Community Leader - February 2023

INSIDE

+ Hispanic Leaders

Address Challenges

+ Investing in our Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

+ Bringing the Bling

Creating a Cuyahoga Vision

New County Executive Chris Ronayne addresses his initiatives

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

2 From the Publisher

46 My Life

48 1000 Words

UPFRONT

5 New Leadership for Parker Hannifin

Parmentier maintains steady hand at the helm

BY TERRY TROY

6 Flashing Some Bling

See how on entrepreneur turned her passion into a successful jewelry business.

BY CHRISTINA EASTER

8 Pitching a Winning Game

Cleveland Chain Reaction announces winners of annual competition.

BY TERRY TROY

12 A New Look for an Old River

The Cuyahoga will get a facelift, but it may take 30 years.

BY TERRY TROY

14 Team NEO Expands its Board

Learn how new members will strengthen Team NEO’s presence in the Mahoning Valley.

BY TERRY TROY

16 Executives Earn Humanitarian Award

Meet local leaders who are fostering diversity.

BY ALEX EMERSON

22 COVER STORY

22 Creating a Cuyahoga Vision

Get the scoop on the latest county initiatives from new county executive Chris Ronayne.

BY LINDA FEAGLER

COLUMNS

18 Silence is Hate’s Best Friend

Lee Fisher believes we are stronger as a whole when we advocate for everyone equally.

20 Out of This Workplace

Pat Perry says managers and workers should ask themselves these basic questions to improve their businesses.

COMMUNITY

26 Expanding Opportunities

Find out how leaders are addressing challenges facing Cleveland’s Hispanic community.

BY JILL SELL

32 Addressing Racial Disparities

Dr. Gregory Hall and NIAAH are working to combat racial health disparities.

BY RHONDA CROWDER

35 Helping Out

The NEORSD is dedicated to helping communities with cost-effective sewer infrastructure plans.

BY JILL SELL

36 A Pathway for Future Educators

Discover new programs at Baldwin Wallace that are helping to expand the teacher workforce.

BY JILL SELL

38 Partnering to Help Seniors

See how McGregor is addressing the need for trained, skilled health care professionals.

BY LINDA FEAGLER

39 Building on its Mission

Habitat for Humanity continues its growth in Northeast Ohio.

BY JOANNE CAHILL

BUSINESS

40 Promoting Entrepreneurs

Keys to creating and maintaining a vibrant economic ecosystem

BY

TERRY TROY

What You Measure Is What You Get

Years ago, I went to hear the chairman of Nabisco speak on the subject, “Managing a Successful Business.”

Since the weather was bad, I left the house early and arrived early to find the chairman and I were the only two people in the room.

This, I thought, was the opportunity of a lifetime to ask a question that would change my life forever. So I asked Mr. Nabisco: “If you could give me just one piece of advice today, what would it be?” Without hesitating he said, “Never start a project that cannot be measured, because what you measure will be what you get.”

Although it took a number of years for me to appreciate his advice, reading this issue of Community Leader reminds me of one of my great frustrations with Cleveland leadership over the years.

Our city has always been good at announcing goals it wants to accomplish, but it has been bad at informing the community of its progress accomplishing them.

The stories of the initiatives of new County Executive, Chris Ronayne; The Greater Cleveland Partnership; Team NEO; JumpStart; and JobsOhio are by any measure worthy. However, the question next year will be: What has happened to them?

The problem of a community knowing where it is and where it is going is as old as our country. It was Thomas Jefferson who said, “The best way to ensure a responsive government is to give citizens full information through the channel of public papers that penetrate the whole mass of the people,” and then he could not help adding, “and be capable of reading them.”

With the explosion of media into hundreds of sources of information, it is hard to envision what a common community voice would look like. But there should be no question about the importance of knowing at all times — Where We Are, Where We Have Been, Where Are We Going.

Executive Publisher Lute Harmon Sr.

Executive Editor Terry Troy

Managing Editor Jennifer Bowen Sima

Senior Editor Ann-Marie Vazzano

Managing Art Director Rayanne Medford

Art Directors Tom Abate

Lecia Landis

Megan Rosta

Contributing Writers Joanne Cahill

Rhonda Crowder

Christina Easter

Alex Emerson

Linda Feagler

Lee Fisher

Pat Perry

Jill Sell

Lynne Thompson

Terry Troy

Contributing Artists Ken Blaze

Erik Drost

Associate Publisher Denise Polverine

Vice President, Advertising Paul Klein

Senior Account Sarah Desmond Executives Tiffany Myroniak

Account Executive Julie Bialowas

Operations Manager Corey Galloway

Production Manager Alyson Moutz Cowan

Audience and Events Manager Jennifer Roberts

Chief Financial Officer George Sedlak

“Never start a project that cannot be measured, because what you measure will be what you get.”

— Mr. Nabisco

LEADERSHIP // BY TERRY TROY

New Leadership, Not a New Course

Jennifer Parmentier may have assumed the reins of Parker Hannifin Corp. last month, but she certainly isn’t changing direction. This Cleveland-based global leader in motion and control technologies is neither apologetic about that nor ready to change its philosophy when it comes to either products or executives.

And why should it be?

The company, which has been enabling engineering breakthroughs for more than a century, has also increased its annual dividend per share paid to its shareholders for 66 consecutive years. It’s hard to beat that kind of success.

At the beginning of the year, Parmentier succeeded Thomas L. Williams as CEO while Andrew Ross stepped into his new role as COO. As a part of the changes, Parker’s board also voted an increase in the size of the board from 12 to 13, with Parmentier as its newest member. Parmentier will report to the board of directors, while Williams plans to continue as its executive chairman through next year. Ross succeeds Parmentier as COO, reporting to Lee Banks, who remains vice chairman and president.

“Jenny and Andy bring extensive experience across Parker’s operating groups and regions, and each is a strong advocate for the power of The Win Strategy (Parker’s business system) in driving our operations to record performance and growth,” says Williams. “Together with Lee Banks and Todd Leombruno, our executive vice

president and chief financial officer, they will form the new Office of the Chief Executive and are the right team to lead Parker to achieve its FY27 performance targets.

“In coordination with the board, I have been planning this transition for many years and believe this is the right time to step down from the CEO position. It has truly been an honor to lead this great company.”

“Jenny and Andy will certainly have ideas about the direction they want to take the company, but given the record performance levels and the transformation of its portfolio, it’s clear that The Win Strategy has been working very effectively and will be the foundation for the company’s future success as well,” adds Aidan Gormley, director of Global Communications and Branding. “As senior leaders, Jenny and Andy have both been integral to the executive team for years and have been strategic contributors to the transformation of Parker’s portfolio and performance. As CEO and COO, they will continue to build on the journey Parker is on to achieve top quartile performance.”

Parmentier became COO in 2021 with responsibility for all of Parker’s operating

Parker’s Parmentier was the logical choice to take the lead.

groups. Previously, she was vice president and president — Motion Systems Group from 2019 to 2021 and vice president and president — Engineered Materials Group from 2015 to 2019, where she was responsible for all financial and strategic aspects of the global operations of those operating groups. Prior to those roles, she held a variety of operational roles including general manager of the Sporlan Division in the Instrumentation Group and general manager of the Hose Products Division in the Fluid Connectors Group.

During his 24-year career with the company, Ross has been vice president and president — Fluid Connectors Group since 2015. Previously, he was vice president and president — Engineered Materials Group from 2012 to 2015. Since joining Parker in 1998 as a product manager in the Engineered Materials Group, Ross has held various roles of progressing responsibility, including vice president of sales and marketing and general manager while in the Engineered Materials Group, and general manager and vice president of operations in the Motion Systems Group.

“I’m very excited to partner with Jenny, Lee and Todd and the entire leadership team as we collaborate to help Parker achieve its goals,” says Ross. “The operational improvements that Tom and Lee have established have led to historic levels of company performance. Yet we still see opportunities, and our plan will be to continue striving for operational excellence across all of our businesses with the support of our engaged and talented global team members.”

Jennifer A. Parmentier Andrew D. Ross

BUSINESS STARTUPS // BY CHRISTINA EASTER

Bring the Bling

Brittany Matthews grew up with parents who owned a jewelry store — you could say that bling was her destiny. In high school, Matthews worked as a licensed nail technician with a strong interest in gold and diamonds. She began throwing jewelry parties and pop-ups before starting House of B Jewels, located in GlenVillage in Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood.

In 2014, she created houseofbjewels.com to transition her jewelry business online and began contacting “influencers” to help promote her business. Matthews made jewelry for herself and her daughter, then posted pictures of them modeling their new pieces. This idea ended up being the golden parachute that took her business to the next level.

“An influencer in Atlanta contacted me and asked if I could make one for their son,” she says. “I said, ‘I most definitely can.’”

That changed everything.

Essence Lewis, owner of Style Bar Salon in Lyndhurst, also saw the post with Matthews and her daughter and contacted House of B Jewels.

“It was like a mommy-and-me thing, which I thought was so adorable,” Lewis says.

Matthews began featuring pop-ups in Lewis’s salon and was invited to the anniversary of the Style Bar to display her merchandise.

Matthews says that the Lord and Savior piece she created does well with women because it has a lot of stones. Also, sales were at least double as parents bought for themselves and one or more kids.

She built on this early success of the Lord and Savior piece by offering it in different sizes and materials. She also introduced the cross, which is called The Redeemer. At the time, she was on a journey of becoming more in touch with her spiritual side.

“I felt like that was God talking to me,” she says, “because I used to question myself,

[and ask] what am I doing? Then every time I would showcase the pieces for sale, they would sell out.”

After getting advice at a trade show, she enrolled in the University of Akron’s art program for metalworking. In 2020, Matthews received certificates in diamond grading and diamond setting from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the leading source of knowledge, standards and education in gems and jewelry. This additional knowledge allowed Matthews to offer custom jewelry, now representing about 20% of sales.

Lawrence Green, the owner of LML Ohio Properties, used House of B Jewels to make jewelry using his business logo.

“Matthews walked me through the process, which includes selecting the type of gold, quality of diamond, size and how long it would take,” Green says. “The piece came out very nice, and it’s a conversation starter every time I wear it.”

Betty Davis and her husband have become loyal customers since becoming residents of Glenville CircleNorth a couple of years ago. They say they enjoy being able to go downstairs to shop and eat.

“Since moving in, I have purchased gifts for my daughter, daughter-in-law and myself,” Davis says. “Brittany has taken care of us for all of the holidays. My husband knows I love jewelry and has purchased me gifts for Christmas, my birthday and other special holidays.”

Matthews continues to rely on “the hustle” and resiliency her parents taught her to survive in the retail business. “If you get so many ‘noes,’” she says, “at some point, you are guaranteed to get a ‘yes.’”

House of B Jewels grows beyond Glenville.

Brittany Matthews inside House of B Jewels.

If you get so many ‘noes,’ at some point, you are guaranteed to get a ‘yes.’”

– Brittany Matthews

LML Ohio Properties jewelry logo

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Online MLS in Cybersecurity & Data Privacy

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Coming Fall 2023: CSU|LAW will o er one of the first online part-time JD programs in the nation.

CSULAW.ORG

BY TERRY TROY

Pitch Perfect

The fifth season of Chain Reaction selects winners.

It was the culmination of the fifth season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, a small business pitch competition from the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE). The program celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit here in Northeast Ohio, recognizing our local dreamers who are passionate, resilient and, above all, possess the drive to succeed.

Fox 8 News’ “Kickin’ it with Kenny” was on hand to help celebrate, with host Kenny Crumpton loaded for bear with confetti cannons as the winners were announced.

Terranean Herbs & Spices, maker of authentic Za’atar seasoning and snacks, took home top honors as well as a check for $40,000. Three second-place winners, including CHVD JUSTIN, a retail bag and apparel company; Fuego Fermentations, a creator of high-quality, fermented premium barbecue and hot sauces; and Micah Specialty Foods, a manufacturer of authentic Ghanaian/African spices, sauces and beverages, took home checks of $10,000 each.

The 16 remaining semifinalists received $1,800 grants funded by Cleveland Chain

Reaction partners Bedrock, JumpStart, KeyBank and MAGNET. Bedrock also offered all businesses free tenancy at a Tower City Center kiosk during an event day within the first six months of 2023.

“This has been an exciting season of Cleveland Chain Reaction featuring 20 entrepreneurs who are passionate, resilient and have a drive to succeed,” says Megan E. Kim, executive director of COSE and senior vice president, membership development and marketing at GCP. “It was difficult to narrow down the competition to the top three businesses, so we decided to invest in the top four and award grants to the remaining

semifinalists. But this isn’t the end. COSE and our partners will continue to work with the businesses to help them attain their growth goals.”

