Cleveland's CEOs You Should Know
Get to know business leaders in Northeast Ohio. Learn about their business and management style.
Episodes
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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April 23, 2025 • 15 mins
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 o...
Noah Jackson is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer o...
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April 15, 2025 • 27 mins
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 whole...
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April 15, 2025 • 11 mins
Jeff Beck is a distinguished leader in the home improvement industry, known for driving innovation, operational excellence, and sustained growth. His career began at Leaf Home Solutions, where he rose through the ranks to become CEO. Under his leadership, the company expanded into the world’s largest provider of gutter protection with LeafFilter. Beck spearheaded the integration of advanced technology and data-driven strategies, or...
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April 15, 2025 • 10 mins
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 ...
Steve Allison took over operational responsibilities for the company worldwide. Allison is a 28-year ...
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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 ce...
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March 20, 2025 • 9 mins
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 Enablemen...
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March 10, 2025 • 18 mins
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 bot...
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March 7, 2025 • 15 mins
Megan graduated from Marquette University with a liberal arts double major in Spanish and English and earned a minor in Philosophy. As an AFS student she attended the University of Sevilla and went on to attend the University of Madrid, Spain her junior year of college.
Her continuing desire to learn about other cultures and ways of life and to delve in completely through the language lead her to serve in the Peace Corps in Thailan...
Her continuing desire to learn about other cultures and ways of life and to delve in completely through the language lead her to serve in the Peace Corps in Thailan...
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February 21, 2025 • 26 mins
Nick Lopez attended Arvada West High School and left Colorado as a wide-eyed first-generation college student to work on a BS in business marketing from Michigan State University. His plan was to walk on to the wrestling team, which would ultimately pay for the cost of tuition and living. The reality was that a scholarship was a couple of years away, so Nick made the tough decision to hang up his wrestling shoes for an entrepreneur...
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February 18, 2025 • 15 mins
Richard Klaben, CEO of the Klaben Auto Stores Richard Klaben has been the CEO of the Klaben Auto Stores since 2010, but active in the business since 1974 when he began detailing cars for the founder of the business – his father, Albert Klaben Sr. Throughout the years, Richard worked in various positions with responsibilities for every facet of the business. The Klaben Auto Stores currently represent Ford, Lincoln, Chrysler, Jee...
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