Crain's Cleveland Business

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CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM I September 14, 2020

LEGAL AFFAIRS

New tack to solve D&I shortcomings

Consortium aims to solve old problem BBY JEREMY NOBILE

40 UNDER FORTY CLASS OF 2020

See DIVERSITY on Page 34

SPORTS BUSINESS

Golf courses booming during COVID-19 crisis Nationally and locally, rounds played jumped almost 20% in July By the numbers: Golf in 2020 ``19.7%: Increase in rounds played in the U.S. in July ``19.4%: Increase in rounds played in Northeast Ohio in July. ``13.7%: Increase in rounds played in the U.S. in June. ``9%: Decrease in rounds played in the U.S. in March. ``42%: Decrease in rounds played in the U.S. in April. ``20%: Increases in returning golfers and junior golfers in 2020.

SOURCES: GOLF DATATECH, NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION

BBY KEVIN KLEPS

Tee times, as is the norm because of safety protocols put in place during the pandemic, are spread out at Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links in Akron.

Still, the 27-hole public course in the Portage Lakes area is averaging 200 rounds played per day.

“It hasn’t been like this since the late ’90s,” Turkeyfoot general manager Michael Thirion said.

At Lost Nation Golf Course in Willoughby, the tee sheets are filled from the moment the facility opens until 4 or 5 p.m. most days.

“At least golf has been able to provide some good for people throughout this mess of a year,” said Brian McCoy, Lost Nation’s assistant manager and golf pro.

See GOLF on Page 32

NEWSPAPER

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PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

As its name implies, the new Ohio Legal Diversity Consortium (OLDC) has set its sights on tackling aspects of one of the legal field’s greatest flaws since its inception centuries ago: diversity and inclusion.

And its mission becomes all the more critical amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

As law firms contracted amid the Great Recession, shedding positions as work slowed in a financial downturn that forced clients to scrutinize legal spends like never before, women and minority lawyers felt an outsized impact.

According to groups like the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, layoffs at the time tended to slant toward the newest hires who wouldn’t have the same established networks or lucrative clients as more veteran colleagues. That happened to include a lot of diverse and female lawyers as firms worked more intentionally on building ranks with more than just white men in the preceding years.

PAGE 30

Brittany Wampler John Zaller

SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate with the honorees — as well as our 2020 Class of 20 in their Twenties — during a virtual event on Monday, Nov. 23.

Visit crainscleveland.com/events for details.

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HEALTH CARE

Recent hires help Athersys prepare for potential commercialization

Move is prompted by possible approval of its stem cell therapy BBY LYDIA COUTRÉ

●

In anticipation of potential approval of its MultiStem stem cell therapy, Cleveland biotechnology company Athersys Inc. is taking steps to be ready for possible commercialization.

Twenty-five years after it was founded in Cleveland, the company is actively preparing for what it expects to be successful results of mulNow tiple studies in the United States, as Certified to handle any well as abroad in collaboration with offering product regardless of size, its Japanese partner Healios K.K. kitting field of industry or scope.

“Making that transition from being services a development company or a lateCall now to discuss your stage development company into bewarehousing and logistics needs! coming a full-blown commercialization company is critically important,” ● ● 216.378.7100 Bedford Hts, OH www.candorlogistics.com said Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys. “It’s a transition that few companies have been able to make, but the ones that have have 22,846 SF oF InduStrIal Space become household names.”

As part of that effort, Athersys on South SeIberlIng Street hired twoAMnew executives earlier this Candor Logistics Ad-4-8.indd 1 8/28/20 11:11 year to bolster its management team.

61 South Seiberling Street, akron oh 44305 Veteran pharmaceutical executive SALE PRICE Ivor Macleod joined as the company’s chief financial officer, and Maia $500,000 Hansen, formerly a senior partner at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co., is now the senior vice president of operations and supply chain at Athersys. Macleod’s commercialization experience and Maia’s supply chain experience will be integral to the company’s work moving forward.

Athersys’ MultiStem cell therapy is a n 22,846 Square Foot building sits n Zoned industrial with 3 phase patented, proprietary stem cell prodon 1.1 acres and property includes power (400 amps/240 volts) uct currently under evaluation in sev200’ of frontage n traffic count: 84,920 eral clinical trials. It has shown promise for treating indications in the areas Svn SummIt commercIal of neurological, inflammatory and imreal eState group, llc mune, and cardiovascular diseases, as Tom Fox, SIOR well as other critical care conditions.

Senior Associate Advisor The opportunity to join Athersys was 330.730.1047 exciting to Hansen because of Multom.fox@svn.com tiStem’s potential to serve a broad pop3009 Smith Road, Suite 25 Graydon Fox ulation with its off-the-shelf product, Associate Advisor Akron, OH 44333 | 234.231.0200 330.703.5283 rather than precision medicine, which graydon.fox@svn.com is the application of individualized, tailored treatments. Plus, she noted, Athersys is working in therapies that have long been critical clinical needs — stroke, trauma and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Healios 9-14-SVN Ad- Seiberling St- Foxes.indd 1 8/27/20 5:26 PMis studying MultiStem in the TREASURE study for treatment of ischemic stroke and in the ONEBRIDGE study for treatment of ARDS. They expect to complete enrollment in both studies by the end of this year, with results available in the first few months of next year. Van Bokkelen said Athersys and Healios have already started work preparing the regulatory package that would ultimately be submitted to authorities in Japan for potential approval.

In the United States, Athersys plans to complete enrollment next year in its MASTERS-2 study, a Phase 3 program for ischemic stroke, as well as in its MACOVIA study, which was initiated in April to evaluate using MultiStem to treat COVID-19-induced ARDS. Athersys also is getting ready to launch a Phase 2 study in trauma treatment. Next on the horizon is a trial to Ca u l e y Fe r ra r i o f D e t ro i t study treating hemorrhagic stroke.

7 0 7 0 O rc h a rd L a k e R d.

“The reality of it is if we’re successful �e � t � l o o m � e l d� � � 4 8 3 2 2 in any of those, then it’s going to create a Te l e p h o n e : 2 4 8 . 5 3 8 . 9 6 0 0 w w w. Ca u l e y Fe r ra r i . co m huge opportunity,” Van Bokkelen said.

Macleod gets many questions

foR SALE

These Athersys researchers are involved in making MultiStem, a patented and proprietary “off-the-shelf” stem cell product. | CONTRIBUTED

Macleod

Hansen

about why he would join a small biotech company after his experience in large pharma, including holding leadership positions at Merck & Co., F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Boehringer Mannheim Therapeutics, among others. Before Athersys, he was CFO of Eisai, the U.S. subsidiary

“MAKING THAT TRANSITION FROM BEING A DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OR A LATE-STAGE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY INTO BECOMING A FULL-BLOWN COMMERCIALIZATION COMPANY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.” ——Gil Van Bokkelen, chairman and CEO of Athersys

of Japanese company Eisai Ltd. He said the science and regenerative medicine initially attracted him to Athersys, as well as the opportunity to impact the critical care space, which has a lot of unmet medical need. He was impressed with the “very driven, very intelligent” leadership team.

In the six months Hansen has been with Athersys, she has spent a lot of her time building fundamentals for the future — thinking about what a new, larger scale production site would look like to build out the company’s supply chain capabilities. Because the company is in Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, it needs to produce more clinical doses both for existing work and to prepare to produce at a much larger scale, she said.

“And that, given my background, is very exciting,” Hansen said. “Going from a clinical stage company to a commercial stage company is also about transitioning your internal processes, building your manufacturing and supply chain capacity, and that’s something that I’ve done for 25 years in other contexts. And it’s kind of exciting to roll up my sleeves in a company that has a lot of opportunity for developing those processes kind of from the ground up.”

While Hansen and Macleod will help the company work toward commercialization in North America, Athersys is looking for a partner to

help advance toward that in Europe.

Finding a partner that can help Athersys drive forward development and commercialization in Europe is a big priority for the company that Van Bokkelen said could be transformational in addition to the clinical progress. With so many different countries — each with their own rules around promotion, reimbursement structures, etc. — finding a partner to navigate them makes the most sense.

He said the companies Athersys is considering are multinational with capabilities in other parts of the world as well, hopefully giving Athersys the latitude to work with them to grow the partnership over time.

Because Athersys works in the critical care space, it will serve a more focused market rather than, for instance, a typical primary care launch that requires “endless promotion” with all major doctors across the country, Macleod said. The targeted approach and concentrated marketplace puts Athersys in a unique position for commercialization, he said.

The company can decide which capabilities to have internally and which to subcontract.

“Whereas (in) traditional pharma, you tend to go through the big wholesalers, and so it’s just a question of which ones you contract with, how much you pay them, all the different middlemen,” he said. “We actually have a possibility of not necessarily having any middlemen. You know, these are some of the things we’re looking at, so it really is quite a unique opportunity.”

Athersys intentionally avoided markets that are pretty well served with existing standards of care and opted to focus on areas with limited treatment options, Van Bokkelen said.

“And that’s because we believe our technology can effectively address those indications based on the evidence, clinical and other evidence that we’ve generated over many years,” he said. “But also because we think it’s a smart thing to do from a development standpoint. If you go after the opportunities that many other companies have been forced to shy away from because they haven’t figured out an effective way to deal with those challenges, or solve those problems, then that means you’ve got a huge potential advantage if you are the company that actually succeeds in fundamentally improving clinical care for those patients that really need help.”

Lydia Coutré: lcoutre@crain.com, (216) 771-5479, @LydiaCoutre

2 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | September 14, 2020

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TECHNOLOGY

FedTech program sets sights on turning research into startups Virginia-based company joins NASA Glenn in working with entrepreneurs to form businesses based in Northeast Ohio BBY RACHEL ABBEY MCCAFFERTY

The camera on the back of your cellphone got its start in the sky. The same goes for many of the baby formulas for sale today, and for the technology behind laser eye surgery.

Those disparate products and processes — and many, many more — have their roots in technology developed by NASA. “Of all the research labs out there, NASA just has one of the most unique histories of creating spinoffs that end up being commercial products,” said Ben Solomon, founder and managing partner of Washington, D.C.-area venture accelerator FedTech.

FedTech works with entrepreneurs to commercialize technology from federal agencies like the departments of energy or defense.

“With FedTech, the reason we exist and the reason that we work every day is we look at what’s next,” said Solomon, who grew up in Northeast Ohio.

While the company typically works with a variety of agencies, it recently worked with NASA on a focused partnership — and Northeast Ohio played an important role.

This round was unique because, prior to the pandemic, it was going to be held in Cleveland, not D.C., said Harvey Schabes, chief of the NASA Glenn Research Center technology transfer office.

NASA Glenn is partnering with a venture accelerator on a program that hopes to create companies that could be based in Northeast Ohio. | NASA

Though COVID-19 caused events to go virtual, the program still relied heavily on NASA Glenn technologies and on working with Cleveland-area entrepreneurs. More than half of the participants and many of the mentors were from Northeast Ohio, Schabes said. Locally, the hope is that some of these teams will form new companies that would then be located in the region.

Christie Funk, Technology Transfer Expansion program manager at NASA, said she sees a lot of “momen-

tum” around commercialization work and startups in Ohio, and a lot of resources in that space that could be leveraged to support the entrepreneurs in the program. The Technology Transfer Expansion program focuses on commercialization, working with entrepreneurs and partners like FedTech, which helps those entrepreneurs bring federal technology to market. The goal of the FedTech partnership is to “bridge a number of gaps and challenges,” that can arise when entrepreneurs try to commer-

cialize federal technology, Funk said.

For the NASA Startup Studio, FedTech interviewed researchers and identified NASA technologies ready for commercialization that could lead to startup companies. The technologies in this program ranged from a tire using a new kind of alloy to an application that would use sensors to detect heartbeats to help find missing persons.

The program launched with entrepreneurs in July, running for about eight weeks and culminating in a virtual pitch event. Nine teams of entrepreneurs were paired with technologies that had the potential to be commercialized and shown how to get a venture off the ground. That included everything from iterating business models and discovering customers to seeking investment.

Eight teams ultimately took part in the pitch event, which drew about 270 attendees, FedTech associate Ish Singh said in an email.

Bob Grebenc and Scott Ijaz were both part of a team working on a water decontamination technology. The technology already had patents and a prototype attached to it, which Grebenc said made it attractive to the burgeoning entrepreneurs. And the team saw a lot of application opportunities.

The application they pursued in the FedTech program aims to quickly and easily decontaminate the water

lines used in dental tools. The technology, which uses microwave frequencies to decontaminate water, was originally designed for the International Space Station, Ijaz said.

While Water Wave wasn’t named the winner of the pitch competition — that went to the smart tire technology — the team does plan to contin-

“NASA JUST HAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE HISTORIES OF CREATING SPINOFFS THAT END UP BEING COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS.” ——Ben Solomon, founder and managing partner of FedTech

ue pursuing commercialization. It’s not a full-time job for any of them, but the team has incorporated as a company.

The program really “demystifies” federal research and technology, Ijaz said. He knew there was a lot of funding in government research, but he wasn’t sure how to access it before the program.

“It just made the whole process less mysterious and really showed us that there’s a path forward to interact with the technology,” Ijaz said.

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

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REAL ESTATE

MidTown Historic District is in works Proposed district is designed to generate additional redevelopment

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Millionaires Row, the much-mourned Euclid Avenue stretch of mansions mostly lost to time and urban decay, is at the center of a proposed MidTown Historic District that primarily celebrates 1950s-era structures that came after the huge homes.

The proposed district is designed to foster additional redevelopment in the area, according to Jeff Epstein, executive director of the MidTown Cleveland community development corporation, which serves the primarily commercial area immediately east of downtown Cleveland.

By identifying a historic district, buildings over age 50 will more easily qualify for federal and state historic tax credits because they contribute to the district. Historic districts on lower Euclid Avenue, the Warehouse District , Gateway Neighborhood and East Fourth Street are credited with aiding multiple projects in those areas.

The study for the proposed historic district by Naylor Wellman, a Cha-

grin Falls-based historic preservation and planning consultancy, does not point to the barons of Cleveland’s golden age but to what came after.

The advent of the U.S. highway system after World War II, and the looming addition of the Innerbelt on downtown’s east edge, prompted a wholesale redevelopment of the area, much of it auto-centric.

“Many people, including us, never knew this story,” said Wendy Hoge Naylor, a principal of Naylor Wellman, in an interview.

The decline of the mansions because the wealthy moved farther east — in part to avoid industrialization, smoke and dirt, as well as high property taxes — created a troubled area that the city’s postwar power makers wanted to turn around with the help of a new city plan.

Adopted in May 1949, the “Cleveland Today, Tomorrow General Plan of Cleveland” called for the creation of buildings with larger areas set aside for car parks that were designed to accommodate the economic boom after World War II and a rise in office employment.

The result was that multiple office buildings went up in the district for companies such as IBM and B.F. Goodrich and others. They were of the International-style design of the era.

By the 1970s, the growth boom had moved to outlying suburbs, and it was left to a new generation, primarily through MidTown, to regenerate the neighborhood.

The proposed historic district includes the area east of the city’s Innerbelt to East 55th Street and stretches from Perkins to Carnegie and Prospect avenues, with Euclid set in the center. The overlay of International-style buildings went in among the remaining mansions and a variety of multistory industrial buildings that went in over the years.

“We’ve done a lot of historic districts, and every one is different,” Naylor said. “This is primarily shaped by the city plan rather than architecture. But it includes an exceptional variety of architecture, from Gothic Revival to Postmodern. There are a lot of real opportunities there.”

See MIDTOWN on Page 32

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Lab @ Cuyahoga County offers real world settings to test ideas BBY KIM PALMER

After hitting a COVID-19-size road bump, the Lab @ Cuyahoga County, a business development program that gives entrepreneurs and startups access to governmental infrastructure to test new ideas and technology in a real world environment, is officially underway.

The program, run by Rebecca Eby, innovation manager at Cuyahoga County’s Office of Innovation and Performance, offers a “living laboratory” of resources — including the county’s staff, its information systems and facilities — for three to four months to help scale up, test and commercialize innovative solutions and ideas.

“Local government has so much more to offer entrepreneurs — besides that traditional grant and loan funding that you typically see,” Eby said. “We have the people and the places and the information that in many cases entrepreneurs need to develop their products, particularly if their product has a community need or a community benefit.”

The Lab, inspired by similar programs in Kansas City, Pittsburgh and San Francisco, selected six projects for the two tracks of the inaugural program that began work in June.

“We kicked things off, and the first step for our entrepreneurs was a twoweek workshop on market validation

and customer development to get them thinking about what the market and their possible customers look like,” Eby said.

Two of the projects then enEby tered the Product Validation Track, which is designed to test new products in real world situations, Eby said.

RoadPrintz, an advanced robotics, geolocation and sensor technology used to apply street markings without stencils, was partnered with the

Cleveland Metroparks. EvergreenCLE — which is developing technology to monitor and automate nutrients, PH, water, temperature, lights and air exchange for indoor hydroponic farms — has partnered with the Cleveland Public Library to set up a 9-foot growing dome early next year, Eby said.

The other four projects are on the Ideation Track, which connects the entrepreneurs with subject matter and commercialization experts and customers to provide product feedback.

CablePlant is a web-based software that documents network infrastructure, ethernet cabling and other network assets. AugTagger is a geo-spatial information delivery network to

2020 CLEVELAND HERITAGE MEDAL Bestowed upon individuals whose significant contributions through leadership, collaboration and service have left an indelible mark on all spheres of the Cleveland community.

JEANETTE GRASSELLI BROWN BRACY E. LEWIS A. MALACHI MIXON III In lieu of an in-person celebration, this year’s recipients will be honored in November with the release of the Cleveland Heritage Medal Tribute Video and its companion piece, the Cleveland Heritage Medal Tribute Book.

To learn how you can congratulate this year’s honorees, go to heritagemedal.com or call Kate Brown at 216-778-7509.

