Crain's Cleveland Business, July 31, 2023

Teach for America celebrates 10 years

Organization has trained 500 teachers in Cleveland

Rachel Abbey McCafferty

Teach for America Ohio wants to do more than put teachers in classrooms. e nonpro t wants to help grow leaders and build community.

Teach for America began more than 30 years ago, with Cleveland operations beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

Corps members are placed into classrooms as part of a two-year commitment to teaching. ose members include recent college graduates, career changers or, lately, long-term substitutes looking to enter the eld full time, said Ohio executive director Jennifer Howard.

Howard said she saw school inequity rsthand growing up in the suburbs of Chicago. She learned about Teach for America as a student at Ohio State University and started teaching as a corps member in Atlanta in 2004. She’s been in education ever since.

Howard moved to Cleveland in 2013 and joined the local TFA chapter in 2014, taking on the role of statewide executive director a little more than a year ago. Ohio’s regional programs merged into a statewide one in 2020.

See TEACHERS on Page 20

‘It just feels like time’

For 80 years, customers have journeyed to the fth oor of a Euclid Avenue o ce building to visit Chas. S. Rivchun & Sons Jewelers, a family-owned business known for its one-of-kind pieces. Come November, shoppers will nd the venerable downtown Cleveland retailer in a new setting. Owner Joe Soukenik plans to leave his longtime perch at the City Club Building for the glassy U.S. Bank Centre o ce tower in the heart of the theater district.

See RIVCHUN on Page 20

New FirstEnergy CEO has big plans for utility

Dan Shingler

FirstEnergy Corp.’s new CEO, Brian Tierney, said he plans to get the regional electric utility in Akron prepared for a future in which even more things run on electricity by continuing to make major investments in the company’s distribution system.

He also has some things he said he plans not to do, like selling the company or putting its name on any more stadiums.

Tierney sat down with Crain's on Friday,

July 21, to discuss his plans, about seven weeks after he took the helm of the company and on a day FirstEnergy's Ohio repair crews were in the process of getting about 50,000 local customers back online after a bad summer storm.

Before coming to FirstEnergy, Tierney was senior managing director of operations and asset management for the infrastructure fund at Blackstone, which became a major investor in the company when it bought $1 billion of FirstEnergy’s equity in late 2021.

Before he joined Blackstone, also in 2021, Tierney spent 23 years with American Electric Power in Columbus, where he was chief nancial o cer and executive vice president for strategy.

Tierney takes over a company that has been mired in scandal in recent years, due to FirstEnergy’s admission that it paid millions in bribes to get former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder to pass the

See FIRSTENERGY on Page 19

The winners and nalists in Crain’s 2023 Excellence in HR Awards include an HR director who managed to double the rm’s 401(k) match, a team at a food company that achieved double-digit improvement in employee retention, and more. PAGE 8

Joe Soukenik, owner of Rivchun Jewelers, examines a diamond using a loupe. The business is known for its custom pieces and hand-selected gems. GUS CHAN

After 80 years in the same space, Rivchun Jewelers nds new downtown digs

FirstEnergy’s new CEO

Brian Tierney

Why (and how) Northeast Ohio chefs give back

By Bev Shaffer

“ e greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King

Chefs will always tell you that, guratively, they are spinning a lot of plates as they work on maintaining, sustaining and growing their business. Yet with so many fundraisers on the horizon, they also continually receive requests to participate, to give back to the community.

e selection of upcoming fundraisers abound from “Une Soiree Avec Cinq Chefs” at Sérénité on Sept. 12 (to bene t the Recovery Center of Medina County and Sérénité Restaurant and Culinary Institute training program); to “Cleveland Top Chefs” culinary event on Aug. 20 at the International Culinary Arts and Sciences Institute (to bene t ICASI Scholarship Fund); to “Five Star Sensation” at University Hospitals on Aug. 26 (to bene t the UH Seidman Cancer Center); or “A Dame Fine Event” on Nov. 2 at 111 Bistro (to bene t Les Dames d’Esco er International Cleveland chapter’s scholarships and grants).

What passion and community commitment drives these chefs to become involved?

I had the opportunity to speak to many of them — and their comments, as they re ected and elaborated, will ll your heart. What started as their wanting to give something back became personal. ey came away from the experience(s) feeling enriched.

Anthony Verona, culinary director at Sodexo [Five Star Sensation], participates to bring awareness and encourage others. “When I support a speci c cause, it brings awareness to the cause. is in turn may get others (to be) involved. e more people that are aware the better,” said Verona.

Laura Jerina, pastry chef at yme Table [Five Star Sensation], is “… motivated to give back because no matter what we go through in life, there is always someone else in the world experiencing something harder than we could ever imagine.” Jerina added, “ is charity event is very near and dear to my heart because the UH Seidman Cancer Center saved the life of one of my dearest and oldest friends. I was there the day she came out into the lobby to ring the bell for her last day of radiation treatment. Today she is alive and well and most importantly, cancer free!”

Todd Whitman, executive chef at Sérénité Restaurant [RCMC/ Sérénité] shared, “just like (un nished) pottery, each morning I start reshaping myself.” He added, “I give back to share what I’ve been able to learn, as I truly believe the more you give, the more you receive. Helping others is the biggest gift we can give ourselves.”

Tony Stanislo, chef instructor

at Medina County Career Center [RCMC/Sérénité], has spent 23 years guiding students in the MCCC program to understand the importance of community involvement. Stanislo reminds his students that it is a two-way street in that the community returns the support by patronizing the MCCC student-operated restaurant, e Center Café.

“I’m a believer that we are given certain gifts/abilities to be able to help others. I have been blessed with the gift of being a chef and a teacher and the availability to participate in events that can bene t others,” added Stanislo, “… and sel shly this event presents me with the opportunity to work side by side with some of the area’s best chefs.”

care — about other people, about the environment, about the future.”

Barnes believes we all need to take the time to treat ourselves. “I know that making chocolate is not solving a grave problem, but I hope that the joy and cheer my creations bring can help brighten someone’s day and lighten their load.”

Vinnie Cimino, operating partner/executive chef at Cordelia, is the event host, chef spokesperson and ambassador for this year’s Five Star Sensation. Cimino believes that part of his motivation to give back “is just (in my) DNA. I truly enjoy giving back and helping people.”

helping those who are following behind.”

Wells added, “I am a 2004 graduate of ICASI, but my connection runs much deeper. My mother battled lung disease for years and required a transplant. We were blessed with a transplanted lung in 1994, allowing (her) to live about nine years longer. When I applied to attend ICASI, I noticed that the surname of the founder was the same as the chief surgeon that performed the transplant. We quickly found out that Chef Loretta Paganini’s husband, Emil, was the doctor that worked on my mother. e Paganinis have been my de facto parents ever since.”

opportunity to give back to the culinary community. Bell said, “I want to give back to the kids who aren’t as fortunate as I was growing up. I want to be a part of helping kids excel and to be able to follow their dreams in the kitchen.”

Kelli Hanley Potts, chef/ owner at Cleveland Field Kitchen [ICASI], said it’s often times an easy “yes, how can I help?” She said, “We are participating ... because we believe in supporting local businesses, families and helping students. Helping to raise money for students that would otherwise not be able to a ord the education is something we stand behind 100%.”

Jeremy Umansky, chef and mycologist at Larder Delicatessen & Bakery [RCMC/Sérénité], spends much of his time giving back when he’s not cooking, fermenting or foraging. “I was raised in a conservatively religious Jewish household. ere is a tenant or philosophy called “tikkun olam,” which loosely translates to “heal the world”. My parents and greater community taught me to put that before all else. It was so deeply ingrained in me as a child that now it’s my natural state of action — give back and help everything heal.”

Umansky continued, “In short, I treat others exactly as I want to be treated and I do my best every day to act the way I want to be treated. Tie in my getting sober, a cornerstone of that being giving back to help others who are struggling to get there and I nd myself incapable of not giving back. It helps keep me sober.”

John Stropki, executive chef at CRU Uncorked [ICASI], has no connection to this particular fundraiser other than helping young cooks. “I feel that being a chef with so many years in the industry and (having) seen so many trends over the years that it’s my responsibility to pass along as much knowledge (as) I can.” Stropki added, “It gives me great pleasure to see young chefs learning and the fervor that ensues.”

Kristin Barnes, co-owner of Sweet Bean Candies + Confections [ICASI], credits her Aunt Doris, the founder of LEAP (Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential) for inspiring her to get involved, for her love of the arts, for teaching her the value of helping others and for encouraging her to overcome barriers. Barnes said, “You get what you give, right? I like to surround myself with people who

Cimino added, “At Cordelia, my partner Andrew and I have been able to channel that in ourselves and use it to take great care of our sta and guests. As a chef and leader in our community, I believe we have a moral imperative to help out when we can.”

“As a father of three, I love nding opportunities for my kids to give back — the sense of gratitude and happiness they feel motivates me to keep setting a good example,” said Cimino. His personal connection? “My grandfather on my father’s side ultimately passed of lung cancer, then my grandmother’s second husband, the man I fondly refer to more as my grandfather, passed away of brain cancer.”

Eric Wells, chef/owner at Skye LaRae’s Culinary Services [ICASI] ,shared his personal connection as well.

“My motivation for giving back comes from my parents. Both of my parents give back in di erent ways — my mother as a PTA and street club leader (and) my father as a union leader. Both showed me the value in reaching back and

Anthony Scolaro, chef/owner at 111 Bistro and e Vue [A Dame Fine Event], will be hosting this November fundraising event at his Medina restaurant. “I’ve been taught all my life to be grateful and thankful for the life I have. I’ve been blessed with a healthy, safe and loving family.” Scolaro added, “When I think about how others are not so fortunate and have to watch their young ones su er or be in pain, it hurts my heart … so I made it my mission to do whatever I could to help those less fortunate and their children. I don’t have money but I have a skill and all I know how to do is use that skill to give back as much as I can and help raise funds for organizations that also align with my personal mission.”

Scolaro supports LDEI Cleveland/NE Ohio’s mission of giving back. “I feel this organization helps put together like-minded people that help to do the same things — using their skills to give back. I have friends who belong to this organization and I know they wouldn’t devote time to it if it wasn’t a strong and admirable organization.”

Terry Bell, chef/owner at TGB ProFoods and executive team chef for the Cleveland Cavaliers for the past 15 years [ICASI], enjoys the

His recovery is a natural connection to supporting Sérénité’s fundraiser. “I’m sober and Chef (Todd) Whitman and his team are in the same boat. We have plenty of war stories to share. I want all people to be able to get the help they need to become the best version of themselves for their community. Sérénité does just that using culinary education and food service work training”

Barbara Snow, adjunct faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, serves on the executive committee of Five Star Sensation. Her responsibility is gathering qualied volunteer chef assistants for the participating professional chefs. For these assistants (many who are returning), there’s a moderate amount of time commitment leading up to the event week and then several intense days leading up and including the event. It’s their own way of donating because they have, on a personal level, been touched by cancer.

Snow also loves the opportunity to work with and learn from these talented chefs and spend time in a professional kitchen.

When you attend these or any future fundraiser, as you’re sampling each chef’s o erings remember to thank them — for their time, for their talents, for giving back. And by all means, support their businesses.

The 2023 Five Star Sensation to bene t University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center takes place Aug. 26 at Cuyahoga Community College. CONTRIBUTED

“I give back to share what I’ve been able to learn, as I truly believe the more you give, the more you receive.”

Todd Whitman, executive chef at Sérénité Restaurant

Boutique, women-owned PR rm in Akron poised for growth

By Dan Shingler

A new public relations rm has quietly been establishing itself and growing in northwest Akron.

Amp Strategy was started by West Akronite Kat Allen and her sister, Morgan, in 2017, though Allen counts the years by her son Tre’s birthdays.

