Don Taylor, Welty President and CEO, to serve as chair
The board of directors of Team NEO announces six new board members, each bringing a wealth of unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to address pressing issues in the region:
- Steven M. Auvil, Office Managing Partner: Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
- Patrick Bloom, Executive Vice President, Government Relations: Cleveland-Cliffs
- Alex Chapman, President: Ridge Creek Global, Inc.
- Matthew Nipper, President: Fifth Third Bank Northern Ohio
- Nevin Nussbaum, Partner: Cohen & Co
- Jennifer Palmieri, EVP, Chief People Officer: Westfield Insurance
The new members join a prominent group of Northeast Ohio business leaders focused on building a more innovative, talented, and equitable regional economy.
These strategic additions will help Team NEO’s ongoing commitment to our main role: the retention, expansion, and attraction of jobs, businesses, and opportunities in Northeast Ohio.
“We are thrilled to welcome such an accomplished group of professionals,” said Matt Dolan, CEO for Team NEO. “Each new member was selected not only for their proven talent, but also for their ability to provide insights into critical areas such as site development, energy, and growing a skilled talent pool.”
In addition to the new members, due to medical circumstances, Board Chair Kimberly Riley has stepped down, and Donzell (Don) Taylor, President & CEO of Welty Building Company will serve as Board Chair for the remainder of her term.
“While we are saddened by Kim’s departure and our thoughts are with her as she navigates medical challenges, we are fortunate to have Don step up to be voted as Chair as a result of Kim’s retirement from the Board.”
About Steven M. Auvil
Steve Auvil is the Managing Partner of the Cleveland office of the global law firm Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP, where he leads an office of more than 100 lawyers and other professionals. A mechanical engineer by education, Steve is a registered patent attorney with a law practice focused on intellectual property disputes, a practice segment he led for nearly a decade. He is listed in Chambers USA Leading Lawyers (Band 1) and The Best Lawyers in America.
Steve has been active in Northeastern Ohio’s civic community for many years. He is currently a volunteer board member of the American Red Cross, Northeast Ohio Region, a trustee of the Playhouse Square Foundation, and a member of the Government Affairs Council of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Steve was a member of Leadership Cleveland’s class of 2024.
A native of Stark and Tuscarawas counties and current resident of Bay Village, Steve is a passionate champion of Northeast Ohio. Steve and his wife, Elise, endowed a scholarship at their (and their son Jacob’s) alma mater, The Ohio State University, for the benefit of students from Tuscarawas County aspiring to receive engineering degrees from the university.
Steve attended law school at New York University (LLM, Trade Regulation), the University of Pennsylvania, and Cleveland State University (JD).
About Patrick Bloom
Patrick Bloom is Executive Vice President, Government Relations of the Company. In this role, he is responsible for Cleveland-Cliffs’ government relations and public policy initiatives at the federal, state and local levels of government. In addition, he oversees Cleveland-Cliffs’ strategic partnership and community relations functions, including administration of The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation.
Patrick joined Cleveland-Cliffs in 2008 as a Government Relations Representative and has served in roles of increasing responsibility throughout his career. He holds a B.A. degree from Miami University, an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University and a Graduate Certificate in Business Management from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Patrick serves as a Trustee of The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation, chairs the American Iron and Steel Institute’s Council of U.S. Producers and volunteers in support of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. He was recognized as a member of Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 Class of 2023.
About Alex Chapman
Alex Chapman is the President of a boutique investment firm leading the firm’s operations related to new energy resources. He is the lead portfolio manager for the Ridge Creek Global Carbon Neutral 2050 Investment Strategy, which focuses on investing in the energy transition. In that role, Alex has interacted with global innovators and leaders across the energy, transportation and industrial sectors. He has witnessed firsthand how renewable energy, battery storage, and fuel cells have gone from niche discussions to major focuses of energy investors over the past five years. His work has given him the opportunity to not only have discussions with experts such as C-suite executives for multinational energy companies in Houston and energy storage experts in China, but also to advise politicians on energy and economic policies. He has been a speaker at GreenFin, Precision Metalforming Association Auto Parts Supplier Conference, and the Ohio Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition Symposium.
In his role as President, he has led a strategic initiative to expand into Southeast Asia with a focus on Indonesia leaning on his connections to search for the next opportunity for his investors. As global supply chains shift and the world becomes more multipolar, his firm views this as an opportunity. With a team on the ground in Jakarta, and with connections understanding the unique challenges of doing business in Southeast Asia, the firm looks to benefit from the rise of ASEAN nations.
Alex is a board member of the Ohio Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Coalition. He is also a member of the Union Club of Cleveland, the Petroleum Club of Houston, and Hill ‘n’ Dale Club in Medina. In his free time, he enjoys traveling with his wife and two children visiting family around the world including in Singapore, China and Indonesia. He enjoys the opportunity to learn about the unique cultures and history around the world. He also enjoys hunting with friends, family members, and the family dogs.