2020 Cleveland Heritage Medal Committee Chairs: Akram Boutros, M.D., FACHE President and CEO The MetroHealth System

Alex Johnson, Ph.D. President Cuyahoga Community College

The Honorable Frank G. Jackson Mayor City of Cleveland

be used with location apps, and Recipe Re-Mix is healthy recipe programming and benefit enrollment assistance technology for seniors.

The fourth project, UnBail was developed during Hack Cleveland’s Fix216 Criminal Justice Reform event in 2018.

“We are Google Maps for individual criminal cases,” said Cait Kennedy, co-founder of UnBail, which she describes as a step-by-step guide to help defendants navigate the justice system, from arrest to expungement.

UnBail was chosen by the Lab after law students from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law mapped out “a matrix of possible outcomes for anyone arrested in the city of Cleveland” as part of a class created to help develop technology.

“The criminal legal system is a maze of laws, language and unwritten rules,” Kennedy said, adding that research indicates that defendants have to go through about 200 individual steps when navigating the court system.

UnBail is designed to give a those accused of a crime a clearer understanding of legal proceedings, she said.

UnBail, which has been accepted to work with a national social impact startup accelerator, gALPHA, benefited from being introduced to and talking to experts in the legal, IT security and public procurement fields, Kennedy said.

“They were validators for us. They facilitated relationships in the community,” she said. “When we are introduced by the Lab, it lets those people know we are worthy of their time.”

With the Lab program, UnBail had 15 separate interviews with experts over the course of the program and was able to write a RFP (request for proposal) that it is releasing nationally in hopes of finding a developer to create the first iteration the mobile app, Kennedy said.

Connecting potential customers or users to a startup to find the right product market fit is an essential part of the commercialization process, according to Jerry Frantz, chief investment officer at JumpStart Inc. JumpStart, an economic development nonprofit that supports startup and entrepreneurial businesses, runs the Lab’s Market Validation and Working with the Public Sector workshops and provides coaching for the county staff who work with entrepreneurs.

Frantz said that making connections with potential customers — even trying to find someone who will give you the time to talk — is incredibly difficult and that is what makes the Lab program so valuable.

“If an entrepreneur has a concept or idea or novel approach to something, one of the important steps is to try to figure out if the market is there before you go build it,” Frantz said. “A lot of times an entrepreneur will get excited by an idea and go spend a lot of time, effort and sometimes money to build a prototype first.”

Frantz said that while the startups working with the Lab gain valuable market feedback and real world pilot opportunities, the Lab also helps the county by bringing in technology and services to help make government more efficient.

“The other great thing is that the benefit of the program flows both ways,” he said. “The county is helping an entrepreneur grow and solve a problem the entrepreneurs needs solved and the county benefits from that solution.”

Kim Palmer: kpalmer@crain.com, (216) 771-5384, @kimfouroffive

6 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | September 14, 2020

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PERSONAL VIEW

A reflection on my journey to leadership

RICH WILLIAMS FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

BBY WESLEY GILLESPIE

EDITORIAL

Do your part A

mericans are still relying heavily on help from the government. We got some good data last week from the Labor Department, showing that U.S. job openings increased for a third straight month in July, to 6.62 million. But with more than 16 million Americans still jobless that month, there were about 2.5 unemployed workers vying for every job opening, and recent jobless claims data indicate the labor market recovery is slowing. Congress is stalled on additional stimulus, but the need remains strong for the government to continue to be a backstop against further economic damage.

Against that backdrop, we’d like to suggest a couple small ways that you can interact with the government to make things better.

First, if you haven’t already done so, respond to the 2020 Census. Data collection ends Sept. 30, and as of Friday, Sept.

11, about 90% of Ohioans have submitted information to the Census Bureau — 70% on their own, and another 20% as the result of visits from Census workers. The percentages are lower, though, in Cuyahoga County and Cleveland, and that’s a big concern, since the Census helps determine how about WE’D LIKE TO SUGGEST $675 billion in federal fundA COUPLE SMALL WAYS ing will be distributed over next decade. That’s critiTHAT YOU CAN INTERACT the cal as the pandemic pinches WITH THE GOVERNMENT the revenues of state and local governments.

TO MAKE THINGS Northeast Ohio needs a BETTER. full and accurate count.

There’s still time to respond by mail, phone or online, at my2020census.gov. It takes little time but can have a large impact on the region’s future.

With a somewhat bigger time commitment, you can help ensure a smooth Election Day on Nov. 3 by applying to be a poll worker.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose last week reported that the state has about 44,000 committed poll workers for the election, a figure above the minimum required to operate.

However, LaRose said Ohio still needs another 22,000 poll workers to meet its goal and ensure that the state is prepared

for cancellations and no-shows during the pandemic.

With about 50 days until Election Day, more than 1 million Ohioans already have requested absentee ballots, and more will come. Still, plenty of people will vote in person, and we’re all better served if polls are well-staffed and people can vote in a reasonable amount of time.

The state has created a website, PollWorkerTracker.OhioSoS.gov, that provides a detailed breakdown of the needs for poll workers in 88 counties, and a link to sign up to work. Do it, if you can. LaRose also has encouraged companies to give employees a paid day off to become poll workers, and if your business can do that, it would be a valuable service.

Talk straight L

ead, don’t mislead.

Many of you reading this are leaders at your organization.

In this week’s print edition, we profile 40 young professionals who already have taken, or are soon to take, key leadership roles in companies and institutions in Northeast Ohio. The region needs their talent, commitment and good judgment.

None of those traits were on display with the revelations last week that President Donald Trump in February admitted to journalist Bob Woodward that the coronavirus was “deadly stuff,” and then in March told Woodward that he deliberately minimized the danger. “I wanted to always play it down,” the president said. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

(Absurd, since the president is willing to create panic about absentee voting, or Antifa infiltrating your suburban town.)

Trump has rationalized his downplaying of the COVID-19 threat by saying, “The fact is I’m a cheerleader for this country. ... We want to show confidence. We want to show strength.”

As a leadership lesson, this is about as backward as it can get.

People can handle the truth. They needed the truth. In this case, when the public is told something is under control but cases and deaths keep rising, crippling the economy, it’s reasonable for people to conclude that those in charge aren’t up to the job. A lack of leadership isn’t the biggest failure of the pandemic, but it’s a symptom of so much that has gone wrong.

Publisher and 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

My journey really began as a young kid born in the rough streets of Harlem, N.Y. We were poor, but everyone I knew was in the same economic status. Therefore, we didn’t feel poor. Looking back now, I admire how my dad made ends meet on a chef’s salary. My mother passed away at a very young age. At 51, my dad was left to raise 2-year-old twin boys. I am extremely thankful for my aunt, who made a sacrifice Gillespie is and moved from Philadelphia to New York regional to help my dad raise my twin brother, Pres- president of ley, and me. I say that because it’s import- Eriebank. ant to know where it started for me.

It was a tough environment, but I’m not complaining, because none of us get to choose where we start in life, but the choices we make along the way influence where we end up. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t change a thing. My early life as a young boy had an incredible impact on my personal, and later professional, journey, and ultimately who I have become.

My brother and I were a little rare in our aspirations, because even at a young age in Harlem, I knew I wanted to be a banker.

The reason was not profound or even thoughtful for that matter. I just admired the tall bank buildings, and banking looked like a great job — not to mention the people dressed well. It was that simple. I didn’t even know anyone in the banking community at that time, or where I would ever begin.

OVER MY 28-YEAR As teenagers, we moved out of Harlem to a small town CAREER, I HAVE SEEN called Farrell, Pa., which was MANY STARTS AND very much a culture shock for us. That said, we loved the STOPS RELATIVE TO green grass and finally having AFRICAN-AMERICAN our own house, and especially getting out of the stress associ- EXECUTIVES MOVING ated with the “concrete jun- INTO C-SUITE ROLES. gle.” It turned out to be a prophetic decision on my dad’s part, because moving helped us craft a new perspective in many ways.

Over my 28-year career, I have seen many starts and stops relative to African-American executives moving into C-suite roles.

Some challenges stem from having too few Black executives being groomed for key positions, too many corporations hunting for the same talent in the same places, and the same patterns of exclusion and discrimination that are still keeping Black senior managers from reaching the top rungs of the ladder.

As a matter of fact, and based on many statistics, we are losing ground, as the ranks of those very few occupying these top positions appear to be thinning. A USA Today analysis shows that while corporations and boardrooms have added African Americans over the decades, the executive suite has not. If we are honest, there is irrefutable evidence that systemic racism, and the legacy of inequality, has had a tremendous impact on opportunity. Unfortunately, we are seeing increasing evidence of this reality. We should all feel a collective responsibility to change that. If not, we are part of the problem.

There are many things that corporate America’s senior leaders must do to improve diversity at executive levels. I don’t claim to be the expert, but I have indeed witnessed 28 years of diversity efforts that have started and stopped. What is very clear to me, and obvious to most, is diversity and inclusion must be a priority, and must be measured with accountability from the top of a corporation.

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.

See GILLESPIE on Page 32

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

8 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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OPINION

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BY MARCIA MORENO

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, has been celebrated in the United States since 1988, when President Ronald Reagan signed a law that expanded a previous weeklong celebration established in 1968. It is an opportunity to increase the awareness of the very diverse group of people called Latinos, Hispanics or Latinx; to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of the individuals whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Today, I have chosen the label “Latinos” for the sake of preference, although two other terms are often encountered in this context: Hispanics and Latinx.

Latinos are the second largest ethnic group in the United States, currently at over 60 million, representing almost 20% of the population. Latinos are on average 10 years younger than the general population, and we account for 21% of the millennial population. Over 31 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in November. We represent 16% of the labor market, and 26% of children under 16 are Latinos. Latina women create businesses at a rate six times faster than any other group in the country.

We are the growth engine of the country, and although we are relatively small in Ohio and Cuyahoga County, a quick look at the demographic trends makes it clear that we won’t be small for long. It is time we seize the opportunity.

Latinos are the future.

According to a recent report by the Brookings Institution, “In 2019, for the first time, more than half of the nation’s population under age 16 identified as a racial or ethnic minority. Among this group, Latino or Hispanic and Black res-

comprise the Latino identity and what is called “the Latino community.” We are first-, second-, third- and fourth-generation immigrants; many have been here long before this country was founded. We come in different shades, languages, backgrounds and history, although we do share many commonalities that must be understood and appreciated if we Moreno is the want to be an inclusive city. president and This brings me to the point about founder of Cleveland-based Hispanics, Latinos or Latinx. Pew Research released a new study a few AmMore Consulting LLC. weeks ago about the preference and awareness of the term Latinx, a new, gender neutral, pan ethnic label created as an alternative to the labels Hispanic or Latino. In the U.S., the first uses appeared more than a decade ago, and it was added to the Merriam Webster dictionary in 2018. It is still not commonly used (only 3%) and is rejected by many individuals, who prefer to identify themselves as Hispanics or Latinos (or by their country of origin). I am not here to argue about what term is right, correct or appropriate. Let me remind you that all of these terms were created in the United States, and for many of us, they don’t mean that much. In my case, I am Chilean first and foremost.

I do, however, use the word Latinx when doing consulting work as I am trying to increase the understanding of the word in the context of diversity, equity and inclusion. But the reality is: I really don’t care much about either word, and although I know words matter, actions matter most.

LATINOS ARE THE GROWTH ENGINE OF THE COUNTRY, AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE RELATIVELY SMALL IN OHIO AND CUYAHOGA COUNTY, A QUICK LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WE WON’T BE SMALL FOR LONG. IT IS TIME WE SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY. idents together comprise nearly 40% of the population.”

Why I am giving you all this data?

I want to make it clear that if Cleveland does not get ready to welcome, include, value and celebrate Latinos, we are going to be behind. I dare say, we’re already behind.

And by “getting ready,” I mean understanding Latinos — Who we are, where we are coming from, what we need and want, how we show up at work, what are our challenges, our strengths, our values and passion. It also means letting us show up at work as we are, authentically, sometimes loud and many times with an accent. We want to belong. We want to add to the culture, not fit into the mainstream culture. In a study done by the Center for Talent Innovation, 76% of Latinos feel they have to repress certain parts of their personas at work, undermining their confidence, morale, engagement and, in turn, impacting their productivity and innovative spirit.

Despite the tremendous setbacks brought about by the pandemic of COVID-19, and the pandemic of racism, Cleveland has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get it right. We must be Latino-ready.

Here are five ways Cleveland can get started: 1. Be intentional about including Latino voices at all levels; at least one seat at all tables. And not always the same voices. There are a handful of Latino leaders in this city that sit at all the tables. I know them and respect them all.

They are doing a great job, but they are not the only ones.

We must groom and develop new leaders. They are out there, waiting for an opportunity. It is not that hard to do.

It may take a little more work, but I promise you will find them. Look within your organizations, neighborhood, places of worship, local colleges and universities.

2. Learn about Latinos. We are a diverse, complex, multicultural and multidimensional community comprised of 20-plus countries, backgrounds, culture and history that

3. Be deliberate in including Latinos in all economic development efforts.

Latinos represent 6% of the Cuyahoga County population. Many are ready to work hard on the job, become leaders and CEOs and build up the community, but too many more are not ready. COVID-19 only reminded us of racial and ethnic challenges we face as a community and exposed inequities that already existed. If we do not work to raise Latinos, the entire community will fall.

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4. Stop saying that you cannot find Latino talent and start looking harder, in the right places. You are not trying hard enough if: You don’t work consistently and for the long term with groups like the Young Latino Network, Esperanza, the Spanish American Committee or El Barrio; if you only post jobs on LinkedIn or Indeed; if you don’t have a Latino employee resource group or business resource group, or even know how many Latinos you have in your organization. What about inclusive job descriptions? Internship programs? Recruiting from Latino student associations in local colleges and universities? There is no lack of talent, but a preference for doing things the way they’ve always been done and expecting different results. One size does not fit all, so if you are trying to attract, retain and advance talent with one overall strategy, guess what? It is not working.

5. Any effective external talent-attraction strategy must also include a retention and development strategy. If we as a community — alongside corporate, higher education, government, religious and nonprofit partners — don’t work together to effectively retain and advance the Latino talent coming from other cities, nothing will change.

What can we do?

So much.

Starting with offering all type of services (high-end services, not only social services) in Spanish, and in a culturally relevant way. Creating a vibrant Latino cultural and arts scene; visible and thriving Latino restaurants and businesses; real chances for professional and leadership development, and meaningful civic engagement opportunities. Latinos need to see Cleveland as “home.” We can’t wait any longer; we need to get ready — Latino-ready.

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Crain’s 40 Under Forty honorees are, in a word, leaders. They are making a difference in their companies and their communities. Chosen by our editorial team to represent a range of businesses and backgrounds, these 40 are committed to the future of Northeast Ohio. They range from professionals to entrepreneurs to community servants. And in a year that has been like no other with the COVID-19 pandemic, many have stepped up in immeasurable ways. All of the honorees are under 40, which means they are just beginning to make an impact in the region. Their future — and, in turn, the region’s — is bright.

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS Michael Allio, 36

Vice president sales and marketing, MASCOT Workwear USA; founder, The L4 Project

Justin Bibb, 33 Chief strategy officer, Urbanova Justin Bibb traces his foray into politics and public service back to 2004. The Trinity High School (Garfield Heights) student had just been cut from the mock trial team when he saw someone wearing a “Wesley Clark for President” T-shirt.

“That was the first campaign I worked on,” he said, “and the rest is history.”

“ONE OF THE Surrounded by Washington, D.C.’s BIGGEST urban renaissance at American UniverCHALLENGES IN sity, Bibb developed a passion for inner CLEVELAND IS city development and spent a year CONNECTING THE studying urban policy and economic development at the London School of GRASSROOTS TO Economics. He was special assistant to THE GRASSTOPS. Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald and worked in various corporate ‘CLEVELAND and strategic consulting roles before CAN’T WAIT’ following up his urban studies degree WANTS TO BE THE with a Juris Doctor and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

CONVENER AND Bibb said the law-business combinaTHE MODEL ON tion provides “a rich analytical tool kit” he HOW TO DO THAT.” uses in his role at Urbanova, a Spokane, Wash., startup he joined remotely in May, ——Justin Bibb and in his previous jobs as vice president of corporate strategy at KeyBank and senior consultant at Gallup.

A product of Cleveland’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, Bibb is also civically active. He serves on the several boards, and last year, he launched Cleveland Can’t Wait, a nonprofit focused on advancing economic opportunity for underserved communities.

And he’s weighing a 2021 candidacy for Cleveland mayor.

“I’m exploring a run because I believe we need transformative, dynamic leadership to help lead Cleveland’s economic recovery.”

Kim Zentz, Urbanova CEO, calls Bibb “the right leader at the right time.”

“People everywhere are more conscious of their environment, their social and economic challenges, and they are more willing than ever to engage in the solutions that will improve the lived experience in our neighborhoods and communities,” she said. — Judy Stringer 10 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | September 14, 2020

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Michael Allio has the rare ability to take a life marked by tragedy and turn into one defined by hope.

The tragedy was the loss of his wife, Laura, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2019. She was diagnosed seven months after the birth of the couple’s son, James, in late 2016.

“My world definitely turned upside down, but it definitely taught me a lot,” Allio said. “I was very inspired by how she dealt with life, maintained humor and kept at her goals.”

When he says “inspired,” he means it — Allio’s life is still largely guided by Laura.

He became busy as a single dad, but continued to grow the local operations of MASCOT Workwear, which he founded with his father. He also pursued other entrepreneurial and nonprofit pursuits.

One of them is Saint “I LIKE THE IDEA OF BUSINESSES COOPERATING WITH Allio’s attitude, which he James Therapeutics, which credits to his wife, impressCOMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND ALSO GIVE es others. he and his late wife created while she was undergoing BACK TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY OPERATE IN.” “Michael has real purchemotherapy. The compa- ——Michael Allio pose in his life,” said Bill Considine, CEO emeritus of ny is working on a patent-pending cream that will give relief to cancer patients who Akron Children’s Hospital, who advises Allio on some of his often have severe irritation in their hands and feet, affecting endeavors.