“Bedrock’s partnership with COSE and the Cleveland Chain Reaction competition helps us to empower entrepreneurial talent to continue to grow Cleveland,” says Ivy Greaner, executive vice president and COO at Bedrock. “We’re dedicated to supporting the downtown community through our efforts with our Cleveland community partner organizations that support companies through all stages of planning, helping to bring diverse business to the people of Cleveland.”

Micah Specialty Foods was one of three second-place winners of season five of Cleveland Chain Reaction. Owner Nana Kwamena TakyiMicah is pictured with Kenny Crumpton of “Kickin’ it with Kenny” on FOX 8 News in the Morning.

Terranean Herbs & Spices, maker of authentic Za’atar seasonings and snack products, was the firstplace winner of season five of Cleveland Chain Reaction. Owner Tina Chamoun is pictured.

Left to right: Jason Russell, judge; Patty Ajdukiewicz, judge; Chad Porter, owner of CHVD JUSTIN; Tina Chamoun, owner of Terranean Herbs & Spices; Ian Barrett, owner of Fuego Fermentations; Megan Kim, judge; Rachel Trem, judge; Angel Rodriguez, judge.

UPFRONT

The 20 Cleveland Chain Reaction semifinalists participated in a four-week bootcamp hosted by JumpStart where business experts advised them on how to pitch their businesses, create a business plan, place value on their businesses and appropriately invest capital to take their businesses to the next level. On Thursday, Dec. 8 and Friday, Dec. 9, the entrepreneurs pitched their businesses to a panel of judges for the opportunity to win a capital investment.

“Small business education and advising is mission critical for JumpStart, and it’s been a privilege to extend that support to Chain Reaction semifinalists,” says Patty Ajdukiewicz, JumpStart’s director of small business services. “Most entrepreneurs

// BY TERRY TROY

Bedrock; Ken Wilson, senior manager, minority business growth at GCP; Rachel Trem, marketing manager at MAGNET; Mattie Jones Hollowell, vice president, corporate responsibility officer, KeyBank; and Angel Rodriguez, senior vice president, business banking sales leader, KeyBank.

are experts in their field but need help understanding the nuances of running a business. We’ve seen a lot of progress over the past four weeks and can’t wait to see these entrepreneurs continue to grow.”

Other judges included: Jason Russell, vice president, operations and leasing at

Cleveland Chain Reaction connects entrepreneurs to capital and mentors and places new businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods to create jobs and prosperity. During its five year stretch, and after missing 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, Cleveland Chain Reaction has generated 476 applications, coached and prepped 108 small business semifinalists and connected winning businesses to more than $1.7 million in capital.

This has been an exciting season of Cleveland Chain Reaction featuring 20 entrepreneurs who are passionate, resilient and have a drive to succeed”

– Megan E. Kim, e xecutive d irector of COSE

Covia is a leading provider of minerals and material solutions that improve daily lives. We believe in the power of long-term partnerships – built on integrity, reliability and an innovative solutions mindset – to deliver shared success.

Cleveland Chain Reaction was inspired by “Cleveland Hustles,” the reality series produced by LeBron James that aired on CNBC in 2016. Cleveland Chain Reaction is an independent and unrelated effort started by one of the “Cleveland Hustles” investors that supports the continued opportunity that “Cleveland Hustles” initiated.

Cleveland Chain Reaction is produced by GCP and COSE in collaboration with FOX 8 News in the Morning’s “Kickin’ it with Kenny.” FreshWater Cleveland is the competition’s digital publication partner.

Cleveland Chain Reaction Season 5 Judges

Mattie Jones Hollowell vice president, corporate responsibility officer, KeyBank

Megan Kim executive director of COSE and senior vice president, membership development and marketing at GCP

Patty Ajdukiewicz director of small business services, JumpStart

Angel Rodriguez senior vice president business banking sales leader, KeyBank

Ken Wilson senior manager, minority business growth, GCP

Jason Russell vice president, operations and leasing, Bedrock

Rachel Trem marketing manager, MAGNET

CITY SPACES // BY TERRY TROY

A New Look for Old Man River

A world-renowned architect unveils his latest facelift.

If you’re a denizen of the Greater Cleveland area, you are no doubt familiar with the look and the history of the Cuyahoga River. It features a checkered past that includes being home to major entertainment venues and the site of one unfortunate fire. Plus, there are many of us in Northeast Ohio who cross it on a regular basis. While there are arguments on the benefits and attractions on both sides of the river, few would argue that it is not central to our community and its future.

On these pages called “Upfront” in Community Leader, we normally like to feature people in transition. But this long-term project from Bedrock, in partnership with the City of Cleveland, is such a drastic facelift, we just had to give it its visual due.

The 20-year vision reimagines and revitalizes 35 acres, creating core to shore access, while transforming Tower City and developing something called a 15-minute city center — meaning that residents can enjoy a 15-minute walk between living quarters, employment and entertainment areas.

“We are incredibly excited to present our interpretation of the groundbreaking work accomplished in the city’s vision for the Valley. The opportunity to provide unparalleled access to the Cuyahoga Riverfront while connecting the area to the downtown core is realized through David Adjaye’s bold strokes,” said Kofi Bonner, chief executive officer at Bedrock, when introducing the new blueprint. “David’s vision not only embraces downtown Cleveland’s rich history and connection to nature, but also addresses the demands of a world-class city by leveraging sustainable infrastructure and emphasizing pedestrian and transit modes to large, activated open spaces.”

The project calls for 3.5 million square feet of new development and adaptive reuse as well as the addition of 2,000 residential units and 850,000 square feet of office space. That’s in addition to parking space and hospitality, retail and entertainment venues.

“Our redevelopment strategy for the downtown Cleveland riverfront taps into the lost heritage of the city, establishing a new relationship between the urban core and the shore,” Adjaye said. “As I became more deeply immersed, the need to build a more tempered flow of movement through the city became immensely clear.”

View looking east toward Tower City at new riverwalk with landscaped water feature.

Our redevelopment strategy for the downtown Cleveland Riverfront taps into the lost heritage of the city.”

– David Adjaye

View from Carter Bridge of sculpted, meandering riverwalk.

Cleveland’s greatest attraction is its ALL IN business community.

Cleveland’s greatest attraction is its ALL IN business community.

Cleveland’s greatest attraction is its ALL IN business community.

Through partnerships among the public, private, philanthropic and civic communities, we are ALL IN on our vision of building a great region on a Great Lake.

Through partnerships among the public, private, philanthropic and civic communities, we are ALL IN on our vision of building a great region on a Great Lake.

Through partnerships among the public, private, philanthropic and civic communities, we are ALL IN on our vision of building a great region on a Great Lake.

Learn more about the All In plan

Learn more about the All In plan

Learn more about the All In plan

largest metro chamber of commerce

ECONOMIC GROWTH // BY TERRY TROY

Team NEO Adds to Board

The organization strengthens its presence in the Mahoning Valley.

Team NEO has elected six new board members, all prominent executives in the Northeast Ohio community. More importantly, these new executives expand Team NEO’s presence in the Mahoning Valley while strengthening the organization’s commitment to having a more diverse board with ties to other economic development organizations.

Joining the Team NEO board are: Chris Bast, vice president and treasurer and corporate officer of the Davey Tree Expert Company; Dr. Michael Baston, president of Cuyahoga Community College; Robert Davis, president of Aqua Ohio’s Water and Wastewater Utility at Essential Utilities, Inc.; Jeroen Diderich, senior vice president, general manager, Label and Graphic Materials, North America Avery Denison; James Gasior, senior executive vice president and corporate development officer at Farmers National Bank; and Charles T. George, CEO, Hapco Inc., Strangpresse and Triptech.

“Team NEO is laser-focused on driving better outcomes and building an equitable and vibrant economy. Our newest board

members add to our strength and will offer fresh perspectives and new connections within the community to help us achieve our goals,” says Bill Koehler, CEO of Team NEO. “We, and the Northeast Ohio region, are fortunate to have them on our team.”

Koehler offered some insight on the strategy behind adding the new executive to Team NEO’s board, which now stands at 42 members.

“We always look at what new board members can do to support our mission and the conversation is usually about building diversity in the broadest sense of the word,” Koehler says. “There was, first of all, a desire to get stronger representation from business leaders, and that’s why you see people like Chris Bast, Jeroen Diderich and Chuck George.

“But there was also a recognition that the Mahoning Valley is a significant part of our region and we didn’t have a lot of representation on our board. We have enhanced that representation through Bob Davis, Jim Gasior and Chuck George.”

The other strategy that might not be as apparent, says Koehler, is that Team NEO is blessed to have executives that might

be involved in one or two other economic development organizations as well.

“That is really important to us because we are trying to build cohesive strategies and alignment of activities,” adds Koehler. “And we like to do it in ways that will allow our partner organizations to be aligned with us.”

Each of the six new board members will support Team NEO’s efforts to build a vibrant regional economy in Northeast Ohio — one that is talented, equitable, innovative, resilient, competitive and prosperous.

Plus, each of the board members brings specific expertise and experience that will help Team NEO advance its four core strategies: addressing the talent supply gap, growing a diverse base of industries, growing the pipeline of competitive sites and engaging and promoting the region.

“These leaders represent a strong and diverse mix of industries from throughout the region,” says Peter W. Broer, president and CEO of Lumitex and Team NEO board chairman. “We look forward to working with them to help build opportunity throughout the region.

Team NEO is laser-focused on driving better outcomes and building an equitable and vibrant economy.” — Bill Koehler

Chris Bast Dr. Michael Baston Robert Davis Jeroen Diderich

Charles George James Gasior

BUSINESS +

OF HALL FAME

leveland Magazine and Community Leader celebrated the 2022 Business Hall of Fame & Community Leader of the Year Awards in November, honoring eight individuals who distinguished themselves as among the most important leaders from Greater Cleveland. In addition to a reception and dinner, the

event featured speakers, video presentations and a valuable chance to network with Greater Cleveland’s movers and shakers. Inductees into the Business Hall of Fame, included Lee Fisher of CSU ClevelandMarshall College of Law, Matt Kaulig of Kaulig Companies and Deborah Read of Thompson Hine.

BUSINESS +

OF HALL FAME

leveland Magazine and Community Leader celebrated the 2022 Business Hall of Fame & Community Leader of the Year Awards in November, honoring eight individuals who distinguished themselves as among the most important leaders from Greater Cleveland. In addition to a reception and dinner, the

event featured speakers, video presentations and a valuable chance to network with Greater Cleveland’s movers and shakers. Inductees into the Business Hall of Fame, included Lee Fisher of CSU ClevelandMarshall College of Law, Matt Kaulig of Kaulig Companies and Deborah Read of Thompson Hine.

Executives Earn Humanitarian Award

Diversity Center recognizes McNair and Mihaljevic for diversity efforts.

Darrell McNair, president and CEO of the MVP Group of Companies, and Tomislav Mihaljevic, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, were awarded the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s Humanitarian Award for 2022 for their work toward building a diverse community in Cleveland.

The award is presented yearly by Peggy Zone Fisher, president and CEO of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, and the board of directors from the organization.

The award is given out to Clevelanders who have a special

impact in Northeast Ohio and promote diversity, explains Zone Fisher. The candidates this year were picked especially for their service to the community.

“The theme of our 68th Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration was ‘teach acceptance, build community,’ and Darrell McNair is a shining example of what this means in our communities,” Zone Fisher says.

McNair’s volunteer and philanthropic accomplishments demonstrate his commitment to leading through service. He holds many positions of leadership in

Cleveland, including member and previous chairman of the Presidents’ Council, as well as member and past chair of the Minority Business Financing Advisory Board. When acting as chairman of the Presidents’ Council, McNair partnered with Cleveland corporations with the goal of creating connections and business opportunities for the local minority businesses community.

“As a minority, by default, you’re always in a position of looking for inclusion opportunities,” says McNair. “One of the organizations I became a part of was the Presidents’ Council, which is an economic development organization that’s comprised of the largest African

Peggy Zone Fisher

Darrell McNair

Tomislav Mihaljevic

American owned businesses in Cleveland. It’s a very unique model, I’d say one of a kind in the country, where larger African American businesses are partnered with the majority of corporate CEOs in town. The intended purpose was mentorship, for one. It helped us understand our role in these relationships to help grow minority businesses through partnerships and business relationships.”

maintained that he acts as a mentor for nothing more than the good of his city.

“It’s funny, whenever I get an award I ask, ‘Why? What did I do?’ I don’t look at what I do as being special — I look at what I do as what I’m supposed to do,” McNair says. “When I look back on what I did that has made a difference, I’ve just been a mentor to folks and it’s what I think people have noticed. I was involved early on in the career of the mayor when he got out of school. I worked with a young man that got shot ... and I got him a scholarship. These are the things that I think people have noticed; it’s stuff I don’t normally promote.”

world,” he says. “At Cleveland Clinic, diversity is an intrinsic part of who we are and who we serve. It is rooted in our mission and cultivated in each and every caregiver. In 2021, Cleveland Clinic treated nearly 3 million patients worldwide — people of many races, ethnicities, religions, ages, sexual orientations, cultures and other backgrounds.”