“I track it based on how old my son is. He was 6 months old when we started and he just turned 7,” she said.

Not long after that, she met Lori Krohn, who was running a rm that she had started called Focal Point, also in Akron, with her husband and local attorney Mark Krohn serving as chairman and Lori running the agency as its CEO.

seven employees that it brought over in the merger.

Today, about a year after they combined and have gotten things organized the way they want, Amp has 10 employees and uses about 15 freelancers, Allen said.

Which is to say, of course, that Allen has grown her rm while also handling all of the challenges of being a mom, wife and female executive. But then, Amp has been run exclusively by women since it was started, beginning with Kat and Morgan.

Morgan won a job at a national nonpro t, Beautify America, last year, and Kat bought her sister’s interest in the rm, Kat said.

Allen works with a lot of nonpro ts in town, and the two were introduced by Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing and communications for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. ey immediately hit it o and soon decided to merge their rms, they both said.

“I didn’t want to work by myself anymore,” Krohn said. “And once we started a friendship and working relationship, it just fell together.”

Before the merger, the two rms were about the same size but structured di erently. Amp had ve employees and used about 10 freelancers, while Focal Point had

e rm does not disclose its revenues or client list, but Allen said business is good and is up 30% since the merger a year ago.

Amp now has a client list of about 50 companies and nonpro ts, Allen said. Clients include brands such as Saucemoto, ReLift, Russell Equipment, Phillips Syrups and American Wood Reface; and national nonpro ts like the Tigerlily Foundation and Wigs for Kids, and local nonpro ts like Stewart’s Caring Place.

About 25% of Amp’s clients are nonpro ts; the rm has represented Summa Health’s Akron Marathon Series, the GAR Foundation, ArtsNow and other Akron-area organizations.

Amp is a boutique, though, not a regional or national giant, and Allen said that gives it some advantages. It serves as the chief marketing o cer for many business clients, she said, though she

often works with them to get one once they’ve grown a bit.

“We do have a lot of CMO-level clients — folks that don’t have a full-time marketing o cer yet — where we jump in,” she said.

Amp doesn’t just want any client, though. Allen said she likes clients who are energized about their brand and are open to new ideas.

Sometimes, clients are surprised at Amp’s approach, she said, but then convinced by the results.

“One of our very rst clients was a roofer,” Allen recalled. “We told him his chief competitor was Micky Mouse.”

at came as a surprise to her client, who thought he was competing with other roofers, she said — until she explained it to him.

“It’s because people had to make a choice between getting a new roof on their house and going on vacation,” Allen said.

He marketed accordingly, she said, and … “He loved it. And I think he saw a 62% increase with that campaign.”

at kind of thinking has driven Amp's growth as well, and the rm is hiring to grow further.

“I currently need a really strong, business-minded project manager,” she said. “We’re interviewing someone for that this week.”

Partnership creates patent powerhouse serving Cleveland and global markets

By Kimberly Bonvisutto, Crain’s Content Studio-Cleveland

Renner Otto, Cleveland’s oldest intellectual property law rm, recently acquired Hudsonbased Moxon & Associates to broaden its ability to provide the full spectrum of intellectual property law services in a variety of technologies.

Renner Otto traces its roots back to the turn of the 20th century. Originally serving Northeast Ohio, the rm expanded its footprint and now serves national and international clients ranging from large multi-national companies to sole proprietors.

The boutique rm’s expertise lies in the areas of securing patents, trademarks, copyrights or trade secrets; assessing intellectual property portfolios during mergers, acquisitions or restructuring; and resolving business disputes over infringement or misappropriation.

Renner Otto managing partner Luis Carrion said the new partnership will elevate the rm to powerhouse status in the eld of chemistry, as well as enhance its ability to take on additional and larger projects.

Renner Otto has evolved over the last century, along with the technology it protects. The acquisition of Moxon Law brings additional technical expertise in the areas of patent

preparation and prosecution, trademark procurement and opposition, licensing issues and trade secrets litigation. Moxon’s George Moxon and Brian Harrod will continue to guide clients through the complexities of technical, commercial and legal environments, while being backed by Renner Otto’s resources.

Moxon has handled a variety of technologies, including biotechnology and drug delivery technology, materials technology and organic and inorganic chemistry, as well as mechanical technologies. Their experience extends to Fortune 500 companies, European clients and universities, with experience in technologies

including tire compositions and manufacturing, battery management systems, home construction materials and methods, air puri cation devices and high voltage wave generators.

Moxon’s approach to representation – prioritizing the needs of in-house counsel – will blend seamlessly with Renner Otto’s mission of tailoring its solutions to each client’s unique business and strategic objectives. Carrion said George Moxon’s experience and connections – both locally and globally – bring value not only to the rm, but to clients by offering guidance through today’s technical, commercial and legal environments.

“The acquisition of Moxon & Associates is part of a greater evolution at Renner Otto as we continue to grow and adapt to the ever-evolving needs of our clients,” Carrion said. “We believe the addition of George and Brian will further deepen the bench of our already experienced and technologically focused team of attorneys.”

“Likewise, Moxon & Associates’ client base can expect seamless, continued service that is backed by the experienced Renner Otto support staff and vast resources.”

SPONSORED BY

George Moxon, II (left), founder of Moxon & Associates, and Brian Harrod, counsel and IP attorney, are among the new practitioners bringing their knowledge and experience to Renner Otto.

Kat Allen (left) is president and Lori Krohn is vice president of Amp Strategy. | CONTRIBUTED

“And once we started a friendship and working relationship, it just fell together.”

Lori Krohn, vice president of Amp Strategy

Westlake's LaCentre sells again — for the second time in less than a year

By Michelle Jarboe

When JDI Realty purchased a lender-owned o ce complex and event center in Westlake last fall, the contrarian private equity rm expected to sit on the properties for a while.

Fast-forward 10 months, though, and JDI has made its exit, in what a company principal will only describe as “a really pro table transaction.” at’s a noteworthy turnaround at a time when the o ce market is taking a drubbing from rising interest rates and corporate downsizing.

e July 18 sale of the properties, LaCentre O ce Plaza I and II, doesn’t appear in public records. And it won’t. e transaction was an entity sale, a deal in which the buyer acquires the limited liability company that holds real estate instead of purchasing the property outright.

time, the Ohio Carpenters’ Pension Fund had owned the buildings for almost 18 years, after taking title to them in the wake of a foreclosure. e pension fund was the construction lender on one of the buildings, which date to the early 2000s.

Nasca said that JDI wasn’t contemplating a near-term sale. en a suitor came along.

“We bought these two buildings with the intent to reposition them,” he said. “We fully intended to do that. We received an unsolicited o er. e o er was from a strategic buyer who had other interests in the proximate area. And the price was compelling enough to catch our attention and encourage us to sell.”

He would not identify the buyers. “ ey’re not a household name in terms of real estate ownership,” Nasca said. “But they’re well-capitalized and they have, as

e new management has tried to honor deposits and to work with customers who booked events through the previous tenant and operator, an a liate of Levoy Hospitality Group LLC.

Levoy reopened the venue with fanfare in early 2022, two years after the former operator shuttered it. But court lings show that the hospitality company was already behind on rent payments and in default on its lease by the middle of last year, even before JDI purchased the properties.

JDI led an eviction complaint against a Levoy a liate in October. A judge in Rocky River Municipal Court, which serves Westlake and other neighboring suburbs, signed o on the eviction late last year. Public records show that the parties subsequently reached a settlement.

Several customers and vendors also have sued Levoy over unreturned deposits or unpaid bills, according to court records.

Ayoub said the new ownership group has hosted a broad range of events, from intimate concerts to the regional Emmy awards.

e new owners are local investors who were drawn to the expansive LaCentre Conference & Banquet Facility, said Mark Nasca, a principal with JDI, a Chicago-based company that has an o ce in Chagrin Falls. ey took over the venue early this year, in tandem with putting the real estate under contract.

“We found the diamond in the rough, and they are going to use LaCentre for what it was intended to be used — as a party center and o ce building,” said Terry Coyne, a vice chairman in the Newmark brokerage’s Cleveland o ce, which facilitated the transaction.

“ ey’re open. ey’re operating,” he said. “ e building’s in good hands.”

JDI bought the properties in September for $7.3 million, according to public records. At the

I understand it, a fairly longstanding level of performance in the food-service industry.”

An attorney at McCarthy Lebit Crystal Li man, which handled a state corporation ling for the new ownership group, did not respond to an inquiry about the deal.

Reached by phone at the venue, general manager Mo Ayoub also declined to name the buyers. He’s been operating the conference and banquet facility since the spring.

“We’re trying to focus on bringing a lot of conferences here, corporate events, not just weddings,” Ayoub said. “We have a huge, beautiful space. We have a huge, huge pre-function area. at’s not really common in a lot of venues. … We can really accommodate everybody and whatever event they’d like.”

ey’re working closely with LaCentre’s o ce tenants, a lineup that includes Spyglass, a company that helps businesses manage telecommunications expenses; polymer supplier GEON Performance Solutions; and R.E. Warner & Associates, a spacestrapped engineering rm that is pursuing a move to North Olmsted.

Nasca said it was clear from the outset that the previous venue operator wasn’t going to survive. Turnover at the banquet and conference facility wasn’t a deal-killer for JDI, which saw upside potential in the buildings and their Detroit Road location at a time when many investors are leery of hospitality and o ces.

“We deal with situational opportunities,” Nasca said. “While the macroeconomics of o ce ownership aren’t necessarily favorable, there certainly are always opportunities, on a situational basis, to nd pro t. It’s what we do.”

The LaCentre of ce and event complex in Westlake has been sold again — less than a year after it last changed hands. COSTAR GROUP INC.

“We found the diamond in the rough, and they are going to use LaCentre for what it was intended to be used — as a party center and of ce building.”

Terry Coyne, a vice chairman in the Newmark brokerage’s Cleveland of ce

Supreme Court on slippery slope with

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” — Matthew 7:24

The Supreme Court of the United States is building legal sand castles.

Some justices strongly desire us to believe they are impervious to the human condition and its accompanying tendency to err because they believe they can withstand the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and in uence; for example, gifts given them by in uential friends, free ights, parties, camping trips, artwork and gifts for relatives.

EDITORIAL

Schooled

Almost everything is politicized these days. Virtually nothing is politicized more than education, at every level, but in particular of late at colleges and universities.

Debate over a rmative action at higher education institutions — settled by the U.S. Supreme Court, with admissions policy redesigns to come — and intellectual diversity in instruction on campus — addressed in Ohio by the state’s new budget — are par for the course in the current environment. e wisdom of those decisions remains to be seen, and we’ll keep an open mind about how they play out.

What strikes us as unfortunate, though, in the pushing of these hot buttons, is the relative paucity of attention given to more important questions: How do we create more opportunities for all people who want to go to a two- or four-year college? How can higher education institutions better meet the needs of employers, not just in technical or STEM elds but in careers that require people to have a well-rounded liberal arts curriculum? How can the higher education system become more a ordable so students aren’t weighed down for much of their adult lives by burdensome debt? (And no, the White House waving the student-loan forgiveness ag isn’t the answer.)

ose issues aren’t going away, but our political culture hasn’t been adept at dealing with them.

Questions of access, though, come up in the wake of the Supreme Court’s late-June decision overturning race-conscious admissions programs at colleges and universities — an issue U.S. Sen. JD Vance injected himself into via a letter sent to all eight Ivy League colleges and universities, as well as Oberlin and Kenyon colleges.

It was a warning shot, essentially, to universities to make sure commitments they have to diversity, broadly de ned, do not entail direct or indirect race-based preferences. “ e United States Senate is prepared to use its full investigative powers to uncover circumvention, covert or otherwise, of the Supreme Court’s ruling,” Vance wrote. “You are advised to retain admissions documents in anticipation of future congressional investigations, including digital communications between admissions of-

cers, any demographic or other data compiled during future admissions cycles, and other relevant materials.”

