Crain's Cleveland Business, December 9, 2024

DECEMBER 9, 2024

City approves $20M for Gateway Funds will help cover massive shortfalls for maintenance on city-owned professional sports facilities

By Kim Palmer

Rebecca Mauer (12), recusing herself.

The three "no" votes were Ward 8’s Mike Polensek, Ward 15's Jenny Spencer and Ward 16's Brian Kazy.

The proposal was passed by the Finance Committee on Dec. 2. The majority of the committee's members passed an amendment to a previous

measure that would have transferred the full $20 million from the city’s general fund dollars to Gateway. (At the committee meeting, Spencer voted for the amendment but against Gateway funding.)

See GATEWAY on Page 16

GETTY IMAGES

Cleveland's City Council approved a measure Dec. 2 to use $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $10 million in deferred bond funds to help make up a massive shortfall in repair and capital maintenance

costs accrued by the Gateway Economic Development Corporation.

An additional $5 million from the city's general fund will also be sent to Gateway, bringing the total amount of funds from the city to $20 million.

The final count was 13-3 in favor of the bill, with one council member,

Housing project for women, children nears completion

Consumers National Bank eyes growth in Northeast Ohio

Rothstein Village is the first of its kind in Cleveland

Plans to open a new branch in Massillon in early 2025

By Alexandra Golden

Cleveland’s first transitional housing for women and children is almost complete on the Laura’s Home Women's Crisis Center campus, run by The City Mission.

Just over a year after breaking ground in November 2023, the Rothstein Village Transitional Housing for Families is slated to be completed on Dec. 15 and is set to open its doors in early 2025.

Laura’s Home — a women's and chil-

dren's crisis center for those experiencing homelessness — received a $1.5 million donation from Jackie and Dr. Fred Rothstein for the project in June 2023.

(Fred Rothstein previously served as president of University Hospitals Case Medical Center from 2003 to 2015.)

Including the Rothsteins, The City Mission received $4.2 million for the project from over 600 donors, Rachel Pelaia, marketing and communications manager for The City Mission, told Crain’s. Of the donations, $145,000 came from 2023’s Giving Tuesday, she added.

See HOUSING on Page 17

By Jeremy Nobile

Ralph Lober II, president and CEO of Consumers, the banking subsidiary of Minerva-based Consumers Bancorp Inc., said that while his community bank has always been growth-minded, there’s a sense of increased opportunities for the business as it looks ahead to 2025.

Like most banks, Consumers grappled with a business downturn as the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in

2022 to combat high inflation coming out of the throes of the COVID-19 outbreak. As rates quickly ticked up, loan demand softened across all types.

Then, in the wake of the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank a year later, deposit costs soared as banks jockeyed to keep cash in their coffers by offering higher rates to customers.

These are just some factors that bank execs like Lober were watching play out as operating costs increased and sales slowed over the last several quarters, squeezing margins.

See CONSUMERS on Page 16

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12/6/24 10:52 AM

Huntington announces pending sale of Akron tower Deal includes nearby Cascade Building

By Jeremy Nobile

Huntington Bank announced that it is under contract to sell what has long been branded as Huntington Tower, Akron’s tallest building, as well as the nearby Cascade Building to a yet-to-bedisclosed "local" real estate developer.

Both of these properties were picked up by Huntington following its $3.4 billion acquisition of Akron-headquartered FirstMerit Corp. in 2016.

“We expect this redevelopment to be a great step for the livability of downtown Akron and the surrounding area,” said Ron Paydo, Huntington’s Akron market president. “While we will largely exit these buildings and consolidate our Akron team at our nearby Operations Center (295 Huntington Circle), we will continue to have some office space in the Cascade Building, and our branch in the Akron Tower will remain open.”

“The redevelopment of Cascade Plaza has been a priority for me and my administration, especially in a time when commercial office is challenging.”

— Akron Mayor Shammas Malik “During and after this transition, we will continue to serve our Akron customers as we always have,” he added, “and we remain committed to being the number one bank in the Akron area.”

Kris Dahl, spokesperson for the Columbus-based bank, said the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Financial terms of these deals have not been disclosed.

Dahl said that there is no worker

Huntington Bank is under contract to sell Huntington Tower (top), Akron’s tallest building, as well as the nearby Cascade Building. | COSTAR

displacement expected as part of the pending relocation of staff from those buildings to the nearby operations center. That move is expected to take place sometime during the second quarter of 2025.

Noting how Huntington has

been in the market for a buyer of the tower since 2019, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said the sale comes as no surprise and is a welcomed development.

“We think this is a positive for the city,” Malik told Crain's. “The rede-

velopment of Cascade Plaza has been a priority for me and my administration, especially in a time when commercial office is challenging.”

While time will tell how plans for these properties shape up, some

mixed-use redevelopment is largely expected.

“Downtown’s strength will depend on a three-legged stool: residential growth, commercial office stabilization and growth, and growth in hospitality and retail,” Malik said, “particularly in those first two buckets, in residential and commercial office. We believe the sale and redevelopment will be a positive step forward.”

The art deco tower with 27 stories marked Akron's first skyscraper when it was completed in 1931.

It was originally known as First National Tower — First Central Trust Bank was one of its original occupants — and later FirstMerit Tower as it became the local headquarters for FirstMerit Bank.

When the tower went on the market in 2019, Huntington occupied 11 of its floors. Five floors were occupied by other tenants, and 11 floors were vacant. The structure is attached to a lower-level retail arcade. CoStar, the real estate data site, reported 127,000 square feet of rentable space in the structure at the time.

Malik framed the coming redevelopment of the properties as part of the broader, ongoing redevelopment of downtown Akron.

The lower-level parking garage at Cascade Plaza, owned by the city, is being redeveloped with $5 million in state funds awarded to Akron earlier this year — something Malik described as a critical component of revitalizing the plaza. The PNC Center at Cascade Plaza, which is now owned by Development Finance Authority of Summit County, is in a pending sale of its own, Malik said, for potentially $2.8 million. There are also plans in the works to redevelop the Akron City Center Hotel, Malik said, which has been dormant for several years.

Huntington Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Huntington Bank, reported approximately $196 billion in total assets in Q3.

The regional bank is the second largest by deposit market share in Ohio and in the Northeast Ohio region itself, according to Crain’s research.

By Mark Weinraub, Crain's Chicago Business

KeyBank hired five bankers from Huntington Bank to launch its commercial banking operations in Chicago.

The move, made in late November, positions the Cleveland-based bank to serve more middle market clients. The company also added commercial bankers in the southern California area.

"Chicago and southern California are two of the largest concentrations of middle market businesses in the country, where our unique platform gives us a competitive advantage," Ken Gavrity,

president of Key Commercial Bank, said in a statement. "We're excited to bring the full scope of operations to these areas where our robust capital markets capabilities and specialized industry verticals are well-established."

KeyBank, with $190 billion in assets, has no retail branches in Chicago but has offered capital market services to clients in the region through its KeyBanc Capital Markets business.

The company tapped Ben Van Vlerah as its Illinois market president and regional commercial leader for Illinois and Northern Indiana.

He had previously been Huntington’s commercial regional manager

for Illinois and Wisconsin.

KeyBank also lured bankers Gavin Newman, Ryan Ferris, Taylor Fraleigh and Anthony Balthazor away from Huntington.

Huntington, which is based in Columbus, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the effect the departures would have on its commercial operations in Chicago.

The bank recently named Patrice DeCorrevont as president of its Illinois/Wisconsin region after Chris Sweetland, who had been with Huntington for 14 years, retired.

DeCorrevont had been Illinois market leader for commercial banking at Wells Fargo.

BLOOMBERG

KeyBank nabs 5 from Huntington to open commercial unit in Chicago

2 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | December 9, 2024

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12/6/24 10:51 AM

ICP buys two Lima industrial buildings for $16 million

By Stan Bullard

Industrial Commercial Properties, the Mayfield Heights real estate company, has added properties in Lima, Ohio, to its portfolio in a $16 million transaction, according to Allen County, Ohio, property records.

An affiliate of the company acquired the two buildings on Sugar Avenue with a total of 517,000 square feet of warehouse and office space as well as 10 acres of developable land.

Austin Semarjian, ICP executive vice president, told Crain's that the company wanted to add the occupants of the two fully occupied buildings — Plastipak Packaging Inc. and GXO Logistics — to its roster of more than 320 tenants.

in the Detroit area, this is the first transaction in the Lima and Toledo areas, Semarjian said.

Lima is a well-established industrial area, known primarily for producing Abrams tanks for the U.S. and is 171 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland.

“We like the I-75 corridor,” Semarjian said. “We’ll service the properties from our Dayton, Ohio, office, which is undertaking steps to put the ICP stamp on them.”

Updates include painting the buildings and adding new pavement. He declined to disclose the specific cost of the Lima updates, calling it a “nice capital investment,” or to discuss the price ICP paid for the buildings.

The acquisition includes 10 acres that can be valuable if ICP wants to expand the buildings or needs additional truck parking, though it has no immediate plans for the land, Semarjian said.

The properties date to the 1970s. The seller was an affiliate of Robinson Investments, a real estate company based in Bellefontaine, Ohio, according to online real estate information provider CoStar.

ICP’s portfolio includes 47 million square feet of industrial, office and commercial space.

Recent Northeast Ohio purchases by ICP include Lodi Station Outlets, a mix of industrial and commercial space with some continued retail use and a Hudson office building.

