Crain's Cleveland Business

GROWTH SOURCE: New owner could accelerate Aurora company’s rise. PAGE 2

EXCELLENCE IN HR 2021 PAGE 12

CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM I AUGUST 2, 2021

LAKE EFFECTS STEPHEN J. SERIO

Microplastics pollution in the Great Lakes is showing up in fish, birds, and even your beer glass. PAGE 6

Guardians change was a ‘massive’ lift

TurnCap extends reach in real estate Lender is launching development business

Indians wanted to unveil name on ‘own terms’

BY KEVIN KLEPS

Months before the Cleveland Indians announced that the franchise would become the Guardians after the 2021 season, the club sought opinions from fans on a small set of team names.

It was the first time in the extensive process that fans were given specific names as possibilities.

“This was a pivotal moment in time, and we needed clarity,” Indi-

ans senior vice president of marketing and strategy Alex King said.

Fans’ emotional reactions to Guardians made it clear to King and others in the organization that they had found a suitable replacement for a nickname the franchise has held for more than 106 years.

What followed was a step that was even more complex than the organization had anticipated.

See GUARDIANS on Page 25

BY STAN BULLARD

The Guardians’ new uniforms will keep most of the core elements from the Tribe’s look. | CLEVELAND INDIANS RENDERING

Add two more names to the roster of Northeast Ohio real estate developers. TurnCap, a Beachwood bridge lender, is moving into realty development, which coincides with the launch of Caledonia Development.

TurnCap showed its intentions with the addition of Nathan Wynveen as a principal effective Monday, Aug. 2. He will work on developments that TurnCap undertakes,

he said, and will operate his own startup property brokerage, Caledonia Commercial, and projects for his own account through Caledonia Development.

Previously, Wynveen was a managing director at Hemingway Development, a Cleveland property powerhouse launched a decade ago by Jim Doyle Sr. and builder-developers Greg Geis, CEO of Streetsboro-based Geis Construction, and See TURNCAP on Page 23

VOL. 42, NO. 28 l COPYRIGHT 2021 CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. l ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

NEWSPAPER

THE

LAND SCAPE

A CRAIN’S CLEVELAND PODCAST

EDUCATION

Third funding round brings shift in colleges’ priorities Latest installment from American Rescue Plan provides more flexibility

BY AMY MORONA

Colleges across the country have received three rounds of federal funding during the pandemic. Each installment included money designated strictly to offer emergency financial assistance to students, as well as funding earmarked to help with institutions’ costs.

Portions of that pool often went toward the essentials used in an attempt to limit the virus’ reach: personal protective equipment, increased cleaning, dorm renovations.

Those things are still important, of course. The latest installment of higher ed funding being distributed this summer via the American Rescue Plan (ARP) mandates some of colleges’ institutional funds must “help fight the spread and transmission of COVID-19,” per guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.

There’s flexibility in how officials decide to do that, though. Overall, both the second and third rounds of funding in general give more freedom in how money can be spent. It’s an important offering for local col-

leges and universities, especially as the upcoming fall semester might bring more uncertainty.

“It’s a big shift from establishing everything we had to do, to now really focusing more on our student needs,” said David Kuntz, executive vice president of administration and finance at Cuyahoga Community College.

The college is receiving about $20.1 million allocated for institutional costs in this latest relief package signed by President Joe Biden in March and distributed over the spring and summer. The minimum student aid portions are bigger than the maximum amount able to be used by an institution for its needs.

Tri-C is diverting $5 million of its institutional funds to bring student aid up to about $26.5 million. The majority of community college students nationwide are women and/or people of color, two groups hit the hardest by the pandemic’s effects.

Two-year public institutions across the country saw the biggest enrollment declines last fall. At 19%, Tri-C’s reported full-time enrollment drop

nearly doubled the national rate.

Kuntz said the college wants to use some of its institutional funding to offer expanded around-the-clock student services. If busy working parents are settling in to do some schoolwork at night, they need to be able to pick up their phone and find support that fits in their schedule. It’s important.

“We want them to get a live person,” he said. “Because we know that if they get a voicemail, they’ll be all too quick just to hang up their phones.”

One thing Tri-C isn’t doing is using this round of institutional funds to essentially reimburse itself for lost tuition and fees. Other schools are, including Notre Dame College. Right now, president Mike Pressimone projects the school may have to use about $1 million to offset revenue losses.

The final amount could change, and Pressimone hopes it does. It depends on the amount of students that enroll for the upcoming semester.

The South Euclid campus saw its fulltime enrollment drop 13% to 1,215 students last fall.

Pressimone said the school still is trending behind on this front, though it tends to earn more commitments closer to the start of the semester. Recovery for the college, he estimates, really won’t begin to appear until fall

2022.

“With all the variations that are happening now and the increase in infections, there just is uncertainty in the marketplace,” Pressimone said.

The University of Akron is receiv-

TECHNOLOGY

New owner could speed up growth plan for PartsSource Aurora company sees opportunities in medical device parts and services

BY RACHEL ABBEY MCCAFFERTY

PartsSource Inc. wants to simplify the medical equipment parts and service marketplace.

The Aurora-based company got its start in 2001, but it’s seen a lot of recent growth. In the past four years, the company has gone from having 100 hospitals on its enterprise model to more than 1,200, said president and CEO Philip Settimi. In total, it serves more than 3,500 hospitals and 15,000 clinical sites in the U.S., as well Settimi as some outside the country, with its marketplace of more than 6,000 suppliers.

“And it’s growing rapidly every single day,” Settimi said.

Settimi joined PartsSource as CEO in 2014. He’s a physician by training who had been working in medical technology and health care IT. Health care systems had turned to software for patient management, creating efficiencies and helping doctors better assess data, he said. He thought that kind of digital transformation could be beneficial throughout the systems.

PartsSource focuses on providing that in the medical equipment parts space. When it began two decades ago, it focused on creating a marketplace that has become more digital over time. In the years since Settimi joined, PartsSource has been growing and adding more services for its customers.

And Settimi sees a lot of growth

opportunities with the recently announced acquisition of PartsSource

by Bain Capital Private Equity in Boston. The company is not disclosing the terms of the deal with its current owner, Boston-based Great Hill Partners, but the Wall Street Journal has reported that the deal values PartsSource at $1.25 billion. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021.

PartsSource takes on the complex medical supply chain for its customers, bringing thousands of vendors and service providers into one space. It has about 250 employees, the majority of whom work in Northeast Ohio. Settimi declined to share the company’s annual revenue.

PartsSource is a controlled marketplace, rather than an open one.

The company draws on data to find the most reliable and cost-effective suppliers for its customers, Settimi said. It also has rapid-response teams on call for customers who are having trouble finding just the right part or product.

The end result of having a more automated approach is more “clinical availability,” Settimi said, as medical providers are less likely to have to turn patients away because a piece of equipment is being replaced or repaired.

But the medical industry is still relatively “analog” when it comes to the equipment supply chain, Settimi said. It can be difficult to find the best

source for a product, especially on short notice.

So PartsSource created the procurement software medical systems need to automate that process alongside its marketplace of products and services.

“We’ve really created this turnkey purchasing platform for teams in mission-critical roles in health care,” Settimi said.

One of the company’s customers is Cleveland-based MetroHealth.

In 2018, MetroHealth began using PartsSource Pro, the company’s enterprise software system. MetroHealth had been using PartsSource as an option prior to that and found it to be a reliable vendor, said Robert Tackett, the system’s director of clinical engineering. But the more comprehensive approach helped the system improve its approach to service, repairs and maintenance of equipment, in addition to sourcing parts faster. Managing hundreds of vendors — and the related “logistics and financial paperwork” — takes time, he said.

“That’s quite a bit of overhead,” Tackett said.

MetroHealth’s technicians still have the option of sourcing parts on their own, but handing a lot of that work over to PartsSource frees them up to stay in the field and work on actual repairs. Using PartsSource as more of a one-stop shopping service has made the system’s processes more efficient, reduced red tape and helped it lower its cost-of-service ratio, “because we’re able to do more with the staff we have and get the

PartsSource has been adding to its product and service offerings. The company recently was acquired by Bain Capital Private Equity. | PARTSSOURCE

work done,” Tackett said. And now, the hospital system has been working with PartsSource on a program related to imaging that Tackett said MetroHealth hopes to launch next year.

Settimi sees opportunities for merger-and-acquisition-based growth for PartsSource, as well as organic growth in areas of health care like laboratory services and life sciences.

“We think the model applies to a really large swath of long-tail spend in health care at large,” he said.

Already, PartsSource launched what Settimi called a “labor marketplace” for clinical engineering last fall, connecting its customers with service professionals as needed. It added a marketplace for facilities management last month.

And the acquisition by Bain Capital will further support this kind of

growth. The private equity firm understands both health care and technology and already owns companies in that space, Settimi said. It has a history of building those kind of businesses. And it’s a large fund with a “rigorous approach” to managing companies, he said.

“We’re excited about lots of new product categories, lots of new marketplace domains we can enter,” Settimi said. “We think health care has a critical need for marketplace leadership, specifically focused on those mission-critical operations teams that don’t have the luxury of waiting days or weeks for their large distributors to show up or the ability to source things in rapid fashion.”

Rachel Abbey McCafferty: (216) 771-5379, rmccafferty@crain.com

2 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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ing fund plan reve com ered

are e in ty in d. eiv-

The University of Akron is receiving a combined total of more than $40 million via the American Rescue Plan. | THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

ing about $20 million in institutional funds via the ARP. Officials there, too, plan to use $27 million to offset lost revenue. Some of that amount is also coming from the $15.8 million delivered in the second round of funding.

institutional funding into two additional buckets aside from revenue loss recovery, according to senior vice president and chief financial officer Dallas Grundy. A capital budget will cover installation of some new

ionization units in buildings as well as potential technology updates to classrooms. There’s a catch-all pot, too, that will go toward things like paying for cleaning services or surveillance testing.

Amy Morona: amy.morona@crain. com, (216) 771-5229, @AmyMorona

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The move comes after UA cut 178 jobs last year and saw an 8% drop in full-time enrollment last fall. Officials project a 4% decline in enrollment this semester.

The university decided to divide its

“I don’t want to overstate and say it’s been a game changer, but it’s arguably been a game changer,” Grundy said of the funding.

The first round of federal help proved tough for many in higher ed to navigate. Things have gotten easier by this point to some degree, yet there’s still a 28-page frequently asked questions document on the Department of Education’s website for this latest round of what’s been dubbed Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, or HEERF, grants.

“Given the emergency nature of HEERF grants, the department encourages grantees to use their awards to cover expenses associated with the coronavirus as they arise and not hold off on doing so,” reads one portion of the document.

Even still, the department allows the spending to continue into 2022.

Some places are playing the long game when it comes to using their institutional dollars. That includes Cleveland State and its $17.6 million ARP award.

“God forbid the Delta variant gets real bad and we have to change instructional modality again, we have to introduce additional health and safety measures on campus,” said Jonathan Wehner, CSU’s vice president and dean of admissions, enrollment management and student success. “We want to have some of those funds still available to us in order to execute if we have to pivot again.”

Sponsorships for the 2021 DMSA are available. Email Director@SMECleveland.com or call 216-767-5951.

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Lubrizol Life Science Health and B. Braun will work to produce a patented thermoplastic urethane that could lead to more reliable medical devices. | CONTRIBUTED

MANUFACTURING

Lubrizol partnership aiming to make medical devices safer Expanded alliance with B. Braun could ‘deliver breakthrough solutions’

BY MIKE SCOTT RUBBER & PLASTICS NEWS

Transparent communication and high-tech improvements highlight a polymer technology designed to increase patient safety and prolong the functional life of medical devices derived from it.

Lubrizol Life Science Health, part of Wickliffe-based Lubrizol Corp., expanded its partnership in May with B. Braun, an international medical technology and pharmaceutical company, to produce a patented thermoplastic urethane (TPU) designed to provide a more reliable device that works inside of a patient with health needs, according to Darren Tuel, LLS Health senior director of strategic marketing.

LLS Health is known for Tuel manufacturing and distribution of its TPUs for a wide variety of products in health care and other industries. Some of its medical polymers are highlighted on the company’s website.

“One of the issues of adding a medical device inside someone’s body for a long time is that when you introduce that foreign (object) there can be a reaction to make it less usable,” Tuel said. “The goal with this is to lessen the impact of someone having this type of reaction.”

This patented TPU also is made to “deliver breakthrough solutions and effective technologies aimed at improving patient safety and clinical outcomes,” Tuel added.

LLS Health and B. Braun have had a long-standing relationship over the years, but this current effort was born from a need to better relate to each other’s goals and strategic focus, Tuel said.

“Safe and efficient new products are not only based on intelligent design, but also on innovative materials,” said Meinrad Lugan, a B. Braun board member, in a statement.

“With Lubrizol Life Science, we found a strategic partner with unmatched experience and know-how who will support us to develop the next generation of medical devices optimizing treatment efficiency and effectiveness as well as patient safety.”

While there are elements of this partnership, particularly as it relates to product specifics that neither company will release publicly, there is an enhanced transparency between the two partners relating to manufacturing processes, use of technology and more. It has made for a more productive working relationship, and a more seamless manufacturing process, the companies said.

“We created this (TPU) material knowing their goals and markets, and the same can be said for (B. Braun),” Tuel said.

The partnership also has included the ability for both parties to leverage their capabilities in medical device design and manufacturing, with expertise in bio-compatible polymer science.

Unlike traditional material providers, Lubrizol began transitioning from a material science company to one that is more focused on design and device manufacturing capabilities a few years ago. These days, both speed to market and supply chain consolidation are among the more important traits for a polymer manufacturer, Tuel said.

Supply chain issues have been a concern for many manufacturers since the pandemic began in earnest in March 2020, although LLS Health feels its long-standing relationship with material providers can help. Added redundancy at global manufacturing sites and maintaining multiple global distributors also can reduce some of the supply chain concerns that could have an adverse effect on deliverability.

“Any supply chain issues can be improved with more dialogue,” Tuel said. “It’s something we are aware of but have been able to work through.”

Within the health care field, specifically with medical devices, the proof of value for the patented TPU’s effectiveness will come from pre-clinical work with data being validated in a lab setting using raw materials. So far, the pre-clinical performance of this material has worked well, with the hope that measurable improvements will be proven for a high percentage of patients.

As more testing is done, Tuel said the belief is that there will be significant improvements in both patient safety for these inserted medical devices, along with improved durability of the devices themselves. There is risk involved when investing in a medical device component, but Lubrizol has been willing to deviate from its standard product lines to create polymer or other materials needed for custom products for several years. This is possible in part because of the numerous acquisitions made by the company over the years, allowing it to increase the versatility of its offerings.

Lubrizol in March 2018 announced plans to invest $80 million in TPU capacity expansions at sites in North America, Europe and Asia. The company has long been a major producer of TPUs in a variety of industries that also include footwear, consumer product and transportation.

Founded in 1928, Lubrizol owns and operates more than 100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices around the world and has approximately 8,800 employees. B. Braun employs more than 64,000 in 64 countries to help improve processes in hospitals and medical practices, and increase safety for patients, doctors and nursing staff.

Mike Scott is a correspondent for Rubber & Plastics News, a sister publication of Crain’s Cleveland Business.

4 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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LEGAL

Trade names have become fair game for Ohio law firms Rule change has been sparked by Utah group efforts of a young firm in Utah, LawHQ. The old standard in the tradiLaw firms in Ohio — and across tion-relishing legal industry was for the United States — are now able to firms to be named after founding use trade names for their businesses partners. Prominent names like following a change in state rules that Jones Day, Tucker Ellis, BakerHostetler, Benesch and so on are all quietly played out in 2020.