Colleges and universities are reviewing the court’s decision to understand its full implications. ey must, and should, comply with the law. ey also have an interest — we all have an interest — in advancing a culture of diversity on campus. is would be an ideal time, then, for colleges and universities to swing their doors open wider, to have larger incoming classes and make themselves less exclusive. ese institutions should play a broad role in American life.

e state of Ohio, meanwhile, is creating ve “intellectual diversity” centers, to be based at Ohio State University, the University of Toledo, Miami University, Cleveland State University and the University of Cincinnati. ey’ll cost a total of $24 million over the next two scal years.

e bill creating the centers split, predictably, along partisan lines. Republicans, dominant in Ohio, see the centers as a way to counteract a perceived liberal bias among university faculty members. We don’t doubt that there’s a liberal skew in academia, but we’re also skeptical that there are large numbers of conservative professors unable to nd jobs because of their political leanings.

More broadly, it’s the kind of government overreach we see too often these days. Our political leaders face a lot of important issues, and we’re not sold on the idea that mandating academic units at public universities should have been high on their list. But these centers are happening, and we hope the directors of each center focus on quality as much as “intellectual diversity” in their hiring of faculty and in approving curricula.

Colleges and universities are political hot potatoes in 2023, but they play a big role in the upward mobility of Americans. A recent Bloomberg analysis noted that while “more Americans may be upper middle class than ever before,” there is “still a signi cant population falling further behind.” e goal should be to make colleges and universities part of an engine for broader prosperity that starts with stronger K-12 education and includes more job training/retraining. We don’t have to make everything a ght on the way to creating a more uid market of workers skilled across the job spectrum.

Executive Editor: Elizabeth McIntyre (emcintyre@crain.com)

Managing Editor: Scott Suttell (ssuttell@crain.com)

Contact Crain’s: 216-522-1383 Read Crain’s online: crainscleveland.com

Without an ethics code, they y free as a bird. With their robes unfurled, they can soar above the landscape of ethical land mines.

Our national symbol, the bald eagle, is squinting a skeptical eye at this judicial privilege.

Late last month, SCOTUS ruled in a 6-3 decision (303 Creative LLC v. Elenis) that under the rationale of free speech, Americans can discriminate against anyone whose expressed lifestyle violates their religious beliefs. Here’s where the legal sand castle comes in.

In a 26 page ruling, SCOTUS ruled in favor of the plainti , Lorie Smith, a graphic designer, arguing that, based on her biblical beliefs, her ability to express her free speech was violated by the state of Colorado. e Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative organization, represented Smith.

Typically, but not always, court cases are based on the following:

1. Someone was injured.

2. ere are real citizens involved, namely a plainti and a defendant.

3. ere are real facts/evidence in the case.

Lorie Smith apparently brought her case before SCOTUS:

1. Without any injury to herself.

2. With an alleged but not real gay man named Stewart asking her to build a website for his wedding.

3. Without evidence that Smith had built any wedding websites, but was merely contemplating doing so.

Given this scenario, the state of Colorado could not compel Smith to create a website for a non-existent service for a non-existent gay couple as she alleged.

SCOTUS’ majority ruled for Smith in this case citing Smith’s free speech rights, which had yet to be violated, and enshrining discrimination, which will soon be elevated.

Given: Free speech should not be compelled; free speech should be expressed graphically, in print, lm, drawings, paintings, and even with political contributions. With this decision SCOTUS has ruled on a case that might happen.

Feel the sand between your toes? Or in your eyes?

SCOTUS does not.

A house built on the hypothetical cannot stand.

Public accommodation laws will now be under attack. Apparently, this ruling is based on “expressive” free speech, the customer’s speci c “message” and Smith’s biblical beliefs.

See COURT on Page 7

DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES

Sheldon Firem is a retired school psychologist who resides with his family in Chardon.

At anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act, more needs to be done

Last week marked the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As then-President George H. W. Bush explained, “It will ensure that people with disabilities are given the basic guarantees for which they have worked so long and so hard: independence, freedom of choice, control of their lives, the opportunity to blend fully and equally into the rich mosaic of the American mainstream.”

He also noted, “Together, we must remove the physical barriers we have created and the social barriers that we have accepted.” irty-three years later, we are still removing social barriers. At Solutions at Work, Inc. (SAW), we work relentlessly to show employers the competency and passion adults with developmental disabilities bring to the workforce. While the Americans with Disabilities Act provided more accessibility, inclusion and belonging are key.

Today, nearly two-thirds of the 22 million working-age Americans with disabilities have been left out of the labor market, according to the National Council on Disability’s 2020 Progress Report on National Disability Policy.

SAW’s Vocational Habilitation relieves the burden on an HR department and provides the bridge for true diversity, equity and inclusion. We champion our individuals, preparing them for employment. We witness, every day, the success.

Often, the jobs that are hard to ll or retain employees in — because some workers may nd the repetition tedious, or not challenging — are jobs that are completed accurately and held for long periods of time by SAW enrollees. People with disabilities stay in jobs longer than individuals without disabilities — 62% stay three years or more.

What President Bush said when the ADA was instated still holds true today: “You've called for new sources of workers. Well, many of our fellow citizens with disabilities are unemployed. ey want to work, and they can work, and this is a tremendous pool of people. And remember, this is a tremendous pool of people who will bring to jobs diversity, loyalty, proven low turnover rate, and only one request: e chance to prove themselves.”

The National Council on Disability’s 2020 Progress Report on National Disability Policy

e problem is twofold. According to a 2023 HR Trends Report, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) does not make HR’s top ve priorities “due to time constraints dedicated to DEI e orts, lack of resources and funding, disparate strategies, low data to guide efforts, and low executive buy-in.”

Even with an active DEI initiative, an often-overlooked population is that of the disabled, and specically adults with developmental disabilities.

We understand the intense number of responsibilities on HR departments, and having an expertise in understanding adults with developmental disabilities is rare. at’s why SAW is here to be an extension of your team — providing solutions.

From Page 6

Lorie Smith states that she will work with gay men but not their “message,” but misses the point that the message that gay men are sending is that they wish to receive goods and services in the American marketplace like other citizens.

A citizen, corporation or organization can now likely be discriminated against given the following scenarios:

1. A Christian, Muslim, Jew or nonbeliever believes (without evidence in court) that their scriptural/ethical beliefs are being compelled by the state and therefore can refuse services.

2. A publisher’s acceptance of a customer’s or writer’s submission/contract violates the publisher’s religious beliefs and therefore enables that publisher to censor/refuse the customer’s or writer’s content (ads, articles, op-eds, iers, pictures, videos, websites).

3. A business enterprise can discriminate in its employment practices due to the employee’s/applicant’s lifestyle “message” expressed on social media.

4. A public-school yearbook becomes vulnerable to legal action by parents who want or do not want, as examples, LGBTQIA+ or religious information as expressed content.

We should have an ultimate goal in Northeast Ohio to create a win-win scenario. Individuals receive the opportunity and training necessary to be competitive in the workforce. Employers get a loyal, reliable workforce. We have seen this reality come to fruition and want more of Northeast Ohio to take note. And are grateful for organizations including the Cleveland Clinic, nVent, L’Oreal and more who have partnered with us and made inclusion a reality.

Fostering independence, con dence, and the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities enhances the entire population socially and economically. Just like di erent races, religions and cultures make our communities stronger, diversity in abilities can also contribute to our communities in positive ways. People with disabilities bring unique perspectives and skills that can bene t everyone.

Disability inclusion bene ts not only people with disabilities, but also their families, friends and communities. We all bene t from a more diverse and inclusive society.

On this month’s anniversary, let’s really think about inclusion.

5. Reactionary right or radical left believers, based on their faith/ideology, can refuse the business of protected groups and therefore can engage in discriminatory behavior.

6. “Expressive” service providers, like photographers, musicians, orists and even clergy can refuse services.

Where would the high court stand if a believer or nonbeliever justi ed discrimination by citing free speech as their bulwark if the customer’s lifestyle violated one or more of the Ten Commandments, like having another god before them, worshipping graven images, taking God’s name in vain, not keeping the Sabbath, committing adultery, stealing, dishonoring one’s parents and coveting another’s spouse or property? Not to mention the whole issue of divorce.

If believers used the Ten Commandments as their moral decision-maker when delivering goods and services, very few Americans would be served and the U.S. gross domestic product would be that of a third-world country.

Public accommodation laws would be quaint vestiges of the past.

With SCOTUS’ ruling, if one’s “good book” tells you so, a believer has a constitutional right to refuse goods and services.

SCOTUS is standing on sand.

Judy Carey is executive director of Maple Heightsbased SAW Inc.

Nearly two-thirds of the 22 million working-age Americans with disabilities have been left out of the labor market.

It’s not only communications or PR departments that tell a company’s story. Human resources professionals practice storytelling by what they do — the kind of people they recruit, hire and seek to retain. e winners and nalists in Crain’s 2023 Excellence in HR Awards include an HR director at a construction company who managed to double the rm’s 401(k) match, a nalist at a leading law rm who stepped up and then “ oored” the partners with her ideas, a team at a food company that achieved double-digit improvement in employee retention, and more. Winners and nalists — both as individuals and as teams — have been selected in the following categories: Employee Experience and Retention; Overall Excellence; Recruitment; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Honorees were selected by a panel of outside judges, all of whom are human resources professionals and 2022 honorees in the Excellence in HR program:

• Kevin Bailey, Leaf Home

• LaToya Smith, Fifth Third Bank

• Robert Kissling, Western Reserve Land Conservancy

• Lesa Evans, MAI Capital Management

• Lauren Ferguson, Hunter International Recruiting

The 2023 Crain’s Excellence in HR Awards program will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave. in Cleveland. More information and a registration link can be found at CrainsCleveland.com/Events

In addition to recognizing some of the region’s best HR talent, the evening’s programming also will include a conversation with the leaders of ON Partners of Hudson, the No. 1 Best Employer in Ohio in the small/medium category, as determined by the Best Companies Group and published in Crain’s Cleveland Business earlier this year. The conversation will be led by Jaime Zapeda, executive VP of the Best Companies Group.

Get set to be impressed.

DIVERSITY,

EQUITY AND INCLUSION WINNER

Michelle Curry

Vice president of human resources and chief diversity of cer

Neighborhood Family Practice

Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP) is a federally quali ed health center that takes in over 22,000 patients annually, many of whom live at or below the federal poverty level.

As chief diversity o cer, Michelle Curry has helped increase sta awareness about this underserved population. Much of the organization’s front line workforce is comprised of multilingual people of color, a testament to Curry’s focus on supporting a community in need.

According to the nomination, Curry also created a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) committee that championed di erences both across the organization and in the community at large.

“For the rst time, NFP has participated in Pride events sponsored by the LGBT Center of Cleveland, and we have initiated

training related to LGBT concepts,” the nomination said.

“Based upon the work that Michelle is leading, NFP was awarded a grant to increase our training e orts in advancing representation and equity in the health center workforce. Michelle is a true champion for people who have been disenfranchised based on their socioeconomic status and how they identify.”

— Douglas J.

RECRUITMENT

WINNER - TEAM

CarepathRx and ExactCare, a CarepathRx Company

Talent Acquisition team

CarepathRx serves health systems and hospitals in pharmacy care delivery across the U.S. Its Talent Acquisition (TA) team uses a “white glove” approach that delivers white-hot results.

e team, predominantly based in Cleveland, successfully sourced and lled 959 positions nationwide in 2022, the nomination said, including 215 referrals from current employees. It also conducted 4,077 candidate phone screens, coordinated 2,293 interviews, lled 68% of its requisitions in less than 40 days,

WINNER - INDIVIDUAL

John Grace

Chief people and culture of cer JumpStart

When John Grace joined JumpStart Inc., the nonpro t venture development organization, in 2020, he prioritized three things: culture, inclusion and transparency. In three years, those e orts have resulted in a more diverse board and workforce, and systems that integrate alignment and accountability across the organization’s performance priorities, according to the nomination.

