Cleveland's CEOs You Should Know

Patty Starr is president and CEO of Health Action Council and is responsible for driving the strategic direction of the organization--build stronger, healthier communities where business can thrive. Since joining the Health Action Council staff in 2013, she has transformed the organization yielding broad national expansion and seven consecutive years of growth.Patty is a member of the Advisory Board at the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Board of Directors for Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO). She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Better Health Partnership, Ohio Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative and Health Action Council before becoming executive director in 2013. In 2022, she was named a Woman of Influence by Cleveland Business Journal, and In 2018, she was named among Notable Women in Healthcare by Crain's Cleveland Business.  Prior to Health Action Council, she was the senior director of health insurance and benefits at the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and president and founder of The Ark Individual Insurance Brokerage. 

Katie Payne is the Chief Executive Officer of Lifebanc, Northeast Ohio's only nonprofit organ and tissue recovery organization. A registered nurse and healthcare leader with nearly two decades of experience in transplant and donation services, Katie brings deep clinical expertise and a personal passion for saving lives through donation.Her journey into this work is rooted in personal loss—her brother Billy became a donor after a tragic accident, an experience that profoundly shaped her sense of vocation. Prior to joining Lifebanc, Katie served as Executive Director at LifeLink of Georgia, where she led operations across clinical services, hospital development, donor family support, and public education, helping increase donation volumes by 18% and organs transplanted by 36%. Katie holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Georgia State University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation. With a leadership style grounded in empathy, data, and advocacy, Katie is committed to honoring every donor, supporting families, and bridging the gap between need and access in organ and tissue donation.

William Wappler is a visionary in technology, innovation, and AI. William's focus is on managing the rapid growth of Surgere, while supporting a strong organizational culture and exemplifying our core values.  He has over 20 years of experience in directing and executing technology strategy and financial growth for global Fortune 500 companies. Previously, as President of a leading software company in California, where he led the business in automating production control.  William earned a combined degree from the University of Illinois and Illinois State and holds an MBA from Northwestern University. 

Grace Gallucci is the Executive Director for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for greater Cleveland, responsible for transportation and environmental planning, as well as resource allocation in the five county region. She has held this post since 2012.Ms. Gallucci has more than 30 years of finance and planning experience in the field of transportation. Her prior posts include working for the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority where she held the titles of Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the Finance and Performance Management functions, as well as those of the department of Research, Analysis and Policy Development. She also held the positions of Director, Office of Management & Budget and Director of Finance for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. She started her career in transportation as an analyst for the Office of Transportation, Broward County, Florida, working on both highways and mass transit issues.Ms. Gallucci has been an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University, teaching courses in public finance, economics, public policy and transportation management. Ms. Gallucci holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, and both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton.Ms. Gallucci has been the chair of the Northeast Ohio Sustainability Communities Consortium (Vibrant NEO2040) since 2013, receiving the Daniel Burnham Award for best comprehensive plan from the American Planning Association, its highest honor, in 2015.She is active in various professional organizations including the National Association of Regional Councils. She has served on research panels for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science and has been appointed by former US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to serve on its Transportation Review Advisory Committee for Safety. She has received many honors including being named one of Crain's Business “40 under 40”, and receiving the distinguished alumni award from Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs.

Al DiFranco proudly serves as President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland. Prior to becoming President of JAGC in July 2022, Al was the organization's Vice President for Development and Programs for four years.Under Al's leadership, JA of Greater Cleveland has significantly increased its financial resources, expanded its student reach, and recently began a multi-million campaign to create the Junior Achievement Experiential Learning Center in Downtown Cleveland. In 2025, JA of Greater Cleveland will also host JA's National Leadership Conference for the first time.Al previously served as Director of the MBA Program at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and President and CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce.Al received his Master's in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University, Certificate in Leadership from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University).

Todd Stein CEO of Brunswick Companies proudly announces the appointment of Michelle Hirsch and Rachel Weinberg as Co-Presidents marking a pivotal moment in the company's evolution as a third-generation family-owned, independent insurance and risk management firm providing commercial, professional, personal insurance, and surety bonds.This evolution reflects Brunswick's unwavering commitment to remaining independent while positioning the firm as an employer of choice that pairs high-touch, personalized service with innovative technology solutions.In their new roles, Michelle and Rachel will leverage their complementary strengths through a clear division of responsibilities. Both leaders have risen through Brunswick's ranks to shape key areas of the business. Michelle will drive strategic vision and growth initiatives for the company, building upon her success in transforming Brunswick Private Client. Rachel will focus on operational excellence and infrastructure, drawing from her extensive risk management and commercial insurance expertise to enhance Brunswick's service delivery and team development. "As a father and business leader, I'm incredibly proud to see Michelle and Rachel step into these roles," said Todd Stein, who will continue to serve as CEO. "They've earned this opportunity through decades of dedication to our clients and team. Their partnership ensures Brunswick will continue to thrive while staying true to our family values and independent spirit."Leadership Experience Michelle brings over 20 years of experience at Brunswick Companies, having founded Brunswick Private Client, a division dedicated to managing risk for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Michelle holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and the Certified Advisor in Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation from The Wharton School of Business and Chubb Insurance. Rachel has 19 years of insurance expertise, specializing in commercial risk management since graduating from the University of Hartford with a degree in Risk Management. She has been instrumental in turning Brunswick's commercial division into a powerhouse serving diverse industries, including real estate and manufacturing.Both Michelle and Rachel are sought-after speakers at national insurance industry events and serve on multiple non-profit boards, demonstrating their commitment to both professional excellence and community involvement.Under their joint leadership, Brunswick Companies stands ready to transform the insurance experience while staying true to its founding purpose -- protecting what matters most to its clients. "Having worked alongside Michelle and Rachel for many years, I've had the privilege of watching them develop into the leaders they are today," said Lew Patrick, Chief Financial Officer. "Their complementary abilities and shared commitment to Brunswick's success give me complete confidence in the road ahead." Vision for Innovation and Growth The sisters step into their leadership roles with complementary strengths and a shared vision. "In an industry that often feels impersonal, showing the love to our clients is what sets Brunswick apart," said Michelle. "We're committed to combining cutting-edge operations with the personal touch and genuine relationships that have always made Brunswick special." "We're investing in our people and technology to create an even stronger future," said Rachel. "By streamlining our operations, we're empowering our team to focus on what they do best — delivering the exceptional service experiences that define Brunswick." Brunswick Companies Founded in 1972, Brunswick Companies is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency serving clients nationwide. With a commitment to "Insuring the world you love and everything in it," Brunswick delivers personalized protection through its private client, commercial, surety bonds, and professional liability divisions, complemented by comprehensive risk management services. The Brunswick team combines deep expertise with genuine care, building lasting relationships while safeguarding what matters most to clients. To learn more, visit www.brunswickcompanies.com.