Mihaljevic also talks about his connection to minority groups and how they make up so much of the staff and patients at Cleveland Clinic; he hopes to have as diverse a workforce as possible.

Through these connections, McNair helped create other programs with the intention of mentoring.

“We started the Emerging Entrepreneur Program at Baldwin Wallace, which was ten months of consolidated MBA for students so they can grow that pipeline and that’s creating opportunities… There was also the high school PC Scholars program which helps assist these students to graduate high school and also shows them a track to entrepreneurship,” McNair says.

McNair places a high value on mentorship and lifting up the community because he says he believes it’s his duty to the city and other minority groups who live here.

“Cleveland has changed, and we needed to find a way to keep our community engaged in inclusive development and economic development…and If you’re a minority you are, for lack of a better word, thrust into that spot to fight for your survival. You have to be advocating for others.”

McNair also talked about his relationship with Mayor Justin M. Bibb and

Tomislav Mihaljevic is also a pillar of the community in Cleveland and has a hand in the foundations of Cleveland businesses. Besides his position as president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, Mihaljevic is a member of the GE board of directors, co-chairman of the board of directors of the US-UAE Business Council, a member of the East Coast Executive Summit and a director on the boards of OneTen, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the United Way of Greater Cleveland.

Zone Fisher talks about how Mihaljevic was nominated because the Cleveland Clinic and his position there are so central to the city’s community.

“As president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Mihaljevic strives to care for each community he serves. A staple in Northeast Ohio and beyond, Dr. Mihaljevic embodies what it means to teach acceptance and build community,” Zone Fisher says Mihaljevic teaches from experience and values mentoring as well. He started at Cleveland Clinic as a surgeon in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

“Though my name is on the award, this is really an award for Cleveland Clinic’s 76,000 caregivers around the

“Our aspiration is to have a workforce as diverse as the patients we serve, because the diversity of caregivers allows for better care of diverse patient populations,” Mihaljevic says, “I could not be prouder to accept the 2022 Humanitarian Award from an organization dedicated to eliminating bias, bigotry and racism in our community. The Diversity Center is committed to this noble mission, by helping to create communities where all people are respected and valued.”

More information on the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio can be found at diversitycenterneo.org.

As a minority, by default, you’re always in a position of looking for inclusion opportunities.”

— Darrell McNair

Our aspiration is to have a workforce as diverse as the patients we serve, because the diversity of caregivers allows for better care of diverse patient populations.”

— Tomislav Mihaljevic

COMMUNITY // BY LEE FISHER

SILENCE IS HATE’S BEST FRIEND

giants like The Cleveland Foundation, the City Club of Cleveland and the Metroparks began during the highest period of immigration in our city’s history.

What is the main lesson of 2022? What is my 2023 resolution?

The answer to both questions is standing up and speaking out against hate, especially when the hate is directed to someone else. We are at our best when we speak out.

Across the nation, hate, prejudice and bigotry are on the rise primarily because of the dangerously combustible combination of irresponsible political candidates, public officials and so-called celebrities who normalize hate and extremism and the use of social media to spread hate and lies instantaneously throughout the world.

We must view every attack on someone because of the color of their skin, the country where they or their ancestors were born, who they worship or who they love as an attack on all of us and the values of equality and dignity that define us as a country.

Thirty-three years ago, as State senators, Mike White (later mayor of Cleveland) and I authored Ohio’s Hate Crime Law (aka Ethnic Intimidation Law), premised

on the belief that a crime against someone because of the color of their skin, their religion or their ethnic origin, was not a crime against just a person or a family, it was a crime against society and deserved stiffer punishment. Years later, as Ohio attorney general, I had the honor of defending the law’s constitutionality before the Ohio Supreme Court.

As our nation becomes more diverse, we can find the shared values and common ground that make us all human and connected. Or we can use our differences to divide and separate us from one another. Virtually every war, every attack, every argument, every debate and every divorce come down to just one thing — not valuing what we have in common.

One of the main reasons I love Cleveland is that we are one of the most ethnically, racially and religiously diverse cities in the nation. In 1900, Cleveland was the nation’s fifth most important immigrant gateway city, with nearly 33% of its population foreign-born. It is no coincidence that civic

Emblematic of our diversity is the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a unique collection of landscaped gardens each representing more than 30 different ethnic groups in Cleveland. They represent stories of hope, joy and unity, but they also represent stories of despair, sadness and discrimination. As immigration from Europe and Asia neared its height in the late 19th century, anti-immigrant sentiment soared along with it.

In the early 20th century, nativists protested the mass immigration of the “new immigrants” from Eastern and Southern Europe, such as from Russia, Poland, Italy and Greece. Nativists viewed these immigrants as too Jewish and too Catholic. These immigrants were not even considered “whites,” at least through the first generation.

So with our diversity comes a special responsibility to stand up and speak out when any of us is under attack.

There’s a lesson we can learn from U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, a

This year let’s remember that we are stronger as a whole when we advocate for everyone equally.

devout Christian, who, as a prisoner of war (POW) in World War II, refused a German commandant’s order that he round up all the Jewish soldiers outside their barracks. Instead, Edmonds assembled all 1,275 American POWs outside the barracks and told the commander, “We are all Jews here.”

There’s a lesson we can learn from watching the courage of the Ukrainian people defiantly defending their homeland, willing to risk their lives against unprovoked Russian aggression. Watching Ukraine fight not just for its survival but for its identity and soul has reminded us that we humans are at our best when we focus on something bigger than ourselves. Thus, the refrain by many Americans, “We are all Ukrainians.”

My wife, Peggy Zone Fisher, president and CEO of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio, recently stated at the Center’s annual dinner, “When Kanye West spews hateful antisemitism, it shouldn’t be up to the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee or the Jewish Federation

to call it out. It should be all of us. When there is a hate crime that targets Black or Brown people or those in the LGBTQ+ community, it shouldn’t be up to the NAACP or the Human Rights Campaign to call it out. It should be all of us. Silence is hate’s best friend.”

The civil rights movement and the fight for social justice have taught us that meaningful progress cannot happen without solidarity. Every city and nation goes through challenging times and unexpected crises. Those who lead walk in each other’s shoes. When a city and nation establish a strong foundation of trust and unity among their leaders and with their citizens, they can withstand forces trying to tear them apart.

To paraphrase and modernize German Minister Martin Niemoller, who stood up against the Nazis in his native country, First they came for the Jews and the Catholics, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew or a Catholic.

Then they came for the Black, Indigenous

and people of color, and I did not speak out, because I was not a person of color.

Then they came for the LGBTQ+, and I did not speak out because I was not a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

We are at our best when, in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, we fight injustice anywhere, because it is a threat to justice everywhere.

Lee Fisher is dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler chair in Law at Cleveland State University College of Law. He is the former Ohio attorney general, lt. governor, director of the Ohio Department of Development, chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, State representative, State senator, chair of the Cuyahoga County Legislative Delegation, president/CEO of the Center for Families and Children and president/CEO of CEOs for Cities. In November 2022, Dean Fisher was inducted in the Cleveland Magazine Business Hall of Fame.

Out of This Workplace

Managers and workers should ask themselves these basic questions to improve their businesses.

Ihad a crazy dream recently. The dream started out innocently enough. I was sitting on my back deck watching the sunset. As evening approached, I gazed into the night sky and was startled by what I thought was a shooting star. It was quite beautiful and filled the night sky with brilliant light. This shooting star was certainly something special. Suddenly, it came right at our house and in a flash exploded into our backyard.

Scared to death, I approached the burning object and discovered what appeared to be an alien aircraft. In a split second, a door opened and out jumped a young man. He smiled, extended his hand and introduced himself as “Jack.” Instinctively, I reciprocated with a handshake and smile.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am a visitor from another planet,” Jack replied.

“Why are you here?” I continued.

“Actually, I was trying to leave your planet when my ship malfunctioned. I have been visiting Earth for about a month and was attempting to head back home,” Jack said.

“Wow. This is really cool. Are you friendly? What were you doing here? Why are you leaving? Are you bringing others back?” I blurted out.

In fact, I followed those questions with about 50 more before Jack could respond. “Slow down, earthling. I will answer your questions, but then you need to answer a few of mine. Is that a deal?” stated Jack.

“Of course,” I replied excitedly. “OK,” Jack said. He then proceeded to answer my questions. “I was visiting Earth from

a distant planet on a research mission. My species is very friendly, and we have no interest in harming you or any of your kind. In fact, I doubt we will come back. Though we look human, we are not. We are fairly advanced relative to your people.”

I just sat there with my jaw dropped as Jack went on to explain that he was simply the equivalent of an Earth college student. He was here to complete a research paper on Earth’s workplaces for a course he was taking back on his planet. He thought he might fail the course, though, as he was leaving without answers to his research questions. I let him know that I could provide the answers he needed and then hopefully help him get on his way.

“Great, earthling!” Jack responded happily. “I appreciate your interest in helping me and if you do, I will be eternally grateful. But I am not sure you can answer these questions. I have searched for the answers but cannot find logical explanations anywhere.”

“Just try me,” I said confidently. “OK, earthling. Here we go!” stated an eager Jack.

He began rattling off his questions:

“Why do managers in your planet’s organizations keep doing annual performance reviews if they hate the process ?”

“Why do so many earthlings go to places called ‘work’ unhappily every day ?”

“Why are new employees put on ‘probation’? Did they do something wrong ?”

“Why are your planet’s professional athletes paid and praised more than earthlings that save lives, find cures for diseases or who teach your offspring?”

“Why do some organizations have candy and chips in their vending machines, but get upset about their rising health insurance costs?”

“Why do some companies provide a list of people in their bereavement leave policies that your earthling workers can take time off to mourn if someone on that list dies? Are your earthling workers not permitted to mourn others who aren’t on the list?”

“Why do they call it work/life balance if your workers still spend more time at work than with their families?”

“Why are there still organizations that do not provide equal pay for equal work?”

“Why are there not more of your planet’s females represented on management teams and company boards?”

“Why do your companies make a big deal about a 10-year work anniversary but not an 11-year work anniversary?”

“Why do some bosses call, text or email their employees after work hours?”

“Why isn’t every organization committed to only hiring and keeping the very best talent they can find?”

“OK, Jack, enough,” I pleaded. I paused and then embarrassingly responded, “I do not have any logical explanations to your questions.” Jack just stared at me. He

sheepishly grinned and replied, “I didn’t think so.”

At this point he had finished his repairs and was ready for a re-launch. He extended his hand and thanked me for my time and the conversation. He wished me well as he climbed back into the ship. The cockpit door closed shut and then suddenly reopened. “Hey, earthling, I forgot one more question,” he said.

“What’s that?” I replied. “What’s stopping you earthlings from figuring out the answers to my questions?” he mused. With that, the cockpit door closed and in a flash his ship was off to the heavens. I remember the Earth shaking terribly when he took off, which turned out to be my spouse waking me up. “Pat, do you know

you were talking in your sleep?” she asked. Upon gaining full consciousness, I quickly shared my dream with her. After hearing my story, she commented that the questions were great and that perhaps every organization could use them to begin conversations toward making improvements in their respective workplaces.

With a sigh I responded, “ Now that would be a dream come true!”

Pat Perry is host of the national Success Wave podcast, business book author, keynote speaker, former ERC president, columnist, NEO Business Hall of Fame member and was named to the 2022 Cleveland 500

NewCreatingCuyahoga a

Incoming County Executive Chris Ronayne addresses initiatives.

BY LINDA FEAGLER

This January, Chris Ronayne took the helm as the third Cuyahoga County executive. He envisions the job to be one of creating what he calls “a new Cuyahoga” for each of the county’s 59 communities.

Ronayne’s agenda centers on four initiatives: new housing starts and funding to repair existing dwellings, seamless public transportation services, workforce development and a focus once again on his passion for waterfront planning by implementing new ideas and refreshing worthy ones stuck in limbo.

“To do this job successfully, you need someone who really understands community development, along with complex budget and service systems and the issue of safety,” Ronayne says. “The County Executive job is about experience, and I bring the broad set of experiences that’s needed to it.”

The Waterfront

When the subject of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River is broached, Ronayne is quick to recount the fact that we’ve come a long way since that infamous morning in 1969 when the deadly stew that once polluted the Cuyahoga River caught fire.

