Catherine Bieterman has been serving as the Economic Development Director for the City of Beachwood since 2022. She has been in the field of Economic Development since 2005, serving as Director of Economic Development for the City of Painesville and prior served in various supporting roles for Chambers of Commerce including Executive Director of the Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce and intern for government affairs division of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce while attending Youngstown State University. She has been recognized for her ability to support asset based economic development and her efforts in regional collaboration. She has been instrumental in projects related to business financing, brownfield revitalization, mixed-use redevelopment, and the Ohio Main Street four-point approach strategic community revitalization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Public Administration. Catherine is passionate about supporting business growth and commercial revitalization and actively pursues collaborative partnerships that support the greater region.

Michael R. Elliott, Jr., MPA, EDFP, is a highly accomplished and driven economic development professional with over 20 years of experience in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. He currently serves as the Vice President of Neighborhood Economic Development at Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP), where he leads the organization’s efforts to drive transformative and equitable economic outcomes for Cleveland’s neighborhoods.   

Michael is a strategic leader with a proven track record of spearheading initiatives that foster community revitalization and economic growth. He has spearheaded a holistic and strategic approach to neighborhood-based economic development, driving transformative and equitable outcomes for Cleveland’s neighborhoods. He has also led and overseen all economic development efforts for the organization, including administering the $5M Southeast Side Commercial Corridor Program and the $3M Commercial Corridor Middle Neighborhood Initiative, in partnership with the City of Cleveland, local CDCs, and other stakeholders.   

With a keen entrepreneurial spirit, Michael excels at designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful community economic development programs and initiatives. He is adept at leveraging input from diverse stakeholders, including the CDC Economic Development Working Group, to actively support and increase the capacity of Cleveland-based CDCs. He also developed the CDC Neighborhood Micro Grant Program, deploying $300K to over 150 small businesses.   

Michael is a collaborative leader who fosters strong partnerships with community-based organizations, anchor institutions, and corporate, civic, and public sector organizations to advance economic development goals. He is also a skilled communicator and presenter, effectively conveying the impact of economic development initiatives to various audiences.   

Prior to joining CNP, Michael held leadership positions at the National Development Council and the City of Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development. In these roles, he honed his expertise in small business development, community engagement, and access to capital.   

In addition to his professional endeavors, Michael actively contributes to the community and provides thought leadership within his field through various committee and working group memberships. He currently serves as an advisor for the CNP Economic Development Working Group (EDWG) and a member of the Cleveland Citywide Development Corporation Loan Review Committee. Michael’s past involvement includes serving as a committee member for the Cuyahoga County “STIMulus” Grant Program, committee chair for the National Development Council Employee Engagement Committee, and a member of the Growth Capital Loan Review Committee.

Michael is a two-time graduate of Cleveland State University, holding a B.A. in Nonprofit Administration and an M.P.A. in Public Administration. He is also a certified Economic Development Finance Professional with the National Development Council.

Nicole Harris is a results-oriented Economic Development Director and government relations strategist with over 20 years of dedicated experience in advancing economic growth and fostering strategic partnerships. In her role for the City of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, Nicole leads economic development initiatives with a track record of building strong, trust-based relationships with government officials, grassroots organizations, and industry stakeholders. She brings expertise in economic analysis, strategic planning, and community development, with a focus on sustainable growth, attracting investments, and strengthening local businesses.

Known for her analytical leadership and commitment to teamwork, Nicole excels in strategic communications, contract negotiations, and program implementation, consistently delivering measurable results that drive economic vitality. Passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and community impact, she is dedicated to enhancing quality of life within the region through innovative, community-focused programs that support sustainable growth and opportunity.

Jessica Hyser, Economic Development Director for the City of Independence, brings more than 25 years of experience in economic development, with a distinguished career working at both non-profit organizations and local government agencies. For the past 17 years, Jessica has dedicated her expertise to local government, where she has been instrumental in expanding the economic base of the communities she serves.

Throughout her career, Jessica has spearheaded numerous initiatives designed to attract and retain businesses, create job opportunities, and foster local economic growth. She leads creative projects that not only draw new businesses to the area but also supports the growth of existing local enterprises. By developing innovative tools and strategies, Jessica has helped local businesses thrive and contributed to building a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Jessica’s passion lies in using economic development to create lasting impact. Through her work, she has built strong collaborations with community leaders, stakeholders, and organizations to ensure that the economic needs of the community are met in a way that supports long-term prosperity the community.

Jessica has a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University with a major in Political Science, minors in Economics and History and a certificate in Political Communication.  She received a Master’s of Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Economic Development from the Cleveland State University Levin College of Urban Affairs.

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Patrick Mohorcic is the Executive Director of Lake Development Authority (LDA). LDA  drives Lake County’s economic growth by offering tailored guidance and resources in financing, partnerships, spaces, transportation, and community development. Established in February 2007, Lake Development Authority fosters job creation and economic well-being in the county through various projects. Operating as a Port Authority under Ohio law, it provides cost-effective development services, leveraging powers such as property acquisition and bond financing. 

