chair of the Justice for All Committee and the Women in Law Committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, and was a district trustee for the Ohio Women’s Bar Association and a participant in its Mentoring Circle program. She was honored for these efforts as part of CMBA’s “Women in Law Making a Difference.” — Pat McManamon

As the lead of Brennan, Manna & Diamond’s national legal health care practice, Amanda Waesch counseled clients throughout arguably one of the most incredibly trying and difficult times that industry has ever been through — the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work as chair of the Akron-based law firm's litigation team means she is responsible for advising employers, including hospitals and physicians. She also co-chairs the firm’s annual Healthcare Leadership and Innovation Summit. Waesch, who is committed to helping develop younger talent, serves as a marketing and business development partner as well as co-hosts a Women in Business Breakfast. Waesch was promoted to her current position as vice president in 2020, serves as a member of the executive committee and helped create BMD Gateway, a cloud-based learning and risk management product for the firm. Outside Brennan, Manna & Diamond, she was a founder of the Akros Network, a consulting group made up of companies specializing in highrisk workplace issues, including security and safety measures; ethics and fraud reporting; human resources compliance; employment law training; and crisis communications. Recently, she was awarded a 2022 Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law citation and is a 2019 recipient of the Lenny Schwartz Go-Getter Award from the National Society of Certified Healthcare Business Consultants. — Kim Palmer

CRAIG OWEN WHITE Partner-in-charge, Cleveland Hahn Loeser & Parks Through his varied work, Craig Owen White helps companies carry out business strategies. He’s on the board of a local cheesemaker. He’s a mentor to younger lawyers. And he also helps advise the U.S. Trade Representative on policies in Africa. White is partner-in-charge of Hahn Loeser & Parks’ Cleveland office. “He meticulously guides established and growth-oriented companies through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, enterprise governance, financing and licensing issues in the United States and abroad,” the nomination said. White helps companies structure and carry out business strategies, as well as represents them in transactions like asset and stock sales, joint ventures, and cooperative research and development agreements. And his clients benefit from his corporate counselor experience, like his involvement on the board of directors of Great Lakes Cheese in Hiram. White is also concluding his second term on the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, where he’s currently chair. The committee advises the U.S Trade Representative on trade policies with sub-Saharan African countries. He recently concluded service as a trustee and vice chair of the International Senior Lawyers Project, which offers pro bono legal services globally. He received the project’s Global Impact Volunteer Award in 2021 for “going above and beyond the call of duty, dedicating his time, care and attention,” the nomination said. And he was recently named one of Savoy Magazine’s 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

ANDREW ZASHIN Co-managing partner Zashin & Rich Outside of a few years at Brown University, Andrew Zashin has spent his whole life in Browns Town — and he has his father to thank. The Pepper Pike native is a third-generation lawyer, one who took his father’s advice of “going to the city where you want to practice” by heading home to earn his law degree at Case Western Reserve University. He’s spent 29 years at Zashin & Rich, specializing in family law — and excelling at it. He has represented clients at every level of state and federal court, including the United States Supreme Court. He also has published numerous academic, trade and lay articles regarding family law; has appeared as a legal commentator and analyst for outlets such as The “Today” Show, The New York Times, CNN, NPR and MSNBC; and serves as an adjunct professor at CWRU's School of Law, which he does pro bono. Chambers and Partners, the world's most prestigious global legal ranking resource, called Zashin “lightning in a bottle,” ranking him in “Band 1” in Family/Matrimonial law. “If you have a challenging case, he is a delight to have on the matter,” Chambers and Partners said. “He is extremely creative and brilliant.” — Joe Scalzo

IN 2011, LAWYERS OF COLOR WERE 11.7% OF THE PROFESSION. A DECADE LATER, IN 2021, THEY REPRESENTED 14.6% OF THE PROFESSION – AN INCREASE OF ALMOST THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS. — American Bar Association

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CRAIN'S LIST | LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC GIFTS OF 2021 Ranked by gift amount RANK

RECIPIENT

DONOR (CONNECTION TO RECIPIENT)

AMOUNT

DATE

WHAT THIS GIFT WILL SUPPORT

DEVELOPMENT CONTACT FOR RECIPIENT

THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation (Longtime supporter and partner)

$50,000,000

Sept. 2021 Endowment support, new humanities festival, capital investment in digital programming

Jane Hargraft 216-231-7520

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

Edward F. Crawford

$28,000,000

Oct. 2021

Construction of new building and endowment for the College of Business and Entrepreneurship

Valoree Vargo 330-672-2222

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL

Susan and Bill Oberndorf Foundation (Alumnus and director - Bill Oberndorf )

$25,000,000

June 2021

The Jarvis Scholars program

Jonathan Bridge 216-831-2209

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Joel L. Roth (Alumnus)