Some outfits, such as White Law derived in this fashion.

This practice plays into the norms Office in Millersburg, have since taken advantage of the opportunity to of a profession governed by a code of ethics. The idea that partners’ names bring a fresh name into the market.

The firm rebranded itself as Eques, would be splashed across the compapowered by White Law Office, this ny lends a sense of transparency and May. It’s a reference to the Latin word accountability and prevents the use of for cavalryman or knight, said man- other, potentially misleading titles.

These rules have slowly evolved in aging partner Christopher White, and honors the firm’s heritage of the past decades, but there remained knight chess piece that’s served as its stalwart adherents of the old ways.

California permitted law firms to logo since its founding in 2010. In roughly another six months, the use trade names in 1979. By 1983, the “powered by” piece of its name will American Bar Association agreed to a drop off, and the firm will simply be new model rule permitting firms to adopt business monikers that were Eques.

The firm is growing into something more than a series of last names.

States slowly followed suit, though more than the father-and-son duo it was established as. Additionally, holdouts remained — seemingly beWhite was sensitive to how the firm’s cause no one challenged the status original name would be received in quo. Arizona didn’t permit the use of the market. Candidly, he said, he law firm trade names until 2013. worried about how folks might reThis is where the Utah firm comes spond to a “White Law Office,” the in.

Based in Salt Lake City, LawHQ is a concern being that the name might be a subtle detractor to some people. self-described “lawtech” firm workRecognizing this felt all the more im- ing remotely throughout the country portant as the business worked to ex- using locally admitted lawyers.

The firm primarily focuses on suing telephone “THE BRAND IS WHAT ALLOWS FOR spammers. Helping it do this is an app that lets usATTORNEYS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.” ers report calls or texts as — Eques managing partner Christopher White spam, which LawHQ uses to track down offenders.

The firm has cases pending in some pand beyond its home base, including areas such as Northfield, and 20 states plus Puerto Rico, and it intends to have licensed attorneys workbring in new clients.

“The brand is what allows for attor- ing for it in all 50 states in the future. neys to be successful. It’s a brand that The outfit just hired an attorney in the speaks for them before they enter a Cleveland area in the past few weeks.

In early 2020, the firm and its room,” White said. “And for us, it’s an indication of the values core to us — founder, Thomas Alvord, sued bar ofhonesty, empowerment, innovation ficials in nine states — Ohio, New and respect — that we want to pass York, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, on after us. We wanted to create an Nebraska, New Jersey, Texas and identity not attached to a person, but Rhode Island — over antiquated policies precluding the use of trade (to) that set of values.”

White wouldn’t have been able to do names for legal services businesses.

These rules affected Alvord’s now this, however, had it not been for the

GETTY IMAGES

BY JEREMY NOBILE

Thomas Alvord is the founder of LawHQ, a firm that sued nine states, including Ohio, over rules prohibiting the use of trade names by law firms. | CONTRIBUTED

2-year-old practice, which was in the midst of plotting out its country-spanning business model. Alvord was worried about actions that might be taken against his firm in markets where the trade name was prohibited, like Ohio.

Alvord kids about how, at one time, he “half-jokingly, half-seriously” considered changing his last

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name to “LawHQ” to circumvent the rules. His wife didn’t love that idea.

So he sued, on the grounds that prohibiting trade names violates the First Amendment, arguing that the rules were unconstitutionally overbroad.

He ended up getting the results he was looking for. One by one, states changed their rules, and Alvord subsequently dismissed each of his suits.

The Ohio Supreme Court amended the Ohio Rule of Professional Conduct in June 2020 (without any publication for public comment) to eliminate the prohibition on trade names for legal services providers.

Alvord dropped his case in Ohio the next month.

An October opinion from the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct is what helped attorneys like White realize that trade names were now allowed, giving them some new hardware for their marketing toolboxes.

Now, there’s not a state in the country where a law firm’s trade name wouldn’t be permitted (barring some

specific nuances, of course).

“I think (officials in Ohio and the other states) realized: How can you really argue there is a compelling need to prohibit trade names and make sure one of the names is of the partners in the firm when 41 states already removed that rule? In terms of major consumer brands, there are companies like Amazon, Uber, etc., and we wanted something similar,” Alvord said. “In our case, that was LawHQ.” The legal industry and government sectors aren’t exactly known for their progressive natures. So changes like this in a state like Ohio are welcomed, White said.

“The rules are continuing to grow and evolve, like this one,” he said.

“It’s essential to us in our mission of providing top-notch legal services in an innovative fashion. And this helps us grow both from cultural and marketing standpoints.”

Jeremy Nobile: jnobile@crain.com, (216) 771-5362, @JeremyNobile

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SPECIAL REPORT | GREAT LAKES POLLUTION

SWIMMING IN PLASTIC Great Lakes microplastics pollution is showing up in fish, birds — and your beer glass | BY ERIC FREEDMAN They’re in your microbrew.

They’re in your tap water.

They end up in the bellies of your lake trout. They get between your toes as you scramble up and slide down shoreline dunes.

They’re microplastics. They are getting into your body.

And they’re coming from a source that’s a lot closer to home than you think.

We’ve all seen images of floating islands of plastic in the Caribbean and Pacific.

What most of us have managed to avoid thinking about, however, is this: Plastic waste also is a serious problem in the Great Lakes Basin, the source of drinking water for 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada.

“In the mid-1900s, plastic became an integral component of human cultures and commerce globally” and accounted for 50% to 80% of waste on beaches and in the ocean, according to a study of microplastics in fish.

The long life and durability of plastics make them useful for consumers, but the slow rate at which they degrade also means their adverse environmental effects are long-lasting.

Plastics don’t dissolve easily in water and can absorb nasty chemicals from the environment, some of them toxic or carcinogenic.

They absorb bacteria and metals, can be toxic to human cells, transport invasive species, block animals’ digestive tracts and reduce the ability of wildlife to forage for food.

That’s why microplastics, which are less than 5 millimeters, or 0.2 inches, in diameter, are considered a contaminant of emerging concern.

Microplastics originate from fibers released during clothes washing and from industrial waste, landfills, pollution, spills, synthetic textiles, tires and abrasive cleaning particles. Other sources include fragments of such litter as plastic bags, cigarette filters, Styrofoam containers and abandoned fishing line.

Stormwater runoff, treated sewage

Fish studies and cores of lake sediment show an “exponential increase in the amount of microparticles” compared with before 1950, said Mason, who is now the sustainability coordinator at Penn State Behrend.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the problem due to the disposal of plastic gloves, plastic masks and takeout meals packaged in foam plastic, according to Mason, who said that under such dire circumstances, “all of the concerns about plastic pollution go out the window.”

Microplastics are appearing in a disturbingly wide range of places in the Great Lakes Basin.

Many sources of pollution

Lake Michigan has more plastic debris than any of the other Great Lakes, and its west-to-east water currents bring much of the waste eastward from the Chicago area to the lake’s Michigan coast. That’s nothing new. In 1988, for example, officials closed six public beaches in West Michigan for health reasons as syringes, pill bottles and other plastic materials washed ashore.

For the past 26 years, the Ludington-based educational environmental group A Few Friends for the Environment of the World, or AFFEW, has conducted beach sweeps three or four times annually, including one on May 19 that drew about 25 volunteers to the city’s Stearns Park.

“There was lots of plastic,” said AFFEW president Julia Chambers, including cigarette filters, disposable diapers and Band-Aids. In recent years, cigar tips have become more common, while plastic-film balloons have become less common, possibly because of increased public awareness that they’re a plastic pollution source.

“Over the past couple of years, there’s been a lot more debris because of higher water levels eating away at the foredune,” said Jim Gallie, superintendent of Ludington State Park.

“The rising water is exposing THEY’RE COMING FROM A SOURCE THAT’S a lot of older plastic objects A LOT CLOSER TO HOME THAN YOU THINK. that had been buried in sand for years, even decades.” sludge and effluent from wastewater Matt Hoffman, an associate protreatment plants channel them into tributaries that, in turn, feed them fessor in the College of Science at into the lakes, where water circulaRochester Institute of Technology, and an RIT colleague model Great tion patterns move them around.

Lakes currents, estimating that Some particles get deposited into about 10,000 tons of plastic enter lake sediment. Waves move particles the lakes annually. to the shore, where winds can On Lake Erie alone, hundreds of disperse them onto land, including tons of plastic end up on the surface onto coastal sand dunes. and hundreds more tons end up on “It’s inescapable that things are the bottom each year, according to getting worse,” said Sherri Mason, Hoffman. who as a chemistry professor at State Currents in Lake Ontario tend to University of New York at Fredonia move west to east and north to sampled water in all five Great Lakes.

south, and that has international implications because plastic waste from Toronto, one of the region’s largest cities, can move across the lake into U.S. waters.

“It emphasizes the policy importance of considering things across state or international lines,” Hoffman said.

Tiny tributaries contribute to the contamination, as Paul Steen, a Huron River Watershed Council ecologist, discovered in monitoring creeks that aren’t connected with wastewater treatment plants. The watershed covers more than 900 square miles in parts of seven Southeast Michigan counties.

“Even these little creeks, 10 feet wide and less than a foot deep, through Ann Arbor in particular, had a ton of microplastics in them,” Steen said.

Possible sources are plastic in dust that washes from city streets into the creeks, staying there until major rainstorms speed up the velocity of the water, which “rushes out in pulses” and sends the particles downstream to the Huron River, which empties into Lake Erie, according to Steen.

Birds, brews and dunes So what about your craft beer?

Mason and other researchers tested 12 brands of beer, primarily pilsners, brewed with water that nine municipalities draw from the Great Lakes.

The team also tested water from seven of those municipalities — Holland and Alpena, Michigan; Chicago and Glenview, Illinois; Duluth, Minnesota; and Clayton and Buffalo, New York — as well as water from Cleveland and the Rochester, New York, vicinity.

They found plastic fibers and fragments in all dozen of those brews and in 81% of the tap water samples.

“The concern is we’re polluting our drinking water with plastics,” said Jennifer Caddick, vice president of communication and engagement at the Chicago-based advocacy group Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Kris Spaulding, president of Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids, is increasingly mindful of microplastics getting into the farmhouse ales and Belgian witbiers her brewery makes using water from the Grand Rapids municipal system, which draws it from Lake Michigan.

“I believe it’s a big problem for all of us, whatever you’re drinking,” Spaulding said. “(The researchers) could have picked any beverage.”

As for the impact on fish, scientists from Loyola University Chicago and SUNY Fredonia found microplastics in a variety of species from the Muskegon and St. Joseph rivers in Southwest Michigan and from

Microplastics are fewer than 5 millimeters, or 0.2 inches, in diameter and considered an emerging contaminant in the Great Lakes. | SHERRI MASON/PENN STATE BEHREND

Wisconsin’s Milwaukee River that empty into Lake Michigan.

Meanwhile, the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission, representing 11 federally recognized Anishinaabe tribes in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, warns that microplastic contamination may contribute to declining Lake

Superior fish populations because young fish and species such as cisco may mistake the particles for food.

“Many environmental contaminants adhere to the surface of microplastics, creating an exposure route for these chemicals to the fish that consume them, as well as the humans and wildlife that may ultimate-

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A plastic balloon, found on a Lake Huron beach, is a common form of plastic pollution on the Great Lakes. | CHAD LIVENGOOD/CRAIN’S DETROIT BUSINESS

ause isco od. amicrooute that huate-

ly consume those fish,” the commission said in a 2020 resolution urging tribal, federal, state and provincial governments to support additional research, restrict use of plastic materials and invest in technology to “prevent and safely remove microplastic contamination from the Great Lakes.”

Birds are adversely affected as

well. To illustrate, University of Toronto scientists have reported microplastics in the bellies of double-crested cormorant chicks in lakes Erie and Ontario. That debris, they write, “may have negative effects on the physiology, growth, development and, potentially, the behavior of these birds.”

STEPHEN J. SERIO

A beachgoer discards a plastic bottle in a recycling bin at Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph, Mich.

How did the microplastics get into the chicks’ digestive system? In regurgitated fish fed them by their parents.

Among other Great Lakes Basin birds, plastic debris has been found in the diets of Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbor herring gulls and in the gastrointestinal tracts of St. Lawrence River ring-billed gulls.

On land, the first North American study of microplastics in coastal dunes, carried out by researchers at SUNY Oneonta, found plastic pellets, fragments and fibers at sites along the southern and eastern shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

“That was a bit of a surprise to us,” said James Ebert, a study co-author and geology professor at SUNY Oneonta. His students found lots of small particles on the beach and thought, “If we found them on the beach, they were probably getting into the dunes.”

They were indeed. Some ended up in dunes as far as half a football field from the shore, according to Ebert. His study said, “Once in the coastal dune environment, microplastics accumulate in the sediment and it is likely that some are transported farther inland.”

A fish with a plastic ring snared around the midsection of its belly and spine was caught in 2011 on Lake Ontario’s Mexico Bay. | JIM BODENSTAB

Lack of research Despite rising public and government concern, there’s been far less research about microplastics in the Great Lakes — the world’s largest source of drinking water — than in the oceans.

The first peer-reviewed study of plastics in the Great Lakes didn’t appear until 2011. In the decade since then, fewer than 10 peer-reviewed scientific studies about their effects on fish, mussels, birds and other wildlife have been published.

And so far, there have been no peer-reviewed studies of the effects of Great Lakes microplastics on the human body, according to Mason, the water sampling expert.

Experts are calling for more research funding to answer crucial questions, including how plastic biodegrades in freshwater systems and how it affects human health.

Among the other mysteries in need of exploration are differences in impact based on the chemical makeup, size and shape of plastic particles.

Hoffman, who studies water currents, says governments can benefit from a better understanding of po-

tential risks and how different polymers from different sources move differently in the water.

For Ebert, the geologist, the next step in his sand dunes work is analyzing the results of lab experiments to determine the relationship between particles’ size and the amount of wind necessary to move them.

Mason points to the scarcity of studies about the impact on wildlife, saying, “It’s a knowledge gap area.

What is in our organisms?”

There have been other studies showing microplastics showing up in human feces as well as human placentas, meaning microscopic fragments of plastics are passing from a mother to her developing fetus, Mason said.

“We don’t know the ramifications of this on human health,” Mason said. “That’s kind of the front end of this research, understanding what does this mean? Is there some safe level of ingestion? We don’t know.”

Freedman is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism professor and director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

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SPECIAL REPORT | GREAT LAKES POLLUTION

Reducing plastic pollution won’t be easy Keeping the material out of the lakes is easier than cleaning what’s there

BY ERIC FREEDMAN

five Great Lakes.

Past efforts to address environmental messes in the Great Lakes An estimated 22 million pounds highlight how effective solutions to of plastic pollute the Great Lakes both problems will be costly, annually, adding to the tons of plastime-consuming, scientifically chaltic waste already in the water and lenging and sometimes politically sediment that threatens the health contentious. of fish, wildlife and humans alike.

For example, the 1972 U.S.-CanaSo what’s to be done? dian Great Lakes Water Quality When it comes to solutions, there Agreement designated 43 heavily are actually two major problems: recontaminated areas of concern as ducing the influx of plastics into the priorities for environmental cleanlakes and handling the microplasup. Almost 50 years and billions of tics already there. dollars later, only eight of those sites “Once it’s in the lakes, it’s exhave been WHEN IT COMES TO SOLUTIONS, THERE dropped from the list, with a ninth, ARE ACTUALLY TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS. Northeast Ohio’s Ashtabula River that flows into Lake Erie, recently tremely difficult to get it out,” said proposed for delisting.