Lisa Giganti Chief Executive Officer at Lumina Imaging and Diagnostics. Lisa Giganti is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, innovation, and financial management. As the Chief Executive Officer of Lumina Imaging and Diagnostics, Lisa is at the forefront of transforming and disrupting the medical imaging landscape. Her work focuses on developing strategic partnerships and shared risk/reward ventures to enhance access to quality medical imaging while upholding the highest standards of care and exceptional patient experience.   Prior to Lumina, Lisa was a Managing Principal in Strategy and Innovations at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio where she was responsible for identifying, prioritizing, developing, and executing strategic initiatives in alignment with the organization's mission. Her approach included data-driven analyses and process assessments to improve and expand medical services such as Bariatric Surgery, Radiology, and Breast Health. Lisa's career began in finance spanning a variety of disciplines in the rental car and hospitality industries for both large corporations and start-ups. She then pivoted to banking for 10 years in progressively advanced roles as a Business Performance Improvement Consultant, Retail Banking Controller and Corporate Banking CFO at National City Corporation / PNC Bank.   Ultimately, Lisa found her calling in healthcare, aligning her passion for health and wellness with her strong business acumen.  She served as a Senior Project Manager in Strategic Financial Planning at Cleveland Clinic, honing her skills in financial strategy and large-scale project management.   Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Economics from John Carroll University and later obtained her Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University, concentrating in Finance and Management.   Lisa's diverse background and strategic mindset have established her as an effective leader able to drive growth and innovation in the healthcare, financial services, and hospitality sectors.

Craig Dorn, President and CEO, joined Y.O.U. in 1989. Craig has headed operations, programs and strategic planning throughout his Y.O.U. career. In addition, he has led efforts to create a culture that gathers and uses data to drive decision making. These efforts led to Y.O.U. being recognized by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation as one of only 13 organizations nation-wide selected for its PropelNext initiative. He has also built numerous partnerships and collaborations with schools, community-based organizations, municipalities, and faith-based institutions to help Y.O.U. realize its vision of a greater community working together to ensure every young person is ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency. Under Craig's tenure Y.O.U. has been named a best place to work in Northeast Ohio in 2023 and 2024.Craig has served on several committees and Boards including the United Way Vision Council on Strong Families/Successful Children; Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Act Youth Council; a member of the Bowling Green State University Honors College Advisory Council and Adoption Network Cleveland, where he served a term as Vice Chair. Currently he serves as Secretary of the Literacy Cooperative Board; a member of ReSource Cle Board of Directors and the Cuyahoga Community College Workforce Board of Visitors. Craig is a graduate of the Leadership Cleveland Civic Leadership Institute and is a member of the 2022 Leadership Cleveland class. He earned his Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and an M.S. in education from Syracuse University.

Andrew M. McRae is a passionate and experienced educator, public speaker, and transformational leader with over 16 years of serving in underserved communities in Houston, Tulsa, and Cleveland. As the founding Chief Academic Officer for Breakthrough Public Schools (BPS), one of the highest-rated networks of tuition-free, public charter schools in Cleveland, Ohio, he is responsible for setting academic vision and strategy, managing data and analytics, revising the curriculum, devising instruction tools, and overseeing all student services.Andrew's purpose is deeply rooted in building enduring systems of excellence for African-American students and transforming organizations to empower communities. He holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a Principal certification from the Texas Education Agency. He is skilled in strategic planning, budget management, operational improvement, instructional design, educational assessment, project management, curriculum development, and staff training and leadership. He is also enthusiastic about permission-less learning models that allow students to be the drivers of their learning and reignite their imaginations.

Augustine “AJ” Wadian is the Co-Founder and CEO of Premier Home Pros, a home improvement company projected to hit $180 million in revenue by 2025. AJ sparked the idea for the company, launching it with his partners and closing their first sale within three days. He's passionate about scaling smart, aligning sales, marketing, and installation through systems-driven leadership.Noah Jackson is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Premier Home Pros, a fast-growing home improvement company projected to hit $180 million in revenue by 2025. With a background in sales, Noah helped lead the company from launch to $100 million in just two years. He's all about building smart systems, scaling sustainably, and keeping people at the center of growth

Michael Sirpilla is a co-founder and CEO of Society Brands Inc., a tech-enabled consumer products company headquartered in Canton, Ohio that acquires e-commerce native brands. Society Brands recently raised $205MM for acquisition financing, one of the largest early stage raises in Ohio's history. He has primarily focused on organic growth throughout his career. Prior to starting Society Brands, he founded a financial services wholesale agency with 40 direct reports and built it to a multi-million-dollar business. He also partnered in a population health management business and scaled it from $0 to $150MM in revenue within five years.