$21,700,000

May 2021

The Roth Institute for Leadership Development Program/ Roth Scholars

Emma Gallo 216-368-4470

5 6

DIGITALC

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation

$18,000,000

July 2021

Organizational development/capacity to scale; services to help Cleveland residents use broadband network

—

STARK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Fred F. Silk Charitable Foundation

$16,688,152

Sept. 2021 Endowment fund to support the donor’s charitable passions

Bridgette Neisel 330-454-7992

SUMMA HEALTH

Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams (Retired chief of the Division of General Surgery and medical director of breast health services - Gary Williams)

$15,000,000

July 2021

To support to the overall mission of Summa Health

Phylis Ferrara 234-312-5888

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$11,230,000

April 2021

Research, innovation and education

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

The Brentwood Foundation

$11,000,000

July 2021

South Pointe Brentwood Center of Excellence; Physician Diversity Scholars Program

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

10 10

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

Robert and Jan Archer (Trustee - Robert Archer)

$10,000,000 1 April 2021

Scholarships

—

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

Anonymous (Alumni)

$10,000,000

Sept. 2021 Professorships and fellowships at the School of Medicine and the Case School of Engineering

Emma Gallo 216-368-4470

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$10,000,000

Dec. 2021

Cleveland Clinic Children's

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$10,000,000

May 2021

Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

The Podiatry Foundation

$10,000,000

Sept. 2021 Scholarships, research and continuing medical education programs within College of Podiatric Medicine

UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

Monte and Usha Ahuja

$10,000,000

May 2021

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

The Howley Foundation

$9,458,851

Sept. 2021 ASPIRE Nursing Scholars Program

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

17 18

CLEVELAND FOUNDATION

The Alexander McAfee Trust

$9,006,619

Aug. 2021

—

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Jones Day/Jones Day Foundation

$8,000,000

Sept. 2021 Jones Day Community Health Worker Pilot

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$7,000,000

Oct. 2021

Cardiovascular genetics

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$7,000,000

Oct. 2021

Cardiovascular genetics

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Anonymous

$6,500,000

April 2021

Endowment

Shelly Brown 330-543-8900

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$6,000,000

May 2021

Taussig Cancer Institute

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Anonymous

$6,000,000

May 2021

Taussig Cancer Institute

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

22 25

CLEVELAND FOUNDATION

Warren F. Davis Trust

$6,000,000

Aug. 2021

Named fund to support various 501(c)(3) organizations and/or fields of interest

—

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

The Charles L. Shor Foundation

$5,500,000

Feb. 2021

Epilepsy research and education

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

Peter C. Carman

$5,410,000

Oct. 2021

In-kind gift to support global education

Valoree Vargo 330-672-2222

CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION

Charles L. Shor Trust

$5,400,000

Dec. 2021

Epilepsy research and education

Lara Kalafatis 216-445-8695

Valoree Vargo 330-672-2222

UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Ahuja Center for Women & Sherri Bishop Children 216-983-2200

Donor advised fund

Research by Chuck Soder (csoder@crain.com) | Donations to religious organizations are not included. Includes commitments that have not yet been paid. Information is from gift recipients, philanthropic organizations and Crain's research.

NOTES: 1. Exceeds $10 million.

Download 143 gifts over $1.5 million in Excel or PDF format. Become a Data Member: CrainsCleveland.com/data 22 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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DATA SCOOP

Local nonprofits rake in big donations Gifts over $1.5 million

Local nonprofits received a ton of large donations in 2021 — even when you exclude the massive haul brought in by the Cleveland Clinic. The Crain’s list ranking the largest philanthropic gifts of 2021 includes 143 gifts, each worth at least $1.5 million in the full digital version — which nearly doubles last year’s total and exceeds the 2019 figure by 57%. Those donations were worth $634.6 million in total, even more than the $608 million total from 2019, when the Cleveland Clinic received the biggest gift it ever received: a $262 million gift from the Lord Foundation of Ohio. This year’s increase was driven in part — but not in whole — by a huge fundraising year at the Clinic. The hospital system has 47 gifts on the list, up from 10 last year and 22 the year before. In 2021, it closed out the “The Power of Every One” centennial campaign, which brought in nearly $2.6 billion from donors large and small over 10 years. But even when you remove donations brought in by the Clinic, the number of gifts was still up 50% yearover-year, and total gift value was up 73.4%. Several organizations received the biggest gifts they’d ever received in 2021. Three of those record-setting gifts make up the top three gifts on

Local nonprofits received far more large gifts in 2021 than in recent years. 150 Number of gifts over $1.5M