Considine later continued: “I really admire and applaud their skin, from the chemicals used in chemotherapy. what he’s doing with his entrepreneurial vision and what he His other passion is The L4 Project, on online apparel brand wants to do to help people. So, when Michael asked if I would he launched in 2018 to raise awareness and money for worthy be a sounding board for some of his ideas, it was an easy anindividuals and philanthropic causes. L4 stands for “Live Life Like Laura,” Allio said. swer: ‘Of course.’ ” — Dan Shingler

Daniel Anstandig, 37 CEO and co-founder, Futuri Media In the startup world, there are plucky young entrepreneurs who begin their enterprises early in life. Then there’s Daniel Anstandig.

Ever fascinated by the intersection of technology and media, Anstandig started coding on the family computer at age 4, launching his first tech startup in his early teens. Anstandig sold the company at 18, going on to consulting positions at well-known media firms to help drive innovation around new digital products.

In 2009, the Beachwood native staked out on his own with Futuri Media, creating artificial intelligence-powered audience engagement and sales intelligence software for a burgeoning portfolio of media organizations. Among Futuri’s products is TopicPulse, a content system that harnesses artificial intelligence to identify what stories specific audiences are reacting to in real time.

“That’s going to impact the type of media you create, or what you’ll promote over the next day,” Anstandig said. “Our “I LEARNED ABOUT ENTREPRENEURISM THROUGH A LENS lieves in enterprise that honsystem is used by thousands ors profits, people and the of broadcasters all over the OF PEOPLE WHO ARE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR planet. In practice, this means COMMUNITIES. I’M BUILDING A BUSINESS THAT SERVES world.” providing coaching opportuFar from early days oper- THE COMMUNITY.” nities for colleagues, or offering Juneteenth as a paid holiating above a Rocky River day as Anstandig did this year sandwich shop, Futuri now ——Daniel Anstandig to honor the emancipation of slaves in the U.S. employs 120 people at its Seven Hills headquarters.

“I felt that in order for broadcasters to survive and thrive, they Zena Burns, senior vice president of strategic marketing and needed to create new digital-first strategies,” Anstandig said. brand development at Futuri, calls Anstandig an “idea facto“That wasn’t a popular opinion at the time, but some more forry” who’s able to combine business leadership with a human-first approach. ward-thinking broadcasters got it, and as we’ve evolved into “There are lots of leaders good at what they do, but they don’t what was really an inevitable digital reality. The demand for our products and services has grown exponentially.” have that sensitivity chip,” Burns said. “For Juneteenth, it wasn’t Anstandig does not believe in growth for the sake of the almighty a PR thing, or something for fun. Daniel just said, ‘Let’s add this dollar alone. A self-identified “conscious capitalist,” Anstandig beto the calendar for 2020 and beyond.’ ” — Douglas J. Guth PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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Scott Bindel, 38

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Scott Bindel started scouting construction sites as soon as he could ride a bike and continued doing so when he could drive.

“Originally, I loved seeing construction equipment, and that grew into how buildings were constructed,” he said.

Fast-forward to today and he is an executive at a major construction company, Gilbane Building Co., with a resume loaded with big projects. Most recently, he has led construction of the 34-floor The Lumen at Playhouse Square. Prior to that, he worked on the expansion of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. world headquarters, UH Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland Heights High School and MGM Northfield Park. Those projects range in scale from $80 million to $260 million.

Bindel, who grew up in North Royalton, holds a master’s degree in engineering management from Case Western Reserve University. His first career job was a year as a structural engineer.

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Director of regenerative medicine, Athersys Inc. Sarah Busch expected to have a career in academia.

But then her work as a graduate student in a Case Western Reserve University lab took her in a different direction, to Athersys Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company in Cleveland, where she has spent the past 10 years.

The work that Busch, a Buffalo native, was doing in the lab was related to spinal cord injuries. Her mentor in the lab, Dr. Jerry Silver, was approached to look at potential applications offered by Athersys’ MultiStem therapy, and, as Busch said, she was “hooked immediately on cell therapy.”

Busch has since authored or co-authored four published, peer-reviewed scientific papers describing how MultiStem works to provide therapeutic benefit in models of spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

She described her work at Athersys as “very challenging,” blending “the best of both worlds” of academic research and therapeutic potential to change people’s lives. The job requires her to coordinate pre-clinical development of projects in spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, peripheral nerve injury, schizophrenia and di-

abetes, from experimental design phase through final reports “Athersys always puts the science first and has been at the forefront of evaluating cell therapies,” Busch said.

She also has become a successful grant writer for the company, helping to land a $1 million grant from Ohio Third Frontier as well as funding from the National Mul-

grea to th B enjo enti wor dan

The arena renovation generated hundreds of millions in contractually obligated revenue for the suites and premium seating vertical, which Clouse oversees.

Clouse, one of the youngest members of the Cavs’

Han “W muc be s

BUSINESS & RESIDENTIAL

Eric Clouse, 35 Senior vice president of sales and service, Cleveland Cavaliers Eric Clouse played a key role in the two-year, $185 million renovation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

As the person who oversees sales for the 19,000-plus seats at the arena, Clouse had a major say in the development of the eight destination hospitality spaces that are huge revenue drivers for the Cavs. The pandemic, though, has brought the events industry to a near-standstill, and the Cavs, depending on when the 2020-21 regular season tips off, could have a nine-month gap between games.

The Cavs, Clouse said, are operating with the approach that one of two things are likely to happen: A COVID-19 vaccine will bring back a sense of normalcy, or they’ll be playing before a reduced capacity next season.

“We just have to be mobile,” Clouse said. “We have to be fluid with what’s going on and construct packages in a way that continues to interest people.”

The latter aspect has been a theme for Clouse since he joined the Cavs in 2011 as a business development manager.

“AS YOU LOOK TO WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO WORK, ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE FIRST, BECAUSE THEY’RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO DETERMINE WHERE YOU GO.” — Eric Clouse

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Tanzalea Daniels, 39

Roberta Duarte, 29

Director of finance and administrative operations, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Program manager, JumpStart Inc.

The oldest of four children, Tanzalea Daniels has always been a leader who looks for a common goal and then empowers stakeholders to participate in accomplishing that goal.

“Tanzie isn’t just a leader in finance and administrative operations, but she adds value, insight and wisdom well beyond her incredible expertise in money to all we do,” said Colleen Cotter, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Daniels said: “I like to ask questions that are thought-provoking, not finger-pointing. You have to get through the layers of a problem by understanding the perspective of the people involved.”

A graduate of Butler University, Daniels joined the Legal Aid Society in October, after working at the Detroit Zoological Society, and is at the hub of everything that goes on, said Stephen Fazio, treasurer for the Legal Aid Society board and a partner at Squire Patton Boggs LLP. Only six months after joining the organization, the pandemic hit, and Daniels stepped up. The nonprofit didn’t have technology to support everyone working remotely, but she drove around town collecting and distributing equipment to staff. Then she came up with a plan to allow for limited in-office operations.

“We had to come up with an entirely new service model,” Fazio said. “She helped analyze what was going on with our market portfolio, completed the budget for the next year and played a critical role in the organization being

“IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION YOU’RE IN; YOUR EXPERIENCE MATTERS. AND YOUR VOICE SHOULD BE HEARD. IT’S JUST A PRINCIPLE THAT I LIVE BY.” — Tanzalea Daniels able to continue to provide services to the constituency we serve — without a hitch.”

Outside the office, Daniels and her husband, Lawrence, are raising, motivating and teaching four children, ages 4 to 19. To break the monotony of COVID quarantines, the family started a garden.

“It gives us something to look forward to each day,” she said. “I’m learning how to prune.” — Leslie Green

Roberta Duarte describes her experience in Cleveland as anything but linear and not even exactly intentional.

Born in New York City and raised in Paraguay, Duarte expected to head somewhere beyond South America for high school. She had extended family here and so she ended up studying at Hathaway Brown School (HB) in Shaker Heights.

During her HB years, Duarte developed an interest in public health. After HB, she started looking for the right college. “And while I was doing all the paperwork and applying, I realized that there’s a program called City Year Cleveland, and I did City Year Cleveland instead,” she said.

City Year is a nonprofit partner of AmeriCorps, the federally supported national service organization that focuses on helping public school students graduate from high school.

Even now, eight years after her City Year experience at East Tech High School ended, she’s struck by how HB and East Tech, two schools relatively close together, could be so different.

After City Year, she entered Mount Holyoke, a liberal arts college in Massachusetts. There, she put together a major in global and public health sciences. One of her internships, during the summer of 2014, brought her back to Cleveland to the city’s Department of Public Health.

She was becoming a Clevelander.

After graduation in 2016 she landed a fellowship at the Cleveland Foundation, where she spent a year working at the MetroHealth System. She spent a year as a program coordinator at Esperanza Inc., a nonprofit on Cleveland’s West Side that works to improve the academic

“I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO AUSTRALIA, BUT I ENDED UP IN CLEVELAND. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHERE CLEVELAND WAS ON THE MAP.” — Roberta Duarte

achievement of Hispanics in Greater Cleveland.

Then, in July 2018, she joined JumpStart Inc., where she is a program manager in the nonprofit’s Core City Cleveland program, a 12-week business-assistance program designed to raise the skills of a cohort of young entrepreneurs.

Said Lamont Mackley, JumpStart’s chief inclusion and outreach officer: “She’s a natural problem-solver who is passionately dedicated to making a difference in our region. She is a voice for the Latinx and always advocates for the communities and entrepreneurs we serve.” — Jay Miller

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Coming Together to Close the Digital Divide The needs of our community are great, but in the short term, one

us bring the business community to the table, along with

stands out: addressing the significant digital divide that impacts our

other local businesses.

region and exacerbates already existing inequalities. One in four households in Cuyahoga County lack internet access and more than 20% of households in Cleveland do not currently own a computer.

These businesses are taking action to reduce the impact of systemic racism and narrow the digital divide by donating money to the Greater Cleveland Digital Equity Fund or used

Good work to advance digital inclusion has been underway

computers to PCs for People for distribution to low-income

in Northeast Ohio for some time, led by many government and

families. Together, we will provide far more than 10,000

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attend classes from home, work remote, apply for jobs and access critical e-health services.

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Shashonna Duckworth, 36 Director, Small Business Development Center at Urban League of Greater Cleveland When Shashonna Duckworth says she’s available anytime to help an entrepreneur grow their enterprise, that’s not just lip service.

Knowing that money doesn’t sleep, Duckworth takes calls and texts from her small development center clients late into the night.

“My family is like, ‘What are you doing?’ ” Duckworth said. “But these are people in immediate need, even if it’s just a call about a loan application. We are in this together.”

Duckworth operates out of the Urban League’s offices downtown, creating comprehensive business management programming for individuals either starting or expanding their companies. Informed by a long career in branch

Sam Duvall, 37 Founder and president, Topnotch Management Since launching in 2016, Topnotch Management, Sam Duvall’s company, has created and managed tennis events, acquired a soccer agency and opened an indoor golf facility.

The prominent tennis agent also has a 50-50 stake in a Vermont-based tennis tourism business and has a small golf and tennis retail operation on Larchmere Boulevard in Cleveland.

That’s a lot to pack into a five-year span that followed Duvall and his wife, Kathryn, moving to Northeast Ohio from New York.

It’s also quite a bit to have at stake during a year in which tourism and events have been at near-standstills and the sports industry hasn’t exactly thrived.

banking and small business finance, Duckworth partners with one-person shops alongside more established businesses, assisting in all phases of entrepreneurial evolution. Prior to joining the Urban League, Duckworth aided small businesses for Operation HOPE and worked as a financial analyst for the city of Cleveland’s department of economic development.

“THAT LATE-NIGHT CALL OR TEXT MAY CAUSE SOMEONE’S BUSINESS TO FAIL IF I CAN’T ANSWER. SO I TRY TO MAKE SURE I’M AVAILABLE.” ——Shashonna Duckworth

“I HAVE TWO LITTLE KIDS, SO I GUESS IF THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, IT’S NICE THAT IT HAPPENED WHEN THEY’RE SO YOUNG, JUST SO I CAN SPEND SO MUCH TIME WITH THEM.” —Sam — Duvall, on the pandemic-related shutdowns

“Just straight-up business, it hasn’t been good,” said Duvall, who left Lagardère Sports in October 2015 to start his own firm. “But at the same time, I haven’t spent this much time with my family in years.”

The Duvalls have a 5-year-old daughter, Charlotte, and a 2-year-old son, Connor. When Duvall spoke with Crain’s on Aug. 27, he was getting ready to board a flight to New York for the U.S. Open — the first big tennis tournament he attended in more than five months.

Topnotch had about a dozen clients participat-

Michael Obi, who oversees the Urban League’s entrepreneurship center, praises Duckworth for her stewardship of the center’s small business component. Obi works closely with Duckworth on crucial service-delivery strategies for burgeoning companies in Cuyahoga County.

“If you want something done and done with excellence, you give it to Shashonna,” Obi said.

“She is dependable and responsive, and a strong advocate for small businesses in our community.”

Growing up on Cleveland’s East Side with a single mother, Duckworth said she feels obligated to work as hard for anxious clients as her mom did for her. The born-and-raised Clevelander brings this service mindset to a job that can ideally uplift the regional economy, she said.

“Knowing I’m contributing to economic development in my city brings me a great deal of joy and satisfaction,” Duckworth said. “Just being able to change lives — how can my life get any better?” — Douglas J. Guth

ing in the main draw of the Grand Slam event. For Duvall, who attended as the guest of Japanese pro Yoshihito Nishioka and had to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival, it was a chance to catch up with the likes of longtime client John Isner.

Tennis agents earn commission on endorsement contracts, not on the prize money earned by the players they represent, and Duvall said Topnotch has been fortunate that brands “have done what they can” to pay the athletes during an extended lull on the pro calendar.

The soccer agency, which is based in Minnesota and continues to be run by founder Matt Cairns, “has really ramped up a lot and grown a lot,” Duvall said.

Through the multiple sports and different arms of the business, Duvall displays “razor-sharp” instincts” that enable Topnotch “to take calm, decisive action,” said Kyle Ross, who runs public relations and events for the company. — Kevin Kleps

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16 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | September 14, 2020

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“IF YOU KEEP YOUR MORALS AND ETHICS AND ABIDE BY A CERTAIN CODE, THE WORK WILL BE THERE. THE RESULTS WILL BE THERE. YOU CAN’T LOSE SIGHT OF BEING A GOOD PERSON AT THE END OF THE DAY.”

Julian Emerson, 34 Shareholder, Reminger Julian Emerson’s the first to admit he’s a perfectionist. It’s an attribute — not a fault — he inherited from his mother, Valerie.

After all, he got where he is today — making partner at Reminger by age 30 — because he put in the work. It’s a message he imparts on his students often at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He, too, felt the pressure and stress as a law student at Temple University.

“I tell them you can’t get complacent and down on yourself,” Emerson said. “As a person of color, when you’re going into law, the deck is already stacked against you. You know the numbers. You have to put in the work, stay positive and keep at it.”

Today, Emerson is chair of Reminger’s construction liability practice group and

——Julian Emerson

co-chair of the firm’s environmental/mass tort/class action practice group. He also sits on Reminger’s diversity committee, mentoring committee, law clerk hiring committee and the Reminger Foundation board.

Outside the firm, he’s volunteered with the Cleveland Legal Aid Society’s Partners in Jus-

tice initiative and served as assistant secretary of the William K. Thomas American Inn of Court, a legal society.

“Julian is one of the most intelligent and hardest working individuals I have ever met,” said Reminger’s Gregory Guice. “He is also a natural-born leader and people gravitate toward him. Not only does he excel as an attor-

“I WILL SAY I’VE GOT A HEALTHY APPETITE, PART NATURE AND PART NURTURE, OF ALWAYS WANTING MORE. I ALWAYS WANT TO WORK AND BUILD MORE.”

Marling Engle, 34 Founder and co-owner, Saas Factory/Metisentry

——Marling Engle

Marling Engle is making the transition from computer whiz kid to seasoned entrepreneur faster than most.

The Cuyahoga Falls native quickly finished his degree in computer science at Kent State University in two years — sometimes taking more than 30 credit hours per semester before he graduated in 2006.

“I was definitely impatient … and after 18 credits, course work was free, so I thought, ‘If I just take more classes, I can get done more quickly and at a lower cost,’ ” Engle said.

He was also further ahead than many of his classmates, so he had a fairly easy time of it, at least when it came to his computer courses.

“I’d been writing code since I was 9, so a lot of the stuff I had seen,” Engle said. “If it had been anything other than computer science, I’d have had a harder time.”

In fact, Engle had already founded businesses in high school. His first was software to help a local school keep track of student grades. That was followed by a company that did internet hosting and website development.

“I got paid in beer at one point. I remember that,” he said with a laugh.

After college, Engle founded the Akron software-development firm Metisentry, which spe-

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ney, he is committed to giving back to his community.”

Though a native of South Jersey with strong ties to Philadelphia, Emerson has grown to love to Cleveland and lives downtown. And though the Philadelphia Eagles are his first love, he’s now a proud Cleveland Browns season-ticket holder.

“Every Sunday at 6 a.m., all I would hear outside my window was dog-barking,” Emerson joked. “I figured I better join these guys or move.” — Timothy Magaw

cializes in software-as-a-service applications. It took off and today employs more than 30 people, but Engle didn’t stop there.

In the past few years, he’s been making acquisitions. Today, he’s co-owner of not only Metisentry, but also a holding company called the SaaS Factory and subsidiaries such as MilitaryHire.com, Willco Tech and ScholarVets, many of which help track military and academic credentials for employers and training providers.

People who know Engle say he’s extremely smart but still easy to talk to about technical issues.

“Marling is one of the most brilliant minds I have ever met,” said Nick Began, CEO of PinPoint Technology. Pinpoint is an app that helps service providers manage appointments and track contractors, which Engle helped build.

“In my past, I have had difficulty talking to developers; that has not been the case with Marling,” Began said. — Dan Shingler

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216.920.4800 | www.mai.capital September 14, 2020 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 17

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Daniel Hamilton, 36

Ti

President, Volk Optical Inc.

Operations manager, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center of Greater Cleveland

Ass ou ph Oh

When the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Community Center of Greater Cleveland built its new home in the Gordon Square Arts District, Daniel Hamilton’s role as the center’s operations manager included everything from serving as liaison for the construction team to overseeing financing.

Wanting to understand more, Hamilton took a nonprofit finance class in their free time to better understand the organization’s efforts around its financial stability.

“This is an individual who financed a grad-level class so that they can contribute to the growth of our organization,” said Phyllis Harris, the center’s executive director.

Born and raised in Columbia Station, Hamilton and their partner moved to Massachusetts in the mid-2000s to get married. They lived there until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage legal nationwide in 2015.

They returned to Ohio and Hamilton began working for the Northern Ohio Recovery Association, where Harris first met Hamilton and was “immediately struck by them.” In 2016, she hired Hamilton.

In addition to Hamilton’s work at the center, they’re pursuing a doctorate in medical anthropology (studying gender-affirming health care) as well as a public health master’s degree with a capstone project evaluating the trans wellness program at the LGBT center. Plus, they earned a medical anthropology master’s degree in 2018.

Hamilton also volunteers with the Near West

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When Jyoti Gupta took the helm at Mentor’s Volk Optical in late 2016, business was good but stagnant, according to Janie Goodard, divisional CEO at Volk owner Halma PLC. Under Gupta’s leadership, Volk — a well-established producer of ophthalmic lenses — evolved from a lens-only company to a comprehensive digital-imaging play, most notably through the development of camera technology that allowed it to broaden into screening. Goodard said Gupta championed a global expansion of the brand into new markets in India, Asia and Latin America and injected the mission to eradicate blindness globally into the company’s vision. She was part of the Gift of Sight campaign in Ghana, for example, where doctors performed over 700 sight-saving surgeries over five days.

“Jyoti has a strategic and analytic mind, and the company really required new thinking,” she said.

Gupta credits much of her business acumen to experience in both large and emerging companies. She came to Volk after a six-year management role at Unilife Corp., a Philadelphia-area injection technology startup. Prior to that, she held strategic marketing roles at Becton Dickinson and was involved in clinical research at Medtronic.

This big thinker, however, has a pretty unique global perspective as well. Gupta was born in Kuwait. Her family relocated briefly in the United Kingdom but returned to Kuwait only to flee the country after the Iraq invasion in 1990.

“Overnight, we became refugees,” she said.

“We stayed in a refugee camp for a couple of weeks until we made our way into Iraq, Jordan and then Egypt, and from Egypt, we were able to fly back to the U.K.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Jyoti Gupta, 38

“I HAVE BEEN IN HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL DEVICES MY WHOLE CAREER. I REALLY CARE ABOUT PEOPLE AND PATIENTS AND HAVING AN IMPACT.” — Jyoti Gupta

Gupta’s family ultimately settled in Abu Dhabi. She came to U.S. for college in 1999, earning a doctorate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where participation in a startup competition solidified the young chemical engineering student’s interest in business.

“I really love understanding customer needs and building a business,” she said. “The technical background helps, but I think the blend of that with my broad personal interests in things on the business side is what has helped me be successful.” — Judy Stringer

“REALLY, WHAT DRIVES ME IS THIS FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT IF I KNOW THERE’S A PROBLEM, I AM MAKING A CONSCIOUS CHOICE TO FIX IT OR NOT, AND I WOULD RATHER CHOOSE TO FIX IT.” — Daniel Hamilton

Theatre and recently joined the board of directors for the Lorain County LGBTQ Taskforce.

Knowing the challenges of growing up rural and queer, Hamilton is grateful to be able to help coordinate resources to support the LGBTQ community in the county where they grew up.

“I also have a desire to do good and to leave a legacy, regardless of whether my name is attached to it or not,” they said. “I want to leave things better than how I entered into things.” — Lydia Coutre

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18 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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Tim Heimann, 37

Heather Holmes, 38

Assistant director of community outpatient service and pharmacy service, VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System

Vice president, marketing and public relations, Downtown Cleveland Alliance

Upon realizing in pharmacy school that he wasn’t interested in the traditional day-to-day roles of a pharmacist, Tim Heimann began thinking about where his niche could be.

He explored leadership opportunities in which he could facilitate operations from behind the scenes and ultimately landed at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, where he’s climbed through pharmacy and leadership roles for more than a decade, leading pharmacy operations for the past several years. This spring, he added a new responsibility: overseeing the system’s network of outpatient clinics in the community.

He got his MBA in health care management from Indiana Wesleyan University and has blended that expertise with his clinical background.

“Being able to sit in a room with clinicians and talk about operations with that clinical background that I have, it really provides a nice way to communicate to folks that I think some of the folks in the business side of things ... might not be able to without the clinical background,” he said.

This combined understanding has helped him as the VA expanded telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and as it has addressed the opioid crisis, he said.

“Tim is a compassionate problem-solver,” said Jill Dietrich, executive director of the system. “I really think that he’s the glue that holds things together.”

For years, Heimann has been excited about the ability to make changes and see improvement as the system, for instance, tackled a big infrastruc-

“IF WE GO INTO OUR DECISION-MAKING WHEN A PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF OR WE’RE TACKLING A NEW INITIATIVE, AS LONG AS WE KEEP THE PATIENT AT THE CENTER AND THOSE EMPLOYEES REALLY CLOSE TO THAT, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GO WRONG.” — Tim Heimann

ture project within pharmacy. But lately, what drives him is serving as a mentor to others.

“It went from very much I’d get up and I’d come to work to really solve those process issues, and now I get up and I come to work and I really want to help others now solve those process issues and progress through their career,” he said. — Lydia Coutre

For Heather Holmes, professional growth is all about relationships.

The longtime family friend who became an adviser. The childhood classmate who is now a peer. The Sunday school teacher who later offered career inroads. And the people and groups that Holmes convenes as part of her work for the nonprofit Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

“What I really enjoy is connecting people and organizations and having the flexibility to be creative,” said Holmes, 38, the alliance’s vice president of marketing and public relations.

The Beachwood native has charted an eclectic career path, from Cleveland City Hall to chambers of commerce, and from Phoenix to Washington, D.C. In 2013, she returned to Northeast Ohio, where she lives in Pepper Pike with her fiancé and their two children.

Every job change she describes seems to involve a bit of kinship or kismet.

“I am clearly the product of the village that raised the child,” she said.

Margot Copeland, who retired from her longtime role as CEO of the KeyBank Foundation last year, was part of that village. She’s known Holmes “from the womb” and now serves as a mentor.

“I’ve been not only proud of her,” Copeland said, “but I’ve been in awe of watching how she has masterfully navigated the work that’s required for us to advance as a community. And she’s right there, embedded in the center of things. She has a very credible and critical voice. She represents the future of Northeast Ohio leadership, for sure.”

Based on Holmes, that future will be peo-

WHAT’S YOUR COMPANY’S NEXT MOVE?

“RIGHT NOW, I AM REALLY LOVING WHAT I’M DOING. WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, TIME WILL TELL. MY ENTIRE PROFESSIONAL CAREER HAS ORGANICALLY HAPPENED.” — Heather Holmes

ple-centric, creative — and genuine.

“Some people struggle with how you present at work and in professional settings and what it’s like to let your hair down,” she said. “And that’s especially true for people of color. My entire M.O. has always been to be my authentic self, and I think that is what has led me on my leadership journey. That is what people respond to.

That is what makes me effective, is being exactly who I am, all the time.” — Michelle Jarboe

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Joyce Pan Huang, 35 Vice president of community planning and place-building, MidTown Cleveland Inc. Joyce Pan Huang wasn’t sure what to make of Cleveland 13 years ago, when she moved here to work for a national campus ministry group at Case Western Reserve University.

It took a while, but Cleveland — its rawness, challenges and fortitude — grew on her. And in 2015, she started a career change, enrolling in a master’s program in urban planning and development at Cleveland State University.

Now Huang is deeply vested in the city’s expansive Midtown district, where she works as vice president of community planning and place-building for MidTown Cleveland. She and her husband, who have a toddler, rented out their house in Cleveland Heights two years ago and moved into an AsiaTown loft to get closer to the people that Huang serves.

Since joining MidTown in 2016, Huang has led efforts to integrate racial equity into the nonprofit organization’s real estate work. She’s broadened the scope of engagement, bringing artists into a streetscape planning process, for example. She’s worked with residents in Hough to orchestrate a concert series.

“The best projects, to me, feel like when you get amazing people into the same room and you organize that and just let people go and do their

“I THINK THE THREAD OF MY WHOLE LIFE IS CITY PLANNING, WORKING WITH COMMUNITY, RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. IF I HAD ANY MIX OF THOSE, I WOULD BE PRETTY HAPPY.”

Courtney Clayton Jenkins, 38

M

Senior pastor and teacher, South Euclid United Church of Christ

Exe sen ma

Six months after a fire destroyed Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, the Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins made history. It was 2010, and Jenkins, at 27, became the first woman, the first African American and the youngest person called to pastor the then-167-year-old institution.

Jenkins oversaw the $8.15 million rebuilding project and has since grown the church, renamed South Euclid United Church of Christ (SEUCC), from 40 to 900 members.

She also has successfully broken the norm of segregated Sundays at church and has cultivated a diverse, community-focused congregation boasting several generations of members with different races and values.

“I felt like our church had the opportunity to be something different.

It’s been hard, but it’s been rewarding,” Jenkins said.

Janus Small, president of nonprofit consulting firm Janus Small Associates, which runs the Greater Cleveland Interfaith Alliance, said “Pastor Courtney is really a role model of reaching beyond the walls and help-

ing those in the broader community in very meaningful ways.”

Jenkins has several passion projects; some involve voter registration, voter education and the Census.

“We have been intentional about trying to help people understand the candidates. We’re the only church in the city that holds a debate for judges,” she said.

Moreover, SEUCC operates a food pantry that, in the past year, served more than 66,000 pounds of food to about 1,100 families. And in 2018, the church launched a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, a summer program to help generate positive attitudes toward learning and connect families to resources.

Jenkins is especially proud of Servolution, an initiative in which church members of all ages participate in a month of community service.

“I have watched men from church sew menstrual pads for women in Africa,” Jenkins said. “It’s really cool how we can love on the city, love on the state, love on the country, love on the world… to let them know the

“WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING A DIGITAL CAMPUS SINCE 2017.

IN THE MIDST OF COVID, WE ASK PEOPLE TO SERVE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND BRING (THE NEWS) BACK TO US.” — Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins

church is lively, active and vibrant.”

Jenkins and her husband, Rev. Cory Jenkins, have a young son and travel the country holding workshops on family stabilization. — Leslie Green

— Joyce Pan Huang

thing,” she said. “That is something that really brings me a lot of joy.”

Huang grew up near Rochester, N.Y., and considered a career in medicine before obtaining a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Michigan. She developed an affinity for cities — “the really celebratory things and the really broken things” — in high school during travels.

In Cleveland, that passion bloomed into a profession. Jeff Epstein, MidTown’s executive director, said she’s able to blend textbook knowledge and real-world experience to find innovative approaches to planning. That openness serves her well in a job that touches a diverse stretch of the city.

“She has a really collaborative and open and transparent style,” Epstein said. “She builds trust in relationships very easily. … She doesn’t just listen.

She hears people.” — Michelle Jarboe

“[B THE HAV WH EVE

Medha Kapil, 37 Head of legal and corporate development, BioMotiv

—M

Chicago native Medha Kapil came here in 2010 to attend Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law. The plan, she recalled, was to earn her degree and return to the Windy City to “join a big law firm there.”

But Cleveland grew on her.

“After connecting closely with the community and the people in Cleveland, I felt welcome and excited about contributing to the city,” she said.

At the time, Cleveland was undergoing a renaissance, particularly

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20 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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Proven Process Proven Relationships Premier Difference

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“I AM A FIXER. WHEN THINGS ARE A MESS, I WANT TO RUN IN AND FIX IT.”

Megan Kim, 39 Executive director, the Council of Smaller Enterprises; senior vice president, membership development and marketing, Greater Cleveland Partnership If Megan Kim is interested in something, she does not hesitate to ask questions. It’s a personality trait that has served her well as she transitioned from event planner to senior vice president of membership development and marketing at the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) and executive director of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE).

“GCP has continually offered me the opportunity to do new things,” Kim said. “It has been a great journey, and GCP always finds the right spot for me.”

In her position at the country’s largest chamber of commerce, Kim led the rebranding of the large, wellknown organization, where she manages a 20-person membership development and marketing team.

The accessible leadership of former COSE head Steve Millard and GCP president and CEO Joe Roman, Kim said, allowed her to expand her career, a path she is committed to continue.

“I say to my team that I have an

“[BIOMOTIV’S] MISSION AND THE IMPACT OUR WORK WILL HAVE ON PATIENTS IN NEED IS WHAT KEEPS ME MOTIVATED EVERY DAY.” ——Medha Kapil

among its culinary and arts scenes, which aligned nicely with Kapil’s own interests. She also fell in love with the city’s fledgling medical startup sector while working as a law clerk at Cleveland Clinic Innovations, the hospital’s commercialization arm.

After law school, Kapil joined Thompson Hine, where she advised early stage companies in a variety of industries before becoming BioMotiv’s first full-time in-house lawyer.

Kapil said her primary duty at BioMotiv “is to lead transactions, including launching and investing, in companies based on medical breakthroughs coming out of academic institutions around the country.”

In 2019, Kapil helped execute a strategic partnership between BioMotiv and pharmaceutical powerhouse Bristol-Myers Squibb. And early this year, she was instrumental in the launch of the partners’ first spinoff, Anteros Pharmaceuticals.

Baiju Shah, who was BioMotiv’s CEO when Kapil was hired, said her leadership and legal prowess are best evidenced by her continued advancement in the company and the increasing complexity of the transactions she has overseen during her five-year tenure there.

He also called Kapil a “rising regional star” outside of her day-to-day responsibilities, most notably for her commitment to helping Venture for America college students from around the country see the potential of putting down roots in Cleveland.

“Medha’s an excellent developer of energetic, talented younger professionals, as well as a great ambassador for not just BioMotiv and the field, but for Cleveland as a great place to work and live.” — Judy Stringer

for nearly seven years, said, “I know I can knock on her door or shoot her a text and ask her about anything.”

Kim serves on the board of Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland and is the chair of the group’s education committee, which recruits new board members. She is also a nonlawyer representative on a panel of lawyers that produces a nonpartisan, independent judicial election rating guide called Judge4Yourself. — Kim Palmer

open door policy,” Kim said. “I was always given an opportunity to try things, and I want my team to have that same accessibility that I was given.”

Kim goes to “great lengths” to connect with her staff and make people feel comfortable across the organization, according to Jason Guyer, senior director for business and community engagement at GCP. Guyer, who has worked with Kim

THE POWER OF

TRASH. A

t first glance, the expansive greenspace in Brooklyn, Ohio looked like a lush piece of land ripe for development. But beneath it sat thousands of tons of rotting trash. It was a capped landfill, and the city didn’t know what to do with it.

Regulations prohibited development, and some of the waste materials below meant it couldn’t be used as a park. The options were limited.

But Katie Gallagher, Brooklyn’s mayor, worked with Cuyahoga County to turn the otherwise unproductive landfill site into a solar farm, producing an estimated 5 million kilowatthours of electricity per year.

“AN INTERNSHIP DURING MY TIME AT JOHN CARROLL TAUGHT ME ABOUT BROWNFIELDS. AND THAT BECAME EXTREMELY RELEVANT TO THE WORK WE DID ON THE LANDFILL. NOW, IT’S A REVENUE SOURCE FOR US, AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY,” Gallagher said.

Crain's ad Katie FINAL.indd 1

P020_P021_CL_20200914.indd 21

——Megan Kim

Katie Gallagher, a first-generation college student, graduated from John Carroll in 2003 with a degree in political science and business management.

“IT WAS AT JCU WHERE I DEVELOPED THAT LOVE OF LEARNING AND SERVICE,” Gallagher said.

Now, elected to a second term, Gallagher has even bigger plans for the city. And if she can turn trash into energy, who knows what she’ll do next.

Find her story and others at jcu.edu/humanimpact

Shortly after graduation she earned a master’s and law degree—and took her passion for service into her work as a city council member and later, the mayor of Brooklyn.

BRAVE YOUR QUEST

September 14, 2020 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 21 9/8/20 3:05 PM

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Chris Knestrick, 39

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Executive director, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless

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Chris Knestrick has devoted his life to his faith and his career to building relationships with people who aren’t like many of us. With regard to individuals’ struggles and respect for their lives, Knestrick treats the homeless community like family. Sometimes, he is the only family they have.

When Knestrick joined Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) three years ago as its then sole employee, there was $1,000 in the bank. Today, with a budget nearing $350,000, his staff of 11 work in advocacy, education and outreach.

“We prioritize the needs of our homeless community. Their voice is in our work,” said Knestrick of the Homeless Congress advocacy centers he’s created to hear firsthand what people in crisis need most.

“Chris Knestrick has exerted his passion into the work of fighting for the rights and dignity of those suffering from homelessness,” said Marty Uhle, president and CEO of Community West Foundation, which helps fund NEOCH. “His personal commitment is remarkable.”

Knestrick grew up in Lakewood, one of four boys raised by their single mom.

“We ate at food pantries. We got giving baskets on Christmas. Our cars got repo’ed,” he said. “My mother took us to an AIDS hospice house to serve a man named Bobby dinner and accompany him as he was dying.”

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“I KNOW JOE WHO LIVES UNDER THE DETROIT-SUPERIOR BRIDGE AND HE IS MY FRIEND.” — Chris Knestrick

These experiences instilled a compassion in Knestrick that fueled his desire to connect with people who are struggling.