Jeff Beck is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in the home improvement industry. He began his career at Leaf Home Solutions, where he quickly worked his way up the ranks to become the company's CEO. Under Beck's leadership, Leaf Home Solutions experienced significant growth and expansion, becoming the world's largest provider of gutter protection with LeafFilter. In his new role as CEO of Window Nation, the nation's 3rd largest window replacement company, Beck is expected to drive the company's growth and continued success. Beck is a graduate of Kent State University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration who many consider a visionary leader, who brings a wealth of experience and a great understanding of how to apply leading edge big data principles and technology to the home improvement market. In his free time, Beck enjoys physical fitness, attending Cleveland sporting events, listening to music and loves spending time with his family – fiancé Krystal, daughter Regan, son Peyton and dogs Krom and PAC. Beck is actively involved in the community and is a member of various professional organizations within the industry.

Fire-Dex, provides innovative PPE customized to keep firefighters safe. A family-owned company that is committed to the health and safety of first responders. Partnered with their sister company, Gear Wash, the largest Independent Service Provider of PPE care and maintenance in the world, their mission is “to serve those who serve."Steve Allison took over operational responsibilities for the company worldwide. Allison is a 28-year veteran of the fire service personal protective gear manufacturing and sales marketplace. He joined the company in 2014 to serve as Director of Sales then was promoted to VP of Sales & Marketing in 2016. Fire-Dex continues to grow with a facility expansion finalizing this year.

India L. Birdsong Terry serves as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). She joined RTA in September 2019 and brings over 15 years' experience working in positions of increasing responsibility in the public transit industry. Birdsong Terry began her career in 2006 when she joined the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), where she served in planning, instruction, control center, operations, and finally as Senior Manager of the central region for Bus Supervision and Instruction. In 2015, she was appointed Chief Operating Officer of WeGo Public Transit in Nashville, where she served until coming to Cleveland.   At RTA, Birdsong Terry oversees more than 2,000 employees at the largest transit system in Ohio, which provides more than 24 million annual rides to customers using the bus, rail, paratransit, trolley, and bus rapid transit system across the county's 457 square miles. Responsible for managing the Authority's $292 million operating budget, Birdsong is committed to transparent leadership, management accountability and sound financial oversight.

Mark Allen Roberts is a senior level sales and marketing leader with over 35 years of experience in driving profitable sales growth in market leading organizations. He has done so at companies like Timken, VMI, Gardner Denver, Mobility Works, and Frito Lay. In 2018, he received the Business Excellence award from NSME and in 2019, The Highspot Sales Enablement Award. He was also recognized by Sales Hacker Inc. in the Sales Enablement Category. Mark is the founder of OTB Solutions, LLC and the popular business development blog here at https://www.nosmokeandmirrors.com/blog, ranked #1 in fixing sales problems.Today he is the founder and president of OTB Sales where he helps clients diagnose and improve sales effectiveness and hire and develop their sales talent to improve sales results. Author of Driving Explosive Growth, Voice of Customer, and Branding Backwards, as well as several whitepapers and articles.

Ted Otero: Ted Otero is a Cleveland native from Independence and now resides in beautiful Auburn Township with his wife and business partner, Kelly, and their two children Isabella and Austin. He is the founder and President of Otero Signature Homes. He holds a civil engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. He has over 25 years of real estate and construction experience both in the commercial and residential arenas.  Ted served as the 2017 President of the Home Builder's Association of Greater Cleveland and is currently a member of a national Builder's 20 group.   Ted Otero is also the managing partner of the Otero Group. Ted strives to offer clients a unique approach to selling their homes in a highly competitive market, which uses his extensive experience in marketing high-end luxury homes. Kelly Otero: Kelly Otero earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve University. She used her entrepreneurial and business skills to start Otero Signature Homes in 2004 alongside Ted. Working closely with clients to select all of their custom home finishes, Kelly recognized the need to expand her talents. Clients were so pleased with their experience that they often asked for continued design services to give their home the finishing touch, thus founding Ovation Interior Design in 2013.   Her creative talents and extensive knowledge of residential design give her the edge needed to expand both businesses and create cutting edge offerings in the Cleveland market. Kelly enjoys working alongside her team to provide the best possible experience to their customers and trades.

Megan graduated from Marquette University with a liberal arts double major in Spanish and English and earned a minor in Philosophy. As an AFS student she attended the University of Sevilla and went on to attend the University of Madrid, Spain her junior year of college. Her continuing desire to learn about other cultures and ways of life and to delve in completely through the language lead her to serve in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1992-1994. During her 2 ½ years of service, Megan traveled to Calcutta, India to work with Mother Teresa. Megan adds, “I have always had a desire to serve, to know and understand others of different walks, backgrounds, and cultures.  When I was young, I had a particular desire within me to give back to others and to learn from them as well.  Mother Teresa was a very big example and role model to me.  My experience observing Mother Teresa and serving the beautiful people in her homes who were either dying, diseased or sick physically and/or mentally had a major impact on my life as well as did the people I served in Thailand.”Once back in the U.S. Megan was a pioneer on the Internet Team at Progressive Insurance, obtaining 3 patents.In 2006, Megan's 6-year-old daughter, Maria, was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor with no hopeful treatment or cure. Maria was given 10 months to live and succumbed to the disease a year later after finishing her first grade year. Inspired by her daughter's battle with the disease and the tremendous love that Maria had for her fellow friends suffering from cancer, Megan co-founded the Prayers from Maria Foundation with her husband Ed in 2006 with a mission to put childhood cancer at the forefront of the battle against cancer.Megan and her husband Ed live in Cleveland, Ohio with Maria's four brothers- Eddie, Aidan, Blake and Josh. 

