Crain's Cleveland Business

VOL. 39, NO. 47

NOVEMBER 19 - 25, 2018

Source Lunch

Sports business

Patricia Oliver, partner, Tucker Ellis LLP Page 35

CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Spire Institute’s fortunes could bounce right with LaMelo Ball. Page 2

FORTY UNDER

40

What makes this year’s chosen under-40s stand out from the crowd is not just their contributions to Northeast Ohio, but their dedication to its future.

Through their careers and their work in the community, this year’s honorees reach all sectors of our region, and we expect their influence will only grow with time. Keep your eye on these folks.

Many of them are just getting rolling. Pages 12-31 Portraits by Jason Miller for Crain’s

GOVERNMENT

SAY YES CITY | A CRAIN’S SERIES

Five biz-friendly bills languishing in state

By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com @millerjh

A group of higher-profile social and justice issues — including abortion and gun rights — are getting all of the attention as the Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly rushes to wrap up its 132nd session. But the fate of a group of five economic development bills that could significantly boost the financial incentives available for business expansion in the state are still waiting to be passed or expire before adjournment on Dec. 19.

Because of the election of a Republican, Mike DeWine, to replace Gov. John Kasich, the Legislature

may not feel pressed to pass this batch of business-friendly legislation before Kasich leaves office.

Furthest along are two bills that would greatly expand state financial incentives for the largest of projects.

Both were heard at a hearing last Tuesday, Nov. 13, before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

HB 469 would offer insurance companies, major long-term investors in real estate, a new credit against their state taxes of as much as 10% of the development cost for investments in what the legislation calls “transformational mixed-use developments,” or TMUDs — likely a downtown combination of office space, residential units, a hotel, retailing, structured parking or a recreational use.

SEE BILLS, PAGE 32

Entire contents © 2018 by Crain Communications Inc.

Growing local talent a moral and economic imperative

Shana Marbury, GCP general counsel: “So we’re really looking at Say Yes as a way to ensure that our local students can access college and other postsecondary training and credentials they need.” (Portrait by Ken Blaze for Crain’s)

By RACHEL ABBEY McCAFFERTY rmccafferty@crain.com @ramccafferty

Finding skilled talent may be the biggest challenge facing Cleveland’s business community today, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership knows Say Yes to Education could have an “enormous impact” on

P001_CL_20181119.indd 1

building the talent pipeline, said Shana Marbury, general counsel and senior vice president for education and workforce.

“So we’re really looking at Say Yes as a way to ensure that our local students can access college and other postsecondary training and credentials they need for jobs that are available with our companies today,” Marbury said.

Cleveland is in the midst of trying to

become a Say Yes to Education chapter. Say Yes to Education got its start in Philadelphia about 30 years ago, providing scholarship funding and support services to students. Since then, the organization has expanded to more communities, but its core of supporting students and enabling them to seek postsecondary education has remained consistent.

SEE SAY YES, PAGE 6

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Ball raises Spire’s profile, amps up scrutiny

By KEVIN KLEPS

Left: LaMelo Ball will increase Spire’s profile.

(Alius Koroliovas/ Getty Images)

kkleps@crain.com @KevinKleps

Jermaine Jackson played for five NBA teams, and his pro basketball career included stops in Israel, Italy and Spain.

The 42-year-old head coach of the Spire Academy high school and postgrad basketball teams is friends with Kevin Durant and has daily conversations with legendary coach Larry Brown. To say Jackson isn’t fazed by the scrutiny that LaMelo Ball is bringing to Spire’s hoops program is underselling how calm the coach appears.

“Everybody has something to say,” said Jackson, who was hired by Spire in June. “People talk about Jesus Christ, but they still praise him. Let’s be honest. I don’t get into any of that.”

Jackson believes that any attention is good attention for Spire Institute — a massive athletic complex in Geneva that doubles as a boarding academy for promising athletes. And Ball — a 17-year-old NBA prospect whose brother, Lonzo, was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft and whose father, LaVar, is the founder of the Big Baller Brand — brings a ton.

On Nov. 8, the day before Spire welcomed Ball with a news conference, Overtime paid for a billboard in downtown Cleveland that shows the youngest Ball brother with his arms outstretched, a la the LeBron James pose that once was prominently displayed on Sherwin-Williams’ headquarters.

Jackson said he heard from “hundreds” of people after Ball announced that he would be resuming

Jackson

his high school career at Spire. The follower count for the institute’s main Instagram account increased from 2,000 to more than 19,000 within days, and Spire Academy has had a surge in applications, said chief operating officer Jeff Orloff.

“It’s definitely moved things forward in a positive direction,” Orloff said.

Spire has 50,000 square feet of unused space, which could be filled by an increase in numbers for the academy.

Once athletes affiliated with FINA, the international swimming federation, arrive this winter, the academy’s enrollment will be about 60, Orloff said.

Students in the boarding school attend classes at Saint John School in Ashtabula or Grand River Academy in Austinburg, with online options available. Some pay room and board that ranges from $40,000 to $45,000 (for postgrad students) to $52,000 to $58,000 (for high school students), and some receive scholarships.

In just a few months, Jackson, even

before Ball’s arrival, brought in a plethora of NCAA Division I recruits that includes senior Rocket Watts, who has committed to Michigan State University, and junior Isaiah Jackson, an ESPN five-star recruit with more than 20 D-I offers.

As had become custom under former basketball coach Bobby Bossman, Spire’s sprawling, remote campus, located almost 50 miles from downtown Cleveland, has been visited by plenty of big names in college hoops. And on Nov. 11, Sean Combs, aka Diddy, made a Veterans Day visit to Spire. (The music and entertainment mogul is friends with Jackson.)

Ball, though, brings a different type of notoriety, because of his father’s outspoken nature and because the 6-foot-3 point guard left Chino Hills High School in California to play for BC Prienu Vytautas, a pro team in Lithuania, in 2017-18.

That brief run — LaMelo averaged 12.4 minutes in eight games — has

caused three of Spire’s most notable 2018-19 opponents to back out of games against the institute’s high school team.

La Lumiere School, Oak Hill Academy and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School canceled or, in the case of St. Benedict’s, postponed games against Spire that were scheduled to be held within a three-week span in November and December.

La Lumiere — a La Porte, Ind., boarding school that counts 2018 No. 4 overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. as a former player — released a statement that said it wasn’t “comfortable” playing against a team that had a player with pro experience on its roster. Oak Hill — a Mouth of Wilson, Va., powerhouse with a star-studded list of alumni that includes Durant and Carmelo Anthony — had similar concerns.

“You can’t have a player on your team that signed a pro contract. It doesn’t matter if he got paid or not,” Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told The Washington Post.

Ball’s brief pro career was an issue for Oak Hill because of Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association bylaws. Spire, which isn’t a member of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, doesn’t have such worries, though the school and the Ball family insist LaMelo wasn’t paid for his time in Lithuania.

The OHSAA doesn’t restrict which teams its members play, and Spire’s schedule has a handful of games against Northeast Ohio teams that are affiliated with the association.

Spire will still be part of Vermilion’s tipoff tournament on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, athletic director Andrew Stillman told Crain’s. The same goes for a game at

Brush High School on Jan. 15 and a Jan. 27 matchup against Lutheran East in the Chet Mason Invitational at Brush.

One possible exception is a Spire game at St. Edward High School that is slated for Jan. 26. As of Thursday, Nov. 14, the game was still on, but the Eagles are “undecided if we are going to play them,” said basketball coach Eric Flannery.

Spire, even with the recent reductions, has games scheduled in nine states outside of Ohio, and it will compete in such in-demand tournaments as the Prolific Prep Flyin’ to the Hoop showcase in Dayton.

A standout roster led by Ball — whom Jackson compares to “an athletic Oscar Robertson with shooting range” — is going to generate headlines no matter if it plays Oak Hill or Brush.

Orloff said any gains Spire Academy realizes from Ball’s time in Geneva likely will be over a longer term, as Jackson builds the hoops program and the enrollment numbers, in theory, increase.

“We’re also an event facility, so it helps in that way as well,” the Spire COO said. “Most people know about us, but that doesn’t hurt. It definitely moves the needle to have somebody of his caliber and notoriety.”

Jackson — who in August told Crain’s that he looked forward to the day Spire Academy’s name was mentioned on NBA draft night — already has a few possible pro selections on his roster. And now, as LaVar said on Nov. 9 at Spire, the coach has “a Ball boy.”

“I look at all of it as positive,” Jackson said of the attention. “Even if somebody is saying something negative, it’s positive to me.”

“OEC gives me work-life balance”

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Clinic-Oscar pairing is exceeding hopes

By LYDIA COUTRÉ lcoutre@crain.com @LydiaCoutre

Oscar Health and Cleveland Clinic are looking to capitalize on the initial success of their co-branded insurance product as they enter into their second year as partners.

The partnership, which marked the Clinic’s first heavy play in the insurance business, vastly exceeded expectations in the first year, securing what they estimate to be a 15% share of the individual market in the 2018 open enrollment season.

They enrolled more than 11,000 members — three times what they expected.

While the partners are remaining in the same five Northeast Ohio counties for their second open enrollment — Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, Medina and Lake — there may be some opportunity to grow even more.

Michael Harrington, chief accounting officer and controller at the Clinic and interim executive director of market and network services, said the partners expect a growth rate of 10% to 20% in members. He believes the “Cleveland Clinic | Oscar” plan can pick up some members from Medical Mutual of Ohio, which is offering a narrow network that excludes the Clinic.

“And so we’re thinking there could be some upside to those estimates because I think folks historically might have opted into that plan and not fully realized they wouldn’t have access to the Cleveland Clinic,” Harrington said.

Oscar and Cleveland Clinic’s teamup posted a loss of $1.4 million in 2017, attributable to startup costs, Harrington said. In the first half of 2018, though, they reported net income of $1.8 million. Though financial statements through September are not yet publicly available, Harrington said those numbers are “tracking almost right on where we thought we would be.”

The financial statements also show that members dropped from the first quarter to the second quarter of this year, from 11,022 to 10,762 members.

He attributes this to normal attrition from members who perhaps can’t make the payments or found a job and got covered through their employer.

Harrington said the partners are being cautious in any rapid expansion, in part due to a reconciliation process among participants in the marketplace that takes place roughly nine months after the year closes, Harrington said. Insurers are either a receiver of a risk adjustment payment, or a payer, he said.

“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves if all of the sudden that risk adjustment comes out and it may not be favorable to us,” Harrington said. “In talking to folks that are in the business, you’re constantly having to make decisions about the next year before you understand how the current year is performing, ultimately performing.

So we’re being cautious in terms of any significant expansion of membership until we really have a good understanding of how we are doing in ’18, which we won’t know until sometime later in ’19.”

Separate from its partnership with the Clinic, Oscar is expanding with several new markets, including the Columbus area, where it is partnering with Mount Carmel Health Sys-

P003_CL_20181119.indd 3

tem in Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield and Licking counties.

Oscar’s other new 2019 markets are Orlando, Fla.; Detroit; Phoenix; El Paso, Texas; and Memphis, Tenn.

Dr. Dennis Weaver, chief clinical officer for Oscar, said that the “overwhelm- Weaver ing support” Oscar has seen in Cleveland was one of the key pieces of the decision to expand to Columbus.

“The other thing that we really find is that the Ohio community has embraced who we are,” he said. “We are a consumerized health plan; we engage big time with our members; we’re technology driven to have a digital engagement as well as a per-

sonal engagement with our members. I think one of the things that we’re finding is just the satisfaction rates and the member experience that people are reporting to us has been so solid in Ohio that we see Ohio as a wonderful place to expand.”

Oscar, founded six years ago, is known for its use of technology, telemedicine and concierge teams to support patients and members. As of September, 84% of members had created an online profile, and 77% had contacted their concierge team via a call or a secure message.

Harrington said he doesn’t foresee the Columbus expansion impacting

the Clinic’s work in any direct way, but he said that overtime there could be some benefit to Oscar’s growing network. Oscar’s move into Columbus sets up an opportunity for a broader potential network of providers to support members. There would have to be formal agreements, and no real discussions have taken place at this time, but Harrington points to this as a possible benefit.

Oscar also plans to expand into the Medicare Advantage market in 2020, with the help of a $375 million investment from Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Weaver said the move makes sense for the insurance company because it’s the other space in health care where the consumer makes the decision about what they buy. Oscar is not yet mak-

ing public comments about which markets they’ll be entering in this space.

Cleveland Clinic entered into two partnerships last fall to offer Medicare Advantage Health plans with Humana Inc. and with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio.

As for the future of growth in Northeast Ohio, Weaver declined to share whether the two are looking to expand beyond the five counties where the plan currently is offered.

“The relationship with the Clinic is absolutely wonderful at this point,” he said. “And so we are always having conversations about what’s the best next step, but we’re not making public comments about what’s next beyond the markets we’ve announced for 2019.”

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Although Bennett Builders of Westlake has been a home builder for 60 years and traces its roots to a plumbing company launched 100 years ago, the family owned business is on the verge of making a change from its typical suburban playbook.

Through West 54th Townhomes LLC, a joint venture between three members of the Bennett family and mortgage banker Martin Smith, the company plans to build a six-unit townhouse project on an empty lot in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood.

The units, consisting of two- and three-bedroom suites on two floors above a garage, will be at 1835-1845 West 54th St. Pricing is still being determined, but Tim Bennett, a co-president of Bennett’s new-home unit, estimates the townhouses will cost upward of $300,000.

Although they will have West 54th Street addresses, the project will have its garage access from Bridge Court.

Plans call for two buildings of three suites that will face each other across a courtyard formed by the driveways.

The site has a classic West Side back story. Smith, who lives next door, remembers when two houses

with the city’s 15-year property tax abatement, as an opportunity to diversify its offerings.

David Bennett, the other co-president of Bennett’s home unit, said, “Every industry has to adapt to changing market conditions. The days of finding a farm in Westlake and building 100 homes on it are over.”

Tim Bennett said about half the firm’s units now are on scattered sites.

“The days of not looking at a project because you did not want to move crews to different locations are over,” he said, adding that doing work in the city had piqued his interest for years.

The last time Bennett built in the city was 20 years ago, when it developed Scullin Place, a street near Kamm’s Corners with 25 single-family homes. The buyers then were primarily police and firefighters because of the city’s former residency requirement.

“It’s a totally different game now,” David Bennett said, because the residency requirement is gone. Still, he said the market is active because a new generation of buyers has an appetite for near-West Side sites.

Plans call for starting to build after inking a first contract, hopefully early next year.

“We’ll look at other opportunities in Cleveland if things go well,” Terry Bennett said.

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on the site burned under what he called “suspicious circumstances.”

Cleveland Housing Network, the nonprofit, low-income housing developer now called CHN Housing Partners, put the site on the market during the housing collapse, and he bought it. He has mowed it since, even put in a gate for easier access, and paid taxes on the land.

The garages facing one another across the courtyard will play a secondary purpose beyond car access, Smith hopes.

“I’ve lived next door for 20 years,” he said. “It was several years before I met my neighbors because it was the city and people kept to themselves.

That changed after I met several neighbors during the 2003 blackout.

We’ve often discussed why we didn’t meet earlier” at backyard picnics.

Smith said he hopes the shared drive will build community more quickly for the new occupants, who will also be his neighbors.

The development group came about through typical real estate connections.

Smith, who works for PNC Bank, met Terry Bennett, a co-president of Bennett’s remodeling division, several years ago at a networking event. He contacted the Bennetts when he decided the time was right to develop the site.

The vibrant new-home market in the city attracted the builder, along

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SAY YES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

As part of Cleveland’s efforts to become a chapter, the Greater Cleveland Partnership has been serving as the “voice of the business community,” Marbury said.

The business community has long supported the education system in Cleveland, said Margot Copeland, CEO of the KeyBank Foundation in Cleveland and a member of Say Yes to Education’s national board of directors. Companies have supported scholarship funds and adopted schools, Copeland said.

The difference now is that working to bring Say Yes to the city has helped coordinate and concentrate those efforts.

The business community had been active in education in the city prior to 2012, funding reforms and supporting policy changes, but the Cleveland Plan was when it went “all in,” said Helen Williams, program director for education at the Cleveland Foundation. With the comprehensive plan to improve schools and give students high-quality options, business took a seat at the table, helping pass the levy to support the plan and more.

Today, students regularly interact with lawyers through the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s 3Rs program, which teaches high school students about the law and their rights. They learn from professionals as part of the True2U mentoring program. There are schools located on corporate sites, including MetroHealth and GE. “Our business community is so much more committed to integrating the K-12 workforce experience than most of our national community, where we think of K-12 education very separately and bifurcated from workforce experience,” said Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland

Eric Gordon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District: “Our business community is so much more committed to integrating the K-12 workforce experience than most of our national community.”

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74

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

About this series: Crain’s Cleveland Business is taking a closer look at the city’s efforts to become a Say Yes to Education chapter. Next week, we’ll find out what role the business community has played in Buffalo’s Say Yes chapter.

Rebecca Ruppert McMahon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association: “There’s any number of legal issues that can disrupt and interfere with a kid’s ability to stay in school and then to thrive in school.”

Metropolitan School District. “And so, instead, we see the community saying, ‘OK, we have this undertrained community that we now need to train for workforce readiness.’ Our community’s really bridging that, and part of my goal is to make sure that we not only maintain but enhance that.”

The role of the business community On the scholarship side, the business and philanthropic communities have been playing a significant role in raising funds, and members would be asked to help oversee the fund if Cleveland is named a chapter. Say Yes scholarship funds are locally funded, and communities must raise a substantial portion of the fund before being becoming a chapter.

But members of the business community would also have the chance to get involved with the Say Yes initiative through volunteer opportunities, much as they have in years past.

Already, the city is standing out with plans to connect each student with a mentor once they’ve gone on to postsecondary education, said Gene Chasin, president of Say Yes to Education. Some Say Yes communities have mentorship programs like this already, but none that are scaled up to include all students.

“That’s going to be a key lever to help young people stick or persist in the postsecondary environment,” Chasin said.

Also notable are the legal clinics that have been piloted by the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association as part of the Say Yes to Education planning process, inspired in part by similar clinics in Buffalo.

The clinics are staffed by lawyers

P006_007_CL_20181119.indd 7

employed by the society — a nonprofit law firm — or the association — a nonprofit professional organization — as well as attorneys who volunteer with the groups, who can provide attendees with legal advice or information about the groups on site. And there are lawyers from that pool who have offered to take on cases pro bono, where necessary, said Rebecca Ruppert McMahon, CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

“There’s any number of legal issues that can disrupt and interfere with a kid’s ability to stay in school and then to thrive in school,” McMahon said, citing examples ranging from trouble with landlords to parents facing issues related to drug rehabilitation.

As part of the pilot, the groups have held clinics at schools and a Boys and Girls Club. The idea is to make sure that legal assistance is available and accessible to families when and where they need it, said Legal Aid Society of Cleveland executive director Colleen Cotter.

McMahon said participating in the clinics offers lawyers a way to meaningfully interact with students in the district, but it also gives young lawyers a way to practice their trade.

Paul Clark, regional president for PNC in Cleveland who’s been involved in the Say Yes to Education efforts, thinks the city is at an inflection point. There’s been some economic revitalization — he pointed to downtown as an example — but there are plenty of neighborhoods that still need that support. He sees a generational shift in leadership taking place, and that change is leading to questions about how things could be better. PNC views Say Yes to Education as the best path to get Cleveland’s students the education they need, Clark said, pointing out that most of the jobs of the future will require education beyond high school.

“I think it’s kind of a special time, but the thing that will only make that happen is that our kids have the required education to participate fully in that future,” Clark said. “I say that to myself over and over when I’m thinking and working on Say Yes issues. Our kids have to have the required education to participate fully in that future. And that’s exactly what I think Say Yes is all about.”

Ultimately, Gordon said Say Yes is a “smart economic model” that invests in creating an educated workforce. But he thinks the city’s business community understands the “moral imperative” of supporting Cleveland’s children.

“I get the silent pride of sitting back and knowing that while we have a good business case, almost no one has said to me, ‘Make the business case,’ ” Gordon said. “What they’ve said is, ‘This is right to do.’

And I think we should be hugely proud of that.”

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MANUFACTURING IS:

Navigating rapid growth

Entrepreneurial-minded ArtWall has become a leader in digital art through savvy business moves Founded in 2012, Strongsville-based ArtWall special- by not being afraid to make bold moves. The company izes in digitally printing art reproductions using a made- started off in a small Lakewood gallery, moved to West Park and now operates out of a 35,000-square-foot to-order manufacturing process. The company offers art Strongsville facility. Even at this space, “we’ve done to brighten up offices and homes with works from more probably four major layout and process changes in the than 200 talented artists. operation in the last year, to continue to evolve our “What we ended up very passionate about is helping capacity,” Snyder says. get these artists’ artwork in front of as many people as “They’ve grown by focusing on what they do,” says possible — and also making a really high-quality reproMAGNET vice president of operaduction of their art,” says ArtWall tions Mike O’Donnell. “They haven’t president Adam Snyder. “It’s a really “What we ended strayed at all from the idea. It’s not interesting intersection of art and up very passionate like they’re trying to do 50 different ecommerce and short lead time, things. They’re just focused on makmake-to-order manufacturing.” about is helping ing the best art at the best prices.”

Today, the Strongsville-based get these artists’ ArtWall’s expansion can also be company’s partners include major attributed to listening to customers. home décor and online retailers, inartwork in front of example, in 2018 they launched cluding Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock, as many people as For two new product offerings, wood J.C. Penney, and Walmart. In recent possible.” wall art and acrylic wall art. “Those weeks, the company added two other are great examples of where we major retailers, Bed Bath & Beyond — Adam Snyder, president were hearing a need from the and Home Depot, to its portfolio. of ArtWall marketplace,” Snyder said. “We “From 2012 to 2018, it’s been quite were hearing some preferences and a ride from having no employees to desires from our artists, and we invested in (becoming) a $5,000,000 manufacsome pretty significant technical capacity to be turer (with) 30 employees,” Snyder says. able to make those products.”

Navigating that rapid growth hasn’t been without All of these things have combined to help ArtWall challenges. During the last six years, the pace of ecomincrease its customer base worldwide. They started merce has sped up, meaning that “everybody wants doing business in Canada and, this year, also expanded everything now,” Snyder says. “Whether we get 250 or into Europe via several customers and are looking 1,200 orders in a day, they’re all going to go out between toward Japan for 2019. six and 36 hours later. There are a lot of challenges in “Ultimately, the growth is a combination of hard planning and staffing for that flexibility.” work from a small, capable team and the talent of our Plus, ArtWall manages a large volume of artwork artists,” Snyder says. “We could be really great at making — Snyder says the company receives between 200 and this stuff, but if the artwork wasn’t attractive to consum500 new images a week from artists — and also has ers, it wouldn’t matter.” to navigate more complicated sales dynamics than Looking for ways to drive double-digit growth in many other manufacturers. “Knowing our customers is important — but then the consumers that are buying your business? That’s what we do. Check out MAGNET’s Power Assessment for ways to make an imfrom (our customers) ultimately dictate what sells in a mediate impact — fast. Learn more about MAGNET’s lot of ways,” he says. “We have all of the complexity of Power Assessment at www.manufacturingsuccess.org/ B2B sales as well as B2C sales.” power-assessment-rapid-growth, or call Linda Barita ArtWall has thrived in the face of these challenges by at (216) 391-7766. cultivating a good culture and management team, and

This advertising-supported feature is produced by Crain Content StudioCleveland, the marketing storytelling arm of Crain’s Cleveland Business.

The Crain’s Cleveland Business newsroom is not involved in creating Crain Content Studio-Cleveland content.

11/16/18 2:04 PM

PA G E 8

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

No, Dan Gilbert isn’t in talks to buy the Tigers

By BILL SHEA/CRAIN'S DETROIT BUSINESS

News last week that billionaire Cleveland Cavaliers owner/real estate and mortgage industrialist Dan Gilbert is selling Detroit’s Greektown Casino-Hotel for $1 billion immediately resurrected a significant question: Does this mean he’s buying the Detroit Tigers?

The short answer is no.

Why not? For starters, regardless of any interest in buying or selling, Gilbert cannot buy any baseball team because he still owns casinos elsewhere, and Major League Baseball rules prohibit team owners from having any stake in gaming interests. He has not expressed any public interest in buying the Tigers, and Tigers own-

er Chris Ilitch has said he’s not selling.

“Chris Ilitch made clear previously they intend to be long-term owners,” said Matt Cullen, CEO of Gilbert’s Jack Entertainment and a principal of Gilbert’s Rock Ventures. “We’re not in any conversations with Gilbert them. Speculation we had done this to allow us to (buy the Tigers) just isn’t accurate.”

Does Gilbert intend to part with his other gaming interests? He hasn’t said so outright, but hints are there.

His Jack Entertainment LLC, which will sell Greektown to Wyomissing, Pa.-based gaming conglomerate Penn National Gaming Inc. and Vici Properties Inc. for $1 billion, still

owns and operates five casinos and racetracks in Ohio (casinos in Cleveland and Cincinnati, plus the Thistledown Racino), Maryland and Kentucky.

Jack Entertainment said in a statement last Tuesday, Nov. 13, that it’s “continuing a strategic assessment for its remaining gaming properties” in other states.

Until baseball relaxes its gambling prohibitions — something that may eventually happen as legal online wagering gains traction — no one who owns a casino can also own an MLB team.

Also splashing cold water on the idea of new Tigers ownership is that the current owners insist they’re not

selling: The Ilitch family has repeatedly said the team isn’t on the market, although that has stopped exactly none of the speculation that they could sell the team.

“The Ilitch family is committed to the long-term ownership of the Detroit Tigers,” the family said via a statement earlier this year in response to a previous round of sale speculation.

Sources familiar with the family’s thinking and planning have told Crain’s that they don’t have plans to sell the Tigers and the team remains a core piece of their development efforts in the city. Additionally, a public records search by Crain’s in 2015 showed that late owner Mike Ilitch heavily leveraged the Tigers and their revenue streams as collateral for

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business deals. Sale of the team would have to resolve those complex financial ties.

Mike Ilitch, co-founder of the Little Caesars pizza chain, paid $85 million for the Tigers in August 1992, buying them from Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan. Ilitch’s death last year at age 87 fueled a round of chatter that the team could be sold. A subsequent talent and salary dump as part of a rebuilding effort have been seen by some as reducing labor costs to make the team more attractive to potential buyers.

Since Mike Ilitch’s death, control of the team via a trust passed to son Chris Ilitch. His mother, Marian, also has her name on the trust. She owns MotorCity Hotel Casino, but the family has publicly said she doesn’t have a direct ownership stake in the Tigers, meaning MLB’s gaming restrictions don’t apply to her. MLB has said it’s satisfied with the arrangement.

Back-to-back 98-loss seasons and a slow, painful rebuilding cycle have some fans eager for new Tigers ownership. In Gilbert, they see a successful local businessman with the financial heft to buy the team, and a track record of some sports success. He leads an investment group that paid $375 million for the Cavs in 2005, and the team won the NBA championship in 2016 while appearing in four other NBA Finals under his ownership. However, Gilbert lost superstar LeBron James to the L.A. Lakers in free agency this summer and the Cavaliers have subsequently fired head coach Ty Lue and stood at 2-12 at the end of last week.

Gilbert, said to be worth $6.6 billion

by Forbes, is best known in Detroit for his ownership of online mortgage lender Quicken Loans Inc. His sports team portfolio also includes the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters and the Arena Football League’s Cleveland Gladiators. Both are tenants at publicly owned Quicken Loans Arena with the Cavs. The Gladiators are idled during a two-year renovation of TheQ. Gilbert also is jointly seeking a Major League Soccer expansion team for downtown Detroit with Pistons owner Tom Gores, a process that remains ongoing. MLS doesn’t bar owners from having gaming interests.

Cullen said the $1 billion Greektown sale wasn’t intended to finance the purchase of the Tigers or anything else. He said Gilbert has yet to decide what to do with the money after the deal closes next year, but acknowledged that Gilbert is a sports fan and some sort of sports-related investment is possible.

“Dan loves sports and loves investments, so never say never,” Cullen said.

In addition to his current portfolio of teams, Gilbert has taken ownership in pro video-gaming teams. His deep sports interest makes it easy to understand why there’s speculation he might want the Tigers. And sports teams don’t have to be actively on the market to get sold.

Further fueling watercooler talk is the fact that Gilbert, 56, has expressed interest in the past about buying a baseball team. In 2004, he bid an undisclosed sum for the Milwaukee Brewers, who were owned at the time by the family of then-Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig. A car dealership owner and former co-owner of the Milwaukee Braves (now in Atlanta), Selig had bought the bankrupt Seattle Pilots one year after their 1969 founding for $10.8 million and relocated them to Milwaukee in 1970.

11/16/18 2:55 PM

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

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PA G E 9

Petros Homes recaptures pre-recession high

By STAN BULLARD sbullard@crain.com @CrainRltyWriter

Petros Homes, one of the larger locally owned builders in Northeast Ohio, is on the cusp of achieving something that Gary Naim, president of the Broadview Heights-based firm, thought it might never see again.

“During the downturn,” Naim recalled, “we just focused on getting through each day. It was a question of survival. I never thought about getting back to the level we were at in 2008.”

However, Naim is forecasting that the company, which is building in 13 communities in the region, will close $32 million in gross sales this year and $35 million next year. A decade ago, when the financial crisis hit the nation’s banks due to the housing collapse, Petros’ gross sales were $35 million.

The company was able to keep going through the long downturn as several other large local builders shut down. Its low point was in 2011, when sales fell to $17 million.

Lessons from that downturn, and changes in what and where Petros builds, are what Naim credits for the company’s current results. Staff was reduced to 12 at its lowest point, from a maximum of 40; it now stands at 20.

Like most builders, Petros serves as its own general contractor and hires subcontractors to perform various segments of building each home.

“We got lean,” Naim said, “and stayed lean.”

Petros is not alone in counting its restored good fortune.

Large kitchens and great rooms are in demand at Petros Homes properties.

This house is at the Four Seasons in Brecksville. (Contributed photo)

Jason Scott, president of North Star Homes of Westlake and president of the HBA of Greater Cleveland trade group, said, “Things are good, that’s for sure. Every builder I talk to Naim is busy. Things have been getting better and better.”

In some communities, particularly land-rich areas in the outer suburbs, new home sales are hopping because existing home inventory is so low, Scott said. However, there is still a lot of room for the industry to grow before it achieves the level of production it experienced before new housing started sliding in 2004.

Scott said HBA membership has been growing and just hit its goal of 376 members this year. However, its peak membership a decade ago topped 800. But as a group, he said, permits show builders are constructing fewer homes than in 2004.

While the advent of millennials starting families and buying homes and empty-nesters downsizing to smaller properties augurs well for the future, Scott is wary about challenges to continued growth by the industry.

“We’re seeing problems with affordability in housing,” he said. “The new home for $150,000 to $200,000 has virtually disappeared. Even the national builders now tout single-family home prices starting at $300,000.”

Rising construction costs, lack of empty land in desirable areas and ris-

ing interest rates are among the factors. A shortage of labor is also slowing production and pushing up costs.

Petros adapted by shifting its strategy to meet changing times. During the downturn it sought home sites controlled by banks or other builders, so its efforts spread throughout the region. Then, as the market started to come back after 2011, it decided to focus on fewer communities closer to its headquarters. The company still builds in certain areas, such as Westlake, but has moved its focus to areas along the I-77 corridor.

Petros was also eager to take advantage of strategies in some communities to vary the types of housing it offers. For example, in Brecksville, the city wanted to create a town center with smaller homes at a lower price point, designed to suit empty-nesters who were downsizing. It passed a zoning change to allow that in 2016.

This year, Petros opened The Village on Snowville Road in Brecksville, a 57-unit townhouse community with snow removal and lawnmowing, through an association. Petros has sold 12 properties there this year in the mid-$300,000s.

It has also pursued similar projects, often with first-floor master suites, in Broadview Heights and in Richfield.

In addition, the company has gone back to some locations it pursued in the past, such as Four Seasons of Brecksville. It sold the last of 80 lots at the subdivision off Highland Drive in 2010, a few of them surpassing $1 million in price.

Petros just completed adding another phase to Four Seasons with a

farm it recently bought to add another 30 luxury home sites. Now, the properties are starting at $600,000 in price.

“We’re seeing that buyers are more cautious,” Naim said. “We used to have buyers who wanted a larger house just to say they had a larger house. You don’t hear that now — they have an eye on the resale market. The focus is on having things they can enjoy, such as large kitchens and family rooms.” Buyers also push for more patios with televisions and fireplaces to extend their ability to enjoy the outdoors through more of the year, he added.

Some of the fundamentals of the business are also different. While Petros functioned with fewer bankers in the past, today it has had to use multiple lines of credit from several banks.

Petros also decided to pursue smaller plots of land where it could build its way out of them in about three years.

“We’re looking to build at closer-in suburbs with good school systems,” Naim said. “We’re not going to the edge of the market with a master-planned 500-home subdivision.

That’s not us.”

Over the years, Petros has finetuned its products using focus groups to find the features that buyers want. It also spends heavily on its website, has a well-stocked Facebook page and an active social networking strategy.

“We’re finding that about half the people who come to our models now are technically be-backs,” Naim said.

That means the prospects have seen the property before, even if it was a virtual visit through videos or 3-D tours.

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11/15/18 4:33 PM

PA G E 10

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

Opinion From the Editor

Serving up gratitude this holiday

Editorial

Green values There are many reasons to love Cleveland, but its status as a hotbed of innovation (at least recently) is not among them.

So it’s notable — and perhaps, this week, worthy of giving thanks — when a good idea born in Cleveland is getting some national attention.

Such is the case with Evergreen Cooperatives, a Cleveland-based network of worker-owned businesses. Evergreen on Nov. 9 announced it has launched the Fund for Employee Ownership, which will acquire businesses and convert them to employee ownership. It aims to buy companies from retiring owners at fair market value to ensure that jobs remain in the community and give employees the opportunity to share in their company’s success.

Fast Company, which covers business with a focus on innovation, profiled the fund and said it gives Evergreen “a bold goal: to make it easy to transition a business to worker ownership.” Initial funding of $5 million comes from a foundation (which is remaining anonymous) and “will allow the partners to replicate the model they tested with the Cleveland Clinic laundry facility: acquiring small local businesses looking for new ownership, then, once that transaction is completed, working with the employees to transition the business to a worker-owned cooperative.” If all goes as planned, Fast Company noted, the initial funding could convert up to seven businesses. The goal is to get to $30 million in funding.

This is the kind of detail-oriented, bottom-up effort that can help bring new economic vitality to struggling cities. Jessica Rose of Democracy Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on building community wealth that’s working with Evergreen, told NextCity. org that it typically can take many months, even a year or more, to train employees before they’re prepared to purchase a business from its existing owner. But in the end, she said, “The workers will be participating in meaningful decisions: what management to hire; how to deal with profit; board governance.”

Evergreen’s three businesses — Evergreen Laundry, Evergreen Growers and Evergreen Energy Solutions — have a total of about

220 employees here. With its new fund, it’s setting a template for a scalable strategy to help close the income inequality gap and give workers real opportunities that didn’t previously exist.

Fair competition

It’s one of the big mysteries of the American economy: Why, with unemployment at 3.7%, its lowest point in nearly 50 years, and the economy nearing the nine-year mark for expansion, have wages been so slow to increase?

It’s a complicated matter, driven in part by forces of technology and globalization that are difficult to tame.

There’s no easy solution for the problem. Increasingly, though, states are taking aim at curbing one practice that restrains wages: the implementation and enforcement of noncompete agreements, which prohibit workers for a certain period of time from leaving one job to take another in the same industry.

Bloomberg reported last week that “some states are stepping up” to tighten the use of noncompetes. Massachusetts, for instance, “adopted a law that bans noncompetes for low-paid, hourly workers and requires compensation for departed workers who remain bound by the clauses.” Several other states — including Idaho, Illinois and Utah — “have moved to limit the agreements,” Bloomberg said, and New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont have legislation in the works.

There are legitimate reasons for companies to have noncompetes for some workers, particularly those with deep knowledge of company IP. But too often, noncompetes are applied so broadly that they just constrain growth. Bloomberg noted that a 2014 survey found that 12% of employees “without a bachelor’s degree and earning less than $40,000 a year were tied down.” Ridiculous.

If incoming Gov. Mike DeWine and the new Legislature are serious about spurring more economic growth in Ohio, they should consider joining the movement to make sure laws regarding noncompetes are modern and just — and not just for corporate benefit.

Publisher and Editor: Elizabeth McIntyre (emcintyre@crain.com)

CLEVELAND BUSINESS P010_CL_20181119.indd 10

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Scott Suttell (ssuttell@crain.com)

Contact Crain’s

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Read Crain’s online: crainscleveland.com

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, mainly because it allows us to hit pause and reflect on what matters and simply to say thank you.

No gift buying, candy shopping, firework shooting or weekslong celebrations. Just one day of scrumptious food, surrounded by those who matter most. Memories are shared, laughter erupts and bonds are, hopefully, tightened. (*Note: This scenario is much more likely to occur if you avoid talking about anything political and confine your conversations to food and football.)

The consumer push goes full tilt from Halloween to Christmas, threatening to treat this humble holiday like a retail speed bump. It’s not. It’s a welcome rest stop.

Offering thanks is not a drive-by endeavor. We need to put the brakes on and really think about what we have to be grateful for.

Elizabeth As you may know if you’ve read some of my McIntyre earlier columns, this has been a very tough year for me. Both of my parents died, a month apart. Amid the grief and the work involved in squaring their affairs, I can pause this Thanksgiving along with my family and offer my thanks to both of them. Thanks for the gift of unconditional love. Thanks for the beautiful memories that sustain us now. Thanks for the example you set that drives us to do our best to do good.

That tops my list. I wondered what others have to be thankful for so I reached out to a handful of Northeast Ohio leaders to find out what’s on their mind this Thanksgiving season.

Some sentiments were personal, others professional or community-based. All were heartfelt.

Chris Ronayne, the president of University Circle Inc., is grateful “to live and work in an era where people are returning to cities again.”

It’s all about family for Bernie Moreno, president and founder of the Bernie Moreno Cos. “In 2018, my oldest daughter, Kate, got engaged. I’m grateful that she found an amazing future husband, who adores her.

And I know they will have a very happy life,” he said. “I’m a father first, and I can’t think of anything a dad wants more than to know his daughter will be with someone who loves her unconditionally and will be devoted to building a great family.”

Heather Ettinger reflected on her community, business and personal life. The founder of Luma Wealth Advisors is thankful for “our amazing world-class culture that gives us a chance to learn, dialogue, innovate and create wonderful experiences and memories.” In terms of business, 2018 inspired thoughtful dialogue with clients about what their legacies will be. She finished on a serious note with a humorous twist: “I am thankful that our diverse community makes this a great place to work, live, raise a family and even root for unpredictable sports teams.”

Jose C. Feliciano Sr., chairman of the Hispanic Roundtable, is thankful to live in a country “that allows us to speak up for the last and the least, and that there are folks who still cherish this value as a core American value using their voices for Hispanics, particularly for the people of Puerto Rico and immigrants.”

Feliciano’s sentiment was shared by Margaret Wong, the founder of Margaret W. Wong and Associates, who expressed gratitude to her parents for allowing her to leave home and come to America.

“I hear stories from my foreign-born clients every day and think how fortunate I am to be here, living this American Dream, and controlling my own destiny,” she said. “This is one of the most beautiful and just countries in the world, where hard work is rewarded by abundant opportunities.”

SEE MCINTYRE, PAGE 11

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.

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11/15/18 4:37 PM

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

At the Table

Cleveland’s rising tide is lifting spirits, too Back then, it was simply “Christmas.” As we Around this time each year, many of us feel stepped out onto Public Square, it was a the nudge. What are we grateful for? swarm of what seemed like thousands of Oh, geez. Yeah, I know it’s Thanksgiving women and men in dress coats, hats and and all, but come on. gloves. They fetched bags and bundles of When pressed, I feel kind of like Archie holiday fare. The streets were packed, the Bunker: “Oh, I dunno, Edith. I guess you, and windows aglow. I’d never experienced such the little girl, and once in a blue moon that a magnificent melee. THIS was Cleveland. meathead over there.”

JJThen it was 1969. I stood on Times Thing is, when you get down to cases — not just the “big” things, like family and home and Joe Square in New York City, around high a litany of material acquisitions — most of us Crea noon, reading the news crawl up on the Alhave so much to be thankful for, there aren’t lied Chemical Bank building: “Cuyahoga enough hours in the day to tally the shower of River in Cleveland ablaze,” or words to that blessings we enjoy.