“John’s energy, creativity, and commitment set him apart,” JumpStart CEO Ray Leach said in the nomination. “With all of the challenges we have faced due to

and managed 260 internal employee transfers and promotions, according to the nomination.

e “white glove” treatment entails providing candidates with a dedicated recruiter, consistent communication and an e cient interview experience, such as scheduling interviews as soon as the next day and o ering remote interviews for speci c roles, the nomination stated.

TA also partnered with hiring managers and leadership to ensure it o ered competitive packages and e ectively managed countero ers.

In addition, it provided monthly

performance metrics reports and accommodated shifting priorities, such as hiring key leadership or new department roles as needed.

CarepathRx’s receipt of the Top Workplaces USA and Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work awards last year can be traced to this team’s contribution, the nomination said, because “both awards are based on feedback from employee surveys, which is a testament to the TA team sourcing the right candidates who are a great t for our culture.”

— Judy Stringer

at JumpStart is invaluable.”

Shortly after Grace joined the organization, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a grinding halt. According to the nomination, he led the organization through o ce closures, culture shifts and a return to work. rough it all, he prioritized team wellness and o ered strategic guidance to JumpStart’s board.

the pandemic, John’s ability to recruit talent with a passion for our mission has been a game-changer. His ability to engage individuals who can thrive

Under Grace’s leadership, JumpStart has also met its strategic priority to diversity the organization — both its board and workforce. Since 2020, according to the nomination, the organization has recruited more than 15 diverse candidates.

— Timothy Magaw

Guth

“Based upon the work that Michelle is leading, NFP was awarded a grant to increase our training efforts in advancing representation and equity in the health center workforce. Michelle is a true champion for people who have been disenfranchised based on their socioeconomic status and how they identify.”

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND RETENTION | ORGANIZATIONS OF UP TO 500 EMPLOYEES

FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL

Candice Himes

Director, human resources & talent management Youth Opportunities Unlimited

Since her rst day on the job, Candice Himes has made Youth Opportunities Unlimited a better organization, according to Craig Dorn, the nonpro t’s president and CEO.

“Candice is a resourceful professional with the ability to handle con dential information, surpass targets and make insightful contributions to further the success of individual employees and the organization,” Dorn said in the nomination. “She is a strong leader in the organization and has helped make Y.O.U. one of the best places in Northeast Ohio to work.”

Over the last four years, Himes has worked diligently to make several HR changes at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a workforce development nonpro t that serves nearly 5,000 teens and young adults each year.

Some of those changes include overhauling the organization’s policies to ensure they are equitable and inclusive, and

Kelly Stofko

Human resources manager Corrigan Krause CPA and Consultants

Kelly Stofko joined Corrigan Krause in 2020 and has wasted no time enhancing the Westlake accounting rm’s HR operations.

introducing several initiatives that improve the employee experience. Other enhancements include a exible work schedule, remotework opportunities, paid parental leave and employee referral bonuses.

“Candice is the consummate professional who cares deeply for the sta she serves,” Dorn wrote.

“She is an advocate for the employees who carry out Y.O.U.’s mission. She makes sure they are supported so they can ful ll our mission to help the youth in our community.”

— Timothy Magaw

In the nomination, Stofko is speci cally credited with fueling Corrigan Krause’s “positive employee experience and incredible employee retention.” One way she accomplishes these outcomes, it said, is through a “truly opendoor” policy that provides a safe space for team members to express their thoughts and feelings.

“ rough Kelly’s career counseling, employees are able to nd a path forward right here at the rm,” the nomination said. “ is open line of communication is also a lifeline for employees who are at risk of disengaging from our rm.”

Stofko’s commitment to improving employee experience extends to interns and new associates by ensuring they are connected with the right resources. She even championed a program that automates most of CPA

test planning and scheduling so Corrigan Krause’s up-and-coming accountants can focus on studying.

Under Stofko leadership, the rm grew from 69 team members in October 2020 to 79 at the end of 2022, and its year-over-year retention rate increased from 94.5% to 114%, according to the nomination, which also noted an annual internal survey that documented an 11% increase in employee engagement between 2022 and 2023.

— Judy Stringer

José C. Feliciano Sr.George L. Forbes Ted Ginn

Sr.Stephen H. HoffmanSister Judith Ann Karam

MEDAL COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Robyn Minter Smyers Airica Steed, EdD, RN, MBA, FACHE Thompson Hine The MetroHealth System

“Through Kelly’s career counseling, employees are able to nd a path forward right here at the rm.”

United Way of Greater Cleveland is pleased to announce the annual Torchbearer Awards. These awards recognize corporations that go above and beyond in their dedication to United Way and our community. Through their philanthropic efforts, these companies provide a shining light for others to follow. Thank you and congratulations to our 2022-23 recipients:

Total Dollars Raised

Thank you to the top fundraising campaigns!

◆ KeyBank

◆ Eaton

◆ Cleveland Clinic

◆ The Sherwin-Williams Company

◆ PNC

Per Capita Giving

Thank you to the campaigns with the highest per capita giving!

◆ Eaton

◆ Deloitte

◆ PwC

◆ RPM International Inc.

◆ Squire Patton Boggs

Participation

Congratulations to the campaigns with 100% employee participation!

◆ Avient

◆ The NRP Group

◆ Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

Overall Campaign Growth

Congratulations to the campaign that increased dollars raised by the highest percentage!

◆ CBIZ

Leadership Donors

Thank you to the campaigns with the highest percentage of leadership gifts!

◆ Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

◆ Thompson Hine LLP

◆ The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

◆ EY

Community Hub for Basic Needs Support

Thank you to the campaigns that gave significantly to the Community Hub for Basic Needs!

◆ FPC International

◆ Parker Hannifin Corp.

◆ Carnegie Companies Inc.

◆ Parkwood LLC

◆ Oswald Companies

Retiree Award

The Retiree Award recognizes the companies that do an exceptional job of engaging retired employees in their workplace campaigns.

◆ Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

◆ Jones Day Boomerang Award

The Boomerang Award celebrates corporations that took time off from hosting a campaign but brought it back for 2022-23!

◆ Gross Residential

◆ PLP

Advocate Award

The Advocate Award recognizes corporations that did an outstanding job in educating their employees about the needs in our community and inspiring them to take action.

◆ Greater Cleveland Partnership

◆ Medical Mutual

◆ AAA – East Central

Creative Special Event Award

The Creative Special Event Award is presented to a company that boosted campaign fundraising, visibility, and participation through creative events.

◆ Cleveland Cavaliers

◆ The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

◆ Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

◆ NeoGraf Solutions, LLC

◆ Rockwell Automation

Cleveland-Owned Award

The Cleveland-Owned Award recognizes a locally owned corporation or business that embodies our city’s spirit of philanthropy through fundraising, leadership giving, and/or volunteerism.

◆ LARGE: Heinen’s

◆ MID-SIZE: Northern Haserot

◆ SMALL: Staffing Solutions Enterprise, Inc.

National Award

The National Award recognizes a national corporation whose Cleveland office embodies our city’s spirit of philanthropy through fundraising, leadership giving, and/or volunteerism.

◆ Benesch

◆ PNC

◆ Applied Industrial Technologies

Campaign Executive Honor Roll

Recognized within the Campaign Executives Honor Roll are individuals who utilize their role as a leader to inspire philanthropy amongst their staff.

◆ David Heller, The NRP Group

◆ Patrick Pastore, PNC

◆ Anthony Warmuth, Cleveland Clinic

◆ Dr. Troy Woodard, Cleveland Clinic

Campaign Manager Honor Roll

Recognized within the Campaign Manager Honor Roll are individuals who take their role beyond logistics.

Congratulations to our 2022-23 Campaign Manager Honor Roll!

◆ Debbie Gutzky, Greater Cleveland Partnership

◆ Megan Dean, Cleveland Cavaliers

◆ Latoya Hunter Hayes, Department of Public Utilities, City of Cleveland

◆ Diana Riley, RPM International Inc.

United Way of Greater Cleveland’s work throughout the years would not be possible without the commitment and generosity of our corporate partners.

To start your own workplace campaign, contact Michelle Bosau, Senior Director, Development at mbosau@unitedwaycleveland.org.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND RETENTION | ORGANIZATIONS OF UP TO 500 EMPLOYEES

FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL President

Ashley Basile Oeken

Engage! Cleveland

In little more than a decade, Engage! Cleveland has become a thriving nonpro t that, according to the nomination, “has captured the attention of young professionals and businesses throughout Cleveland.”

A major reason is the work of Ashley Basile Oeken, the organization’s president and founding executive director. Basile Oeken, who joined Engage in 2012, has helped the nonpro t reach $500,000 in annual revenues and hit the 50,000-follower mark on social media.

Her expertise in human resources “has been instrumental in creating a culture that prioritizes employee engagement and retention,” the nomination said.

Among Engage’s key initiatives is its annual Generation NEXT Awards, which honor organizations and individuals who work to attract and retain talent in the region. e e orts, according to the nomination, have produced signi cant increases in employee satisfaction and retention rates.

SueAnn Naso, the CEO of Sta ng Solutions Enterprises and the chair of Engage’s board of directors, said Basile Oeken is “an exceptional leader” who de-

The City Mission

Human resources team

Unmatched employee retention and satisfaction is the goal of the human resources team at e City Mission, a nonpro t providing programming to residents struggling with poverty and homelessness.

With many Mission sta on the front lines of an ongoing crisis, the HR team is working to create a strong employee experience that includes two pay raises over the last three years.

In addition to implementing a competitive salary, the department restructured the Mission’s onboarding process with performance tool upgrades, enhanced access to training and updated de nitions of all positions.

Human resources team

Pharmacy Data Management

Inc.’s (PDMI) focus on the well-being of team members is a natural extension of its founder’s vision, according to the nomination.

Founder and CEO Doug Wittenauer “placed major emphasis on creating a positive culture for his employees,” COO omas Faloon wrote. “PDMI continues to stay focused on our people- rst culture by showing our employees every day that we care about them and their families, which ultimately allows us to o er the best experience and build the best team.”

physical, emotional and mental health needs began during COVID, the nomination stated, and have transitioned into ongoing surveys of its now-hybrid workforce. Voluntary life insurance and one month of paid parental leave are two examples of bene ts enhancements fueled in part by the surveys.

serves to be recognized for her “outstanding contributions.”

Prior to joining Engage! Cleveland, Basile Oeken assisted in the Fund for Our Economic Future’s transition to a standalone nonprofit. She was the organization’s manager of nance and administration.

— Kevin Kleps

According to the nomination, full-time employees with a year of continuous service can utilize educational opportunities paid for by the organization. Among the o erings available are certi cation programs, as well as general, undergraduate and online/distance learning programs.

“Most importantly, the high employee retention rate fostered by the HR team ensures that the residents of e City Mission receive the most digni ed, high-quality care possible,” the nomination said.

— Douglas J. Guth

Employee feedback is at the heart of this Youngstown company’s employee- rst culture. Oneon-one inquiries into employees’

In addition, the HR team paid special attention to the rising cost of living and secured a pay increase for team members in 2022, and, among other initiatives, launched a series of wellness events. e nomination cited a 3% increase in PDMI’s internal employee engagement rating, according to its most recent survey of that metric, and a 6% drop in turnover between 2021 and 2023.

— Judy Stringer

Human resources team

A rapid growth plan at Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center has brought many changes to the way the company conducts business.

e physician-owned and locally managed practice opened an Avon o ce — the company’s 13th location — in April, and soon will debut an $8 million, 18,000-squarefoot corporate headquarters in May eld Heights.