Before joining NEOCH, Knestrick earned a degree in religious studies, ran a drop-in center and spent four years in Colombia, documenting human rights abuses. He also earned a master’s degree from McCormick Theological Seminary.

As for the pandemic, “COVID has exposed what was already there. ... So many are living on the brink every day,” said Knestrick, who led NEOCH’s effort to rent hotel rooms for the most vulnerable. “Our community has responded well. Less than 5% of the homeless have tested positive.”

Knestrick makes time for his wife and young daughter, and hobbies like fishing and boating. — Allison Carey

David Lenz, 39 Managing partner, Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell Driven, yet quiet and humble, David Lenz always saw himself as more of a transactional lawyer than a litigator in the courtroom.

Nonetheless — whether due to his faith, his intrinsic work ethic or his father, who worked in retirement planning — Lenz has been motivated in life by a calling to help others. The top of his law school class, he was encouraged to apply for judicial clerkships. But when one opportunity there came along at the same time as a job offer with a law firm in trust and estate planning, he opted for the latter.

“I’d rather help people solve problems before, not after, they happen,” Lenz said. “And I think the trust and estate practice generally is extremely personal.”

Lenz joined his first and only firm in 2006. Not only is he still with the same company, Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell, this year he became its youngest-ever managing partner.

Hard work, humility and his faith, he said, are part of his recipe for success.

Leading a law firm has come with no dearth of challenges for a new leader trying to simultaneously build his own practice and oversee company operations amid an economy-busting pandemic. But Lenz is 22 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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"HIGH INTELLIGENCE SELDOM REPLACES HARD WORK." — David Lenz

well-suited to face the challenges, his mentor at the firm, Charles Adler, said.

Adler compared Lenz to a “fivetool” player in baseball who has mastered hitting for power and average, speed, throwing and fielding.

“David is a five-tool player, too: He is very smart, he can think clearly, he can speak well, he can write, and he inspires confidence in the client,” Adler said.

“Remember that working hard matters,” Lenz said. “Also be open to working with others. And be open to correction when you screw things up. Get feedback and take it to heart.” — Jeremy Nobile

PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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Adam Miller, 34

Dr. Aziz Nazha, 36

Director of content, WKYC Studios

Director of the Center for Clinical Artificial Intelligence, Cleveland Clinic

Adam Miller left Orange Village for Northwestern University in 2004, landed a job at “Today,” the NBC Universal morning television show, as a production associate producing segments for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, and it looked like he was never coming back.

He spent the next 10 years climbing the ladder at “Today” in New York City, reaching the job of senior producer.

But things started to change. He and his wife started growing a family. Then he got a call from Micki Byrnes, president and general manager of WKYC Studios, the home of WKYC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland, and WKYC.com.

“I loved my experience at the ‘Today’ show.

Nothing was broken by any means, and we had put an offer on a house in Westchester County and had done the inspection and everything,” Miller said. “And the week after that I got a call from Micki Byrnes here in Cleveland saying, ‘Hey, would you want to come home?’ ” Miller and Byrnes had connected when Miller was in high school and for his senior project worked at the station. And during the 2008 Olympics when he was a “Today” production associate, he filed feature stories for WKYC.com.

“I loved the idea (of returning to Cleveland), but I never really thought there’d be a job for me here ... because TV is TV — a New York or L.A. thing,” Miller said. But Micki said, ‘Oh, we’re gonna create this new job opportunity.’ ” That job was director of content, a new newsroom position that oversees both the television and online news operations.

“It’s the strategy, the vision and the hiring,” he said. “To be able to help transform content and

“I LOVE TELLING PEOPLE’S STORIES, WHETHER OR NOT IT’S RELATED TO NEWS OR ABOUT WHAT I HAD FOR DINNER.” ——Adam Miller

transform the way we tell news in the most efficient and powerful, impactful way.”

In nominating Miller, Byrnes cited what she called a “swift and technologically challenging move” Miller led to transform a news operation that had 175 people in its building into a remote operation with only 12 people working in the building when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“Though he’s only been back for two years, he has already begun to shape the content of WKYC to better reflect the challenges and opportunities that face us,” Byrnes said in nominating Miller. “He’s a bright example of the next generation of news leaders.” — Jay Miller

Dr. Aziz Nazha began teaching himself about computers as a child growing up in Syria.

In high school, he built his own computer game and fielded questions from friends studying computer science in college who knew Nazha had spent years learning about computers. In his late teens, his grandmother’s diagnosis with pancreatic cancer sparked his interest in medicine and ultimately drove him to attend medical school.

“Watching her go through the process and ultimately die from it really kind of affected me at that time,” he said. “It made me feel like there has to be better treatment, there has to be better care.”

Through medical school in Syria and training in the United States, he never stopped teaching himself about computers. Today, he’s merged his two interests as the director of Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Clinical Artificial Intelligence, where he aims to provide tools for physicians and patients to make their lives better.

In addition to this role, Nazha continues to care for patients, where a desire to offer better care inspires ideas for new tools he can develop.

“We’ve built personalized diagnostic models to diagnose disease better or the personalized prognostic models; we’ve built personalized models to try to predict how (patients) respond to therapy,” Nazha said. “The majority of those ideas came from my patients.”

Nazha is “one of the few people in the world” who has the knowledge to study and develop these computer programs and the clinical expertise to understand how that work will im-

“(I) FOCUS ON SOLVING THE PROBLEMS FOR MY PATIENTS AND FOR MY COLLEAGUES, RATHER THAN JUST TECHNOLOGY. ... TECHNOLOGY COMES LATER ON, BUT SOLVING THE PROBLEMS MAKES ME EXCITED AND HAPPY TO BE IN THIS POSITION.” ——Dr. Aziz Nazha

pact patients, said Dr. Mikkael Sekeres, professor of medicine, vice chair for clinical research and director of the leukemia program at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center.

“Somebody who actually relates to patients and someone who’s that technically computer savvy is often mutually exclusive,” Sekeres said.

“He’s really a gift to the medical community of Cleveland to have him here.” — Lydia Coutré

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The 2011 University of Akron graduate and certified public accountant specializes in tax planning and preparation for S corporations/ partnerships and high net-worth individuals. In January, she assumed a leadership role in the tax practice of Beachwood-based Apple Growth Partners, following accounting positions at PNC Bank, MAI Capital Management and HW&Co. But Nelson’s true passion is educating millennial women about personal finance through her Savvy Girl

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For Antha Poleondakis, adversity is a catalyst that underpins much of her success today.

A native of Australia, Poleondakis lost her parents in her 20s, setting her up to help care for a teenage brother. She credits the tragic situation with helping her develop a sense of tenacity.

“I kind of noticed when hard things happen to people, they go two different ways,” Poleondakis said.

“Either they become a victim for life … or they wear it as a badge of honor.

“You fight because there is no option B,” she added. “You just fight more.”

She came to the U.S. for college, originally interested in aviation before deciding to study finance. It wasn’t her favorite subject, but it came naturally. She developed a penchant for psychology and discovered an interest in behavioral finance.

Today, Poleondakis is a wealth management adviser and portfolio

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manager in Canton with Merrill Lynch, where she’s worked the past decade. She would not be at the company if not for her persistence.

She once applied at Merrill but

never heard back. With other jobs lined up she didn’t want, she coldcalled a local office head and eventually convinced him to let her join.

Poleondakis was originally an assis-

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“IF YOU CAN USE YOUR FAILURES AS FUEL, YOU WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF ENERGY.”

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Antonio Samuel, 38

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said. “Too many people don’t learn about financial management in school or at home, while the financial choices they are making can have a lasting impact on their futures.”

Apple Growth Partners chairman Chuck Mullen was a “fan” of Nelson’s YouTube channel before she joined the firm.

“It’s thought-provoking, it’s topi-

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Money social media platform. She started Savvy Girl Money in 2016 by publishing YouTube videos documenting her own journey to debt freedom. Today, Nelson has 13,200 Instagram followers and 1,500 YouTube subscribers. She produces content on budgeting, debt management, rebuilding credit scores and planning for retirement.

“I am a financial activist,” she

Antha Poleondakis, 35

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Antonio Samuel never stopped dreaming.

“Growing up as a poor kid on the East Side of Cleveland, I didn’t have many toys or games to consume my time,” he said. “I had to entertain myself by using my imagination and thinking and dreaming of a life different than I knew at the time.”

Over time, Samuel said, he start1:25:01 PM ed to believe in those dreams — and himself.

Today, as senior regional operations manager for Amazon, Samuel is responsible for last-mile logistics for more than 10 states for the global commerce giant. In fact, Samuel moved back to the Cleveland area as a key member of the leadership team that helped bring the first large-scale Amazon operation to Northeast Ohio.

Serendipitously, that Amazon site — in North Randall — is a mere five-minute drive from where Samuel did a lot of that dreaming he

“THE MAIN THING THAT MOLDED ME WAS THE FACT THAT I NEVER STOPPED DREAMING.” ——Antonio Samuel

speaks of: John F. Kennedy High School.

Always the athlete, Samuel believed football would be the key to

PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

those dreams. But after spine injury ended his football career at the University of Akron, Samuel refocused on his academics and launched his

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cal, and I also believe it supports financial literacy, which is one of Apple Growth Partner’s main initiatives,” he said. “It always blows me away when someone is willing to go the extra mile beyond their day-to-day career to externalize their expertise.”

In addition to operating Savvy Girl Money, Nelson regularly speaks on the accounting profession, especially to underrepresented minority communities.

She said she had never heard of accounting or known an accountant as a Black girl growing up in Cleveland. It was her now mother-in-law who recommended accounting as a possible career when Nelson was in high school.

“I can plant that seed in the minds of students of color, like my mother-in-law did for me, or be that role model of a minority in our profession,” Nelson said. — Judy Stringer

tant, and she was terrible at it. But her boss overheard her talking on the phone and knew she was destined to be a financial adviser. He ended up offering her another job.

“I personally love being underestimated and proving people wrong,” Poleondakis said, adding that she loves her work today.

Having benefited from motherlike mentors after losing her parents, Poleondakis is motivated to offer the same support to others.

Among a slew of community and philanthropic endeavors she is involved with is the “Who is Your SHEro?” campaign, which supports the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation.

Poleondakis encourages others to embrace the struggles in their own lives to achieve success.

“If you have a good relationship with failure,” she said, “you’re going to do fine.” — Jeremy Nobile

career, first with a job at Timken.

Samuel said he’s passionate about giving back through his nonprofit organization Stronger than Life. He’s spoken to students across the country about resiliency, hope, criminal justice and empowerment through financial literacy.

His message?

“You always have the ability to write the ending to your own story,” Samuel said.

Samuel’s story, though, is far from over.

“Of all the people I know, Antonio has the most intrinsic, deepest, most genuine commitment to making an impact in his world,” said Katie Bradigan, a sales executive with McGraw Hill and one of Samuel’s fiercest champions. “He just wakes up every day and lives and breathes impact.” — Timothy Magaw

Your leadership on the job and in the community makes us stronger!

Eric Pros, 35 Director of design, DS Architecture As director of design at DS Architecture, Eric Pros oversees five studios, or areas of practice, at the Kentbased firm with a Cleveland office.

Talk a few minutes with Pros, and the Ohio City resident’s passion for architecture, business and the community will be a major takeaway. Associates say his enthusiasm is genuine; they admire his pace and wonder when he sleeps.

Challenges identified and challenges met is a key way to look at Pros.

When the pandemic flared this year, he worked with other architects and school administrators to develop a statewide platform to find best practices for schools to handle physical operations.

Pros also pursues some unexpected directions. As he directed design of the Kent and Brimfield Township police stations, he got interested in how police analyze shooting scenes. He received certification in it and now helps police reconstruct shooting scenes.

“I ALWAYS LOVED THE ARTS. MY FATHER WAS A BRICK MASON, SO I HEARD ABOUT CONSTRUCTION. MY MOM SUGGESTED ARCHITECTURE AS A WAY TO BLEND THE TWO.” — Eric Pros

As chair of the advocacy committee for the Akron chapter of the American Institute of Architects, he is active in efforts to pass a state law to give architects the ability to file liens against properties when architects are unpaid.

Pros handles the job as director of design and heads DS’ historic preservation studio in addition to his own workload at the company, where he has worked for nine years.

DS CEO Jeff Meyers, who describes himself as a “valued adviser” to Pros, wrote that he is “one of the most talented, dedicated and humble individuals you will ever meet.”

Outside the office, Pros belongs to 14 organizations and spends hours at Kent State University, mentoring students. He earned dual master’s degrees in business and architecture at KSU. Pros traces his interest in architecture to about first grade.

“I always loved the arts,” he said.

“My father was a brick mason, so I heard about construction. My mom suggested architecture as a way to blend the two.”

He is also gaining recognition. In 2019, AIA Akron recognized him with its Emerging Architect Award, and two of his first projects as director of design received five awards. — Stan Bullard

Congratulations,

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Congratulations to Scott Bindel for being named one of Crain’s Cleveland Forty Under 40 for 2020! www.gilbaneco.com

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 25

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Anna Sauber-Buchholz, 39 Founder and director, StartInCLE; director of community and place, DigitalC Anna Sauber-Buchholz is so passionate about entrepreneurship that she hopes to make launching a company easier for everyone.

Her passion helped drive the launch of Start in Cleveland (StartInCLE), an advocacy group Sauber-Buchholz created with her husband, Ed Buchholz. StartInCLE holds dinners and provides virtual support for founders of startup companies.

“When you’re starting a company, you’re doing something unique, and it’s very confusing for other people, like friends and family. It means quite a bit to be able to get together and talk, sharing experiences,” Sauber-Buchholz said. “I hope I have made a positive impact on people. I just want to make our

city a good place to start a company and create jobs.”

Since launching in 2017, the organization has attracted 550 members and held more than 45 events.

“The focus of the dinners was to provide connections. The founders are able to connect, maybe find a co-founder, and bounce ideas off one another,” said Jennifer Morton, a customer success manager at Leadfeeder and StartInCLE volunteer.

Sauber-Buchholz’s talent for connecting people to resources made her the perfect person to help develop and open DigtalC’s Midtown Tech Hive, a coworking space and event center with more than 100 occupants. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, however, her focus

shift end “R with even net, lear Sau

Christopher Schmitt, 39 Vice president of strategic partnerships, National Association of Manufacturers Athersys, Inc. • 3201 Carnegie Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115 • www.athersys.com

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Case Western Reserve University congratulates “40 under 40” honoree

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26 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

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During his interview at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Christopher Schmitt arrived with steel-toed dress shoes and three pairs of safety glasses in his coat pocket.

“It wasn’t for showmanship. I’d just gotten used to going to work like that every day,” said Schmitt, who joined NAM in 2017 after a career in the corporate manufacturing sector.

Schmitt previously worked in marketing positions for American Roll Form Products and Pentair, formerly ERICO International. At NAM, he oversees strategic partnerships for 14,000 member companies supporting the 12 million men and women who make things in America. Walking the manufacturing floor in prior years prepared Schmitt for the challenges of the nonprofit arena, he said.

“Getting to see manufacturers from the inside before joining the trade association space was one of

the most meaningful moments in my career,” Schmitt said. “Understanding what these companies do gave me a whole new level of respect.”

Schmitt is shedding a positive light on an industry still thought by some as dark, dirty and dangerous. Rather than “going into a factory and banging out rivets,” today’s manufacturing personnel are working with robotics and other high-end technologies.

Advocating for the sector has been particularly crucial during the current pandemic, Schmitt said.

Nationwide shutdowns have put the industry on a wartime footing, where car-parts manufacturers make ventilators, or clothing companies pivot to masks.

Schmitt’s time with NAM represents only one of his leadership roles locally. The Ohio City resident is president of Ohio City Inc. (OCI), displaying an honest and genuine leadership style in bringing difficult issues

to c OCI Clev “W high ple Mal to na lead mitm

Maya Simek, 38 Legal director, Equality Ohio There is no animal wandering, lonely or in distress that Maya Simek won’t lovingly scoop up and foster.

Simek, a licensed social worker and attorney with four dogs and two cats, employs that same drive to act and same kindheartedness to the job.

Growing up, Simek was familiar with racist, gender and religious bias.

She not only witnessed attacks against people of color, but also had adverse experiences as a lesbian and as a person of Jewish heritage. These experiences, she said, framed her thinking.

While working at the Nueva Luz Urban Resource Center, Simek reflected on how Latinx, non-native English speakers and those affected

by HIV/AIDS didn’t have access to the legal resources they needed. So, shortly after graduating from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Simek wrote a grant and founded

the Nueva Luz Legal Clinic.

Simek joined Equality Ohio in 2017 to help launch a legal clinic that adds tangible support to the policy advocacy organization by helping LGBTQ Ohioans with their legal needs. The clinic, which opened to the public in 2019, has three full-time attorneys and serves people in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.

“She sets up these structures connecting the intersections of social work, law and compassion in systems not originally created for success for anybody, especially not for people of color and the LGBTQ community,” said Equality Ohio executive director Alana Jochum.

Furthermore, Simek has supported hundreds of victims of human trafficking while teaching law students about trauma-informed case representation as a clinical professor and director of the Hu-

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shifted from the coworking space to ending the city’s digital divide.

“Roughly 50,000 households are without the internet. Kids can’t even go to the library for the internet, and they need it to for distance learning. We’re trying to fix that,” Sauber-Buchholz said.

repship nt is diseadsues

Nathan Spoden, 32

——Anna Sauber-Buchholz

Nathan Spoden recognizes that he’s not exactly the poster boy for a technology company founder.

The Mentor native studied business and finance at Baldwin Wallace University and spent much of his career in the Greater New York City area, helping restructure beleaguered hospitals and physician practices. It was precisely this “getting his hands dirty” while learning the inner operations of health care organizations, Spoden said, that set the stage for him to reposition — and ultimately lead — MedPilot, a health tech startup.

Spoden, the son of Lake County business owners, left the Big Apple for Cleveland in late 2016 to launch his own company, Tremont Health, where he designed a revenue management platform for medical providers. Two years later, MedPilot, a fledgling New York concern that Spoden had advised early on, acquired Tremont.