BY CHUCK SODER

120 90 60

2017

2018

2019

NOTE: PAST TOTALS ARE NOT ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION. SOURCE: GIFT RECIPIENTS, DONORS AND CRAIN’S RESEARCH

the list. In the No. 1 spot is the Cleveland Orchestra’s $50 million grant from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. Next is a $28 million gift to the Kent State University Foundation from Edward Crawford, former chairman and CEO of Park-Ohio Holdings. At No. 3 is a $25 million gift to University School from the Susan and Bill Oberndorf Foundation. The Oberndorfs, who manage investments through holding companies, live in San Francisco; Bill is a University School graduate. We can’t say for sure why local nonprofits received so many big gifts last year, but charitable giving nationally rose an average of 2.9% per year between 1980 and 2020 — and in 2020, it rose by 5.1%, according to the Giving USA 2021 report produced

2020

2021

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS GRAPHIC

by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Giving USA Foundation. As for 2021, the rising stock market likely helped drive up the number of large gifts, said Kaye Ridolfi, senior vice president for advancement at the Cleveland Foundation (which, as usual, has several gifts on the list and appears in both the donor and recipient columns). At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic has increased the need for generosity. Many donors want to fill that need, Ridolfi said. “It’s the general sense that now’s the time to be philanthropic,” she said. Chuck Soder: csoder@crain.com, (216) 771-5374, @ChuckSoder

THE WEEK ADDITIONAL GAMES: The Cleveland Cavaliers are betting an on-site sportsbook will add to the fan experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers announced Thursday, Feb. 24, that they have reached a multiyear partnership with Caesars Entertainment Inc., making Caesars an official sports betting partner and the official casino partner of the team. The partnership includes plans to open a 10,355-square-foot retail sportsbook inside the northwest atrium area of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The sportsbook will have betting windows for cash wagering and will be open year-round. The venue will include a full-service bar and VIP lounge. All costs will be covered by the Cavaliers and Caesars. GOING STAG: A warehouse fully occupied as a national distribution center for Coca-Cola at 8295 Batavia Road in Macedonia has been purchased by STAG Industrial Inc., a Boston-based real estate investment trust, for $12.9 million, according to Summit County land records. The seller of the warehouse, through Hammonton Square LLC, was NFI Industries Inc., of Camden, New Jersey. NFI is a logistics, warehousing and real estate development company that is privately held. The building dates from 2003. STAG is a massive real estate operator and owner, with a portfolio of more than 500 buildings in 40 states with about 100 million rentable square feet. It focuses on owning properties that are net-leased to

operations that also maintain them. LIVING LARGE: The owners of Barrette Outdoor Living Inc. are considering an initial public offering that could value the business at more than $1 billion, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Canadian private equity firm TorQuest Partners and pension fund Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec have held preliminary talks with advisers about taking Barrette public this year. A final decision on pursuing an IPO hasn’t been made and the firms could decide to keep the Middleburg Heights-based business. Barrette makes and sells products including vinyl, aluminum and steel fences and railings, as well as composite decking, according to its website. HEALTHY MOVES: Woodside Health, an Independence-headquartered private equity firm with substantial medical office building experience, has sold five such buildings for a total of $75 million. Two properties in Middleburg Heights, with three buildings, are part of the deal. They are the Southwest General Middleburg Medical Center, at 18780 E. Bagley Road, and Middleburg Medical Arts I & II, at 18660 E. Bagley Road. The other two properties are Rome Towers in Gilbert, Arkansas, and Dominion Crossing in San Antonio, Texas. The portfolio Woodside shed contains about 280,000 square feet of medical office space. Woodside characterized the sale as its largest since the firm’s 2008 founding.

A Historic Gift for Music in Northeast Ohio With heartfelt gratitude, The Cleveland Orchestra salutes the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation for their transformational $50 million grant, which will usher in a new era of classical music in Cleveland and around the world.

Learn more about the Mandel Foundation’s impact by scanning this QR code.

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HYDROGEN

From Page 1

“This is where the world is going, and I fundamentally believe that this is the way we also have to go,” he said. “Hydrogen is going to be an industry as big as the light bulb, and I don’t want to see Ohio lose out.” The regional hubs are part of the Biden administration’s plans to invest a total of $8 billion in the DOE’s “hydrogen earth shot,” which has an end goal of driving the cost of clean hydrogen to $1 per kilogram in a decade. The hydrogen hub alliance was created in partnership with the Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence and has more than 70 partners representing both hydrogen energy producers and end users. It will act as a public-facing group in anticipation of the DOE’s request for proposals — referred to as a “funding opportunity announcement,” or FOA — expected sometime before Eck May 15. The competition for the funding promises to be fierce, Conrad said. “It is going to take a multitude of partners to make this happen and respond to the FOA in a way that influences this process to look favorably upon Ohio,” he said. Budish Conrad’s push for the hydrogen hub is a natural offshoot of his work with SARTA, which under his leadership, and with 21 vehicles, operates one of the nation’s largest fleets of hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses. But it is the state’s manufacturing and transportation sectors, coupled with its natural gas resources, that makes the strongest argument for a hydrogen-based economy in Ohio, advocates say. “Ohio has it all. It is uniquely positioned to secure the hydrogen hub opportunity,” said Jim Eck, vice president of Dominion Energy Ohio, which along with SARTA, the Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence

GAMBLING

From Page 1

this weekend,” Suliman said, laughing. “I try to explain to them that this is gambling, and it needs to be regulated, and there are rules that have to be put in place, and this is something that this state has never done before, so we have to do it the right way. “I think when you put it like that, folks understand. Nobody wants an industry to go out there and not do well, so getting it set up the right way is absolutely what we need for any gambling product.” To that end, this article will answer 10 common questions about sports gambling in Ohio, with help from Suliman; Matthew Schuler, the executive director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission; and Eric Ramsey, an analyst for the PlayUSA.com network, which includes PlayOhio. com. 1. So, when can I place a bet? No later than Jan. 1, 2023, but probably not sooner. When DeWine signed the bill on Dec. 22, there was hope that the rules and regulations could be in place in time for, say, football season or the

and Cleveland State University formed the hydrogen hub alliance in January. About 95% of the hydrogen produced in the country is created using natural gas. With 30 to 50 years of potential stores of natural gas and existing infrastructure, Dominion plans initially to deliver a mixture of hydrogen gas and natural gas to consumers as early as 2030. Using natural gas as a feeder in a process referred to as “blue hydrogen” is one of the four methods of producing hydrogen and is earmarked as the technology for one of the four hubs. The other three are “gray hydrogen,” which produces hydrogen also using natural gas; “pink hydrogen,” which produces electricity from nuclear power; and “green hydrogen,” which uses renewable energy, including solar and wind. Dominion has set ambitious carbon reduction goals. It includes clean hydrogen, along with increased solar capacity, as one of the ways the company plans to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide and methane emissions from power generation and gas infrastructure operations by 2050. “In order to get all the way to net-zero carbon emissions, innovation will have to be at the forefront,” Eck said. “We need to embrace change and take an ‘all-the-above’ energy solution.” Eck said the company already has begun testing natural gas hydrogen mix delivery for residential consumers at Dominion’s technical training center in Boston Heights. Dubbed “Hydrogen Heights” by Eck, the facility has a model home used to test out how the mixture interacts with household appliance. “We have to do our due diligence,” he said. The plan is to begin with a 5% hydrogen mix, with the natural gas eventually bringing that mix up to a possible 20% blend — a process common in other countries. After initial tests, Eck said the facility will continWorld Series, but that’s not likely, Schuler said. “As soon as they passed the bill, folks were like, ‘Why can’t we game?’” Schuler said, laughing. “The Jan. 1, 2023, start date was done by the General Assembly in a very specific way. They had consulted with us and walked through the statutory process, so it was a very deliberate date. It wasn’t just picking a convenient date and letting the commission drift into it. We walked through kind of a best-case scenario of what kind of time would be needed to meet the statutory requirements, and they set the date.” The bill actually passed Ohio’s General Assembly on Dec. 8. Had it passed sometime later, the start date would have been 12 months later, Schuler said. 2. Where will I be able to place a bet? Lots and lots of places, with Ohio state Sen. Kirk Schuring calling it the “most comprehensive sports gaming law in the U.S.” The bill allows for 25 Class A licenses, which are for mobile and online operators; 40 Class B licenses for brick-and-mortar locations such as sportsbooks; and 20 Class C licenses, which are for self-service kiosks like the lottery ter-

From

A Dominion Ohio technician checks a water heater in a pilot hydrogen and natural gas mix test. | DOMINION ENERGY

ue to be used to educate anyone interested in hydrogen as a versatile energy source. “That is one of the reasons we, and so many others, are excited about it, because it has the potential to power every single sector of our economy,” Eck said. Federal funding for a hub means an infusion of public and private investment that is needed to connect regional markets to hydrogen generation. “Clean hydrogen is now an integral component of any long-term energy strategy, and this will help take the technologies that we have currently available and overcome the obstacles that are out there to get this technology out and into the world,” said Andy Thomas, director of the Midwest Hydrogen Center of Excellence,

as well as the director of energy policy at Cleveland State. “Ten years ago, the two big issues were making hydrogen cheaply and making hydrogen fuel cells durable. Those problems have been solved, for the most part,” Thomas said. “What hasn’t been solved is how to make it carbon-free and how to get it in a place where people could access it readily.” Cuyahoga County, another partner in the hydrogen hub alliance, is preparing to add hydrogen as an energy source feeding into the new county utility developed to power a series of proposed microgrids. “Hydrogen could help power the microgrid, and the companies attached to it would benefit from the clean energy,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish.

The microgrid, a highly efficient and redundant power source that operates with minimal downtime, plays a role in the county reaching its 2050 sustainability goals. Budish said that the county’s industrial and manufacturing facilities, including the steel sector, would benefit from another energy source for high-energy consumption processes. “It fits everything we are trying to do here,” Budish said. “It is all about the future of Cuyahoga County in attracting jobs and business and making this a thriving, safe and health community, and to suggest this is not what we are supposed to be doing is shortsighted.”

minals you see in bars. “It’s probably the best set of sports betting policies in the country,” Ramsey said. “Ohio is on a really, really firm foundation.”

they’re placing.”

is an industry that’s going to be around for decades, so it’s important to get it right.”

3. What will I be able to bet on? Lots and lots of sports. The NFL and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament are the two big ones, but Ohio will allow bets on everything from pro sports to college sports to the Olympics to esports. “What we’re seeing in the United States and other countries around the world who have experienced this long before us is that sports betting is not as seasonal as it once was,” Suliman said. “The amount of wagering that has taken place on the NBA this past season has rivaled the NFL. And a big part of that is the product offering that is available now versus 10 years (ago) in the United States. In a mobile and online environment, it’s very easy to show customers what’s available. We have statistics that explain the market that they’re betting on. “So if you’re talking about tennis, for example, not a lot of folks would know the participants, but we can give them enough information about the participants that they can feel confident about the wager that

4. What should I know about the rules and regulations process? OK, you probably didn’t actually ask this question, but it’s still an important one. Ohio has a business-friendly process that allows for input from the stakeholders, Schuler said. Once a rule is approved by the OCCC at a public meeting, it then goes to the Common Sense Initiative headed by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and then the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. The stakeholders — and in the case of sports gambling, Ohio has more than 300 — have two weeks to give responses before the OCCC then reviews them. The OCCC allows for two rounds of responses before approving them at a public meeting. From the time it leaves the OCCC to the time the rule comes back to the OCCC for its final filing, it takes about six months, Schuler said. The OCCC sends out these rules in batches, with the first batch for sports gambling going out on Dec. 27. “There’s a lot to be done and it could probably be done quicker, but it’s hard to fault Ohio for wanting to make sure all the ‘i’s’ are dotted and ‘t’s’ are crossed,” Ramsey said. “This

Kim Palmer: kpalmer@crain.com, (216) 771-5384, @kimfouroffive

5. How will most people place their bets? About 80% to 90% will be online, with the majority of those on mobile phones. Case in point: In November 2021, close to 95% of all bets placed in Michigan were made online, up from 76.3% in January of that year. In Pennsylvania, online bets make up more than 92% of the handle, while Indiana and New Jersey (both 91%) show similar numbers. 6. Who will be the major players? FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM control about 75% of the market, with those three companies referred to as the Big 3 in sports gambling. FanDuel and DraftKings got a leg up by first offering fantasy sports gambling, while MGM and Caesars (the fourth-biggest brand) are wellknown due to their casinos. 7. How big will this business get in Ohio? Estimates vary, but PlayOhio.com is bullish, believing it will generate between $9 billion and $12 billion in

24 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

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KEY TOWER

From Page 1

The Cleveland-based firm has a headquarters team of just over 300 people, including 165 attorneys. That headcount has grown sharply since 2015, when Benesch signed on as a 66,500-square-foot anchor tenant for a planned office tower in Cleveland’s Gateway District. That tower, part of an ambitious mixed-use project called NuCLEus, has not materialized. After trimming and refining its proposal, developer Stark Enterprises found itself sidelined by the pandemic in early 2020. With new construction relegated to the drawing board, Benesch began looking for new digs elsewhere. And the firm found an opportunity just a hop from its existing address. Frank Sinito, Millennia’s CEO, views the lease as a validation of his team’s efforts to liven up Key Tower and the adjoining Cleveland Marriott Downtown hotel. The real estate company, which moved its headquarters to the complex in 2017, has softened the tower’s lobby with seating and art, refashioned the outdoor plaza and worked to better integrate the offices and hotel. “We had a vision, and here we are today … celebrating the five-year anniversary, landing one of the largest leases in recent history,” Sinito said during a meeting at Key Tower. Benesch is scheduled to move to the building in mid-2023. Sinito would not say which floors the firm will occupy. But Eisenberg and Benesch’s real estate broker confirmed that the space is floors 42 through 49 — Squire’s longtime offices. Squire is poised to move to a smaller space elsewhere in the building. “Our 30-year lease in Key Tower ends this spring, and we continue to finalize the details of our new arrangements,” Squire spokesman Angelo Kakolyris wrote in an email. “Our expectation is that we will remain in Key Tower in a modern space that accounts for future working models, reflects the expectations of our clients and positions our team to provide the level of service clients have come to expect.” bets as soon as the market’s third year, which would produce between $700 million and $900 million in gross revenue each year. Suliman expects something more than $500 million gross revenue when the market matures. “I don’t know if it will crack the top five (nationally), but you can probably put it in the top 10,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in the state. A lot of sports fans.” 8. How much tax revenue will Ohio get? Not as much as you might think. The bill taxes net revenues at 10%, with 98% of the money going toward public and private schools and 2% for problem gambling programs. The legislature’s researchers expect betting to deliver about $20 million in new tax revenues, and $10 million in licensing fees the first year. “Broadly speaking — and this is something we’re slowly learning in the U.S. — sports betting is not a big tax generator,” Ramsey said. “There’s no path to generating budget-changing tax revenue in Ohio. At most, you’re talking maybe $100 million in new tax revenue, which isn’t Earth-shattering. If I have a small bone to pick with the policy,