In a two-year span, Apex’s head count has soared from 85 to more than 200. e company’s human resources department has embraced the changes, helping the company institute new programs and engaging associates at all levels, the nomination said.

e HR team has added a com-

pliance o cer and administrator, implemented a formal employee recognition program and launched an Apex Swag store. e department has also rolled out a learning management system, dubbed Apex University. “ e HR department at Apex has grown and thrived in recent years,” Apex vice president of marketing Ruth Barnum said. “Marie (Eslick, the HR director) and her team have established many new e orts centered around attracting and retaining the best local talent.” e group, Barnum added, has “gone above and beyond to make each employee feel appreciated at special moments throughout the year.”

— Kevin Kleps

Ashley Basile Oeken has helped Engage! Cleveland reach $500,000 in annual revenues and hit the 50,000-follower mark on social media.

EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND RETENTION | ORGANIZATIONS OF MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES

WINNER - INDIVIDUAL

Deedra Thompson

Former employee relations manager, Cleveland Metropolitan School District Law student, Cleveland State University

During her tenure with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Deedra ompson put people at the center of all her work.

“I am very appreciative of all the support she has provided to ensure the success of not only the employees, but the thousands of scholars who attend CMSD,” said Allayna Ratli , the district’s network support leader, in the nomination. “Many of her support went beyond the traditional 8-5, and the success and progression of her schools truly could not be without the substantial support provided by an exemplar HR professional such as Ms. ompson herself.”

During her time with the district, ompson championed the improvement of several systems, the nomination said. at includes launching an electronic process for employees — both past and present — to submit employment veri cation forms needed for public service student loan forgiveness.

Ratli also cites an improvement in sta performance because of ompson’s attentiveness, responsiveness and attention

Great Lakes Cheese

Human resources & communications team

At Great Lakes Cheese, one of the main ingredients in delivering its award-winning product is its culture. As a family and employee-owned business, maintaining that culture is paramount to the company’s long-term success, according to the nomination.

Today, about half of the company’s employees have less than ve years’ tenure with the company, the nomination said. To maintain that culture, the human

resources team championed an enhanced employee experience that focused on three key areas: culture, onboarding and connection.

“The HR team and Communications were creative problem solvers in supporting our business in attracting and retaining talent,” Mara Kamat, head of human resources, said in the nomination. “The teams worked with key cross functional business partners to ensure that our employees had the tools, training and support needed to be

successful in their roles. The creative and engaging onboarding experience ... accelerated training of new hires while immediately making them feel part of our culture and GLC community.”

In all, this initiative led to a double-digit improvement in employee retention, according to the nomination, and helped the company attract talent in a tight labor market. Today, the company employs more than 500 individuals.

— Timothy Magaw

to detail. ompson has since left the district to focus on her studies as she pursues a law degree from Cleveland State University.

“Mrs. ompson is an excellent example of what it means to operate with distinction in human resources,” the nomination said. “Her attention to detail and thorough outlook on making sure that all customers are treated with respect and dignity is second to none.”

— Timothy Magaw

WINNER -

Madeline Corchado Valentin

Vice president of human resources

Step Forward

When Step Forward’s new CEO and president Jacklyn Chisholm set about transforming the anti-poverty nonpro t’s culture, she tapped Madeline Corchado for the job.

Corchado joined Step Forward, formerly the Council for Economic Opportunities in Greater Cleveland, in 2018 and immediately began to re-establish a positive workplace environment by fostering collaboration and empowering employees, according to the nomination. Externally, she focused her e orts on identifying and recruiting those who share the agency’s mission of serving others rst.

Douglass Bennett, vice president of community services and external a airs at Step Forward, called Corchado a “natural born leader” in the nomination, and said, “Her ability to inspire and motivate others has been instrumental in the success of many projects and initiatives.”

Having helped employees feel more valued and supported, one

of Corchado’s current undertakings is infusing health and wellness into the organization, the nomination stated.

Outside her full-time job, Corchado volunteers, serving on about a dozen boards, including Dress for Success, Hope in Transition, Youth Opportunities Unlimited and Esperanza. She is also currently board president of the Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, yet she still nds time for her own professional development as a 2023 MBA graduate of the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

—

Judy Stringer

“Mrs. Thompson is an excellent example of what it means to operate with distinction in human resources.”

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | PRIVATE

FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL

Lisa DeBoe

Director of human resources Gardiner

Lisa DeBoe has revolutionized the human resources function at Gardiner, contributing signi cantly to the construction rm’s success since taking the position.

At Gardiner, DeBoe spearheaded a new performance management platform that aligned with the company’s focus on associate

FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL

Roseann Jones

Human resources director

Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis

As recently as ve years ago, Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis didn’t have a designated human resources director. e rm had grown signi cantly, “and HR functions were falling by the wayside,” the nomination said.

Rose Jones, a senior administrative assistant, volunteered to assist in the role, and the Cleveland law rm was “ oored” by her “fantastic handling of various situations and her ideas for improving processes” and the rm’s culture, the nomination said. It

was a “no-brainer,” then, to name Jones to the job. In four-plus years since, Jones has helped guide the law rm through some challenging times, and Meyers Roman wouldn’t

engagement and career development. According to the nomination, implementation of the easyto-use platform resulted in full engagement from managers in completing vital performance reviews.

Additionally, DeBoe has helped make Gardiner one of the region’s top companies from an associate experience standpoint. Under her guidance, the HVAC and building

have “thrived” without her efforts, the nomination said.

Jones created, implemented and streamlined the rm’s recruiting, hiring and onboarding practice. She’s also become a valued member of the rm’s executive team.

Some HR professionals are procient at recruitment, retention, bene ts, payroll, administrative functions or employee relations, said Seth P. Briskin, a managing partner at Meyers Roman.

“It is extremely rare when you work with someone who is exceptional at all of those things, but that is exactly what Rose brings to our rm each and every day,” Briskin said.

— Kevin Kleps

technology business implemented new parental leave bene ts, doubled its 401(k) match, and launched a formal diversity, equity and inclusion program.

“Lisa has been a key contributor

FINALIST - INDIVIDUAL

Kathy Mayo

Director of human resources

Proforma

Kathy Mayo has been a reliable “department of one” during her 16year tenure at Proforma, contributing to the growth of the $600 million technology business leader.

According to the nomination, Mayo is a key facet of that success, collaborating with hiring managers to recruit, interview, onboard and create job descriptions for new employees.

Additionally, Mayo has established critical relationships with 401(k) and health brokers, while partnering with a third-party payroll organization on implementation of a virtual bene ts enrollment program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayo engaged with providers to support workers’ mental and physical health. Along with her HR responsibilities, Mayo has planned

to Gardiner’s success, and her story is a testament to the value of hard work, dedication and perseverance,” the nomination said. “She quickly demonstrated her skills and dedication, which led to her transition into a career in HR. Her success story is a shining example of the opportunities available for growth and development within our company.”

— Douglas J. Guth

employee-focused events such as food drives and volunteer work at local shelters.

“Kathy is a one-person powerhouse,” said the nomination. “She works tirelessly and enthusiastically with leaders across departments to ensure that they and their team members are supported and empowered to do, be, and feel their best.”

— Douglas J. Guth

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | PUBLIC

WINNER - INDIVIDUAL

Lisa Gould

Senior vice president of human resources

Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co.

Lisa Gould built the HR operations of the Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. from the ground up, creating policies and procedures for the publicly traded startup. In addition, she was overseeing payroll and bene ts, including external vendor relations, and supporting the executive team “in di cult people/budget decisions,” according to nominator Michael Crawford, president and CEO of the organization.

“Lisa works tirelessly to ensure our team culture is continuing to grow and has a strong voice on our executive committee as it relates to HR matters in balancing business needs with people needs,” he wrote.

Gould deployed an internal, parttime hiring strategy that reduced outside labor costs by 15% without sacri cing quality, the nomination said. She collaborated with local universities to establish tourism

programs — aimed at developing talent for the Canton sports and hospitality company — and worked to create a more diverse workplace. Its diversity now stands at greater than 18%, up from 8%-9% in three years, according to the nomination.

Gould’s expertise and leadership are recognized outside the organization as well. She was appointed a member of the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board in 2023.

— Judy

Stringer

“Lisa has been a key contributor to Gardiner’s success ...”

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | ORGANIZATIONS OF UP TO 500 EMPLOYEES

FINALIST - TEAM

FINALIST - TEAM

FINALIST - TEAM

HD Davis CPAs and White Glove Payroll West eld Bank Human resources team

Human resources and wellness team

At HD Davis CPAs and White Glove Payroll, culture is the top priority. And because of that, the companies have become a local leader in o ering nancial services, payroll processing, HR consulting and other services to small businesses, according to the nomination.

Under the leadership of Meredith Gruelle, the rms’ human resources and wellness team have implemented an infrastructure that has maintained that culture even as the companies have continued to grow, the nomination said.

“Meredith Gruelle has worked very hard to build something special here at HD Davis CPAs and

ConnectedHR

White Glove Payroll,” said Tim Petrey, the rms’ managing partner and founder, in the nomination.

“She has worked closely to create a scalable platform to ensure that our culture is protected while we continue to grow. e road to this has not been an easy one but she has continued to persist through any challenges that have been thrown her way.”

Not only does Gruelle and her team ensure the companies’ employees are taken care of, she provides human resources consulting services to their clients, as well, Petrey added. HD Davis CPAs and White Glove Payroll have consistently been ranked as a top place to work and earned numerous awards.

— Timothy Magaw

Human Resources Director Consultant

ConnectedHR’s secret sauce is its “bench strength” and broad-based “insight and experience,” according to nominator Ryan Neumeyer, an attorney at McDonald Hopkins LLC.

“The entire team constantly surprises me with the depth of their expertise,” Neumeyer wrote. “I was particularly impressed with their response to the pandemic crisis, where they consistently provided clients with essential guidance and clarity.”

ConnectedHR is an HR services company based in Cleveland. The company’s 23-person team consults with 45 client organizations serving approximately 3,000 individuals, the nomination said. Its strong financial and talent growth landed ConnectedHR on the 2022 Weatherhead 100 and the 2021 Weatherhead 100 Upstarts.

In addition, company leaders have been recognized indi -

vidually. HR Director Consultant Kim Marlette, for example, was awarded the 2022 Rising Stars of the Profession award for Consulting Magazine in the category of Excellence in Human Resources, and president Mark D’Agostino was named to the 2022 Northeast Ohio Smart 50 and was the 2021 Human Resources Today MVP Awards winner in the workplace wellness category.

In the nomination, D’Agostino said the company’s team brings “energy, focus and commitment to their work.”

— Judy Stringer

Since its founding in 2001, Westeld Bank has become one of the largest community banks in Ohio. A recent transformation initiative created by the organization’s human resources department has been fundamental to this ongoing growth, the nomination said.

In 2022, the HR team launched a new management system along with an updated policy manual. According to the nomination, the department also successfully designed a total rewards program that included medical, dental, 401(k), life and pet insurance options.

“ roughout the transformation process, the team thoughtfully and intentionally managed communications through all-employee meetings, checking in with a committee comprised of manager and employee representatives, and posting updates on the company intranet,” the nomination said.

e team also brought an enhanced focus to West eld’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work through training and an overarching e ort to attract a more diverse workforce.

— Douglas J. Guth

“[Meredith Gruelle] has worked closely to create a scalable platform to ensure that our culture is protected while we continue to grow. The road to this has not been an easy one but she has continued to persist through any challenges that have been thrown her way.”

“I was particularly impressed with their response to the pandemic crisis, where they consistently provided clients with essential guidance and clarity.”

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | ORGANIZATIONS OF MORE THAN 500 EMPLOYEES

WINNER - TEAM

Cleveland Metroparks

Human resources team

Cleveland Metroparks has employees spread across 25,000 acres. e organization has 18 park reservations, 325-plus miles of trails, eight golf courses, eight lakefront parks, dining and retail venues, and, of course, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

e Metroparks utilizes a variety of tactics to ensure that sta are informed about important updates that pertain to their roles. ere’s a comprehensive employee web portal, a monthly video with sta updates and access to the leadership team.

Included in the latter is “Brian Unplugged,” a question-and-answer session with CEO Brian Zimmerman in which “no questions are o limits,” the nomination said.

With its HR team playing a key role, the Metroparks promotes “a culture that connects people to nature and each other, prioritizes inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility,” the nomination said. e Metroparks has an IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility) committee that places “an emphasis on becoming a more aware and educated organization.”

“ e strong workforce our human resources team has established allows the organization to continue raising the bar year after year, providing high-quality greenspace, enhanced connections and endless education, recreation and special events opportunities,” Zimmerman said.

— Kevin Kleps

“The strong workforce our human resources team has established allows the organization to continue raising the bar year after year, providing high-quality greenspace, enhanced connections and endless education, recreation and special events opportunities.”

NOMINATE NOW

Nominate a commercial realtor who demonstrates an innovative approach to marketing commercial properties.

Nominations Due September 1

CrainsCleveland.com/NotableNoms

CRAIN'S LIST |

COMMERCIAL CONTRACTORS

Ranked by 2022 local revenue

1 GILBANE BUILDINGCO. 950 Main Ave., Suite 1410, Cleveland 216-535-3000/gilbaneco.com

2 INDEPENDENCE CONSTRUCTION 6400 E. Schaaf Road, Independence 216-446-3700/ind-con.com

3 THE ALBERT M. HIGLEYCO. 3636 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 216-861-2050/amhigley.com

4 RUDOLPH LIBBE GROUP 4937 Mills Industrial Parkway, North Ridgeville 440-406-8800/rlgbuilds.com

Beta Drive, May eld Village 440-442-4300/panzica.com

7 THE RUHLINCO.

Ridge Road, P.O. Box 190, Sharon Center 330-239-2800/ruhlin.com

Cranwood Parkway, Warrensville Heights 216-663-3777/in nityconstruction.com

health care, education, entertainment, sports, residential mixed-use

Mixed-use, health care, higher education, industrial, multifamily Construction management, general contracting

O ce, health care, education, cultural, nonpro t, hospitality

electric vehicle, research/ development, higher ed.

water treatment plants, industrial, power, commercial, energy

Acres multifamily/residential, ACMC Patient Care Tower, CWRU South Residential Village

Construction management, general contracting, design-build, preconstruction, estimating MetroHealth Behavioral Health Hospital, May eld Heights Aquatic & Community Center, The Artisan Apartment Tower GarethVaughan, president, CEO

general contracting, MEP, plant maintenance

contracting, design-build, construction manager at risk

industrial, institutional Construction management, design-build, general contracting

care, industrial, transportation, education, commercial building, steel

Commercial, health care, education, sports, recreation, retail, municipal

contracting, construction management

Industries, Ardagh Metal Packaging Plant, Oberlin College heating/cooling conversion

Cuyahoga County Port Authority Dock 24 and 26 rehabilitation, Mentor Marsh Salt Fill remediation, MetroHealth Glick Hospital

Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Foundation, Intro

I-77 and Ohio 8 Central Interchange reconstruction, Akron; Cleveland Clinic Middleburg Heights expansion; Davey Tree SEED Campus, Kent

General contracting, construction management, design-build Warrensville High School and athletic complex, Apex Dermatology headquarters, Reminger law o ces

, Northeast Ohio regional vice president

CharlesIzzo, president, CEO

9 SHOOK CONSTRUCTIONCO.

6860 W. Snowville Road, Suite 100, Brecksville 440-838-5400/shookconstruction.com $110.0

11

JOHN G. JOHNSON CONSTRUCTIONCO. 1284 Riverbed St., Cleveland 216-938-5050/johngjohnson.com

12 ENGELKE CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS

$82.0

2927 Nationwide Parkway, Brunswick 330-273-2222/engelkecs.com $58.3

13 PLEASANT VALLEYCORP.

1093 Medina Road, Medina 330-239-0176/pleasantvalleycorporation.com

14 RYCON CONSTRUCTIONINC.

1303 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland 216-413-5546/ryconinc.com

15 REGENCY CONSTRUCTION SERVICESINC. 5475 Engle Road, Brook Park 216-529-1188/regencycsi.com

$55.0

$52.2

Education, health care, industrial, mission critical, water resources

Health care, transportation, sports/entertainment, government, power, auto

Multifamily, hospitality, corporate, senior living, worship, education

Retail, hospitality, multifamily, industrial, institutional, health care

—Developments, medical, retail, manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, o ce

Commercial, industrial, health care, education, retail, manufacturing

Health care, higher education, PK-12, libraries, nonpro ts, civic

commercial, community, nancial, medical, automotive

convenience stores, multifamily, medical, quick serve

General contracting, construction management, design-build

Mass excavation, demolition, utilities, environmental, crushing, paving

Construction management, design-build, general contracting

Commercial general contracting, construction management, facility management

General contracting, design-build, construction, facility management

Construction management, general contracting, design-build

Construction management, design-build, general contracting, owner representation

Construction, steel fabrication, architectural and engineering design

management, general contracting, design-build

contracting

Salem Community Hospital - Columbiana Medical O ce Building, Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School

Forward Innovation Center East and West, Atlanta Farms Solar, Conneaut Creek dredge

Fairfax Market / Medley, Sawmill Creek Resort, St. John the Evangelist Cathedral

VictorDiGeronimoJr., CEO

ChrisHalapy, president, CEO 10 INDEPENDENCE EXCAVATING 5720 E. Schaaf Road, Independence 216-524-1700/indexc.com $94.0

MartyWeber, president MikeWeber, director of operations

Vitalia Strongsville, Hot Dog Heaven, Gabyak Corp. EricEngelke, president, CEO

Lasership at Firestone, Akron Medina Corporate Park, White Pond Crossing GinoFaciana BarbaraFaciana, co-CEOs

CWRU Think Box; Akron I Promise School - 7th and 8th grade remodeling; Pepper Pike Police Station DavidSemler, executive vice president, Cleveland o ce

Cleveland Clinic - various renovations, Case Western Reserve University - various renovations, Cleveland Public Library Phase 1B

YMCA Ashland, American Colors Sandusky, Otterbein Skilled Nursing Pemberville

India Grocers

, president

, president, CEO

CONSTRUCTIONCO.

E. 25th St., Cleveland 216-696-2876/ozanne.com

MILLSTONE MANAGEMENT GROUP

8251 May eld Road, Suite 100, Chesterland 440-423-1116/millstonemgmtgroup.com

DIAMOND ROOFING SYSTEMS 8600 E. Market St., Suite 4, Warren 330-856-2500/diamondroofsystems.com

corporate, housing, K-12 education, correctional, public, health care

Public sector, education, retail, veterinary, industrial, o ce

Industrial, retail, hospitality, parishes, real estate, education

Construction management at risk, design-build, general contracting

General contracting, construction management, design-build, bidbuild

Commercial roof asset management, roof replacement, repairs, budgeting, maintenance

Sgt. Clean Car Wash, Lakewood; Arby's, Copley; Life Storage, Parma Heights

Vitamix Museum and Event Center, I Promise Housing, Northeast Ohio Blanket Mills

Lakewood Refuse and Recycling Facility site improvements, Cleveland Central and Lonnie Burten recreation centers, West Side Market

, president, CEO

ForrestHuntley, president KatieKafarakis, vice president

Cabinetworks, St. Patrick’s, Giant Eagle JohnPilch, principal

NNI CONSTRUCTIONCO. 40 Tarbell Ave., Bedford 964-870-7792/nniconstruction.com

$9.5 $9.5

Fitness, retail, restraurant, commercial Construction management, general contracting

Planet Fitness, Richmond Heights; Kiddie Academy, Brecksville; Five Guys, Lorain BrianMiller, president LesterMillerJr., vice president Geo reyProtz, COO 26 B&B CONTRACTORS & DEVELOPERS 4531 Belmont Ave., Suite A, Youngstown 330-270-5020/bbcdonline.com

Commercial, industrialGeneral contracting, construction management, concrete, foundations

New Fire Station #2, Saybrook; Antonine Village Phase 2 addition, North Jackson; HomeGoods building shell and interior, Niles

GenoLeshnack, president

ResearchbyChuckSoder(researcher@crainscleveland.com) |Informationisfromthecompaniesunlessfootnotesindicateotherwise.TurnerConstructionCo.andKokosingConstructionCo.mayhavequali edforthislist,butdeclinedto provide local revenue gures.

Get the Excel version of this list — and every Crain's list. Become a Data Member: CrainsCleveland.com/data

Church + State mixed-use project is up for sale

By Stan Bullard

Call the eye-catching design of the Church + State mixed-use project in Hingetown a building-on-building look, an articulated exterior or pixelated. e next big thing for it is likely to be a call for o ers.

e two-building complex, comprising the six-story Church building and the 11-story State building, has been listed for sale with BWE Investment Sales of Cleveland. ere’s no stated asking price for the property that BWE marketing materials describe as a “Class-A, luxury 158-unit apartment community in the trendy Ohio City neighborhood, a highly walkable area.”

Michael Panzica, the owner of M. Panzica Development of Cleveland, said the partnership that developed it feels “now is an opportune time to list it for sale given the current interest rate environment and the attractive assumable longterm debt we have in place on the project.” at is a 4% interest rate, he said. Rates would be around 8% now.

e property is 93% leased, Panzica said, and reaches as much as

FIRSTENERGY

From Page 1

now-infamous House Bill 6. at 2019 law would have provided more than $1 billion in subsidies to power plants that at the time were owned by FirstEnergy, including the Davis-Besse and Perry Nuclear power plants in northern Ohio. ose nuclear plants, along with a third former FirstEnergy plant in Pennsylvania, are now owned by Akron-based Energy Harbor, which acquired them through FirstEnergy's 2018 bankruptcy. Energy Harbor is being purchased by Texas' Vistra Energy, if regulators approve of that transaction.

FirstEnergy ended up paying a $230 million penalty for its role in the scheme, in exchange for a deferred federal prosecution agreement that would see the company monitored for three years but could enable it to avoid further charges if it keeps its nose clean.

Tierney comes in with a clean nose and a fresh box of tissues. e advantage he has coming in with no connections to that scandal are not lost on Tierney, who said FirstEnergy’s board intentionally brought in an outsider who would not be linked to or distracted by the issue.

“I think the board was intentionally sending a message to customers, regulators and other shareholders, that I am from the outside and didn’t have anything to do with that,” Tierney said.

Nor, he said, does the scandal occupy much of his time today. at issue is largely behind FirstEnergy, and Tierney said he is eager to see it fade to nothingness.

“ ere are still suits that are out there pending. ey’ll be dealt with in due course, and they are

98% during the peak rental season in the fall and winter.

“It’s a legacy asset that we’re very proud of,” Panzica said. Asked

civil in nature,” Tierney said. “We have the deferred prosecution agreement that extends for another year. We’re two-thirds of the way through that. It could be extended, but I don’t think it will be.”

Instead of focusing on that issue or worrying about becoming ensnared in it like some of his predecessors might have, Tierney said he’s focused entirely on improving the performance of FirstEnergy. He also said his duty is 100% to all of FirstEnergy’s investors and stakeholders and he is not beholden to Blackstone because of his time there.

“My responsibility is entirely to FirstEnergy,” Tierney said. “I have no continuing relationship with Blackstone. I left there under good terms; I liked and like the people that I worked with there. But I am not a representative of theirs.”

He has enough to do at FirstEnergy, including modernizing its grid and distribution systems in Ohio and the other ve states in which it serves as a utility.

In the Buckeye State, FirstEnergy is in the process of completing $570 million in grid modernization investments that Tierney said already have improved reliability and the quality of the power FirstEnergy delivers. But it will need to spend much more and is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to approve a new plan, known as Grid Mod II, that would allow FirstEnergy to invest an additional $626 million in its Ohio infrastructure.

CapEx investments are the life’s blood of regulated utilities such as FirstEnergy. Generally, they are entitled to a return on whatever money they invest, so investing more means more revenue.

“ e opportunity to invest in the grid to advance all those interests, of our customers, our states and

if it was a hard decision to o er the building for sale, he issued a no comment. He said the o ering has nothing to do with many of the

our country, is an opportunity for growth at our company,” Tierney said.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in individual rates, and Tierney said FirstEnergy’s investment plans could bring rates down.

“If you’re spreading an investment over more usage, then your rates could actually go down, and we haven’t seen that in this country since the early and mid-’70s,” Tierney said.

e savings come from economies of scale, he said. For instance, a utility might invest money to extend distribution lines to a new subdivision or company. It is entitled to a return on that investment, but it’s also selling more power over which to spread the cost of those investments, so the rates paid by users could decrease.

FirstEnergy needs to make big investments because it’s preparing for increased demand that is far beyond what a few new companies or subdivisions would create. It’s preparing for the ongoing sea change in how society powers itself — and the world increasingly is turning toward electricity for its power needs.

“It’s coming at us in two ways,” Tierney said. “One is the electrication of everything. You have the electri cation of the transportation sector, the electri cation of home heating as we go to heat pumps rather than gas furnaces, you see the electri cation of things like cooking, and some states have bans on natural gas kitchens. at’s the electri cation of things. en you have just normal load growth like data centers using huge amounts of power.

“You also have on the other side, coming from the supply side — interconnection. You have people wanting to add distributed energy

Graham Veysey, a partner in both projects, did not return a call by 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 26.

Although Panzica did not say it, a lower interest rate for a commercial property nets a higher sale price for the property, as apartment-building owners have found out to their displeasure in the current market.

Church + State is as much place-making as it is a

200,000-square-foot edi ce. It includes retail space on the rst oor (much of it empty) and it has a notable corridor between the two main buildings of the complex with storefront space, a splash pad and a slide.

e complex was completed in 2020. It cost more than $40 million to construct, based on mortgage records. Only two-bedroom suites are available, according to the building’s website, and they carry an asking rate of $2,890 monthly.

same principals working to launch another apartment building nearby on the northwest corner of the Detroit-Superior Bridge.

resources (to the grid) — wind, solar — so you have it coming from the demand side and the supply side.”

It’s a situation that puts utilities in a position for growth, if they invest wisely, he said.

“Right in between those two (sources of grid demand) is the wire side of our business — transmission and distribution. ... We have to have that grid ready, prepared and resilient to handle the increased requirements that are going to come on it from increased demand and increased domestic supply,” Tierney said. “To me, that spells an opportunity to invest in that wire side of our business for the bene t of our customers.”

ose are also investments meant to pay o in the long term, and Tierney sounds like he plans to be around to see them come to fruition. He has no plans or marching orders to sell the company and doesn’t think that will change.

“My sense is we’ll be independent for the foreseeable future. e board had an opportunity to look at those things and to look at opportunities (to sell) before they hired a CEO,” Tierney said. “If they are looking to sell the company, they picked the absolute wrong CEO. If they wanted to sell the company, they could have hired someone experienced at buying and selling utility companies. I don’t have experience in that. What I do have experience in is improving the operating andnancial performance of companies, and that’s why I came here.”

He also has a duty to FirstEnergy’s employees, whom he said have unfairly had to endure two years of distractions and bad publicity that they had nothing to do with.

“I’m sorry that they had to go

Cuyahoga County assigns the property a market value for tax purposes of $29 million, according to online records. However, owners of the mixed-use property only pay taxes on the ground, not the project itself, because it has property tax abatement.

through that, and I tell them I’m proud of them for continuing to focus on safely operating the system for the bene t of customers,” Tierney said.

ough he’s a work-from-theo ce kind of guy, Tierney said he’s exible when it comes to allowing people to work remotely — something most of its local employees have been doing for three years now, leaving the company’s headquarters building downtown largely empty.

e company is in the process of buying that building, which it had leased, but not to use it for its employees. ey will be housed at the company’s new o ces near White Pond Drive in Akron.

“I am OK with it,” Tierney said of remote work. “I think for the most part people work better when they work together. But if they can do it (remote work) e ectively, that’s ne. ... I don’t think we’ll go back to 9-to-5 like we used to be; we’re in a world where it will be a hybrid situation, and I’m OK with that.”

But, again, decisions on remote work and the downtown building were taken before Tierney arrived.

Oh, and one last thing that happened before he got here: FirstEnergy stopping its sponsorship of the Browns and Cavaliers.

at said, Tierney’s on board with that decision as well, and it doesn’t sound like the teams should turn to FirstEnergy for any future stadium naming rights.

“ ose are decisions that were made before I came here,” he said. “But I don’t see the strong business purpose for a public utility to be involved in sponsorships like that. ... I don’t see the nexus between those sponsorships and running a public utility very well. But, by the way, we still love the Browns and we love the Cavaliers.”

The Church + State apartments on lower Detroit Avenue are listed for sale with BWE Investment Sales of Cleveland. STAN BULLARD

e transition is a huge one for Rivchun, which has moved only twice in its 106-year history. e company’s decision comes as the City Club Building, at 850 Euclid Ave., is losing its marquee tenant.

e City Club of Cleveland announced late last year that it had struck a deal to move to Playhouse Square, to a ground- oor space that is set to open in September.

Soukenik already had been weighing his options for at least a decade, as the City Club Building aged and tenants trickled out. He’s been on a month-to-month lease, and looking elsewhere seriously, for the last two years.

“It just feels like time,” he said.

Now Rivchun has designs on approximately 4,200 square feet at U.S. Bank Centre, a few blocks east along Euclid at East 14th Street. at space is located on the tower’s second oor, overlooking the lobby and re ecting Soukenik’s preference for privacy and separation from the street.

Founded by Charles Rivchun in 1917, the business started its life in the opulent Arcade that runs between Euclid and Superior avenues. Rivchun moved to the northwest corner of East Ninth Street and Euclid a few years later, to a building that was demolished in the 1940s.

e retailer set up shop at its current address in 1943 and became an anchor for a vertical jewelry district. Other jewelers, watchmakers and gem-setters ocked to the City Club Building, then called the Citizens Building, over the subsequent decades.

Today, Rivchun is one of the few remaining jewelers at the property — and the largest, by far.

e company, which relies on repeat business and referrals, has catered to more than 20,000 families in Northeast Ohio over the years, Soukenik said. Half of his business comes from outside of the state, some of it from overseas.

“We grow old with families,” said Soukenik, who just turned 61 and works side-by-side at the store with one of his daughters, Mira. All four of his children have logged time at the store.

Soukenik’s father started working at Rivchun in 1956, in corpo-

TEACHERS

From Page 1

is year, Teach for America is partnering locally with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, as well as the Breakthrough Schools and Intergenerational Schools charter networks for corps member placements.

But the organization’s foundation goes beyond the classroom; it’s really about “leadership development,” Howard said.

“We think that teaching is just a profound act of leadership,” she said. e goal is to help create leaders in a city who continue to support that community beyond their TFA commitment. e organization offers alumni professional develop-

rate sales. In 2001, he and other longtime employees bought the business when the Rivchun family, after two generations, decided to sell.

During the last two decades, the company has weathered the closure and reconstruction of the Euclid corridor, the Great Recession and a global pandemic. Soukenik recalls coming downtown in midMarch of 2020, as the state went into lockdown, and looking out over the hushed intersection of Ninth and Euclid.

“I was in yoga pants and a brown sweatshirt and I go, ‘OK, God, you’ve got to show me this one. What’s a pandemic? And is it even proper to make jewelry?’” he said.

Within an hour, though, the calls started coming in. Clients still wanted their rings. ey still sent checks. ey were canceling trips and looking to spend money on diamonds, instead.

Rivchun’s pandemic slowdown lasted six weeks, a period that Soukenik navigated by tapping the federal Paycheck Protection Program to hang onto his sta .

“We kept the crew lean. We kept them on shifts. By July, our business was up,” he said.

Sales kept climbing, breaking records in 2021 and 2022. As the stock market rebounded from its pandemic-induced plunge, stir-crazy customers didn’t know what to do with their cash.

“It was the perfect storm for luxury jewelry,” said Soukenik, who also watched consumer preferences shift. Clients suddenly wanted yellow gold. ey wanted pearls. ey wanted color.

As the pandemic receded, Fridays began to rival Saturdays as the busiest shopping days of the week. Customers are working from home and signing o early or taking a break to run errands.

Rivchun doesn’t disclose nancial information. But Soukenik said that bridal business drives 60% to 65% of his sales, to clients seeking custom engagement rings and wedding rings with hand-selected stones.

Diamond stud earrings, bracelets and necklaces are reliable sellers. Watches and gifts make up about 8% to 10% of sales. Crystal is still popular for weddings and housewarming gifts, but housewares have lost much of their sheen.

ment funding and resources such as seminars.

A program from Teach for America Greater Cleveland’s 10th anniversary celebration highlighted some accomplishments from the organization’s rst decade here: 500 teachers trained, 60 alumni serving as school leaders, 23 of those alumni working as principals. And the organization’s in uence spreads even further in Cleveland. e Greater Cleveland group’s founding executive director, Holly Tri ro, is now the city’s chief education ocer. e new CEO of the Cleveland schools, Warren Morgan, didn’t spend his time in TFA in Ohio, but the organization did launch his education career.

Ultimately, about two-thirds of program alumni stay involved in education in some way, Howard said.

Current corps member Cameron Fields got involved with Teach for America after spending a few years in journalism, including at cleveland.com, and he’ll be teaching in the Cleveland schools this fall. He had been interested in education in college, but a special project focused on the Cleveland schools gave him the inspiration to make the switch.

Teach for America has given him the training he needs to teach, but also support and resources.

e program gives him a “safety net” that he wouldn’t have if he was trying to change careers on his own, Fields said.

Fields plans to stay in teaching once his commitment is up, but he said that, in general, Teach for America tends to serve as a “launch pad” for its alumni,

whether they’re in a classroom or not.

Corps member Maazin Ahmed said he wants to stay in education, though he’d eventually like to work in counseling in schools. He thought having the perspective of a teacher in the classroom would strengthen his ability to serve students in that role. But for the moment, Ahmed said he’s “fallen in love” with teaching, and plans to stay in the classroom as long as he can.

Ahmed said education has always been a strong focus for his family, starting with their immigration from Saudi Arabia to pursue a “better education” for him and his siblings. He started in an English as a second language program as a child, and Teach for America’s goal of education equity

for all students “hit home,” he said. He joined the program immediately after undergrad at Georgetown University and was assigned to Cleveland, where he’s been teaching.

Howard highlighted the story of Matthew Grimes as an example of an alumnus who has left the education eld, but who is “shaping conversations in the city that are very meaningful.”

Grimes is head of diversity, equity and inclusion at the Cleveland Guardians. e New York native joined Teach for America in 2014, picking Cleveland because of his interest in the Cleveland Plan — the district’s academic improvement plan — and his longtime love of the city’s baseball team. He taught high school Spanish in the district for two years

Jewelry, timepieces and other luxury items ll the showroom at Rivchun Jewelers, which has occupied a fth- oor space at the City Club Building in downtown Cleveland for 80 years. The 106-year-old business plans to move to Playhouse Square in November.

Joe Soukenik, center, owner of Rivchun Jewelers, and his daughter Mira, left, chat with a customer. | PHOTOS BY GUS CHAN

“We’re paving a healthy, sustainable path to continue the Rivchun model for their families, and ours.”