“The two businesses were basically on the same wavelength for what we were doing and the technology we had developed,” he explained. “MedPilot at the time had a slightly different approach to market.”

Spoden relocated MedPilot to Cleveland’s South Marginal Road and recast its go-to-market strategy to fit his firsthand knowledge of what health care organizations need when it comes to retrieving patient revenue. The company’s offering evolved from a patient billing platform to “a more global [customer relationship management] tool that can basically manage all aspects of patient communication and engagement,” he said.

The pandemic also transformed one of her favorite hobbies — sewing.

Now Sauber-Buchholz makes masks.

“I was maybe 5 years old when I learned to sew,” she said. “Sewing masks is fun! I’ve been able to experiment and make them for friends and neighbors.” — Leslie Green

“WE’RE TRAINING INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS FOR A CAREER.”

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ight ome ther angring otics . has the aid. put ing, rers om-

“I’M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT … LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS FOR EVERYONE.”

——Christopher Schmitt

to consensus, said Donald Malone, OCI board member and president of Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital.

“We have new construction and high-end restaurants, as well as people living on the edge financially,” Malone said. “That’s not an easy thing to navigate, but the board under Chris’ leadership has demonstrated a commitment to the entire community.”

Schmitt loves his neighborhood and Cleveland as a whole, an enthusiasm that extends to the region’s manufacturing roots.

“The biggest opportunity we have is continuing to tell our story — that Cleveland is a manufacturing town,” Schmitt said. “We’re looking at those gaps and figuring out how to fill them.” — Douglas J. Guth

“I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COOL TO UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE WORLD AND APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE TO THE LEGAL FIELD.”

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——Maya Simek

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man Trafficking Law Project at Case Western Reserve University.

“Human trafficking by any other name is pretty much poverty law, whether or not people identified what was happening to them as trafficking,” Simek said.

When she’s not working toward justice, volunteering or saving homeless animals, Simek is riding her motorcycle.

“It’s so wonderful and freeing that it’s the closest thing to medication I’ll ever do,” she said. — Leslie Green

Founder and chief operating officer, MedPilot

Since the overhaul, MedPilot has raised more than $3 million from venture investors and has grown from five to 40 employees — in no small part to the hard work of Spoden, said chief financial officer Bill Leonard. According to Leonard, Spoden oversees daily operations at the company as well as its technology, product and business development teams.

“Nate is the glue that keeps the company together,” he said. “MedPilot would not have survived this long without his leadership. He is that critical to the organization.” — Judy Stringer

“I WAS EXCITED TO HAVE THOSE EXPERIENCES IN NEW YORK CITY, LIVING AND WORKING IN THAT CRAZY ENVIRONMENT. BUT BEING HOME AND BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ON MY OWN, YOU JUST CAN’T BEAT IT.”

businesses she supports.

At Timken, she’s a product manager responsible for setting the strategic direction and implementing plans for nearly a quarter of the company’s global business, the company said. Timken also said she has identified and manages tactics slated to cut Timken’s costs by $5 billion by the end of 2021.

“In whatever role we ask her to take, Jennifer always enthusiastically accepts the challenge and leaves things better than she found them,” said Douglas Smith, Timken vice president, technology. “Her vast knowledge of our business and knack for getting results are only topped by the compassion and empathy she shows for her colleagues and others. She’s a role model in every way.” — Dan Shingler

“I WANT TO GET ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE A PART OF IT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T DO THAT, IT’S HARDER TO FALL IN LOVE WITH IT.”

——Nathan Spoden

Jennifer Stamp, 38 Strategic product manager, Timken Co. Jennifer Stamp never planned to stay in Northeast Ohio, but the region got lucky, thanks to love and a lake.

Stamp grew up in Tyngsborough, Mass., a small town of about 11,000 people 45 minutes northwest of Boston on the New Hampshire border. She spent her time studying, playing school sports and enjoying childhood on a small lake that was her backyard.

She moved to Northeast Ohio in 2011 to work in sales for Timken Co. but didn’t really think she’d stay.

“I’ve always loved New England. I love the lakes, the mountains, the skiing, everything,” Stamp said.

She still does, too, but she’s found plenty to love in the local area as well — enough to stay and call it home.

We can thank her wife, Alivia Stamp, for that. Jennifer agreed to stay because Alivia loved her hometown of Canton and Jennifer loved her.

Today, the couple has two children. They found a place to build a house on the edge of Meyers Lake in Stark County, so the place feels a lot like home to her.

Stamp said she’s fallen for Northeast Ohio — by getting involved in it. She spends her spare time volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, raising money for nonprofits or food for a local elementary school, as well as doing some rock climbing and making visits to locally owned

——Jennifer Stamp

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Tiffani Sutton, 39 Founder and executive director, The Cutting Board Academy; product development specialist, Nestle If a person can create a career in a blender, Tiffani Sutton — a self-described food nerd — did just that.

She’s combined her love of food — from the science of cooking to the experience of eating — with her talents in engineering, math and science to create work focused on helping people understand the importance of healthful eating.

Sutton switched directions while at Ohio State University from industrial engineering to food science and engineering processing.

She then went to culinary school and worked in Chicago and Madison, Wis., before returning to Northeast Ohio.

“That was one of the best decisions I ever made,” she said. “I was exposed to so many experiences as a product developer for a number

of major food companies, including Oscar Mayer, Kraft Foods and Kroger Manufacturing.”

Sutton, who grew up in the Lee/ Harvard/Miles area of Cleveland, said there were no resources for families and neighborhoods like hers when she was growing up.

“We weren’t aware of the significant impact that food has on our health,” she said.

In 2011, with a greater understanding, she founded The Cutting Board Academy.

The academy offers food literacy and nutrition education through short courses and workshops.

“Our goal is to help people of all ages become a bit more savvy about their food choices and how those choices ultimately impact their health,” Sutton said. “We are also

“WH TO U LIK WH ARE WH IS, T ABO DIF FOR

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Margaret Sweeney, 35

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Whether or not to go into law was not a tough call for Margaret Sweeney, who thought she might focus on policy when she was at Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. The difficulty came when she had to step out of her comfort zone and try her hand at litigation as an intern in the United States Attorney’s office in Cleveland.

“I was interning, and the U.S. assistant attorney was very generous with his assignments and gave me a lot of responsibility,” she said. “It was then that I realized I really liked criminal litigation.”

Now Sweeney has been with the U.S. Attorney’s office for eight years.

As the lead attorney in Cleveland’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, Sweeney is an integral part of complex drug

trafficking investigations that can last years and involve global players.

In 2019, she was awarded Assistant United States Attorney of the Year for the Cleveland office, an honor her best friend, Sandra Wasnick, a fellow 2003 Saint Joseph Academy graduate, said demonstrates Sweeney’s commitment to everything she does.

St. Joe’s, as it is called by alumna, focuses on service, social justice and working collaboratively, all traits that Sweeney embodies and has continued to put into her legal career, Wasnick said.

“Margaret was always leading organizations at St. Joe’s,” Wasnick said. “She also built a lot of organizations and always did it with a team. She really left her stamp on the school.”

Sweeney is on the board at St.

Joe’s scho She at C Law likes

Angela Thompson, 38 Owner, Monument Real Estate Services The residential real estate business isn’t as glamorous as it looks on HGTV. Angela Thompson knows just how much grunt work is required.

Her company, Monument Real Estate Services LLC, manages more than 250 rental properties, many of them for far-flung owners. Since 2016, when Thompson and her husband dove into brokerage and property management, she’s dealt with indecisive investors, contractors who walked off and employees who stole money.

“You really have to love real estate. … There has to be a driving force that keeps you motivated even beyond money,” Thompson said of what it takes to get into and stay in the industry. “For me, it’s building something. It’s creating something that my children will be able to benefit from. That their children will be able to benefit from.

That this goes beyond just what I can get for myself today.”

Thompson and her husband worked in sales before forming Monument and setting out on their own. At one point, they managed close to 1,000 properties — and realized that the biggest portfolio isn’t always the most profitable.

They’ve since winnowed the business, which they operate from their home in Broadview Heights.

In nominating his wife for recognition, Byron Thompson described long days, late nights and moments of elation and defeat.

“She’s experienced all of this while raising our three children,” he wrote.

“This is the first year in two-and-ahalf years where she has not been pregnant or given birth. It’s been incredible to watch the challenge of balancing being a mom and entrepreneur unfold day in and day out.”

The couple just celebrated their

PORTRAITS BY JASON MILLER FOR CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

9/10/2020 2:45:05 PM

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“WHEN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE HOW FOOD GETS MADE, WHAT TYPES OF NUTRIENTS ARE IN THEIR FOODS AND WHAT SODIUM BENZOATE IS, THEY BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT FOOD A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, TYPICALLY FOR THE BETTER.”

very big on providing STEM-based programming for young people, using food as a conduit.”

Fallon Pulley, director of girl experience, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, said, “Tiffani’s passion for working with youth and STEM shines through her culinary scientist programs she offers for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. Whether she’s teaching the girls the science behind emulsion, taking them on a global journey through cuisine or

just plain having fun with food, she always provides our girls a fun, safe space to learn.”

Sutton has also served as an adjunct culinary arts and nutrition instructor for Cuyahoga Community College’s Hospitality Management Center and recently launched the academy’s Food Coaching Program in partnership with the Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Housing Network and the United Black Fund. — Allison Carey

“AS A FEMALE TRIAL ATTORNEY, YOU NEED TO HAVE A QUIET CONFIDENCE THAT TELLS PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR OWN JUDGMENT AND USE YOUR OWN MORAL COMPASS AND GUT.”

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Kate Volzer, 33

——Margaret Sweeney

Joe’s and was a recipient of the school’s 25 Under 35 Award in 2015.

She also teaches scholarly writing at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and in her minimal free time likes to paint.

Sweeney, as her husband tells her, is always adding more to what she already has on her plate.

“Margaret is the most involved woman I know.” Wasnick said. — Kim Palmer

“I LEARNED THAT IT’S NOT MEANT FOR ME TO DO EVERYTHING AND BE EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY. ”

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eighth anniversary. Working, living and parenting together can be complicated, particularly for two strong-willed, ambitious people, Angela Thompson said.

“But at the same time,” she said, “because we work so closely to-

gether, it’s like nobody else understands what it all takes. No one else sees all of the behind-the-scenes.

No one else can relate. So we find comfort and strength in one another because it’s like, ‘You get me.’ ” — Michelle Jarboe

Kate Volzer knew from a young age that she wanted to go into business, having grown up helping out at her mother’s salon in Northeast Ohio. But it wasn’t a particular sector of business that drew her in; it was the chance to help people be their best.

“I always wanted to lead people,” Volzer said.

Volzer said she’s always enjoyed learning about people and finding ways to support their talents. As an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, she had the chance to lead student organizations, where she learned how to motivate people and get them to believe in her mission, even when she didn’t have real authority over them.

After graduation, Volzer took on a job in the University of Chicago’s admissions office, eventually opting to attend business school in the evenings there, too. Once she earned her MBA, Volzer got a job at higher education software company DecisionDesk in Northeast Ohio. Working on issues around retention and graduation at DecisionDesk got her reflecting on her own educational experience. Higher education wasn’t a “given” in her family, Volzer said, and there had been a lot of people who helped her over the years. She wondered if there was a software platform that could help with that part of success in higher education.

Soon, Wisr was born. Wisr started in 2016 with the aim of connecting students and alumni and has since grown to facilitate other types of student engagement.

Volzer is hardworking and has big am-

bitions for Wisr, said GOJO Industries Inc. CEO and president Carey Jaros, an angel investor and advisory board member at Wisr. When Jaros first learned about the business, she thought it made sense, but it was really Volzer and her vision that she was investing in.

Volzer is motivated by the chance to grow a business that matters, and she’s curious about other people’s ideas. Volzer is a “learner rather than a knower,” Jaros said. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

“PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE ADVICE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT KNOWS YOUR BUSINESS BEST AND ADVICE IS JUST ADVICE. IT’S WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.”

to enhance care,” Viswanath said.

For example, a recent project aims to create better predictions for whether certain treatments had eliminated cancer in a patient. That could impact whether a particular patient has to go through with surgery that’s currently viewed as standard.

Viswanath is skilled at balancing the computer science and the clinical parts of his work, said Anant Madabhushi, professor of biomedical research at Case Western Reserve and research health scientist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

“And I think that’s where Satish’s unique strength is — the fact that he’s able to straddle these worlds. He’s able to understand the domain and really leverage these skills, these AI tools and skills, to try to address those challenges,” Madabhushi said. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

“VERY OFTEN, THE PROBLEM IS NOT, ‘HAVE I GOT THE DATA?’ IT’S MORE A QUESTION OF, ‘WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS DATA?’ ”

——Kate Volzer

Satish E. Viswanath, 37 Assistant professor, biomedical engineering, Case Western Reserve University As an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University, Satish Viswanath is focused on creating the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine. His work is about identifying where diseases are in the body, determining how aggressive they are and helping find the best treatment.

While earning his bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Mumbai, Viswanath learned about the practice of image analysis and became interested in the idea of applying that to the medical field. He then went to the University of Aberdeen for his master’s degree, where he studied medical imaging and medical physics. His doctorate at Rutgers University brought those two interests together.

After graduation, he came to Case Western Reserve University as a research faculty member. Today, his work focuses on diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, like colorectal cancers.

Viswanath views this work as a way to support medical professionals; it’s not designed to replace them. People are good at making decisions when presented with useful information, he said, and computers are good at finding patterns. Ideally, this next generation of AI would distill the vast amount of patient information that’s gathered for physicians to then use to make more individualized decisions.

“These are tools that can really be used

——Satish Viswanath

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Brittany Wampler, 38

John Zaller, 35 Chief investment officer, MAI Capital Management

Director, pre-professional health programs, Cleveland State University Like many students she’s advised over the years, Brittany Wampler hadn’t been sure exactly what she wanted to do when she first went to college.

She studied communication and Spanish at Clarion University of Pennsylvania and earned her master’s of education and higher education administration at Kent State University.Since then, she’s spent most of her career in higher education in Ohio, primarily in academic advising.

She found that helping students figure out how to turn their degrees into careers was a passion.

At Cleveland State University, Wampler helps students who want to enroll in competitive health programs, such as medical school, and advises them as they take prerequisites, build their resumes and take entrance exams.

These students know what they want to do, and she can help them get there.

Wampler said her goal is to “break down the barriers” that can stand between students and health professions. Cleveland State educates a diverse population that includes a lot of first-generation and underserved students.

When Wampler started at Cleveland State, she was the only employee in the pre-professional health programs office. That gave her the chance to really create programs and workshops. And Wampler tries to facilitate opportunities for students, creating programs that connect them to volunteer or research opportunities.

“BEING A PERSON THAT CAN OPEN DOORS FOR OTHER PEOPLE IS REALLY AMAZING.” — Brittany Wampler

“To help students build their resumes, we want to provide the opportunity,” she said.

As Wampler added more programming, she was promoted to director and given the chance to hire a staff member to work with her.

Wampler is a “go-getter,” said Meredith Bond, dean of the College of Sciences and Health Professions at Cleveland State.

Wampler has a vision, she makes connections, and she’s always ready with an idea.

“She’s one step ahead of everybody else,” Bond said. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

Join Crain’s journalists and local real estate experts as we take a look back on the history of downtown Cleveland development.

As an added bonus, local developers will also share perspectives on the future of Cleveland real estate.

The chief investment officer for Cleveland’s MAI Capital Management excels at making hard picks for the portfolio, yet he made what is still probably the best stock call of his career back in college.

In a program at the University of Dayton — where he was a standout golfer — finance students managed a portion of the school’s endowment fund, and Zaller made the case for divesting a position in Lehman Bros. The shares seemed overvalued, he recalled, not knowing what a prescient decision he was really making: Two years later, the firm would fall into a high-profile bankruptcy as the housing bubble burst.

“I like to tell people I knew it would collapse, but I really didn’t,” he joked. The program cemented his interest in investing.

Zaller joined MAI as an intern in 2006, taking a job out of college and ascending to CIO in 2016 for a firm that now manages roughly $7 billion in total assets and continues to grow further by rolling up other firms.

Zaller’s work in finance was truly trial by fire, with some of his first client meetings happening at the start of the Great Recession.

“I came to appreciate how important it is for people to have an adviser just to avoid making a mistake at the wrong time,” Zaller said.

That mistake may be pulling out one’s money too soon out of worry.

Zaller said the best tactic in his job today is surrounding himself with smart people and enabling them to succeed.

“John is easy to work with and values every-

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“THE MORE PEOPLE CAN ASK FOR WORK AND VOLUNTEER TO DO THINGS THAT HELP SOMEONE ELSE, THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY YOU’LL ACQUIRE OVER TIME NATURALLY. IF YOU WANT TO ADVANCE IN YOUR CAREER, THAT’S A BIG DRIVER.” — John Zaller

one’s input,” said MAI managing partner Rick Buoncore. “However, he has the ability to hear diverse views and make a decision and have everyone buy into his viewpoint."

Distilling dozens of perspectives into one decision and staying cool under pressure are some of Zaller’s best attributes, Buoncore said.

“It’s a good thing to have people on your team who know more than you do,” Zaller said.