Nick Lopez attended Arvada West High School and left Colorado as a wide-eyed first-generation college student to work on a BS in business marketing from Michigan State University. His plan was to walk on to the wrestling team, which would ultimately pay for the cost of tuition and living. The reality was that a scholarship was a couple of years away, so Nick made the tough decision to hang up his wrestling shoes for an entrepreneurial endeavor to support the cost of his education.   At the age of 19, Nick founded his first painting LLC, and every summer thereafter he painted homes to help pay for tuition, books, and cost of living. By doing so, Nick developed a real passion and love for the craft of home improvement. In his third year as the owner of the company, the “light bulb” went off. He realized that those years of painting didn't have to be his last, and that a future in the home improvement industry he had grown to love, made sense. From that point forward, Nick focused himself on building a business that would set the standard for excellence in painting and home improvement.   Upon graduation, Nick and his soon-to-be wife moved back to Colorado to start their family. Soon after, Nick launched LIME Painting in Denver. He created, developed, and perfected a game-changing business model for consistently delivering exceptionally high-quality home improvement services. High-quality people were the secret to LIME's early and ongoing success. They have been the key to making LIME the special home service company that customers have been searching for. LIME has perfected a partnership model that appeals to the most talented professional painters within a market and marries them directly to clients for exceptional craftsmanship. Through it all, Nick has retained the passion for excellence that inspired him to build LIME.

Richard Klaben, CEO of the Klaben Auto Stores   Richard Klaben has been the CEO of the Klaben Auto Stores since 2010, but active in the business since 1974 when he began detailing cars for the founder of the business – his father, Albert Klaben Sr.  Throughout the years, Richard worked in various positions with responsibilities for every facet of the business.  The Klaben Auto Stores currently represent Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram franchises in multiple locations in northeast Ohio with close to 300 employees.Richard is often heard saying, “titles represent responsibilities, not rank, as every team member, starting with me, is a customer service representative.”  Like his father, he remains committed to a business model recognizing customers & team members (PEOPLE) as the foundation of their success.  Richard is at work every day leading by example and adhering to the core tenets of that business model, hard work, respect, empathy, integrity, and a genuine concern for others.

The Center for Black Health & Equity is a leading nationally recognized public health entity that provides solutions to issues impacting African American health.We engage health care organizations, public health officials, faith leaders, and African American communities in health promotion and disease prevention work.Our mission is to facilitate programs and services to benefit communities and people of African descent. We do this by building community capacity, developing community infrastructure, and advocating for equity-centered policies.We are committed to addressing the social and economic injustices that have marginalized our communities and led to deep health disparities.We apply our proven framework for policy and social change to our work in tobacco control, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, women's health, cancer, mental health and other disparities.

Matt Jones, CPA serves as CEO of Affinity Whole Health. Founded in 2012, Affinity has assisted thousands of men and women with hormone therapy and injectable weight loss. Matt's career began in public accounting, he spent time in Fortune 500 sales and business operations. Matt is a life-long Clevelander and enjoys reading, exercise and spending time with his wife and two sons. 

Ilan Sobel has been the CEO of BioHarvest Sciences since July 2020. Ilan has brought the company's first product, VINIA, to North America, building a direct-to-consumer machine that is now generating significant revenues. VINIA's go-to-market success has established a template for the company's near-term product pipeline of nutraceutical plant cell banks. In addition to commercial focus and planning, Ilan has scaled production capabilities from R+D up to industrial levels, and is building a biotech company with novel, and even patentable plant-based products that are based on science and backed by clinical trials.. Prior to BioHarvest, Ilan served for 6 years at Weissbeerger, as both Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Commercial Officer. In this capacity, Ilan played a major leadership role in building a disruptive BIG Data, IOT & Software Company servicing major Beverage players which was ultimately purchased by Anheuser Busch InBev. Previously, Ilan served an 18 year stint as an International Employee of The Coca-Cola Company, where he played a pivotal role in key senior leadership positions generating significant revenue and profit growth and improving brand health trends across diverse global markets including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa. 

Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., serves as president and CEO ofAmerican Humane, the country's first national humaneorganization and the first to serve animals, whenever andwherever they are in need of rescue, shelter or protection.She is the executive producer of the acclaimed documentary,Escape from Extinction, narrated by Dame Helen Mirren, andits follow-up, Escape from Extinction Rewilding, whichfeatures narration by Oscar winner Meryl Streep. She is alsothe executive producer of the annual American HumaneHero Dog Awards which aired for ten years on HallmarkChannel and most recently aired on A&E and fyi networks.Additionally, she is the author of The Humane Table: Cooking with Compassion, MissionMetamorphosis and Animal Stars. Her next book, Escape from Extinction, is set to come out in2025. Dr. Ganzert serves on the board of Loro Parque Foundation, the Lois Pope LIFE Foundationand is a member of The Explorers Club, the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Trustee Program,and the International Women's Forum. She has been awarded the prestigious Gorilla Prize byworld-renowned zoological organization Loro Parque for her efforts in conservation.Dr. Ganzert is frequently highlighted in prominent national news and media platforms as anauthoritative advocate for animals. In the recent season, she made appearances on shows likeGood Morning America, Fox & Friends, Fox News Saturday Night, and America's Newsroom,among others. During her tenure at American Humane, she has been a guest on broadcast outletssuch as the TODAY Show, MSNBC, World News Tonight, CNN, and Fox Business News, to name afew. Additionally, her insights have been featured in major newspapers, including The WashingtonPost, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Los AngelesTimes, and the Boston Globe.Under her leadership, American Humane continues to earn recognition for its commitment totransparency, accountability, efficiency, and financial responsibility. Thanks to this dedication,American Humane is a top-rated charity having earned, for six years, Charity Navigator's “Four-Star” rating; the “Seal of Excellence” from Independent Charities of America – awarded to fewerthan three percent of charities nationwide; an “A” rating from Great Nonprofits; and is one of thefew charities that meet all of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance 20 Standards forcharity accountability.Since her appointment in 2010, Dr. Ganzert has spearheaded unprecedented growth andtransformational change at the historic 145-year-old nonprofit, which has reemerged as the mosteffective humane organization, directly impacting the lives of more animals around the world thanany other organization through innovative, life-changing and life-saving programs that set the goldstandard in animal welfare and protection. Dr. Ganzert has dramatically expanded the scope andscale of the organization's programs globally with a presence in 40 countries making AmericanHumane the largest certifier of animal welfare in the world. In addition to this growth she hasprovided oversight for iconic humane programs such as No Animals Were Harmed®, protectinganimals in film and entertainment; and, American Humane Certified®, helping to ensure humanetreatment of animals in agriculture. She launched a first-of-its-kind humane certification in globalconservation for animals in zoos and aquariums and an innovative humane certification effort forthe airline industry to help improve the safety and protection of companion animals intransportation. Most recently, Dr. Ganzert launched a new Humane Certified Pet Providerprogram focused on assessing the condition, well-being and welfare of small mammals, birds,reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and aquatic life at pet provider locations and animal suppliers.Dr. Ganzert is also responsible for the creation of American Humane's famed Pups4Patriots™program that provides lifesaving service dogs for wounded warriors facing Post Traumatic Stressand Traumatic Brain Injury.American Humane is now the largest certifier of animal welfare in the world, overseeing thecare of more than 1 billion animals annually. This represents more than a 2,000 percent increaseduring her tenure in the number of animals protected every year.Additional programmatic efforts include leading American Humane's emergency rescuemissions to help the animal victims of catastrophic disasters from Superstorm Sandy toHurricanes Harvey and Ian; creating a groundbreaking clinical trial documenting the efficacy oftherapy dogs in helping childhood cancer patients; founding the bipartisan Congressional Caucusfor the Humane Bond; and, securing a major legislative victory with the passage of language in theNational Defense Authorization Act mandating that all American military working dogs must retireon U.S. soil.Dr. Ganzert holds a B.S. in Business & Accounting, an MBA and a Ph.D. She previously servedas the vice chair of the governing board of the National ALS Association. Prior to her appointmentat American Humane, Dr. Ganzert directed philanthropic services and charitable giving at The PewCharitable Trusts and Wachovia Wealth Management.Dr. Ganzert resides in South Florida and Washington D.C. with her beloved cats and dogs andenjoys spending time with her three wonderful children.

Richard F. Trice Jr., R.Ph., MBA  President  Glenbeigh Hospital & Outpatient Centers   Rick Trice is the President of Glenbeigh Hospital, part of the ARMC Health System. Before joining the ACMC Healthcare System in 2017, Rick served as Pharmacy Manager at University Hospital Health System Geneva Medical Center and Conneaut Medical Center. With 19 years of experience in managing clinical and non-clinical departments, Rick's leadership was integral to the University Hospital System. Graduating from Ohio Northern University with a BS in Pharmacy, Rick owned and operated two pharmacies in Madison, Ohio. He transitioned to the acute care setting in the late 1990s, eventually earning an MBA in healthcare from Baldwin Wallace University

David has been a banking leader in Northeast Ohio since 2011, as part of a career that includes more than three decades of banking experience nationally, focused on corporate and commercial banking. Cleveland is his home, and he enjoys supporting his city and finding success for his company all at the same time.David is the first regional president for First Financial in Northeast Ohio. In his first year after being named to the position in 2023, he quickly added $100 million in investment in Northeast Ohio through his clients.He considers his biggest win in business to have come from finding a path to success as the first employee hired in a new market, which he has done twice now, most recently with First Financial Bank. He holds his MBA, specializing in finance and marketing, from Case Western Reserve University, and a bachelor's degree in finance from Miami University. David also holds FINRA investment banking licenses.David is a proud of his local connections and volunteers his time to improve the community. He is the board chair of Building Hope in the City, a nonprofit organization that is transforming the neighborhoods of Clark-Fulton and Stockyards, and Cleveland's refugee and immigrant communities. David is also active with the Leadership Cleveland Foundation, the Miami University Venture Pitch competition and Bay Presbyterian Church.

With over a decade of pioneering work at Heirloom Traditions Paint and my current leadership role as CEO of CamCoat, I bring a wealth of experience in product development and the creative direction of our products.My core competencies lie in transforming spaces with a keen eye for color, interior design aesthetic, furniture placement and kitchen & bath design.At CamCoat/Heirloom Traditions, our mission is to deliver sustainable coating solutions that aligns with my dedication to innovation and excellence in the realm of home aesthetics and paint & coatings.By leveraging my background in design, we aim to make a positive environmental impact while enhancing the beauty and functionality of our customers living spaces using our innovative paint products.