Although ICP has properties in the Detroit area, this is the first transaction in the Lima and Toledo areas.

Plastipak is based in Plymouth, Michigan, and has 60 locations around the globe to design and manufacture rigid plastic containers for the food, beverage and consumer products industries.

Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, GXO Logistics (NYSE: GXO) provides warehousing, distribution and associated services across the globe.

Although ICP has properties

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Ohio is among a minority of states that have yet to regulate the sale of intoxicating hemp products, but there could be some growing momentum behind changing that.

These products include items like vape cartridges, edibles or gummy candies purportedly infused with compounds like Delta 8 THC extracted from legally grown hemp — the less intoxicating cannabis relative of marijuana — and THCA flower, all of which can be commonly found today at retail stores ranging from smoke or wellness shops to gas stations and purchased online.

Production of hemp, which is defined as having a concentration of less than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis, was effectively legalized in the U.S. with the 2018 Farm Bill.

As Craig Schluttenhofer, a research associate professor at Central State University who specializes in hemp, explains, to make products with an intoxicating effect, manufacturers increase the volume of hemp-derived THC in those products to a level that could make the person using or consuming them feel a “high” that can be similar to the effects felt from marijuana.

Hemp-derived flower intended for vaping or smoking, meanwhile, often marketed as THCA flower, is a unique animal in its own right.

THCA is a compound — which can be extracted from hemp — that converts to THC once heated or combusted. But because current federal regulations do not consider THCA levels as a distinguishing factor between hemp or marijuana, these products exist in a legal gray area, enabling their sale by common retailers outside of the licensed marijuana industry.

Marijuana companies tend to want restrictions on intoxicating hemp because those products may undermine sales in their own industry, which is heavily regulated and intrinsically expensive to operate within.

The absence of relevant federal regulations or comparable state laws means that these intoxicating hemp products are not subject to the same testing and oversight compared to the licensed marijuana cultivators, processors and retailers.

There are also no age restrictions on these unregulated products, something that has been a concern for some lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine, who called for “quick action” to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp to children nearly a year ago.

Jana Hrdinova, administrative director for the Drug Enforcement Policy Center at Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, which recently published a report with considerations for regulating intoxicating hemp in

A collection of intoxicating hemp-derived products. | UNSPLASH

the state, says that some regulations should be put in place to prevent minors from buying these products and to generally protect consumers as there presently are no rules requiring hemp products to be tested to verify their contents or for the presence of potentially harmful additives.

“At a minimum, we need to take care of the minimum age, and we need to take care of product safety, marketing to children and child-resistant packaging,” Hrdinova said. “To me, those are the basic four things the Ohio Legislature needs to act on.”

Ohio is, in fact, behind on doing something here. According to the Reason Foundation, a California-based think tank, Ohio is among 21 states that don’t have some regulations on intoxicating hemp products. Those regulations vary by state and range from outright prohibition to regulating them similarly to marijuana.

“It is important that (intoxicating hemp products) stay out of the hands of minors, especially because, while we’re beginning to have some understanding of the long-term effects of THC, we don’t have that with these products,” Schluttenhofer said. “And it’s a very high risk for age groups that are still fundamentally developing physiologically as adults.”

There are currently four pieces of legislation in the Ohio Statehouse aimed at regulating intoxicating hemp — two each in the House and Senate — but each varies in what they would accomplish.

One of those, Senate Bill 326, whose primary sponsor is Sen. Stephen Huffman, would outright ban the sale of intoxicating hemp in the state and set specific penalties for anyone caught selling the products to anyone younger than 21.

But Schluttenhofer cautions that an outright ban would have to be approached carefully as to not impact some other hemp-derived products.

“The challenge is, how do you balance (regulations) while — if they do decide to prohibit intoxi-

cating products — not prohibiting some of these valid hemp products as well that people are buying and using for health purposes,” he said. “People don’t buy CBD products to get intoxicated, but for other health purposes.”

A group known as the Ohio Healthy Alternatives Association has voiced opposition to SB 326 based on concerns that it could impact small businesses and potentially result in the loss of some 20,000 Ohio jobs.

Not much is known about the OHAA, however. The organization seems to have only recently formed and has no website or readily available information about its purpose or members.

Crain’s reached out to the organization via email to learn more about it and request details around how it came up with its figures for potentially impacted jobs but has yet to hear back.

The Drug Enforcement Policy Center points out that there is “limited data on the intoxicating hemp industry in Ohio, though the Ohio Department of Agriculture reports that the number of farmers involved in hemp production is relatively small in the Buckeye State.”

And Schluttenhofer notes that while there are only a handful of hemp growers in Ohio, those who do grow the plant are primarily doing so for grain and fiber, not for the manufacture of intoxicating products.

Whether any of the bills geared toward regulating intoxicating hemp gain traction before the end of this year, which will mark the conclusion of the current General Assembly, is unclear.

“There are certainly competing interests in regulating hemp. You have a hemp industry and small businesses that sell hemp products competing with a marijuana industry that sees themselves being undercut by intoxicating hemp products,” Hrdinova said.

“But the thing I’m most concerned with is safety of products for anyone, whether 21 or 50 or 16. If you buy a product, it should be safe to use.”

4 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | DECEMBER 9, 2024

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12/6/24 10:48 AM

Former Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff sells Avon Lake mansion

By Joe Scalzo

Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff made a nice profit on his house in Avon Lake — although not nearly as much as he originally sought.

Bickerstaff ’s six-bed, 6.5-bath lakefront colonial sold for $3.9 million on Nov. 21, 149 days after he put it on the market.

Both sides of the sale were handled by Chestnut Hill Realty, which handles a lot of homes bought and sold by Cavaliers players and employees.

According to Chestnut Hill VP Brian Cantrall, Bickerstaff 's house is the second-highest priced home to sell in Northeast Ohio this year (Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Geauga). First is the $7.15 million paid for a house in Bay Village last month, a sale Chestnut Hill also handled. The company has handled the highest-priced home sale in Ohio in three of the last four years, according to Chestnut Hill owner Craig Cantrall.

Bickerstaff bought the Avon

Lake property for $2,590,000 in 2019. The original asking price was $4,999,900 when it went on the market on June 24, about a month after he was fired by the Cavaliers.

That asking price was lowered to $4.6 million on Sept. 1.

The buyer wishes to remain anonymous, but he is not affiliated with the city's professional sports teams, Chestnut Hill said.

The house was built in 2002 and is 11,477 square feet, according to 2019 records. The most recent listing did not include square footage.

"It really is a great house," Craig Cantrall said. "J.B. put a lot of money into it and took great care of it. They (J.B. and his wife) were great stewards of that house."

The home was originally built by former NBA player Calvin Booth — a Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native — and was briefly owned by former Cavaliers guard Jose Calderon.

The architect was Stephen Schill, who founded Schill Architecture in Westlake in 1991 and has designed many luxury, multimillion-

55

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J.B. Bickerstaff has sold his lakefront house in Avon Lake. | CHESTNUT HILL REALTY INC.

dollar lakefront and estate homes throughout Greater Cleveland.

Bickerstaff, 45, coached the Cavs for four full seasons (and a portion of a fifth) and compiled a 170-159 record with a 6-11 record

spaces in the building named by donors

in the postseason. He was fired on May 23 after leading the Cavaliers to the second round of the playoffs.

Bickerstaff signed a five-year deal to coach the Detroit Pistons

on July 3. The Pistons are 9-13 under Bickerstaff, while his replacement in Cleveland, Kenny Atkinson, has led the Cavaliers to an NBA-best 18-3 record as of Dec. 2.

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DECEMBER 9, 2024 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 5

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12/6/24 10:48 AM

EDITORIAL

The wages of sin (taxes)

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE

S

in isn't what it used to be — at least when it comes to paying for stadiums and arenas.

It's creating some financial challenges for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County that cry out for a fresh approach to making sure the sports facilities are maintained properly, without compromising the ability to support vital services and public spaces for taxpayers.

Both Cuyahoga County Council and Cleveland City Council last week approved measures to pay off the nonprofit Gateway Economic Development Corp.‘s debt to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Guardians for more than $40 million in repairs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field, respectively.

The county's $20 million share included $2.85 million from the general fund, plus new borrowing and interest from bonds issued in 2017 to help renovate Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The city's also using general fund dollars ($5 million), plus $10 million in loans already taken out for capital projects and $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act money.

None of this is ideal, particularly in a poor city, and particularly when the beneficiaries of the public dollars are teams owned by extremely wealthy people. But terms of leases at the facilities require Gateway to cover the repairs, and the countywide sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales, passed in 1990, no longer is generating enough money to keep up with adequately maintaining facilities that opened in 1994.

This is the price, to a large extent, of leaning heavily on pro sports as an economic driver for downtown. Cleveland's not alone among U.S. cities in doing this.

But it's certainly reasonable for the city's taxpayers to wonder why they always seem to be on the hook for more money, and whether they're getting sufficient benefit for that support.

These facilities aren't getting any younger. And the sin tax isn't getting any better at filling a funding gap created by construction and other cost increases to keep those facilities in good shape.

It's encouraging that Emily Collins, the city's senior advisor for major projects, recently briefed council about discussions underway to create what would be called a Gateway New Community Authority (NCA) to generate new revenue — from sources such as parking fees or fees on food and beverages — for repairs/maintenance at the facilities.

She noted it's "a piece of the revenue puzzle that can't fill the entire gap on its own," and it would take a while to create.

It’s certainly reasonable for the city’s taxpayers to wonder why they always seem to be on the hook for more money, and whether they’re getting sufficient benefit for that support.

Even so, an NCA would be a good start to figuring out how to ease the public burden for upkeep of sports facilities.

We all love our teams, but the long-term trends of the current funding mechanism are not sustainable.

The time frame is different, but the

Interim Editor: Ann Dwyer (adwyer@crain.com) Managing Editor: Marcus Gilmer (marcus.gilmer@crain.com) Contact Crain’s: 216-522-1383 Read Crain’s online: crainscleveland.com

principle is the same when it comes to the tax used to fund nonprofits arts and culture organizations in Cuyahoga County.

About 70% of county voters last month approved a big increase in the tax, which was set to expire in 2027. (This tax is sep-

arate from the sin tax on alcohol and cigarettes that funded the construction of the Gateway sports complexes.) Voters initially passed the 30-cent-per-pack tax in 2006, and it has done its job, generating a total of about $250 million since then, about 95% of which is distributed as grants by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC).

The tax, though, was generating about half of what it used to produce as fewer people smoke. The increase voters approved on Nov. 5 raises the tax to 70 cents per pack and, as CAC Executive Director Jill Paulsen said in the wake of the vote, "extends the feasibility to make grants until 2035."

That's a good thing. An economic and social impact study conducted in 2023 by the nonprofit Americans for the Arts found that Cuyahoga County’s nonprofit arts and culture industry generated a little more than $533 million in economic activity in 2022. These kinds of studies can be self-serving and are better seen as estimates than precision measurements, but there's little doubt that the arts and culture sector is vital to the economy and the quality of life of this region.

All the more reason, then, to take a hard look at what comes next.

It's axiomatic that as cigarette prices continue to rise, fewer people smoke.

That comes with a public health benefit, too. But it also means that there's a limited time frame for a cigarette tax to be a reliable source of funding for the arts.

Eventually, the tax will need to be supplemented or replaced with something else.

Figuring this out will take time because Cuyahoga County — the only county in the state with a dedicated tax revenue stream for the arts — needs buy-in from the state Legislature to make changes.

There have been discussions about alternatives for years, focused on everything from bottled water to restaurant meals. Legislation to tax vape products was passed and then reversed.

People in the arts are creative. With the tax increase passed and the revenue stream secure at the moment, now's the perfect time to figure out a long-term strategy to determine if taxing something other than cigarettes is an option, and if so, what that would be and how could it be sold to the Legislature.

The arts organizations of Cuyahoga County do great work, and they've worked hard to overcome setbacks from the pandemic. The next step is to make sure that the funding source that has provided an important lifeline is secure over the long haul.

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.

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6 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | December 9, 2024

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PERSONAL VIEW

An abundance mindset for Cleveland in ’25

I

loss to abundance and t’s time for a Cleveland growth. mindset reset.

For too long, our region We are on the rise. has approached major opIn the last year, Cleveportunities in an “eitherland has been recognized or” framing, with concern as a prime region for and caution. Focus on the new graduates, young lakefront or the riverfront? professionals and one of Develop new housing America's hottest housing markets. The “Cleve- Baiju R. Shah downtown or in neighborhoods or suburbs? Grow land Index” of 35 public is president research or businesses? companies is significant- and CEO of Invest in talent or attract ly outperforming the S&P the Greater newcomers? Fund arts or 500, and the region has Cleveland parks? Renovate stadiums historically low unem- Partnership. or the airport? ployment, the lowest in These are self-imposed limits. MoOhio and lower than the nation.

Our health care remains unparal- mentum is here, and a new era calls leled, the region appears on many for a new mindset—one where we must-visit lists and The Wall Street answer “yes” to all opportunities and Journal heralded Cleveland as pursue them boldly and creatively.

See the possibilities. “the new center of the world.”

Our waterfronts—both lake and The energy and momentum are palpable, testaments to the region’s river—transformed into vibrant innovative spirit, resilience and spaces where Clevelanders gather and visitors and new talent see a rework ethic.

But to fully seize the moment gion on the rise. This has started to and embrace the opportunities in happen, and we must continue to front of us, we must confront an en- drive parallel transformations, leverduring Cleveland challenge: shift- aging different resources that fit their ing our mindset from scarcity and distinct phases for development.

In the next few years, dynamic riverfront projects will rise while the downtown lakefront becomes better connected via road changes and bridges; we will also pursue closing Burke for future opportunities. Each taps different funding and actions towards sequential market development.

Growth brings new residents, ideas and energy that benefit us all; it does not shift or displace. Since 2000, the downtown population has tripled to 21,000. At the same time, nearby neighborhoods are thriving.

The once-struggling Detroit-Shoreway has become one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse areas, where waterfront access and a vibrant arts district have spurred more than $3 billion in investment.

New investments are also revitalizing other Cleveland neighborhoods, University Circle and suburbs, and major waterfront access projects are underway from Sandusky to Ashtabula and many communities in between.

Similarly, we are a region that leads in both Health Care and Clean Tech, driven by world-leading

institutions and companies. We must build on our strengths by investing in innovation and business growth, in both entrepreneurial and large organizations. That can be done by accessing a variety of private and public funds, locally, nationally and globally.

On the workforce, we need to ensure everyone participates to power the region. We must invest in education and up-skill our current workforce. We also need to attract and welcome more people—from students to professionals, including immigrants and refugees—who bring new experiences and networks that enrich our region.

Likewise, we should dare to dream big for our arts and culture, our parks and our sports and entertainment venues. The passing of recent parks and arts levies reminds us that public support for amenities is strong.

Nationally celebrated Playhouse Square is one of the largest arts districts in the world. We have worldclass museums, and transformations of the Natural History Museum and the Rock Hall are underway.

Imagine stadiums becoming similar showcases for men’s and women’s pro sports. These investments

enhance our lives and draw visitors, a first step to them potentially becoming Clevelanders.

We can do all of this and also transform the airport, a pivotal opportunity. A 21st-century airport is required to connect to the world and impress visitors on arrival. Adjacent to it, a growing NASA Glenn is leading humanity to the moon, Mars and beyond.

We are blessed to have inspirational public leaders and aspirational private CEOs whose organizations lead the world. And we have generous residents who contribute to these endeavors. The region has not had such alignment, capabilities and spirit in decades.

Now is the time to think differently and accelerate our region's future.

As we look towards 2025, let us approach Greater Cleveland’s opportunities not as a matter of either–or. Let us approach them with a both–and. Future growth demands that we embrace a new mindset that rejects self-imposed limits and instead approaches opportunities with commitment and creativity. The momentum is here, and the possibilities are limitless.

It’s time for a Greater Cleveland abundance mindset.

Creativity, Vision, Leadership Congratulations to Nick and Lorie Howley, recently recognized as Distinguished Fellows at Cleveland Clinic.

Their white coat ceremony was held recently to recognize their dedication to the mission of Cleveland Clinic and the significant impact they have made in our community.

The Howley ASPIRE program at Cleveland Clinic continues to expand thanks to the Howley’s vision and generosity. The program helps clear the path to success for students and builds a new generation of nurses and healthcare professionals.

Thank you, Nick and Lorie, for making a difference in the lives of so many.

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CBIZ Inc. (NYSE: CBZ) has named a new chief financial officer to succeed longtime CFO Ware Grove, who has announced his retirement.

The Independence-based accounting and professional services firm said Brad Lakhia will assume CFO duties on March 17.

Lakhia is currently executive vice president and CFO for Openlane Inc. (NYSE: KAR), a Carmel, Indiana-based online auction company for automotive dealers to buy and sell wholesale vehicles. He’s worked there for a bit shy of two years.

Prior to Openlane, Lakhia was vice president of finance for the Americas for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., a position he held for more than three years. He filled many other roles at Goodyear in the past, including as a senior director of business development and vice president of finance for global procurement.

In other Ohio ties, Lakhia holds an accounting degree from Ohio State University's Fisher School of Business and a master's de- Lakhia gree from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.

“Lakhia brings nearly 30 years of successful experience leading and developing teams within large, complex global companies across a broad array of critical finance disciplines, including capital markets, multibillion-dollar M&A and integration, treasury, financial planning and analysis, investor relations and operational finance,” according to CBIZ. “This experience makes Lakhia an excellent fit to support CBIZ’s continued growth.”

“Brad brings impressive financial acumen and leadership abilities that will allow us to continue to build on our strong financial performance,” said CBIZ President and CEO Jerry Grisko in a statement. “His experience in M&A integration, treasury, capital markets, and operational finance will serve us well

as we solidify our position as the unmatched full-service professional services advisor to the growing middle market.”

The CFO transition follows what’s been a big year for CBIZ, highlighted by the company’s acquisition of New York-based accounting firm Marcum. That $2.3 billion deal, completed this fall, positions CBIZ as the seventh-largest accounting firm in the country with projected annual revenues of $2.8 billion.