On the air effect. Crowds were jeering. “The Mistake I know I have an abundance. on the Lake” was earning its reputation, Right off the bat, as a guy who’s been deal- Listen to Joe and I was mortified.

JJThen it was 1998. I’d moved my family ing with cancer for the “better” part of three Crea talk about years, well, as much as the treatments totally gratitude at back to our hometown after years on the suck, they’ve been working. Knock on wood 12:33 p.m. beaches of Florida and a sweet gig in tony Tuesday, and thank God, I must add.

Orange County, Calif. For my first dining reAnd, yes, I’m hugely grateful for my wife, Nov. 20, and view as food and restaurants editor of The son, family and great friends that love (OK, sometime during Plain Dealer, I’d chosen a place in Tremont. tolerate) me and support (OK, mock) me, and the Morning “Seriously?” my wife asked. She had done a car that runs, and a warm house where I can Edition show her student teaching there, back when it curl up and lick my wounds. If that isn’t cause from 5 to 9 a.m. was a beat-up corner of old Cleveland.

Wednesday, Nov. for gratitude, what is?

When we got there, we couldn’t find a place It strikes me that humans, and particularly 21, on WCPN-FM, to park. Every space seemed to be filled. The Americans, seem to have conflicted feelings 90.3. sidewalks were filled, too. And a growing about gratitude and contentment. It’s as if to number of watering holes were bustling. acknowledge just how remarkably rich we are, no mat- The same thing was unfolding in Ohio City and the ter how little we think we have, is some kind of dimin- Warehouse District. And rumors buzzed of an enterishing concession. It’s like we’ve thrown in the towel — tainment corridor about to happen in what was once a like there’s nothing more to pursue in that “bigger and tawdry area consigned to the sex trade. better,” “Westward Ho!” vision of the American dream.

To see this city — my city — come back to life? A How wrong-headed that seems — how shallow and town I’d left in the early 1980s, wondering why the city shortsighted. fathers didn’t just dump tumbleweed on Public Maybe it’s this stage of life I’ve achieved, all the years Square. That seemed nothing shy of miraculous.

I’ve lived and the adventures I’ve enjoyed. Yet for all the Whenever I think about it, my heart swells. Someemotions I’ve experienced and even the many deadly sins times I think of it as sweat equity; I’ve chronicled this in which I’ve indulged, the sweetest epiphany took the city these past 20 years, not counting a slew of stories I longest to emerge: a deep-seated sense of contentment. wrote during the 1970s. Other times it represents the As a citizen of this community as well as serving as kind of pragmatic investment one makes in voting for “a voice,” well, I’m grateful for a lot of things beyond a public school levy, even though your kids go to primy personal selfish ends. Namely, Cleveland’s renais- vate schools. You do it because it’s good for everyone and secures your property values. sance and return to prominence.

As a food guy, I’m grateful for our city’s burgeoning Bottom line? For me, it’s civic pride. It’s a sense of restaurant scene and its newfound reputation as a culi- place, and home, and — honestly — a place of hope. nary mecca. And I’m grateful for how people of every There’s a horizon to look toward, and a place to build stripe love to dine, cook and find a plethora of amazing on, contribute to and improve.

I love this town, the people in it (well, most of them) local products to try and places to shop for artisan goods. and its remarkable institutions, particularly its chariBut there’s much more beyond that.

I’m sometimes asked what this whole “Cleveland table and artistic endeavors. pride” thing means to me. Like, “What’s in it for you?”

Rising tides ultimately lift all boats. I believe that. And Three answers: if that’s not something to be grateful for — something on JJI was 10. We’d just moved to a Cleveland suburb when a grander scale than our own small but essential, if often my father loaded us onto an RTA car for our first trip craven, needs and desires — I’m not sure exactly what it downtown to see the windows decorated for Christmas. means to be a citizen of this great land. Warts and all.

McINTYRE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Marcie Goodman, executive director of the Cleveland International Film Festival, had a simple, beautiful reflection, saying she was “grateful for the ripple effect of gratitude.”

Ann V. Klotz, headmistress of Laurel School, spoke as an educator and as a mother: “Gratitude is a choice. It is easy to feel dispirited and overwhelmed when I consider the state of the world.

But if you teach, as I do, cultivating both optimism and gratitude is essential, for what we believe is what we communicate. We must model for young people that there is hope, that they are hope,” she said. “I am grateful for the resilience children and young adults show — over and over again. I am grateful for the wonder little

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PA G E 11

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ones express as they learn to read, make a connection, touch a toad with one finger. I am grateful that the Young Republicans and Young Democrats are working together at Laurel to end sex-trafficking. I am grateful, too, for teachers — in my school and every school — who never give up on the children in their classrooms.”

She said she’s also thankful to share Thanksgiving with the family’s Turkish exchange student, and that her adult daughters have planned the menu and will likely “shoo me from the kitchen, inviting me back only to clean up.”

I’ve told you what tops my list, but I want you to know that the list is long and you are on it. I’m thankful for the readers and clients of Crain’s, for supportive folks who’ve gotten me and my family through this personally difficult year, and for the opportunity to continue to be part of a gifted team that continues to tell your stories.

Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving.

11/15/18 4:35 PM

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CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

FORTY UNDER 40 The sky’s the limit for Cleveland’s best and brightest

These 40 people are moving and shaking our region into the future. Chosen by our editorial team to represent a range of businesses and backgrounds, they’ve all made a difference for Northeast Ohio — in many cases again and again — and we expect they will continue to do so.

Name Page

Name Page

Name Page

Name Page

Crystal Davis

12

Hallie Rich

16

Barbara Lum

21

Sean Medina

26

Ian Schwarber

12

Kelly Seabold

17

Julie Crocker

22

Tiffany Graham Charkosky

27

Mannik Dhillon

13

Jonathan Whigham

17

Justin Lathia

22

Steven Lake

27

Jennifer Palinchik

13

Ed Buchholz

18

Chad Minor

22

Sanket Patel

27

Ryan Buckley

14

Dr. Nkosi Mason

18

Zhenting Men

22

Kyle Miller

29

Daniela Paez

14

Sean McDermott

18

Emily Campbell

24

Ezra Stark

29

LaRese Purnell

14

Madalynn Tzagournis Wendland 18

Conor Coakley

24

Rayshawn Eatmon

30

Dakota King-White

15

Rosheadra Edwards

20

Brad Owen

25

Dimetrius Harris

30

Annaliese Soden

15

Alex Cooper

21

David Wintrich

25

Gustave Molnar

30

Ian Andrews

16

Daniel Luketic

21

Brittan Berry

26

Pallavi Tiwari

30

Portraits for Crain’s by Jason Miller/Pixelate Photography

Terminal Tower photograph by David Kordalski

Ian Schwarber, 38

Crystal Davis, 35

M

Chief strategy officer and co-founder, DriveIT

Policy director, Alliance for the Great Lakes; president, Thornton Buckeye Group

Pre

Ian Schwarber learned how to pivot early in life.

A promising high school player in football and baseball, he had to redefine himself after a severe leg injury left him bedridden for a year. Schwarber describes the incident as a defining moment in his life.

“I think sports inadvertently led me to become exactly who I am, which is somebody who has a certain sense of resilience because I learned it early on that I had no choice but to,” he said.

That’s not the only time the Akron native — who was raised by innovative, venture-minded parents — would have to pivot.

He dropped out of the College of Charleston to pursue a music career when his band got signed to a record deal. When that didn’t pan out, he returned to his hometown to earn degrees in political science and applied politics at the University of Akron. After graduating, Schwarber co-founded the EXL Center — where every student, no matter their major, could learn entrepreneurship skills — after pitching the idea to UA’s then-president, Scott Scarborough.

“The gig economy demands that everybody have an entrepreneurial mindset to re-create themselves, to persevere,” Schwarber said.

When new leadership at UA changed the direction, and funding, of the EXL Center, Schwarber pivoted yet again.

The timing of this shift, though, was great. In 2017, Schwarber teamed up with Software Guild co-founders Eric Wise and Eric Ward to

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The Schwarber file For the kids: As part of launching DriveIT, Schwarber and his co-founders established a nonprofit called EcosySTEM, which hopes to take the company’s efforts into schools for free.

Entrepreneurial passion: “I do love it. I’ve always kind of had that, even when I started my band. Though I didn’t realize it, it was certainly an entrepreneurial venture.”

start DriveIT, which offers IT training for midcareer professionals and courses in cybersecurity and data literacy.

And the Blockchain Cleveland movement that recently got off the ground really has Schwarber excited. He said DriveIT is working closely with organizers.

“It’s pretty amazing to see something like that happen, and from a timing perspective it couldn’t be better timed with what we’re doing,” he said.

To DriveIT, Schwarber’s love for Akron is important. “DriveIT is about making people and companies a better version of themselves, so having a passion for people and community is required, and Ian has that in spades,” Wise said.

Schwarber, who lives in Akron with his wife, Mackenzie Justice, and their two young children, believes his pivots led him to the right place.

I’m in a really good spot. It all seemed to work out as it was meant to work out,” he said.

— Sue Walton

Crystal Davis is all about getting people involved in the political process.

It began when the 36-year-old Akron native got a taste of politics in college at Kent State University. There, she participated in the college’s Columbus Program in Intergovernmental Issues, which sends students to serve as interns with the legislature.

“I got a taste of state government and loved it,” she recalled. “I was intrigued by how laws are made.”

After graduation, she headed back to Columbus, worked for the Ohio House of Representatives and then on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus.

Along the way, she and her husband-to-be, Jade Davis, helped start the Ohio Young Black Democrats.

Leaving state government, she then spent four years working for her alma mater, first as a senior legislative officer and then as federal relations director, establishing Kent State’s Washington, D.C., office.

By this time, her husband was also in Washington, as senior director of state affairs and outreach at the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. But they wanted to be back in Ohio (Jade Davis grew up in Cleveland’s Buckeye-Woodland neighborhood).

So when Jade took a job as vice president of external affairs for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga

The Davis file Split the difference: When Davis and her husband moved back to Northeast Ohio, they decided to live in Twinsburg, between the two sets of grandparents for their young kids.

Be the change: “I like the opportunity to effect change and awareness and to bring people into the process.”

County Port Authority, the couple and their infant daughter moved back home.

Now, Davis is policy director for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, a Chicago-based nonprofit that advocates for and does research to ensure the environmental health of the lake system.

“Crystal is yet another reason I have great hope for Cleveland’s future and its emerging leadership,” said Darryl McNair, president and CEO of MVP Plastics Corp. of Middlefield and chair of the board of the Port Authority.

“As a young professional with a career in government affairs that bloomed in Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C., Crystal chose to follow her passion and return home to Northeast Ohio. She made this leap because she believes deeply in Cleveland and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its people.”

Davis has also set up shop at the Thornton Buckeye Group, an Ohio lobbying firm.

“I think when we educate folks, they are empowered to make change,” she said. — Jay Miller

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Mannik Dhillon, 38

Jennifer Palinchik, 38

President, VictoryShares and Solutions, Victory Capital Management

President, JALEX Medical LLC

In his role overseeing multimillion-dollar investments for Victory Capital Management, Mannik Dhillon has to keep pace with an industry where markets shift not just from day to day, but often hour to hour.

To meet that challenge, he follows the example of hockey great Wayne Gretzky, who famously stated, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”

For Dhillon, that requires innovating Victory’s exchange-traded fund (ETF) and solutions business and tirelessly evaluating potential new franchises as part of the firm’s acquisition strategy. Since becoming president of the company’s VictoryShares and Solutions division in 2015, Dhillon has helped Victory become the largest money manager in the Northeast Ohio market by local assets under management.

Under his leadership, the firm’s ETF platform alone ballooned from $198 million in AUM to $2.7 billion as of March 2018.

Since joining Victory, Dhillon has orchestrated acquisition of three significant assets, including a $300 million deal in September to obtain Harvest Volatility Management of New York. His transition to Westlake from sunny Santa Monica, Calif. — where he worked as a strategic consultant for Wilshire Associates — also meant moving his wife and two young boys cross-country and acclimating to the region’s unpredictable weather.

Dhillon’s business administration educa-

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The Dhillon file The sunny side: Dhillon was born in Los Angeles and attended the University of Georgia.

No resting on laurels: “It’s about not settling for yesterday, or being complacent with the status quo. There’s always a better way to do something tomorrow than you’ve done it yesterday.”

tion and a strong background in institutional consulting eased the adjustment, leading him to regular speaking engagements at conferences and interviews with financial publications. Victory CEO David Brown knew Dhillon’s work at Wilshire, hiring him for his quietly competitive nature as much as for his financial skills.

“Mannik is one of those people who not only leads by example but he’s also an influencer,” said Brown. “You often see one or the other of those traits, but your rarely see both. He’s like a baseball player who can hit, field and run.”

Continuing the sports theme, Dhillon said he's motivated by a volatile industry where it takes a group effort to succeed.

“I’m part of a team and I want to help my team win,” he said. “If I come in and push a little harder, I can move the needle for our stakeholders.” — Douglas J. Guth

Jennifer Palinchik didn’t set out to run a business.

But that’s the way things “fell in place,” she said, and it’s an accomplishment of which she’s proud.

Palinchik has a passion for math and science and the medical field, which led her to study biomedical engineering at the University of Toledo. Her first job after graduation was at Nephros Therapeutics in Michigan, a startup in stem cell research where she had the chance to work on projects such as creating a bio-artificial pancreas and bio-artificial kidney.

After a few years, she and her husband wanted to move back to Northeast Ohio.

“And I wanted to get into something where I could, in my lifetime, per se, see a product or an idea or a concept come to life, ... come to fruition,” Palinchik said.

She became a design engineer with an engineering consulting agency, working on spinal implants. While on a project for an orthopedic surgeon, Palinchik started to learn about 3-D printing and the capabilities it offered. That led her to rp+m, a 3-D printing company where she eventually got aboard.

But Palinchik missed working in the medical space, so she approached CEO Matt Hlavin. The result was JALEX Medical, an engineering and product development

The Palinchik file Staying busy: Shortly after Palinchik helped start JALEX Medical, she had her daughter. And since starting JALEX, she also decided to earn her MBA. A “hands-on leader”: “I’m an engineer at heart. I love helping people create products that are going to help others.”

consulting company for the medical device field.

In its first six years, JALEX has focused on consulting. Palinchik said that will continue, but she also hopes the company can create its own device and become a medical device-maker itself.

“So that’s really the next aspiration that I have for the company and for myself,” she said.

Beyond her expertise in biomedical, Palinchik is tenacious, organized and diligent, said Hlavin, CEO of Thogus, rp+m and JALEX Medical. Their respective attributes balance one another: He’s a big-picture person and she’s detail-oriented.

“So it’s been a true partnership from day one,” Hlavin said, "and I can’t tell you how much I respect her.” — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

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LaRese Purnell, 39 Managing partner, CLE Consulting Firm

Shining a light: The Warrensville Heights native formed the nonprofit The Real Black Friday in 2014 to promote black entrepreneurs.

LaRese Purnell spent part of his childhood watching his mother struggle to care for him and his two siblings as the family lived in homeless shelters and sometimes went without meals. Those early years saw Purnell taking odd jobs at gas stations and grocery stores to buy clothes for school, marking the start of a life where financial stability became a watchword not only for himself but for others in similar circumstances.

“People helped my family, too,” said Purnell. “We’d be waiting at churches to get groceries. I’ve never forgotten that.”

Long a fixture in Cleveland’s black community as a philanthropist and businessman, Purnell’s most recent venture is CLE Consulting Firm, an accounting and professional services practice preaching monetary empowerment to businesses, nonprofits and religious organizations throughout Northeast Ohio.

Since launching in March 2017, the firm — whose name stands for Creating Leading Enterprises — has aided more than 200 business clients and an additional 400 people seeking tax help. As Purnell puts it, much of his business clientele is intimidated by complex tax returns and profit-and-loss statements, an anxiety that falls away by coming to someone they trust.

“I don’t need to push the business — it’s

Getting together: “It’s the connection to the community that people gravitate toward.”

more word-of-mouth because of our reputation,” he said.

Purnell’s long working relationship with Cleveland includes a stint as chief financial officer at The Word Church. The Hudson resident and father of two graduated from Warrensville Heights High School, earning a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sales and marketing and an MBA in finance from the University of Toledo.

Tasha Pettigrew, a human resources executive for the Warrensville Heights School District, became friends with Purnell through their involvement with the church.

“LaRese is an example of a young male who strives for greatness and lives by his Christian values,” she said. “A young black man can look up to LaRese and see they can be someone, too.”

Looking ahead, Purnell wants to continue his work as a change agent for the city that made him who he is today.

“It’s great to see people grow and be appreciative of the help you’ve given them,” he said.

“When you see that change, how can that not encourage you?” — Douglas J. Guth

Daniela Paez, 33

Ryan Buckley, 33

Associate, Ulmer & Berne

Director of digital experience, Cleveland Orchestra

Daniela Paez was born to be a lawyer.

Paez, a native of Colombia, recalls dreaming of being a lawyer when she was 8 years old. Of course, she was surrounded by the profession. Her father was a trained lawyer who turned to politics, her grandfather was a prominent judge in the country and her uncle was a corporate litigator.

“But it was the impact they had on other people that resonated with me,” she said.

Paez is also highly detail oriented, creative and loves to write. She chuckles as she describes her fondness for contract litigation and admits to losing track of time while working on arguments.

“It’s all about taking the law that’s out there and applying it to a particular situation,” she said. “And you’re working with analogies.

There’s creativity there.”

When not helping clients, Paez helps fellow immigrants, specializing in detainees.

“I like the idea of playing a little part in helping the system be somewhat fair,” she said.

She’s also on the board of Stella Maris Inc., a rehabilitation center that helps the needy regardless of their ability of pay, an area where the need for services has ballooned in the wake of the opioid epidemic.

Paez's drive, technical acumen and communication skills have clearly helped her stand out

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The Purnell file

The Paez file Scholarly pursuits: While Paez doesn’t aspire to be a judge or dive into politics, if she wasn’t lawyering she’d be teaching writing at the high school or collegiate level.

Always learning: “Even before I became a lawyer, I remember hearing from my father especially to stay teachable, to stay open to what others can teach you.”

at Ulmer & Berne, said Paul Harris, co-chair of the business litigation group. She’s often trusted with matters rarely provided to fifth-year associates. Her bosses will check in to make sure she’s not overworked because she’s so quick to help with anything asked of her.

“I constantly have to say, ‘You’re a hard worker. You can tell people no,’” Harris said.

“She’s so good at what she does and so responsive around here, she will never want for work.

"She’s established herself as the model associate and a model lawyer,” he added.

Will Paez follow in the footsteps of her father or grandfather and turn to politics or judging, though?

Probably not.

“No judging,” she said. “I like advocating for one point, not so much deciding things for others.” — Jeremy Nobile

The Cleveland Orchestra’s artistry is world-renowned — everyone knows that — but artistry is often not enough to attract a young audience hungry for new entertainment experiences. Enter Ryan Buckley, who is bridging the age gap as a digital architect with the legendary ensemble.

Buckley joined the orchestra in 2012 after leading the Cleveland Browns’ online efforts, transferring his skills to spearhead a website rebuild that optimized ticket buying and customer usability. Additionally, the Cleveland Heights resident grew the orchestra’s social media audience by about 1,900% and built a Netflix-like app that gives users access to unlimited $10 tickets for a small monthly fee.

Digital engagement isn’t about trying to make classical music “cool,” he added. An April Fools’ Day joke regarding a hidden cave system beneath Severance Hall — complete with a relaxing gondola ride — is simply a means of having viral fun with an evolving performing arts audience.

“Most orchestras aren’t doing this because they don’t want to appear foolish,” Buckley said. “We want to revamp and renovate engagement.”

Through these initiatives — alongside endeavors to reach students via its Center

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The Buckley file Social surge: Buckley has grown the orchestra’s social media audience from 9,000 total fans to 180,000.

Game plan: “Working for the NFL, I saw their innovative practices in social media and wanted to inject some of that personality here.”

for Future Audiences — the orchestra has grown its young spectatorship to 20% of total attendance. Senior director of marketing Julie Stapf credits Buckley for orchestrating the tech-friendly side of this programming.

“Ryan has a passion for ideas, is always excited to learn and enjoys the puzzle of a new challenge,” Stapf said. “His range of skills plus his innate sense for marketing have been valuable in the overall success of our team.”