Founder, CEO and Chairman of the Board Matt Calkins is Appian's founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board. Matt grew Appian from a startup in his basement to the most successful software IPO of 2017 with only $10 million of outside capital. He serves on the board of the Sorensen Institute and sits on the Leadership Council for the Virginia Public Access Project. Matt was the top Economics graduate of his class at Dartmouth. He is the author of several award-winning board games, and is frequently a top finisher at the World Boardgaming Championships.

Craig has worked in the arts in the United Kingdom, Australia and now, the United States. Hiscurrent role is in Cleveland, Ohio as the President & CEO of Playhouse Square, a uniquecollection of 12 venues presenting an impressive season of performances and concerts as wellas hosting eight resident companies.Craig was previously in London as CEO of the Royal Albert Hall, one of the world's most wellknown and busiest performance venues.Prior to this, he was CEO of Opera Australia, the country's largest performing arts organization.Craig also worked in London for nine years as CEO of English National Ballet; COO ofRaymond Gubbay Ltd, a commercial promoter of classical music; and also consulted to theLondon 2012 Olympic Games on cultural presentations.Before leaving Australia, Craig was Deputy General Manager of Sydney Theatre Company, andworked with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games as General Manager of Image, Special Eventsand Olympic Arts Festivals - a role that involved the development and delivery of acomprehensive, substantial, and successful four-year cultural program.Craig has served on the boards of LIFT - the London International Festival of Theatre; TheExhibition Road Cultural Group and English National Ballet School. He is currently on the boardof d&b audiotechnik, a leading manufacturer of speakers for the entertainment industry; C4RD –Centre for Recent Drawing, London; and the University of London. In 2015,Craig was awarded an AM (Australia Medal) for services to the performing arts in Australia and is now a Global Ambassador for Advance Australia.

Erika L. Anthony, a native New Yorker, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Cleveland VOTES. Cleveland VOTES is a nonpartisan, democracy-building movement that works to reconstruct and strengthen power through active participation of our collective partners. Erika has held executive and senior positions with the Ohio Transformation Fund, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, and Oriana House, Inc. She also serves on a number of boards and commissions in Cleveland. Erika holds a B.S. in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Public Administration from the Maxine G. Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University.

The Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission understands the issues today's veterans are facing. Most of the staff is comprised of veterans dedicated to serving their fellow veterans and their families. 

Dr. Amber C. Gibbs joined Cuyahoga DD in 2008 and served in a variety of supervisory and leadership roles, most recently as Chief Administrative Services Officer, before becoming Superintendent and CEO in 2023. Her notable accomplishments include leading a major effort to eliminate the waiting list in Cuyahoga County and to find ways to serve the needs of all 13,000 county residents with developmental disabilities and their families; overseeing several key service departments, a staff of 300 and budgets of more than $40 million; and building a culture of service excellence throughout the organization. A leader at the state level with the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and other county boards, Gibbs was recognized in 2018 with the Ohio Association of County Board's Partners in Excellence Award for her groundbreaking work to eliminate the statewide Medicaid waiting list. Gibbs holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wittenberg University, a master's degree in social science and psychology from the University of Chicago, and a doctorate in organizational leadership from the University of Dayton. She lives in Cleveland with her husband and three daughters.

Dr. Warren Morgan is Chief Executive Officer for Cleveland Metropolitan School District where he leads one of the largest school systems in Ohio. As an experienced educator, Dr. Morgan recognizes the potential of every child and advocates for equity and excellence. He previously served as Chief Academic Officer in Indianapolis, as Executive Director for Teach for America, as a Network Leader of Cleveland's investment turnaround schools, as a high school principal in Chicago Public Schools, science teacher in St. Louis where he was awarded Outstanding Teacher, and he began his career with the Illinois Senate.Dr. Morgan also had the pleasure of working for both Presidents Obama and Trump as a prestigious White House Fellow. He currently serves on the Board of the White House Fellows Foundation Association.Dr. Morgan holds a Bachelor's from Butler University, where he served as student body president; a Master's from the University of Missouri- St. Louis; and a Doctorate from the University of Illinois–Chicago. He is an alum of the Broad Fellowship at Yale University. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc

Travis Nelson is the CEO of Diversified Fall Protection, the largest turnkey fall protection integrator in the U.S. for regulatory-driven systems and services. Nelson is a distinguished leader and influencer in the fall protection industry and brings over 20 years of industry experience to the position.Nelson's journey with DFP began in 2019, initially as Vice President of Engineering and later as Vice President of Strategy. His tenure at DFP commenced after the acquisition of PEAK Fall Protection, where Nelson served as managing partner and president for nearly 12 years.A trusted industry leader since 1994, Diversified Fall Protection (DFP) specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of complete fall protection solutions that keep workers safe from falls, one of the most common causes of workplace injury and fatality. The company minimizes customer liability and protects employees through a comprehensive system of OSHA-compliant fall protection solutions, education programs and an in-house engineering and design team. As a certified integrator of every major manufacturer of system components, DFP provides fall protection partnership for life through the systems we engineer, produce, install, and service.