“I call us ‘the Freshwater Capital of the Great Lakes’ — the place where the river burned and now the river has returned,” he says. “Cleveland Metroparks has done a wonderful job of connecting Edgewater Park to waterfront neighborhoods with the [17-mile]

Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, and with the addition of concessions and a clean beach, there are now reasons to go there,” Ronayne says. “There are opportunities to make parts of our lakefront and river easily accessible.”

In May, Mayor Justin Bibb, the city of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, a coalition of private, civic and public partners working to accelerate and access growth across Greater Cleveland, organized a civic taskforce to revitalize lakefront transformation efforts. The centerpiece of the makeover would be the creation of a proposed land bridge connecting the grassy areas of the downtown malls to the lakefront. Dubbed the North Coast Connector, it would span over the railroad tracks and the Shoreway to provide a pedestrian link to attractions that include FirstEnergy Stadium, The

Great Lakes Science Center and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Other proposed projects on the docket include enhancing Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood and Lake Road in Rocky River with a shared-use trail and scenic overlooks along the mouth of the Rocky River; shoring up the shale cliffs north of Lakewood’s Gold Coast apartment buildings with erosion and control structures topped with a trail; building a 2.7-mile trail along North and South Marginal roads between East Ninth Street and the East 55th Street Marina; and constructing the first leg of a connector trail between Beulah Park and Euclid Beach Park.

“All of a sudden, I think we’ve got this amazing opportunity of projects that really tie the city together in a way that it’s never had an opportunity to be before,” says Debbie Berry, Greater Cleveland

Project partners for Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy, including Black Environmental Leaders, City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Port of Cleveland, are envisioning multiple lakefront improvements.

Partnership’s senior vice president of major projects and real estate development. “[Right now], if you walk out of a hotel or office building and look around, everything is so disconnected. These [initiatives] being discussed will really provide us with the opportunity to reconnect and re-envision the water’s edge and activities that will help develop the lake itself.”

Cleveland Metroparks has also proposed a Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy (CHEERS) plan outlining opportunities for additional parkland and habitat along Cleveland’s Lake Erie shoreline in proximity to the St. Clair-Superior and Glenville neighborhoods. The partners are wrapping up the initial concept plan and hope to move toward final design as grants and other forms of funding become available.

“We need to give residents along both the east and west sides of the lake better access points to our waterfront,” Ronayne says. “The city, county, Metroparks and a variety of organizations are working together to make that happen.”

Ronayne has not overlooked the potential that land along the Cuyahoga River affords. In December, Bedrock, the Detroit-based owner of Tower City Center and a stretch of riverfront behind it, unveiled a proposal to develop more than 3.5 million square

feet of the downtown Cleveland riverfront that includes 12 acres of public open space lined by new mid- and high-rise buildings containing 2,000 new rental and forsale homes and 1.4 million square feet of commercial space for hotels, offices, entertainment and retail.

The new county executive understands why all of these plans might be met with more than a little skepticism from those who say they’ve heard it all before. But, Ronayne explains, the city is in “a unique moment in time.”

“We’ve got access to federal and state funding sources we haven’t had access to before,” he says. “And we’ve got experienced partners who’ve come together with intentionality, focus and dedication to make these initiatives happen.”

Ready for the Job

In a public-service career spanning two decades, Chris Ronayne has worked in a variety of positions ranging from serving as Cleveland’s planning director and chief development officer to chief of staff. He’s spearheaded initiatives that included developing reinvestment and improvement strategies to being at the forefront of designing a blueprint for the city’s waterfront.

As president of University Circle Inc., Ronayne spent 16 years launching education programs for students in nearby neighborhoods; creating special events; partnering in the building or renovation of more than 2,300 new housing units; and overseeing more than $3 billion in new construction and development throughout the neighborhood — efforts that led to the arts district becoming the vibrant community it is today.

Debbie Berry

Getting From Point A to Point B and Beyond

It doesn’t take long to learn that Ronayne is a zealot about public transportation. While earning his master’s in urban planning, design and development at Cleveland State University, he depended on the No.55 bus that stopped near his Bay Village home and the RTA Red Line for his trips downtown.

In his new role, he hopes to “complete those next miles off the RTA line” by transforming neighborhoods into multimodal ones that offer travelers safe, convenient travel by foot, cycle or transit via community circulators.

“Historically, the typical public works [division] of the county has been focused on roads, bridges and sewers,” Ronayne says. “I ran for office on the idea that we should complement that with a Division of Mobility and Infrastructure. People ought to be able to get to and from their grocery store, their doctor or their workplace without getting in a car.”

This concept is particularly relevant given the fact that, according to Ronayne, 13% of driver-eligible residents in Cuyahoga County don’t own a car.

“We did this in University Circle,” he adds. “We said, ‘You don’t have to own a car to live in the city.’ That might mean creating better car- and bike- share programs and finding ways to complement, not supplant, what RTA does.”

Ronayne champions plans to transform Irishtown Bend into a 23-acre waterfront park that will include regional trails designed to connect Ohio

City, the Flats and downtown with the Cuyahoga riverfront and Lake Erie.

“It’s exciting to have a former planning director as our new county executive,” says Tom McNair, executive director of Ohio City Incorporated, the community development corporation responsible for promoting the growth of the neighborhood and improving the quality of life for residents.

The state, McNair explains, funds $70 million a year on transit, which is 2% of its $8.3 billion transportation budget. Ohio is seventh in population and 42nd per capita in transit funding, which has resulted in a massive disconnection in terms of the needs of the populace.

“Chris understands that we need to do better for our neighborhoods, and plans on building a coalition to fight for transit funding,” he says. “His goal is to [make] Cuyahoga County one of the most transit- and transportation-connected communities in the United States.”

Ronayne applauds the plan that’s in place for the Lorain Avenue Cycle Track. As part of the Cleveland Midway

Project, it transforms 2.25 miles of the four-lane avenue from West 65th Street and into downtown with a multi-modal route consisting of two lanes for vehicles, a lane for parking and bus stops and a 10-foot strip for bikes that’s separated from traffic. The track connects with three RTA rapid stations and several bus lines.

“It will be part of the high-quality infrastructure that allows people to live in a place where they can walk outside their door and connect to wherever they want to go without automotive dependency,” McNair says.

Home Safe Home

Ronayne acknowledges the panic many homeowners experience while trying to keep pace with making crucial repairs to aging domiciles.

To help, he will create a separate housing department headed by a director of housing who’s focused on ensuring residents have access to sources for fix-up funds and affordable housing options. Additionally, new housing will be built in environmentally efficient and energy-responsive ways.

“All of these [steps] meet the triple bottom line of providing sustainable and affordable communities,” he says. “Our housing stock is eroding, and if we do nothing about it, we end up in a downward spiral in our tax base, which then has a dire and relative effect on schools, parks and infrastructure. I heard from people that they want to be able to stay in their homes and affordably maintain them — and that they don’t want to leave their communities. Housing is fundamental to ensuring they’ll be able to stay there.”

Efforts are underway to make those goals a reality at the Cuyahoga Land Bank, a nonprofit dedicated to reactivating and repurposing vacant, abandoned,

“We’ve got access to federal and state funding sources we haven’t had access to before. And we’ve got experienced partners who’ve come together with intentionality, focus and dedication to make these initiatives happen.”

— CHRIS RONAYNE

Tom McNair

underutilized and tax-delinquent properties throughout the county.

“Our mission is to help stabilize the tax base through market rate housing and, at the same time, provide affordable housing for low-moderate income individuals and vulnerable populations,” says Gus Frangos, the land bank’s president and general counsel.

Programs to do that include renovating vacant homes for families to reside or invest in; offering construction financing gap grants to experienced developers; accepting donations of homes in serious need of repairs; and assisting investors with acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed commercial, industrial and apartment buildings.

“We’ve seen some of our peer cities like Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis turn a corner,” Ronayne reflects. “And we’re next. What we have that none of those four cities have is the Great Lakes at our front door. We’re at the precipice of an entirely new Cuyahoga County that’s going to be the destination whether you live here now or are coming from somewhere else.”

“I want to leverage what we already have,” he adds, “toward a greater quality of life.”

A Working Plan

Certainly, one of the most important challenges any regional office holder will face is the issue of workforce development. Ronayne is no different. In the past two years, with the help of JobsOhio at the state level and TeamNEO regionally, our economy has made some great strides. Other organizations such as Our Fund for Economic Development are also making progress. However, Ronayne also sees challenges on the horizon, especially when it comes to educating our workforce.

“When it comes to workforce, I believe we really have everything going for us,” says Ronayne. “We have a strong health care economy. We have a strong manufacturing economy. We have a strong IT and now the new waterfront economy. What we don’t

have is everybody ready with the skills to enter the workforce.

“So what I would like to do is to focus on the workforce to give people the skills they need to upskill or retool, to re-enter or grow in the workforce.”

The announcement this past year of Intel’s $20 billion-plus investment in manufacturing operations in New Albany is having ripple effects on our state, regional and county economies. In order to create a high-tech workforce across the state as well as our region, Intel announced earlier this year that it would invest more than $100 million in funding over the next decade to establish semiconductor manufacturing education and research collaborations with universities, community colleges and technical educators.

According to the company, Intel will invest $50 million directly to Ohio higher educational institutions to develop innovative solutions to best support the company coming to Ohio, while further advancing the semiconductor and microelectronics industry by specifically addressing workforce needs.

One of those large grants was given to Kent State, which took the regional lead in extending those funds to 13 educational institutions including many in Cuyahoga County, such as John Carroll University, Cuyahoga Community College and Baldwin Wallace University, among others.

In addition to emerging high-tech workforce labor needs, manufacturing is being transformed in this new century, which is being addressed by organizations such as MAGNET and TeamNeo. Those two organizations, along with over 150 partners, including

nonprofit economic-development organizations, education institutions and private and public companies, partnered in 2021 on a blueprint for manufacturing entitled “Make It Better: A Blueprint for Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio.” These partners are building a new vision that brings together the insights of hundreds of manufacturing CEOs, community leaders, business leaders, academics, workers and nonprofit leaders to address the future of manufacturing in the region. The goal is to ready our manufacturing sector to address something called Manufacturing 4.0 in areas such as attracting talent, addressing the workforce of tomorrow, technology transformation, adopting new manufacturing technologies and innovating new products and processes. But these kinds of partnerships also require leadership with people of vision who seek to build partnerships with people in business, nonprofits and government.

“There are also a lot of organizations, like Youth Opportunities Unlimited, that are helping young people enter our workforce, helping with education on the trades and giving our young adults the tools they need to become a more productive member of our community,” he says.

“This is really an all-in approach. It’s about making sure that minority and minority-owned businesses or women-owned businesses are having a chance to grow and have access to capital and supply chains and the emerging clusters of our economy.

“It’s really the focus we have been talking about — leveraging everything, we have a greater quality of life.”

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

Expanding Opportunities

Leaders address the challenges facing Cleveland’s growing Hispanic community.

By Jill Sell

Walking into one of the city’s authentic Hispanic or Latino grocery stores offers a unique, colorful look at a vibrant community that a number of its neighborhood leaders say is still not as well known in Northeast Ohio as it should be.

Brightly colored flags of Hispanic and Latino countries hang proudly from the ceilings of some stores. Jerseys for sale representing global soccer teams are stacked neatly on shelves.

Coconut milk, arroz rice and Inca Kola are favorite products among customers. Notes are pinned to community bulletin boards in stores advertising local traditional dance groups or art shows.

But some voices say not enough Northeast Ohioans know — or care — that exciting Hispanic and Latino communities call Cleveland home. The biggest challenge to communities, and the biggest responsibility of others outside the culture, is combating invisibility.

We asked some of these leaders to address the challenges faced and initiatives needed to bring Hispanic/Latino communities more to the forefront in Northeast Ohio.

Ramonita Vargas, CEO, Spanish American Committee

Ramonita Vargas, CEO of the Spanish American Committee (SAC), says what she identifies as the Hispanic/Latino/ Latinx community is underestimated in Northeast Ohio in several ways.

“People don’t think we are here. But we are. We are large and we are growing and we are thriving,” says Vargas, whose nonprofit, social services organization celebrates its 57th anniversary this year. “We put a lot of tax money into our communities, and we don’t always get recognized for our contributions and accomplishments. We stick to ourselves. We don’t always try to be in the limelight or create problems. But just because we don’t do those things doesn’t mean we are not here. It’s not always a black/white issue. Our brown communities get left behind. And I see it every day.”

Vargas identifies the language

RAMONITA VARGAS

Jose Martin Pacheco and Monica Torres performed in a recent theater production.

barrier as the biggest challenge facing the Hispanic community in this region. She sees that as a huge problem, especially for non-English speaking individuals seeking work.

“If companies hired a bilingual staff person, those challenges would be lessened,” she says. “Businesses would then have an employee already on the inside who can communicate with someone who is a hardworking individual that simply wants to support his family. A language barrier means not getting hired or accepting a low-paying job.”