“Working with the CBIZ team over the years, we have achieved a remarkable track record of growth and increased shareholder value,” Grove said in a statement. “Having closed the Marcum transaction, the company is in capable hands, and this is a good time to step aside. I will be supporting a smooth transition in the coming months, and I look forward to seeing the continued success of CBIZ.” “It has been a pleasure to work side by side with Ware, leading the organization through exponential growth,” Grisko added. “He played an indispensable role in our recent acquisition of Marcum, the largest transaction in our history. I cannot overstate how much Ware means to CBIZ. I know I am joined by countless colleagues in thanking Ware for the indelible imprint he has made on CBIZ, our impressive performance, and our culture.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the CBIZ team and excited about the opportunities that lay ahead for the company and our industry,” Lakhia said. “Now that CBIZ and Marcum have come together as one, CBIZ offers an unparalleled breadth of services and depth of expertise. I look forward to leading the finance team to support the continued growth and success of CBIZ. I am grateful to Ware for the lasting legacy he leaves and his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.”

Grove received $2 million in total compensation in 2023, according to the company's 2024 proxy statement.

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NOTABLE

LEADERS IN COMMUNICATIONS From multinational corporations to the mom-and-pop shop down the block, from multicampus hospital systems to the local nonprofit, sooner or later — whether on a daily basis or in an hour of crisis — most enterprises and organizations must find the right way to let the world know they’re open for business and ready to serve.

And the communications professionals they all utilize are in the know: They know how to creatively inform, wow and woo clients, partners, customers and fans with innovative branding initiatives, social media campaigns and merchandising strategies.

They also use their myriad skills to bolster their communities and industry through board membership and volunteerism.

Richard Batyko

Jackie Bebenroth

Tracy Burt

Mario Codispoti

Senior vice president and chief marketing officer YMCA of Greater Cleveland Scope of work: Richard Batyko supports the YMCA’s 11 area branches in departments including marketing, communications and public relations.

Biggest career win: Batyko has helped restore over 85% of the YMCA’s pre-COVID membership since joining the organization five years ago.

Community or industry contributions: Batyko acts on the Business Volunteers Unlimited board and recently completed two terms on the board of the Public Relations Society of America.

Principal and CEO Muse Scope of work: Award-winning entrepreneur Jackie Bebenroth is a lead adviser for top Cleveland institutions such as Nestlé, Malley’s Chocolates and Spice Hospitality Group.

Biggest career win: Under Bebenroth’s leadership, Muse has been awarded multiple Weatherhead 100 Awards and accolades for business growth and marketing.

Community or industry contributions: Bebenroth supports numerous regional organizations with an emphasis on mentoring young professionals.

Vice president of marketing and communications Akron Community Foundation Scope of work: Tracy Burt leads a five-person team that spearheads ACF’s marketing strategy while managing an annual budget of over $215,000.

Biggest career win: Under Burt’s stewardship, the nonprofit rebranded itself through a new logo, color palette and brand guide.

Community or industry contributions: Burt volunteers with the Akron Art Museum and Harmony House, and she is a founding partner of The Soul of Philanthropy Akron.

Director of communications and workforce development Lorain County JVS Scope of work: In promoting numerous career-technical education initiatives, Mario Codispoti supports regional workforce readiness and economic development.

Biggest career win: Codispoti led communication strategies for a comprehensive sustainability summit, as well as the opening of a large rural emergency department.

Community or industry contributions: Outside the office, Codispoti actively supports organizations dedicated to young professionals.

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NOTABLE LEADERS IN COMMUNICATIONS

Gr

Tatiana Dwyer

B.J. Evans

Candice Grose

Maureen Harper

Bruce Hennes

Vice president of marketing and communications The Centers Scope of work: Tatiana Dwyer oversees all aspects of The Centers’ branding, including the development and management of strategic marketing initiatives.

Biggest career win: Dwyer’s branding and multimedia knowledge helped the organization unify all business lines while increasing client outreach.

Community or industry contributions: Dwyer teaches yoga and cooking classes at The Gathering Place and raises pet supply funds for the Animal Protective League and the Lake Humane Society.

Vice president of basketball communications Cleveland Cavaliers Scope of work: B.J. Evans manages media operations for the Cavaliers, ensuring consistent and positive coverage of the team’s players, coaches and front office staff.

Biggest career win: Evans leads player awards campaigns, resulting in multiple All-NBA and All-Star selections for the current roster.

Community or industry contributions: Among other activities, Evans is a member of the communications board for the Cleveland 3-Team Alliance, a conglomeration of Cleveland’s three major professional sports teams.

Deputy chief of communications Cleveland Metropolitan School District Scope of work: Candice Grose manages communications, brand marketing and public relations for CMSD, the state’s third-largest school district.

Biggest career win: Under the leadership of CEO Warren Morgan, Grose rebranded the district to champion its commitment to equity and accessibility.

Community or industry contributions: Grose’s dedication to community service includes Queens Need, which donates essential hygiene products to school-aged girls.

Senior vice president and managing director Falls & Co. Scope of work: Maureen Harper crafts communications for numerous companies, nonprofits and public-private partnerships.

Biggest career win: Harper spearheaded the development of Team NEO’s Vibrant Economy Indicators, which provide data-driven insights on the region’s economic growth.

Community or industry contributions: Harper acts on the board for City Year Cleveland and chairs the government selection committee for Cleveland Leadership Center.

CEO Hennes Communications Scope of work: With a focus on crisis communications, Bruce Hennes serves over 200 clients annually across market sectors.

Biggest career win: The firm won a Best of Show award from the Public Relations Society of America for its crisis communication work with Seastreak Ferries following a 2014 captain’s error.

Community or industry contributions: Hennes chairs the Leadership Cleveland selection committee and is engaged in leadership work with the Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland State University’s Levin College and Winding River Consulting.

Sponsored Content

NOTABLE SPOTLIGHT with Jeannie Smith Making the sewer district social again Interviewed by Brooke Bilyj for Crain’s Content Studio

What excites you about the work you do at NEORSD?

Since joining the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) in 2006, Jeannie Smith has helped the organization shape a bold new communications strategy for engaging its stakeholders. She oversees the department’s budget and a team of 13, which includes oversight of internal and external communications, public outreach, media relations and the Sewer District’s nationally recognized social media presence to promote the importance of Greater Cleveland’s waterways.

Smith is now NEORSD’s Director of Administration & External Affairs and also serves as co-chair of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Communications Committee, sharing her expertise to help other public wastewater and stormwater agencies develop stronger messaging to build a more sustainable future.

What really excites me about the work we do is that our work directly impacts Lake Erie, the Cuyahoga River and all of our water resources, as well as the people in the community who use those resources. The Sewer District is very solutions-focused and customer-focused.

We work closely with our member communities to find solutions. I love that we’re an innovative organization looking to move things forward.

What’s the biggest misconception you face in this field, and how are you debunking it?

Because we’re a government entity, people think we’re slow to act, we’re not customer focused, we’re not innovative — which is not true at all. Our leadership reinforces a culture of innovation and customer service. We’re always acting with a sense of urgency, and all the work we do is focused on the customer.

We address that misconception by being constantly responsive. We’re not afraid of putting ourselves out there. We love to get feedback from our customers, and we definitely listen to it. That could be through interactive public meetings, social media or our annual open house

event. We try many different ways to debunk the myths about what we do and why our work is important.

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned about communicating complex ideas to engage audiences?

Communication has significantly changed over the years. You had TV, print and radio, and now you have all these different platforms you can tap into.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you have to utilize all of those platforms. You have to be consistent. You have to be fun. You have to meet people where they are. This entire process of communication is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ve got to be patient because the payoff eventually comes, but it comes with work.

How has NEORSD evolved since you joined the organization in 2006?

I was hired in 2006 as part of an initiative to level up our communications game. My job at that point was to communicate Project Clean Lake, a large $3 billion construction program to reduce the volume of pollution going into our waterways. The philosophy at the time was “under the radar was best,” so minimal communications was the approach. Then, we were tasked with communicating that we’re spending

a lot of money on very important environmental and public health work.

The evolution that I’ve seen in the nearly 20 years I’ve been here is going from “under the radar” to being exceptionally responsive, because as a public utility, that’s our responsibility. That’s been a significant shift, and it has transcended many of the departments here in terms of our approach to communicating with our stakeholders.

What’s the inspiration behind NEORSD’s bold social media personality?

John Gonzalez is the brains behind our social media presence. It started a very long time ago and evolved to where we are today. Our thought process is: how do we communicate sewage and stormwater in a fun way? There’s a level of trust that our Chief Executive Officer Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, Chief Administrative Officer Constance Haqq and I have to give to the staff to execute their job, so that we can respond quickly and tell our story in a way that’s relatable.

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Greta Johnson

Sarah Johnson

Colette Jones

Jon Kozesky

Nancy Lesic

Assistant chief of staff and communications director Summit County Executive’s Office Scope of work: Greta Johnson develops content and communicates information about Summit County programs and resources.

Biggest career win: During the pandemic, Johnson provided timely updates to Summit County leaders, fostering trust during a time of crisis.

Community or industry contributions: Johnson acts on the boards of Downtown Akron Partnership and Goodwill Industries of Akron.

Chief communications officer, City of Cleveland Office of Mayor Justin Bibb Scope of work: Sarah Johnson oversees the city of Cleveland’s communication strategy, including public relations, media interactions and numerous mayoral events.

Biggest career win: Johnson’s emphasis on transparency has fostered a culture of open communication within the mayor’s office.

Community or industry contributions: Along with numerous volunteer activities, Johnson has previously acted on the board of Open Doors Academy.

Chief marketing officer Cleveland Foundation Scope of work: Colette Jones oversees marketing and communication efforts for a large-scale community foundation with over $100 million in annual grants.

Biggest career win: Jones led the grand opening of the organization’s new MidTown headquarters in July 2023.