Buckley’s knack for pushing the orchestra’s marketing efforts fits the demanding spirit of the lauded and much-loved music ensemble, said Stapf.

“We have a give-and-take relationship where I’ve been able to help Ryan grow his career, but I’ve learned many things from him as well,” she said. — Douglas J. Guth

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Annaliese Soden, 33 Director, stewardship and donor relations, Cleveland Museum of Art For Annaliese Soden, studying art history at the University of Akron offered a chance to learn about many cultures and time periods while also pursuing her love of art and aesthetics.

“It was an opportunity to keep learning throughout my life,” she said.

It was also the beginning of a successful career in the arts.

Her first job was as a curatorial assistant at the Akron Art Museum.

After about two years, she moved to New York to get a master’s degree in the history of art, design and architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

She stayed in New York when she was done, working at several jobs, including in operations at Christie’s, the famed auction house.

She moved back to Cleveland in

October 2017 to become director of stewardship and donor relations at the Cleveland Museum of Art. She is tasked with making sure the 33,000 households that donate to or are members of the museum each year feel connected and engaged through recognition programs, openings, educational offerings, trips and more.

One of the youngest directors at the museum, Soden, who was born in Cleveland, said she is thrilled to be part of such an esteemed institution.

“It is consistently one of the top museums in the country, if not the world. I have always wanted to work in top businesses in the arts. While this is a nonprofit, it has an incredible collection and people from all over who are really at the top of their game, so it was

Dakota King-White, 39

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Dakota King-White is passionate about helping children succeed and giving the adults who work with those children the tools they need to support that.

King-White was working as a school counselor when she went back to school for her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, which she earned at the University of Toledo.

She wants to help people move away from the traditional idea of guidance counselors as focused on academics, and toward a model of school counselors who are also trained to address students' social and emotional needs.

There are a lot of students in schools today who have been exposed to trau-

ma or are facing other barriers, ranging from the effects of the opioid epidemic to the stress of testing, she said.

“I think when we talk about working in schools, if we don’t address those main issues, then kids cannot. They’re limited when it comes to that academic achievement piece,” King-White said.

At Cleveland State, King-White’s research focuses on 21st century school counseling, mental health in schools and children of incarcerated parents.

Tachelle Banks, chairwoman for the department of teacher education and the associate vice president of institutional diversity at Cleveland State, said she knew King-White would “blossom” and gain attention for her work in meet-

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The Soden file On the move: While at Christie’s auction house in New York, Soden secured two significant promotions in three years.

a great opportunity to propel my career forward and also inspire continued philanthropy in the arts within the region that I came from,” she said.

John Easley, deputy director and chief philanthropy officer at the museum, who hired Soden for this new position, calls her a tremendous asset to the institution and the community.

“Annaliese is very creative. She has a real flair for sizing up a situation and coming up with a creative solution,” he said.

Her experiences in the art world allow her bring a lot of value to her work, he said, adding that the museum is very happy to have lured her back to Cleveland.

“She is someone who has a very bright future,” he said. — Beth Thomas Hertz

Happy homecoming: “I’m very happy to be back in Cleveland and I hope I can make a significant impact on not only the (art) museum but also contributing to arts throughout the city of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.”

The King-White file

Assistant professor in counseling and coordinator of school counseling, Cleveland State University

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She’s a writer, too: She recently released a children’s book, “Oh No! When a Parent Goes Away.” The book includes journal prompts and is designed to help children process the experience of having a parent who is incarcerated.

ing mental health needs in children.

“It’s head-work, but it’s also heartwork for her,” Banks said. “And when those two things come together, it’s just magical to see it, right? Because it feels so natural. But she’s operating from both frames because she really, really cares about children, youth and meeting the needs of the whole child.”

King-White is also the co-founder of an organization called Making a Difference Consulting, which provides programming to address issues such as bullying and self-esteem for schools and organizations such as libraries.

She and her co-founders were working in school districts and found that they couldn't give students all the support they wanted due to time constraints. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

Motivation: “That’s my why: to continue to help kids be able to succeed.”

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Hallie Rich, 38 Director of communications and external relations, Cuyahoga County Public Library Within a span of five days in late October, the Cuyahoga County Public Library threw a live watch party of PBS’s “The Great American Read” finale, hosted a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens and welcomed best-selling author John Grisham — on top of its usual slate of storytimes, technology and educational clinics, book discussions and homework help. The team responsible for this ever-growing list of community offerings works under the direction of Hallie Rich.

“We also engage donors and library support at different levels,” she said, “and we help to continue to tell the library story so that we encourage Cuyahoga County residents to use

the library and to be active readers and active lifelong learners utilizing the library space.”

Rich joined the library system a little over six years ago, seeing it as a unique opportunity to leverage her expertise in writing and communication and combine that with her personal passion for books and public libraries.

Growing up in Bay Village, Rich said she was an “avid reader and customer of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.” The College of Wooster graduate earned a master’s degree in positive organizational development from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and worked in strategic communications at BrownFlynn prior to being re-

Tre

An open book: Rich loves to read, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, and is an avid fan of audiobooks and podcasts.

cruited by CCPL Executive Director Sari Feldman.

Feldman said Rich’s tenure has been marked by a “broadening of her role and status in the organization as well as her current title.” Outside the system’s 27 branches, Rich, who lives in Avon Lake, was influential in development and implementation of the American Library Association's successful “Libraries Transform” marketing campaign.

“Hallie facilitated conversations to develop the campaign’s theme, secured a national donor for the campaign, worked with the marketing and communications firm and the ALA, and led the communications program for the 60,000-member organization,” Feldman said. — Judy Stringer

Branching out: “Today, libraries are less about what we have for people — those books on the shelves — and more about what we are doing with and for people, really connecting people to programs and services that are instrumental in their lives.”

Ian Andrews, 36 working furnace,” said Andrews, who has been with the organization since 2011. “That’s kind of important.”

He says more than 80% of Lakewood’s one- and two-family homes are at least 80 years old. LakewoodAlive enlists more than 500 volunteers to help with upkeep, and works to provide financial and material support for owners in need.

Jeff Ramsey — executive director of the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, for whom Andrews served as an intern during his college days, and later as marketing and development director — notes that Lakewood “has the highest increase in real estate values in the entire county. The desirability of Lakewood as a community is due

Joys of parenthood: Andrews and his wife, Jaime, have two sons: a 3-year-old, Owen, and a 1-year-old, Cole. “We’re still not sleeping all that well,” he said.

Why he loves Lakewood: “The people here are passionate about this community. They care about it, they get involved, they’re vocal, they advocate.

They’re not passive and they don’t stand by. They want to see good things because they love this city. That inspires me.”

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The Andrews file

Executive director, LakewoodAlive When Ian Andrews ventures outside Northeast Ohio, he’s not a typical tourist.

“I tend to like things that are kind of off the beaten path,” Andrews said.

“When my wife and I go to cities, we go to neighborhoods. We don’t do the tour stuff.”

It’s part of why Andrews loves his job so much. As executive director of LakewoodAlive, the city’s community development corporation, Andrews is part of a group that “fills the gaps” between the public and private sectors.

“We have seen the impact we can have on people’s lives. Whether it be helping a business owner relocate into a new space or seeing a resident who didn’t have heat now has a

Jo

The Rich file

Ma in no small part to Ian’s leadership.”

Andrews, Ramsey said, has a positive energy that’s “contagious.”

His former intern deflects any credit for Lakewood’s successes. As for what makes a neighborhood a desirable place to life, Andrews points to two things: quality of life and proximity to amenities.

“It’s making sure that people are living in healthy and safe housing, that it’s a walkable community, that we embrace walkability and not just putting the car first,” Andrews said.

“We’re putting pedestrians first. That we don’t just become Anytown USA. That aesthetically we’re unique.

That’s from business signage to trees and making sure it’s clean and safe.”

— Kevin Kleps

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Jonathan Whigham, 34 Treasury management service specialist II, Huntington Bank Jonathan Whigham may be new to Northeast Ohio, but he is no stranger to a growing circle of people who are passionate about downtown Cleveland living. The former KeyBank treasury manager transferred from Cincinnati to Cleveland in 2015 and quickly sought ways to connect with his new home, first serving in the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s City Advocates program and soon after becoming president of the Downtown Cleveland Residents Association (DCR).

Whigham said the residents board was a natural fit for him as “someone who lives downtown and works downtown” and as a person who tends to be very active in his community. DCR Vice President Alan O’Con-

nell credits Whigham with transforming the sleepy neighborhood group into an effective community organization.

“Jonathan is very tenacious,” O’Connell said. “Anytime you are rebuilding an organization from the ground up, especially if you are seeking to take a path that is more action-oriented, you need a leader who gets things done, and Jonathan is that kind of leader.”

Whigham said that, along with creating more of a community among residents with dinners and mixers, DCR has been focused on raising its profile and ensuring the city and developers get resident input on projects and decisions that impact them.

Kelly Seabold, 34

The play's the thing: He enjoys theater, and some of his recent favorites have included “Book of Mormon,” “Kinky Boots” and “Wicked” as part of Playhouse Square’s Broadway Series and “Spelling Bee” and “Woman in Black” at the Cleveland Play House.

“Now they come to ask us before doing things, so I think our mission has been accomplished,” he said.

A Tampa, Fla., native, Whigham came to Ohio to attend Wright State University, graduating from the Dayton college with a finance degree. He moved into the treasury department at KeyBank following branch positions in Cincinnati and was recruited

by Huntington Bank shortly after moving to Cleveland.

Although DCR takes up much of his nonwork hours, Whigham still manages to make time for College Now, where he mentors a Miami University student, and Cleveland Leadership Council, where he is attending the Civic Leadership Institute. — Judy Stringer

Growth strategy: “We have really seen a shift in the residents association, both in terms of downtown residents being excited about having a board that represents them and watching event attendance grow each time we organize an event or program.”

The Seabold file

Manager of the Magnet program, The MetroHealth System Having transitioned from the bedside to management in 2011, MetroHealth System nurse Kelly Seabold does not hesitate to admit she misses patient care “every single day.”

In 2013, Seabold advanced from nurse manager to head of the MetroHealth’s Magnet program, a rigorous, comprehensive international nursing recognition that only 9% of all U.S. hospitals, and just 3% of public hospitals, achieve. MetroHealth first earned the Magnet designation in 2005, but at each recertification — every four years — the bar is raised, according to Seabold.

“You can’t submit the same kinds of outcomes, for instance, so we have to make sure we are always evolving our nursing practice with the chang-

The Whigham file

ing landscape of health care,” she said.

Melissa Kline, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, said that under Seabold’s leadership, MetroHealth was awarded six additional exemplars during its 2015 Magnet designation. Typically, a hospital earns no more than two.

“Because she blends a strong clinical background with extraordinary analytical and strategic skills, Kelly dives into patient data to spot opportunities for improving nursing practice,” Kline said. “She then finds a better way for nurses to do their jobs, implements those changes and then measures the results.”

Seabold, who grew up in North Olmsted, followed her father into

Staff development: Under Seabold's leadership, the number of MetroHealth nurses with advanced board certification has more than doubled since 2014.

health care. He works in facilities for MetroHealth and arranged for Seabold to shadow a nurse during a weeklong high school career program. She fell for MetroHealth as well as nursing.

The Avon Lake resident attended Lorain County Community College for her associate’s degree and, after cutting her teeth as a staff nurse at MetroHealth, earned a four-year nursing degree from Ohio University.

In August, Seabold completed her master’s degree in nursing leadership from Minneapolis-based Walden University, which has provided her “a broader understanding of the functions of health care, beyond the nursing space.” — Judy Stringer

Patient touch: “I never thought I would do anything other than be a nurse at the bedside, but I feel like in my role now I am able to touch many more patients.”

CONGRATS! CONOR M. COAKLEY FORTY UNDER 40 CLASS OF 2018 CBRE Cleveland thanks you for your leadership and commitment to our clients and the Cleveland community. We are proud to have a leader of your caliber on our team. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

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Dr. Nkosi Mason, 37 M.D., associate clinical director for family medicine, Cleveland Clinic Akron General Dr. Nkosi Mason knew at the age of 6 that he wanted to be a physician.

“My earliest memory of that was basically my dad asked me what I thought I wanted to be, and I said either a doctor or a lawyer. I’m not really sure why those two came out. And he said, ‘If you want to be a lawyer, you might have to lie for your clients,’ which is an interesting thing to say to a 6-year-old. And I said, ‘Well, I guess I want to be a doctor then.’”

Mason never wavered from that path he decided on as a child — one that in 2014 brought him as a resident to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he has emerged as a leader in family medicine and population health.

“Taking care of the whole person, having a longitudinal and sometimes lifelong relationship with my patients is appealing to me and satisfying,” he said.

Born in the small South American country of Guyana, Mason grew up in an environment that made education a priority. When it came time for high school, he moved to New York to live with his biological mother and continued on the track that led him to medical school.

After stops in New York and Baltimore, Mason was particularly drawn to Akron General.

“I felt that this would be a place where I would fit in,” he said. “But there also were other things that I

was attracted to, including global health, which seemed robust here.”

He’s taken a lead on improving population health locally, where he doesn’t just see patients in his office but is out in the community at places like nursing homes. He also helps lead a growing community outreach project with Akron Public Schools to provide immunizations and physicals to students.

Plus, he’s in the early planning stages for a men’s health clinic in Akron.

Dr. Elliot Davidson, program director of family medicine residency and director of the center for family medicine at Akron General, recruited Mason.

“We sought him out because we thought he’d be the perfect person to

He’s founded a pair of companies — ExpenseBot (which folded last year) and 60mo (which was acquired by FreeAgent Central in 2012) — and he became ExpenseWire’s second employee in 2000.

“I’ve spent a ton of time all over the place — San Francisco, Austin (Texas), Boulder (Colo.), with Techstars in Chicago,” Buchholz said. “When I moved back to Cleveland (after selling 60mo) and spent a lot of time in basements or offices, I realized really quickly that we didn’t have a joyful community of startup founders and peers. There wasn’t a culture of people who got together for the sake of being together to talk about things

going to shit for their business or a great sale they had.”

Enter StartInCle, which has grown from bringing 17 friends together for an August 2017 dinner to the 70-plus entrepreneurs who gathered on a recent afternoon.

The volunteer-driven nonprofit aims to be the connector for founders who are looking for resources — or just advice — to help their high-growth business take the next step.

Morris Wheeler, the founder and principal of Beachwood-based Drummond Road Capital, said Buchholz “has tirelessly worked on behalf of founders in the Cleveland startup

Ed Buchholz, 37 Managing director, StartInCLE Ed Buchholz can barely contain his pride when he notes that StartInCle — a networking organization he founded with his wife, Anna, in 2017 — had more than 70 entrepreneurs at its most recent gathering.

But even that came with a sobering realization that is all too common for Buchholz and many other Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs.

“There were two people who didn’t know each other,” Buchholz said. “I was shocked. That’s Cleveland. That’s so indicative of how our business community is.”

Buchholz, who has spent almost two decades working in startups, hopes to play a role in changing that.

Madalynn Tzagournis Wendland, 39 Associate clinical professor of physical therapy and associate director for interprofessional education, Cleveland State University, and pediatric physical therapist, Cleveland Clinic Madalynn Tzagournis Wendland was in high school when she realized how much of an impact physical therapy could make on patients, both during and after the healing process.

The high school and college athlete studied physical therapy at Ohio State University and thought she’d go into something sports-related. But a clinical placement at a pediatric hospital in Oregon changed her path.

“I think we have such an ability to make positive change,” Wendland said.

In pediatrics, she saw the difference early interventions can make for children in terms of how active

and independent they can be.

After graduation, Wendland spent time in Columbus and Boston before joining the Cleveland Clinic in 2004.

She works in rehabilitation for the children’s hospital, focusing much of her work on the early identification of and early interventions for neurodevelopmental disabilities. This is important for infants born early, who may miss out on developmental milestones in-utero.

In 2013, Wendland joined Cleveland State, where she researches those early interventions and interprofessional education, the practice of having students in different disciplines — such as nursing, social work and

physical therapy — “learn with, from and about each other,” Wendland said. She’s also active in the university’s PLAAY on the Move initiative, which provides children with mobility devices, like battery-operated cars, adapted to their needs. The program helps children gain independence with a familiar, fun device.

Wendland lives out “Cleveland State’s mission as an urban institution,” said Beth Domholdt, director of the School of Health Sciences. Her work supports children with disabilities and their families, she added, and, at the same time, engages and educates the university’s students.

Sean McDermott, 39 Chief planning and design officer, Cleveland Metroparks Sean McDermott loves his job. His kids — three sons and a daughter — do, too.

“They love coming here. They call it ‘Daddy’s zoo,’” he said in a conference room not far from Monkey Island, a longtime highlight of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, run by Cleveland Metroparks, where McDermott has been chief planning and design officer since December 2013.

He and his staff of 19 oversee improvements to the system’s 23,000 acres of parkland, which includes 300 miles of trails, eight golf courses and eight lakefront parks, as well as the zoo.

McDermott holds a bachelor’s de-

P018_019_CL_20181119.indd 18

gree in civil engineering from the University of Dayton and a master’s in urban planning from Cleveland State University’s Urban College. He spent more than a decade in the private sector in construction and real estate before joining the Metroparks in December 2013.

A few months before McDermott took his current job, the state of Ohio relinquished control of its six lakefront parks to the local system.

Then, in 2015, Cuyahoga County turned Whiskey Island, located where the old mouth of the Cuyahoga River meets Lake Erie, over to the Metroparks. Since then, under CEO Brian Zimmerman, the

park system has begun to transform those parks. So far, several projects have been completed or are underway — including a new beach house at Edgewater Park, a new pedestrian bridge over Euclid Creek that connects Villa Angela and Wildwood parks and the restoration of the pier at Euclid Beach Park — with more to come.

“I grew up playing with Legos. I’ve always wanted to build things and love to build things,” McDermott said. “That’s the beautiful part of this job: You get to build things, but you get to do so much more, in terms of long-term planning.”

In addition to his day job, McDer-

11/15/18 4:10 PM

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FORTY UNDER 40 The Mason file All in the family: Mason’s wife, Dr. Summer Holmes Mason, is an OB-GYN physician at Wooster Community Hospital. He said despite their busy schedules, having two doctors in the marriage is a good thing because they each understand the demands of the profession.

Something bigger: “Medicine is really a privilege. People work very hard … to be able to have that privilege. I think it’s important that we continue to see it as such and not just, ‘Well, I worked really hard and now I’m a doctor, and now I can make all this money. And I just care about me.’

That’s not really what it should be about.”

Be a Better You Through Professional Development

lead these efforts to build these partnerships in the community and enhance our present programing,” Davidson said. “And, in fact, that has turned out to be the case. He’s a very good ambassador in the community: enthusiastic, a lot of great ideas and helping us to forge these relationships.” — Sue Walton

Exceptional Results

The Buchholz file Christmas in July: Buchholz was born on Christmas in 1980. His solution: He often celebrates his birthday with his wife, Anna, in July.

community for as long as I’ve known him. Even when he was working 80 hours a week on his own startup, he made time for others in the startup community in need.”

The needs, Buchholz said, are still great, but the region’s collaboration has greatly improved.

“It’s clear people want to see the change,” Buchholz said. “To me, that’s the first step.” — Kevin Kleps

The Wendland file

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An early interest: In middle school, Wendland helped her aunt get around after hip surgery, prompting her aunt to tell her she thought she’d become a physical therapist.

Why teach? “I’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of great mentors in my life that have taken the time to teach me, and I think that there was just that internal drive to give back or to pay it forward to students who could continue to do that, well after I’m done making, hopefully, what I think is an impact in society here in Northeast Ohio.”

“That part of what Cleveland State is about is not just about improving the lives of our students, but it’s about improving life in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and being a part of making our communities a better place to live and work and thrive,” Domholdt said. — Rachel Abbey McCafferty

The McDermott file By the shore: McDermott’s favorite project has been designing and building the new beach house at Edgewater Park.

THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER. Congratulations to our own Rosheadra Edwards and the entire Forty under 40 Class of 2018.

