Cleveland's CEOs You Should Know
Get to know business leaders in Northeast Ohio. Learn about their business and management style.
Episodes
December 9, 2025 • 20 mins
Step into the fantasy world of Mark Klaus, creator of CASTLE NOEL. “America’s Largest Year Round Indoor Christmas Entertainment Attraction.” Experience 40,000 square feet of amazing installations,
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December 8, 2025 • 19 mins
Nicole McKinney-Johnson is President & CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC), a role she has held since September 2024 after previously serving as interim CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors. With more than 25 years of experience in leadership, business development, and human resources, she has guided CRCC with strength, vision, and stability during a pivotal time in the agency’s history. McKinney-Johnson is also...
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November 6, 2025 • 16 mins
Kenneth C. “Kenn” Ricci is an American aviation entrepreneur and the Principal of Directional Aviation Capital, which owns or invests in various aviation enterprises including Flexjet, where he also serves as Chairman. Kenn began his aviation career as an Air Force ROTC cadet at the University of Notre Dame and started his first company, Corporate Wings, in 1980. His love of aviation had him founding, acquiring or financing a broad...
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October 28, 2025 • 17 mins
As the President & CEO of this 4th generation, 102-year-old organization, Robert has led the transformation of the company into the international world-class supplier and distributor it is today. Robert was promoted to President & CEO in 2000 after 20 years with the business. He holds an EMBA from the University at Buffalo, a BS in Business Administration from Buffalo State College and an AAS in Business Administration from...
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September 22, 2025 • 13 mins
The Cleveland Furniture Company has its roots right here in Cleveland, which date back to the 1970’s! Paul Cirino SR. (our Dad!) jumped into the furniture business with Furniture Land in 1975 and never looked back! Paul Jr and Jason Cirino grew up hanging around the Furniture stores and warehouses, and started working on the delivery trucks as soon as we were old enough! The Furniture Business is a Family Tradition for the Cirino...
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September 10, 2025 • 7 mins
Daniel Roberson serves as PNC Fairfax Connection’s executive director, PNC’s free community resource center in Cleveland’s historic east side community. In his role, Roberson leads the center’s staff in sustaining and building upon successful community relationships and programs designed to empower individuals and businesses and help strengthen their economic vitality. With more than 14 years of banking and community development ex...
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September 10, 2025 • 16 mins
Mr Gillespie is the President of ERIEBANK, a subsidiary of CNB Bank. Wesley has been responsible for the expansion of the bank into the Cleveland market, as well as lead the growth efforts of ERIEBANK. In his role as President, Mr Gillespie has full responsibility for managing and directing the overall market-based Commercial and Industrial lending activities across the Ohio and Pennsylvania footprint. Mr Gillespie also has respo...
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August 5, 2025 • 12 mins
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...
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July 21, 2025 • 11 mins
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 Coali...
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July 21, 2025 • 5 mins
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 coordi...
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July 2, 2025 • 11 mins
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 o...
Prior to founding Rooted in Trees, Paul served as the interim CEO/President o...
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June 2, 2025 • 6 mins
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 Osteo...
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 Osteo...
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June 2, 2025 • 11 mins
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 tr...
Her journey into this work is rooted in personal loss—her brother Billy became a donor after a tr...
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May 28, 2025 • 21 mins
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 b...
Previously, as President of a leading software company in California, where he led the b...
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May 28, 2025 • 10 mins
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 inc...
Ms. Gallucci has more than 30 years of finance and planning experience in the field of transportation. Her prior posts inc...
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May 28, 2025 • 13 mins
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 Exp...
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 Exp...
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May 28, 2025 • 14 mins
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 positionin...
This evolution reflects Brunswick's unwavering commitment to remaining independent while positionin...
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May 28, 2025 • 10 mins
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 e...
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May 28, 2025 • 10 mins
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...
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May 21, 2025 • 9 mins
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 d...
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