Community or industry contributions: Jones acts on the boards of Karamu House and the Cleveland Public Market Corporation.

President Jon Thomas Consulting Scope of work: Jon Kozesky’s firm has raised over $77 million for nonprofits seeking high-powered visibility, messaging and donor engagement.

Biggest career win: Kozesky’s effective communications and social media efforts have contributed to the steady growth of Cleveland Pickle Fest over the past five years.

Community or industry contributions: Kozesky has served on the boards of the Brecksville and Broadview Heights chambers of commerce, actively supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Principal Lesic & Camper Communications Scope of work: As firm co-founder, Nancy Lesic develops strategic communication plans to build public support for organizations and their initiatives.

Biggest career win: Lesic spearheaded communications efforts for The Pew Charitable Trusts, successfully challenging well-funded lobbyists to reform Ohio’s payday lending industry.

Community or industry contributions: Lesic holds leadership positions with Ohio Canalway Partners and the Portage Lakes Advisory Council.

Congratulations Tatiana T atiana Dwyer MS/MBA/LPC/CYT

Congratulations Alicia Miller!

VP, Marketing & Communications

NOTABLE LEADER IN COMMUNICATIONS

Premier Bank is proud to recognize Alicia for her impact through her role and continued efforts to effect change by nominating her for Crain’s 2024 Notable Leaders in Communications!

Thank you, Alicia for your outstanding leadership and continuous support of the Bank’s mission, vision and core values. Your creativity and innovation inspire us all!

Alica Miller VP, Communications & Marketing Manager

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yourpremierbank.com  Member FDIC DECEMBER 9, 2024 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 11

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NOTABLE LEADERS IN COMMUNICATIONS

Andrea Lyons

Emily Mayock

Vicki McDonald

Cathy McPhillips

Alicia Miller

Vice president of marketing and communications Neighborhood Family Practice Scope of work: Andrea Lyons oversees marketing and public relations for NFP, which serves more than 22,000 patients at seven locations.

Biggest career win: Lyons led the development of “Mother Tongue,” an app bridging language barriers for a diverse patient community.

Community or industry contributions: As part of her role in enriching the community, Lyons orchestrated an award-winning campaign focused on breaking HIV stigmas.

Senior associate vice president of strategic communications Case Western Reserve University Scope of work: Emily Mayock leads a team of two dozen writers, editors and communicators at Case Western Reserve’s marketing and communications department.

Biggest career win: Recently, Mayock expanded the university’s department from 20 to nearly 60 staff members.

Community or industry contributions: Mayock provides pro bono services to nonprofits including The Haven Home, which serves pregnant and parenting women with children under age 5.

Director of communications and media relations JumpStart Inc. Scope of work: Vicki McDonald handles internal and external communications at JumpStart, also providing advisory services to clients and portfolio companies.

Biggest career win: McDonald was a key contributor to JumpStart’s Community Impact Book, featuring testimonials about the organization’s efforts in the region.

Community or industry contributions: McDonald is the current president of the Public Relations Society of America’s Cleveland chapter.

Chief growth officer Marketing AI Institute Scope of work: Cathy McPhillips leads growth efforts for the institute, as well as for MIACON, an AI-related marketing event.

Biggest career win: As a guest lecturer throughout Northeast Ohio, McPhillips shares her valuable insights on marketing, business and innovation.

Community or industry contributions: McPhillips has leadership roles on the marketing advisory boards of Team NEO and Ohio University.

Vice president, communications and marketing manager Premier Bank Scope of work: Alicia Miller develops cohesive marketing and communication strategies and campaigns that align with the bank’s business goals.

Biggest career win: Through Miller’s work, the institution enjoyed a 14% year-over-year positive increase in how employees view corporate communications at Premier.

Community or industry contributions: Miller sits on the board of Inspiring Minds, an after-school and summer enrichment program for underserved K-12 youth.

12 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | December 9, 2024

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Michael Miller

Tamra Moroski

Patricia Persico

Sandra Reid

Danielle Render

Director of global communications Park Place Technologies Scope of work: Michael Miller manages content execution at Park Place, with responsibilities including monitoring all marketing-related messaging.

Biggest career win: Miller helped establish a company intranet that brings daily news to more than 2,200 employees.

Community or industry contributions: Miller is active in the community, volunteering with United Way and serving as a PTA member in the Lakewood City Schools.

Director of partnerships, Marketing AI Institute Scope of work: Tamra Moroski collaborates with leading tech companies to deliver actionable insights on the future of artificial intelligence.

Biggest career win: Moroski has enjoyed standing-room crowds for mindfulness sessions at venues including the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.

Community or industry contributions: Moroski, a certified yoga instructor, founded Last Call CLE, a “sober-curious” social community centered around yoga.

Senior director of corporate communications, Cleveland-Cliffs Scope of work: Patricia Persico manages corporate communications at Cleveland-Cliffs, the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America.

Biggest career win: Persico played a key role in leading employees through company changes following the acquisitions of AK Steel and ArcelorMittal USA in 2020.

Community or industry contributions: Persico serves on the strategic communications council for the American Iron and Steel Institute and the board of Ohio Contemporary Ballet.

Vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning, The Davey Tree Expert Company Scope of work: Sandra Reid has worked in numerous corporate communications and marketing capacities since joining Davey Tree in 1986.

Biggest career win: Reid led community and governmental engagement around the company’s forthcoming SEED (Science, Employee Education and Development) campus.

Community or industry contributions: Reid’s board positions include the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Portage Development Board.

Director of public affairs Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency Scope of work: With NOACA, Danielle Render manages a $1.2 million budget in areas encompassing communications, branding, special events and public records.

Biggest career win: Through Render’s efforts, NOACA won its first Granicus Digital Award for excellence in the communications field.

Community or industry contributions: Render is active in the community and coaches nonprofits on how to improve public engagement and participation.

Congratulations Emily Mayock on this well-deserved recognition for your leadership in University Marketing and Communications and your contributions to CWRU.

Connecting Talent with Opportunity From top talent to top employers, Crain’s Career Center is the next step in your hiring process or job search.

Get started today!

CrainsCleveland.com/CareerCenter

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NOTABLE LEADERS IN COMMUNICATIONS

Karin Rice

Stacie Schmidt

Lorraine Schuchart

Melanie Shakarian

Jacob Sinatra

Owner and managing editor FreshWater Cleveland/ FreshWater Media Scope of work: Karin Rice contributes to FreshWater’s success by managing marketing initiatives, building brand awareness, securing sponsorships and overseeing editorial content.

Biggest career win: Rice started at FreshWater as a freelance writer, progressing to the role of editor before taking the publication’s helm in 2023.

Community or industry contributions: Rice leverages her business network to raise awareness and secure donor support for the homeless community.

Vice president of marketing and communications Stark Enterprises Scope of work: Stacie Schmidt leads an eight-person marketing team in the promotion of the real estate company’s expanding portfolio.

Biggest career win: Among other accomplishments, Schmidt harnessed national media coverage for the launch of a security robot at Crocker Park.

Community or industry contributions: As vice president of the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, Schmidt helps lead initiatives that support local businesses.

Founder and CEO Prosper for Purpose Scope of work: Lorraine Schuchart’s boutique branding, development and digital marketing agency assists purpose-driven brands in increasing their influence and impact.

Biggest career win: Schuchart led a successful test campaign for 1% for the Planet, a nonprofit that encourages businesses to give 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.

Community or industry contributions: Schuchart’s past board involvement includes the local chapters of the Public Relations Society of America and Conscious Capitalism.

Director of development and communications The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland Scope of work: Melanie Shakarian is responsible for all organizational communications at the Legal Aid Society, including client outreach, social media and maintaining brand identity.

Biggest career win: Shakarian’s recent “Campaign for Legal Aid” effort resulted in a 30% staff increase, along with expanded partnerships and the opening of a new office space.

Community or industry contributions: Shakarian’s board work with Cleveland Public Library helps promote social justice throughout the community.

Director of grantmaking strategy and communications Cuyahoga Arts & Culture Scope of work: Jacob Sinatra oversees external communications and outreach at CAC, managing relationships with 300 nonprofits and $12 million in annual grants.

Biggest career win: Sinatra’s strategic communications framework fosters a seamless information exchange among the organization, residents and arts nonprofits.

Community or industry contributions: Sinatra was a vocal supporter of Issue 55, a measure that funds CAC’s contributions to the local creative scene.

Jean Smith

Matt Soble

Brian Sooy

Stacey Vaselaney

Lauren Welch

Director of administration and external affairs Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Scope of work: Jean Smith’s responsibilities encompass NEORSD’s nationally recognized education, social media and public outreach efforts.

Biggest career win: Smith joined in promoting the organization’s River Reborn campaign, representing a milestone in the Cuyahoga River’s revitalization.

Community or industry contributions: Smith co-chairs the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Communications Committee, where she leads the group’s clean water communication strategies.

Owner and founder BrandDog Scope of work: Matt Soble drives results at BrandDog, a digital marketing agency on track to reach $1 million in revenue by the end of 2024.

Biggest career win: In less than a year, Soble assembled a talented team to deliver customized solutions and continued client success.

Community or industry contributions: Soble is a committed board member of Milestones Autism Resources, where he supports autistic individuals in reaching their full potential.

President Aespire Scope of work: Brian Sooy empowers independent and family-owned business owners to achieve sustainable growth.

Biggest career win: Aespire recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, a milestone that few creative firms achieve.