Jennifer Caddick, vice president of Similarly, sea lampreys invaded communication and engagement at lakes Huron, Michigan and Superithe Chicago-based Alliance for the or in the 1930s, outcompeting naGreat Lakes, which organizes beach cleanups along the shorelines of all tive species like lake trout. Nine de-

cades later, scientists are still seeking the best way to control them, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission concedes that “total elimination of sea lamprey populations from the Great Lakes is unlikely.”

The first challenge is slashing the amount of plastics entering the lakes and tributaries.

Part of the answer is encouraging local governments to act on their own turf, as is happening in St. Catharines, Ontario, which has banned plastic water bottles and is phasing out other plastic beverage containers at city-owned facilities.

The Lake Ontario city about 10 miles northwest of Niagara Falls also banned plastic straws and eating utensils at its facilities, including a hockey arena, and requires biodegradable plates and utensils at festivals in the city park.

“We can be on the leading edge, the front end,” said Walter Sendzik,

Litter in the lakes breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that are then ingested by fish and other wildlife.

the St. Catharines, Ontario, mayor who chairs the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a coalition of 131 U.S. and Canadian mayors and local officials.

“We’re the closest to the shoreline, we’re the closest to the water source,” Sendzik said of Great Lakes communities.

State, provincial and federal governments have more regulatory authority, “but their proximity to the actual issues is one, two, three, four steps removed,” he said.

State and provincial governments could take broader regulatory measures to discourage use and dispos-

al of plastic products that may end up in the lakes.

Eight states — including New York in the Great Lakes region — have enacted some form of restrictions on single-use plastic bags, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Chicago City Council has a proposed ordinance that would prohibit restaurants from using plastic clamshells, bowls, plates, trays, cups and cartons, and only allow them to give patrons plastic utensils or straws upon request.

In April, Michigan state Sen. Jeff Irwin introduced a bill that would

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Senator’s bill targets plastic pellet polluters

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN J. SERIO

BY CHAD LIVENGOOD

give localities the option of banning, taxing or imposing fees on single-use plastic bags. It would repeal a 2016 “ban the ban” law, championed by the restaurant industry and other retailers, that prohibits local governments from imposing such restrictions.

“Other communities have shown success in keeping trash off their roads, beautifying their communities and keeping this trash out of their rivers and streams by introducing limits, deposits or other creative ideas to improve plastic bag recycling,” Irwin said in a statement.

Odds of Irwin’s bill passing in the state’s GOP-controlled Legislature are slim, however.

Past national actions on both sides of the border have helped.

In 2015, Congress banned the manufacture, packaging and distribution of personal care items and toiletries containing plastic microbeads such as facial scrubs and toothpastes.

The Canadian government followed suit in 2018.

Both national governments acted after lobbying by mayors citing scientific findings and environmentalists’ concerns, Sendzik said.

“It’s a really good example of how the political will of mayors can change the course of something as important as taking out a product proven detrimental to our water-

ways,” he said.

Recently reintroduced legislation in Congress would hold producers of packaging, single-use products, beverage containers and food service products financially responsible to collect, manage and recycle or compost the products after consumer use.

Dubbed the “Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2021,” it would phase out some single-use products such as plastic utensils, establish beverage container deposit programs and increase the percentage of recycled content required in beverage containers.

Congress has failed to act on similar legislation in the past.

Environmental groups have urged policymakers to take a broader approach to curbing plastics in consumer products instead of letting a smattering of communities enact bans on certain types of plastic products.

“We need to move away from this whack-a-mole approach to dealing with one problem at a time — a plastic bag ban or a plastic straw ban, the item of the moment,” said Caddick at the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Freedman is a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalism professor and director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.

McDonald’s Corp. straws and Dart Container Corp.’s plastic cups aren’t the only petroleum-based materials winding up in the sediment of Great Lakes beaches and the stomachs of fish and waterfowl.

Some plastic doesn’t even get to its intended use.

The tiny preproduction plastic pellets — known as nurdles, roughly the size of rice grains and used in manufacturing those consumer products — are commonly found in the lakes.

That’s drawn the attention of environmental groups and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who is leading an effort in Congress to make the EPA prohibit plastic manufacturers from discharging plastic pellets into lakes, rivers and streams. Durbin’s bill would empower the EPA to set regulations and penalties.

Because of how small the pellets are, where they came from before ending up in the lakes is impossible to track, unlike a distinctive red Solo cup manufactured by Mason, Michigan-based Dart.

But scientists who have studied plastic pellet pollution in the Great Lakes say the pellets typically originate from a plastics refinery, manufacturing plant or somewhere in the transportation between the two facilities.

The pellets may be spilled on site and get washed into a drain basin, eventually making their way into the streams, rivers and lakes that feed lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, St. Clair and Superior, said Sherri Mason, the sustainability coordinator at Penn State Behrend whose research focuses on Great Lakes plastic pollution.

In Erie, Pa., alone, there are a dozen plastics manufacturers that get resin pellets shipped in by train cars, Mason said.

“Along the way, as they’re trans- Clean Sweep” that promotes best ferred from one container to an- “housekeeping” practices in conother, these pellets get lost,” she taining resin pellets, flakes and said. powders from escaping during reMason said she has found plas- fining, transportation and manutic pellets in the parking lot of Pr- facturing. esque Isle, a Pennsylvania state “Plastic is an essential material, park on a sandy peninsula that and we completely agree that it juts out into Lake Erie. doesn’t belong in the environ“Why the heck are they in a ment,” O’Connor said. “We look parking lot at Presque Isle?” Ma- forward to continuing to work son asked. “They probably got with lawmakers and regulators on washed from the lake during a reasonable solutions to reduce the storm surge ... into the parking lot. issue of pellet loss.”

It’s crazy.”

Another piece of legislation also Legislation seeking to impose has drawn the ire of plastics mansome regulations and penalties on ufacturers in Michigan. plastics producers for polluting A California congressman is freshwaters with plastic pellets is sponsoring a bill in the House starting to gain steam in Congress. called the Break Free From Plastic The $715 billion infrastructure Pollution Act that would require bill that the U.S. House passed on manufacturers to manage recyJuly 1 includes language requiring cling of single-use plastic containthe EPA to write national rules ers, tax plastic bags and expanded prohibiting the discharge of plas- polystyrene or foam food containtic pellets — mirroring Durbin’s ers nationally, as well as set up a Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act in national bottle bill similar to the Senate.

Michigan’s 10-cent deposit per “The Plastic Pellet Free Waters container.

Act is an important step in adDow Inc. CEO Jim Fitterling, dressing the plastic problem that is THE TINY PLASTIC PELLETS ARE plaguing our beloved Lake Michi- COMMONLY FOUND IN THE LAKES. gan and the first of several steps I plan to take this who chairs the American Chemisyear to improve the Great Lakes try Council, has spoken out and the surrounding communi- against the Break Free From Plasties,” Durbin said in a statement. tic Pollution Act because it would The Plastics Industry Associa- halt construction of new virgin tion opposes Durbin’s bill. plastic plants for up to three years, “We are concerned that, as writ- Plastics News reported. ten, a provision within this legisla“It would prevent advanced retion opens the door to regulatory cycling technologies that can draoverreach that could subject matically expand the types and countless small plastics opera- amounts of plastics that can be retions across America to cycled,” Fitterling said at the time. heavy-handed federal enforce- “Under the Act, these facilities are ment,” said George O’Connor, subject to a pause. We need to acspokesman for the Washington, celerate, not pause, progress on D.C.-based trade group. these important recycling innovaThe Plastics Industry Associa- tions.” tion’s members have a 30-year-old voluntary program to prevent pel- clivengood@crain.com; let pollution called “Operation (313) 446-1654; @ChadLivengood

Preproduction plastic pellets used for injection molding are seen as an emerging source of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes. | CAROLINE SEIDEL/PLASTICS NEWS AUGUST 2, 2021 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 9

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PERSONAL VIEW

You can’t brew good beer without good water

RICH WILLIAMS FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

BY LARRY BELL

EDITORIAL

No more carrots P

rivate employers everywhere are getting bolder about COVID-19 vaccine mandates — appropriately, in our view, to avoid a slide back into economically crippling lockdowns.

The slowing pace of inoculation in the country leaves the unvaccinated vulnerable to COVID and the highly contagious Delta variant. Not coincidentally, COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths once again are on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week recommended that vaccinated people in regions where the risk of COVID infections has surged should wear masks indoors. It was a piece of advice no one wanted to hear.

We're certainly still in better shape than last fall and winter, but this is not where the country should be after the rollout of highly effective vaccines. The U.S. came close to, but failed to meet, the 70% threshold targeted for Independence Day, and the rate of new vaccinations since then has been unremarkable. Carrots, in the form of state-run vaccine lotteries such as Ohio's, were fun gimmicks, but they haven't fully done the trick. Resorting to the stick of employer mandates is becoming a more appealing option to reaching vaccination levels that would help end the COVID threat.

Data show unambiguously that vaccines work; virtually all COVID deaths now are among the unvaccinated. The return to normalcy that vaccines bring is crucial to economic growth. On that front, we got good news last week, as real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 6.5% in the second quarter of 2021, according to the advance estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Although that number was below analysts' expectations — they were projecting growth on the order of about 8% — it built on a revised GDP increase of 6.3% in the first quarter.

The recovery is real. But so is the threat to it if COVID flares significantly once again.

Businesses are recognizing this and are picking up the pace of mandates, a development The New York Times said “reflects a growing consensus among private sector employers, health care centers, and state and local governments to test the legal waters on vaccine requirements as cases rise sharply around the nation." There are questions, state by

state, of the legality of mandates for the public sector. But in most places, private-sector employers have broad leeway to send the message that workers (exempting a small number who have legitimate medical reasons not to get vaccinated) should get a shot — or face the possibility of having to get another job.

“There’s a longstanding precedent to set workplace rules,” Dorit Reiss, a professor who studies vaccine policy at the University of California Hastings College of the Law, told Bloomberg. “A safe workplace is important not just for the employer, but also for the employees and for the consumers.”

We understand mandates are divisive. Virtually everything about this pandemic has been divisive. But the unvaccinated are prolonging this pandemic. As offices and workplaces are starting to fill again, with the pace expected to pick up even more after Labor Day, we need to take full advantage of the scientific tools at hand to keep the recovery going.

Business leaders shouldn't hesitate to require that their workers are vaxxed — for the sake of everyone.

Thriving One of many things COVID robbed us of was the pleasure of live arts performances. That's changing as theaters, music organizations and others get back to business and head into their big fall seasons. We're happy for all of them and hope they draw big crowds.

Among the arts organizations with a great story to tell is Karamu House, America's oldest Black producing theater, which last week secured a $1.7 million gift from The George Fund Foundation for its Karamu Rising "thrivability" campaign aimed at finishing more renovations at the East Side theater and building an endowment to preserve its legacy.

July was a big month for Karamu, which also received $1 million from Bank of America for the campaign.

It wasn't long ago that Karamu was in rough financial shape. Tony F. Sias, Karamu's president and CEO, plus his staff and everyone who cares about the theater, deserve applause for reinvigorating this community asset.

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

Our Great Lakes face a growing number of threats that demand urgent action from all of us fortunate enough to live in this part of the world.

As a business owner who relies on the purity of Great Lakes water by turning it — and hops, malts and other ingredients — into craft brews, I take the sustainabil- Bell is founder ity of our business practices seriously. and president of Whether it’s making energy-efficiency Bell’s Brewery in improvements or new endeavors to ad- Michigan and dress microplastics, Bell’s Brewery co-chair of the works hard to minimize our impact on Great Lakes Business the Great Lakes.

And as a co-chair of the Great Lakes Network.

Business Network—a coalition of businesses that advocate for Great Lakes protection—I know myself and fellow members are invested in addressing our water infrastructure issues and making the necessary improvements to ensure pollution, especially plastic pollution, doesn’t reach our waterways.

One issue of concern is the amount of plastic that is inadvertently released into the Great Lakes, degrading into small pieces called “microplastics” that accumulate in the food chain and wreak havoc on natural systems.

Microplastics in our Great Lakes have been detected at high concentration levels. According to a recent survey by the U.S. Geological Survey, microplastics have been recorded at 112,000 particles per square mile of Great Lakes water.

Recently, to address our own plastic management, Bell’s worked with other breweries to secure a grant to purchase two balers that allow us to begin recycling bags made of woven polypropylene that are used for brewing grains like barley and other ingredients that come in large quantities.

These bags and what are called “super sacks” are essentially bulk bags that can hold upward of 3,000 pounds. While they are technically recyclable, there wasn’t access to a viable recycling outlet until now.

Truckloads of these bags are needed to make it worthwhile for a recycling company to take them on. Bell’s wasn’t generating enough used bags on our own. The balers purchased with the grant for our brewery and others allow us to use it for transport, and finished bales are then processed.

Because of our commitment to sustainability, we worked with other breweries to secure this grant, which we are proud to say will reduce the amount of plastics being discarded in our state.

We also know it takes more than individual actions of a few businesses to keep our lakes clean. It also takes smart policies at the local, state and federal level to ensure we’re all doing our part.

The good news is there are solutions to ensure that microplastics don’t result in a catastrophe for our Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Business Network supports policies that will keep more plastics out of our freshwater ecosystem as well as other policies to keep our lakes clean.

There are many other infrastructure investments that are necessary to make changes that reduce or eliminate pollution entering our rivers, lakes and streams. Our Great Lakes are only as great as they can be when we work together to protect them.

The Great Lakes Business Network engages in advocacy on several fronts—from mitigating harmful algal blooms, to advancing clean energy opportunities and shuttering Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline—and we look forward to continuing our leadership from an economic perspective as we engage on the issue of microplastics.

Write us: Crain’s welcomes responses from readers. Letters should be as brief as possible and may be edited. Send letters to Crain’s Cleveland Business, 700 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 44113, or by emailing ClevEdit@crain.com. Please include your complete name and city from which you are writing, and a telephone number for fact-checking purposes.

Sound off: Send a Personal View for the opinion page to emcintyre@crain.com. Please include a telephone number for verification purposes.

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OPINION

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PERSONAL VIEW

‘Whack-a-mole’ isn’t working to keep lakes clean

before it can even enter the waste stream, this

BY JENNIFER CADDICK approach puts us in “whack-a-mole” mode.

And that’s not a particularly effective strateYou might not imagine a trash cleanup as a gy when you think about the thousands of difjoyous occasion. ferent plastic items we use each day. The reBut the Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adoptsponsibility for reducing plastic should be a-Beach events are filled with fun and laughplaced on the manufacturers, not individuals ter, built on a shared vision of a clean, healthy or end-user industries like restaurants.

Great Lakes region for all to enjoy.

To make sure our Great Lakes stay healthy, Each year, about 15,000 volunteers from all we need holistic policy solutions — and we’re walks of life join one of over 1,000 beach Caddick is vice starting to see a trend in this direction. cleanup events held across all five Great Lakes president of The Canadian government has banned and all eight Great Lakes states. communications Adopt-a-Beach volunteers do more than and engagement many single-use plastics, focusing on those most frequently found in the environment and just clean up beaches and keep litter out of the at the Chicagothe least recyclable items, with the policy exlakes. They also collect data. based Alliance pected to go into effect in late 2021. While not Every item picked up, from cigarette butts for the Great perfect, it is an important start. to single-use water bottles and bits of plastic Lakes.

To be clear, expecting a complete end to all foam containers, is meticulously tallied by plastic use is not realistic. The COVID-19 panvolunteers and entered into our online datademic showed the critical importance of plasbase. And that’s when things get interesting.

This data represents a powerful snapshot of exactly tic in health care, for example, with disposable gloves, what kind of litter ends up in our lakes. Year after year, gowns, masks and other medical-use plastics playing a the numbers are roughly the same: Approximately 85% crucial role in keeping health care workers safe and alof the trash cleaned up by Adopt-a-Beach volunteers is lowing them to provide life-saving care.

However, single-use plastics used for food and packmade up wholly, or in part, of plastic.

The insidious thing about plastic is that it never really aging are a major source of lake pollution, and cutting them across the board can make a significant dent in the goes away.

Sun, waves and other environmental factors will only plastic problem.

Reducing plastic pollution is not easy. We need crebreak down plastic left on the beach into smaller and ative thinking and a diversity of voices in the polismaller pieces.

These microplastics are often invisible but are a clear cy-making conversation.

Statewide bills that prevent local governments from and present danger to wildlife, which mistakes them for food, and to humans. Microplastics have been found in taking action—“bans on bans” — in states like Michidrinking water, bottled water and beer, and it’s estimat- gan, Ohio and Wisconsin for example, are counterproed that we each ingest about a credit card-sized amount ductive. Blocking local governments from acting while failing to provide holistic solutions at the state level is of plastic each week.

Volunteer cleanups alone cannot solve the Great the equivalent of continuing to let plastic flow into our Lakes’ plastic pollution problem. While Adopt-a-Beach Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes region has been home to innovative volunteers pick up about 50,000 pounds of litter each year, that pales in comparison with the estimated 22 pollution reduction ideas before. The movement to ban million pounds of plastic that enter the Great Lakes an- plastic microbeads in personal care products like face nually, contaminating the ecosystem and a key drinking washes started with a statewide ban in Illinois, and other Great Lakes states subsequently pursued similar legwater source for 40 million Americans and Canadians.

And yet despite the scope of the problem, reducing islation. This pushed federal governments to act, and it is now illegal in the U.S. and Canada to include plastic plastic is frequently dismissed as a “feel-good” issue.

We tend to get preoccupied, focusing solely on elimi- microbeads in personal care products.

The Alliance’s volunteers will keep cleaning our nating the “bad guy” of the moment. For a while, it was beaches, but they can’t go it alone: We need elected offiplastic bags, and then balloons.

While these are noble efforts and come from a posi- cials at all levels of government to step up and do their tive desire to limit the amount of plastic being produced part to stop plastic pollution at the source.

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AUGUST 2, 2021 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 11

EXCELLENCE IN HR 2021

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCK PHOTO

NAVIGATING UNCHARTED WATERS

H

uman resource professionals have stepped up over the past 18 months to meet challenges unlike any they’ve seen before.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to diversity, equity and inclusion awareness, HR professionals have been on the front line establishing vital links of communication and understanding.

This year’s Excellence in HR Awards are designed to honor and highlight the full scope of work done by NEO’s HR professionals, from companies large and small, and from all sectors, including the nonprofit realm.

The Crain’s Excellence in HR program is designed to honor Northeast Ohio's outstanding human resources executives and teams.

Winners and finalists have been selected in five overall categories: Overall Excellence; HR Executive/Team of the Year; Rising Star; "Accidental" HR Leader; Employee Advocacy; and Diversity.

Honorees were selected by a panel of outside judges, all of whom

have been honored by Crain’s for their HR accomplishments in past awards programs: Betsy McCafferty, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority; Elise Bastian, Earnest Machine; Evelyn Bruce, Bonnie Speed; Hailee Houston, MetroHealth; Monica Brown, the Cleveland Foundation; and Thomas Hopkins, retired, Sherwin-Williams.

In evaluating this year’s nominations, the judges noted the exceptional work being done by members of NEO’s HR community, who are not only leading in an environment dictated by COVID but in one where the death of George Floyd became a “crystallizing event.”

Honorees will be recognized, and winners announced in all categories, during a virtual event from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

In addition to the recognition portion of the program, executive editor Elizabeth McIntyre will lead a conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace with the co-founders of Enlightened Solutions, Bethany Studenic and Chinenye Nkemere.

To register for the event, go to www.CrainsCleveland.com/events.

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EXCELLENCE IN HR OVERALL EXCELLENCE | INDIVIDUAL, PUBLIC WINNER

Yentil Rawlinson VICE PRESIDENT FOR INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUITY, SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO. As vice president for inclusion, diversity and equity, Yentil Rawlinson works to attract, develop and keep underrepresented talent at Sherwin-Williams Co., as well as foster a sense of belonging for all of the Cleveland-based company’s employees.

Rawlinson joined Sherwin-Williams in 2018 as the company’s director of inclusion and diversity. She currently serves on the boards for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio and the Fund for Our Economic Future.

“Yentil is passionate in her pursuits of equity and inclusion both within and outside the office. She is dedicated to getting underrepresented groups in management positions while establishing practices to develop and maintain an inclusive workplace,” the nomination read.

Thomas P. Gilligan, senior vice president for human resources for Sherwin-Williams, in an email said Rawlinson has been “instrumental” in a variety of areas, driving education, opening dialogue and more. She has expanded the company’s Employee Resource Groups and served as the “chief architect” for the company’s CEO Forums on Inclusion, he said. And she’s created new training programs.

“Yentil has designed and facilitated extensive education and training programs to help leaders and allies be mindful of unconscious biases and provide them with practical actions they can take to create and lead more inclusive teams,” Gilligan said. “In 2020, 100% of our leaders attended an ID&E learning session focused on mitigating bias and leading with empathy.”

— Rachel Abbey McCafferty

“YENTIL HAS DESIGNED AND FACILITATED EXTENSIVE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS TO HELP LEADERS AND ALLIES BE MINDFUL OF UNCONSCIOUS BIASES AND PROVIDE THEM WITH PRACTICAL ACTIONS THEY CAN TAKE TO CREATE AND LEAD MORE INCLUSIVE TEAMS.”

Thank You For Recognizing Our Team For Overall Excellence in the Team Public category and Rising Star, Large Organization.

Congratulations to all of Crain’s Excellence in HR finalists.

Find out how you can grow with Nordson at nordson.com/careers.

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND

Tap into Cleveland.

Crain’s is now in the app store.

— Thomas P. Gilligan, senior vice president for human resources for Sherwin-Williams

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | INDIVIDUAL, PRIVATE FINALIST

Jennifer DiFranco SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TALENT, APPLE GROWTH PARTNERS Jennifer DiFranco changed jobs in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic — then helped her new employer navigate a work world in flux.

After more than a dozen years in the nonprofit sector, DiFranco joined Apple Growth Partners in September as the accounting and business-advisory firm's senior director of talent. She swiftly helped the company come up with tactics to retain and recruit employees, all while collaborating with colleagues to keep the staff safe during a public-health crisis.

"Jen's expertise in human resources was the missing piece to the firm's strategy and aggressive growth plan," Erica Ishida, the firm's president and chief operating officer, wrote in support of this recognition.

Ishida described DiFranco as a quick learner, willing to ask tough questions and challenge preconceived notions in a new industry.

"People can sense she cares for others as individuals, not just as employees. As a result, she has quickly gained trust," Ishida wrote.

A Kent State University graduate, DiFranco began her career in sales. She moved into human resources while working for Destination Cleveland, the convention and visitors bureau, and obtained professional certifications in 2014.

At Apple Growth Partners, DiFranco has helped to shape a "work from anywhere" strategy that gives employees flexibility in a traditionally office-bound business. The firm, with offices in Akron, Canton and Cleveland, recently closed an office in Kent as part of that transition to remote and hybrid schedules.

— Michelle Jarboe

Congratulations to MAI Capital’s

Lesa Evans

and all Excellence in HR finalists Focused on Solutions.

Focused on You. 216.920.4800 | www.mai.capital AUGUST 2, 2021 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 13

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EXCELLENCE IN HR OVERALL EXCELLENCE | INDIVIDUAL, PRIVATE

NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT

FINALIST

FINALIST

FINALIST

FIN

Lesa Evans

Donna Rhodes

George Sample

K

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, MAI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER, COTSWORKS, INC.

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND OUTREACH, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CLEVELAND

Sometimes, even if you’re good, you still get lucky. Take MAI Capital Management, for example. Before 2019, they didn’t even have a chief human resources officer. That’s when they hired Lesa Evans for the role. Although MAI had not had a chief HR officer before, the job was no stranger to Evans.

She’s got more than 30 years of experience honing what MAI says is her “astounding ability to blend human resources strategies into a business’s goals and vision.”

Her firm credits Evans with enabling its growth, in part by working to ensure employees have a good work-life balance. But that’s only part of what she’s accomplished, MAI reports.

She organized the various roles within MAI into “job families” that provide employees with clear paths for career development, overhauled the firm’s performance management system, and instituted new development programs to help MAI employees advance.

In between, she helped integrate three major acquisitions and managed the firm’s HR challenges through a major workfrom-home pandemic.

Her firm says Evans did all this while creating fans along the way. Little wonder they nominated her for this year’s award.

“Lesa has devoted her life to her career in the human resources field. She is compassionate and truly cares about each and every employee,” MAI said in nominating her. “Her goal is to ensure every employee continues to learn and grow at MAI and knows that they are part of a team and family that supports each other.”

— Dan Shingler

Donna Rhodes knows how to make an impact on a company.

“Donna’s professionalism, hiring experience, and counsel have helped the operations organization at COTSWORKS transition from individual contributors to a highly effective and efficient team,” said Ray Wymer, COO of COTSWORKS. She’s chief people officer at the organization, which designs and manufactures optical components and subsystems made to be used in harsh environments. Her contributions helped boost COTSWORKS from its startup roots to a business with current contracts and relationships with aerospace and military companies across the globe. She helps shape its culture by “leading and supporting the strategy, systems, processes, and staff development required for the continued growth of the company,” according to the nomination.

Rhodes’ Cleveland connections are strong. She earned a master’s degree in organizational development and analysis from Case Western Reserve University. Her list of volunteer activities is long, including serving as a community trustee at the Ronald McDonald House of Northeast Ohio.

She recently implemented a new human resource management system at the company. And, of course, she steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic by creating new policies and procedures that let employees continue working as smoothly as possible. All of her work has helped position COTSWORKS, the nomination said, to be ready for growth as the market improves in 2021.

— Amy Morona

George Sample doesn’t just advocate for equity and inclusion for his job with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, he promotes it across the broader workforce in Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Sample is a native Clevelander and his post has him overseeing not just the Cleveland Fed’s DEI office, but the organization’s Education Outreach and Money Museum teams as well.

“George is an amazing HR leader with a passion for advocating and driving change,” said Margie Wright-McGowan, senior vice president for people and culture and chief HR officer at the Cleveland Fed. The recently named president for the Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management, Sample is regularly sought as a resource to help explain and broach these topics with the public in today’s more equity-mindful world.

“Practicing authentic equity means we realize the interventions needed to help some people require more work than the interventions needed to assist others — and we’re OK with that,” wrote Sample in the Cleveland Fed Digest this spring. “This is where the conversation usually becomes challenging because people like the idea of ‘let’s make it good for everybody,’ but they don’t like the equity action items. When you see data showing different incarceration rates by ethnicity and the wealth gap by gender and ethnicity, it is clear that there’s a lot of equity work that has to happen.”

— Jeremy Nobile

The MetroHealth System congratulates our outstanding Human Resources finalist: Amanda Calabrese - Rising Star Your commitment to excellence makes a difference every day for our employees!

We salute all of the nominees and winners in the 2021 Crain’s Excellence in HR awards.

14 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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EXCELLENCE IN HR EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY | PRIVATE FINALIST

FINALIST

WINNER

Kathy Menditto

Debi Matese

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF HR, BUCKEYE STATE CREDIT UNION, AKRON

Amanda Pruett

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION, YWCA

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, CRUM & FORSTER PET INSURANCE GROUP

Kathy Menditto makes a measurable impact on the people side of operations at the Buckeye State Credit Union, an Akron community financial institution.

"We have approximately 18,000 members that we serve, and I have 56 employees that I serve," she said, referring to the institution that provides financial alternatives to predatory companies for low-income people.

During her five-year tenure, she said that with support from Buckeye's leadership and staff, she has been able to slash turnover to 18% from 57%, in part by implementing benefits for the staff such as annual profit-sharing, a 5% level of match for 401(k)s and a 5% student loan payment program.

Surveys show employee engagement has increased to 92% approval from 54%.

Michael F. Abernathy Jr., Buckeye president and CEO, described Menditto as an "extremely valuable member" of the credit union's senior leadership team.

In addition to typical HR responsibilities, Abernathy said Menditto "brings passion" to the mission-based concern and has proved adept at writing successful grant applications that have brought outside funds to aid its operations.

Menditto earned an MBA in human resource management from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor of business administration degree from Kent State University.

Menditto is active in the Akron chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and coaches the organization's chapter at the University of Akron.

— Stan Bullard

Debi Matese leads the YWCA of Greater Cleveland’s HR, finance and strategic strategies, serving not only the employees of the YWCA but the clients it assists.

Matese is a central player in the YWCA’s efforts to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace and justice.

She works with those the YWCA serves to bring them from homelessness to house to hired. The YWCA strives for a world where homelessness is rare and brief, no child is without shelter, and no family is without support — and Matese is a key part of helping to make that world a reality.

She’s also part of a team that forces people to look beyond themselves with the 21 Day Racial Justice & Social Equity Challenge, which has been used as a blueprint by other companies seeking to have their employees build more effective social justice habits dealing with issues of race, power, privilege and leadership.

She has collaborated with the YWCA’s leadership team to develop policies and processes for programing that are participant-centered and trauma-informed.

Having a stable team at the YWCA to accomplish this mission is key, and Matese has worked to assure stability. Her efforts have helped to cut the attrition rate at the YWCA of Greater Cleveland to 9%, much lower than the national average.

Under her leadership in human resources and finance, the YWCA has stopped tracking paid time off for its employees to create a more understanding and flexible environment.

— Elizabeth McIntyre

Joining Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group in 2020, Amanda Pruett wasted no time making her mark on the Akron firm and its staff. Pruett rejuvenated C&F Pet’s employee development practices, according to the nomination, leading to the creation of an interactive career-pathing tool that assists workers in identifying aspirations within the company.

The nomination also credits Pruett with being a driving force behind fostering a culture of inclusiveness and wellness. “Under Amanda’s guiding hand,” it said, C&F Pet became a first-time corporate sponsor of the 2021 Akron Pride festivities. In addition, she supported development and growth of staff-initiated employee resource groups, ensured employee access to information about benefit and wellness options such as telehealth and virtual yoga, and helped employees support charities in their communities by spotlighting a company-match program.

“Amanda’s impact on our business has been instrumental in supporting the growth we’ve experienced,” Robert Capobianco, C&F Pet senior vice president, wrote in the nomination.

“An increase in revenue is what every company wants, but with it comes even more demand that your workforce is equipped to provide quality service.” Pruett holds a master's degree from Ohio State University and has served as chapter president of the Muskingum Valley HR Management Association, a Society of Human Resource Management affiliate, and as diversity director for the Ohio SHRM State Council.

— Judy Stringer

5,825 businesses & healthcare facilities 35,000+ school buildings

750 houses of worship

5,900 law enforcement & government agencies

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EXCELLENCE IN HR

Congratulations Donna!

On being named as a finalist for Crain’s 2021 Excellence in HR award.

Donna’s passion for employee and organizational success is demonstrated by her dedication to HR excellence.

From all of us at COTSWORKS, thank you for everything you do!

COTSWORKS’ Chief People Officer Donna Rhodes, SHRM-SCP, SPHR®

COTSWORKS

®

STAY IN THE KNOW with Crain’s email newsletters

Subscribe FOR FREE by visiting CrainsCleveland.com/enewsletters

DIVERSITY | INDIVIDUAL

DIV

WINNER

WIN

Laura Almazan

M

SENIOR MANAGER OF HUMAN RESOURCES, EATON

INC

Diversity matters at Eaton Corp., a software services company comprised of 92,000 employees in 175 countries, all focused on improving quality of life via power management technologies and services.