Vargas recognizes that residential and commercial construction companies here “are becoming more diverse,” which is especially important because of the field’s labor shortages. But it’s “not enough,” she says, wishing more companies would offer ESL (English as a Second Language) classes once a week that would help foreign language speakers learn technical terms necessary to perform in trades and professional job situations.

SAC offers the Latino Construction Program, which graduated its 14th class in 2022. The program partners with trade unions, builder associations and individual construction companies. Its curriculum covers construction common terms and hazards, opportunities and unions, labor law and more. More than 130 participants have been placed in a variety of trades.

Vargas counts the housing crisis for Hispanics as the second most difficult challenge. Every day someone comes to the SAC looking for an apartment to rent, but “even if they find one, they can’t afford it,” she says. It’s a problem directly related to the language barrier and not getting jobs, she says.

Technology fluency is also a major problem for older Hispanics, according to Vargas. Navigating online housing applications, medical records and appointments, financial transactions and receiving help from social services

requires more and more digital knowledge, according to Vargas — something seniors may not have.

While Vargas sees external factors making it more difficult for Hispanics, she also wants her community to accept some responsibility and make changes. That includes nonprofit groups, special interest groups and political groups within the community.

“We all need to partner more in the Hispanic community and work together more,” says Vargas. “That’s one thing that has always been an issue here. Someone always wants to be the top leader instead of working together. We shouldn’t be competing against each other. United, our numbers would be more powerful. In other communities, even if certain groups can’t stand each other, they will get together and get what they are looking for.”

Despite the challenges, Vargas is proud of her neighbors and allies across Cleveland.

“My community is made of hard-working people who care about their families, people in general and the environment,” says Vargas. “If someone has food on their table and can serve someone else, they will. No one goes unfed in a Hispanic family. No one. My mother used to say, when you feed four, you can feed five. When you feed five, you can feed six. There is always enough for someone else.”

Monica Torres, Executive Artistic Director, LatinUs Theater Company

Monica Torres, executive artistic director for LatinUs Theater Company, says, “Without public and community support, arts organizations, especially theater (which entirely depends on

HISPANICS/LATINOS BY THE NUMBERS

48,699 people who identify as Hispanic live in Cleveland; 13% of the city’s total population.

76,316 people of Hispanic descent live in Cuyahoga County; less than 7% of the total population.

The Hispanic population in Cleveland consists of 46,332 Puerto Ricans; 13,200 Mexicans; and 1,624 Cubans.

Cleveland is second only to Columbus in Ohio in terms of the number of Hispanic residents.

Cities in Northeast Ohio with the most Hispanic people include Lorain, Painesville and Brooklyn.

Almost 456,000 Latinos live in Ohio.

The median household income for all Ohio households is $56,000 ; Mexican immigrant households in Ohio have a median income of $43,000 ; for Central American households, it is $36,000

212,000 Hispanic Ohioans are in the civilian labor force; unemployment is 7.3%

(Sources: 2020 U.S. Census; The State of Ohio’s 2021 Ohio Latino Affairs Committee Annual Report)

having an audience in the seats) would be nonviable.”

“We feel invisible when theatrical writers make articles about the great shows happening in Cleveland and

MONICA TORRES

don’t even mention us. Maybe they say, ‘Oh, but their shows are in Spanish.’ But we always have English subtitles so that shouldn’t be an excuse,” says Torres.

“It’s also essential to start involving the youth in classes and workshops. We plan to start the summer of 2023. We are doing this not because we think it is easy, but because our community and city need it,” says Torres.

Magda Gomez, Executive Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Cuyahoga Community College

In the big picture, Cleveland’s Hispanic community is “not an older community, only about 60 years old, but it is close-knit,” according to Magda Gomez, executive director of diversity and inclusion, Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). When Gomez’s family came to Cleveland

from Puerto Rico in the 1960s, the community relied mostly on social clubs and the faith-based community for support. Her father was a founding board member of the SAC.

Cleveland is “a great place for Hispanics to live now” because of the many organizations that offer opportunities to Hispanics and also because it is more affordable than most other big cities, according to Gomez.

“Many folks from Puerto Rico first went to relatives in New York or Florida, but then they found out Cleveland was more affordable,” says Gomez.

Still, she sees challenges. The language barrier is, of course, the top

reason Hispanics find roadblocks to employment and education.

“For those professionals who have degrees or certifications, it’s hard sometimes for them to accept they have to start over,” says Gomez. “It becomes difficult coupled with assimilation and the transition of moving here.”

COVID-19 hit colleges hard across the board. But Gomez says nationally a significant 15% Hispanic enrollment drop, especially fueled by losses in twoyear colleges, hurt the community. Twoyear college students traditionally are commuters who may have families, jobs and other factors that made continuing school during the pandemic especially difficult. Gomez is optimistic, however, about Tri-C’s newest focus on “more intentional recruitment” and its move “toward workforce programming” that can make a difference.

MAGDA GOMEZ

Gomez also says lack of transportation and risk aversion to taking on debt also present problems for Hispanics seeking education or jobs. The community is “not always familiar with the financial aid offered in this country,” she says. Also, coming from a warm climate to lake effect snow can be unsettling, she adds.

Gomez is proud, however, that a younger generation of civic-minded Hispanics are heading and serving on nonprofit boards in the city. She also gives a shout-out to her friend, Chilean-born Marcia Moreno, creator of 100+ Latinos Clevelanders Must Know, a free online list (ammore.us) that serves as a source for many purposes.

In addition, the Hispanic Council at Tri-C is a 30-year-old program that assists students with admissions, enrollment financial aid and other concerns, says Gomez. The program does “a lot

HISPANIC AND LATINO SOCIAL, BUSINESS, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Bienvenidos a Cleveland bienvenidosacle@tri-c.edu tri-c.edu

Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland

Hispanic Senior Center, Hispanic Men’s Program, Hispanic Women’s Program, Hispanic Youth Counseling 216-334-2900; ccdocle.org

Esperanza Inc. 216-651-7178; esperanzainc.org

The Hispanic Council Cleveland Community College

Western campus: 216-987-5691

Metro campus: 216-987-4420, tri-c.edu

LatinUs Theater Company 216-369-7158; latinustheater.com

Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (NEOHCED) 216-281-4422; hbcenter.org

Ohio Latino Affairs Commission 614-466-8333; ochla.ohio.gov

Spanish American Committee 216-961-2100

spanishamerican.org

of hand holding,” she says, and Tri-C staff serve as mentors. The college-wide program also has three (a fourth is slated to open by summer) additional access centers in Cleveland.

Bienvenidos a Cleveland (“Welcome to Cleveland”) was established in 2017 as a result of hundreds of people coming to Cleveland after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The program, aided by more than 25 nonprofits and companies, became a conveyor and collaborator with the then overwhelmed existing social service agencies.

Today, Bienvenidos a Cleveland is primarily an online directory of services with opportunities for housing, clothing, free legal aid, etc., focused not just on Hispanics, but all those coming to Cleveland from anywhere in the world. The directory is accessible through TriC’s website, tri-c.edu.

Jenice Contreras, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (NEOHCED)

The Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (NEOHCED) is the host organization for the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Jenice Contreras has been the executive director of the vital umbrella organization that supports Hispanic commerce for 10 years.

“I am most proud that we are a resilient community. No matter what you throw, we will figure it out. We take our lemons and make margaritas,” says Contreras, citing her community’s challenges.

Part of that action has been in response to the gentrification of the Clark-Fulton area where Contreras says one of the largest concentration of Latinos in Ohio live. The area will be redeveloped, she says, but it should “be redeveloped for the people who live there.”

“In a lot of other cities, you know where the Latino community lives, where Greek Town is or Asia Town. But we [in Northeast Ohio] haven’t established our ‘everybody-knows-wherewe-are’ location yet,” she says.

That will partially change with the creation of Centro Villa 25 in Clark-Fulton. The adaptive reuse of a vacant 32,500-square-foot warehouse, office building and 12,500-square-foot expansion will be the new home to 20 micro-retail spaces, an outdoor plaza, commercial

JENICE CONTRERAS

kitchen, gathering space for arts-andculture events and the NEOHCED offices. Ground will be broken this March with a full completion date expected spring 2024. Almost 500 jobs are expected to be created once the complex is up and running.

“This is the most exciting thing happening on this side of town. Except for MetroHealth, there isn’t much else there. Yes, we are doing it for the Latino community, but also for everyone else. This is a $10 million project and will give all people a place to have dinner, buy groceries and celebrate our culture,” says Contreras.

Victor Ruiz, executive director, Esperanza Inc.

This year, Esperanza Inc. celebrates its 40th anniversary as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement

of Hispanic academic achievement. Throughout its history, Esperanza has provided more than $2 million in college scholarships. For the 20222023 academic year, the organization awarded $120,000 in scholarships. Other services include tutoring, ESL classes, career training, summer camps and digital literacy classes.

“I am proud of the number of students we have helped go to college and then come back as either volunteers or employees, “says Victor Ruiz, Esperanza’s executive director. “There are a lot of opportunities in Cleveland, but our community is still struggling to have access to them.”

With his strong educational focus, it’s no wonder Ruiz says educating others outside the community, including employers and politicians, is “a constant process,” but a necessary one. Sometimes you have to start with basic information. A national poll showed a majority of Americans did not know Puerto Ricans born in that country on or after January 13, 1941, are U.S. Citizens.

Ruiz, who came to the United States from Puerto Rico at age five, is also impressed with newcomers to the region who have started businesses in the traditional Hispanic and Latino neighborhoods of Cleveland and are also moving south.

“They are helping to change the face of some of our neighborhoods,” he says.

VICTOR RUIZ

ADDRESSING RACIAL DISPARITIES

Dr. Gregory Hall and NIAAH work on African American health issues.

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By Rhonda Crowder

The health disparities run the gamut for African Americans from birth to death. Blacks have the highest infant mortality rates, heart disease and diabetes, among other chronic illnesses, as well as the shortest life expectancy at 72 years. Gregory Hall, MD, a native of Cleveland from the Glenville community and a second-generation medical professional, has committed his career to finding solutions.

“I didn’t know what minority health was. I didn’t know about disparities, even though I lived it,” says Hall, an internal medicine physician who works at University Hospitals as the medical director for the Cutler Center for Men. He has treated a predominantly African American clientele for more than 25 years. For over a decade, he’s served on the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and is currently its president.

Hall learned about these health issues while serving on the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. While researching, he discovered the bad news always pointed toward Blacks.

“I found this isn’t a minority problem. This is an African American problem, and no one was talking about it,”

says Hall. “This minority health thing does not impact minorities as people think. It impacts Black people.”

Hall went on to educate himself about the disparities, then wrote about hypertension, stroke prevalence and other high-risk health conditions plaguing African Americans to post on his website. From there, he wrote a book for doctors and other health care providers to educate them on best practices for treating African Americans. Patient-Centered Clinical Care for African Americans: A Concise, Evidence-Based Guide to Important Differences and Better Outcomes covers best practices for treating conditions such as high blood pressure and other common conditions disproportionally found in African Americans. It also cleared the pathway for him to create products and a nonprofit to improve African American health.

GNetX Sequence Multivitamins

While writing his book, Hall devoted a chapter to laboratory result differences that varied by race or ethnicity. For example, there are some instances when African Americans’ white blood cell (WBC) counts are dramatically lower.

This normal variation runs in some families of people of African descent, but many doctors remained unaware of this condition and initiated additional and unnecessary testing.

“It’s called benign ethnic neutropenia. It’s not a disease. There is no increased risk for anything. It’s just a lab result,” says Hall. “If medical providers know about it, they can recognize it and move on.”

Finding a wide range of lab differences in his research, Hall reviewed them more critically.

For example, he knew vitamin D levels tended to be dramatically lower in African Americans. He later learned that zinc, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C tended to be significantly lower. Making a supplement that uniquely addresses these deficiencies in a population with poor health outcomes might make a positive difference. But what he discovered about vitamin E startled him the most.

“Some research found that vitamin E was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer,” says Hall.

Hall explains that one pill of vitamin E with 400 international units

Dr. Hall speaks at a recent conference.

(IU) a day is associated with worse outcomes than if you didn’t take one of those a day. Selenium was also found to be associated with increased cancer risk in some studies. Other research has subsequently been conflicting in risk conclusions, but none shows an advantage to taking vitamin E or selenium.

Until the controversy regarding vitamin E and selenium’s risk is settled, Hall determined he would create a multivitamin and deliberately leave these out. To date, this is something no other major multivitamin company has done. And, following medicine’s central tenet to “first do no harm,” Hall turned to vitamin K, which is essential for blood to clot.