Community or industry contributions: Sooy supports various industry associations on branding, marketing and customer engagement strategies.

Founder and president SLV Public Relations, LLC Scope of work: Stacey Vaselaney manages public relations and communications for middle-market clients spanning a variety of industries.

Biggest career win: In collaboration with numerous local partners, Vaselaney developed a comprehensive media strategy for the 2024 solar eclipse in Cleveland.

Community or industry contributions: Vaselaney is a founding member of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, which offers formerly incarcerated adults opportunities in the hospitality industry.

Assistant director of communications Say Yes Cleveland Scope of work: Lauren Welch leads communications for Say Yes Cleveland, a nonprofit dedicated to providing Cleveland students with financial support for their college education.

Biggest career win: Welch played a key role in marketing “Education Forward,” a report highlighting disparities in regional learning.

Community or industry contributions: Beyond her client work, Welch hosts workshops for small businesses interested in elevating their profiles.

METHODOLOGY: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. This list, which is not comprehensive, includes only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after a review by editors. To qualify for the list, nominees must: Be employed within the industry for a minimum of 5 years; make an impact through his/her/their role and continue to have the power to effect change; make significant contributions within the industry and/or community; assume a leadership position outside of the candidate’s own organization or company, including professional organizations, civic/community service initiatives, philanthropic activities, mentoring programs and diversity and inclusion efforts. They must live and work in the Northeast Ohio area. Their profiles were written from the nomination materials submitted.

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UA cuts would mean drastic changes for polymer program

By Andrew Schunk, Rubber News

As the University of Akron begins a retrenchment process that proposes the elimination of 35 full-time faculty positions, the College of Engineering and Polymer Science could see some of the most drastic changes.

"The mood is somber right now," Toni Bisconti, president of the Akron chapter of the American Association of University Professors, told Rubber News Nov. 26.

"Faculty members are frustrated, confused, demoralized ... especially those of us who went through the rift in 2020, thinking that would be the last tenured downsizing and having full-time faculty members eliminated. But this is a scary time.

"That being said, I am trying to ensure our members that this is the beginning of a process, not the end of a process."

University of Akron President R.J. Nemer said the retrenchment process, which officially began Nov. 19, is necessary to combat declining enrollment and tuition revenue.

"Demographic shifts will continue to put pressure on our institution," Nemer said in a Nov. 19 letter to John Wiencek, executive vice president and provost. "Lower enrollment has resulted in significantly reduced state subsidies that substantially impacted the (fiscal year) 2025 budget.

"This will unfortunately involve the reduction of bargaining unit faculty positions at the university.

We will be adjusting the number of the faculty to meet current student demand within our various degree offerings."

About 10 full-time positions are proposed for elimination in the School of Polymer Science and Engineering (within the College of Engineering and Polymer Science), one of the flagship departments at UA. Another five positions would be eliminated in the Chemical, Biomolecular and Corrosion Engineering Department.

And the retrenchment proposes to combine the School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering; the Chemical, Biomolecular and Corrosion Engineering Department; and the Department of Chemistry into one entity.

Mark Soucek, interim director of the School of Polymer Science and Engineering, did not return calls seeking comment.

"When this was initially put out, they wanted 15 positions out of that new merger," Bisconti said, adding that three positions are from corrosion engineering, which is set to close permanently.

"We have known that there have been concerns about some of the departments decreasing in enrollment, and others not operating as efficiently as they can be running, since the beginning of the semester ... but no specifics have been put out there until now."

Besides the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, the retrenchment will affect fac-

to know whether we can remove someone else from the list."

The current collective bargaining agreement between the AAUP, which represents more than 400 full-time UA faculty members, and the university expires in mid-2026.

Meet funding commitments

The National Polymer Innovation Center at the University of Akron could see some of the most drastic changes as the school begins a retrenchment process that proposes the elimination of 35 full-time faculty positions. | UNIVERSITY OF AKRON PHOTOS

Cleveland Business Nov. 26, a Rubber News sister brand. "We have just recently started to work closely with the faculty union to begin the process of retrenchment. Although recommendations have been made to release faculty positions in some academic areas through this process, these numbers have the capacity to be adjusted in some areas if individuals from these departments agree to the voluntary separations offered by the university or other avenues are identified as the university and the AAUP work together during these discussions."

Bisconti said human resource departments are working hard to recognize the strengths of each faculty member, and whether their elimination is a good cost-cut— Brian Anderson, vice president of the Polymer Industry ting measure.

Cluster for the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce Upwards of 20 (early retirements/separations) "But the numbers they are start- have been proposed so far, she ing with are not the numbers we said.

If a full-time faculty member is a will end with. .... My hope is this will all be negotiated in good year from retirement, the early separation package probably faith."

Both the administration and makes sense, Bisconti said.

"If that is the situation, it is union have left the door open to early separations, taking the place probably a good decision, a nobrainer," she said. "They could even of full-time faculty cuts.

"The university is exploring get some perks by electing to do it.

"But it's tougher for those who strategies to reduce the fiscal year 2025-26 structural budget defi- are three to four years out. This cit," Tammy Ewin, vice president forces their hand. We do not have and chief communications and a firm answer on whether we have marketing officer, told Crain's a certain amount of retirees yet, ulty within the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences.

In aggregate, seven departments between two colleges could be affected, Bisconti said.

The anthropology and physics departments are set to be eliminated entirely.

"The proposal is just that. ... It does not mean that's the final decision," Bisconti said. "Physics had already suspended their enrollment, so perhaps that was a low-hanging fruit for them.

“They have given us every indication that they are committed to strengthening UA’s polymer program even while they address enrollment declines.”

From a funding perspective, the University of Akron said it will meet its responsibilities to the Polymer Industry Cluster, EDA Tech Hubs award and the Ohio Department of Development Innovation Hub, regardless of the retrenchment plan.

"The university will meet its commitments ... to these areas of work force development and research and development efforts," Ewin said.

Brian Anderson, vice president of the Polymer Industry Cluster for the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce, has spearheaded efforts to gain more than $80 million in state and federal funding for the sustainability efforts of the polymer cluster.

"They have given us every indication that they are committed to strengthening UA's polymer program even while they address enrollment declines," Anderson said.

"They've also indicated that the results of the current process will not impede their ability to meet their obligations to the Polymer Industry Cluster, including with the Tech Hub and Innovation Hub awards."

The process Retrenchment follows a specific process, as dictated by the collective bargaining agreement between the university and AAUP. A retrenchment can be triggered, among other parameters detailed in the CBA, by falling enrollment for five straight semesters.

And UA enrollment has cascaded in the last decade, from 25,177 students in 2015 to 14,813 in 2024, according to the university website.

"The beginning of retrenchment Nov. 19 triggered two clocks," Bis-

conti said. "One is that a joint committee must formed within five days."

The AAUP will name three members to the committee on retrenchment, Bisconti said, while Nemer has named Senior Vice Provost Gwen Price, Dean Dan Friesner and Dean Emily JanoskiHaehlen to the group, according to the president's letter.

The second clock that is ticking, Bisconti said, is for department heads to submit alternative suggestions to retrenchment. That deadline now is set for Jan. 13.

Other circumstances that may require retrenchment are enumerated in the CBA and include: ◗ "Modification, elimination or suspension leading to elimination of an academic program that require the reduction or replacement of bargaining unit faculty; ◗ "Reorganization of departments, schools or colleges that reduces the need for bargaining unit faculty by improving efficiency; and ◗ "Action by the Ohio Department of Higher Education or Ohio General Assembly which requires the University to implement a retrenchment."

"I have determined that, pursuant to Article 15, Section 1 of the CBA, retrenchment is necessary, as one or more of the circumstances listed above currently exists or could exist in some academic units or the University as a whole," Nemer writes.

The university also has taken "austerity measures" to reduce costs, Nemer writes, part of its due diligence before retrenchment is enacted.

Nemers said the university will: ◗ Reduce athletic expenditures by approximately $1.7 million for fiscal year 2025; ◗ Privatize parking on campus through UAkronPark; ◗ "(Explore) opportunities to similarly privatize residence hall operations for similar reasons;" ◗ Reduce the president's office budget through reduced spending and reducing the number of positions. According to a local news report, Nemer already has cut $800,000 from the Office of the President; ◗ Transfer university police dispatch duties to UAPD dispatch operations downtown; and ◗ Revise its scholarship modeling to "significantly increase tuition revenue."

The committee's advisory recommendations must be submitted to Nemer within 30 days, according to the UA president's letter.

Nemer will suggest his own cuts during that time, which will be submitted along with the AAAU's recommendations to the Board of Trustees for a final determination, according to Nemer's letter.

The deadline for the joint committee to submit recommendations to the Board of Trustees is by the beginning of February 2025, while the board is expected to make a final decision on the proposed cuts in March 2025.

Andrew Schunk writes for Crain's sister brand Rubber News.

December 9, 2024 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 15

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GATEWAY From Page 1

Council President Blaine Griffin worked on a deal over the Thanksgiving holiday to reallocate a total of $15 million in general obligation bonds funds and unspent ARPA dollars funds for the estimated $40 million in approved work at Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

“We're using approximately five projects that the money is not needed for this December,” Griffin said on Dec. 2.

“This is not eliminating any projects whatsoever," he added. "We have identified these projects as ones in which we have already borrowed and do not need the money this year.”

The ARPA funds were slated for a minority business program but were Griffin not committed during the current year.