Joe

Soukenik, owner of Rivchun Jewelers

e company’s small sta , of about eight to 10 people, also repurposes vintage jewelry and provides valuations for probate and estate clients.

On a recent Friday afternoon, Soukenik sent an employee scurrying downstairs to help an outof-state customer who was running late for an appointment. She was struggling to nd her way into the building with items to be appraised.

“Any one of us is ready to go outside or go park a vehicle for them,” said Soukenik, who pays for parking for his clients in a neighboring garage.

at navigation act has become more di cult over the last few years, with construction immediately west of the City Club Building and temperamental elevators in the lobby. Soukenik estimates that 70% of his customers end up taking the stairs — no small feat for the octogenarians and nonagenarians, in particular.

Rivchun’s landlord, David Bisho , is well aware of the elevator complaints. He said he’s planning to renovate the 13-story building, which will be rebranded as the Ti any Glass Building after the City Club leaves. e name is a nod to the decorative Ti any & Co. inlays that once adorned the building’s walls, door frames and columns.

at glass, hidden from view today, will be displayed again, with descriptive plaques lining the building’s corridors, said Bisho , president of Columbus-based E.V. Bisho Co. In addition to replacing the elevator equipment, Bisho plans to update all of the bathrooms and common areas.

Renovations could start in late 2023 or early 2024, said Bisho , who would not discuss the cost of the project. Data provider CoStar Group Inc. says the property is 77% leased, a gure that Bisho said “is probably accurate.” If so, the building will be about 70% full after the City Club and Rivchun depart.

Most of the tenants are small rms, occupying a few hundred to a few thousand square feet. Real estate brokers view the building as a potential candidate for a residential conversion, amid steady demand for downtown housing and a soft o ce market.

through Teach for America, continuing his time in the classroom for a year and a half after.

Grimes said his experience with Teach for America was “liberating and validating.”

“It was the rst time I was in a space with like-minded individuals who really challenged my own thinking, my own practice, and really allowed me to be my authentic self,” he said.

Grimes said he is biracial and identi es as a person of color, but had attended primarily white institutions that didn’t always feel psychologically safe.

“Teach for America was the rst time that I felt like I was in a community where I could be my true self,” he said.

And the organization helped Grimes not only grow his teach-

But Bisho , who acquired the property in 2001, has no plans to change the use.

e City Club’s space, which

lls the second oor, will become a venue called the Ti any Glass Event Center, he said. And he’s con dent that Rivchun’s longtime shop and o ces, where the jeweler has made considerable investments, will be marketable.

“If you were to ask me whether I wish them well, I absolutely, most certainly wish them well. I would tell you that we’re sorry to see them go,” Bisho said of Rivchun. “I would probably add to that that there’s something wonderful and even romantic about entering into a century building like the Ti any Glass Building. … Whether they can re-create that in a black, glass curtain-wall building is a bit of a question in my mind.”

So far, Soukenik said, most of his loyal customers are thrilled about the move.

“Ninety-eight percent are just ecstatic about it,” he said, citing proximity to the theaters and the vitality of Playhouse Square. “And the other 2% come around quickly after we all have a moment and go, ‘I’m going to miss coming here.’”

Today, visiting Rivchun is a bit like “ nding the Holy Grail,” said David Wagner, a principal and managing director at Hanna Commercial Real Estate. He handled the retailer’s search for new space but, like Soukenik’s attorneys and movers, is also a customer.

ing abilities, but his leadership abilities, as well. It helped him think about his own identity and about how to “foster diversity, equity and inclusion in organizations,” he said.

After leaving Cleveland for a bit, Grimes worked in education in a New England school system, overseeing a diversity, equity and inclusion program that had a particular focus on how to diversify the teacher workforce. His next move took him to the Guardians and his current role, but he’s still involved with Teach for America as a board member for Ohio. He wants to use his corporate role to help build stronger public-private partnerships.

Going forward, Howard said Teach for America wants to make sure there’s a focus on students’

U.S. Bank Centre wasn’t an obvious choice, Wagner said, but it o ered the o -the-street feeling of intimacy in a busier building, with better visibility. And Rivchun will be able to validate parking for customers who use the attached garage.

“ e key is getting people down and not having them be intimidated by parking costs and making it easy to shop for expensive jewelry,” Wagner said.

e o ce tower is 90% to 95% occupied, said Linda Sherman of Premier Development Partners, the longstanding general contractor and owner’s representative for projects at U.S. Bank Centre. e property is owned by the Wolstein family and Ross Farro, a founding member and chairman emeritus of Premier, which is based in Independence.

“We’re excited for someone of Rivchun’s caliber … to be selecting the U.S. Bank Centre as their future home,” Sherman said. “For them to put their faith and trust in our team and our building is very exciting. We know that they’ll continue a great relationship with us for decades.”

Soukenik described the move as an essential part of positioning the business for the next 80, or 100, years.

“I know I’m laying the groundwork for whether I’m still here in 20 years, or I’m not,” he said, crediting his clients for the company’s longevity. “We’re paving a healthy, sustainable path to continue the Rivchun model for their families, and ours.”

well-being holistically, not just academically. e Ohio region took part in a pilot project that aimed to monitor what students were experiencing, so teachers were better equipped to support and motivate them.

Education is in a “de ning moment,” Howard said, particularly as the pandemic introduced and heightened the challenges students face. Math and reading scores are down, and absenteeism is up. In Cleveland, the mayor and the school district recognize this, Howard said, but it’s important for all organizations that support education in the area to work together on solutions.

“At the core of every decision we have to make, we think about students and how it will impact them,” she said.

Crystal glasses are part of a display in the Rivchun Jewelers showroom at the City Club Building. Housewares aren’t as popular as they once were, but crystal remains a reliable seller for wedding gifts and housewarming presents.

Barnes Wendling CPAs

Barnes Wendling

CPAs announces the promotion of Angela Alexander, CPA, MSA, to director. Angela has been with the rm since 2017 and focuses on corporate compliance, consolidated structures, transaction planning, and M&A. She is a member of the American Institute of Certi ed Public Accountants, serving on its Tax Practice Management Committee, and of The Ohio Society of CPAs. The rm has named Michael Essenmacher, CPA, lead director of its Accounting and Assurance Services Department. Mike has been with the rm since 1999 and specializes in reviewing internal controls, fraud awareness, and succession planning. Mike serves as treasurer of the Elyria Catholic Endowment Foundation, and on Elyria Catholic High School’s Finance Committee.

Ohio Cat

Ohio Cat announces the promotion of Rob Cox to Vice President of Sales & Rental. Rob joined Ohio Cat in 2003 as a Compact Construction Sales Representative and was promoted in 2005 to manage compact equipment sales for Southern Ohio. In 2006, he became General Rental Manager and has since overseen all Heavy Equipment Rental functions of the business. Rob will now have responsibility for all Sales, Rental, and Marketing functions for Ohio Cat, Ohio Cat – The Cat Rental Store, and SITECH Ohio.

CONSTRUCTION

Ohio Cat

Ohio Cat is pleased to appoint Joe Coleman Vice President of Product Support. Joe joined the company in 1989 and has held several positions including Technician, Supervisor, Service Manager, and most recently General Product Support Manager. He will continue overseeing all aspects of Product Support, and his focus will be to maintain alignment with Caterpillar’s Services Growth and Operational Excellence Plans. Rob and Joe will work together to co-lead Ohio Cat into the future.

BANKING KeyBank

Vince Iosue has been promoted to Relationship Manager of KeyBank’s commercial bank team in Cleveland. Iosue is now responsible for generating new client relationships and deepening current connections to businesses that have annual revenue above $25 million throughout the greater Cleveland area. Iosue joined Key in 2019 and has worked as a Commercial Banking Underwriter as well as a Commercial Analyst. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Westminster College (PA).

FINANCIAL SERVICES

J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Chase McGreevey has joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Cleveland as a Managing Director and Banker. Chase serves as a strategic advisor to some of the most af uent clients in Northern Ohio, including entrepreneurs, business owners, and family of ces to best navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with signi cant wealth. As a Cleveland native, Chase is proud to deliver J.P. Morgan’s resources and fortress balance sheet at a local level. Chase joins the rm from Key Private Bank.

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

LAW

Mark Termini Associates Inc

Alexis Anderson is associate counsel at Cleveland-based sports agency and consulting rm Mark Termini Associates Inc. Anderson graduated from Hathaway Brown School (2015) and Loyola University Chicago (2018). She earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School in 2022, where she presided as Managing Editor of the Cornell International Law Journal and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award. She will provide legal support to the rm’s various sports management and consulting clients.

LAW

Taft

Alexander J. Mate is an associate in Taft’s Tax practice with experience in a broad number of tax issues, including personal deductions, dependent quali cations, consequences for international restructurings, loans, and cross-border asset transfers. Alexander previously was an international tax consulting associate at PwC. He earned his LL.M from New York University School of Law, his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Carleton McKenna & Co

Carleton McKenna & Co is pleased to announce the promotion of Nora T. Mahoney to Managing Director and Counsel.

Since joining the Firm, Nora registered and helped open the Firm’s broker dealer and holds her Series 79 and 24 licenses. Her background in securities and corporate law, and diverse M&A expertise will continue to support the success of the investment bank’s clients. Nora resides in Broadview Heights, Ohio with her husband, Matthew, and son, Conor.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Kevin Malick has joined J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Cleveland as a Vice President and Banker. Kevin partners closely with highly successful, af uent individuals across Northeast Ohio, and draws on 20 years of experience to help grow and manage clients’ balance sheets in order to best reach their nancial goals. He is passionate about serving as a connector within the community in order to share best practices and innovative ideas. Kevin joins the rm from First National Bank of Pennsylvania.

LAW

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

MERGERS &

ACQUISITIONS

Alexy Metals | AMP Rings Willoughby, OH 216.410.8661 alexymetals.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

SageView Advisory Group

Sarah Parker has joined SageView Advisory Group, one of the nation’s leading independent RIA rms, as a Retirement Plan Consultant. She will provide investment oversight and guidance for not-for-pro t and for-pro t clients from SageView’s Cleveland of ce. She has more than 15 years of experience working with ERISA and nonERISA plans and previously led the oversight of a $10 billion de ned contribution practice. Parker also has experience with endowments, foundations and healthcare rms.

LAW

Dooley Gembala

McLaughlin Pecora

Marc Hertrick steps into a new role as partner of Dooley Gembala McLaughlin Pecora, managing their second location in Medina. Renowned as one of the top attorneys in the United States and the state of Ohio by U.S. News and World Report, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers, Marc Hertrick provides general counsel to closely held companies from various industries and assists with domestic relations matters regarding businesses and highly compensated employees, complex issues, and estate planning.

LAW

Renner Otto

The Intellectual Property Law Firm of Renner Otto announces the return of Dr. Grant Steyer as a Partner. Grant will continue counseling clients to safeguard their ideas, inventions & brands in a variety of industries. He is astute in patent & trademark prosecution, with an emphasis on patents in biomedical and computer arts. Grant attended Cleveland State College of Law & holds a B.S. & PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western. He is a member of the USPTO Bar, OSBA, INTA., LESI, & CIPLA.

Alexy Metals acquires Tampa, FL-based AMP Rings, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial rings, brazing preforms, and precision engineering components. Pedro Ormeno, co-founder of AMP Rings said in a statement: “As a familyowned and operated business, we saw an opportunity to grow and expand as a part of Alexy Metals, also family owned and operated.”

Alexy Metals based in Willoughby, OH is an industry-leading precious metals re nery and ISO 9001- certi ed distributor of brazing alloys and preforms. This partnership allows Alexy Metals to build on its already outstanding product list and enhances its capabilities. These two companies will partner to provide the highest level of quality, services, product offerings, and technical support.

Alexander

CONSTRUCTION

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