The Benesch law firm will occupy eight floors at Key Tower. | MICHELLE JARBOE/CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Squire employs 258 people in Cleveland, including approximately 110 lawyers. The attorneys are tied to the tower, but many of the firm’s administrative workers are based in the nearby Post Office Plaza office building, on West Third Street. “We feel very confident that they’re going to be staying, because of the amenities and because we know that their lawyers want to be in this building, for sure,” said Cheryl Wearsch, Millennia’s asset manager for Key Center. She and Sinito declined to discuss Squire’s plans or anticipated square footage. With the Benesch lease, the 57-story tower will be 95% occupied, they said. In the lobby, Marble Room Sushi will reopen in early March, after alit’s that they could have gotten away with a higher tax rate without ruffling any feathers.” 9. Who has been active so far? Among local sports teams, the Cavaliers have been the most aggressive. They’ve already signed deals with Fubo Gaming and Caesars, with the latter partnering with the team on a 10,000-square-foot sportsbook that will be built inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The JACK Cleveland Casino and JACK Thistledown Racino will both offer Las Vegas-style sportsbooks at their locations, as well as online betting. The key, Suliman said, is right-sizing those sportsbooks. Las Vegas-style doesn’t mean Las Vegas-size. As the saying goes, you don’t build your church for Easter Sunday. “It’s a balancing act, for sure,” Suliman said. “We have a great design and construction team here, and they’ve spent a ton of time traveling all over the country and trying to pull best practices from those regional markets. We feel like we’ve honed it in. It’s not going to be a superbook like what you see in Las Vegas because if we did that, it would be emp-

And room renovations at the Marmost two years offline. An in-house coffee bar, part of Millennia’s grow- riott, where Millennia plans to ining Savour Hospitality Group, crease the size of the bathrooms, are opened in December in a space for- scheduled to take place in 2023. Those features, along with the conmerly occupied by a Starbucks. And Sinito hopes to turn a roughly nected parking garage, appealed to 7,000-square-foot vacancy on the Benesch. But the firm’s top priority was findtower’s 52nd floor into a fine-dining restaurant. During a recent walk- ing contiguous, top-shelf space, through, he pointed out the sweep- Eisenberg said. After years of growth ing views of the city to the east, west and lease extensions, Benesch’s offices at 200 Public Square are someand south. On the first floor at the Marriott, what disjointed, spread over 150,000 the Il Venetian restaurant reopened square feet. Cohesive space became in June. Upstairs, Millennia aspires to even more important during the offer spa services starting in May at pandemic, as Benesch shifted to a Ascend, a fitness and wellness facility hybrid schedule that allows for more that the company took control of remote work. “We’ve had a phenomenal locaduring the pandemic. The St. Clair Ballroom, a fourth-floor event space, tion in our current building,” said is bustling thanks to pent-up demand Eisenberg, who added that the firm CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | for weddings. has only good things to say about its ty a lot of time or feel empty even if you have 100 people in there. For us, it’s about finding that balance.” Since so much betting will be mobile, companies like JACK Entertainment view the retail sportsbooks as something that complements the other betting options such as table games and slots, Suliman said. “Now we have something else for customers to enjoy,” he said. “Those game days, the NFL Sundays when the Browns are playing, those sportsbooks are going to be jammed. So for us, it’s about how do you program (those) retail sportsbooks on those days when it’s not obviously going to packed and still make it fun and exciting, and I think there’s a lot of great ways to do that.” 10. What are the odds on the Browns winning the Super Bowl? That depends. Do you mean next season or in your lifetime? If it’s next season, the Browns are +3000 to win the Super Bowl, meaning you’d win $3,000 on a $100 bet. If it’s your lifetime, well, as Browns reporter Tony Grossi likes to say, “Smoker or nonsmoker?”