About 50% of Eaton’s directors are either women or minorities — Laura Almazan falls into both categories, while acting as a trailblazer in materials management, operational leadership, inclusion initiatives and human resources.

“As a Hispanic woman, Laura has broken ground in a traditionally male-dominated field of operations management,” the nomination said. “As a plant manager for three Eaton plants, she was responsible for leading all aspects of operations, including productivity, quality, profitability and employee satisfaction.”

During Almazan’s tenure, the company accelerated its inclusion and diversity strategy, with measurables including a year-over-year increase in the representation of women and minorities at the executive level. Almazan helped create an I&D curriculum as well as champion a virtual learning pilot program on the topic of bias.

“Laura was a critical partner in establishing our eight inclusion Eaton resource groups (iERGs),” said the nomination. “With close to 10,500 members in 60 countries, our iERGS provide a space where various demographic groups and their allies work together toward common organizational goals to attract, retain, develop and build cultural competency.”

Almazan’s colleagues describe her as an experienced leader with a deep understanding of company operations, quality systems, talent development and culture-change programming.

“Laura was and continues to be a trusted, valuable colleague and subject matter expert,” said Monica Jackson, Eaton vice president of global inclusion and diversity, in the nomination. “Her fingerprints are on so many meaningful processes that have accelerated our I&D success to-date.”

— Douglas J. Guth

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“LAURA WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE A TRUSTED, VALUABLE COLLEAGUE AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ... HER FINGERPRINTS ARE ON SO MANY MEANINGFUL PROCESSES THAT HAVE ACCELERATED OUR I&D SUCCESS TO-DATE.” — Monica Jackson, Eaton vice president of global inclusion and diversity

ACCIDENTAL HR LEADER WINNER

Rachel Kern PAYROLL AND BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR, CASCADE AUTO GROUP Rachael Kern came to Cascade Auto Group six years ago as a cashier and receptionist, working her way to becoming the company’s payroll and benefits administrator. Though Kern has long since proven herself, the coronavirus pandemic uncovered a special talent for crisis management.

When COVID-19 made headlines in March 2020, Kern singlehandedly developed the auto group’s virus documenting and investigation process, according to the nomination. On the analytical side, she redesigned forms, created training documents, and studied the ever-evolving minutiae of social distancing and virus transmission.

Just as crucially, Kern kept her co-workers sane through an uncertain time, managing partner Michelle Primm said in the nomination.

“Without her we would have really struggled to stay up to the minute on all information coming at us from every angle,” Primm said. “Rachael figured out how to social distance and document everything. She stayed level-headed the whole time.”

Kern’s educational background doesn’t exactly point to a career as an HR maven. A graduate of the University of Akron School of Music, Kern was principal flute in the University of Akron Symphonic Band in the early 2010s. Prior to arriving at Cascade Auto Group, she served as a sales associate at Circle K. With the virus crisis far from over, Kern’s colleagues are happy to have her on board.

“Rachael has become an important part of our dealership family and community,” Primm said. “She works well with our HR professionals and attorneys, not just on COVID-related issues, but all HR topics.”

— Douglas J. Guth 16 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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EXCELLENCE IN HR DIVERSITY | TEAM WINNER

MetroHealth INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUITY TEAM The diversity of MetroHealth’s 2021-2022 class of surgery residents is the greatest the system has seen, thanks to the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (IDE) team.

MetroHealth’s senior leadership, board and hundreds of supervisors participated in immersive education about bias, and all employees will soon participate in the training from the team, led by Alan Nevel, MetroHealth’s chief diversity and human resources officer.

The murder of George Floyd and historic reckoning for racial justice led Nevel to two “galvanizing realizations,” according to the nomination: This was a unique chance to change the trajectory of the discussion about “I WANT THEM TO race in America; and for MetroHealth to create such monumental change, it REALIZE THAT SETTING must do more.

AMBITIOUS GOALS ON Nevel and the IDE team began working to foster an environment that INCLUSION, DIVERSITY encouraged honest, sometimes diffi- AND EQUITY — AND cult conversations about race. Afterward, book clubs, film groups and THEN DOGGEDLY discussion groups addressing racism WORKING TO ACHIEVE and bias popped up in departments across MetroHealth. Anti-racism THEM — IS GOOD FOR training was implemented for all resi- CUSTOMERS, dents, and the committee recruiting surgery residents got larger and more EMPLOYEES, THE diverse, leading to the next class’s unREGION AND THEIR precedented level of diversity.

Dr. Akram Boutros, president and BUSINESS.” CEO of MetroHealth, nominated the — Dr. Akram Boutros, president team because he wants them to get and CEO of MetroHealth the recognition they deserve, he wrote in the nomination, “but I also want other businesses and organizations in the region to learn about what we’ve done and how it has helped our business.”

“I want them to realize that setting ambitious goals on inclusion, diversity and equity — and then doggedly working to achieve them — is good for customers, employees, the region and their business.”

— Lydia Coutré

Partnering with

NOMINATIONS OPEN

CrainsCleveland.com/Nominate

NOMINATION DEADLINE:

AUG. 30

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EXCELLENCE IN HR OVERALL EXCELLENCE | TEAM, SMALL-MEDIUM PRIVATE

OV

WINNER

WIN

Navigate360

N

TAL

Navigate360 had a busy year in 2020, acquiring four companies while negotiating numerous pandemic-related workforce obstacles.

These challenges illuminated the strength of a human resources team dedicated to integrating hires and leading cultural assimilation efforts.

The department spearheaded a new virtual onboarding experience, launched an employee engagement survey, established a new performance management platform, and kickstarted a series of product training initiatives.

In supporting the leader in holistic safety and wellness solutions for schools, law enforcement and businesses, HR implemented new software to streamline tactical work, saving the company over $34,000 annually. Additionally, the team facilitated an executive leadership re-

treat where officials collaborated to deliver crucial strategic objectives.

Promoting an involved workforce is another top organizational priority, according to the nomination. To that end, HR harnessed new software in sending a Q1 survey with a high participation rate.

“We are pleased to be moving the engagement needle in positive ways, especially with respect to employee recognition, career progression and training,” the nomination said.

Chief Product Officer Eric Rohy joined Navigate360 in September 2020, connecting with HR head Alex Teodosio and the rest of his hard-working staff. Rohy was immediately impressed by HR’s nimbleness during a crisis, whether moving payroll to a different system or onboarding a group of new employees.

“It all starts with people, and the

COURTESY

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

HR team has some of the best,” Rohy said in the nomination. “Compassionate, dedicated, focused and ex-

perienced, they accepted these challenges and worked collaboratively not only with Navigate360 leader-

ship, but across the company to drive positive change.”

— Douglas J. Guth

OVERALL EXCELLENCE | TEAM, LARGE PRIVATE FINALIST

FINALIST

Cleveland Cavaliers

Heinen’s Inc. HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT become permanent employees.

When the downtown store was closed due to damage during civil unrest, the HR team scrambled to reassign associates to other stores or arrange for furloughs with paid benefits. Once the downtown store reopened, everyone who was interested in returning came back to work.

“HR demonstrated a very empathetic and patient approach to addressing each and every associate issue that came up. This required a commitment well beyond a normal work week with many long hours and great flexibility to be available as needed,” said Greg Sotka, director of Category Management and Procurement. “Heinen’s HR department provided a confident, steadying approach to our ‘essential

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

COURTESY

During the pandemic, when many people worked from home to stay safe and slow the spread of the coronavirus, grocery workers were stocking shelves and ringing up customers or arranging for food deliveries. They were essential, front-line workers.

At Heinen’s stores, the human resources team took on extraordinary challenges to support those workers, to keep them safe and to replenish their ranks.

One example of the pandemic’s impact: The HR team processed nearly 2,000 leaves of absence and implemented quickly a temporary associate recruiting and onboarding program. More than 350 new, temporary associates came on board in record time, and half of them have

business’ operation during a very uncertain time.”

In addition to rising to the COVID-19 challenge, the team performed its normal duties, including negotiating two collective bargain-

ing agreements with labor unions representing Heinen’s workers and offering professional development and leadership programs in new ways.

— Elizabeth McIntyre

bring a much-needed sense of normalcy to our organization. From food trucks to personalized gifts and notes, to more adaptive dress and work policies, this comprehensive

approach not only brought positive results to our workforce, but also benefited the patients for whom they care.”

— Douglas J. Guth

FINALIST

Western Reserve Hospital Hospital systems are at the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, often at great cost to their workers in terms of safety and mental stress.

The human resources team at Western Reserve Hospital has served as a critical support mechanism for those at the vanguard of the virus crisis, according to the nomination.

Spearheaded by Heather Milicevic, the seven-member department enacted numerous initiatives to support staff at the epicenter of COVID-19. HR’s efforts led to virus-spurred pay differentials for front-line employees, as well as access to inexpensive hotel rooms to minimize staff transmission risk.

Additionally, the department ini-

tiated flex scheduling and paid parental leave, while communicating with front-liners on any health and welfare benefits available to them.

Meanwhile, relaxing the staff dress code reflects the caring culture of the hospital, as do “thank you” lunches and dinners provided to workers via vendor partners and local businesses.

“The past year proved especially challenging to HR staff in health care, who found themselves meeting the needs of often anxious and fearful front-line and support staff,” said Western Reserve Hospital President and CEO Robert Kent in the nomination. “Heather and her team found positive, engaging projects to

CHRIS SMANTO/COURTESY

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

In 2020, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse — which normally hosts 200plus ticketed events and 1,400 private events each year — went more than nine months between NBA games and was limited to hosting smaller events because of the pandemic.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ sizable workforce quickly shifted to a remote environment. The transition was seamless, the team said, because of a proactive approach that assured employees had the technology and ability to work from home.

The Cavs said they kept employees engaged with such initiatives as organization-wide livestreams, town halls and “time to talk” sessions that discussed social justice issues, a virtual holiday party and employee recognition program, and digital training and development.

Throughout, the human resources department did an “exemplary job in becoming an invaluable resource” for the organization’s employees, the nomination said.

The Cavs’ HR team is led by Alberta Lee, senior vice president of people and culture, and Heather Brockler, senior director of human resources. Megan Dean, Elizabeth Tracy, Natalie Romito, Kanchan Arya and Gavin Stephens also are key parts of the organization’s HR efforts.

“From the onset (of the pandemic), Alberta, Heather and our entire HR team embraced the important role they would play to keep our team members engaged, to let them know their safety and well-being was our organization’s top priority, and to provide the support they would need to adapt to what would become a ‘new normal,’ ” Cavs CEO Len Komoroski said.

— Kevin Kleps

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OVERALL EXCELLENCE | TEAM, PUBLIC

Made possible only by having GREAT employees.

WINNER

Nordson Corp.

Congratulations Rachael Kern on winning the Crain’s Accidental HR Leader Award

COURTESY

TALENT COMMUNITY OF EXPERTISE

Rachael’s positive attitude, attention to detail and drive to perform at a very high level make her an extraordinary member of our team, and we could not be more proud of her!

Nordson Corp. has experienced unprecedented change over the last two years, including implementing a new HR service, onboarding a CEO, redesigning its organizational structure, and rolling out a fresh business model company-wide.

Such foundational transformation takes creativity and resilience, a pair of vital characteristics that the Nordson community of expertise (COE) staff prides itself upon. Led by Kathleen Lesner Hall and Stacey Zeleznik, the team developed numerous improvements to boost the bottom line for the Westlake manufacturer of dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants and biomaterials. Among its accomplishments, COE did the following: • Redesigned the company’s compensation approval process.

• Applied a global learning management system supporting 11 languages.

• Orchestrated the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Designed and executed a corporate college relations plan to include a new intern experience.

• Developed new foundational competencies for the organization’s performance management process.

Erin Peters, Nordson’s global talent process leader, pointed to the team’s dedication in creating a cultural roadmap based on a new set of leadership attributes. In the nomination, Peters said COE’s work is a crucial facet of a company that has endured for almost 70 years.

“The Talent COEs have delivered an incredible amount of work that is helping our business to experience growth,” wrote Peters. “While the team is small, they are mighty, and always willing to take on a new challenge. We often fail to recognize the tremendous effort needed to implement organizational change and support the business leaders as they set a new direction.”

— Douglas J. Guth

Rachael has a bachelor’s degree in music from Susquehanna University and a master’s degree in flute performance from the University of Akron. She has performed with many music ensembles, won the 2008 Susquehanna University Concerto Competition, and for three years was the principal flutist in the University of Akron Symphonic Band. She is an avid reader and enjoys attending live classical and jazz performances.

Congratulations, Rachael! Well done!

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Shop Our Complete Inventory of New and Used Cars at:

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OVERALL EXCELLENCE | TEAM, NONPROFIT/GOVERNMENT

NOMINATIONS OPEN

WINNER

CrainsCleveland.com/Nominate

Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities

NOMINATION DEADLINE:

AUG. 12

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT As the human resources director at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Christina Brown and her staff spent the last 15 months during the pandemic trying to keep their colleagues engaged.

When the staff was sent to work from home, the HR team initiated remote activities to keep everyone connected. They created a quarantine version of bingo with squares representing home-based activities like making banana bread or watching episodes of Netflix’s "Tiger King."

As the pandemic wore on, Brown’s department created “Wellness Wednesdays,” which continue today, to promote healthy activities, including an agency-wide walking challenge. Her team also brought in WW (formerly Weight Watchers), which culminated in the loss of 377 pounds from 78 participants.

“Now, staff look forward to what tips and ideas each Wednesday will bring ,” the nomination stated.

As the more than 500 employees gradually came back into the office, the HR department presented everyone with a “welcome back to work” care package containing a card with tips to stay safe, hand sanitizer, face masks and other tools.

Recently, the HR team held a staff-wide innovative idea contest, with the objective of collecting at least 20 proposals. They were blown away when they received a whopping 91 submissions from employees with creative ideas for improving the agency's strategic goals.

“The HR department at Cuyahoga Developmental Disabilities knocked it out of the park with pivoting quickly to adapt to the unexpected circumstances and length of the pandemic, all while maintaining professionalism and spreading positivity,” the nomination stated.

— Kim Palmer

H E L P I N G

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APPLE GROWTH PARTNERS CONGRATULATES JENNIFER DIFRANCO, PHR, SHRM-CP!

COURTESY

rive

EXCELLENCE IN HR

Apple Growth Partners

@applegrowthpartners

APPLEGROWTH.COM

@apple_growth

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EXCELLENCE IN HR RISING STAR | SMALL-MEDIUM PRIVATE

RIS NO

WINNER

WIN

Emily Hembree

B

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, EXACTCARE When ExactCare successfully onboarded 410 new hires in 2020 — doubling its employee base in a single year — and did so on the heels of transitioning 400 current employees to work from home, it proved HR director Emily Hembree was at the top of her game.

In the nomination, Veronica Oubayan, senior vice president of HR operations for ExactCare owner CarepathRx, credits Humbree’s leadership in software and technology enhancements for the firm’s ability to scale quickly without adding HR staff.

“No task is too tall for Emily,” Oubayan wrote in the nomination. “She prides herself on operational excellence and is always looking for oppor-

tunities to improve efficiency.”

Hembree, a Saint Louis University business administration graduate, joined ExactCare in 2015, starting as HR coordinator and rising through the department ranks. Along with supporting the Valley Viewbased medication management firm’s exponential growth, Humbree has been instrumental in HR support to other CarepathRx organizations as CarepathRx has acquired new companies and welcomed new employees through that process. She also played a key role in digitizing ExactCare’s previously paper-based employee recognition program to be inclusive of the growing remote

Your future. Our focus.