“African Americans have no evidence of vitamin K deficiency,” Hall says. “However, we do have the highest rates of stroke (blood clot in the brain), heart attack (blood clot in the heart) and deep

vein thrombosis (clots in the legs). While there is no direct evidence that increased vitamin K causes these deadly clots in African Americans, why risk taking more, particularly if there is no deficiency?”

Hall went on to tailor GNetX Sequence multivitamin to the published research specific to African American health to maximize the benefit while minimizing any risk, and GNetX Sequence multivitamins hit the shelves in lare 2020 with four formulas: African American men, women, men over 50 and women over 50.

“Half of the people who try them continue to buy them, and a lot of people are very proud that I took the time to put this formula together,” he says.

Richard Andrews, 77, is the publisher/ editor of The Real Deal Press and has been a patient of Hall’s for about eight years. He’s a consumer of the multivitamin formulated for Black men over 50. He says there are no immediate benefits he can detect, as with all multivitamins. Still, as one who writes and edits health-related stories, when he comes across ingredients essential for someone of his age and stage, he wants to see if they are included. In the GNetX sequence, they are.

“I find it reassuring that there’s a product designed for me,” says Andrews,

This minority health thing does not impact minorities as people think. It impacts Black people”

— GREGORY HALL, MD

who also notes it’s the only medication he takes.

The National Institute of African American Health

While working as co-director with the Cleveland State University (CSU)/ Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) Partnership for Urban Health, Hall spent a lot of time thinking about increasing the number of minority doctors.

“We had a great record for getting students into medical school, about an 80% ultimate acceptance rate, but I was always a little frustrated that there weren’t enough African Americans taking advantage of the program,” he says.

That inspired him to establish the National Institute of African American Health (NIAAH), with great intention

of refraining from the use of the words “minority” and “urban.”

“Why does everything have to be minority or urban?” he asks. “Again, people of color don’t have the worst health outcomes. African Americans have the worst outcomes. Those words muddy the intended focus.”

There are four pillars of focus for NIAAH: mentorship, a trusted source of online information, patient advocacy and research. NIAAH also provides an opportunity for health care providers to become NIAAH-certified. An NIAAH-certified provider spends time learning about bias, health disparities and research-based best treatments for African American patients. NIAAH has partnered with the Boston-based PriMed medical education company to offer educational modules directly addressing best practices in health care for the Black community.

NIAAH is about two years old and is a national initiative. It received a $250,000 grant from The Cleveland Foundation to launch. “They are introducing us to others across the nation due to our unique design and laser focus, and we appreciate it,” says Hall.

Dr. Edgar B. Jackson Jr., MD, endowed chair for Clinical Excellence and Diversity at University Hospitals, is an NIAAH board member and the acting medical director. He’s very excited about NIAAH.

“It focuses the energy where the energy is needed in terms of addressing health disparities. The greatest need is among Blacks,” says Jackson. “I think it has tremendous potential.”

Jackson hopes to extend the national reach. “We can recommend to the nation what works and what needs improvement. We can provide the mechanisms for best practices,” he says.

HELPING OUT

It doesn’t come cheap. Creating and maintaining sewer infrastructure that addresses water quality and quantity is a big-ticket item. Few forces affect human health and the environment like these issues. It is vital that communities in Northeast Ohio have control.

No one understands that better than Timothy DeGeeter, mayor of the City of Parma and a board trustee for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD).

“Parma is the seventh largest city in Ohio, and, as an inner-ring suburb, has significant infrastructure needs,” says DeGeeter. “Based on sewer system evaluation studies by the NEORSD, we knew Krueger Avenue was in much need of sewer upgrades. That costs millions of dollars, and we can’t do it without the help of the sewer district.”

The $1 million Krueger Avenue Sewer Improvement Project/Phase 2 award was one of two 2023 Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP) awards given by NEORSD to Parma.

By Jill Sell

The second award of an additional $235,000 was given for the East Linden Lane Pump Station Relocation and Replacement Project.

Additional 2023 funding was awarded to East Cleveland, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Berea, Cleveland Division of Water Pollution Control, Newburgh Heights, Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, Beachwood, University Heights and North Royalton.

MCIP is a NEORSD funding program that assists member communities with cost-effective sewer infrastructure projects. Established seven years ago, MCIP has provided $62.5 million in grants to member communities. Projects include those designed to help with the elimination of flooded basements, the correction of improperly working septic tanks and prevention of sanitary sewer overflows. Communities often receive additional funding from other sources.

Applying for MCIP monies is a yearly competitive process. Communities with proposed projects can receive substantial help in the application process and are encouraged to re-try the following year if no award is made on the first attempt. Recently, NEORSD also established its Equity Investment Focus Area Program, which created an alternative scoring process for applications. Donna Friedman, NEORSD manager of community watershed coordination, says the program was established to “make

sure money is being more fairly allocated to communities that may not have as much money to match funding.”

“MCIP is available to all member communities with sewage that comes to our treatment plants and are in our service area,” says Friedman. “The Sewer District owns very large sewers, but we don’t own smaller, local sewers that are in communities. Our studies assist those cities to figure out where their issues might be and what the solutions might be.”

NEORSD research has identified that $3.4 billion is needed across the region to address those infrastructure concerns.

“There is a plethora of need out there,” says Friedman. “NEORSD helps pay for it with the money it receives through our wastewater program.

“Our funding source won’t solve all the problems, but fortunately there are other sources, and our partnerships and member communities are important,” Friedman says, confirming NEORSD’s commitment to environmentally sustainable and healthy communities.

The sewer district’s studies aid local communities.

TIMOTHY DeGEETER DONNA FRIEDMAN

MCIP is a NEORSD funding program that assists member communities with cost-effective sewer infrastructure projects.

EDUCATING FUTURE EDUCATORS

Baldwin Wallace takes a leadership role with four different programs.

By Jill Sell

“As someone new to Baldwin Wallace University (BW), I have learned of the long history we have of producing future educators and establishing relationships in and around Berea, Middleburg Heights and the entire Cleveland Metropolitan area in many ways,” says Stephen W. Dittmore, PhD, dean, College of Education and Health Sciences. “I am proud of our graduates.”

BW can trace its roots to 1845. In the mid-1970s, the graduate program in education at what was then BaldwinWallace College was established and remains one of the largest among independent universities in Ohio today.

Dittmore assumed his role in July 2022, leaving the University of Arkansas as an associate dean in that school’s College of Education and Health Professions. He made the move well aware of BW’s commitment to innovative teacher education and community responsibility. Four recent initiatives by the School of Education designed to help alleviate voids in K-12 education, plus the support of a program that involves BW athletes encouraging reading to underserved elementary students, illustrate that mission.

Reduced or Tuition-free Master’s Degree

We all know the ramifications of student debt, and graduate school costs can be especially challenging. How about a lowcost or tuition-free master’s degree?

Piecing together scholarships and grants, BW and its partner, Meteor Learning (a company that assists the university with recruitment and marketing of graduate degree programs), offers those options to a limited number of students in accelerated mathematics or science teaching graduate programs.

Individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in math or science and want to become a teacher are eligible for the program.

The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s Choose Ohio First STEM grant program and the state’s Addressing the Educator Shortages scholarship programs. With that help, tuition drops to about $7,500 from $19,980, with BW and Meteor Learning picking up the remainder of the cost for a limited number of students. Students in the accelerated master courses learn skills that a student would traditionally learn in teacher education classes, preparing them to be successful in a classroom.

“This opportunity is important to Ohio because, like many other states, it is facing a shortage of teachers, especially in the STEM fields. Those are the growing fields, what industry is demanding and where students want to go after they graduate from high school or college,” says Dittmore. “We see many more jobs available for engineers and the growing field of bioengineers. The workforce is placing a demand on

BW Student Hope Nixon reads to her charges.

those kinds of disciplines rather than traditional humanities.”

Dittmore says that because this degree program is delivered online and is flexible, “it can really help someone make a career switch to teaching and is a way for an individual to better themselves in the future.”

Ohio is ranked fifth in the United States in employment levels for secondary school teachers, except for special and career/technical education, according to BW.

High Dose Tutoring

Not all of the country’s K-12 students have completely caught up with their grade level coursework after the disruptions of COVID-19 and online/hybrid learning. But BW’s new High Dosage Tutoring program is doing something to address that concern. Dittmore considers the program to be beneficial for all those involved.

Unable to technically apply itself, Fairview Park City Schools asked BW to apply for Ohio Department of Education/U.S. Department of Education funds. The hope was to create a program that features BW K-12 teacher education students working with established teachers to help high-need students in grades one through five.

Two BW faculty members — Professor Cynthia Dieterich and Rochelle Berndt, assistant professor in literacy education — were awarded a grant of almost $300,000 to work with Gilles-Sweet Elementary school staff over the next several years. The pilot program involves eight undergraduate teacher candidates and 11 elementary school teachers. Youngsters are tutored in literacy and mathematics.

PREP

The Primary Reading Engagement Program (PREP) motivates students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District who struggle with reading. The program encourages them to read daily from

a book of their choice, rewards those who complete reading opportunities and encourages parental involvement. In 2021, PREP was part of Cleveland schools’ Summer Learning Experience. Seven-hundred kindergartners each received four books to take home during the summer. PREP provided teacher training and parental guidance.

BW’s Center for Coaching Excellence collected books for the Kids Book Bank, which were then donated to the program.

“PREP is the brainchild of one our faculty members — Jeannie Votypka, assistant professor of literacy,” says Dittmore. “She also worked to secure beginning readers for the students so hopefully they will develop a lifelong curiosity and desire to want to read.”

Votypka published results of her research in the Spring 2021 issue of The Journal of Teacher Action Research. Her work involved the reading motivation, reading frequency and reading achievement of 16 readers in grades one through three enrolled in PREP. Votypka’s study found that PREP students showed positive results when measuring those factors after their participation.

2nd & 7 Foundation

The nonprofit 2nd & 7 Foundation was founded in 1999 by three Ohio State University football players. Since then, participation has spread to 26 states and 200 communities. Free books and positive role models, including student athletes, are paired with second-grade students in need to encourage reading. BW established the first Northeast chapter in 2021.

The university’s program is a partnership between Kerry Bebie, PhD, director, BW Center for Coaching Excellence, and BW’s Department of Education under the direction of Assistant Professor Rochelle Berndt, PhD. Dittmore also credits Lecturer Heather Marzenski for supporting 2nd & 7 as another tool to provide young reader motivation.

“Each month our education majors and college athletes engage with kids in classrooms and show them that reading is important and will help them get places they want to go later in life. I really like this program because it’s a great way to illustrate the importance of interdisciplinary work at the university,” says Dittmore, adding that BW students and athletes will visit schools in the Fairview Park City School District and Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

“You have all these students with different course focuses — student athletes and students in teacher education — all getting to know and interact with each other,” adds Dittmore, who, early in his career, was a corporate communications and sports management professional with several organizations, including The Olympic Games and the NCAA Final Four.

About 3,230 students are enrolled by BW at its 125-acre campus in Berea, BW at Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights and online. The university offers more than 85 undergraduate programs in six academic schools, plus the Conservatory of Music and more than 30 graduate and professional programs in education, business and health sciences.

This opportunity is important to Ohio because, like many other states, it is facing a shortage of teachers, especially in the STEM fields.”

— STEPHEN W. DITTMORE, PHD

By Linda Feagler

PARTNERING TO HELP SENIORS

Aproven leader for more than a century, McGregor is renowned for providing seniors with the ability to age with personal dignity, respect and quality of life at home or in assisted-living or independent-living communities.

A pair of new initiatives ensures that mission remains steadfast as the boomer population ages and the need for certified health care professionals grows.

In 2021, the McGregor Foundation and Judson Services Inc. partnered to launch a paid Earn & Learn Program for those wishing to become state tested nursing assistants (STNAs). Upon completing the three-week training course — which includes 56 hours of classroom instruction and 16 hours of clinical training — students are fully prepared to take the state-licensing examination within four months of their last class.

Last fall, The McGregor Foundation and Judson Services added Eliza Jennings and Jennings Center for Older Adults as coalition partners in the quest to expand educational opportunities. The four organizations created a paid certified medication aide (CMA) training program that provides opportunities for individuals who have earned their

Our goal is to train 40 employees currently working with our organizations. They’ll have the opportunity to expand their skills and increase earning potential.”

— ANN CONN

STNA credentials to further their education and prepare for the CMA state-licensing examination. Curriculum includes 80 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical practice.

Upon passage of the STNA or CMA exam, graduates will be offered employment options at the partnering organizations.

“The new CMA paid internship training program gives students the chance for career advancement between an STNA and an LPN [licensed practical nurses],” says Ann Conn, president and CEO of the McGregor Foundation, which was established in 2002 as a private grant-making foundation. “Our goal is to train 40 employees currently working with our organizations. They’ll have the opportunity to expand their skills and increase earning potential.”