Joe Scalzo: joe.scalzo@crain.com, (216) 771-5256, @JoeScalzo01

landlord, DRA Advisors. Finding 164,000 square feet — with options to expand — was no small feat. Downtown’s office vacancy rate was 22.5% in late 2021, according to the Newmark brokerage, but much of that empty space is in older buildings that did not appeal to one of the region’s largest law firms. “We looked at every option and, obviously, came down to a relocation arguably into one of the preeminent buildings in Cleveland,” said Adam Gimbel, a principal with Allegro Real Estate Brokers & Advisors, which has been working with Benesch since 2014. Up until the pandemic, Benesch remained committed to NuCLEus, where the firm became an ever-larger anchor as the years passed. By early 2020, Stark Enterprises had jettisoned a hotel and apartments, reducing the first phase of the project to a mid-rise office tower, a garage and ground-floor retail space. Then the coronavirus created tremendous uncertainty about the office market and tipped many development deals into limbo. Cleveland-based Stark still aims to develop the 3-acre Gateway District site, across from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. But the company does not have a firm plan. “Key Tower is lucky to have an incredible organization like Benesch. It’s one of the best-in-class law firms in the city,” said Ezra Stark, the company’s chief operating officer. “In terms of NuCLEus, we are evaluating the types of uses and programming for that project. We still intend to create something on probably the most critical undeveloped piece left in downtown.” Jeffrey Wild, a real estate lawyer and Benesch’s administrative partner, said the firm’s leaders were deep believers in Stark’s vision for the site. He described a mutual, and regretful, parting of ways on the project, as Benesch ran out of time to make a move. “I know that NuCLEus will happen. A version of NuCLEus will happen,” Wild said. “We’re just sad that we won’t be a part of it.” Michelle Jarboe: michelle.jarboe@ | PA G E 2 9 crain.com, (216) 771-5437, @mjarboe

S E P T E M B E R 3 - 9 , 2 018

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CLASSIFIEDS To place your listing in Crain’s Cleveland Classifieds, contact Ainsley Burgess at 313-446-0455 or email ainsley.burgess@crain.com

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Advertising Section

To place your listing, visit www.crainscleveland.com/people-on-the-move or, for more information, contact Debora Stein at 917.226.5470 / dstein@crain.com CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

R.L. Hill Management, Inc.

Gardiner

R.L. Hill Management is pleased to announce the addition of two new senior managers to its team. First, Marcellus Byrd joined Byrd our team as Senior Project Executive. He comes to us from Gilbane as a construction manager with 21+ years of experience in healthcare, federal, sports venues, and mixed-use development. He has a BA in Construction Management & Technology from Bowling Green State University. Next, Mike Kerr Kerr has joined our team as Senior Project Manager. Mike brings with him 25+ years of construction experience in the retail, mixeduse, and healthcare sectors. He began his career as a member of Laborers Local #310 and worked his way up to superintendent before being promoted to Project Manager and now Sr. Project Manager.

Gardiner is pleased to announce that Lisa DeBoe has been promoted to Director of Human Resources. DeBoe has been with Gardiner for more than a decade and has been heading up its recruiting, talent development and overall HR efforts since 2018. In promoting her to Director, the company cited DeBoe’s work to constantly evolve Gardiner’s benefits package, her leadership throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and her work with the other leaders of the company to elevate the role of HR within Gardiner.

Gardiner is pleased to announce that Kevin McHale has been promoted to Director of Field Operations. McHale, who has been managing Gardiner’s solutions operations since joining the company in 2017, will be leading all of Gardiner’s field operations, including the company’s extensive commercial HVAC service business. In his 20-plus year HVAC career, McHale has held service and operations leadership roles with a number of companies, including Lennox and Johnson Controls.

CONSTRUCTION

Gardiner

Gardiner is pleased to announce that Carole Dienes has been promoted to Director of Billing. In this newly-created role, Dienes is responsible for the billing function and team across all of Gardiner’s businesses. Since her start with the company in 1995, Dienes has consistently been recognized for her work ethic, attention to detail and focus on improving client experience. Most recently, she has been working in an operations management role.

Gardiner is pleased to announce that Dave Smith has been promoted to Director of Sales, Performance Solutions. Smith has been leading the company’s K-12 Education sales effort since joining Gardiner nearly five years ago. In this leadership role, Smith is responsible for the sales team across all vertical markets for Gardiner’s performance solutions business, working with building owners to solve challenges with collaborative project delivery and financing/procurement solutions.

CONSTRUCTION

R.L. Hill Management, Inc. R.L. Hill Management is pleased to announce the addition of Mitch Zaharewicz to its project management team. He has 10 years Zaharewicz of experience, eight of those years he spent with Turner Construction where he gained experience in the Healthcare, Aviation, and the Entertainment sectors. Mitch is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS in Civil Engineering. R.L. Hill also welcomes Kristie Wenzel as its Contracts and Wenzel Marketing Manager. Over the past 12 years, she has held roles as Construction Project Engineer, Project Administrator and Marketing Coordinator at AECOM/Hunt and Turner Construction. She has a BA in Psychology from Christopher Newport University and a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Baldwin Wallace University.