Presented by Cleveland, Ohio-based, non-profit organization, Values-in-Action Foundation, the Kindland movement is bringing together communities, businesses, organizations, and schools by recognizing and sharing the acts of kindness around us in an effort to inspire a ground swell of positivity and goodness.Kindland relies on the power of the people to do, recognize, report, and share the acts of kindness happening everyday. ​The goal is to create a communities that can sustain a unified sense of kindness, compassion, empathy and understanding. These values are the foundation we need for our community to have the strength to find solutions to our most prominent issues including poverty, social justice, racism, and political polarization.Stuart Muszynski is the co-founder, President and CEO of Values-in-Action Foundation. He has been a business and community leader in Greater Cleveland for more than 25 years. He co-founded Project Love, Remember the Children Foundation, with his wife, Susan Muszynski, Ph.D. in 1994, and is the author of the book Searching for Values: a Grandmother, and Grandson and the Discovery of Goodness (Hiram College, 2005) as well as numerous articles on education, character and values.Muszynski graduated from Hamilton College in 1976 and is the 2011 recipient of the National Cyberbully Day of Awareness Caring and Daring Award. He and Susan have been married for more than 30 years.

   1978 the Waterproofing company where DiCello worked folded on a Friday afternoon. DiCello's over-the-weekend scramble prompted a new business venture: Ohio State Waterproofing. With a shoestring budget, a basement waterproofing system that would prove to be years ahead of its time, and dogged determination to make the home services company succeed, DiCello was well on his way to building the industry-leading provider of basement waterproofing services.Early on, the Company's vision was week to week, with the main objective to generate enough revenue to make payroll for its three employees. Fourty-six years later, DiCello has grown the Company, establishing Ohio State Waterproofing as the number-one provider of waterproofing services in Northeastern Ohio, and operating 13 EverDry Waterproofing franchises throughout the United States.To date, the Company has installed more than 100,000 successful waterproofing and foundation repair systems.In an industry laden with fly-by-night contractors, Ohio State Waterproofing has established itself as the professional and dependable solution for basement water issues. The Company invested in R&D efforts, refining and then patenting its Multi-Step waterproofing system in 1984. Today, it remains the only system on the market that attacks water issues from inside and outside the home. DiCello worked with vendors to ensure quality product procurement, and in the process, developed patented concrete mixes and other products that are incorporated into the exclusive waterproofing system. Quality is it's benchmark: Ohio State Waterproofing guarantees it's work for the life of the home-a point that differentiates the Company from its competitors.

Cliff A. Megerian, MD, is Chief Executive Officer of University Hospitals (UH), a comprehensive health system with annual revenues of $6 billion, 21 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices located throughout 16 counties. He assumed this position in February 2021 and joined UH in 2002. He is also the Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair.In December 2019, Dr. Megerian was appointed the system's President, where he led the organization through an unprecedented pandemic. Prior to that, he served as President, University Hospitals Physician Network, Physician Services and System Institutes. In these positions, he was charged with managing the clinical integration strategies, policies and practice guidelines for more than 2,500 UH employed physicians as well as the operations and infrastructure for UH system institutes. These clinical care institutes bring highly trained subspecialists together from multiple disciplines to collaborate on the best treatment for patients – promoting uniform, standard care protocols and the sharing of best practices.Additionally, he raised physician productivity to its highest level and significantly increased physician engagement and research funding. UH's physician network includes the full-time academic medical practice at UH Cleveland Medical Center and UH's community-based, multi-specialty physician network throughout Northeast Ohio.

E. Douglas Beach, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging (WRAAA), has empirical leadership experience and expertise at the federal, state, and local levels. Having spent much of his childhood on family farms, it quite naturally followed Dr. Beach would pursue a doctorate in agricultural economics. Engaged in this pursuit at North Carolina State University, Dr. Beach found it necessary to return to Ohio to care for his ailing father. This circumstance led him to an awareness and interest in a different national resource: the senior population.Dr. Beach began a career advocating for elders while serving as the Ohio Department of Aging's Deputy Director of Programs, and after many years at the Department of Aging, Congressman David L. Hobson (R-OH) asked Dr. Beach to come on board as a staff economist. Utilizing his assured background in education and economics, Dr. Beach drafted major long-term care insurance legislation working for Congressman Hobson; it was then that Dr. Beach's desire to promote and defend the needs of seniors was revitalized.In September 1999, Dr. Beach was named the CEO of the Senior Resource Alliance, Florida's most prominent and industrious area agency on aging. Under his leadership, the Orlando-based organization's budget rose from $16 million to $25 million. Soon after, the Senior Resource Alliance became Florida's first Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) and was honored as one of the nation's top 10 Information & Referral systems.February 2007 brought a knock on the door from Governor Charlie Crist tapping Dr. Beach to be Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Although rough economic times ensued, the Department's budget matched in equal measure to meet the needs of Florida's seniors with the preponderance of funding allocated for senior community and healthcare needs.One of the premier aging providers in the State of Florida, the Council on Aging of Volusia County (COA) welcomed Dr. Beach as its new Executive Director in June 2010. The COA provided traditional Older Americans Act (OAA) services but also emphasized private pay services and in-home Medicare services. In October 2014, Dr. Beach became Chief Executive Officer of WRAAA. With his blend of skills, business acumen, and respect for older adults and individuals with disabilities, Dr. Beach continues to provide comprehensive leadership and panoptic guidance to future opportunities and anticipated challenges. Over the past decade, Dr. Beach has transformed an agency on the edge into the largest minority-dominated Area Agency on Aging in the State of Ohio.

Adam Nash is the co-founder & CEO of Daffy.org, a fast-growing platform and community for charitable giving. Adam has served as an executive, angel investor, and advisor to some of the most successful technology companies to come out of Silicon Valley. Adam previously served as President & CEO of Wealthfront. He has held executive and technical roles at Dropbox, LinkedIn, eBay, and Apple. Adam also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University, where he teaches “Personal Finance for Engineers.” As an angel investor, Adam is well known for being an early investor in Firebase (sold to Google), Opendoor (Ticker: OPEN), Figma, Gusto, and over 120 other startups. Adam holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science from Stanford University, as well as an MBA from Harvard.

AmCoat Industrial, maker of high-performance coatings for walls, roofs, and specialty industrial applications. AmCoat is home to some of the most recognized paint brands in the U.S., most notably Rhino Shield Ceramic Coatings, Floor Shield Polyaspartic Coatings and, Super Shield Roof Coatings. Through a network of independent dealers, AmCoat distributes its products nationally and internationally coating thousands of homes, buildings and, commercial and industrial applications.Terry Andre has led AmCoat as its CEO since 2010. With more than twenty years of contract manufacturing experience, he is uniquely qualified to help dealers develop their businesses and keep the supply chain moving. Terry and his wife Kathy, reside in Destin, Florida and have three adult children

Corina Diehl is a passionate woman. Her passion for cars and for serving her customers has built Diehl Automotive into one of the region's most successful and fastest growing dealerships. Corina also has a passion for giving back to the community that supports her business and where she raised her family.

Stewart KohlStewart A. Kohl is Co-Chief Executive Officer of The Riverside Company, a $13 billion global private equity firm founded to invest in premier companies at the smaller end of the middle market. Since 1988, Riverside has invested in more than 1,000 companies globally. The firm's investors include leading pension funds, endowments, funds-of-funds, insurance companies and banks. The firm employs more than 350 people in offices across North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.Mr. Kohl joined Riverside in 1993. Prior to that, he was a vice president of Citicorp Venture Capital, Ltd., the private equity arm of Citibank.In addition to his work with Riverside, Mr. Kohl serves as an Honorary Trustee of Oberlin College and of the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. He is also on the Board of Directors of Cleveland Clinic and Co-Chairs its $2 billion Power of Every One Capital Centennial Campaign. He was inducted into the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence in 2009. He previously served as Co-Chair of the Building for Hope Capital Campaign of the Center for Families and Children.Mr. Kohl earned the George S. Dively Entrepreneurship Award in 2018. He was inducted into the Northeast Ohio Business Hall of Fame in 2014.After spending 16 years as a “Heavy Hitter” participant in the Pan-Mass Challenge bicycle fundraiser, Mr. Kohl founded VeloSano, a similar event that has raised more than $20 million to fund cancer research since 2014.Mr. Kohl holds a BA from Oberlin College.

Mike Malley is Chairman of the family-owned Malley's Chocolate, Inc., leading operations and personnel across the specialty retailers' 19 regional stores and manufacturing facility headquartered in Brook Park, Ohio.As grandson of company founder Albert Martin (Mike) Malley, and in partnership with his five siblings, he serves in the third generation of family chocolatiers since its incorporation in 1935.Malley re-joined the family business in 2012 after a progressive 23-year career in the publishing industry. He was Advertising Director and Sales Manager at Crain's Cleveland Business before returning to chocolate, and previously held multiple executive editorial, publisher-level and sales management positions with Questex Media and Advanstar Communications, Inc. Throughout his career, Malley was recognized for leading innovations in traditional print and electronic media, and for helping business-to-business publications expand their audiences and advertising sales revenue.At 63, he is also active in several local and civic organizations, including as Director, Board Member for Cleveland Roots, an organization dedicated to urban agriculture while providing affordable access to fresh produce; Board member of Cleveland Spice Acres; and was past Director, Board Member of LifeBanc, a local organ procurement agency and past Director, Board Member for the Cleveland Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland; and is an alumnae of Leadership Cleveland, class of 2018.He received his Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology from Cleveland State University and recent graduate of Leadership Cleveland Class, 2018. Malley lives in Brecksville, Ohio with his wife Angela, with whom he has two adult children.

Paul Sidhu is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sidhu Realty Capital. Paul has over a decade of commercial real estate investment experience having managed and consulted on multi-billion dollar private equity portfolios as a Portfolio Manager for UBS Investment Bank and a Senior Consultant for Deloitte. Paul graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and also holds a Masters in Real Estate Finance from New York University's Schack Real Estate Institute and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Paul is also a licensed real estate broker and a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).Paul is excited about taking Dave's Cosmic Subs to the next level. The original Dave's Cosmic Subs started out as a humble sub-shop in Chagrin Falls is now revolutionizing the sub-world. Founded on the principles of quality ingredients, unique “cosmic” flavors, and a Rock'n Roll atmosphere, the original Dave's Cosmic Subs has been serving subs that rock since 1997. These legendary subs are poised for expansion across the nation for continued success. The brand is unveiling a fresh logo, new website, and mobile app, all aimed for growth and welcoming new franchise locations.

Brian Krusz is the Founder and Director of Growth & Development at Sgt. Clean Car Wash. Founded in 2013, Sgt Clean Car Wash is an express exterior chain, currently with 16 locations throughout Northeast Ohio. Sgt Clean is a five time Inc 5,000 winner, five time Weatherhead 100, 3 time Vet100 winner, Smart50 Honoree and two time Smart Culture Award recipient. Brian spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Kent State University with an undergraduate degree in Business Management. Brian currently lives in Strongsville with wife and two sons. Brian enjoys spending time with family and friends along with playing golf and hockey, alongside his passion for all Cleveland sports teams.