Patrick formerly served as Director of Public Finance and CFO of LDA. His responsibilities included capital lease bond financing and PACE lending, capital project planning, and serving as controller for the Lake County Executive Airport. With a background in planning, workforce development, and municipal finance, Patrick has received recognition for his contributions, including being named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine’s “20 in their 20s” and receiving the 2019 Rookie of the Year award from the Ohio Economic Development Association. A resident of Lake County, Patrick also serves as a City Councilman and sits on various non-profit boards. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Cleveland State University.

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Lisa J. Barno is Executive Director of both the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association and the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association. In this capacity, she works closely with mayors and city mangers in nine counties on local, regional, state and federal issues that impact local governments. She has been with the Associations since 1996.

As Director, Lisa is the main liaison between mayors and city managers throughout the Northeast Ohio region. She arranges and hosts monthly and quarterly regular meetings locally, in Columbus and in Washington DC. In addition to the regular meetings, Lisa has organized Economic Development outreach trips to Canada for mayors and city managers as well as worked at a booth at Select USA Trade Shows, RECON and several local events representing NEO. She also arranges specific topic seminars, not just for mayors, but economic development directors, finance directors, police chiefs, school superintendents, chambers of commerce, law directors and others. She works with mayors and other area leaders on workforce development, economic development, state and federal issues and regional growth. A large part of her work as Executive Director involves collaboration, cost-saving initiatives and best practices between local governments and many regional partners that work with cities and villages. She is also the Executive Director of the Suburban Water Council of Governments. 

Outside local governments, Lisa works at Cuyahoga Community College as an Adjunct Faculty member in Physical Education and at LifeWorks Health Center as a certified Fitness Professional. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Political Science from Cleveland State University and an Event and Meeting Planning Certificate from the Shlensky Institute and a Fitness Professional Certification from the International Sports Sciences Association. She is a member of the 2016 Leadership Cleveland Class and the 2018 Cleveland State University Leadership Academy. In her spare time, she loves photography and spending time with her family.

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Mary Joyce is an Assistant Account Executive – Communications and Public Affairs & Civic Engagement at Falls & Co serving a wide range of clients, including non-profits, economic development agencies and professional service firms through a variety of comprehensive communication strategies. She previously worked at a public affairs agency in Washington D.C. with clients including automobile manufacturers, professional sport agencies, and activist groups assisting them with public relations tactics, including crisis communications, social media and event planning. Mary is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Kent State University and is now a proud Northeast Ohio resident.

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Jessica Gribben, OhioCED, is the Economic and Community Development Director with the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development.  With a background in real estate sales and banking, Jessica has thoroughly enjoyed transitioning these areas of expertise into economic and community development work in the City of Shelby and Richland County.  Jessica is driven by her desire to create positive change in the community and create an eco-system that supports the growth of high-wage, high-skill jobs to create lasting impact.  Jessica is a holistic economic development practitioner that looks at every opportunity from Main Street to large-scale industrial growth and attraction, to finding ways to create opportunities to support workforce housing development.  A state Certified Economic Development Jessica is inspired by leaving the world better than she found it for the two boys who call her mom, which is her favorite title.

Christopher J. Hardesty is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Canton where he leads business, housing, and community development efforts.  With nearly a decade of experience with local government, Hardesty specializes in incentives, public finance, small business support, and site development.  Christopher is committed to improving the business climate of the City of Canton and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.  Along with serving as a cabinet member for the City of Canton, Christopher also serves on various boards including Northeast Ohio Economic Development Exchange (NODE), Team NEO’s Marketing Advisory Council (MAC), Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Downtown Canton Land Bank (DCLB), and Stark County Land Reutilization Corporation (SCLRC).

Helene Papczun is a dedicated leader in economic development, currently serving as the Director of Business Development & Engagement. In this role, she proactively connects with over 150 businesses annually in Stark County, providing essential resources, incentives, and connections to help overcome barriers and achieve growth goals.

With a wealth of experience since 2012, Helene has played a pivotal role in the economic development ecosystem, focusing on workforce development, business outreach, and facilitating government contracting opportunities. Her collaborative approach brings together private, public, and non-profit partners, fostering a supportive environment for Stark County’s vibrant business community.

In addition to her direct work with businesses, Helene is a Stark County Business Community Advisor for JumpStart’s Impact Program, where she continues to drive meaningful change and support local enterprises.

Helene holds a B.A. in History from Heidelberg University, blending her academic background with a passion for empowering businesses and enhancing community development.

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John Kelly has worked all of his career in non-profit leadership positions in the areas of economic development, workforce development, physical fitness, and spiritual growth. He has been the Director of Business Development and Administration at Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation since February 2019. His focus in this role is on business retention & expansion with the many manufacturers in Tuscarawas County. He is driven to help his community and neighbors grow and improve. He is a servant leader, husband, father, dog walker, and he has a love for outdoor adventures including cycling, kayaking, and hiking.