“Being an effective leader doesn’t necessarily mean you are always the smartest person in the room." — Jeremy Nobile

CRAIN'S LIST | FOUNDATIONS Ranked by value of grants awarded in 2019

RANK

FOUNDATION

GRANTS AWARDED (MILLIONS) 2019/ 2018

ASSETS (MILLIONS) 2019

LARGEST 2019 GRANT

GIVING FOCUS AREAS

LOCAL FTE STAFF 6-30-2020

TOP LOCAL EXECUTIVE

1

CLEVELAND FOUNDATION 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 1300, Cleveland 216-861-3810/clevelandfoundation.org

$114.4 $104.8

$2,600.0

$5,000,000; Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Enhance lives of Greater Cleveland residents

78

Ronald B. Richard, president, CEO; Sally Gries, chairperson

2

KEYBANK FOUNDATION 127 Public Square, Cleveland 216-689-7394/key.com/foundation

$26.0 $33.7

$0.4

$500,000; JumpStart

Neighbors, education, workforce and service

1

Elizabeth S. Gurney, director of corporate philanthropy, KeyBank

3

THE GEORGE GUND FOUNDATION 45 W. Prospect Ave., Suite 1845, Cleveland 216-241-3114/gundfoundation.org

$24.9 $38.6

$587.4

$3,600,000; Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

Education, arts, human services, environment, economic development

12

David T. Abbott, president

4

STARK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 400 Market Ave. N., Suite 200, Canton 330-454-3426/starkcf.org

$13.1 $12.0

$296.7

$1,000,000; Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

Wide array of charitable causes

14

Mark J. Samolczyk, president, CEO

5

AKRON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 345 W. Cedar St., Akron 330-376-8522/akroncf.org

$11.1 $10.4

$199.5

$100,000; Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities; Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce 1

Arts, culture, education, health, civic affairs

19

John T. Petures Jr., president, CEO

6

NORDSON CORPORATION FOUNDATION 28601 Clemens Road, Westlake 440-892-1580/nordson.com

$10.3 $10.1

$30.9

$328,000; National Inventors Hall of Fame Camp Invention

Education, human welfare

4

Cecilia H. Render, executive director

7

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

$8.5 —

—

$620,000; Various United Way organizations

Local interests of Eaton sites

—

Taras G. Szmagala Jr., senior VP, public and community affairs

8

THE YOUNGSTOWN FOUNDATION P.O. Box 1162, Youngstown 330-744-0320/youngstownfoundation.org

$8.3 $5.6

$127.0

$1,000,000; City of Youngstown for the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater

Unrestricted

2

Janice E. Strasfeld, executive director

9

MT. SINAI HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION 11000 Euclid Ave., 3rd floor, Cleveland 216-421-5500/mtsinaifoundation.org

$7.2 $6.0

$156.7

—

Academic medicine/bioscience, urban health, Jewish community, health policy

6

Mitchell Balk, president

10

COMMUNITY WEST FOUNDATION 800 Sharon Drive, Suite C, Westlake 440-360-7370/communitywestfoundation.org

$7.0 $5.5

$132.1

$661,000; Fairview Hospital

Basic needs

8

Martin J. Uhle, president, CEO

11

SAINT LUKE'S FOUNDATION OF CLEVELAND 11327 Shaker Blvd., Suite 600W, Cleveland 216-431-8010/saintlukesfoundation.org

$6.7 $7.6

$186.8

$634,000; Greater Cleveland Food Bank

Health equity; social determinants of health

9

Timothy L. Tramble Sr., president, CEO

12

BURTON D. MORGAN FOUNDATION 22 Aurora St., Hudson 330-655-1660/bdmorganfdn.org

$6.7 $4.9

$178.1

$1,000,000; JumpStart

Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education

8.5

Deborah D. Hoover, president, CEO

13

WAYNE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 517 N. Market St., Wooster 330-262-3877/waynecountycommunityfoundation.org

$6.7 $6.7

$99.6

$217,561; Wayne County Fire and Rescue Association Regional Training Facility

Arts, education, environment, health, human services

3.5

Sara L. Patton, executive director

14

GAR FOUNDATION 277 E. Mill St., Akron 330-576-2926/garfoundation.org

$6.6 $7.1

$171.4

$460,000; Greater Akron Chamber

Help Akron become smarter, stronger and more vibrant

7.5

Christine Amer Mayer, president

15

IN HIS STEPS FOUNDATION 6801 Brecksville Road, Suite 250, Independence 330-528-1785/ihsfound.org

$6.4 $6.7

$33.3

$400,000; CRU

Faith based

2

Ben Lee, executive director

16

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LORAIN COUNTY 9080 Leavitt Road, Elyria 440-984-7390/peoplewhocare.org

$6.2 $5.5

$145.6

$550,000

Lorain County community needs

12

Cynthia Andrews, president, CEO

17

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

$6.0 $6.9

$0.0

—

Needs of the community, science and math education, environmental stewardship

0

Thomas L. Williams, chairman, CEO

18

CHAR AND CHUCK FOWLER FAMILY FOUNDATION 5885 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 300 c/o Cornerstone Family Offices, Mayfield Heights 216-906-4578/fowlerfamilyfdn.org

$4.5 $4.2

$29.4

$400,000; Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship

Arts, education and health

1

Chann FowlerSpellman, president

19

CASE ALUMNI FOUNDATION 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 216-231-4567/casealumni.org

$4.4 $4.1

$71.0

$1,007,000; CWRU College of Arts & Sciences

Scholarships, laboratories, faculty support, students

10

Stephen Zinram, executive director

20

THE KELVIN & ELEANOR SMITH FOUNDATION 30100 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 150, Pepper Pike 216-591-9111/kesmithfoundation.org

$4.1 $6.8

$175.9

$1,000,000; Cleveland Museum of Art

Arts, culture, education, economic development, environment, health

2

Ellen Stirn Mavec, chairman, president

21

VEALE FOUNDATION 30195 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike 216-255-3209/vealeentrepreneurs.org

$4.1 $3.8

$160.3

$2,370,000; Case Western Reserve University

Arts, education, entrepreneurship, health and human services

4

Daniel P. Harrington, chairman; Bridget C. Sukys, executive director

22

THE LUBRIZOL FOUNDATION 29400 Lakeland Blvd., Wickliffe 440-347-1797/lubrizol.com

$3.9 $3.2

$10.5

$1,000,000; Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship

Education; primarily focused on science, technology, engineering and math

2

Elizabeth A. Grove, president

23

PEG'S FOUNDATION 10 W. Streetsboro St., Suite 200, Hudson 330-655-1366/pegsfoundation.org

$3.9 $12.5

$100.8

$500,000; LJFF I Promise School

Mental health, arts, education

5

Rick Kellar, president

24

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE MAHONING VALLEY 201 E. Commerce St., Suite 150, Youngstown 330-743-5555/cfmv.org

$3.7 $2.0

$78.1

$1,000,000; Grove City College

COVID-19 crisis relief; general community needs

6

Shari Harrell, president

25

SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF CLEVELAND 2475 E. 22nd St., Cleveland 216-357-4460/socfcleveland.org

$3.5 $2.9

$92.0

$100,000; YWCA of Greater Cleveland; Enterprise Community Partners; St. Ignatius High School; Regina Health Center; St. Vincent Charity Medical Center 1

Poverty, homelessness, Catholic sisters, Central neighborhood

10

Susanna H. Krey, president

Researched by Chuck Soder: csoder@crain.com | Information is supplied by the foundations. Send feedback to Chuck Soder: csoder@crain.com. NOTES: 1. These organizations each received $100,000 grants.

Get 39 foundations and 94 executives in Excel format. Become a Data Member: CrainsCleveland.com/data September 14, 2020 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 31

GOLF

From Page 1

While many industries have been crushed by the COVID-19 crisis, golf — viewed as a safe alternative with many people working from home and cutting back on travel — largely has thrived.

Golf Datatech, a Florida-based firm that has been tracking the industry since 1995, said rounds played at U.S. courses soared 19.7% in July. That followed a 13.7% jump in June and put the total rounds up 3% year-over-year — an impressive figure considering pandemic-forced shutdowns caused huge drops in play in March and April.

In Northeast Ohio, rounds were up 19.4% in July, according to Golf Datatech.

Thirion said rounds played at Turkeyfoot have increased 20%. Lost Nation’s rounds also are up 20%, and the Willoughby course’s revenue has jumped 25%.

Rounds played at StoneWater Golf Club in Highland Heights are up almost 30%. At Little Mountain Country Club in Painesville, the increase is in the 10% to 15% range.

That will make it back-to-back positive years for the two golf courses, which hasn’t happened since the Tiger Woods-inspired boom in the early to mid-2000s, said Jimmy Hanlin, who is part of the operating teams at StoneWater and Little Mountain.

“It’s not just one area and it’s not just one type of golf course,” Hanlin said. “I feel like everybody that I talk to everywhere I go is just slammed.”

’90s flashbacks Hanlin, an ubiquitous golf personality on Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio, would know better than most.

And he might be even more encouraged by another set of numbers: the $388.6 million in U.S. equipment sales that Golf Datatech reported for July.

The tally is the best since the firm started tracking golf equipment sales in 1997 and is $20.5 million ahead of the previous record, which was set in June 2007.

“I think that’s the key to say maybe golf is on a significant, great rise, because people aren’t going to spend $1,000 to $2,500 on a set of clubs and quit playing,” Hanlin said.

There are some obvious qualifiers to the stellar stats.

The July equipment sales boom followed what Golf Datatech said was

Firestone Country Club in Akron is offering stay-and-play packages to nonmembers. | CLAY HAYNER PHOTOGRAPHY

a 31.4% decrease in May. And the big jumps in rounds came on the heels of what the National Golf Foundation estimated was a $1 billion loss in golf course revenues because of pandemic-related shutdowns in the spring.

But the corresponding months have been so good that the industry is expected to surpass its 2019 benchmarks, which were solid locally and nationally.

Rounds at Northeast Ohio golf courses increased 5.4% last year, according to Golf Datatech.

Little Mountain is coming off a “great” year, Hanlin said, which makes the 2020 jumps so notable.

“If we compared those numbers to ’17 or ’18, it’s astronomical how much we’re up,” Hanlin said.

The region, unlike its counterparts in the warmer parts of the country, also isn’t nearly as reliant on its early season showings. The weather this summer has been extremely favorable, which, combined with strong interest shown by golfers searching for something to do during the shutdown period, has led to successes that haven’t been experienced in at least a decade.

Turkeyfoot is “constantly running out” of the balls, gloves and tees it sells in its pro shop.

“Suppliers can’t keep up with the demand,” said Thirion, the Akron club’s GM. Cleveland Metroparks’ eight golf courses have combined for a 25% year-

GILLESPIE

From Page 8

Diversity and inclusion must be treated with the same importance as business objectives.

That will mean something different for most industries, and the strategies will be as diverse as the outcomes. We are very fortunate in Northeast Ohio to have a great variety of educated and brilliant organizations that are leading the way in how we make sustainable progress, and that gives me a great deal of hope for the future.

What continues to stand out to me personally is to focus on what is within my control to make a difference. I knew as a young teenager that I wanted to be a banker, never thinking I would actually be given an opportunity to become a regional president for a publicly traded bank. I honestly didn’t think that far into the future. What I did know, however, is that I would study, observe, work hard and prepare for the opportunity when it surfaced.

I learned that I had to embrace being a problem solver and, in fact, lean into problems, not avoid them. I also realized that I had to become a student of leadership, by first being able to successfully lead myself. That meant a strong work ethic, asking for feedback, specifically in blind spots,

over-year increase in rounds. The recently renovated Seneca Golf Course in Broadview Heights has joined Big Met, Sleepy Hollow and Manakiki as the Metroparks’ most popular courses, Metroparks executive director of golf operations Sean McHugh said.

Shawnee Hills’ par-3 course, which accompanies an 18-hole layout at the Bedford Reservation, had its total rounds rise 66% in August. Nationally, the number of nine-hole rounds, when viewed as a percentage of the

“IF WE COMPARED THOSE NUMBERS TO ’17 OR ’18, IT’S ASTRONOMICAL HOW MUCH WE’RE UP.” ——Jimmy Hanlin, part of the operating teams at StoneWater and Little Mountain

total loops, is up 15% this year, the National Golf Foundation said.

“We have seen a lot of newer golfers, as well as golfers returning after many years,” McHugh said.

Cindy Cole, the GM at Valleaire Golf Club in Hinckley, has been approached by quite a few guests who have showed off the new clubs they purchased with their federal stimulus checks.

Golf revenue at the club is up 20%, which has made up for the earnings Valleaire lost from banquets and indoor simulators.

and being proactive about growing and learning.

I’ve been fortunate enough along my journey and have been given opportunities to grow and take on challenges with increased responsibilities. I also realized that I didn’t have to give up my uniqueness, cultural identity or perspective in order to make a valuable contribution. I have always felt as an African American in corporate America that I’ve needed to be a part of the mainstream, but have never felt that I’ve needed to assimilate or compromise who I am.

I am very much aware, and am a realist about our environment, of the lack of diversity and the issues confronting all of us. Yet I do choose to see hope in the essence of our local community of Northeast Ohio, and believe we can do better. My optimism is grounded in my unique experiences and the God-given ability to overcome poor odds, while demanding real change to break down barriers.

I have been fortunate to work for companies that, while not perfect, have similar values to my own, which created opportunities for me. I do believe we’ve lost ground, but am very hopeful that we are at an inflection point in Northeast Ohio for real, sustainable and measurable change. I realize I am standing on the shoulders of those that came before me, and now I need to be the shoulder for someone else to stand on.

Cole, too, has seen many new customers, which has reminded the GM “of the ’90s boom in golf.”

‘They’re investing’ Two key demographics often cited in past reports that studied golf’s decline — a drop in women and younger players — also have been on the rebound.

The National Golf Foundation said the number of kids in the 6-17 age group increased 20% in the second quarter of 2020. That could lead to a half-million bump in junior golfers by year’s end, the foundation said.

Hanlin said his 12-year-old son, Palmer, a baseball and basketball player who “never played golf at all,” completed 10 18-hole rounds in August.

“He got hooked,” the host of “18 Holes,” “Pin Shot” and “Swing Clinic” said.

Hanlin, who lives about 60 yards from the sixth green at Little Mountain, said he frequently rides around the course in the evening to chat with guests.

The biggest increases he’s seeing are in the numbers of women and kids. This year, Little Mountain had a new women’s league with 20-plus participants.

Gone, finally, are the “depressing” conversations about the industry, Hanlin said.

MIDTOWN

From Page 4

Epstein said he thinks the redevelopment that has drawn so much attention to the area in the past 20 years — from the buildings now known as the home of Dealer Tire and the Baker Electric Building, which houses offices and research laboratories — as well as others might have benefited from a historic district designation.

“It would have been easier, perhaps less costly, and perhaps faster if a historic district were in place earlier,” Epstein said.

The application for the professional study that is necessary to get a district approved by the State of Ohio Historic Preservation Office was possible, Epstein said, because the Cleveland Landmarks Commission won a $25,000 grant from the state for the project, along with a $5,000 grant from Ohio Development Services Agency as a “pipeline project” to keep candidates coming in for tax credits for adaptive reuse.

As the Cleveland Landmarks Commission adopted the plan at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 10, Don Petit, secretary of the commission,

Instead, the talk has turned to how golf can maintain its COVID-aided boom.

Hanlin wonders if the industry, after months in which the golf business has far exceeded the events business, will adjust.

“From an expense standpoint, daily play, just running tee times, is easier,” Hanlin said. “It’s like Groundhog Day. It’s what you do every day.

When you have a big group of 130 people showing up at the same time and you gotta feed ’em twice, that’s a lot more work and a lot more staff.”

Events can bring in significant revenue. The “tradeoff,” though, is the golf course might have to be shut down before and after, and with demand at its current level, the facilities can fill their time slots with regular play, said McCoy, the assistant manager and golf pro at Lost Nation.

“We’re more tee time-based this year,” said Thirion, the Turkeyfoot GM. The majority of the Akron club’s events were canceled this year, Thirion said. The gaps, however, were filled in by golfers who might have been looking to get in a round between Zoom meetings or seeking an escape from their kids’ virtual schooling.

For the first time, Firestone Country Club in Akron is offering stayand-play packages for nonmembers.

Customers have the option of staying for one, two or three nights, which the ClubCorp-owned course thinks could lead to an increase in national memberships during a time in which corporate events and members hosting guests has been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

“I think that to a certain extent family memberships and family clubs will do a lot better moving forward because parents and kids have been reintroduced to the game as a family activity,” Firestone GM Jay Walkinshaw said.

But what happens when workers are back in offices and life eventually returns to some semblance of normal? Could the gains made in 2020 produce enough committed golfers to continue the momentum?

“Maybe it doesn’t sustain at this level because we’re at record-breaking times right now, but I really think it’s going to be a huge shot in the arm for the industry because people aren’t just playing,” Hanlin said.

“They’re investing in the game.”

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

said that he was thankful the state had approved the grant and that the consultant for it had been selected through a request for approval.

Julie Trott, an architect who chairs the commission, was enthusiastic about the plan.

“I think it’s a wonderful nomination. I’ve worked there for years (at Vocon Architects) and believe it’s a really eclectic district that’s fairly intact,” Trott said.

At the commission meeting and a public hearing on the plan held by MidTown, there were no comments opposing the plan.

Cleveland Councilman Basheer Jones, whose Ward 7 includes part of the proposed district, said he also has heard no critical comments about the plan.

“It’s not in a very residential district,” Jones said of the lack of opposition. “I think it’s a good opportunity to improve the neighborhood.”

If the district is approved by Ohio Historic Site Advisory Board at its meeting on Friday, Sept. 18, it would be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior for a final decision on the nomination to make it a national historic district.

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

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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Consolidus is setting the pace for a breakout year

PPE business, contract with Rutgers University turns 2020 around for brand management company

BY DAN SHINGLER

You’d think that a company with a business model that relies on event marketing would be happy to just survive 2020, but Akron’s Consolidus is not just keeping its head above water, it’s making a wake.

After being alarmed at falling revenue in March, founder and owner Jeffrey Jones now says it looks like this is going to be the breakout year he’s been waiting for at his 14-yearold brand management company in Akron’s Bounce Innovation Hub. “This year, we’re expecting to end the year at 60% to 65% growth,” Jones said.

It’s all thanks to a successful pivot, executing on a huge new account, and retaining people and focus, Jones said.

Consolidus helps clients manage their branding, especially with promotional items such as apparel, water bottles and other things that might typically be seen in a college store or on a trade show exhibit table. The company tracks how many and which people within an organization are using branded materials, helps manage suppliers and even sets up online stores for clients such as universities.