RISING STAR | LARGE (MORE THAN 501 EMPLOYEES)

Let your goals be your guide

FINALIST

Ruggiero Wealth Management UBS Financial Services Inc. 600 Superior Avenue East 27th Floor Cleveland, OH 44114 216-736-8317

Modesto “Moe” Ruggiero Managing Director– Wealth Management Senior Portfolio Manager Wealth Advisor modesto.ruggiero@ubs.com

ubs.com/team/ruggiero

As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that clients understand the ways in which we conduct business, that they carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer. For more information, please review the PDF document at ubs.com/relationshipsummary. © UBS 2020. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. CJ-UBS-2031105874_4 Exp.: 10/31/2021

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“NO TASK IS TOO TALL FOR EMILY.” — Veronica Oubayan, senior vice president of HR operations for CarepathRx

workforce, the nomination said.

Outside of work, Hembree is a fundraising committee member for Mission for Maureen (M4M), a nonprofit that provides direct financial assistance for brain tumor patients burdened by the staggering costs of treatment. She was a founding member of M4M’s derby-themed fundraiser, which has raised and distributed over $1.3 million to brain tumor patients in all 50 states, according to the nomination.

— Judy Stringer

Lauren Ferguson MANAGER OF HUMAN RESOURCES, WELTMAN, WEINBERG & REIS CO. Lauren Ferguson leaves notes of encouragement on employees’ desks and sometimes shares candy — their favorite kind — because she takes the time to know that sort of thing.

She is an empathetic leader who listens and coaches with compassion.

“Lauren continues to serve Weltman with the same passion both prior to and during this pandemic challenge,” said Weltman Chief Financial Officer Tim Corman. “She has been a calming element during a time when many have presented intense anxiety regarding the situation.”

When the director of human resources left the company, it was Ferguson who stepped in to handle the usual HR duties, as well as the extraordinary issues driven by the pandemic.

Her organized, detail-oriented approach serves her well in the day-to-day work of an HR manager. Ferguson, though, also devoted herself to helping employees during the pandemic, arranging to have groceries delivered, for example, or just lending a receptive ear.

“Lauren knows how crucial mental wellness is and was constantly

checking in on people she knew would struggle during the pandemic,” said Amy Haas, a Weltman executive assistant. “She was there to offer encouraging words and sound advice to lift their spirits. Lauren is generous, kind and always puts people first, inside and outside the walls of Weltman.”

In an era when many companies are examining their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, Ferguson took the lead for Weltman, engaging team leaders in conversations about diversity, training teams of people and encouraging employees to identify the privilege they might enjoy in their lives.

— Elizabeth McIntyre

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RISING STAR | LARGE (MORE THAN 501 EMPLOYEES) FINALIST

Claire Holmes GLOBAL HR SERVICES DIRECTOR, NORDSON CORP. Claire Holmes has been part of Westlake-based Nordson Corp.’s talent team since 2013, advancing through six positions to arrive at her current rank, where she oversees 56 team members spanning eight countries. In the last 14 months alone, Holmes has managed 108 continuous improvements in a variety of organizational functions and, as a result, driven performance improvement “in targeted service options by at least 5% from (the) prior year,” according to the nomination.

She played a critical role, for example, in the establishment of Nordson’s global HR service deliv-

ery model, with direct responsibility for defining and implementing the organizational structure, compensation model and approach to recruitment and onboarding as well as selecting best practices for implementation. Holmes oversaw the three-year HR service delivery model rollout, including spending seven weeks overseas as project leader for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

In addition, the Ohio State Univeristy MBA, who also holds a master’s degree in labor relations and HR from Cleveland State University, served as the HR point person during the manufacturer’s

global reorganization into a division-led model.

Erin Peters, global talent process leader, calls Holmes one of Nordson’s “strongest rising stars,” known for “delivering results and providing insightful counsel.”

She specifically highlighted Holmes’ initiative in stepping up to lead the organization’s U.S. pandemic response while simultaneously onboarding a new CFO and CIO and advancing in the HR department’s continuous improvement efforts.

Holmes “enthusiastically embraced these challenges because she saw each one as an opportunity for her professional growth,” Peters wrote in the nomination.

— Judy Stringer

20 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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Brianna Monroe HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, STELLA MARIS Brianna Monroe built Stella Maris’ human capital department from the ground up. Monroe joined the downtown Cleveland addiction recovery nonprofit in February 2020, after it had “existed without a formal human resources department for over seven decades,” according to the nomination. She not only created an HR support structure, Stella Maris CEO Daniel Lettenberger-Klein wrote, but also “improved accountability, feedback and formal reviews, pay scales and merit increases, and expectations for the entire agency.”

Lettenberger-Klein noted Monroe’s leadership during the pandemic and focus on diversity as two specific areas of impact. When the organization transitioned to a largely remote workforce in March 2020, Monroe kept hiring on track, shepherding an organizational expansion from 83 employees to more than 120 as demand for services surged amid COVID and the economic fallout. A “fierce advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion,” the nomination said, she also ensured staff were trained in partnership with the LGBT Community Center to best serve clients and facilitated an agency-wide discussion about race and bias.

“Brianna knows that ‘human’ is the foundation of ‘human resources,'” board President Susan Gragel wrote in the nomination. “We count on her professional and brave leadership to help our current and future employees to be the best that they can be.”

Prior to Stella Maris, the Cleveland State MBA taught HR courses at her alma mater and was a board member of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, where she championed diversity and inclusion initiatives aimed at increasing minority membership representation.

— Judy Stringer

“BRIANNA KNOWS THAT ‘HUMAN’ IS THE FOUNDATION OF ‘HUMAN RESOURCES ... WE COUNT ON HER PROFESSIONAL AND BRAVE LEADERSHIP TO HELP OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE EMPLOYEES TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.” — Susan Gragel, Stella Maris board president

RISING STAR | LARGE (MORE THAN 501 EMPLOYEES) FINALIST

Amanda Calabrese HUMAN RESOURCES PROJECT SPECIALIST, METROHEALTH Amanda Calabrese got a glimpse into the inner workings of MetroHealth in 2018, while working for an executive search firm contracted to find an HR and inclusion/diversity director for the Cleveland-based health care system.

She told her boss at the time that she’d love to be a part of “the exciting transformation” underway at MetroHealth, according to the nomination. Calabrese got her wish one year later, when she was hired as an HR associate.

At MetroHealth, Calabrese spearheaded an overhaul of the onboarding process, digitizing a “disparate, decentralized, often paper-in-file-cabinet system for new employee documentation,” according to the nomination. In one year, the switch to online onboarding saved the organization $25,000 in food, beverage and parking costs alone, the nomination said, and provided “exponential” time savings for the HR team and incoming professionals.

The department also tasked her with vetting, credentialing and welcoming a flood of new employees in early 2020 — as MetroHealth ramped up care during the pandemic — and rapidly staffing mass vaccination clinics, “arguably some of the most important work MetroHealth has ever done,” Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Human Resources Officer Alan Nevel wrote.

For the latter, Calabrese — who earned a master’s degree in labor and HR management from Cleveland State University — had to develop a system that allowed MetroHealth workers to record hours remotely at vaccine clinics.

“Ask anyone here who’s worked with her and you’ll get the same answer: ‘Amanda gets things done.’ ” Nevel said. “And because of that, we call on her … a lot.”

— Judy Stringer

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Congratulations!

Sherwin-Williams is proud to celebrate Yentil Rawlinson, Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, on her award for Excellence in HR.

SW 6635 ge Determined Oran

©2021 The Sherwin-Williams Company

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AUGUST 2, 2021 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 21

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7/29/2021 4:36:42 PM

CRAIN'S LIST | OHIO PUBLIC COMPANIES Ranked by 2020 revenue RANK

COMPANY

2020 REVENUE (MILLIONS) 1-YEAR CHG

PRIMARY INDUSTRY

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

RANK

COMPANY

2020 REVENUE (MILLIONS) 1-YEAR CHG

PRIMARY INDUSTRY

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

1

CARDINAL HEALTH INC./CAH 7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin 614-757-5000/cardinalhealth.com

$153,000 4.8%

Health care

Mike Kaufmann, CEO

27

TRANSDIGM GROUP INC./TDG 1301 E. 9th St., Cleveland 216-706-2960/transdigm.com

$5,103 -2.3%

Manufacturing

Kevin Stein, president, CEO

2

THE KROGER CO./KR 1014 Vine St., Cincinnati 513-762-4000/thekrogerco.com

$122,000 0%

Retail

Rodney McMullen, chairman, CEO

28

TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA INC./TA 24601 Center Ridge Road, Westlake 440-808-9100/ta-petro.com

$4,846 -20.8%

Retail

Jonathan Pertchik, CEO

3

PROCTER & GAMBLE CO./PG One Procter & Gamble Plaza, Cincinnati 513-983-1100/pg.com

$70,950 4.8%

Consumer products and services

David Taylor, chairman, president, CEO

29

WELLTOWER INC./WELL 4500 Dorr St., Toledo 419-247-2800/welltower.com

$4,606 -10.1%

Real estate

Shankh Mitra, CEO

4

MARATHON PETROLEUM CORP./MPC 539 S. Main St., Findlay 419-422-2121/marathonpetroleum.com

$69,897 -37%

Mining and natural resources

Michael Hennigan, president, CEO

30

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP./ADS 3075 Loyalty Circle, Columbus 614-729-4000/alliancedata.com

$4,521 -19%

Financial services

Ralph Andretta, president, CEO

5

PROGRESSIVE CORP./PGR 6300 Wilson Mills Road, Mayfield Village 440-461-5000/progressive.com

$42,638 9.3%

Insurance

S. Tricia Griffith, president, CEO

31

GREIF INC./GEF 425 Winter Road, Delaware 740-549-6000/greif.com

$4,515 -1.7%

Manufacturing

Peter Watson, president, CEO 1

6

THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO./SHW 101 W. Prospect Ave., Cleveland 216-566-2000/sherwin-williams.com

$18,362 2.6%

Manufacturing

John Morikis, chairman, president, CEO

32

VERTIV HOLDINGS CO./VRT 1050 Dearborn Drive, Columbus 614-888-0246/vertiv.com

$4,371 -1.4%

Tech and telecom

Rob Johnson, CEO

7

EATON/ETN 1000 Eaton Blvd., Beachwood 440-523-5000/eaton.com

$17,858 -16.5%

Manufacturing

Craig Arnold, chairman, CEO

33

SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO./SMG 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville 937-644-0011/scottsmiraclegro.com

$4,132 30.9%

Consumer products and services

Jim Hagedorn, chairman, CEO

8

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO./AEP 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus 614-716-1000/aep.com

$14,919 -4.1%

Utilities

Nicholas Akins, chairman, president, CEO

34

DIEBOLD NIXDORF INC./DBD 5995 Mayfair Road, North Canton 330-490-4000/dieboldnixdorf.com

$3,902 -11.5%

Manufacturing

Gerrard Schmid, president, CEO

9

PARKER HANNIFIN CORP./PH 6035 Parkland Blvd., Mayfield Heights 216-896-3000/parker.com

$13,696 -4.4%

Manufacturing

Thomas Williams, chairman, CEO

35

HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES/HBAN 41 S. High St., Columbus 614-480-2265/huntington.com

$3,763 -14%

Financial services

Stephen Steinour, chairman, president, CEO

10

L BRANDS INC./LB Three Limited Parkway, Columbus 614-415-7000/lb.com

$12,914 -2.4%

Retail

Andrew Meslow, CEO

36

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO./ANF 6301 Fitch Path, New Albany 614-283-6500/abercrombie.com

$3,623 0.9%

Retail

Fran Horowitz, CEO

11

GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO./GT 200 Innovation Way, Akron 330-796-2121/goodyear.com

$12,321 -16.4%

Manufacturing

Richard Kramer, chairman, president, CEO

37

THE TIMKEN CO./TKR 4500 Mount Pleasant St. N.W., North Canton 234-262-3000/timken.com

$3,513 -7.3%

Manufacturing

Richard Kyle, president, CEO

12

FIRSTENERGY CORP./FE 76 S. Main St., Akron 800-736-3402/firstenergycorp.com

$10,607 -2.2%

Utilities

Steven Strah, president, CEO

38

DESIGNER BRANDS INC./DBI 810 DSW Drive, Columbus 614-237-7100/designerbrands.com

$3,493 9.9%

Retail

Roger Rawlins, CEO

13

MPLX LP/MPLX 200 E. Hardin St., Findlay 419-421-2414/mplx.com

$8,505 -2.8%

Mining and natural resources

Michael Hennigan, chairman, president, CEO

39

$3,246 -6.5%

Wholesale and distribution

Neil Schrimsher, president, CEO

14

THE ANDERSONS INC./ANDE 1947 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee 419-893-5050/andersonsinc.com

$8,208 0.5%

Wholesale and distribution

Patrick Bowe, president, CEO

APPLIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES/AIT 1 Applied Plaza, Cleveland 216-426-4000/applied.com

40

$3,242 13.3%

Manufacturing

15

THE J.M. SMUCKER CO./SJM One Strawberry Lane, Orrville 330-682-3000/jmsmucker.com

$7,801 -0.5%

Food and beverage

Mark Smucker, president, CEO

AVIENT CORP./AVNT 33587 Walker Road, Avon Lake 440-930-1000/avient.com

Robert Patterson, chairman, president, CEO

41

$3,085 2.5%

Manufacturing

Patrick Kaltenbach, president, CEO

16

AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC./AFG 301 E. Fourth St., Cincinnati 513-579-2121/afginc.com

$7,760 -3.2%

Insurance

Carl Lindner; S. Craig Lindner, coCEOs

METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL/MTD 1900 Polaris Parkway, Columbus 614-438-4511/mt.com

42

WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES/WOR 200 Old Wilson Bridge Road, Columbus 614-438-3210/worthingtonindustries.com

$3,059 -18.6%

Manufacturing

Andy Rose, president, CEO

17

CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP./CINF 6200 S. Gilmore Road, Fairfield 513-870-2000/cinfin.com

$7,536 -4.9%

Insurance

Steven Johnston, president, CEO

43

M/I HOMES INC./MHO 4132 Worth Ave., Columbus 614-418-8000/mihomes.com

$3,046 21.8%

Robert Schottenstein, chairman, president, CEO

18

DANA INC./DAN 3939 Technology Drive, Maumee 419-887-3000/dana.com

$7,106 -17.6%

Manufacturing

James Kamsickas, chairman, CEO

Construction, architecture and engineering

44

$3,031 8.9%

Manufacturing

Daniel Carestio, president, CEO

19

CINTAS CORP./CTAS 6800 Cintas Blvd., Cincinnati 513-459-1200/cintas.com

$7,085 2.8%

Business services

Todd Schneider, president, CEO

STERIS/STE 5960 Heisley Road, Mentor 440-354-2600/steris.com

45

$2,812 -14.6%

Manufacturing

Alfred Rankin, chairman, CEO

20

OWENS CORNING/OC One Owens Corning Parkway, Toledo 419-248-8000/owenscorning.com

$7,055 -1.5%

Manufacturing

Brian Chambers, chairman, CEO

HYSTER-YALE MATERIALS HANDLING/HY 5875 Landerbrook Drive, Mayfield Heights 440-449-9600/hyster-yale.com

46

$2,655 -11.6%

Manufacturing

21

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP/FITB 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati 800-972-3030/53.com

$6,552 -17%

Financial services

Greg Carmichael, chairman, CEO

LINCOLN ELECTRIC HOLDINGS/LECO 22801 St. Clair Ave., Euclid 216-481-8100/lincolnelectric.com

Christopher Mapes, chairman, president, CEO

47

$2,241 -3.6%

Retail

Wade Miquelon, president, CEO

22

O-I GLASS INC./OI One Michael Owens Way, Perrysburg 567-336-5000/o-i.com

$6,091 -9%

Manufacturing

Andres Lopez, CEO

JOANN INC./JOAN 5555 Darrow Road, Hudson 330-656-2600/joann.com

48

$2,121 -3.3%

Manufacturing

Sundaram Nagarajan, president, CEO

23

KEYCORP/KEY 127 Public Square, Cleveland 216-689-6300/key.com

$5,665 -6.5%

Financial services

Christopher Gorman, chairman, president, CEO

NORDSON CORP./NDSN 28601 Clemens Road, Westlake 440-892-1580/nordson.com

49

$2,080 7.3%

Health care

Kevin McNamara, president, CEO

24

RPM INTERNATIONAL INC./RPM 2628 Pearl Road, Medina 330-273-5090/rpminc.com

$5,507 -1%

Manufacturing

Frank Sullivan, chairman, president, CEO

CHEMED CORP./CHE 255 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati 513-762-6690/chemed.com

50

$2,019 -4.6%

Retail

Timothy Baxter, CEO

25

CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC./CLF 200 Public Square, Cleveland 216-694-5700/clevelandcliffs.com

$5,354 169%

Mining and natural resources

Lourenco Goncalves, chairman, president, CEO

EXPRESS INC./EXPR 1 Express Drive, Columbus 614-474-4001/express.com

51

$1,857 37.4%

Media and marketing

Adam Symson, president, CEO

26

BIG LOTS INC./BIG 4900 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus 614-278-6800/biglots.com

$5,323 1.6%

Retail

Bruce Thorn, president, CEO

E.W. SCRIPPS CO./SSP 312 Walnut St., Cincinnati 513-977-3000/scripps.com

52

ADVANCED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS/WMS 4640 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard 614-658-0050/ads-pipe.com

$1,674 20.9%

Manufacturing

D. Scott Barbour, president, CEO

NOTES: 1. Watson is scheduled to retire on Feb. 1, 2022, at which point chief operating officer Ole Rosgaard will become CEO.

Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence (spglobal.com/marketintelligence). | Send feedback to Chuck Soder (csoder@crain.com). NOTES: 1. Watson is scheduled to retire on Feb. 1, 2022, at which point chief operating officer Ole Rosgaard will become CEO.

22 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

P022_CL_20210802.indd 22

7/29/2021 4:44:52 PM

TURNCAP

From Page 1

his brother Fred Geis, who has told associates for a year he has retired.

“I’ve had a great chance to work in development at Hemingway” and to learn from Doyle and the Geis brothers, Wynveen said in an interview last week. TurnCap provides a way to pursue added developments and learn from TurnCap’s principals while launching his own ventures.

Chantel Moody, a TurnCap partner, said the fund has spent the past few years gearing up a property development and investment arm that complements its “bread-and-butter business” of bridge lending.

Attorney Jon Pinney, a TurnCap managing partner, has worked with family offices on projects and other principals have pursued property deals in the past. Pinney was particularly active in retail properties, and he and other principals decided to “jump into it again” at TurnCap because they see opportunities as the nation recovers from the pandemic-bred recession.

Wynveen will focus on Northeast Ohio, while another principal, to be named later, will focus on out-oftown transactions. While Wynveen has a strong background in industrial real estate brokerage and development, Moody said, his scope will be broader, as TurnCap seeks opportunities such as redeveloping empty big-box stores, former bank branches and shuttered freestanding restaurants.

While TurnCap’s initial fund fo-

Nathan Wynveen, a veteran of Hemingway Development who is launching new real estate concerns for himself and at TurnCap, is excited about Cleveland development opportunities. | STAN BULLARD

cused on lending, its bridge loans are in the $10 million to $50 million range. Alternative investments and developments it pursues may be as small as $1 million.

For his part, Wynveen said the arrangement is a chance to ally his own efforts with veterans in real estate law, private equity and lending.

Among the projects he said he is pur-

suing are a mixed-use project and a warehouse of several hundred thousand square feet. He declined to provide specifics on them and their locations until they are further along.

Doyle, the Hemingway founder, said he is excited about the route that Wynveen is taking to launch his own realty developments. One of the goals of Hemingway was not only to

develop properties, but to create a pipeline for the next generation of realty developers. “(Wynveen) is just getting started, but it’s the same as when Michael Panzica left to launch Panzica Development. They were the anchors of Hemingway,” Doyle said. Panzica has launched apartment developments in Little Italy and Ohio City, as well as

acquiring apartments, since exiting Hemingway in early 2020.

Doyle said he continues to work on property deals, primarily expansions, but is slowing down on pursuing additional projects, as is Fred Geis.

Doyle pursued development as a second career after a long stint in real estate lending.

Doyle said moving into property developments is a natural move for TurnCap because several national mortgage brokerage concerns have ventured successfully in direct development.

TurnCap is a virtual who’s who of Cleveland real estate. In addition to Pinney, the managing partner at the Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz law firm in Cleveland, and Moody, other principals are Ned Huffman and Jim Doyle Jr. — respectively CEO and principal of the Cleveland-based Bellwether Enterprise commercial mortgage brokerage and mortgage banking concern — and Preston Hoge, who previously worked at Bellwether Enterprise and CBRE Group Inc. Before joining Hemingway, Wynveen launched his commercial real estate career as an agent at the Newmark brokerage’s Cleveland office.

Rico Pietro, a principal at the Cushman and Wakefield Cresco brokerage, said Wynveen is “a talented guy.

He’s well known. And he’s gotten himself into an organization which has access to liquidity, which means in these times he’s halfway there on a speculative development project.”

Stan Bullard: sbullard@crain.com, (216) 771-5228, @CrainRltywriter

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AKRON

Akron’s trash trucks are monitoring the city’s electric grid Sensors can pick up signs of power leakages

BY DAN SHINGLER

You might have noticed something peculiar on top of some of Akron’s trash trucks over the last year or so: white cones, shaped a bit like a shark fin, attached to the cab roof.

They’re part of a test by the Columbus-based company Exacter, and they’re listening, in a way, to all the power lines running throughout the city. They do it by scanning a small bandwidth of radio frequencies, looking for telltale signals that the company says indicate power leakages and potential faults with equipment.

Both the city and the University of Akron have been heavily involved with the project, which they say could enable Akron to market more reliable power to businesses and create revenue streams for the university via licensing of technology it develops for the effort.

For Exacter and, potentially, utilities across the country, the technology could provide them with a way to do “predictive maintenance” and address possible problems in their grids before a piece of equipment fails and causes an outage, said Exacter founder and CEO John Lauletta.

“I’ve always been interested in predictive maintenance and the operation of the grid. It’s always been a run-to-failure situation,” Lauletta said. “It just seemed like there had to be a better way.”

While the Akron project is a test that’s part of the company’s development efforts for the next generation of its technology, Exacter has been doing something similar for power companies and grid operators for 15 years, Lauletta said, but with more of a snapshot approach. For clients currently, it inspects the lines once, often by plane, helicopter or drone, and gives them a detailed report of what it finds on a specific day.

In Akron, it hopes to give its technology a big leap forward by providing ongoing data that can show how electrical components are changing

over time.

“We find all the places of interest, and we give the analytics back to the utility; they go back to the places we give them and fix the problems,” Lauletta said of his company’s typical inspections. “But what’s interesting about the grid is it’s changing all the time. An ice storm occurs and the grid changes, or there’s high wind and the grid changes. People want to know what those changes are. … We could never tell them and now we can, by putting sensors on the garbage trucks in Akron. … Every week we get a complete review of the grid in Akron.”

That’s a lot of grid to cover, too — the weekly inspections encompass more than 5,000 miles of power line and untold pieces of equipment ranging from transformers to line insulators.

Lauletta said his company already had the technology. What it needed, he said, was a cost-effective way to move its sensors around the entire city, preferably on a regular basis, to collect data.

Lauletta said he got the solution from Akron ARCHAngels leader Barry Rosenbaum, a senior fellow at the University of Akron Research Foundation, and leaders of the ARCHAngels network, who suggested that the city’s trash trucks might be able to serve as vehicles for Extracter’s sensors, which it calls Trekkers.

That’s worked out beautifully, said Lauletta and Exacter technical services director Dave Ellis, who comes to Akron about every two weeks to check on the sensors, change batteries as needed and do any other maintenance.

“They’re glued right on top of the truck,” Ellis said, noting that they can be removed easily with a simple solvent without damaging the truck’s paint. He added, “We worked with 3M to make that happen.”

For the city, there are no extra costs, and the truck drivers are happy to help, said Akron Public Works Bureau manager Jim Hall.

Exacter’s leak-detecting sensor technology is easily installed on the City of Akron’s trash trucks, and could provide the city with a more reliable electrical grid, its makers say. Here, Exacter technical services director Dave Ellis works with a sensor on a truck at the city’s public work’s depot. | DAN SHINGLER

“It’s basically painless on our part,” Hall said. “They (drivers) definitely know it’s there. And absolutely they do care about it … most of them live in Akron, so they obviously get their power from the same source.”

The university also helped Exacter in another, very big way, Lauletta said.

Before he met the ARCHAngles, Lauletta said each sensor needed its own computer to operate and manage the data it collects. But faculty and researchers at the University of Akron, introduced to Exacter by

THE WEEK READY FOR RESEARCH: The proposed research center that Sherwin-Williams Co. plans to build in Brecksville is so large it could contain 10 football fields. But the size did not control the design, according to Timothy Muckley, the company’s director of corporate real estate. “We have truly designed this building from the inside out,” Muckley said of the three-story, 600,000-square-foot structure at a media briefing held Wednesday, July 28. The Brecksville project will cost about $250 million and house approximately 900 employees. The airing of schematic ideas for the site coincided with the Cleveland-based paint and coatings maker filing requests for basic planning approvals with the city of Brecksville. If the city’s planning commission and council approve the plans, Sherwin-Williams hopes to start excavating the site by year’s end. More detailed plans will be filed in the same timeframe. The research center is part of a $600 million project that will see

Rosenbaum, figured out a better way.

Lauletta said the university’s efforts, led by Dr. J. Alexis De Abreu Garcia, have given his product the portability it needed for its new application and the Akron tests.

“They figured out how to run our very complex algorithms not on a computer like we did, but on a chip,” Lauletta said. “Instead of a $4,000 computer, it runs on a $4 chip, and it runs better. … And that moved us into the project in Akron where we’re putting the sensors on top of the garbage trucks.”

news release stated, while the combined funding will support wraparound services. Nonprofit wireless internet provider DigitalC has invested more than $10 million in the community since 2016. The new investment will allow the organization to expand its network from six to 34 neighborhoods and increase its subscriber base of more than 1,000 households.

Three distinct wings will house the laboratory areas in the planned Sherwin Williams Co. research center in Brecksville. With an entry off Miller Road, it will cost an estimated $250 million and house 900 staffers dedicated to new products and innovation. | CONTRIBUTED

Sherwin-Williams update its operations in Northeast Ohio, including a new corporate headquarters in downtown Cleveland.

DIGITAL FUTURE: Significant investments from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation and the David and Inez Myers Foundation will help DigitalC greatly expand

capacity and speed up adoption of its broadband infrastructure. The Mandel Foundation has committed $15 million to Cleveland-based DigitalC, and the Mandel and Myers foundations have together pledged an additional $5 million. The Mandel Foundation funding will go toward “organizational development and capacity to scale its team and business support systems,” a

AROUND THE SQUARE: Gaining success after three years of effort, Los Angeles-based DealPoint Merrill has acquired the enclosed mall portion of Richmond Town Square in Richmond Heights and gained the last piece of property needed to remake it as a mixed-use center. The real estate developer announced Sunday, July 25, that it has acquired the closed enclosed mall from an affiliate of Kohan Retail Group of Great Neck, New York. The deal increased its holdings at 691 Richmond Road to 69 acres from 33. DealPoint Merrill said it may be able to start construction of the proposed $200 million Belle Oaks Marketplace in early 2022 if it obtains government approvals for its plans. It

De Abreu Garcia said the university now has technology it can license for other applications as well, such as sensors used in very tough environments like those found in nuclear power plants.

“You can put it into any device that is used to test components. Because it’s so cheap, you can just deploy it throughout and have it monitor your assets 24-7,” he said.

The data currently being collected in Akron are only for development and use by the city, which Lauletta said may be able to use it to identify parts of town with ultra-reliable power it can use in its economic development efforts.

Later, he said he’ll turn over the analytic data to FirstEnergy, which owns the power grid in Akron and which, like other utilities, Lauletta hopes will become a client.

FirstEnergy knows the value of predictive maintenance and has had some experience with Exacter, though not recently, said company spokesman Mark Durbin.

“We actually have known about Exacter for quite some time. We participated in a trial of their tech in the CEI area and in our Ohio Edison area around 2008,” Durbin said.

FirstEnergy, at the time, decided not to move forward with the technology, in part because it was getting false signals indicating equipment might have a problem when it did not. But Durbin said he was unaware to what extent Exacter had advanced its technology in the last 13 years.

A lot, said Lauletta, who agreed that the system was not perfected in 2008, when his company was just a year old. But it has improved significantly since then, he said.

Ultimately, Lauletta hopes to convince not only FirstEnergy, but utilities across the country to adopt the technology. It only takes 10 sensors to do analysis for all of Akron, Lauletta said.

“You could do the whole country with about 10,000 sensors,” he added, “and we’re hoping to do that.”

Dan Shingler: dshingler@crain.com, (216) 771-5290, @DanShingler

hopes to open a leasing center for 791 apartments that are the key part of its mixed-use venture next year.

MOVING FORWARD: The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a tax credit to help business services firm CBIZ Inc. move to a new building in Independence. At its meeting on Monday, July 26, the tax credit authority approved an eight-year, 2.04% tax credit for CBIZ, which last month announced its headquarters will anchor the first new multitenant office building in Independence in more than a decade.

The headquarters for the accounting, financial and related services firm will occupy about 50,000 square feet of a proposed 125,000-square-foot structure on Rockside Woods Boulevard North. The new building is expected to be completed in 2022. A tax credit authority spokeswoman wrote in an email that the tax credit for CBIZ has an estimated value of $450,000. CBIZ will create 25 full-time equivalent jobs, generating about $3 million in new annual payroll, and it will retain more than $34 million in existing payroll as a result of the project.

24 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

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GUARDIANS

From Page 1

Securing trademarks — especially during a name change that was intentionally deliberate, with the club first saying it was looking into the possibility last July and then announcing in mid-December that it was moving on from the Indians — is difficult.

“Squatters,” who often can be more of a nuisance than an impediment to change, had applied for trademark rights to any name that had been mentioned as a possible replacement. The club, because it needed clearances in a multitude of categories (from entertainment to apparel to intellectual property rights), had to work out some agreements with more serious trademark applicants.

The baseball club, contrary to some online speculation after the announcement, was aware of the Cleveland men’s roller derby team that goes by Guardians and has a website tied to the nickname. But the Indians, after consulting with their legal team, were “very confident” that there wouldn’t be any serious roadblocks in moving ahead with the name unveiling, multiple sources told Crain’s.

The Guardians of Traffic statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge near Progressive Field were the inspiration behind the new name for Cleveland’s baseball team. The change will take effect after the 2021 season. | GETTY IMAGES

‘Massive undertaking’ The Indians announced the switch via a video that was narrated by actor and Tribe fan Tom Hanks Four-plus hours later on July 23, owner Paul Dolan explained the change in a news conference at Progressive Field. The team released renderings of the club’s uniforms for 2022, as well as the new logos (a script “Guardians,” a “Diamond C” and the “Fastball” logo).