CONSTRUCTION

Gardiner Gardiner is pleased to announce that Matt Field has been promoted to Director of Automation Operations. In addition to leading the company’s fast-growing Building AI: Applied Intelligence business, Field’s responsibilities have expanded to include the operations for all of Gardiner’s automation organization. Since starting with Gardiner more than 11 years ago, in a project management role, Field has consistently advanced, gaining experience in every aspect of the company’s automation business.

26 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | FEBRUARY 28, 2022

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Enza Financial Enza Financial is excited to welcome Christine Millen as a Principal and Director of our Life Insurance Division. Christine has 17 years of experience working exclusively with high-net-worth families and business owners and has focused on designing and implementing insurance solutions to help meet their needs. Christine believes in holistic, well-rounded planning and enjoys teaming with other advisors to help achieve optimum results for her clients. Christine is a graduate of Miami University.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

LAW

Ancora

Brennan, Manna & Diamond, LLC

Ancora is happy to announce that Bill Koenig, JD, MBA has been promoted to a Managing Director and Retirement Plan Advisor. Bill leads Ancora’s Retirement Plan Advisors team, combining his background as an attorney with over twenty years of investment advisory experience. Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree from the University of Mount Union and Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from The George Washington University.

BMD welcomes Marlon A. Primes to its Cleveland office. Primes, a former AUSA, N.D. of Ohio, with 30 years of experience handling complex civil litigation, will serve as Co-Chair of BMD’s Business and Tort Litigation Practice and will handle all aspects of business and commercial litigation. Primes is the Past President of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar and the Norman S. Minor Bar Associations, Past Chair of OSBA’s Litigation Section, and Past Vice President of the National Bar Association.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ancora We are happy to announce that Rachel Jerpbak has been promoted to a Vice President of Marketing. Rachel joined Ancora in 2016 and serves as the internal marketing agency for the firm. Her responsibilities include the creation of the firm’s marketing materials, coordination of advertising campaigns, institutional reporting and project management. She began her industry career with Ancora’s Retirement Plans division after earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Ohio University.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Wells Trecaso Financial Group Wells Trecaso Financial Group is excited to announce the additions of Alexa Livadas, CFP® and Samuel Trecaso to the team. Alexa works closely with Livadas clients to develop financial plans designed to meet their needs and goals. She is a graduate of Miami University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Samuel is a third generation Trecaso, following in the footsteps of his great uncle, John A. Trecaso, Trecaso and his father Ralph, a founding member of our company. As a graduate of the University of Akron, Samuel will carry the title of Investment Associate and will help in new business development and handling the financial needs of our clients and their families.

LAW

Ulmer & Berne LLP Joseph Brennan joins Ulmer as a partner in the firm’s Employment & Labor Practice Group, where he assists employers with a wide variety of matters, including wage and hour, employment discrimination, occupational safety and health, and traditional labor issues. He has extensive experience defending and advocating for national, regional, and local employers in federal and state courts and administrative employment agencies. He earned his J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law.

LAW

Wickens Herzer Panza Wickens Herzer Panza is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin J. Lenhard, LL.M to chair its Estate Planning & Probate Department. Kevin previously chaired the estate planning practice for a law firm based in Cleveland and served as a major gift officer for the Cleveland Foundation. He has decades of tax and estate planning experience. He received his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and his LL.M. from Case Western Reserve University. For more information, visit www.wickenslaw.com.

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REPORTERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 AT 9 A.M. There’s no hotter place in Cleveland in 2022 than Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Join us at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower for a panel discussion about the resurgent Cleveland Cavaliers, the 2022 NBA All-Star Game here in Cleveland, upcoming events at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and in Northeast Ohio, and more. MODERATOR

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Stan Bullard, senior reporter, Real estate/ construction. (216) 771-5228 or sbullard@crain.com Lydia Coutré, Health care/nonprofits. (216) 771-5479 or lcoutre@crain.com Michelle Jarboe, Enterprise reporter. (216) 771-5437 or michelle.jarboe@crain.com Amy Morona, Higher education. (216) 771-5229 or amy.morona@crain.com Jay Miller, Government. (216) 771-5362 or jmiller@crain.com Jeremy Nobile, Finance/legal/beer/cannabis. (216) 771-5255 or jnobile@crain.com Kim Palmer, Government. (216) 771-5384 or kpalmer@crain.com Joe Scalzo, Sports business. (216) 771-5256 or joe.scalzo@crain.com Dan Shingler, Energy/steel/auto/Akron. (216) 771-5290 or dshingler@crain.com ADVERTISING

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