A lot of its big customers are universities, in fact, and Jones said he came into 2020 expecting it to be a great year, because at the end of 2019, Consolidus won the business of Rutgers University, the company’s largest client yet and its first major school outside of Ohio. Rutgers is in New Jersey.

Consolidus was preparing for a

Consolidus program manager Nolan Howard works with corporate sales director Amanda Wishnek. | CONSOLIDUS

July rollout of Rutgers’ brand management program while continuing to work with existing customers on marketing materials for special events when COVID-19 struck in March, Jones said. The bottom fell out of the events business.

“It was a tremendous effort and accomplishment for us to maintain full operations with our staff, while customers were canceling orders and many of our top accounts were introducing spending freezes because of the pandemic,” Jones said. “We took a big financial hit in March due to the pandemic, and then much of our team focused on our successful pivot and return to growth while some of our staff was able to dedicate to the

successful development and launch of the Rutgers program.”

That “pivot” came after Consolidus officials realized COVID-19 could turn into COVID-aid. Many of the same clients who had been ordering water bottles, pens and polo shirts now needed face masks and other personal protective equipment. Why not use Consolidus’ supply chain expertise to source them and help out?

That became not just a stopgap but a big part of Consolidus’ business, Jones said. The company realized the protective items represented branding opportunities just like a shirt or hat. And as COVID has lingered, people have started wanting more creative masks with messaging.

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The PPE business grew so much, Jones said, that PPE supply and branding now represent one-quarter of Consolidus’ revenue.

The company had revenue of $6 million last year, according to information from Jones, and revenue grew by 20% over 2018 levels — about the same rate of growth Consolidus has had for the past five years.

Then there’s Rutgers. That represents another roughly 25% of Consolidus’ current revenue, Jones said, meaning that half of the company’s current sales are coming from new sources. No mean feat, but Jones said he knew the company would have a breakout year and thought 2020 might just be it.

Consolidus is his baby. Jones said he has resisted offers of private equity and still owns Consolidus outright.

He talks about it like an impassioned college coach.

“We knew this business model had the opportunity really accelerate at some point and really scale up,” Jones said, his voice rising on the word “knew” with emphasis.

Meanwhile, Consolidus is growing its staff. The pivot to PPE allowed it to keep all of its people, knowing they’d be needed, Jones said. It also got help from a Paycheck Protection Program loan of between $150,000 and $350,000 via JPMorgan Chase Bank, according to federal records.

The company also added a director of development, Bryan Baker, and a senior director of corporate communications, Kelly Gregart, Jones said.

That brings the company’s workforce to 22. That’s not a problem today, as most of its people are still working from home, Jones said. But it’s also the same number of workstations that Consolidus has in total.

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

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So it’s expanding and taking over additional space at Bounce, where it’s moving into an office formerly occupied by Bezlio, a company with an employee resource management app that’s moving to new space within Bounce.

The move will effectively more than double Consolidus’ space, adding 30 workstations, Jones said.

That might not be enough for long, though. Jones said he expects to hire 50 to 60 additional employees over the next two to three years.

That’s music to the ears of Bounce CEO Doug Weintraub, who said Consolidus is becoming one Bounce’s largest tenants and is probably the most active user of newly remodeled common space on the building’s first floor.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” Weintraub said, adding that Bounce officials were more than happy to help coordinate more space for Consolidus.

“That’s one of the benefits of Bounce. You can change your space without penalties, and there’s no issues with changing your lease,” Weintraub said.

More important: “They’re very high-quality jobs” that Jones is creating, Weintraub said. And creating jobs is a big part of Bounce’s mission.

Weintraub said he’s been impressed with how the Consolidus team handled this year’s challenges.

“We knew they were taking (the space) because they signed several new contracts,” Weintraub said. “But when the pandemic hit, we thought, ‘How are they going to be able to do that, and what about their existing business?’ But they were able to pivot and do it all.”

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SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 33

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Advertising Section

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ACCOUNTING

INSURANCE / FINANCIAL SERVICES

MANUFACTURING

Sikich LLP

Alex N. Sill Company

Kichler Lighting LLC

Sikich LLP would like to congratulate Maureen Aebi, CPA, MT, on being selected as a Greater Akron Chamber 30 for the Future award recipient. Maureen is a senior tax manager at Sikich LLP, where she serves a variety of industries, including commercial and residential real estate. The 30 for the Future award honors young professionals whose stellar contributions impact their industries and the Greater Akron Region.

Dustin L. Wadsworth has been named Director of Digital Marketing at Alex N. Sill Company. He is an experienced and award-winning digital content, marketing, and advertising leader. Before joining Sill Company he worked at Group Plan Commission, the team responsible for programming Cleveland’s historic Public Square. Prior to that, he spent 15 years in local news where he led emerging platform strategy, built new revenue opportunities, and served as a leading digital audience growth strategist.

Kichler Lighting welcomes Dave Bagnall as VP, Human Resources. Dave will design and drive HR strategy, and serve as an integral part of the Bagnall executive leadership team. He comes from Delta Faucet where he spent 2 years as Director of Business Partnerships, focused on information systems, manufacturing, engineering, quality, and supply chain. Before Masco, Dave was a teacher and school administrator, and an HR leader at Lowe’s.

Mark Macioce joins Kichler as VP, Information Technology. His executive leadership role includes overall Macioce strategy, planning, and execution. Mark previously spent 10 years at General Electric in the information management leadership program and held positions across IT, engineering, commercial services, and quality.

ARCHITECTURE

ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) With a background in architecture and digital communications, Ryan Caswell joins TDA as a visual designer. Ryan brings enhanced visual communications for the firm’s brand, clients and projects including video production, photography and content marketing. Ryan received a Bachelors of Science in Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In his spare time, Ryan can be found hiking with his wife and three children on the many trails in the Cleveland Metroparks system.

LAW

Brouse McDowell LPA Brouse McDowell welcomes Jennifer M. Himmelein as a Partner in our Cleveland Office.

Jennifer’s practice focuses on family law covering domestic relations, juvenile, probate and mediation. Jennifer earned her JD from ClevelandMarshall College of Law, cum laude, and her BA from Kent State University, summa cum laude.

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Hiram College is pleased to welcome David P. Haney, Ph.D. as interim president.

Dr. Haney comes to the College after serving two years as the President of Centenary University, a private liberal arts university in Hackettstown, New Jersey. Prior to that, Dr. Haney served as the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Emory & Henry College and also held administrative and faculty positions at Appalachian State University, Black Hills State University, Auburn University, and Swarthmore College.

Laura Picariello Reprints Sales Manager lpicariello@crain.com (732) 723-0569

Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation announces Matt Ziaja as the newest member of its Board of Directors after being unanimously elected to the position. Mr. Ziaja, a Northeast Ohio native, currently serves as the Sales Manager (Central & Western US) for CompuMark.

“We look forward to working with Matt and the value he will bring to the organization, with his marketing and relationshipbuilding skills as well as his personal story with his own vision,” says Debbie MayJohnson, CEBF Executive Director.

DIVERSITY

From Page 1

Caren Ulrich Stacy, CEO of Diversity Lab, told The National Law Journal earlier this year that the industry’s overall diversity numbers dipped for the first time in two decades in 2008.

The population of Black associates in firms didn’t rebound since then, she said, until last year.

Meanwhile, although a recession may be a good time to enter law school — the thinking being a student could ride out a downturn while enrolled, graduate a few years later and find a good-paying job in the economic rebound — many diverse students dropped out amid the financial crisis because of personal hardships and the lack of a support network, said Delanté Spencer Thomas, director of JD Advantage Advising & Outreach for Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Attempting to not just prevent a repeat of these trends today, but possibly improve legal diversity in the coming years, is where the OLDC comes in.

Its first program was held at the end of August. The OLDC reflects a partnership between what so far includes Cleveland-founded Thompson Hine, which is spearheading the initiative, and Northeast Ohio’s three law schools — Case, the University of Akron and Cleveland State University.

All are collaborating on programming with young and diverse lawyers and law students particularly in mind.

While law firms are feeling challenges in today’s market, outright layoffs have so far been less common amid today’s pandemic-induced recession than they were in the last downturn.

The simmering worry, though, is whether there could be eventual fallout like there was back then, once again setting back the industry’s work in diversity and inclusion.

“Around 2008-2009, there was a disproportionate negative impact on underrepresented communities, and in the legal profession, they were particularly affected,” said Nirvana Dove, diversity, equity and inclusion manager for Thompson Hine who worked on similar collaborative diversity initiatives with Georgetown University.

“We saw underrepresented law students drop out of the legal market completely or drop out of the pipeline for legal employers. Some hung their shingles or pursued other opportunities because the opportunities they had were slim. With this knowledge, we were compelled to take some proactive steps to combat the negative effects COVID-19 could have on our own diversity and inclusion efforts and in the profession generally.”

The slate of programming so far includes online workshops, panels and webinars on topics ranging from conducting virtual job interviews to maintaining personal wellness in times of uncertainty. The OLDC is compiling its own list of possible mentors and other related volunteers to connect people with.

If successful, the program could be expanded over time and broadened into other markets besides Northeast Ohio. The initiative has coalesced here because of Thompson Hine’s Cleveland roots and general presence in Ohio, where the firm has four offices, Dove said.

OLDC’s offerings may not be wholly novel or groundbreaking. They tend to be topics and efforts addressed by schools and bar associations.

But what makes it unique is both how its bringing otherwise competing law schools together to collabo-

rate under one umbrella and how that’s all happening with a law firm as the driving force.

“It’s one thing for the law schools to push these messages. It’s another for a bar or affinity bar association to push diversity and inclusion,” said Spencer Thomas, who is also first vice president with the Norman S. Minor Bar Association, an affinity bar for Black lawyers. “But with the OLDC, we find it encouraging a firm, an employer, wants to address some of these issues and help work with our diverse students to make sure they are well-equipped. And what we hope is other employers will be involved and we continue to grow our partnership and this matriculates into some substantial change.”

Majeed Makhlouf, a Cleveland attorney and vice president of the newly formed Arab American Bar Association, said D&I initiatives tend to take a back seat to other priorities when law firms are in tough times.

It’s akin to schools ditching art and music programs when facing funding shortfalls. But just as those subjects shouldn’t be viewed as luxury items to be cut or neglected when times are tougher, he said, neither should D&I efforts in the legal profession.

“We are in a major economic crisis and the fact (Thompson Hine is) rising up and saying let’s not lose track that we have these issues in the profession we need to pay attention to, I take my hat off to that,” Makhlouf said.

Efforts to improve diversity in the legal profession in the past have simply not led to material change. Why that is could be due to a variety of longstanding and nuanced reasons.

But correcting those trends will only happen with a “seismic cultural” change, Makhlouf said.

According to the American Bar Association, in 2019, only 5% of lawyers were Black, 5% were Hispanic and 3% were Asian.

Among all in-market attorneys accounted for in the 2020 Crain’s Cleveland law firms list, which covers all of the market’s largest players: 71% are men; 29% are women; 94% are white; 6% are minorities. Among local partners: 79% are men; 21% are women; 96% are white; 4% are minorities.

“It’s vitally important that the diversity of the legal profession reflect the diversity of the society that it serves, and that still is not the case despite many years of attention to the issue,” said C.J. Peters, dean for the University of Akron School of Law. “While diversity across the board is important, I believe it is particularly important that we find ways to attract more Black law students and lawyers to the profession and to support and retain them once they become law students and then lawyers. We need to be actively facilitating Black and other minority leadership in the legal profession, not just entry into that profession.”

Peters pointed to the dearth of diverse representation in partner positions among law firms that doesn’t square with the growing levels of minority law students as an indicator of issues within firms themselves.

“This indicates that something is happening between the time these lawyers are being hired and the time they become eligible for partnership that is preventing them or deterring them from attaining that status,” he said. “I believe it is the firms’ responsibility to focus on identifying and redressing these issues, and I am very glad to see Thompson Hine taking a leadership role in this regard.”

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

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND LOOK BACK | SHERWIN-WILLIAMS CO.

Cleveland remains home for coating giant

crainscleveland.com

The Sherwin-Williams Co. has grown a lot over the years, shifting from an importer of paint-related products to a global coatings giant. The company’s “cover the earth” logo has never been more apt than it is today. The company’s products have changed, too, and innovation means more than just the latest color scheme. Sherwin-Williams’ researchers continue to push the industry forward with products like paint that can kill bacteria. One constant over the years has been the company’s location: Cleveland, the same city where it was founded more than 150 years ago. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

``THE HISTORY Sherwin-Williams Co. got its start in Cleveland in 1866. At that time, Henry A. Sherwin, a bookkeeper, invested $2,000 he had saved up in a company called Truman Dunham & Co. Sherwin became a partner in the home-decorating supplies importer, learning about the paint business in particular. In 1869, the company opened a factory to make linseed oil, an ingredient in paint, marking a shift toward manufacturing. A year later, the company was dissolved, and Sherwin entered into a new partnership with Alanson T. Osborn and Edward P. Williams. The three formed what became Sherwin-Williams, taking over Truman Dunham’s retail operations.

But it was in 1875 that the game really changed. That was the year Sherwin-Williams began selling ready-mixed paint. Before that, the norm had been to sell paint ingredients that consumers could mix together.

A few years later, Osborn sold his interest in the company, keeping the retail operations and leaving Sherwin-Williams to focus on paint manufacturing. Sherwin-Williams experienced rapid growth, acquiring companies that lessened its reliance on suppliers. In the early 1900s, the company re-entered the retail market by opening its own stores.

Fast-forward to the 1970s, which marked a downturn as raw material costs increased. But leadership turned that around by the 1980s, and the 1990s were another period of significant growth by acquisition for the paint-maker.

In 2016, Sherwin-Williams took another big step, announcing its plans to acquire rival paint-maker Valspar Corp. for more than $11 billion. The deal closed in the middle of 2017, making the combined company the largest coatings company in the world.

``IN THEIR OWN WORDS “For years, we’ve known that our history — our shared heritage — makes this company unique, remarkable even.”

——Then-executive chairman Chris Connor, in a news release about the company’s 150th anniversary

Sherwin-Williams recently announced plans for a new research facility in Brecksville, but the status of the current center on the banks of the Cuyahoga River is unclear. | DAVID KORDALSKI/CRAIN’S

``WHY IT MATTERS TODAY Last year, Sherwin-Williams employed more than 60,000 people across the globe, including more than 4,000 in Northeast Ohio. And it had net sales of $17.9 billion from products it sells in a variety of venues, including its retail locations and big box stores. Lots of companies have left Cleveland over the years, but not Sherwin-Williams. It has stayed in the city where it was founded more than 150 years ago.

But that status was at risk in recent years, when Sherwin-Williams announced it was searching for a new site for its headquarters — and that it was considering sites beyond Cleveland’s borders.

The company has outgrown its current site at 101 W. Prospect Ave., which has served as its headquarters since 1930.

The city was able to breathe a sigh of relief in February 2020, when Sherwin-Williams announced that it had identified a site for its new headquarters and that it was in Cleveland. The company plans to turn a host of parking lots in the area of West Third Street, West Sixth Street, Superior Avenue and St. Clair Avenue into a million-square-foot corporate headquarters. The paint-maker also an-

“Driven by our continued need to serve our customers at the highest level and retain and attract top talent, we intend to create a nextgeneration workplace environment that ignites creativity, collaboration and industry-leading innovation.”

—— Chairman and CEO John G. Morikis said in a statement about the company’s new headquarters

Sherwin-Williams Co. has been in Cleveland since its founding. Seen here is its factory in 1928. | THE CLEVELAND PRESS COLLECTION VIA CLEVELAND MEMORY PROJECT

nounced plans to build a large research center in Brecksville.

The plan is for the company to occupy the new spaces by 2023. Despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Northeast Ohio will still be able to count on the thousands of jobs Sherwin-William provides. And Cleveland will still be able to boast that one of its oldest and largest companies sees fit to call it home.

“A new global headquarters in Cleveland lays the foundation for the next chapter for both Sherwin-Williams and our city’s history.”

——Mayor Frank Jackson, from a statement about the selection of the site for Sherwin-Williams’ new headquarters

THE WEEK TEAM PLAYERS: Helmet-maker Team Wendy LLC agreed to be acquired by United Kingdom-based Avon Rubber PLC for $130 million. Under the agreement, Cleveland-based Team Wendy, which makes head protection gear, will be acquired by Baltimore-based Avon Protection Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Avon Rubber. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2020. Team Wendy will become a subsidiary of Avon Rubber and will continue to operate from Cleveland.

NEW IN CHARGE: Cathy Belk was named president and CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, a private foundation that helps people in need build careers that sustain them and their families. Belk, who will begin Oct. 12, succeeds Deborah Vesy, who is retiring after leading the organization since 2002. Vesy had

Team Wendy has entered into an agreement to be acquired

by Avon Rubber. On the left, Team Wendy’s EXFIL Ballistic SL helmet is shown with Avon Protection’s FM54 Mask System and CS-PAPR Combination System. On the right is Team Wendy’s EXFIL Carbon helmet with Avon Protection’s C50 Mask System. | TEAM WENDY

been with the foundation since its inception in 1997. Belk most recently served as president of JumpStart Inc., the venture capital and entrepreneurial assistance nonprofit, and previously led innovation at Cleveland-based American Greetings. She has also held roles at Coca-Cola Co., Procter & Gamble and Bank of America.

PLAY ON: Streetsboro-based Step2 Co. is ready to return to rotational molding in Georgia by acquiring manufacturing, distribution and shipping assets in Decatur, Ga., where it will employ 150 to 175 people at a new plant. Step2 also plans to hire another 100 employees for its two Ohio plants, in Streetsboro and Perrys-

ville, to meet high demand for its rotationally molded toys and home products. Step2 had operated a 109,250-square-foot factory with 104 employees in Fort Valley, Ga., from 2000 to 2010 to serve the Southeastern United States and supply customers in Latin America until a slowing economy took its toll.

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