Councilman Anthony Hairston pointed out the irony of using small-business funds to compensate professional sports teams.

“The true purpose of those dollars is to help minority businesses scale up to participate on these projects happening around the city of Cleveland. My big concern is that we are taking money from that project,” Hairston said. “I just want some assurances that we have a path forward to fund that minority business credit moving to next year.”

Griffin, who voted to approve the measure, made it clear that

continuing to make up huge, unexpected shortfalls for maintenance on the city-owned professional sports facilities was not something he or other council members are eager to continue.

Polensek told Cleveland Cavaliers and Guardian representatives during the Finance Committee hearing, “You just can't keep coming to the table with your hands out,” adding that after promises from the 1990s that Gateway would add 28,000 new jobs, “it doesn’t work like that anymore.”

The committee on Dec. 2 also heard from the city of Cleveland’s Emily Collins, who presented a plan to address part of the Gateway funding gap created by construction cost increases and a lack of corresponding growth in the county’s sin tax revenue.

She said the administration is already in discussions with Gateway and the teams about using a Gateway New Community Authority (NCA), which allows for flexible fees and charges to be collected from consenting property owners in a specific area.

“It's a piece of the revenue puzzle that can't fill the entire gap on its own, but it is within the exclusive control of the city to create and set in the motion,” Collins told council.

An NCA could help stabilize Gateway, but there are no good estimates yet on what kind of revenue the quasi-governmental agency could bring in annually, and it will take a minimum of three to four months to stand up

before any fees are collected.

The NCA timeline concerned council members who worry that there is another $30 million ask from Gateway in the works. Griffin said there will be no more funding from the city until a full facilities conditions assessment study is completed and other revenue sources researched.

Griffin warned that he would not put a measure on the schedule until "some of these things that we are asking about are clarified, until we get some real factual information.”

He added, “I just want to make it clear that, as long as I'm council president, until I have some clarification on how we're moving forward, it's going to be tough for the team to come back to me or this council for anything.”

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Cuyahoga County Council will vote on its own $2.85 million transfer of general funds to Gateway as part of the capital repair deficits.

The total city and county funds needed to meet the legal obligations between Gateway and the teams is key to keeping the leases in compliance and any delay in funding means repairs that need to be made in the off-season are delayed, Griffin told council when asked if the vote on the funds should be delayed again.

“As hard and tough as it is for us to pass this, I believe it is only responsible for this council to do this so that we can avoid spending even more money that will probably wind up having to pony up for expensive litigation, and potential … that we would end up with a stadium and trying to figure out an end user,” Griffin said.

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16 | MB CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESSx| 6.indd DECEMBER Ad_Tom Stanton_Crains-6 1 9, 2024

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CONSUMERS From Page 1

The impacts were still being felt this year. For its 2024 fiscal year, which ended June 30, Consumers posted $8.6 million in net income, a nearly 20% decrease from the prior year.

But Lober said he feels like the business is beginning to turn a corner.

“Margins bottomed out. Deposit costs have stabilized and started to come down pretty rapidly. And we’re seeing loan demand start to stabilize and pick back up,” he said, highlighting mortgage volumes that were up in the company’s first quarter for FY 2025 (July to September) by more than 20%.

Now, with some pent-up loan demand anticipated and some general momentum behind it, Lober said it’s a great time for the bank to continue expanding its reach in Northeast Ohio. That includes the opening of a new branch in Massillon in the first quarter of 2025, which will mark the 22nd location in Consumers' footprint.

Consumers presence while also building on its budding presence in Summit County, where the bank currently has just two locations.

This all comes while Consumers excels in serving many rural market areas.

“Our footprint is crazy diverse from very small communities to agricultural communities to metropolitan areas,” Lober said. “You name it, we’ve got it in our market somewhere.”

But stronger growth is likely to come in the larger and busier markets, which is why the bank is looking to grow in Summit and Mahoning counties.

Despite the challenges, Consumers has demonstrated an ability to grow slowly and steadily over the years.

About 55% of the bank’s growth in total assets has occurred since 2018. And since June 2019, Consumers’ legal lending limit has nearly doubled from $8 million to $14.8 million, giving it the ability to participate in much bigger deals than it could just several years ago.

As the bank plots a course to additional growth, Lober and his board also are increasingly open to M&A deals in the coming year as part of its business strategy.

Consumer’s last bank acquisition came in 2019 with the roll-up of Peoples Bancorp of Mount Pleasant Inc., the parent of The Peoples National Bank of Mount Pleasant. That deal, valued at $10.3 million, deepened the bank’s presence in Jefferson County.

The bank also bought a couple of branches from CF Bank in 2021, building on its network in Columbiana County.

But opportunities for other bank deals could increase for Consumers as small banks consider selling to a larger outfit in what is still a relatively challenging and costly banking environment and as Consumers’ stock price increases, enhancing its buying power. The bank’s stock (OTCMKTS: CBKM) is currently trading around $18.60, up from a recent low of about $15 in fall 2023.

“We are willing to grow on our own if nothing comes up,” Lober said, referring to M&A deals. “But we do think there could be opportunities as the stock price improves and margins stabilize.”

But don’t expect Consumers — whose history traces back to 1965 — to be in the market as a seller.

“We are committed to remaining independent and providing returns to our shareholders but also doing what is best for our communities,” Lober said. “I’m a firm believer in community banking and what community banks can do for local communities. And I think we can provide returns for our shareholders and provide that community impact that community banks are known for.

That is our future."

“We do think there is some pent-up demand that will start coming around 2025 and beyond.”

— Ralph Lober II, president and CEO of Consumers National Bank That next location will also be its ninth in Stark County where the bank of just $1.1 billion in assets ranks as the sixth-largest bank by deposit market share behind much larger companies like Huntington Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank and KeyBank.

“That is one of the larger cities in Stark County that we didn’t have a presence in,” Lober said.

“We are really excited about that market and we think it fits very, very well with the rest of where we are.”

Lober describes his thinking behind growth as blowing up a balloon with Stark County at the center. The bank has a physical presence in five other neighboring counties with Columbiana being its second largest.

“There are markets in say, Summit County, Jefferson County and Mahoning County that are gaps we would like to fill over time,” Lober said.

The bank is still expanding its team as it looks to further penetrate some of those key areas and capitalize on some potentially increased loan demand.

“We do think there is some pent-up demand that will start coming around 2025 and beyond,” Lober said. “So we are hiring more commercial lenders, more mortgage originators, and we just hired another indirect dealer representative.”

The bank has a loan production office in Boardman that Lober says has been doing well — and banks will often follow those with physical branches. Indeed, Lober said Mahoning County is a region where he wants to increase the

11/26/24 3:40 PM

12/6/24 11:00 AM

By Paige Bennett

Saint Ignatius High School landed a $5 million gift from the parents of three alumni to support its ongoing Vision ‘30 Capital Campaign.

The gift, announced Dec. 3, comes from Lou Joseph, president and CEO of The Brewer-Garrett Company, which specializes in energy services, HVAC services, and design-build construction, and his wife, Valerie. The couple’s sons Matthew, David and Garrett attended the private Jesuit high school in Ohio City.

Their gift will “directly support the construction and renovation of academic facilities designed to foster collaboration, intellectual

growth and character formation,” according to Saint Ignatius.

“Saint Ignatius is a place where young men are not only educated but transformed,” Lou Joseph said in a statement. “This school shapes students into thoughtful, kind and service-minded leaders who will leave their mark on the world. It is an honor to support the mission of Saint Ignatius and the incredible educators and staff who make it possible.”

The Josephs’ contribution puts Saint Ignatius past $41 million in total fundraising toward the Vision ‘30 campaign, Jeff McCormick, vice president of marketing, enrollment and communications, said in a phone interview. The

school set fundraising goals of $50 million to support capital improvements and another $50 million to help build its endowment.

McCormick said 75% of the funds raised so far are for construction.

“Lou & Valerie Joseph’s generosity is a testament to their belief in our mission," the Rev. Ray Guiao, president and chief mission officer at Saint Ignatius, said in a statement. “They recognize that the process of forming Men for Others—who embody faith, leadership, service, and compassion— depends on the extraordinary work of our faculty and staff. This gift will impact every student who walks through our doors and every teacher who helps guide them.”

SAINT IGNATIUS

Saint Ignatius awarded $5M gift

Saint Ignatius announced the public phase of its Vision ‘30 campaign in January, along with a $10 million gift from Brittan and Fred DiSanto to fund a new academic wing on the school’s campus. That project is under construction and slated to open in 2025. Last week, the school opened the renovated Schott Library, Walton Center, Center for Ignatian Pedagogy and

new school and college counseling office as part of the campaign.

Saint Ignatius said it’s focused on “preparing its students for the challenges of tomorrow” through Vision ‘30. Along with new construction, the campaign is centered around “enhancing student mental health resources, expanding accessibility for families and fostering academic and spiritual excellence.”

Private Travel Made Easy!

Two of the four buildings on The City Mission’s Laura’s Home Women’s Crisis Center campus for the Rothstein Village Transitional Housing for Families. Each of the buildings has four units. | ALEXANDRA GOLDEN

HOUSING

The transitional housing program is open to families who have been at Laura’s Home for alFrom Page 1 most a year and have graduated Construction costs alone were from the program.