Conn cites statistics indicating that in 2010, there were 4.8 caregivers for every senior who needed care. By 2030, that number will have dropped to 2.8.

“Northeast Ohio is a health care hub nationally and internationally,” says Susan Althans, director of philanthropy and secretary to the board of The McGregor Foundation. “The STNA and CMA programs represent a collaboration between four long-term-care providers, as well as the Fund for Our Economic Future and the Deaconess Foundation, to explore ways the project can grow.”

To assist with curbing the growing shortage of skilled professionals, McGregor has also partnered with 10 nonprofits to form Expand PACE Ohio, a coalition of quality-focused providers who care for more than 60,000 elders across the state. The goal: to expand the federal government’s PACE program (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) throughout Ohio.

Lobbying efforts paid off, and Gov. Mike DeWine signed Sub. House Bill 45 in mid-December. The bill includes $350 million for nursing homes and $50 million to expand PACE to underserved metro areas of Toledo, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Akron and Lorain, as well as other parts of the state if providers are interested. Additional funding includes $40 million for assisted-living services, $30 million for hospice care, $10 million for home-health and community-based services and $8 million for adult day services.

Most PACE participants are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid assistance.

Until the bill was approved, McGregor had been the only purveyor of the PACE program in Ohio.

“Navigating senior care for a loved one can be very daunting for family members,’’ Conn says. “We’re proud to have played a part in stepping forward and shining a light on the importance of making PACE quality care available across Ohio.”

McGregor is addressing the need for skilled health care professionals.

A Building Mission

Habitat’s new head vows to continue growth.

By Joanne Cahill

John Litten says he walked into “an incredible situation” when he reported for duty as the new president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity this past October. Habitat had already completed 28 new houses for local families in 2022.

Litten says he feels fortunate for the opportunity to continue down the pathway paved by his predecessor, John Habat, who stepped down.

“My top goals are to continue the current momentum of building and rehabbing homes for families…and to learn,” he says. “I appreciate Habitat’s simple and forthright mission.”

That mission came to life when a family came into the office to take the final steps toward homeownership.

“When the first family came in to sign their mortgage documents, I saw firsthand how the whole place stopped to honor them, share in the moment and cheer them on,” he says. “The construction staff was waiting at the home to welcome them in and hand over the keys.”

Habitat’s mission is to help people purchase safe, healthy homes at an affordable price in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. Last year, the average monthly mortgage payment for families in Cleveland was $490, including taxes and insurance. Everyone who qualifies for a Habitat home must put in “sweat equity,” which can be earned by working alongside the building team, volunteering in the ReStore and completing homebuyer education courses. Last year, more than 41,458 volunteer hours were logged.

Welcoming a new CEO is not the only thing that’s new for the home-building organization. On Sept. 30, it acquired Habitat for Humanity of Lorain

County. One of the first priorities was to reopen the popular Amherst ReStore home improvement thrift store in Amherst, which had been closed since March 2022. Habitat operates two other ReStores in Cuyahoga County — one in North Randall and one on the West Side of Cleveland.

The opening of the Lorain County store makes it much easier for residents of the county to access the affordable, quality building supplies and home furnishings available at the ReStore and marks the first of many services the organization plans to bring to the county.

“The Amherst ReStore far exceeded expectations on its opening day,” adds Litten. “All of our stores are great resources for donations, especially for people who may be downsizing or purchasing new furniture. We also provide free pick up.”

The initial stage of growth into Lorain County has been met with great excitement, says Litten.

“We’re energized by the reinstatement of services, like our homeownership program, and we look forward to Lorain County residents having access to our ReStore treasures, as well as opportunities to volunteer and donate to Habitat programs within the community,” he adds.

In Lorain County, 25% of households (30,757 households) are paying more than 30% of their income toward housing costs. And 77% of the households

(23,821 households) that are paying more than 30% of their income on housing costs earn less than $35,000, meaning those individuals would qualify for the Greater Cleveland Habitat homeownership program.

Litten is looking forward to rebuilding the organization’s presence in Lorain. He says they will be adding a Lorain County board member in the near future and are also starting to reach out to Lorain County corporations and foundations.

“The money raised in Lorain will stay in Lorain [if a donor designates it for Lorain County, it will remain in Lorain County],” he says. “That includes corporate and foundation fund raising, as well as proceeds from the ReStore.”

Along with these new opportunities come challenges. Inflation and other economic factors are creating complications with hiring, as well as with purchasing and supply issues for construction materials.

“They were already a challenge — some materials have doubled and tripled in price,” explains Litten. “We are also concerned about our families and their ability to keep up with their mortgages. We do everything we can do to prepare them for homeownership, which has enabled around 95% of Habitat homeowners to remain in their houses.”

—

All of our stores are great resources for donations, especially for people who may be downsizing or purchasing new furniture.”

JOHN LITTEN

Investing in Entrepreneurs

What are the keys to creating a more vibrant business ecosystem?

BY TERRY TROY

If you look at the events celebrating entrepreneurism in Northeast Ohio, you might think that we are doing more than enough to promote and celebrate companies on the cutting edge of innovation.

During the last quarter of 2022, events such as the Cleveland Chain Reaction pitch days hosted by Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), JumpStart’s Small Business Showcase and the GCP’s Best of Tech Awards — the culmination of Tech Week in October — were held.

Each of those events was sponsored and supported by forward-thinking companies as well as nonprofit, economic development and civic organizations here in Northeast Ohio. But are we really doing enough to support fledgling entrepreneurs and foster innovation and new technology?

The most obvious answer is no. And statistics from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose bear this out. At the end of October, LaRose announced 14,037

new business filings in October 2022, down 103 filings from October 2021 and down 456 filings from September 2022. Statistics for the year to date from Secretary LaRose’s office as of October are also very telling.

QUICK STARTUP FACTS:

• 14,037 new businesses were created in October 2022, down 456 filings from September 2022.

• October 2022 new business filings were down 103 filings from October 2021.

• 152,204 new businesses have been created in 2022 as of October, averaging 15,220 per month. 170,740 had been created at the same point last year.

• 2019, 2020 and 2021 were all recordsetting years in Ohio for new business creation. In 2021, Ohio surpassed the annual filing record with 197,010 new business filings.

And a significant number of those startup businesses are doomed to failure. But in order to support entrepreneurship, we have to define it and better understand exactly what it entails.

“I think you have to look at entrepreneurship in a number of different ways,” says Tom Sudow, director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship at Ashland University and a partner in NOVAMedics. “A lot of the entrepreneurship involves small business, and that certainly needs to be celebrated.”

But we can’t think of entrepreneurship solely as the stereotypical tech savvy startup that grows into a Silicon Valley mega-corporation.

Ashland probably launches six to 10 businesses a year, notes Sudow.

“A couple of them sold and got big, but a lot of them are two-, three- and four-people companies making a living for themselves and their employees.”

On a larger level, failure is an option,” says Sudow.

“Not everything succeeds,” he says. “An NFL quarterback who completes 50% of his passes is a failure. In basketball, if you shoot 70% of your free throws, it’s okay but not great. But if you play Major League Baseball and hit .300, you’re a hero. In venture capital, if you are batting .200 (or if two out of 10 things you back succeed) you are a success. So we have to look at entrepreneurship under the proper lens.

“In Cleveland, we tend to think that we are sinking or dying,” adds Sudow. “We have gone through some bad times, and we have come out of them. But when something doesn’t go the way we think it should, we tend to throw up our hands in the air. But we have had plenty of entrepreneurial successes.”

Addressing the initiatives that foster entrepreneurship are more important than ever, given the advancements we have seen this year in Ohio’s economic ecosystem, including Intel building a semiconductor manufacturing facility, automotive commitments to build electric vehicles (EVs) from both Honda and Ford and further commitments to produce lithium ion batteries from the joint venture of Honda and LG Energy Solutions and Ultium Cells in Lordstown — not to mention the re-invigoration of supply chain companies and logistics to support those endeavors. Those efforts are being supported by nonprofits at both the state and regional levels.

“Our mission is accelerating growth of equity and business outcomes in our region, and we do that by reaching out and helping companies expand while attracting new companies here,” says Steve Fritsch, vice president, Industry Advancement and Engagement for Team NEO, a regional partner of JobsOhio,

which has done an outstanding job this past year of repositioning Ohio’s economy to embrace those new high-tech companies and industries.

“We can always do better,” adds Bill Koehler, CEO of Team NEO. “But I would also add that we are doing a lot of good work already. The thinking around innovation, emerging technologies and how they are reshaping our industries is permeating all of our strategies.”

“There can always be better coordination in any complex business ecosystem system,” says Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart Inc., a venture development organization that provides capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow. “When you look at events like Chain Reaction, our Small Business Showcase and all the activities that are happening in the small business space, they are all important because they are celebrating companies that may have a unique capability, product or service.”

Programs like COSE’s Chain Reaction (see related story page 8) play an important role in celebrating and promoting emerging companies — and many of the winning companies this year involve food and food products.

“The program has dual purposes — to highlight small businesses in the region and provide them with support

by giving them access to the capital, resources, coaching and mentorship they need to take their businesses to the next level,” explains Megan Kim, executive director of COSE and senior vice president, membership development and marketing at GCP.

But Chain Reaction also helps our city’s economy by placing small businesses in neighborhoods across Cleveland, creating jobs, investment and opportunity.

“The program brings entrepreneurs together as a cohort, creating a community and connecting winners and semi-finalists to learn, share ideas, collaborate and support one another, which is integral to COSE’s mission and GCP’s overall mission of accelerating the growth and prosperity of the region,” Kim adds. “Since its inception in 2017, Cleveland Chain Reaction has received more than 476 applications, coached and prepared 108 small business semi-finalists and connected winning businesses to nearly $1.7 million in capital.”

Other programs like the Best of Tech awards are equally important.

“This is a signature celebration of tech successes,” says Baiju Shah, president and CEO of GCP. “By highlighting businesses and tech leaders, we hope to inspire others to pursue their innovations and business ambitions. We also believe the recognition helps attract and retain tech talent in the region and builds broader awareness that Cleveland is a great place to build businesses.”

Pitch practice during last year’s Chain Reaction.

Tom Sudow Steve Fritsch Bill Koehler Ray Leach

Megan Kim

But are these events simply celebrating entrepreneurs or are they driving innovation? Yes and no.

While programs like the Best of Tech, Chain Reaction and JumpStart’s Small Business Showcase often highlight smaller, more innovative companies, they also make larger companies aware of what are often unique products or services, which in turn helps the larger companies build their businesses.

The recognition offered by these events helps these fledgling companies communicate with potential customers and partners. Perhaps most importantly, the programs also help attract and retain talent — a key initiative — which helps build a vibrant business and economic community.

“We believe that people want to work in an environment where they can work on fun things, where they are challenged and where they are pressing the bounds of their capabilities and opportunity,” says Koehler. “They want to be a part

of something that is bigger than themselves and maybe create some significant wealth while doing it.”

While entrepreneurial events help get the word out about what companies and entrepreneurs are doing, additional communication is also important. It’s another issue that needs to be addressed.

“One of the biggest challenges that JumpStart has is how do we get these

successful stories out to the marketplace,” says Leach. “We need to focus not only on what the entrepreneurs are doing, but perhaps more importantly the impact these entrepreneurs are having on their families and the broader community as well. We need to do a better job of being an amplifier on activities outcomes and the impact these entrepreneurs are making in the community.”

The Best of Tech Awards recognize innovation and are the culmination of Tech Week held in October.

While recognition and attracting talent are key initiatives for innovative growth, startups also have basic business needs.

“Everything we do at JumpStart is about bringing three sets of resources to entrepreneurs,” says Leach. “We try to bring capital, business services (such as subject matter expertise and knowledge) and then connections. While talent is always a big part of it, we are also trying to help these entrepreneurs make connections to lenders, investors or customers, as well as people.”

Continuing business education plays a key role, notes Leach.

“We have a very intensive cohort training program where we take about a half dozen entrepreneurs at a time through a multi-week program that is very intensive and allows the business owner to think differently and probably act differently as it relates to issues that pertain to their business,” he says.

JumpStart is now on its 16th set of cohorts (usually doing four per year)

and a cohort can range from five to eight participants.

“And we are doing that not only in Cleveland, but in Toledo,” says Leach. “And we’re looking to expand that across Northeast Ohio.”

JumpStart also has a long track record, offering its cohort sessions for more than seven years. It’s been successful because attendance also has benefits that go beyond cooperative education.

“The companies that go through our cohort programs are also eligible for loans from JumpStart,” says Leach.

This can also help build a good foundation for a long-term business relationship.

“When we have a company either going into or out of a cohort, we build a relationship,” says Leach.

JumpStart not only knows what the entrepreneur is doing; it also knows smaller issues, “like when they show up every day or what challenges and issues they have faced over the last couple of

months or even the last two, three or five years,” says Leach. “So we have a long-term relationship with them and have an interest in providing capital.

“A lot of capital providers in our community are doing great work, but many also require personal guarantees or other requirements to get access to capital.”

But JumpStart is not often as restrictive on its capital requirements.

While tech-oriented companies are in higher demand in Ohio right now, due to emerging industries, innovation should never be confined simply to tech.

“Originally, when we were first founded, we only cared about technology and focused on that side of the equation because technology companies not only create a lot of jobs, they also create a lot of spillover jobs,” says Leach. “But today, JumpStart is equally engaged and involved in small business startups that aren’t tech companies and that is a reflection and recognition of how important those companies are to the execution of our mission

— particularly when it comes to womenand minority-led businesses. That is true across all dimensions: geography, inner city, suburban or rural; gender and race and industry. But having said that, we are not spending a lot of time with small nontech businesses in the wealthier suburbs, but are focused more on the residents of the City of Cleveland.”

“We believe the quip that ‘all businesses are tech businesses,’” adds Shah. “Technology transforms a business’s potential through top-line growth, through innovation and customer connection and operational efficiency, both of which drive profitability. Companies are investing in technologies to innovate.

“GCP is focused on creating an environment and ecosystem to promote dynamic businesses and innovation institutions and to develop the talent needed to support the growth of those organizations. This includes working with partners that support start-ups, scale-ups and innovation in established

companies and advocating for resources and public policy that drives more small business capital, innovation growth, and industry-institution collaborations.”

While high-tech companies seem to get the lion’s share of the ink, there are industry sectors where we are well-positioned when it comes to long-term growth. One of the first is manufacturing.

“We work with a number of partners, including MAGNET, to drive something we call a Smart Manufacturing Cluster,” says Fritsch. “That cluster exposes companies to industry 4.0 technology, such as industrial internet of things, additive manufacturing or automation and robotics.”

Through this cluster, companies are better able to understand how these new technologies impact productivity and ultimately a company’s profitability, which puts them in a position to grow, says Fritsch.

“What we try to do is to bring together seekers of these technologies and get

them in touch with companies that can help solve technology adoption challenges,” Fritsch adds.

In many cases, the solvers are smaller companies, the one- or two-person entrepreneurial shops that may have spun out of a larger enterprise to produce something that is not only of interest to them but also of value to an industry segment or specific manufacturer.

“That’s a very big part of our mission as well,” notes Koehler, “to support the companies we have here already and making them more competitive over time through investment in these new technologies.”

“It’s important that we have the opportunity to bring people together so we can learn from each other, and discuss the opportunities,” says Koehler.

That helps to foster a common understanding of the opportunities as well as the gaps in knowledge that can help encourage an alignment of activity for better outcomes.

“So we are all rowing in the same direction,” says Fritsch.

Earlier this year, Team NEO worked with Kent State University on a Smart Manufacturing cluster partnering with Manufacturing Works, the Ohio Aerospace Institute and the Youngstown Business Incubator.

“We had an EV Conference that was extremely well attended, attracting over 350 people in one day,” says Koehler. “We talked about the opportunities as well as the assets that are developing across our state.”

Team NEO is also talking to Manufacturing Works about what they are doing on autonomous vehicles.

But Northeast Ohio has opportunities beyond manufacturing and automotive, according to both Leach and Koehler. And those industries offer plenty of opportunity for future innovation. The first is in logistics.

“We are seeing a ton of logistics-oriented software innovations,” says Leach.

“Obviously Cleveland and Northeast Ohio has always been a long-standing logistics hub.”

“We are also working with the Greater Akron Chamber on what they are doing with their Polymer cluster that they are developing,” adds Koehler.

Another industry that offers plenty of opportunity is health care and, more specifically, drug discovery and therapeutics.

“There are major initiatives going on right now in Columbus and Cincinnati that are focused on advancing companies in the area of drug discovery,” says

Leach. “That’s an area where we could be doing a lot more.”

It’s also one of the reasons JumpStart is partnering with health care institutions, startups and other entities to help move the needle in therapeutics.

“There are plenty of opportunities out there, and JumpStart is open to partnering with anybody,” says Leach. “You don’t have to be affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, University Hospitals or Akron Children’s Hospital to have something to bring to the party.”

“

By highlighting businesses and tech leaders, we hope to inspire others to pursue their innovations and business ambitions.”

— Baiju Shah

Baiju Shah

My Life

By Lynne Thompson

My Food

Tastes that Run to the Exotic

It happens every time you walk through the produce department: A display of exotic produce catches your eye, and you wonder, “what the heck is that?” A label over the bin or basket reveals the name and price of the item but no suggestion whatsoever for using it.

Vinnie Latessa, produce director for Heinen’s grocery stores, solves the mystery surrounding three supermar-

Buddhist monks are credited with bringing the item also known as the fingered citron from India to China. Today it is cultivated

“It has really no flesh, pulp or seeds,” Latessa explains. The value lies in an incredibly fragrant rind and pith that are sweet, not bitter like those on most citrus — a trait that makes for good candying and zesting. Buddha’s hand also can be sliced for infus ing high-proof alcohols such as vodka and gin.

Dragon fruit. The showy fruit of a cactus native to Mexico, Central America and South America is most

predominantly available in a magenta or yellow skin. Latessa compares the texture of the white flesh, which is studded with tiny, edible black seeds, to that of a kiwi and de scribes the flavor as “a between a kiwi and a pear.” That flesh can be eaten alone, sliced into sal ads and blended into smoothies and shakes.

Plantain.

banana ready for the quicksale bin. But Latessa says this member of the banana family, believed to be indigenous to Southeast Asia, is treated more like a potato in tropical regions around the world — peeled and baked, boiled, fried, grilled or steamed as a side and/or snack.

The flavor varies with the degree of ripeness, from starchy when green to lesssweet banana-like when black.

“If they’re fully ripened, you can bake plantains in the skin for 40 to 50 minutes and serve them with salt, pepper and a little bit of butter,” he says.

My Earth

A Valentine’s Day with an Eye

Toward Earth

As Valentine’s Day nears, giftgivers go red — with red roses, red greeting cards, red pajamas, you name it. But Carin Miller, an education specialist with the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, suggests going green by making a few eco-friendly gifting adjustments.

Give experiences. “Many people find themselves over-inundated with stuff,” Miller observes. She suggests giving tickets to a movie, theatrical production, concert or sporting event; membership to a museum or other cultural institution; or a weekend getaway.

Select simple greeting cards and candy in simple boxes. Valentine’s Day cards are notorious for their embellishments — stamped foils, glitter, crystals, ribbons, plastic accents.

“Unfortunately, anything like that would not be recyclable,” Miller says. The same goes for the lavishly decorated boxes of chocolates. Those who eschew sending e-cards should stick to cards with designs and messages executed in ink. Ideally, candy boxes should be made of cardboard and decorated with nothing more than a removable bow. When recycling the boxes, remove interior plastic trays and individual paper candy cups. According to Miller, neither are recyclable.

Reimagine the floral tribute. Yes, those dozen roses can be composted — if the recipient composts or uses a composting service. But Miller points out that a potted flowering plant will last much longer, maybe years if it’s easy to care for and/or the recipient has a green thumb. If it’s purchased from a local greenhouse, that’s even better. “Anything that is coming from far away has a higher carbon footprint,” she says.

Trinket not. Miller advises thinking twice before buying plastic rings, balls, beads and other inexpensive items for goody bags to hand out at children’s parties. “It gets thrown in a drawer or thrown in the trash,” she says. Consider decorating a reusable plastic cup for each guest, complete with his or her name on it, instead.

Carin Miller

Avoid Training Injuries

This is the year I’m really going to get into shape, you tell yourself. That new fitness equipment you ordered (or received as a holiday gift) seemingly ensures it. There’s only one thing that can stop you now: an injury.

At-home exercise injuries resulting in a trip to an emergency room increased by over 48% from the end of 2019 through the end of 2020, according to a Wall Street Journal article quoting Medicare marketplace MedicareAdvantage.com’s analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission data.

Dr. Matthew Kampert, a Cleveland Clinic staff physician with a dual appointment in sports medicine and endocrinology, says that number can be reduced by:

Reading (and following) manufacturers’ directions. It’s particularly important if the equipment requires assembly. “If things are not put together appropriately, it [can give] way under use,” Dr. Kampert warns.

Any deficit in explanations regarding how to use an exercise machine can be augmented by YouTube videos and online fitness publications. And a family physician can provide referrals to a certified personal trainer, physical therapist and/ or exercise physiologist for in-person instruction.

“Even if you have a functioning piece of fitness equipment, if you use it improperly, you put yourself at risk for injury,” he says.

Warming up. Cycle at a low intensity for 5 to 15 minutes when riding a stationary bike, walk at an in creasingly brisk pace for 5 to 10 minutes before running on a treadmill, etc.

“If the extremities are cold, they’re stiff and they haven’t been utilized, then a sudden movement — that’s how you can get a strain of the muscle,” Dr. Kampert says.

Starting out slow. Ideally, Dr. Kampert advises getting a physical assessment and exercise “prescription” before starting a fitness regimen. He generally recommends gradually increasing duration by 10%, followed by periods of rest that allow the body to recover and adapt to the load placed on joints, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. For example, if someone walks or runs a total of 10 miles a week (spread out over several days), he or she safely can increase the number of total miles by 1 mile the next week.

“Focus more on duration and frequency before you move on to intensity,” he advises.

What to build? A patio or deck?

That’s the question so many homeowners ponder as they gaze at a snow-covered backyard in late winter.

According to Pat Perrino of Perrino Builders & Remodeling in Chesterland, there are a number of other variables to consider before answering the question.

Price. “A deck is going to cost you a lot more money than a patio, generally, especially if you do Trex [a brand of composite decking material that virtually eliminates the maintenance of wood],” Perrino says. “The deck is probably three times the cost.”

Patios, in contrast, can be constructed of a range of materials that accommodate any budget, from concrete finished and saw-cut to approximate the look of natural stone to the real thing.

Lay of the land. Perrino notes that a deck is better suited to a home on a lot with

a grade change, particularly a dramatic one. Indeed, it may be needed to negotiate the drop from the first floor to the backyard of, say, a house with a walk-out basement where “you’re not going to be able to walk out your family room or your kitchen and be on solid ground,” he says.

Amenities. Patios are more amenable to incorporating outdoor kitchens, pizza ovens, fireplaces and fire pits — the features so many people desire in a world in which the backyard has become a true extension of the home.

“They look more natural if they’re on a patio versus a deck,” Perrino says.

Aesthetics. Patios are generally easier to screen from neighbors’ view with shrubs and trees, at least initially. “[The deck] is off the ground,” Perrino explains. “You’ve got to wait for the trees to grow.”

But pavers can shift, particularly if they’re not laid on a proper base. And hairline cracks eventually will appear in concrete.

“You just live with them,” Perrino says of the cracks.

Dr. Matthew Kampert

Pat Perrino

The Guardians of Transportation stand against a winter's night, waiting for warmer weather.

By Erik Drost

Before Sales Concepts, we didn’t have a formal system. We were just pursuing business like hamsters on a wheel.

Chris Berry Three D Metals

It may seem like a preposterous assertion to say this, but you’d better be prepared because you are going to sell more.

Paul Bishop Ice Industries

People don’t really care about what I do. They care about whether or not I understand what it is they do and what they need.

Dana Allender Sun Management & Consulting

The bottom line is we’re simply making more money because of them.

Dan Andrews Olympic Forest Products

The real value they’ve given me is confidence. The ability to keep things moving, to not be stopped by any negative chatter in my head.

Ben Beckman Seaton Woods Ventures, LLC

Sales Concepts helped us rise up and become a success story for the second time.

Tony Hyland TAP Packaging Solutions

I did exactly what they told me to do. And it was like, BAM! Done! I sold a huge job!

Kelly Farrell designRoom

I don’t know what life would be like if I hadn’t met them. One thing’s for sure, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am now. That’s 100% guaranteed.

John Farren The American Endowment Foundation

As a not-for-profit, I really didn’t think we could afford it. But at some point I came to realize we couldn’t afford not to do it.

Lynne Giacobbe Kendal at Home

Our closing rate had averaged about 12%. My goal was to raise it to 15%. After starting the classes, our closing rate rose to 25%.

Jodi Lombardo

Custom Paper Tubes

It works so well that we quickly became the number one center in the country.

Nick Paez GolfTEC (Cleveland)

We’re glad we didn’t negotiate to give them a percentage of sales because they’ve helped us become so successful.

Jeff Stohr

Trevor Stohr Conveyer & Caster

We are architects, not sales people.

Marty Strelau ADA Architects

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