The announcement, 94 games into an up-and-down season marred by injuries and payroll cuts, didn’t come with available merchandise to purchase.

“That tells me that this was about to be leaked,” said Todd Radom, a New York-based designer and sports branding expert.

The Indians wanted to roll out their new name on their “own terms,” King said. The club also was “on a little bit of borrowed time” with Nike, which became MLB’s official uniform provider in 2020.

Once the club sent digital assets to Nike for the Guardians’ 2022 uniforms, the number of people who would become aware of the name change “widens a bunch,” the Indians’ senior VP said.

The club’s corporate sponsors, who use the team’s marks in store and ballpark displays, also were a priority.

Premium partners such as Molson Coors, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Pepsi and Progressive can “have long lead times for development of content and materials,” Tribe president of business operations Brian Barren said.

Joining Nike and the sponsors as a crucial fan-facing element in the brand

Clockwise from the top are the Guardians’ new word mark, logo and letter mark.

the announcement, no matter when it fell on the calendar, Barren said.

The club, he added, wanted to “lead the communication,” rather than be on its “heels” reacting to the news.

That approach fits what Hennes Communications managing partner Thom Fladung describes as the Indians’ penchant for “methodical patience and then decisive decision-making.”

Maintaining ‘continuity’

The Indians, through their Nike connections, enlisted the help of a custom agency to create a design that would keep some familiar elements (the team’s colors, plus the use of a “C” and script lettering in the marks) and add a much-needed logo.

Since the Indians removed Chief Wahoo from uniforms and sig“WHERE WE COULD MAINTAIN nage after the 2018 season, the club hasn’t had a signature CONTINUITY, WE DID.” logo that corporate partners — Indians president of business could use in marketing camoperations Brian Barren paigns. The club only had a letter mark (the “Block C”) and a conversion is the 27-year-old ballpark. word mark (the script “Indians”).

Barren said Anne Madzelan, the club’s Enter the “Fastball” logo, which senior manager of advertising and pro- will serve as the Guardians’ signature motions, did a detailed assessment of visual representation.

The designs were done by Sports Car everything that needs to change, and Creative, an agency that was assemthe tally is in the thousands.

“It’s a massive undertaking,” King bled by a former Doubleday & Cartsaid. wright executive. The latter firm, based All of which is why the Indians, in Brooklyn, New York, led a redesign once they had the “legal confidence” of the Milwaukee Bucks and was the to move forward, were going to make creative force behind the launch of In-

ter Miami CF in Major League Soccer.

Radom, who has done design work for the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels, is a big fan of the Guardians name, which he calls “aspirational,” “positive” and “dignified.”

He’s not as fond of the “Fastball” logo. The image — a nod to the franchise’s “strong pitching heritage,” the Indians said — seems “a little contrived,” Radom said.

The designer, while understanding the club’s desire to keep some core elements in place, also wonders if it would have been better to move away from navy blue and red, since so many big-league clubs have similar color schemes.

Such a move was a non-starter for the Tribe.

“Where we could maintain continuity, we did,” Barren said. “Those colors being around for 80 years, it was important to maintain that.”

King, the Indians’ senior VP of marketing and strategy, said the club wanted “our fans who have been with us for a long time, who are adapting to the change, to be able to look at our team and a lot of it is going to look and feel comfortable.”

Merch must wait The club anticipates that a limited amount of Guardians gear will be available in time for the holiday season.

The selection should improve by the time spring training arrives, though

the pandemic’s impact on the supply chain is “a real challenge,” King said.

The club’s timeline is so tight, in fact, that any changes the franchise wants to make for its 2023 uniforms are due to Nike early next year. The intricate nature of the process also meant that CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | the club had to examine the effect that increasing the number of letters in its nickname from seven to nine had on the design of T-shirts, sweatshirts and, especially, jerseys with buttons.

The team expects to get a bump in merchandise sales next year, but the apparel segment is “one of the smaller slices” of the local revenue pie, Barren said.

One of the reasons, the club’s president of business operations said, is the “cost of goods,” as the club attempts to correctly anticipate demand for items it purchases from suppliers to sell in the team shop.

Bringing the name ‘to life’ In a 14-month span dominated by meetings, research and surveys, it has helped that Barren, King and director

of brand management Jason Wiedemann spent more than 50 years working in consumer goods before making the jump to baseball. Wiedemann and VP of concessions Kurt Schloss also have retail experience.

The core group, which also inS E P T E M B E R 3 - 9 , 2 018 | PA G E 2 5 cludes VP of brand, strategy and analytics Nicky Schmidt, estimates that it spent 140 hours interviewing fans, community leaders and front office personnel about the name change.

They’re now in the final phase, one Barren referred to as “a marathon” — bringing the brand to life.

King is looking forward to being able to incorporate the new name in marketing efforts and as part of what he hopes will be an improved entertainment experience on game day.

“I think over time what we’re going to be excited about is the potential that the name Guardians has to really bring that to life in a lot of new fun, cool, creative ways that we just couldn’t do with the name Indians,” he said.

Kevin Kleps: kkleps@crain.com, (216) 771-5256, @KevinKleps

Advertising Section

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

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Polymer Casting Company FOR SALE Very Profitable Sales $926,603 Asking $595,000 mike@empirebusinesses.com www.empirebusinesses.com 440-461-2202

LIST YOUR AD TODAY AUGUST 2, 2021 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 25

P025_CL_20210802.indd 25

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

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

ACCOUNTING

ACCOUNTING

ADVERTISING / MARKETING

BANKING

LAW

Cohen & Company

The Siegfried Group

Adcom

Westfield Bank

Weston Hurd LLP

Cohen & Company is proud to welcome Jason Jones, MBA, as a senior manager in the firm’s Management Consulting Group.

With more than 10 years of data and analytics experience, as well as additional experience in banking and at a Big 4 accounting firm, he will assist clients with process improvement, financial transformation, business intelligence and data analytics projects. Jason received his M.B.A. from John Carroll University and his B.S.B. from Miami University.

Siegfried congratulates Mallory Frantz on her promotion to Managing Director.

Mallory will continue to serve Siegfried’s clients in Cleveland, leading with the Firm’s higher purpose of helping people transform themselves into better leaders to exponentially improve their lives.

She will also help the market with executing on Siegfried’s unique business model, which provides financial leaders with a combination of leadership advisory, financial advisory support, and talent delivery services.

Adcom congratulates Christian Turner on his promotion to Account Director. A creative veteran of the marketing business, Christian is very strategic and exceptionally organized in his approach to his work. He is also, perhaps, our snappiest dresser.

His leadership, drive, and commitment help clients win in their competitive environments.

To learn more, visit engageadcom. com

Westfield Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Toth as chair of board of directors for The Gathering Place, Northeast Ohio’s most respected cancer support center. Toth is the president of Westfield Bank and is a long-term board member who has served The Gathering Place and its participants since 2013. He has held a variety of roles within the board, including the Finance & Investment Committee (2013-2014), Executive Committee (20142021) & Administrative Committee as Chair (2014).

Weston Hurd welcomes new partner Tina Y. Rhodes.

Tina joins the firm’s Litigation Practice focusing on employment, business, products liability, appellate, and real estate matters. Tina is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Ohio Women’s Bar Association, and a life member of the ClevelandMarshall Law Alumni Association.

Tina received her B.A. from Cleveland State University and obtained her J.D. cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

ACCOUNTING

Cohen & Company Cohen & Company proudly welcomes Maryn Nevin, MEM, as a manager in the firm’s Management Consulting Group.

With over five years of management consulting experience working with Fortune 500 companies, she will assist clients with project management, process discovery and improvement, strategic transformation, technology strategy and implementation. Maryn received her Master of Engineering and Management and Bachelor of Science in Engineering degrees from Case Western Reserve University.

ACCOUNTING

Meaden & Moore Johannah Cabardo has joined Meaden & Moore as a Senior Manager with the Firm’s Business Solutions Group in the Cleveland, Ohio office. Johannah is an information systems, sales and marketing professional with over 15 years’ experience in the development and enhancement of commercial operations and business intelligence tools. Prior to joining Meaden & Moore, Johannah served as a Commercial Systems and Business Analyst at Consolidated Precision Products Corporation.

ADVERTISING / MARKETING

Falls & Co. Falls & Co. announces the promotion of Joe Messinger to Vice President, Advertising Account Director. Joe earned this promotion through hard work, being a great strategic thinker and for his ability to build superior relationships with his clients. He is skilled at bringing all advertising teams together to execute at the highest level. He continually brings new ideas, never panics and finds solutions for every challenge to help his clients and the agency thrive. www.FallsandCo.com

BANKING

KeyBank Karmen Burri has joined KeyBank as VP, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, holding responsibility for business development and relationship management for commercial clients in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining Key, she worked for Fifth Third Bank in Cleveland and internationally in London and Zurich with Citibank. Burri graduated from Miami University of Ohio’s Farmer School of Business with a B.S. in Finance.

She serves on the Board of Open Doors Academy and is a member of ACG Cleveland.

ADVERTISING / MARKETING

Falls & Co. James Royer joins Falls & Co. as Director of Social Media. Most recently he held roles as a social media/ content strategy consultant. He’s worked with notable brands such as Merrell, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Hilton, and Jeep.

Additionally, he’s an accomplished speaker and presenter on social media marketing.

James earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. www.FallsandCo.com

26 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | AUGUST 2, 2021

BANKING

KeyBank Kate Mathews has joined KeyBank as VP, Commercial Banking Relationship Manager. She comes to Key following ten years in PNC’s Corporate Bank.

In her new role, Mathews connects with business leaders and helps provide capital for business growth and economic development. She attended the Farmer School of Business at Miami University where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Mathews is active in many organizations in Cleveland, including Young Catholic Professionals.

SHARE YOUR C O M PA N Y ’ S JOURNEY

CONSTRUCTION

Tober Building Company Mike Waterman and Jamie Hunt joined Tober Building Company in 2021 and serve as Project Manager and Asst.

Waterman Plant Manager, respectively. Mike earned his degree in Finance from the University of Akron and has 20+ years of experience in construction. Further, with Mike’s experience as a Development Manager for retail, distribution, residential and self-storage builds, he delivers value to projects through focus on project schedule and budget. Jamie, in Hunt his current role at ToVee, Tober Building’s Modular Manufacturing Facility, has 20+ years of experience in secondary education administration. His experience enables him to organize and structure employee processes, while also motivating them to efficiently execute projects with a team approach.

Feature your latest milestones, launches, partnerships, awards and more in Crain’s

For more information, contact Debora Stein at dstein@crain.com or submit directly to

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CLEVELAND INNOVATION DISTRICT Join us to learn more about how Northeast Ohio's education and medical institutions, with state support, are working to create new economic opportunities in Northeast Ohio.

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Mbps

49

$

The best business features.

Included at no additional cost.

200Mbps INTERNET

99 /mo. when bundled for 1 year*

NO ADDED TAXES. NO HIDDEN FEES. NO CONTRACTS.

Spectrum Business Phone always includes: 35+ FREE Business Calling Features like: FREE 3-Way Calling FREE Call Transfer FREE Voicemail to Email FREE Call Forwarding

19

$

BUSINESS PHONE

99 /mo. per line when bundled with Internet for 1 year**

NO ADDED TAXES. NO HIDDEN FEES. NO CONTRACTS.

Need even more speed?

Ask about Spectrum Business Internet Gig with speeds up to 1 Gbps.

OFFER GOOD THROUGH 09/30/21

CALL 866-493-9457 VISIT BUSINESS.SPECTRUM.COM

Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualified new business customers only. Must not have subscribed to applicable services w/ in the last 30 days & have no outstanding obligation to Charter. *$49.99 Internet offer is for 12 mos. when bundled w/ TV or Voice & incl. Spectrum Business Internet starting speeds. Speed based on download speed on wired connection. Wireless speed may vary. Available speeds may vary by address. Spectrum Internet modem is req'd & included in price. **$19.99 Voice offer is for 12 mos. when bundled with Internet & incl. one business phone line w/ unlimited local & long distance w/ in the U.S., Puerto Rico, & Canada plus 2,000 long-distance minutes to Mexico. Limited-time offer. Offer not available in all areas. Includes phone taxes, charges and fees. Other telephone services may have corresponding taxes and rates. Spectrum Business Internet Gig requires Spectrum Gig capable modem. Additional installation fees apply. +Based on the most annual `Best Protection' AV-TEST awards, industry-leading advanced attacks detection capabilities confirmed by MITRE ATT&CK® evaluations, and 2020 Customers' Choice for Vulnerability Assessment in Gartner Peer Insights. §99.9% network reliability based on average HFC Availability, Jan 2019 - Feb 2021. Visit business.spectrum.com/network-reliability for details. °Speed claim based on Internet speed of competitors' current customers vs 200Mbps Internet starting speed from Spectrum Business. ^Based on average savings with Spectrum Business promo rates vs. competitors' non-promo rates for Internet & 2 phone lines. Actual savings may vary. Services subject to all applicable service terms & conditions, which are subject to change. Services & promo. offers not avail. in all areas. Standard pricing applies after promo. period. Installation & other equipment, taxes & fees may apply. Restrictions apply. Call for details. © 2021 Charter Communications, Inc.

OFFER GOOD THROUGH 09/30/21

CALL 866-493-9457 VISIT BUSINESS.SPECTRUM.COM

Limited-time offer; subject to change. Qualified new business customers only. Must not have subscribed to applicable services w/ in the last 30 days & have no outstanding obligation to Charter. *$49.99 Internet offer is for 12 mos. when bundled w/ TV or Voice & incl. Spectrum Business Internet starting speeds. Speed based on download speed on wired connection. Wireless speed may vary. Available speeds may vary by address. Spectrum Internet modem is req'd & included in price. **$19.99 Voice offer is for 12 mos. when bundled with Internet & incl. one business phone line w/ unlimited local & long distance w/ in the U.S., Puerto Rico, & Canada plus 2,000 long-distance minutes to Mexico.

Limited-time offer. Offer not available in all areas. Includes phone taxes, charges and fees. Other telephone services may have corresponding taxes and rates. °Speed claim based on Internet speed of competitors' current customers vs 200Mbps Internet starting speed from Spectrum Business. ^Based on average savings with Spectrum Business promo rates vs. competitors' non-promo rates for Internet & 2 phone lines. Actual savings may vary. §99.9% network reliability based on average HFC Availability, Jan 2019 - Feb 2021. Visit business.spectrum.com/network-reliability for details. =Value based on retail price for comparable services. Services subject to all applicable service terms & conditions, which are subject to change. Services & promo. offers not avail. in all areas. Standard pricing applies after promo. period. Installation & other equipment, taxes & fees may apply. Restrictions apply. Call for details. © 2021 Charter Communications, Inc.

STOP OVERPAYING

FOR BUSINESS INTERNET AND PHONE. Switch today and get more speed° and proven reliability§ for up to half the price of what you're paying now.^

200Mbps INTERNET

49

BUSINESS PHONE

99

$

/mo. when bundled for 1 year*

+

19

99

$

/mo. per line when bundled with Internet for 1 year**

NO ADDED TAXES. NO HIDDEN FEES. NO CONTRACTS.

No data caps No speed throttling FREE modem and other features ($50 value=)

OVER

99.9

%

NETWORK RELIABILITY§

200 Mbps

Unlimited local and long distance calling 35+ FREE advanced calling features Keep your existing phone number and equipment

OFFER GOOD THROUGH 09/30/21

CALL 866-493-9457 VISIT BUSINESS.SPECTRUM.COM

SMB-GEN200 - 0802