When it comes to the “fee” of $3.8 million, said Michael Hahn, chief operating officer of The City living in transitional housing, Mission, but the goal was to gen- Hahn said they like to talk about erate the $4.2 million to cover two it as if they are paying themselves. years' worth of operating expens- So while the tenants will be living es. Laura’s Home worked with in the transitional housing for Ryan Bodine of Caliber Construc- “free” — Laura’s Home is covertion — which was also the archi- ing the cost and utilities — the tect for the project — and plans mothers will have a mandatory are both “on budget” and on savings account in which 20% of their income will be placed every time, Hahn said. month.

“The primary focus of this program is financial stability,” Hahn said. “You — Michael Hahn, chief operating officer of The City Mission have to have a minimum of $15.90 an Rothstein Village includes hour job in order to move in, but four buildings, each having four, then that's just the start.”

The goal is that when families 1,000-square-foot units with three bedrooms and two full graduate from the program, they bathrooms each. The units can have “livable income, not just inserve families of various sizes, come” which makes it “highly debut it's “going to be a case by pendent” on the mother building case for families about how a budget with a caseworker and we navigate actual placement,” working with their employer to set goals for employment, Hahn Hahn said.

While families will not be en- said.

According to the National Low tering the units until 2025, they already have four families that Income Housing Coalition and have gone through the applica- the Coalition on Homelessness tion process and are in the transi- and Housing in Ohio, Clevelandtional housing program current- ers need to make $21.31 an hour ly, where they can stay for 18 to 24 to afford a two-bedroom apartment. months, he said.

“The primary focus of this program is financial stability.”

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EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

After graduating from the transitional housing program, families enter the New Horizons Program, which helps mothers get permanent housing through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. (Before plans for Rothstein Village, this program was the next step after graduating from Laura’s Home.) At the end of the program, the mothers receive the title to the homes, free and clear.

Until now, the nonprofit has only been able to help one to two families a year — the program has placed 12 mothers in permanent housing in the 10 years the program has existed — but the new spaces could raise that number to potentially at least eight a year, Hahn said.

The City Mission has been in Cleveland for 114 years, but Laura’s Home has been operating in Cleveland since 2003. Laura’s Home has had a waitlist for a decade and receives 38 calls every day from women seeking shelter in crisis, Pelaia said.

According to Hahn, over 6,000 individuals contacted Laura’s Home last year, but it was only able to serve around 700, as it only has 166 beds. The new housing will expand on that.

“By being able to provide 16 mothers with continued care, we can also open our doors to that many more new families,” Pelaia said.

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To place your listing in Crain’s Cleveland Classifieds, contact Suzanne Janik at 313-446-0455 or email sjanik@crain.com

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ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING

AD TODAY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The City of Berea, Ohio announces a Request for Proposals for Real Estate Development Team for the re-use and redevelopment of City owned property in the Front Street & North Rocky River Drive Corridor.

This Request is intended to provide an opportunity for interested developers to demonstrate their vision, capability and experience in redeveloping this site. Responses are due by Monday, February 3, 2025 at Noon EST. To obtain a copy of the RFP please visit: https://cityofberea.org/1674/RFP-Front-Street-North-Rocky-River-Drive DECEMBER 9, 2024 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 17

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE 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 ADVERTISING / MARKETING

CONSTRUCTION

Falls & Co

Ohio CAT

Falls & Co. welcomes Matt Barkett as Senior Vice President & Managing Director of Corporate Communications. A 30-year veteran in agency and corporate roles, Barkett specializes in crisis communications, media relations, executive transitions, and corporate transactions. With an MBA and a BA from the University of Colorado, he brings extensive expertise and a strong network to Falls’ award-winning marketing and public relations agency, further enhancing its leadership in corporate communications.

We are excited to welcome Greta Foster as Ohio CAT’s new Director of Power Systems Sales & Energy Transition.

Greta brings extensive experience from Eaton’s Electrical business in addition to various strategic roles within John Deere’s Ag Division. With an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, she is well-equipped to lead Ohio CAT’s Commercial Engine Sales Team. We look forward to her leadership in meeting the growing demand for reliable power solutions in Ohio.

Welcome, Greta!

FINANCIAL SERVICES

LAW

Ancora

Frantz Ward

Ancora is happy to announce the promotion of Stephen Forlani, JD to a Senior Vice President of Financial Planning.

Steve joined Ancora in 2021 to expand the capabilities of Ancora’s Estate & Wealth Planning team where he provides guidance to the firm’s Private Wealth clients. Steve brings previous experience as an attorney and financial analyst after earning a BS in Economics from Miami University and JD from Case Western Reserve University. Our congratulations to Steve on his promotion.

Frantz Ward is pleased to announce the return of Mia L. Garcia to the firm as Of Counsel.

Mia advises clients on cannabis regulations, licensing, and operations in the medical, adult-use, and hemp markets and has extensive experience in contracting and compliance in highly regulated industries. She graduated cum laude with her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2017 and received her B.A. from University of California, Davis in 2012.

LAW

LEGAL

MANUFACTURING

Kastner Westman & Wilkins

Benesch

Reese Pharmaceutical

The Fairlawn-based boutique labor and employment law firm promoted Patrick M. Watts to Shareholder.

Watts, an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law, joined K|W|W in 2023 with more than 15 years of experience focused on employer-side labor and employment law litigation and counseling. Watts represents publicly traded, private sector and public sector employers on a broad range of employment law matters.

Hannah Laubach is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group in the Cleveland office. She centers her practice on complex litigation matters, focusing on commercial and contractual disputes. She protects her clients’ interests by providing practical guidance that aligns with their business goals.

During law school, she externed with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas and at the Ohio Supreme Court in Justice Jennifer Brunner’s chambers.

Reese is proud to welcome Matt Stem as Director of Operations. In his new role, Matt will manage the operational and distribution objectives of the business. He is a seasoned operational leader positioned to help lead the growth of the century-old Reese family business. Reese manufactures private label OTC drugs and supplements for retailers across the country and employs more than 60 individuals between their two Cleveland facilities.

LEGAL LAW

Kastner Westman & Wilkins Fairlawn-based boutique labor and employment law firm Kastner Westman & Wilkins added Jared B. Thomson and Thomson Paul J. Neel as Associates.

Thomson pursued a law career after honorably serving in the U.S. Air Force. The former assistant prosecutor in Geauga County represents K|W|W clients in a broad range of labor and employment law matters.

Neel began his career in academia as an English professor before transitioning to Neel law. Since graduating law school in 2019, he has practiced business and employment law and served as a judicial attorney for Judge Mary Jane Boyle of the Eighth District Court of Appeals. At K|W|W, he represents employers on an array of workplace issues, from contract disputes to complex litigation.

Benesch Alexa Shook is an Associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group. She represents public and private companies, as well as private equity Shook funds and their portfolio companies. Her practice spans domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate restructurings, and other strategic deals.

Roger Boyer is an Associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group. He focuses his practice on Boyer mergers and acquisitions, representing both buyers and sellers. He has assisted with multiple high-value M&A transactions and brings experience drafting a wide range of legal and transactional documents.

LAW FINANCIAL SERVICES

Thompson Hine LLP Jackson Lewis P.C.

Ancora We are happy to announce that Louis Preseren, CFP ® has been promoted to a Vice President of Financial Planning.

Louis joined Ancora in 2023 and has been dedicated to serving both clients and advisors as part of Ancora’s Estate & Wealth Planning team. Louis has prior experience as a wealth management analyst and client service associate after earning a BBA in Financial Planning from the University of Akron. We wish Louis congratulations and continued success on behalf of the entire Ancora team.

Stephanie E. Harley has joined national employment law firm Jackson Lewis as a principal in its Cleveland office.

She assists clients in working through complex personnel decisions, from daily operations to significant organizational challenges. By understanding her client’s business, risk tolerance and priorities, Stephanie helps them achieve their goals. She has also successfully defended numerous high-profile matters involving employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims.

18 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | December 9, 2024

Thompson Hine LLP proudly announces that Tony White, the firm’s Managing Partner, has been appointed to the boards of The Cleveland Orchestra and Greater Cleveland Partnership. These roles reflect his leadership, dedication to Cleveland, and commitment to fostering growth. His work with the Orchestra highlights his passion for the arts, while his GCP role underscores his focus on advancing Cleveland’s economic vitality.

Reese Pharmaceutical Reese Pharmaceutical welcomes Tachieka Williams as Director of Human Resources.

Tachieka has over nine years of HR experience supporting all functional areas of human resources with a focus on employee engagement, employee relations, training & development, DEI, and recruitment. Tachieka received her MBA from Baldwin Wallace University with an emphasis on Human Resources Management.

Tachieka looks to strengthen the family-like culture at Reese and provide a welcoming atmosphere for employees.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

AES Building Services LAW

MANUFACTURING

AES Building Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Tenney as General Manager.

With over 30 years of expertise in building optimization, data intelligence, and capital project development, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and proven leadership to our team. In his role, Brian will oversee all facets of facility management, leveraging his deep industry experience to collaborate with clients and deliver customized strategies that enhance operational efficiency and meet their unique goals.

TECHNOLOGY

FIT Technologies FIT Technologies congratulates Jason Collins on being named Chief Information Security Officer. He recently earned the globally recognized Certified Information Security Systems Professional certification which is regarded as the premier cybersecurity professional credential. Jason has more than 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and supporting solutions across various platforms. His passion is strengthening client information, cyber, and technology security.

CrainsCleveland.com President and CEO KC Crain Group publisher Jim Kirk (312) 397-5503 or jkirk@crain.com

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