Cleveland's Ceos You Should Know

On January 1, 2025, Brad was named President and CEO of Clearstead, succeeding longtime partner David Fulton who has assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus. As CEO, Brad is now leading a larger and more complex firm than existed ten years ago, with revenues and earnings having grown significantly and the number of employees and assets under advisement increasing several times. The firm has acquired eleven firms in the past ten years and has added capabilities in tax compliance and financial planning while also forming Clearstead Trust, a nondepository trust company. Brad’s appointment as CEO was part of a longstanding management succession plan at Clearstead. He will continue to be instrumental to strategic initiatives at Clearstead, including accelerating organic growth through the addition of new channels and holistic service offerings, investing in technology to improve the client and advisor experience, and expanding our geographic footprint through integrating strategic acquisitions. Brad holds the Charte

Roger Lipscomb has led OHIO811, Ohio’s “Call Before You Dig” Notification Center, as President and Executive Director since 2006. With over 30 years of experience in the utility infrastructure and excavation sectors, Roger’s steadfast commitment to public safety through education and collaboration has made Ohio a national leader in damage prevention. His expertise led to the formation of the Ohio Underground Damage Prevention Coalition (OUDPC), a multistakeholder organization dedicated to advancing excavation safety statutes within the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). Additionally, Roger has forged strong partnerships with state and federal agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Ohio Homeland Security, and the Ohio Public Private Partnership (OP3), strengthening the resilience of Ohio’s critical energy, communications, water, and wastewater infrastructure.

Joel and Kathleen Ashcraft were both born in Ohio to Salvation Army officer parents. As transition is inevitable in The Salvation Army, they both moved and grew up in the greater New York City area.  They have been officers of The Salvation Army for the last 10 years, most recently serving as the Divisional Youth Secretary and Divisional Candidates Secretary for the Northeast Ohio Division based out of Cleveland, Ohio.  They coordinated youth work and lead the candidacy efforts for Salvation Army officership across the Division.  Throughout the summer, they had the distinct privilege of running Camp NEOSA on beautiful Leesville Lake in Carrollton, OH.  Prior to moving to Cleveland, they were corps officers in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, and loved every minute of their 5 years there.  It is their heart’s cry to see everyone they serve come to know the abundance of life available through a relationship with Jesus Christ.As the Area Commanders for Greater Cleveland Area Services, Captains Ashcraft will oversee the

Paul Abbey is the founder of Rooted in Trees, a non-profit organization established in 2020 which works to restore and preserve the native tree canopy in Northern Ohio. Under his leadership, the organization focuses on community engagement and education, and undertakes major tree planting initiatives to combat canopy loss and enhance environmental health. Prior to founding Rooted in Trees, Paul served as the interim CEO/President of Cleveland’s Holden Forests and Gardens, which includes the famed Holden Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden.Raised in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Paul has always been an avid nature and wildlife lover. He graduated from The College of Wooster with a degree in Political Science and later earned an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace. His career spans investment banking and wealth management, culminating in his role as the founding partner of Fairport Asset Management (now HighTower Advisors LLC).Today, Paul is also actively engaged in various community organizations, servin

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

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

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

Grace Gallucci is the Executive Director for the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for greater Cleveland, responsible for transportation and environmental planning, as well as resource allocation in the five county region. She has held this post since 2012.Ms. Gallucci has more than 30 years of finance and planning experience in the field of transportation. Her prior posts include working for the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority where she held the titles of Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the Finance and Performance Management functions, as well as those of the department of Research, Analysis and Policy Development. She also held the positions of Director, Office of Management & Budget and Director of Finance for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. She started her career in transportation as an analyst for the Office of Transportation, Broward County, Florida, working on both highways and

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

Todd Stein CEO of Brunswick Companies proudly announces the appointment of Michelle Hirsch and Rachel Weinberg as Co-Presidents marking a pivotal moment in the company's evolution as a third-generation family-owned, independent insurance and risk management firm providing commercial, professional, personal insurance, and surety bonds.This evolution reflects Brunswick's unwavering commitment to remaining independent while positioning the firm as an employer of choice that pairs high-touch, personalized service with innovative technology solutions.In their new roles, Michelle and Rachel will leverage their complementary strengths through a clear division of responsibilities. Both leaders have risen through Brunswick's ranks to shape key areas of the business. Michelle will drive strategic vision and growth initiatives for the company, building upon her success in transforming Brunswick Private Client. Rachel will focus on operational excellence and infrastructure, drawing from her extensive risk management and

Lisa Giganti Chief Executive Officer at Lumina Imaging and Diagnostics. Lisa Giganti is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, innovation, and financial management. As the Chief Executive Officer of Lumina Imaging and Diagnostics, Lisa is at the forefront of transforming and disrupting the medical imaging landscape. Her work focuses on developing strategic partnerships and shared risk/reward ventures to enhance access to quality medical imaging while upholding the highest standards of care and exceptional patient experience.   Prior to Lumina, Lisa was a Managing Principal in Strategy and Innovations at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio where she was responsible for identifying, prioritizing, developing, and executing strategic initiatives in alignment with the organization’s mission. Her approach included data-driven analyses and process assessments to improve and expand medical services such as Bariatric Surgery, Radiology, and Breast Health. Lisa’s career began in finance

Craig Dorn, President and CEO, joined Y.O.U. in 1989. Craig has headed operations, programs and strategic planning throughout his Y.O.U. career. In addition, he has led efforts to create a culture that gathers and uses data to drive decision making. These efforts led to Y.O.U. being recognized by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation as one of only 13 organizations nation-wide selected for its PropelNext initiative. He has also built numerous partnerships and collaborations with schools, community-based organizations, municipalities, and faith-based institutions to help Y.O.U. realize its vision of a greater community working together to ensure every young person is ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency. Under Craig’s tenure Y.O.U. has been named a best place to work in Northeast Ohio in 2023 and 2024.Craig has served on several committees and Boards including the United Way Vision Council on Strong Families/Successful Children; Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Act Youth Council; a member of t

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ted Otero: Ted Otero is a Cleveland native from Independence and now resides in beautiful Auburn Township with his wife and business partner, Kelly, and their two children Isabella and Austin. He is the founder and President of Otero Signature Homes. He holds a civil engineering degree from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. He has over 25 years of real estate and construction experience both in the commercial and residential arenas.  Ted served as the 2017 President of the Home Builder's Association of Greater Cleveland and is currently a member of a national Builder's 20 group.   Ted Otero is also the managing partner of the Otero Group. Ted strives to offer clients a unique approach to selling their homes in a highly competitive market, which uses his extensive experience in marketing high-end luxury homes. Kelly Otero: Kelly Otero earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve Univers