A boss's praise: “Sean McDermott is driven by his desire to improve quality of life for Northeast Ohio residents through expanding access and connections to Cleveland Metroparks' world-class park system,” said Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman. “McDermott often expresses his desire to make a lasting impact on the Greater Cleveland community and his contributions are evident through his civic engagement.”

mott is active in LakewoodAlive, the West Side suburb’s community development organization, and the New Village Corp., a nonprofit that develops affordable and market-rate housing, shopping centers and grocery stores in Cleveland. — Jay Miller

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Ba

Rosheadra Edwards, 39 Lead, contractor administrator, Testing & Technical Services, FirstEnergy Corp.

You’ll find some young people carrying some pretty impressive loads in this section, but not many with more responsibility than Rosheadra Edwards, who manages billions of dollars of construction contracts and hundreds of contractors for FirstEnergy Corp.

“I am the person that controls and manages all of our contractors. So, right now, we have a $4 billion project where we’re energizing the future,” Edwards said, referring to the company’s current grid-modernization project.

It’s a world of numbers, but not always the kind Edwards knew from her training as an accountant.

“I’m working with all engineers. I’m the only finance person on my team,” she said.

She spends her time tracking spending, making sure all of the finances are accurately accounted for and, perhaps most importantly, making sure the company has enough contractors in the places it needs them.

She’s modest, too. FirstEnergy actually stated it will spend between $4.2 billion and $5.8 billion on the grid-modernization work.

But Edwards said the work hasn’t peaked yet. She’s now running “about” 202 contrac-

The Edwards file

Par

Talking the talk: Harris says she’s well aware that she lost her Southern accent somewhere — well, at least most of the time. Her husband tells her, “When you fuss, I can really hear your accent,” she said, but most folks are surprised to learn she’s from Louisiana.

B ane Sh scho She field after disc port chol in h “I goo fixin me com prob L of w the whi soug land Sh wor Asia Coa S B pass Eise

What it was like moving to Akron: “Moving to Akron in 2006 kind of scared me a little. I’m a small-town girl. I wasn’t really used to a big city!”

tors — accountants — but added that number will continue to grow until around 2025.

Not bad for a woman from the tiny town of Bunkie, La., raised by her mom and the only

daughter among three siblings.

Today, she calls West Akron home, and after 12 years has finally gotten to the point where she says, “I’m from Akron,” when asked.

“I never thought I would love a city as much as the birth city of me, but I absolutely do love Akron,” she said.

Some in Akron love her, too, including from those she helps at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and other local charities. It’s not all work all the time for Edwards.

“Rosheadra succeeds at work and in life because she is passionate about her work and her family, and she understands the purpose behind having a work-life balance,” said Christina Brunson, a FirstEnergy senior business analyst and a mentor to Edwards.

“Whether it is at FirstEnergy, where she is managing vendor purchase orders, or organizing (Marine) Toys for Tots, her passion is contagious and it is making a difference that shows up in her work and personal life,” Brunson added. — Dan Shingler

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Barbara Lum, 35

The Lum file

Partner, Benesch

Not just a tough litigator: A fun fact about Lum is she played a year of rugby at Dartmouth College, where she was a wing and scrum-half.

Barbara Lum once pictured herself as an anesthesiologist, maybe a doctor.

She went through the prerequisite med school courses before realizing it wasn’t for her.

She ended up thrusting herself into a different field by taking a job as a paralegal in New York after earning her undergrad degree. There, she discovered both an interest in law and an opportunity to marry her interests in writing, psychology and the sciences, which all culminate in her work today as a product liability lawyer.

“I always thought I’d be a doctor and be good at helping people and learning about fixing problems,” Lum said. “I carry that with me to this day. On a daily basis, I try to help companies and individuals learn about their problems and help them fix them.”

Lum shines when she feels needed. It’s part of what inspired the California native to revive the Asian American Bar Association of Ohio, which was effectively dormant when she sought it out shortly after moving to Cleveland in 2010 for a job at Thompson Hine LLP. She felt as if there was no pre-existing network for her to tap into, especially as it related to Asian-American attorneys, let alone a West Coast transplant assimilating to Northeast Ohio.

So she effectively built one herself.

Benesch was drawn to Lum because of that passion and what managing partner Gregg Eisenberg describes as her hunger to lead.

Guidance for young attorneys: “I think the thing I would advise young or minority lawyers is to really get involved with the things you love in the community and meet as many people as you can. Find what you love and get involved not just to the extent that you’re showing up, but that you’re actively engaged.”

That’s why they drew her from Thompson Hine earlier this year.

“It’s really fun to watch her,” Eisenberg said.

“She has big plans for her practice and has taken great interest in training and developing other lawyers. It actually feels like she’s been at the firm a lot longer than she has, and that’s a great thing.”

Since becoming AABAO president in 2013, Lum has quadrupled the Ohio group’s membership, brought a regional convention for Asian lawyers to Cleveland, and joined the board of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

“I feel like, especially when I join a group or look into doing so, if there’s something I can control or do, I throw myself into it,” said Lum. “When something gets my attention, I’m all completely in.” — Jeremy Nobile

Daniel Luketic, 32

Alex Cooper, 35

Director, North Coast Angel Fund

Vice president, senior relationships manager, Bank of America

Call it a leap of faith or keen intuition, but Daniel Luketic’s decision to plant himself at the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) in 2010 was nothing short of life-altering. The recent Mount Union College graduate was coming off a three-year business development gig at newly launched AVE Intervision Network in Alliance and “had caught a tech startup bug, so to speak.”

“I really had no specific plan of which company I would join or which project I would work on,” he said. “I just knew a lot of interesting people were coming through the door with a lot of different ideas.”

One of them was Canfield insurance agent Phil Kilpatrick Jr., who enlisted Luketic in the formation of Risk Management Technologies.

Under Luketic’s leadership, the Boardman-based company secured angel investors and commercialized an online software application that helps insurance agents easily share coverage options with customers while securing digital documentation. The Rootstown native supported several other YBI startups before making the eastward journey to join Dan Gilbert’s Bizdom technology accelerator, where he consulted with aspiring entrepreneurs and helped the Cleveland venture land nearly $4 million from the Ohio Third Frontier Fund.

P020_021_CL_20181119.indd 21

The Luketic file Scout’s honor: Luketic became an Eagle Scout in 2001.

Riding the wave: “This next wave of entrepreneurship is fun, exciting work to be a part of.

These innovations have the potential to be groundbreaking and impact so many people’s everyday lives, whether it’s software or artificial intelligence or medical devices.”

Today, Luketic is leading the identification and vetting of early stage investment opportunities for the 11-year-old North Coast Angel Fund’s third fund and getting accustomed to being called an “East Sider” as a newish Bainbridge resident. NCAF Managing Director Todd Federman said Luketic has been instrumental in growing the fund’s investor base, establishing new corporate sponsor relationships and launching an educational series for current and prospective angel investors, in addition to driving improvements in the due diligence process.

“Daniel led a rethinking of our due diligence process that now allows us to complete all diligence projects within 30 days,” Federman said. “This makes working with NCAF a lot easier for both entrepreneurs and our angel investor members.” — Judy Stringer

For Alex Cooper, getting punched and kicked in the face is good for business.

When the lanky Mentor native isn’t working as a senior relationship manager for Bank of America or with family, he’s probably training with renowned brawlers at the Strong Style MMA and boxing gym in Independence. There, he’s part of a coaching team training fighters such as UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic, flyweight Jessica “Evil” Eye and ranked light-middleweight boxer Willie Nelson.

Clients often spot him on broadcast fights or go the events themselves. The flood of messages he receives after they catch him on TV still feels surreal at times.

He recalled one event in particular where he was helping Eye warm up for a bout. Eye asked her 6-foot-4-inch coach to catch kicks with his hand pads. He was protecting his face, but the pads were too high, so she asked him to bring them down. That’s when a high kick accidentally sailed over the pads, connecting with Cooper’s head. He probably got more texts after that than after being with Miocic when the fighter won his championship match.

“The film on Fox had her kicking me right in the face and laughing,” he said. “That one hurt. She got me right in the neck.”

But as it goes for this brawling banker, any press is good press.

The Cooper file Banker turned fight coach: Cooper joined the boxing gym with a friend to get in better shape.

When Jessica Eye’s coach got hurt, her brother, who Cooper was training, said Cooper could help. The rest is history.

Looking for the best: “Whether on the boxing, MMA side or banking, I want to help bring out the best in everyone.”

“The boxing stuff, being on TV, it really does help the banking,” said Cooper. “It’s kind of a neat marketing thing.”

Cooper is a “modern-day renaissance man,” said Raju Patel, senior vice president at Bank of America. “Banker by day, father and husband at night, marathon runner, boxing coach … Alex brings diversity of youth and varied interests, insights, thought and voice of clients to our team,” Patel said.

There’s also something of a parallel between fighting and banking and the skills that apply to each.

“You have to trust your coach because when you’re in there, the only people who have you back are your trainers,” Cooper said. “It’s kind of that trust, respect level that has to be there for you to have a successful partnership. And that’s just like banking.” — Jeremy Nobile

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FORTY UNDER 40

Justin Lathia, 38 Associate professor, Lerner Research Institute Justin Lathia always gravitated toward the engineering approach to problem-solving, but wasn’t necessarily interested in building bridges or computers.

“I was just attracted to this idea of biological solutions, whether it’s, you know, imaging agents, whether it’s cell transplants, whether it’s artificial organs. This whole idea of using engineering principles for biological problems was really attractive to me,” said Lathia, who studied biomedical engineering as an undergrad.

Fascinated by how stem cells build and maintain organs, Lathia went on to get a Ph.D. in stem cell biology.

Today, the nationally renowned cancer stem cell researcher has contributed to the understanding and treatment of glioblastoma and other types of cancers. Lathia, who has run his own lab within Lerner Research Institute since 2012, is known for his work with cancer stem cells, but says some of the new work in his lab has “the potential to change the conversation around brain tumors.”

His lab has an ongoing clinical trial at the Cleveland Clinic that's looking at FDA-approved drugs that kill cells in brain tumors that suppress the immune system. Lathia also is part of a consortium of re-

searchers applying for a National Institutes of Health grant to study the differences in brain tumors between men and women.

Dr. Stanley Hazen, chair of the department of cellular and molecular medicine at the Lerner Research Institute, was in that role when the department recruited Lathia, whom he calls “amazingly bright” and “a go-getter,” a person who’s always “eager and enthusiastic” to launch into new areas.

“He’s just a creative spark that really is hugely collaborative and generates enthusiasm," Hazen said, "not only in having many students and fellows who flock to want to

Zhenting Men, 36 Vice president, Cleveland International Fund Cleveland International Fund Ltd. offers U.S. residency to wealthy foreigners who create jobs in Northeast Ohio, an economic development engine that Zhenting Men has helped power during his nine years with the organization.

Zhenting began his career at the fund as an intern, rising up the ranks to market analyst and operations manager before being named vice president in 2016. A native of China, Zhenting knows firsthand the immigrant experience, and now plays an active role in the investor relations and immigration processes upon which the fund is built. Since 2010, CIF has managed more than $240

million, while projects receiving loans through the organization represent $2.3 billion in total investment.

A Pepper Pike resident, Zhenting joined CIF after completing master’s degrees in business administration and accounting at Cleveland State University. Chief operating officer Adam Blackman hired Zhenting for his analytical skill set and innate ability to communicate with Chinese stakeholders. Among other accomplishments, the fund VP created an online investor database and follows guidelines set by the federal EB-5 visa program, an investment vehicle that gained attention when tradition-

al loans dried up during the 2008 recession.

“Cleveland has become my second hometown, so I’m helping them transfer from their city to Cleveland," he said.

Though hired to interact with Chinese investors, most of the fund’s current stakeholders derive from India. Zhenting is nonetheless able to meet this challenge through marketing and communications proficiencies honed over the last decade, said CIF chief executive Steve Strnisha.

“He’s been a key element in us pivoting our focus away exclusively from EB-5 and going back to a base of in-

Julie Crocker, 37 Partner, Taft Stettinius & Hollister Julie Crocker made partner at Cleveland’s Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm at age 33, and was named to the firm’s 12-member executive committee earlier this year, the youngest attorney to reach that position. She has earned a reputation for adeptly handling disputes involving shareholders, mergers-and-acquisitions and real estate.

Bruce Lowe, a partner in the firm who has been a mentor to Crocker, described her as a very talented and resilient litigator. He noted that, historically, it’s been harder for women to become a litigation partner than men, but said Crocker has navigated the pathway well, never backing

away from a challenge or losing sight of her clients' objectives.

“Many people don’t relish the ‘street fighting’ aspect of litigation, but she’s able to deal with it,” he said.

“She knows how to be tough without being unpleasant.”

Crocker is a native Clevelander who graduated from Northwestern University and Cleveland State University’s Marshall College of Law. The Willoughby resident is also the Cleveland lead for her firm’s Gender Advancement Committee. Through that committee, Crocker has advocated for policies that help women succeed at work while also meeting their family’s needs, such as institut-

ing a program to help them ship breast milk home while they are traveling for work or offering access to emergency child care when needed.

Crocker has two children — a 7-year-old and a 17-month-old — so she knows firsthand how important such policies can be to keeping a woman productive and engaged at work.

“You have to have a great support network to make it work and I’m very grateful for Taft for implementing policies like this,” she said.

Her advocacy for women doesn’t stop at supporting moms, however.

With her colleagues, she also helped organize an event, “Support Her Endeavors: Recognizing Cleveland

Chad Minor, 37 System executive director of nursing operations, Cleveland Clinic The exceptional care that Chad Minor’s father received during his battle against colon cancer — and his mother’s decision to return to school for nursing upon his death in 2001 — led Minor to the nursing industry.

As the system executive director of nursing operations at the Cleveland Clinic, Minor uses his business background to support nurses throughout the system, from inpatient to outpatient care, from the OR to the ER, across all facilities.

He started at the Cleveland Clinic about a decade ago in finance. When working on a couple of projects on the Clinic’s main campus, he real-

P022_023_CL_20181119.indd 22

ized he wanted to be more involved with clinical work.

For the past several years, he’s been working his way through nursing leadership, taking on his current role in May of this year.

“I would say one of my main goals… (was) to really look at how do we bridge the business operation side of the house with the clinical operation side of the house,” he said.

He also works closely with new system integration. The Clinic has pretty much completed its integration of Akron General, which it acquired in 2015, and is starting work on integrating Union Hospital,

which officially became a full member of the system earlier this year.

Next up will be Indian River Medical Center, of Vero Beach, Fla., and Martin Health System, a three-hospital system also in Southeast Florida, both of which are in the process of joining the Clinic, pending regulatory reviews.

Kelly Hancock, executive chief nursing officer for Cleveland Clinic, has worked with Minor for about eight years. As she’s watched him grow and develop in that time, she’s noticed an innate understanding of the importance of building trusting relationships.

Minor is “authentic,” “smart” and

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FORTY UNDER 40 The Lathia file Travel bug: Lathia enjoys spending time with his family, sports and traveling. This year alone he has been to Japan, Iceland, Norway and Germany.

What keeps him passionate about his work: “To be able to make an impact on such a horrible disease or at least try to make an impact. We are constantly challenged by the devastation of this disease. And I do feel like the work the lab is doing allows us to do that. ... To basically be able to discover on a daily basis something that in the history of humanity we didn’t know before — it’s addictive.”

work in his lab, but also in developing and fostering collaborations across multiple different groups, both within our department and across to the clinical groups." — Lydia Coutré

CONGRATULATIONS

SEAN MEDINA! C O M M I T M E N T. I N T E G R I T Y. LE A D E R S H I P.

Hahn Loeser congratulates litigation partner E. Sean Medina on his selection as a 2018 Crain’s Forty Under 40 honoree. He is an innovator within our firm, an influential member of our community, and a mentor for his colleagues, inspiring

The Men file

them to rise to the challenges

Climbing the ranks: Men began his career at the fund as an intern, then became a market analyst and operations manager before being named vice president in 2017.

they face. Congratulations to

Communication is key: “I’m an immigrant with a green card, so I know how to talk to investors.”

vestors on a market-rate basis,” Strnisha said. “Zhenting’s ability to understand details of complex programs and communicate that to others is one of his greatest achievements.”

For his part, Zhenting is happy to tap into his native roots to create or preserve an estimated 13,000 jobs for his new home state.

“I have all these different duties to help investors, and I’m proud of that,” he said. — Douglas J. Guth

The Crocker file Volunteer work: Julie is on the board of directors for the Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland, where she chairs the governance committee.

Sean and all the 2018 Crain’s Forty Under 40 honorees!

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FINANCE

By JEREMY NOBILE jnobile@crain.com @JeremyNobile

VOL. 39, NO. 21

MAY 21 - 27, 2018

The largest money manager in NortheastFINANCE Ohio, which has been quietly amassing Byrather JEREMY NOBILE size for well over a century, has achieved explosive growth sincejnobile@crain.com a management-led and private equity supported separation from Key@JeremyNobile Corp a few years ago.

Now, following a recent IPO, Brooklyn, Ohiobased Victory CapitalThe Management’s parent largest money manager in Northeast company, Victory Capital Holdings, is setting Ohio, which has been rather quietly amassing NOBILE the stage for its next size era of driven by itsBy JEREMY forgrowth well over a century, has achieved exmulti-boutique model and agrowth consistent acquiplosive since a management-led jnobile@crain.com and sitions strategy. private equity supported separation from Key@JeremyNobile CEO David Brown: “We eventually evolved to the point where it just didn’t make sense for Key “We saw an opportunity the market Corp a in few years ago.to do to be the owners of Victory Capital.” (Ken Blaze for Crain’s) something different than what was happening, following a recent IPO, Brooklyn, OhioNow, which was our integrated, multi-boutique no animosity there.

The relationThat was nearly five years ago. And while The There largestwas money manager in Northeast based Victory Capital Management’s parent model that we havecompany, today,” said Victory CEOOhio, ship between Keyrather and Victory is still strong, in Crestview is still a majority owner of the busiwhich hassetting been quietly amassing Victory Capital Holdings, is David Brown, who joined the firm in next 2004 era while — the headquarters off exTiedeman ness — of which employees own a 35% stake fact for well overlatter’s century, has achieved the stage for its ofsize growth driven bya its plosive growth since a complex management-led and staff it — it’s given Brown and Victory’s board freeit was still a part of Key. Road sits within for KeyCorp multi-boutique model and a consistent acquiequity supported separationThe from Key- simply dom to operate how it likes.

That model, whichsitions truly started to develop atprivate subleases from the company. timing strategy. a few years ago.said, CEO separate from Key,where Victory on an Victory following a management-led buyoutCorp Brown for Victory step out oneventually its Once David to Brown: “We evolved to the point it set justout didn’t make sense for Key “We saw an opportunity in felt theright, market to do following a recent Brooklyn, OhioNow, to be the owners of Victory (Kenstreak Blaze for acquisition toCrain’s) give it more scale. It’s from Key in 2013, is largely what Brown feels po-what own continue theIPO, work it had been doing for Capital.” something different than wasand happening, based long Victory Capital Management’s parent sitions the firm to flourish as its industry bought companies as Key refocused on other which was our evolves. integrated,somulti-boutique There wasstrategies. no animosity there.

The three relationThatsince was then: nearlyMunder five years ago. And while company, Victory Capital Holdings, is setting management business Key’s investmentmodel 2014); Efficient Model Port- owner of the busi“We eventually evolvedbetween to the point it Capital that we have today, ” said CEO Keyitswhere and Victory is still (in strong, inCompass Crestview is still a majority the stageVictory for its next era ofship growth driven by that eventually became Victory was more thanthe firm folios (in 2015), which became known as CEMP; just didn’t for—Key be the owners thetolatter’s David Brown, who joined in 2004make whilesense multi-boutique model andfact a consistent acqui- headquarters off Tiedeman ness — of which employees own a 35% stake a century old as theitcompany to shedsitions RS Investments 2016).

It also took and a mi-Victory’s board freeof Victory Capital,” Brown said.

Road sits within a complex forand KeyCorp staff it (in — it’s given Brown was still alooked part of Key. strategy. the division several years ago.

CEO David eventually to the point where it just didn’t make sense for Key fromtothe TheBrown: timing“We simply domevolved to operate how it likes.

That model, which truly started to develop at subleases “We saw an opportunity in the market docompany. to be the owners of Victory Capital.” (Ken Blaze for Crain’s) Many banking conglomerates were making felt right, Brown for Victory to step out on its Once separate from Key, Victory set out on an Victory following a management-led buyout something different than what was happening, Victory Capital at a said, glance similar moves around thatKey time, shedding theirwhich There wasbeen no animosity The relationwas our multi-boutique years acquisition streak toThat givewasit nearly more five scale.

It’sago. And while continue the work it had doing for there. from in 2013, is largely what Brown feels integrated, po- own and J JVictory Capital spun out KeyCorp a management-led, private equity-supportmoney managers to cut costs focus on coreas ship Key and Victory bought is still strong, incompanies model that weevolves. have today, ” long said Victory CEO following Crestview is stillthen: a majority owner of the busisitions theand firm to flourish its industry three since Munder so asof Key refocused onbetween other strategies. ed buyout at firm $246 million in 2013. the point latter’swhere headquarters off Tiedeman ness — of which employees fact — David Brown, who valued joined the 2004 while banking services in those following management the investment business Key’syears (in 2014); Compass Efficient Model Port-own a 35% stake “We in eventually evolved to the it Capital JJSince Road sits within a complex forfolios KeyCorp staff — it’s given known Brown as and Victory’s board freeit was still amore part that ofthan Key. deal,just thedidn’t firm has gone from $18 billion assets to $60.9 billion, 148it which last recession. Key eventually sold the business that eventually became Victory was (in 2015), became CEMP; make sense for Key to bein the owners employees totruly 300,started 18 investment to 72 andthe five franchises to nine, plus a dom to operate how it likes. from company.

The timing simply model, which to developstrategies at subleases to Victory employeesa—century there were at Thatlooked old about as the148 company to shed of Victory Capital,” Brown said. and RS Investments (in 2016). It also took a misolutions VictoryShares.

Once separate from Key, Victory set out on an followingplatform, a management-led buyout felt right, Brown said, for Victory to step out on its the time — and New York private equity firmVictory the division several years ago. acquisition streak to give it more scale. It’s and continue the work it hadThat beencapital doing for from Key in 2013, is raised largely what Brown po- in aown JJ The firm about $140feels million recent IPO (NASDAQ: VCTR). will help Crestview Partners for Many $246 million. bankingProceeds conglomerates were making Capital glance sitions the firm toits flourish as itsVictory industry evolves. bought three companies since then: Munder so long asat Keyarefocused on other support eventual separation from Crestview Partners, the New Yorkstrategies. private equity firm of Key’s sale were used to buy back stock, benesimilar moves around that time, shedding their investment business Key’sthat “We eventually evolved to the point where it Capital (in 2014); Compass Efficient Model Portstill holdsmanagement a majority stake in the business. fiting shareholders. money managers to cut costs and focus on core JJVictory Capital spun out of KeyCorp following a management-led, private equity-support-

SUCCESS IS IN VICTORY’S SIGHT

that eventually became Victory was more than

just didn’t make sense for Key to be the owners

folios (in 2015), which became known as CEMP;

ed buyout valued at $246 million in 2013. banking services in thosea years following the century old as the company looked to shed of Victory Capital,” Brown said. and RS Investments (in 2016). It also took a milast recession. Key eventually sold theseveral business the division years ago.JJSince that deal, the firm has gone from $18 billion in assets to $60.9 billion, 148 employees to 300, 18 investment strategies to 72 and five franchises to nine, plus a to Victory employees — thereMany werebanking about 148 at conglomerates were making Victory Capital at a glance solutions platform, moves around shedding their VictoryShares. the time — and New Yorksimilar private equity firmthat time, JJVictory Capitalinspun out ofIPO KeyCorp following a management-led, JThe money managers to cut costs J and focus onraised core about firm $140 million a recent (NASDAQ: VCTR).

That capital willprivate help equity-supportCrestview Partners for $246 million.

Proceeds ed buyout valued at $246 million in 2013. support its eventual separation from Crestview Partners, the New York private equity firm banking in those years following the of Key’s sale were used to buy backservices stock, beneholds a majority stake in the JJSince that deal,business. the firm has gone from $18 billion in assets to $60.9 billion, 148 last recession. Key eventuallythat sold still the business fiting shareholders.

to Victory employees — there were about 148 at the time — and New York private equity firm Crestview Partners for $246 million. Proceeds of Key’s sale were used to buy back stock, benefiting shareholders.

employees to 300, 18 investment strategies to 72 and five franchises to nine, plus a solutions platform, VictoryShares.

JJThe

firm raised about $140 million in a recent IPO (NASDAQ: VCTR). That capital will help support its eventual separation from Crestview Partners, the New York private equity firm that still holds a majority stake in the business.

Motivating words: “The more positive and optimistic you are about ideas and events and different endeavors, the more people can latch onto that.”

Women in STEM,” in October at the Great Lakes Science Center to celebrate the success of three women in the community.

Collaborating on events like that generates great energy in the firm, she said, and helps people be more positive and willing to work together.

“In the end, that helps us service our clients better and makes for a better community, in the office and outside as well,” she said. — Beth Thomas Hertz

Congratulations to

Kyle D. Miller on your induction into the 2018 Crain’s Forty Under 40 Class

The Minor file Drilling down: Through monthly operating reviews within nursing, Minor and his team measure and review performance and outcomes. In such a data-rich environment, he has worked to focus that down to a handful of data that matters the most and where there are opportunities for improvement.

A healthy perspective: “What keeps me excited is that it’s ever-changing. It continues to evolve; it continues to be engaging and challenging. I enjoy working with these new organization. … I enjoy just seeing where we are five years ago and where we’ve come today, and then where we are now and where we’re going to be in five years.”

“fun,” she said.

“I think his leadership style really opens up and fosters many possibilities as it relates to innovative, creative thinking,” Hancock said. — Lydia Coutré

P022_023_CL_20181119.indd 23

For more information about Dominion Energy, visit DominionEnergy.com.

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FORTY UNDER 40 The Coakley file He has change: Coakley carries rolls of quarters in his car.

Why? To feed parking meters. He wishes Cleveland would use pay-by-phone or credit card systems as other cities do. He said out-of-town clients are often amazed by the old meters.

T

The Campbell file Advice to young people: "Don't be bashful. Get involved in things that interest you. People want to mentor. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but people I met that are doing things professionally or as volunteers became my friends."

Lesson learned: “My first job out of grad school, working for a U.S. congressman, made me realize the importance of having good, trustworthy information when it comes to public policy decisions.”

Crafty: Campbell maintains an epic craft closet and is particularly known for her Halloween costumes.

A s r 2 d h “ c h

Conor Coakley, 39

Emily Campbell, 38

Br

First vice president, CBRE

Associate director, The Center for Community Solutions

CEO

As a commercial real estate agent, Conor Coakley has handled millions in sales of properties in downtown Cleveland, including the landmark May Co. on Public Square. His team also represents office and retail leasing for K&D Group, one of the city’s largest landords.

“So many cool things are going on now,” he said. “My world has expanded from West Ninth Street to East Ninth Street downtown to Gordon Square and University Circle.”

However, he also pursues projects that don’t produce a commission.

Coakley is part of a group advocating for a three-mile downtown route called the “Memorial Bridges Loop” that would make it easier and safer to run or bike downtown, especially on Huron Road and Ontario Street by the Flats.

The idea was developed by Coakley’s team as a project when he was in Leadership Cleveland. He also serves on the boards of LAND Studio and New Village Corp., nonprofits that

support, respectively, public art and parks and neighborhood development.

David Browning, managing director of CBRE’s Cleveland office, said he recruited Coakley in 2012 because of his skills as an office leasing broker. But within a year he was surprised by the depth of Coakley’s involvement in downtown development deals, calling him a “leading producer” in the office.

Coakley has finished in six marathons and still runs, but less than in the past, and his bocce game is not as sharp as before. His running is different now as he and his wife Alana have two young children. They just moved to the Edgewater neighborhood from Battery Park. “We have more space, a yard and can still vote in Cleveland,” Coakley said.

His behind-the-scenes knowledge of town surprises even some insiders. Doug Price, K&D Group CEO, said Coakley “has his hand in everything and knows what’s happening in town.” — Stan Bullard

Emily Campbell was a self-described “recovering Republican congressional staffer” when she joined the Center for Community Solutions in 2007, shortly after serving three years in U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy’s Pittsburgh office.

“Anybody who has worked for an elected official is recovering,” she quipped. “To be honest, I went from just really the most liberal person on the congressman’s staff to one of the most conservative ones on the Community Solutions’ staff. And my views didn’t change — it was just the environment.”

The Pittsburgh native got her first taste of Northeast Ohio while attending Case Western Reserve University via a full-ride scholarship she won as National History Day champion in high school. She finished her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at CWRU and soon returned to Pittsburgh to work for Murphy.

Since boomeranging back to Ohio, Campbell has advanced at Community Solutions from a policy and planning assistant to the Cleveland nonprofit’s associate director and its William-

son Family Fellow for Applied Research. In this role, she “basically operates like a second in command” when it comes to day-to-day operations, Campbell said, and also leads a team of researchers who pull together data and information about community issues.

Community Solutions president John Corlett noted that over the past year Campbell has helped revamp the organization’s research work so it’s simpler and better connected to local public and private stakeholders. As a result, he said, media increasingly take note of and cite Community Solutions' work to help explain some of the community’s most pressing and complex issues.

“She also keeps us honest and tells us when the data doesn’t support a proposed solution or where it’s incomplete,” Corlett said.

In the community, the Cleveland Heights resident is most passionate about her work with the Literacy Cooperative of Greater Cleveland, where she currently serves as board president. — Judy Stringer

THANK YOU to our 2018 Cleveland’s Finest Honorees! This group of dedicated professionals have been competing amongst one another over the last 8 weeks to help us raise funds to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.

Congratulations to Taft Partner Julie Crocker for being named to the 2018 Forty Under 40 Class.

Thank you for your dedication and community leadership.

Thank you, Benesch Law for being our Finest Reception Sponsor.

Cheers to Fat Head’s Brewery for the amazing brews to help us raise a glass to our Honorees. These outstanding leaders are part of a nationwide campaign that will raise over $4 million to help us make CF one day stand for CURE FOUND.

John Banks Shamrock Companies

Hannah Cooper Summa Health

C

M

Nick Gibson Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Darin Haines Fresh Mark Inc.

Paige Katrinchak WKYC-TV

Nicole Kokish LeafFilter North, INC.

NorthernOH.cff.org

John Renner US Small Business Administration

Mary Ellen Riley John Carroll University for Career Services

www.taftlaw.com

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W pack gear kniv H reas H grap bran didn com lieu D ing vent Pets tual dle stick “I The scho day

11/15/18 4:17 PM

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

The Owen file Don’t launch three companies at once: “Just focus on one thing and try to be the absolute best at it.”

Big achievement: Before joining Tech Elevator, Wintrich was a systems architect at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.

There, he led a team of programmers that modernized the architecture behind Pay.gov, which processes billions of dollars in online payments from individuals and various branches of the U.S. government.

Brad Owen, 33

David Wintrich, 39

CEO and founder, NeverBounce

Co-founder and chief academic officer, Tech Elevator At Ohio State University, he launched a digital marketing company called Creavos that developed several websites and products, including a software tool called NeverBounce.

Today, NeverBounce is its own company in Beachwood. Its software lets companies that send large email blasts weed out bad email addresses, which helps them keep their bounce rate low and avoid getting marked as a spammer.

Owen is the type of guy who sees opportunity everywhere, said Marty Alpert, a retired entrepreneur who serves as an adviser to him.

“When he looks at something, he’ll see how to make it better,” Alpert said.

Owen suspects he got into that habit because other entrepreneurs were in his family.

He and his siblings also were raised to have strong work ethics, he said, adding that he used to work on his grandfather’s farm. Now he, his wife Ashley and their two young daughters live on that farm in Bainbridge Township.

They even make syrup on the farm, like his grandfather did in the 1970s. — Chuck Soder

SALT • SALT • SALT

++

When Brad Owen was 12, he received a package containing roughly $400 of ninja gear. Throwing stars, nunchuks, blowguns, knives, etc. — and they were not toys.

His parents were stunned, but for some reason they let him keep it all.

He did earn it. At the time, he was using his graphic design abilities to make logos and branded materials for companies. But he didn’t have a bank account, so he’d target companies that would send him free stuff in lieu of payment. Like ninja supply companies.

During his youth, Owen’s penchant for solving problems led him to launch several other ventures. In elementary school, when Giga Pets were sold out in stores, he ordered the virtual-pet toys wholesale and sold them. In middle school, he and his friends made juggling sticks and sold them at University School.

“I remember going to the principal’s office.

They said, ‘You cannot sell stuff here at the school.’ And I said, ‘I just got three orders today from one of my teachers,’” he said.

+

+

ghts work ater as

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Problem-solvers: “Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds. But I think that one commonality you’ll find amongst them and people that thrive in tech in the first place, they’re just sort of natural problemsolvers. ... It could be finding a better way to sort the laundry at home.”

David Wintrich can relate to the students at Tech Elevator.

Since enrolling its first six students in fall 2015, the 14-week software development bootcamp has taught hundreds of people from all sorts of professions how to code.

Like those students, Wintrich did not write software as a kid. The Maple Heights native didn’t even have internet access.

People told him he was good at writing, so his first major at Cleveland State University was broadcasting. In a parallel universe, he could’ve become a weatherman. But in this one, he took an intro to computers course that taught him how to create HTML web pages.

He was hooked instantly.

Now, 20 years later, Wintrich is tasked with making sure that Tech Elevator’s students get sucked in just like he did. So far, it’s been working: The vast majority of Tech Elevator graduates get software development jobs.

Wintrich loves his job. Not only does it let him flex the logical, problem-solving muscles

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The Wintrich file

Advice for his old self: NeverBounce raised seed funding in 2015. He should’ve done that for some of his previous ventures.

“We could’ve built companies a lot faster had we taken money.”

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he honed writing code, but he also had two other goals: to teach and to start his own company.

So when Anthony Hughes reached out to him about starting Tech Elevator, all of his goals fell into place.

“It sounds melodramatic, but sometimes I’ve felt like, ‘This is why I was put on this planet. To do this,’” he said.

Hughes said Wintrich is strategic, execution-focused and cares deeply about students.

For instance, after opening its Cincinnati office in 2017, Tech Elevator realized that an instructor there wasn’t performing well. So Wintrich moved his family there for a few months to make sure those students got their money’s worth.

“He’s the kind of guy who just does what it takes,” Hughes said.

Now, Wintrich is back in Shaker Heights.

He enjoys any excuse to get outside, be it camping, hiking, biking or just walking the streets with his wife, Sahithya, and their children, Avani, 4, and Argun, 2. — Chuck Soder

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Brittan Berry, 31

Sa

Director, people operations, FullStory

Sen Bra

When Brittan Berry moved to Cleveland, she was looking for a job where she could do something innovative and different to help the community.

After several meetings, the first-generation college student — a graduate of both Harvard and Yale universities — brought her background in sociology and business to University Hospitals.

Berry recently decided to leave UH for an opportunity with an Atlanta-based technology startup, FullStory, but she remains in Cleveland.

At UH, Berry focused on “human-centered design” — the concept of making sure you’re asking the right questions, drilling down to the root of a problem and then creating solutions based on people’s behavior and interactions.

“It’s not just a rubber-stamped solution,” she said. “It’s unique to the humans that are in that space.”

For instance, to address the number of people leaving the emergency department without being seen, Berry and the team at UH Ventures studied the ED, interviewed staff and patients, and came up with a system to ensure

F a n the has cess buil of c keti land Th vide men you tel b year “A time H him pres “I to ta my H enc New the that and

The Berry file Downtown-obsessed: Berry lives in downtown Cleveland and is quick to extol the benefits of downtown living.

She can walk to Playhouse Square; to a baseball, basketball, or football game; to the lake; to Heinen’s (“the most beautiful grocery store,” she says) and more.

What got her into sociology: “I’ve always had a deep desire to understand what makes people tick and then how to make things better for them based on the unique attributes of certain groups of people.”

that both felt respected and heard.

They reshaped the ED journey for patients, resulting in higher staff morale and improved patient satisfaction scores.

Berry also was responsible for making many of the connections for Plug and Play, the Silicon Valley health-tech accelerator.

Kipum Lee, managing director of UH Ventures, said Berry possesses a “rare combination” of HR and design talent, alongside leadership skills.

“She’s also, I would say, a great executioner of getting things done.

She’s a doer,” he said. — Lydia Coutré

We salute you.

Congratulations to the 2018 Crain’s Forty Under 40 award recipients, including the Cleveland Clinic caregivers.

Sean Medina, 38 Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks For Sean Medina, becoming a successful lawyer and partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks boils down to two traits: a strong desire to really learn about the diverse industries his clients represent, such as health care, natural resources mining and title insurance/escrow, and a super-competitive streak.

“The most important thing you have to do (in litigation) is to understand your client and understand what their business needs are and what they’re going through,” he said.

“Learning about the industry and learning about the client is not only one of my favorite things to do, but I think it’s extremely important to doing my job well.”

He added that his competitive nature, which also helps him a great deal, was honed by playing soccer from age 4 through high school, as well as playing trumpet in band competitions and participating in competitive speech as an undergraduate at Bowling Green State University.

One competition he didn’t win, though, was to be the first baby born in Elyria in the 1980s. He was born on Dec. 31, 1979. “My mom was hoping I’d make it past the deadline,” he said with a laugh.

Robert J. Fogarty, a partner at Hahn Loeser & Parks and co-chair of the litigation area, has watched Medina grow from a summer associate

The Medina file Community involvement: Sean is a board member for the Epilepsy Association, serving as board treasurer and a member of the finance committee.

Competitive streak: “I like to win, I like to compete, and litigation is a natural fit for that.”

to partner since 2007. He said Medina has a great ability to analyze complex issues and solve problems.

“He has obtained great results for a major health care insurer, and in litigations and arbitrations around the country,” Fogarty said, adding that Medina is a team player who is well respected by staff, fellow lawyers and opposing counsel, but his strong desire to succeed for his clients is also clear.

“Sometimes we call that ‘fire in the belly,’ ” said Fogarty.

Medina, who lives in Cleveland Heights and attended Marshall College of Law, has also parlayed his love of competition and sports into a community connection, organizing fans of London’s Arsenal Football Club to watch games together on weekends in Lakewood.

“It’s a cool way to connect to the community through something that people like to do, which is watch soccer,” he said. — Beth Thomas Hertz

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Sanket Patel, 30

The Patel file

Senior director of client services, BrandMuscle

sa

n, I nat-

Social service: BAPS, the nonprofit which Patel has been involved with for more than a decade, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony.

For Sanket Patel, deep involvement with a nonprofit youth organization based on the Hindu sect known as Swaminarayan has been the foundation upon which success in all others parts of his life has been built, including his work as senior director of client services at BrandMuscle, a marketing and technology company in Cleveland.

The youth organization, called BAPS, provides educational activities, health initiatives, mentorship and other programming for youth from first grade up into adulthood. Patel became active with the group about 12 years ago and helps in numerous ways.

“At times, I think of it as my secondary fulltime job,” he said.

He added that his work there has helped him develop organizational, leadership and presentation skills and more.

“It’s what keeps me grounded and I am able to take the experiences to all the other areas of my life,” he said.

He's also quick to cite his parents’ influence on his career. Patel was born in Queens, New York, after his parents immigrated to the United States from India. He recounts that his father arrived alone, with very little, and got to work pursuing the American

Value in volunteering: “I don’t know if I’d be where I am in my professional career if I didn’t learn what I did from my volunteer work.”

dream before sending for his wife. At first, he helped out in a relative’s newspaper-selling business in New York, but eventually he and his wife owned their own business. Today, they operate two newsstands in downtown Cleveland.

“The work ethic that drove him from having just a single suitcase and a couple of hundred dollars (when he arrived) to where he is in life today is very admirable for me,” said Patel, who lives in Olmsted Falls. "It’s very personal and something that I want to model my work ethic on.”

Danielle Bryant, vice president of client services, who has worked with Patel for about eight years as he has grown at BrandMuscle, sees that focus in him.

“He doesn’t settle for the status quo. He is constantly challenging himself to be better, his team to be better and his clients to be better,” she said. “He’s a very driven individual, from a business perspective and in his community work.” — Beth Thomas Hertz

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Tiffany Graham Charkosky, 36

Steven Lake, 39

Senior project director, LAND studio, Cleveland

Vice president, development and community affairs, NewBridge Cleveland

Sometimes, life throws you a surprise that is both pleasant and lasting — like a career.

Just look at Tiffany Graham. She didn’t even know “urban planning” was a thing, let alone a career, when she was in high school and even through most of college.

“I didn’t know it existed until I was almost done with my undergrad,” she says.

She discovered it, accidentally, by doing it.

“I feel like I took the English major’s backdoor way into this,” Graham said. “I was hired to research and draft what became the city’s (Cleveland’s) public art legislation and I loved doing that work so much I went to grad school for urban planning.”

Today, she not only is in the field, she’s excelling at it and can’t imagine doing anything else.

In her work, she focuses on public art in Cleveland. That includes projects related to the Percent for Art program — an initiative supported by the Ohio Arts Council to install art on public buildings around the state — as well other public projects and plans for art and public space improvement.

“Her current portfolio includes the beautification of the Midtown Corridor, Metrohealth’s Art & Medicine program, mural projects in the Gordon Square Arts District, the

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The Graham file Hometown girl: Though she lived in Lorain County for a time, Graham was raised in and has almost always lived in Lakewood — along with her brother and sister, all of them living less than a mile apart.

Advice for would-be urban planners: "In my particular field, you need to be optimistic and look for things that bring joy to the community."

redevelopment of Shaker Square, and Irishtown Bend,” said LAND studio’s executive director, Gregory Peckham.

Graham said her job allows her artistic side to express itself while she also gets to do good for her community, which has always been important to her.

She’s hardly the office newbie these days, though. At 36, she’s been at her job for 15 years, so many of her co-workers regard her as the seasoned veteran, she concedes.

And at home, she’s Mom. Graham lives in her hometown of Lakewood with her husband, Brian Charkosky, and their sons, 9-year-old Ben and Adam, who is 6.

We’re guessing that at least Ben and Adam are allowed to draw on the walls. — Dan Shingler

Steven Lake has spent much of his career trying to fill a gap. An important gap.

For much of his career, now at NewBridge Cleveland, earlier at Cuyahoga Community College, and even at the Cleveland Transformation Alliance (CTA), he’s worked to get students, mostly underperforming Cleveland students, over the gap between secondary education and college or the workforce.

Coming to NewBridge in August, his work is now more administrative than it has been, but the mission of the organization fits his career path.

NewBridge is a nonprofit that uses the arts to help high school students develop leadership skills, social and emotional awareness and job skills. It also assists young adults in getting their GED or training for entry-level positions in health care and the culinary arts.

“We prepare students for the next step,” Lake said. “A lot of students do well. Some have challenges.”

He came to NewBridge from the CTA, which works to assess the quality of Cleveland’s schools and help families choose the right schools for their children. Previously, he worked in college admissions at Notre Dame College and, after that, at Cuyahoga Community College. He was attracted to Tri-C by its youth services division, which worked with

The Lake file The future: Looking ahead, Lake said he can see himself leading an organization like NewBridge, but, he believes that he also could work in philanthropy because of the role it can play in a community like Cleveland.

It's about students: “At Tri-C, I worked with students who had desires and dreams and aspirations to go to college and I would help prepare them academically, socially and mentally for what they would experience in college. One of the things we learned was realizing that every student has the capacity to achieve, and we had to make them realize that.”

precollege kids to prepare them for the rigors of a college education.

Lake's boss at NewBridge, Bethany Friedlander, sees a bright future for him.

“Steven is passionate about education, racial equity and community development,” she said.

“He is committed and sincerely interested in how community-based organizations can and should work to improve the community and its residents. I have seen him seamlessly go from the boardroom to talking to our high school students, always listening for understanding and always interested in the conversation.” — Jay Miller

11/15/18 4:21 PM

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The Miller file Council work: As a councilman, Miller was a co-sponsor of new anti-discrimination legislation, passed in 2017, protecting the rights of the LGBT community in Olmsted Falls.

Kyle Miller, 35

Finding balance: "A really nice thing is that as a practicing Orthodox Jew there is a 24-hour window every week when I am unplugged. We get to do family meals together and play board games. Those Saturdays are very important for me to recharge."

Ezra Stark, 36

External affairs representative, Dominion Energy Kyle Miller has just over six weeks left in a vow not to jump into civic engagement in his new West Side suburb.

“I made a promise to my wife when we moved to Strongsville that I wouldn’t even talk to the mayor until 2019,” the former Olmsted Falls City Council member quipped.

Miller traces his civic calling to deciding to pursue energy law while attending The Ohio State University. The Bowling Green native earned a law degree at the University of Tulsa, where his interest shifted to energy policy, and worked for three years for a Senate policy committee in Washington, D.C. A government affairs role at Sisters of Charity Health System brought Miller back to Northeast Ohio in 2012.

A few years into his Olmsted Falls residency, Miller realized he was half the age of the average council member.

“I was 32 years old, and the average age was 63,” he said. “Olmsted Falls is a very di-

The joiner: Ezra Stark is the oldest of real estate developer Robert Stark's four children. He is the only one who has chosen to join the family business.

Call to action: “I have put myself out there as an example for young people to answer the call — whether that is serving in a public office, volunteering in some capacity or, quite frankly, just not being a downer on Cleveland.”

Chief operating officer, Stark Enterprises

verse community … with a lot of young, growing families as well as retirees. To me, it did not make sense to look at a council and see people that did not necessarily represent me.”

Leaving his adopted hometown in 2018, in the midst of a second term, was a difficult decision, according to Miller, yet he hopes his example will encourage millennials considering public service. Ben Kroeck, senior philanthropy coordinator at Dominion Energy Ohio, said Miller’s current role at the utility company provides an outlet both for his desire to have a positive community impact and for his energy, policy and economic development expertise.

“Whether it’s through his work with the Center for Community Solutions or challenging our 1,800 employees to get involved in their communities, Kyle is an emerging leader who really gets how we can all make a difference,” Kroeck said. — Judy Stringer

Superior Service, Smart Solutions

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Ezra Stark’s favorite game as a boy was Monopoly. He especially enjoyed playing the real estate board game with his father, the mastermind behind many shopping centers, including Crocker Park.

“I would always win,” Ezra Stark recalled.

He sees his role today as making the company a prominent national real estate developer, a firm sought by communities to enliven their towns.

The younger Stark already has had a big impact. He launched an investment and acquisition program that has taken the family portfolio from Northeast Ohio, primarily shopping centers, to varied properties coast to coast in 10 states and a value of $2.5 billion.

“My father chose to focus on Northeast Ohio to be close to his family and go to all of our events growing up,” Stark said. “I don’t take it for granted that he built this fabulous foundation for me to build on.”

It’s a job for which he was groomed, along with his siblings. He said he was “brought up to be a builder, but the builder of a company.”

His father got him on equipment at construction projects and at age 16 took him to the annual International Council of Shopping Centers Convention in Las Vegas, where he met executives building growing chains such as Barnes & Noble. Ezra caught his father’s passion for retailing and development.

En route to a master’s in real estate finance from New York University, Stark interned with Independence mortgage banking firm Pinnacle Financial Group as well as the New York unit of Forest City Realty Trust. Since joining the 200-person family company in 2006, he has climbed the ranks from leasing and development to his current role overseeing financial results, budgets and strategy.

Robert Stark is pleased with his son. “He’s me on steroids,” the elder Stark said. — Stan Bullard

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Gustave Molnar, 35 CEO, Molnar Development; Presidents Club, Quicken Loans Gustave “Gusty” Molnar is a gofor-broke kind of guy, the perfect prerequisite for trying to make it as a real estate developer.

Molnar’s full-time job is as a mortgage broker at Quicken Loans, where he is in its top-ranked, production-focused Presidents Club.

However, his education in the trenches of real estate began long before 2006, when he joined the wellknown online mortgage brokerage.

His father, a retired auto worker, had him working for him bidding on foreclosed suburban homes at sheriff’s sales. At 19, Molnar bought his first property, a North Olmsted condo.

“It put money in my pocket while I was in school,” he said. “It was great.”

Buying, rehabilitating and selling

homes became his sideline while he earned a finance degree and studied real estate at Cleveland State University.

Because he enjoyed going out downtown, the Strongsville native decided to try city life. But he was outbid for two townhouses in Tremont.

“This is crazy,” he thought. So he sold most of his residential portfolio to buy land in Tremont.

On West Seventh Street, he constructed two buildings with two townhouses each. He kept one fourfloor unit with city views for himself and sold the others.

Fast-forward to today, and the contractor he hired is well along on 11 Scranton, a group of 10 townhouses on Scranton Road overlooking Scranton Peninsula and downtown

Cleveland. Next, he’s working on developing 21 condos in a six-floor building, also on the South Side.

Ted Theophylactos, president of the Ted+Company team at Howard Hanna, represents Molnar on 11 Scranton.

“He’s ambitious. He’s driven,” Theophylactos said. “He has a lot of visions. Getting together money to buy land and pay architects is not easy, and he has lined up some nice sites.”

Sachin Patel, managing member of SS Properties in Independence, has been friends with Molnar since high school.

“He had a lawn-mowing business at 16,” Patel said. “He sold baseball cards. He worked his tail off in the summers. But he had money.”

Patel said Molnar has long boasted

Rayshawn Eatmon, 33 Senior IT application developer, Progressive When Diann Miller interviewed Rayshawn Eatmon, she could tell he was a fairly quiet guy.

But he didn’t need to speak too loudly to convince her that he would be a big asset on her team at Progressive.

“You could just see the excitement in his eyes. He wanted to do more,” Miller said.

So far, he has exceeded her expectations.

That’s why the word “senior” is now part of his title. Eatmon was promoted just eight months after he joined the insurance company’s Enterprise Resource Organization, a team that takes on IT projects which cut across departments at Progressive.

He made an impact quickly after being assigned to his first project, said Miller, an IT manager who is Eatmon’s supervisor.

“He found some inefficiencies in the processes we were using and offered a suggestion on how we could make it better. He took it to one of our senior architects, who was completely impressed,” she said.

Eatmon’s path to programming started in an unusual way. Soon after graduating with a bachelor’s in philosophy from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University), Eatmon met up with a fellow graduate who was working as a programmer. His friend showed him

some of his code and explained how it worked. Eatmon thought it was something he’d be good at.

The East Cleveland native also took a career development test that said he was best suited for one of three professions: college professor, lawyer or computer programmer.

“I figured, if I don’t want to spend any more money, programming was the way to go,” he said.

Thus, he took some free online courses at Lynda.com and three programming courses at Cuyahoga Community College.

He enjoys the problem-solving aspect of programming and the fact that “there’s always something new to learn.”

Pallavi Tiwari, 34 Assistant professor, department of biomedical engineering, Case Western Reserve University Biomedical engineering is a love Pallavi Tiwari began nurturing in college, when she and a friend devised a wearable device to assist the visually impaired in navigating their surroundings. A decade later, Tiwari has harnessed her dual passions for science and helping others on the academic research level, developing technology to determine the course of treatment needed for brain cancer.

In pursuing this impactful innovation, Tiwari and a team of Case Western Reserve University researchers built a computer program that employs machine-learned algorithms to

ascertain whether abnormal tissue seen on magnetic resonance images is benign or malignant.

“It’s hard to tell the two conditions apart, so normally you’re going to be doing an invasive biopsy,” said Tiwari. “Imaging is noninvasive.”

Upon finishing her Ph.D. at Rutgers University in 2012, Tiwari partnered with a neurosurgeon who mentioned the human error inherent to tumor imaging. The native of India is now tackling this problem at Case Western Reserve’s Brain Image Computing Laboratory through a technique that discriminates between brain cancer and be-

nign cells using routine MRI scans, said Anant Madabhushi, a biomedical engineering colleague of Tiwari’s for 12 years.

“To develop solutions that will be translated to the clinic, it’s important to design solutions keeping the clinician in mind,” he said.

“Dr. Tiwari’s work is on developing computational solutions for improved diagnosis of brain tumor MRI scans that are not just accurate, but are also interpretable and intuitive.”

As co-investigator of a new three-year, $200,000 brain research grant, Tiwari is not resting on her early successes. This year

Dimetrius Harris, 39 Ohio retail banking vice president, regional manager, Citizens Bank, Fairlawn Dimetrius Harris Sr. grew up dreaming of accounting. Honest.

“My mom’s always been in banking and is still in banking. My dad has a background in education and accounting — so as a kid, I always wanted to be an accountant,” Harris said.

OK, maybe he wasn’t walking around school talking tax strategies so much as he was talking about his real passion: baseball.

“I was a first baseman, a lefty on first base. I could stretch that arm out and dig the ball out of the dirt,” Harris says.

Like most kids familiar with a herringbone stitch under their finger, Harris dreamed of the big leagues.

But work got in the way when he

P030_031_CL_20181119.indd 30

landed a job at a local market in 10th grade, he said.

After that, it was missionary work, then a factory job and then a position at a credit card issuer, working in collections.

How does a missionary become a debt collector? With great compassion.

“I talked to this lady who was past due on her account. Everyone’s asking, ‘You're $500 behind — how much can you pay?’ But no one was asking her why. And it turned out she had just had a baby. Can you imagine that? …. She was back to work, but she couldn’t make the whole payment. I set her up on a system where if she made three consecutive small

payments, we would make her current. She began to cry,” Harris recalled.

“That showed me banking can be a noble profession,” he added.

Now he’s a rising star in retail banking. That’s no surprise to Citizens senior vice president Parker Platt, who says Harris’ compassion helps him succeed.

“Dimetrius genuinely cares about people and puts them and their needs first before his own. He gives them the gift of believing in them and people know that he is in their corner, cheering them on and championing their success,” Platt said in an email. — Dan Shingler

11/16/18 10:14 AM

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CONGRATULATIONS

The Molnar file Bigger plans than his own: Gustave “Gusty” Molnar just joined the board of the Tremont West Development Corp., the neighborhood development corporation serving the area where he lives. He plans to support plans for a business improvement district to boost cleanliness and security there similar to downtown and other neighborhoods.

Zhenting Men 2018 Crains’s Forty Under 40!

Advice for budding building and real estate types: “Write down your goals. Write down big ones. It makes a difference. Talk to people and find a mentor. I hope to find another mentor for myself as well for my current types of construction projects.”

Cleveland International Fund (‘CiF’) is excited to honor our own Zhenting Men for his selection to the prestigious Crain’s Cleveland Business “Forty Under 40” Class!

he wants to make an impact on the city’s skyline. When Patel saw the drawings for what is becoming 11 Scranton, he said he thought, “He’s going to do it.”

Molnar just got married Nov. 10 and is thinking long term in other ways as well. “I want to keep building in the city,” he said, “and build things I will be happy to drive past 50 years from now.” — Stan Bullard

Originally from Harbin, China, Mr. Men started at CiF as an intern, then rose steadily up the ranks to Market Analyst, Operations Manager and now serves as Vice President.

Focusing on real estate projects, CiF has raised and invested more than $240 million and thus preserved over 13,000 jobs in NEO. CiF was founded in 2009 and Mr. Men has been working for CiF since 2010.

The Eatmon file Community-minded: During college and for a while afterward, he worked as a mentor to at-risk kids at Berea Children’s Home (now OhioGuidestone).

So you think you can code? “If you don’t like to learn new things constantly, being a programmer would not be the best fit for you,” he said.

Mr. Zhenting Men Vice President

Eatmon is a learner other ways as well. Though Miller described him as a quiet guy, he spends time working on public speaking and leadership skills through Toastmasters. He’s currently director for Area 21, which includes three local Toastmasters clubs.

And lately he’s been trying to learn a completely different skill: how to play golf, Eatmon said, noting that he enjoys basketball and staying fit as well. — Chuck Soder

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The Tiwari file Quite a commute: Tiwari drives two hours to campus from Pittsburgh, where her husband landed a job.

Left brain, right brain: “What I do is a nice marriage of engineering and having a real impact on people's lives.”

has also seen exciting new personal challenges, among them the birth of her first child and a move to Pittsburgh after her husband landed a job there. Tiwari is keeping her sights set on a neuro-imaging approach that, if validated, could become essential in the treatment of a deadly disease. — Douglas J. Guth

The Harris file

Cleveland Metroparks would like to congratulate Sean E. McDermott, Chief Planning and Design Officer, and his fellow honorees in the Forty Under 40 Class of 2018.

18 Park Reservations

A heap of Harrises: Altogether, Harris and his wife, Sherry, have raised five children. One is a journalist in Cleveland, another is in the military, a third is a welder and two are still at home.

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Introduced by Republican state Reps. Kirk Schuring of Canton and Thomas Patton of Strongsville, HB 469 passed the House 91-0 late in June.

To qualify for the tax credit, a project would have to have a planned development cost of $50 million or more, include a building at least 15 stories high or otherwise include 350,000 square feet of space. This summer, after the bill was introduced, Schuring told Crain’s that the bill grew out of a conversation he had with Cleveland developer Robert Stark of Stark Enterprises, who has been working for several years to finance and develop NuCLEus, a proposed mixed-use project in Cleveland’s Gateway district across from Quicken Loans Arena that would qualify as “transformational.”

The bill has generated support from

CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS

the Ohio Municipal League and from within the business community.

“The creation of the transformational mixed-use development credit, while maintaining investment in existing state programs like the New Market and Historic Preservation Tax Credits, helps to strengthen the package of well-proven financing tools that drive economic growth and vitality across our communities (in) Greater Cleveland (and) in the State of Ohio,” said Marty McGann, senior vice president of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce, in written testimony.

The committee also heard testimony on SB 309, which would expand the state’s popular Job Creation Tax Credit. The credit is awarded to a business that makes a substantial capital investment and plans to hire a large workforce. The tax credit is a percentage of the payroll created, typically 10%. The current maximum length of

a tax credit award is 15 years.

SB 309 would expand the tax credit to attract what bill sponsor state Sen. Bob Peterson of Washington Court

While the Legislature has heard little opposition to these specific bills, the nonprofit Policy Matters Ohio has long been skeptical of the value of tax incentives to attract jobs to the state.

House calls “megaprojects,” which sounds a lot like Amazon headquarters-type projects. A megaproject must pay workers an average hourly wage equal to three times the federal minimum wage and the company must invest at least $1 billion or create

a payroll of at least $50 million a year.

Most significantly, SB 309 would extend the maximum time frame for a credit to 30 years.

“The competition between states for companies to make a massive multimillion-dollar capital investment in new facilities and create thousands of new jobs is fierce,” Peterson said when he introduced the bill. “Senate Bill 309 will make Ohio more competitive for the mega jobs that these companies bring.”

The other three bills did not have hearings set for the lame-duck session as of Nov. 15, when the Legislature adjourned until Nov. 27.

Most recently, Schuring introduced HB 727, which could have the broadest use by developers since it combines a traditional state financial incentive with the newly created federal Opportunity Zone incentive, which is creating significant buzz in the investment community.

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The federal program, created by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, is designed to encourage long-term investments in low-income urban and rural census tracts that are economically distressed. It allows investors to defer recently realized capital gains taxes by investing in Opportunity Zone investment funds, shielding all or part of the tax on the gain if the investment is held in the fund for five to 10 years.

HB 727 would sweeten that by allowing an investor who put at least $250,000 in an Opportunity Zone fund to earn a credit equal to 10% of that investment.

In February, Schuring, who is speaker pro tempore of the House, introduced HB 525, a bill that would extend the motion-picture tax credit to some live-theater productions.

Currently, the state Development Services Agency (DSA) can award, on a competitive basis, a total of $40 million in state tax credits a year to production companies that make an eligible production that spends a minimum of $300,000 per project in the state.

HB 525 would extend eligibility for the credit to pre-Broadway productions, tour launches or long-run productions spending more than five weeks in the state.

Schuring is also a co-sponsor, along with state Rep. Dave Greenspan of Westlake, of a bill that would expand the pool of state money available to use as a financial incentive when communities compete for events such as the NFL draft or major college sports tournaments.

Currently, state law limits the total amount DSA can award to such events during a single year to $1 million, and the money cannot be awarded for an event that won’t take place within the current two-year budget cycle. Some events, such as the MLB and NBA AllStar games, are awarded several years ahead of the actual event.

HB 531 proposes creating a special fund that could be used for distant events and would divert sales tax receipts attributable to sports events into that fund. The maximum amount that could be put into the fund for an event would be calculated as it is under the current law. However, the annual cap of $1 million and an existing limit of $500,000 for a single event would be eliminated.

While the Legislature has heard little opposition to these specific bills, the nonprofit Policy Matters Ohio has long been skeptical of the value of tax incentives to attract jobs to the state.

Wendy Patton, Columbus-based senior policy director for the liberal Cleveland think tank, pointed Crain’s toward its recent report on tax incentives and other tax expenditures, which argued the state has not adequately analyzed whether or not the cost in lost tax revenue from incentives designed to attract private investment to particular places is outweighed by the benefits of jobs created.

Patton then was particularly critical of HB 727, saying it didn’t make sense “for the state to further sweeten the pot without knowing whether it is needed or not, given the size of the federal subsidy. The state should wait and figure that out.”

GCP actively supported four of the five bills that could move during the lame-duck session. In a telephone interview, McGann said the organization has not taken the expansion of the film tax credit to its members and thus has not taken a position on that.

McGann would not speculate on which of the pending bills are most likely to pass, but did say, “A lot of times in the lame duck you can’t tell what’s going to happen that will allow stuff to move. When they’re ready to move a bill, they’ll move it.”

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AKRON

Akron rolls on downtown doubleheader Bowery Project and Civic renovations get underway, seen as vital to development vision for city’s core

By DAN SHINGLER dshingler@crain.com @DanShingler

Last week might go down as a milestone in the redevelopment of downtown Akron, as two projects civic leaders have long said are vital to the city’s core broke ground at once.

The city’s long-awaited, $42 million Bowery Project had its groundbreaking Friday, Nov. 16, on the redevelopment of six buildings into 92 apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail and mixed-use space. Meanwhile, next door, the city’s historic Akron Civic Theatre held a groundbreaking of its own as it announced $5 million in new funding — $4 million from the John S. Knight Foundation and another $1 million from the GAR Foundation — which it will use to build a new concert venue, viewing screens for outdoor simulcasts of its events and a new addition for its administrative offices. “(The Bowery Project) is a watershed moment for Akron and could lead to future collaboration in how we reshape Northeast Ohio,” said Steve Luca, managing vice president of Cleveland Development Advisors, one of the project’s backers, in announcing the event with other local officials.

They’re excited over at the Civic, too.

“We’re going to miss playing Frogger every day,” joked Val Renner, the Civic’s associate director who has worked with other staffers across Main Street from the actual theater in recent years.

She’ll soon be working in a new addition to the Civic’s south side, where it currently has something akin to a scab from where the Stage Left building was torn away. That space will become new administrative offices and a new box office, with the area around it converted to a public space connected to locks on the Ohio and Erie Canal with multilevel walkways and spaces, according to Renner and the Civic’s executive director, Howard Parr.

There will be an electronic screen that can simulcast events inside for those who might not have been able to get in for a show, Parr said.

“While it’s happening inside, we’ll be able to broadcast it outside,” he said.

But what seems to have Parr and Renner the most excited is the renovation of the Whitelaw Building con-

This rendering shows planned renovations at the Akron Civic Theatre, including an outdoor space that will include a large viewing screen to simulcast events. (Contributed)

nected to the north side of the Civic and the south side of the six-building Bowery complex. The Civic will take over that space and turn it into an intimate concert venue for audiences of about 225 people, with a license to serve alcohol and plans for 100 shows a year.

Parr said that will open up his booking opportunities to include upand-coming acts that couldn’t fill the main theater’s 2,700 seats but are still in demand with smaller audiences.

As for the Bowery Project, officials with Canton’s DeHoff Development Co. have been working to close financing on the project for more than a year, wrangling with moving targets as the availability of important tax credits came, went and ultimately returned. DeHoff and Fairlawn-based Welty Building Co. are the project’s chief development and construction firms.

DeHoff Development Principal Dan DeHoff said in July he was hoping to finalize financing for the project and break ground before the end of this year — a pledge he appears to be keeping with room to spare. Developers also firmed up their numbers for the project from earlier estimates, which called for just under 100 apartments, about 50,000 square feet of mixed-use and retail space, and a price tag of approximately $40 million.

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deal was complicated. able to overcome each one through “The Bowery project will be fi- the collaboration of community and nanced through a combination of corporate leadership.”

The Civic and Bowery projects are Owner Equity, Historic Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, Tax Incre- in a small, central area of downtown ment Financing, HUD 108 Loan, upon which the city has focused its FHTC Equity, SHTC Equity, NMTC most intensive efforts toward redeEquity, TIF, Land Bank Grant, Con- velopment. The hope is that the Bowventional Debt, and owner financ- ery Project, in particular, can be a ing,” developers said in a news re- catalyst for more downtown developlease announcing the start of ment by re-energizing an important construction. section of Main Street and helping to That includes $20 million of New build a critical mass of residents.

Market Tax Credits allocated from “The Bowery Project is indeed catathe Cleveland Development Advi- lytic and will be the keystone project sors, the National Trust Community for all future downtown Akron develInvestment Corp. and the Communi- opment,” Horrigan said in the release.

That effect already may be observty Builders, the release said.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan said able, too. Other buildings near the the timing of the Bowery Project is Bowery recently have announced recritical and noted that it took cooper- development projects. That includes ative efforts, as entities from tradi- the Law Building, an 11-story office tional banks and developers worked building across the street from the with the Development Finance Au- Civic, which is being converted to thority of Summit County, the city more than 100 luxury apartments at a cost of about $26 million. and others to get a deal done.

And on Tuesday, Nov. 13, the city “This process has been a complithat Cleveland-based cated one with multiple organiza- C Rannounced AIN’S CLEVE LAND BUSINESS | tions and funding sources all having Weston has partnered with it to do a to align goals simultaneously in or- $20 million redevelopment of the der to make it work,” Horrigan said in CitiCenter Building a little more than the release. “The long-vacant build- a block from the Bowery Project, on ings themselves are at a vulnerable High Street. That will be turned into crossroads as their deteriorating con- 60 market-rate apartments, 20,000 ditions made them unlikely to with- square feet of office space and 3,000 stand another winter. Over the past feet dedicated to amenities, the city two years, we’ve had so many chal- announced.

The Bowery and Civic projects are lenges, but I’m proud that we’ve been

linked to other downtown redevelopment and critical to each other’s success, downtown backers say. That goes beyond Main Street, because downtown Akron is compact, with developments on Market Street and in the North Side area less than a mile from the Bowery and the Civic.

“It’s no coincidence that Knight, GAR and Bowery are all announcing at the same time,” said Kyle Kutuchief, Knight’s Akron program director.

Kutuchief said the $4 million the Knight Foundation is giving to the Civic is one of its largest ever in Akron — and certainly the largest since it gave the Akron Art Museum $8 million in 2017 — but that the foundation is convinced it’s making an important investment.

“The Civic Theatre is a gem,” Kutuchief said. “It draws people downtown and has long been doing so. It’s not just the place; it’s the level of performances they present under Howard Parr’s leadership that makes it special.”

Parr still will have some work to do.

The $5 million in new funding is just part of a larger, $8.5 million capital project.

In addition to the $5 million in grant money, the Civic already has raised $1.5 million, leaving about $2 million more to go, Parr said.

But most of that $2 million — about $1.75 million — is for maintenance and cash reserves, Parr said.

The funding already is in place for the new construction, and Parr said he plans to spend about $4.3 million developing the new performance space in the Whitelaw Building, $1.7 million to complete renovations to the Civic’s existing building and about $750,000 for outdoor video equipment and murals.

Parr, who’s long been working to keep the Civic looking good, said he’s been pleased to see more private support coming as downtown gains momentum. He said that wasn’t the case 20 years ago, when the theater had to rely on public support almost exclusively. He and other have spent the past decade trying to change that and are finally seeing their work S come E P T E MtoB fruition.

E R 3 - 9 , 2 018 | PA G E 4 0 “What we’re seeing is the culmination of what I like to call a 10-year overnight success story,” Parr said.

Now, he promises to act fast.

“This groundbreaking on Friday is a true groundbreaking: They’re going to start working on Friday. And from what we’re understanding, the entire project will be complete in 2019, in about 13 or 14 months,” he said.

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FINANCE

Ellsworth Advisors, LLC

Ellsworth Advisors, LLC

Ellsworth Advisors, LLC

Ellsworth Advisors, LLC

Ellsworth Advisors, LLC

Ellsworth Advisors, a Kaulig Company, announced today the appointment of Timothy Clepper as the firm’s Managing Partner. Mr. Clepper possesses more than 20-years of financial services experience.

Ellsworth Advisors is an independent, fee based registered investment advisor that provides comprehensive financial planning, asset management, asset allocation, tax, accounting, retirement planning and estate planning services to high net worth and ultra-high net worth families and businesses.

Mr. Clepper joins Managing Director, Kelly Kuennen, as the senior leaders responsible for the firm’s guidance and developing its investment strategies. Our plan is to build Ellsworth Advisors into a national platform with representation across the country. We plan to do this organically, through the acquisition of existing registered investment advisors and in partnership with investment advisor representatives who share our culture and values.

This is an exciting time at Ellsworth Advisors.

In addition to the appointment of Mr. Clepper, Ellsworth Advisors also announced today the addition of Cameron Miele as a Managing Director. Cameron brings a unique skillset to Ellsworth Advisors, as his significant mergers and acquisitions experience will allow him to offer Ellsworth Advisors’ clients advice on value creation, generational transition planning, exit planning, business valuations and to facilitate merger, acquisition and capital raising processes as an independent advisor.

Ellsworth Advisors further announced the appointment of Michelle Schwab as Chief Compliance Officer. Ms. Schwab has spent her entire 17-year career as a securities compliance professional. She served on the Board of the Southern California Compliance Group, an association of compliance professionals which provides a forum for the development and sharing of compliance best practices. She is currently a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals.

Ellsworth Advisors also announced the appointment of Paul Martin as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Martin is a former Principal at a 75-year old northeast Ohio based accounting firm. He is a Certified Public Accountant with a primary focus on tax planning. Paul worked with large, private companies and ultra-high-networth individuals and consulted on strategic planning, complex tax issues, mergers and acquisitions, wealth management planning and succession planning.

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Ashbrook Center at Ashland University

Katie Bartolomucci joins Ulmer as an associate in the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. In her practice, she assesses cases and prepares preliminary evaluations of client exposure and potential liability, drafts pleadings, assists with review and summary of discovery documents, and conducts legal research and drafts memoranda on various legal issues. She received her law degree, cum laude, from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law.

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She focuses on real estate, business law, and nonprofit matters.

She drafts a wide range of real estate documents, assists with all aspects of the due diligence process, conducts legal research and prepares memoranda, and drafts a variety of corporate documents. She received her law degree, cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Los Angeles native Christopher Flannery has been named to succeed the late Roger Beckett as executive director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University. Before accepting the position, which he will assume January 1, Flannery was a long-time professor in the History and Political Science Department and Honors College at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California.

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Walter | Haverfield is pleased to announce that Alex Hurtuk has joined the firm as an associate in its Real Estate group. Hurtuk has experience in assisting with a broad range of real estate matters, such as the leasing, development, construction, acquisition and disposition of retail, mixed-use, office, warehouse and general commercial space. He has drafted agreements for sellers, purchasers, developers, lenders, borrowers, landlords and tenants. For more information, visit www.walterhav.com.

Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC Kastner Westman & Wilkins, a boutique labor and employment law firm representing management exclusively, hired Steve Beiting as an associate attorney. Beiting’s practice involves defending employers in a broad range of litigation matters, working with management to develop pragmatic solutions to help them achieve their organizations’ business goals, and representing employers in traditional labor matters.

Kastner Westman & Wilkins, LLC Kastner Westman & Wilkins, a boutique labor and employment law firm representing management exclusively, hired Kenneth A. Stump, Of Counsel, to join the firm’s workers’ compensation practice. Stump represents employers throughout Ohio in Industrial Commission hearings and state courts on issues involving original and additional allowance of claims, safety violations, and death claims.

The Mentor native and Medina resident received his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

11/14/18 9:09 AM

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SOURCE LUNCH

Patricia Oliver Partner, Tucker Ellis LLP When Patricia Oliver, a veteran corporate lawyer with Cleveland’s Tucker Ellis LLP, isn’t working with banks and finance companies, she’s often advocating for the advancement of women and minorities in the business world. As a consultant to the banking sector, boards of directors often recruit her to help with their corporate governance. Not surprisingly, her work translated into her joining the board of Sandusky-based community bank holding company Civista Bancshares in 2017. ¶ Achieving diversity is something with which many companies continue to struggle today, despite a tacit acknowledgment of its virtues in the business world.

California, in fact, frustrated by the lack of diversity in the corporate sector, recently legislated that every publicly traded company based in the state needs to have at least one woman on its board of directors by the end of 2019 and as many as three by 2021. Some wonder whether other states could follow suit. With that in mind, Crain’s sat down with Oliver to discuss the topic of corporate diversity, what companies can do about it and the notion of mandating diversity through legislation. – Jeremy Nobile

The Oliver file Show she’s currently watching “The Man in the High Castle”

If not a lawyer, you’d be what?

Bank CEO

Fun hobby Watercolor painting

Special talents?

“I’m a pretty good baker.”

Lunch spot Lago East Bank 1091 West 10th Street, Cleveland 216-862-8065

The meal One had a chicken Caesar salad with shaved Parmesan and Parmesan crunch; the other had a half grilled cheese with tomato soup.

The vibe A modern, upscale Italian restaurant in an interesting space that doesn't feel overly pretentious. One wall is covered in something that resembles living moss.

The bill $35.64, plus tip

Corporate diversity has been talked about a long time, but has much changed over the years?

I think what we’ve seen in the last 20 years is the movements on diversity have been glacial. Everybody has been talking about it. Everybody feels like it’s the right thing to do. But not very many companies have done a good job at executing on a diversity strategy.

And now you see the law in California passed demanding diversity.

Let’s come back to that California law. You said the rate of change has been glacial. What’s driving some of the momentum in this topic nowadays?

I think people are thinking more about what women’s role in society should be. It may be a little bit from the #MeToo afterthought. Even with the last six months, we are seeing a lot of discussion by the big executive recruiting firms who are notorious for self-selecting who should be interviewed for whatever job.

And maybe now they’re actually talking about diverse candidates?

Yes. I’ve seen more calls, even to me, about what can we do with our board as a lawyer. But they’re also asking if I’d consider being a director. It was about a year ago when I joined Civista. Since then, we’ve started a diversity initiative.

And we are coming up with a strategy to find other candidates, nurture them, explain to them what the banking business is all about and hopefully find people who are interested in being future board members.

When you approach that strategy, what are some things that are discussed?

Well, you have think about how diversity is broader than gender diversity. So you have to look at experience, background, race, where you come from. For regional banking clients, they want a geographic fit, someone who knows the market and the people in it and has relationships with potential customers.

Because it probably can’t be stated enough, why should we care about diversity in the business world? Spell it out for me.

All the studies that have been done will tell you that if you have diversity in the room, you will have broadened perspective. And the financial results for diverse boards are better. That’s the bottom line right there. There’s really no reason not to do it, though there are many excuses for why it hasn’t been done.

So what do you think about the California law passed in September mandating board diversity featuring fines for the noncompliant?

California is a bit more progressive to the point of looking at this as whether it’s something you can legislate. But I really don’t think it is.

It puts some guideposts out there and sets some goals. But the fact is, if you’re not diverse you could face some criminal fines — it just seems sort of far-fetched to me.

What’s so wrong with going the route of legislation here? Could the ends justify the means?

One problem here is with boards, there’s very little turnover. Unless there’s total chaos in the company, people on boards should expect to remain there a while. So will people

just comply, not be thoughtful about it and just throw someone on the board who’s not really a good fit for the company? I think there’s an extensive, thoughtful process underneath this law that has to occur. If someone says, “Rather than face a fine, I’m just going to throw someone on the board,” that’s not good for women or other diverse people, it’s not good for boards, it’s not good for the company.

Could a general upside to that law be that it’s got others outside California feeling a little more urgency to do something?

It’s possible this forces people to execute on strategies and do things like create a candidate pool or hire recruiters for help. If this gets things moving, I’m all for that. But I know no woman who’s worth their salt as a director would say they want to do this just because it’s the law. We do it because it can enhance shareholder value and help them make better decisions as a board.

Is there a middle ground between strict mandates like California's and nothing?

I think it’s the Rooney Rule (the National Football League policy from 2003 requiring teams to interview diverse people for head coaching and senior-level jobs). That’s a way to force yourself to have an expanded pool of people and always be thinking about having these people because the opportunities aren’t great because of things like that low board turnover. So maybe the middle ground is something like that rule requiring you to have this diversity pool.

CLEVELAND BUSINESS 700 W. St. Clair Ave., Suite 310 Cleveland, OH 44113-1230 Phone: (216) 522-1383 www.crainscleveland.com Twitter: @CrainsCleveland Publisher/editor Elizabeth McIntyre Group publisher Mary Kramer Managing editor Scott Suttell Sections editor Michael von Glahn Creative director David Kordalski Web editor Damon Sims Associate editor/Akron Sue Walton Assistant editor Kevin Kleps Senior reporter Stan Bullard, Real estate/construction Reporters Jay Miller, Government Dan Shingler, Energy/steel/auto/Akron Rachel McCafferty, Manufacturing/ energy/education Jeremy Nobile, Finance Lydia Coutré, Health care/nonprofits Senior data editor Chuck Soder Cartoonist Rich Williams Events manager Ashley Ramsey Marketing coordinator Megan Lemke Integrated marketing manager Michelle Sustar Managing editor custom/special projects Amy Ann Stoessel Director of advertising sales Lisa Rudy Advertising sales manager Steve Copley Senior account executive Dawn Donegan Account executives Laura Kulber Mintz, Loren Breen Office coordinator Denise Donaldson Pre-press and digital production Craig L. Mackey Media services manager Nicole Spell Billing Peter Iseppi Credit Rod Warmsby Crain’s Cleveland Business is published by Crain Communications Inc.

Chairman Keith E. Crain Vice chairman Mary Kay Crain President KC Crain Senior executive VP Chris Crain Secretary Lexie Crain Armstrong CFO Robert Recchia G.D. Crain Jr., Founder (1885-1973) Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr., Chairman (1911-1996) Reprints: Laura Picariello, 732-723-0569 or lpicariello@crain.com Customer service and subscriptions: 877-824-9373 Volume 39, Number 47 Crain’s Cleveland Business (ISSN 0197-2375) is published weekly, except for the last week of December, at 700 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 44113-1230.

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THE WEEK End of an era

The way forward

Contract extension

David LaRue, CEO of Forest City Realty Trust, said on Nov. 15, after shareholders approved the company's purchase by an affiliate of Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management, that his focus is on the next step: getting to a closing.

“For a company our size, it will take a terrific effort to get set to close,” LaRue said of Cleveland-based Forest City, a part of Cleveland since 1920.

He said the shape of the headquarters operation and the company's development offices nationwide are the “final detail” that remains to be worked out.

The deal is expected to close around Dec. 10.

The merger was approved by 67.4% of the shareholders who voted.

Several civic leaders are starting a new effort to advance Cleveland's economic standing and address economic equality.

The group of 15 leaders was described in a news release as a “cooperative, inclusive effort to help build trust within the community and develop a shared vision for Cleveland's future.”

It will begin its effort with a twoday session held Dec. 13 and 14 with about 70 participants, including representatives from “a diverse range of companies, organizations and government entities, as well as up-andcoming and not-often-heard voices,” who will be “engaged to ensure a variety of ideas and perspectives are represented in the conversation and resulting process.”

The Cuyahoga County Convention Facilities Development Corp. extended the contract of SMG to manage the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and the Global Center for Health Innovation for five years. The renewal contract takes effect Jan. 1.

Under its contract, SMG receives a fee from the CCCFDC for managing the complex. Under the new contract, the base fee is $205,000, up from $200,000 under the old contract. SMG can earn an incentive bonus up to the base amount, based on meeting certain goals set in the contract. In the past, SMG has earned about $330,000 a year in base and incentives.

Since opening in 2013, the convention center has hosted more than 1,200 events.

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A group of 15 civic leaders is leading a “cooperative, inclusive effort to help build trust within the community and develop a shared vision for Cleveland’s future.” (Scott Suttell)

11/16/18 1:46 PM

There is a huge demand for skilled workers in Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing industry.

Get the training you need for your new career at the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence:

• Fast-track job training programs can be completed in as little as five weeks • Financial assistance is available for those who qualify

• Many programs offer internship opportunities

• Associate degree programs available in a variety of areas, including Engineering and Manufacturing Technology

• Advanced training for industry professionals available in many areas

and job placement assistance • Stackable certificates build skills for those seeking entry-level jobs

tri-c.edu/manufacturing 216-987-3030 18-1386

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11/15/18 11:21 AM