About Matthew Nipper
As region president, Matt is responsible for the growth and strategic alignment of the Bank’s commercial, wealth & asset management and treasury management businesses throughout Northern Ohio. He joined Fifth Third in April 2024 as Cleveland market president.
With 26 years of banking experience, he has held various positions in underwriting, portfolio relationship management and team leadership. Matt has extensive experience in advising companies with expansion, acquisitions and general working capital needs. Prior to joining Fifth Third, he spent 25 years at KeyBank in roles including commercial relationship manager productivity leader and head of commercial lending field enablement.
Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from John Carroll University and serves on the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation Board of Directors.
About Nevin Nussbaum
Nevin believes passionately about helping those around him succeed. Clients appreciate his friendly yet honest and straightforward approach to help get them where they need to be. And while his formal training is in accounting and auditing, Nevin also has a deep understanding of tax issues, making him a well-rounded adviser.
A significant portion of Nevin’s technical practice involves serving the firm’s largest clients in various industries — from real estate and construction to professional services and distribution. He also applies his creative mind to assisting clients with unique transactions and solving various business issues. He prides himself in understanding the needs of client stakeholders and helping them reach their goals. Other areas of expertise include the specialized spheres of private equity and investment companies. As many of his clients are owned by private equity groups or have institutional investors, Nevin is well versed in the complicated structuring often involved. He brings a unique combination of experience with both funds and the underlying investments.
Additionally, he applies his skill sets to the manufacturing, transportation, and food/retail industries. Nevin also spends time internally focusing on management, development and utilization of resources. His responsibilities include interacting with engagement teams to support technical quality, deadline management and client experience.
About Jennifer Palmieri
Jennifer Palmieri is Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer at Westfield, a leading U.S.-based property and casualty insurer with global operations and nearly $5 billion in revenue. With more than 25 years of experience, Jennifer is known for designing and leading workforce strategies that drive business growth, elevate employee engagement, and strengthen community partnerships.
At Westfield, Jennifer oversees the company’s enterprise talent strategy, including initiatives to attract, develop, and retain top talent. She leads efforts to foster an inclusive, high-performing culture, advance leadership development, and support employee well-being. She also oversees Westfield’s corporate philanthropy and community engagement, helping to align workforce and talent development with broader regional needs.
Prior to joining Westfield, Jennifer spent nearly 18 years at The Cigna Group, a global health company committed to improving health and vitality. During her tenure, she held several senior human resources leadership positions, where she led large-scale, complex organizational and transformational initiatives across the enterprise.
Jennifer is a passionate advocate for talent as a catalyst for economic growth and competitiveness. She serves on the Board of College Now Greater Cleveland, supporting access to higher education for local students. She holds a master’s degree in human resources development from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree in human resources and marketing from Drexel University.
Jennifer’s leadership will help advance Team NEO’s mission to build a more vibrant, innovative, and inclusive economy for Northeast Ohio.
About Don Taylor
A seasoned professional with more than 40 years of experience in the building construction and related industries, Don Taylor began his career at Welty Building Company as a project manager in 1991. With the help and guidance of owner Jerry Welty, Don took on greater responsibilities over the years and was ultimately appointed President and CEO of the company in 1996. He purchased the company from Jerry Welty in 1999.
During his tenure as CEO, Don has transformed the Welty Building Company into Welty Enterprises, one of the largest construction management and related professional services firms in Northeast Ohio. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in the company’s growth and success. His mission and vision have remained steadfast: to build better futures for our people, our customers, and our communities, and to enable success through bold innovation, extraordinary teamwork, and the achievement of results that others find impossible.
Committed to community service, he has served as the board chair of the Greater Akron Chamber, Green Schools Foundation, and the American Heart Association, as well as the vice chair of the American Red Cross of Summit County. He has also served on the boards of the Akron General Foundation and the YMCA and is a member of the Summa Health Cardiovascular Leadership Council.
An entrepreneur at heart, his unwavering commitment to customer service, and the use of cutting-edge technologies and sustainable construction methods have not only positioned Welty as an industry leader but have also fueled its evolution into the multi-faceted enterprise it is today — a horizontally integrated group of companies that work together to take a project from inception to completion. Welty companies include: Welty Development, a full-service developer focused on multi-family, corporate, and healthcare opportunities; inSITE Advisory Group, a boutique regional economic development consulting firm; environments 4 business, a provider of product solutions for high-performance workspaces; Welty Facilities Management Group, a provider of comprehensive facility management services that help clients manage and prolong the life of their buildings and equipment; and Welty Energy, a professional services company specializing in program and project management, transmission line engineering, substation engineering and construction oversight on electric utility projects ranging in voltages from 4kV to 765 kV.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that ignites economic vibrancy, fosters sustainable growth, and champions equitable prosperity. As a designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we collaborate across all 14 counties in the Northeast Ohio Region to create strategies to attract and retain companies, drive innovation, cultivate a skilled workforce, advance market-ready sites, and promote and engage the region. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO. JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage.