ED NOW 2025 | Agenda & Details

Speaker Bios

Welcome

Renee leads Team NEO’s engagement strategy to grow and strengthen a more inclusive, coordinated regional economic development network. She utilizes her experience as a 24-year business development and sales expert as she collaborates with elected officials, community agencies, municipalities, nonprofits and small to large for-profit organizations. 

Before joining Team NEO, Renee was the Regional Director for the Minority Business Assistance Center at the Urban of Greater Cleveland, a program of the Ohio Development Services Agency, where she led a team of professional business advisors in the development of minority, women, disabled, and veteran-owned businesses across eight counties in the state of Ohio. Before this, she served as the Assistant Director of Diversity & Corporate Relations at Case Western Reserve University. 

The cornerstone of Renee’s career started in the financial services industry, where she was Vice President and Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank.  During her 8-year career with JP Morgan Chase, she managed the financial portfolios for commercial sector nonprofit and municipal clients.   

Her notable and numerous board director appointments have included COMPACT, UNCF of Orlando, and the Citrus Club’s Women’s Executive Exchange.  She is a member and class officer for the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2020.  

Renee holds a B.A. in Communications from John Carroll University and a M.S. in Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University. 

State Economic Development Update

JP and his family are from Dayton, Ohio. He is a former Air Force officer and has been instrumental in the state of Ohio and its communities’ economic development for nearly 25 years. He led the Dayton Region through the 2005 Wright Patterson Air Force Base Realignment and Closure process, which secured additional missions and, by 2024, had doubled the number of workers at the base. 

JP now leads JobsOhio, Ohio’s uniquely structured private economic development corporation, attracting and growing the world’s most important businesses like Intel, Anduril, Honda LG, P&G, Sherwin Williams, and small businesses in every corner of Ohio. His tenure began in 2019, and Ohio has emerged as a national leader in economic development: the only state to be in the top 5 for total economic development projects and projects per capita over the last 5 years, the #1 state for public and private infrastructure investment over that same period, and positive population net-in migration for the first time in a generation. Moreover, companies that work with JobsOhio have given it world-class customer satisfaction ratings for five consecutive years.

Launch of VEI Tool  | “Bending the Curve” 

Jacob Duritsky leads strategy, research, and talent for the Northeast Ohio Region’s business development efforts to better serve the information requirements and align strategies among Team NEO’s various partners and communities engaged in targeted and sustainable region-wide economic growth. His primary responsibilities include analyzing the regional economy to provide greater perspective on the challenges and opportunities in Northeast Ohio, developing strategic and coordinated actionable insights to encourage economic growth, and providing a perspective on how the Northeast Ohio economy can better perform. This includes his work in leading Team NEO’s talent strategy and Aligning Opportunities series of reports, the development of the regional Vibrant Economy Index, and regular updates to the community on the evolution and progress of the regional economy with a focus on enabling opportunities for improvement through equity.

Jacob has been with Team NEO since 2008. Previously, Jacob served as an integral part of the organization’s business attraction efforts in leading our national work focused on site selector engagement and the attraction of new companies to the region. He has also led the organization’s proactive renewable energy development efforts. Previously, Jacob has worked for The Center for Public Management, The Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center, and Ohio City Near West Development Corporation.

Jacob holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He leads Team NEO’s Talent Development Council and is an engaged Board member for the Cuyahoga County Workforce Sector Partnership and the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium Leadership Board. Jacob has been recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a member of 40 Under 40 and is a past member of the 2012 class of Cleveland Bridge Builders. He is a resident of the Kamm’s Corners neighborhood of Cleveland and is married with two daughters.

Fireside Chat

As Chief Executive Officer of Team NEO, Matt Dolan is dedicated to driving economic growth and prosperity across Northeast Ohio. With a career spanning law, business, and government, Matt has a deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and challenges. His leadership is focused on strengthening Northeast Ohio’s economic competitiveness by advancing business attraction and retention strategies, strengthening the supply chain, fostering innovation, enhancing site preparedness, and promoting the region as a premier destination for investment.

Before joining Team NEO, Matt served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate, chairing the Finance Committee in both chambers. In these roles, he oversaw billions of dollars in budget decisions and spearheaded initiatives to strengthen Ohio’s economy. He was instrumental in shaping the economic development tools used by JobsOhio and Team NEO to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing companies, and drive job creation across the region. His leadership in the General Assembly was marked by key efforts in tax reform and infrastructure investment, laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth.

Beyond public service, Matt has been a leader in the private sector as a partner at Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, LPA, where he provided strategic legal counsel to businesses and municipalities on land use, economic development, and regulatory matters. His business acumen extends to real estate and family enterprise leadership, having overseen investment and development initiatives at 7th Avenue Properties and 422 Company. Inc.

Matt’s leadership has earned him widespread recognition, including numerous legislative and business advocacy awards. He is a recipient of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Champion of Business Award and has been recognized for his contributions to sectors ranging from healthcare to energy policy. 

A Northeast Ohio native, Matt holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College.

Federal Elected Officials Panel 

Born and raised in Akron, Congresswoman Emilia Sykes grew up on the city’s west side and has dedicated her career to strengthening her community. In 2022, Congresswoman Sykes became the first Black person elected to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, where she is committed to fighting for economic opportunity, safer communities, and affordable healthcare for Northeast Ohio and, bringing along a spirit of bipartisan cooperation to get things done for those she serves. Congresswoman Sykes serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Prior to serving in Congress, she served as the State Representative for Ohio House District 34. During that time, she served for four years in Democratic leadership, including three years as the House Minority Leader. Congresswoman Sykes is a lifelong member of her church, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a life member of the NAACP.

Congressman Max Miller is serving in his first term as the United States Representative for Ohio’s Seventh Congressional District. 

Miller sits on the House Committee on Science, Space & Technology. He serves as the chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. 

Miller also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. He sits on the Subcommittee on Oversight and the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare. 

Before joining Congress, Miller served as a senior advisor to President Donald Trump and spent six years in the Marine Corps Reserves. He resides in Rocky River. 

Nick Gattozzi joined Kent State University in August of 2015. In his role as Executive Director of Government and Community Relations, he oversees the university’s interactions with elected officials, agencies and organizations at the local, state and federal levels of government.  

Prior to joining Kent State University, Nick was the Vice President for Government Advocacy at the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) for nine years. In his role, he oversaw the chamber’s federal advocacy activities, both in Washington, DC and in Ohio.  

Nick was Vice President and Relationship Manager at KeyBank where he provided banking and financing services to government entities, colleges and universities, school districts and non-profits.  
 
Nick also served as District Director for United States Senator George V. Voinovich in Cleveland, OH, where he oversaw daily operations in 21 counties and served as a key advisor to and representative of the Senator on a wide range of issues affecting constituents, businesses, governments, schools and non-profits.  
 
Previous to his Senate service, Nick served the State of Ohio as the Assistant Economic Development Representative in the Governor’s Economic Development Office in Cleveland, Ohio and as the Deputy Director of Communications for the Industrial Commission of Ohio, in Columbus, Ohio.  
 
A life-long Clevelander, Nick attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  

Nick serves in non-profit leadership roles including as Chair of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association, Second Vice Chair of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, and Executive Committee member of the Portage Development Board. He is a member of the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Development Committee, and President-emeritus of the Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Athletic Boosters Club, and immediate past chairman of the St. Anselm Parish Festival Committee. He is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland, Class of 2009. 

Breakout Panel Discussions

Talent

In June 2017, Anne Richards was appointed President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio. In this role, she leads one of the largest nonprofit organizations in Northeast Ohio, which operates 26 stores and 30 mission programs that served nearly 17,000 people last year alone. Anne oversees the strategic direction and mission of the $43 million agency, which employs more than 725 individuals across 10 counties in Ohio and West Virginia.

Anne also serves as the Board Chair for Goodwill Industries International (GII). She has been a member of the GII Board of Directors for two years and has contributed to several committees during her tenure.

Prior to joining Goodwill in 2012, Anne was Manager of Health Plan Services for the Timken Company, a $5 billion Fortune 500 global industrial leader. In this role, she oversaw benefit administration for 20,000 employees, retirees and their families. She also held several human resource roles at Timken, where she led and supported various international initiatives.

In 2016, Anne was selected for the Executive Development Program at Goodwill Industries International. This rigorous 16-month program focused on results and performance. As part of her studies, Anne conducted extensive research and advocated for CEOs and boards to prioritize increasing public trust in nonprofits as part of their strategic planning. She graduated from the program in June 2017.

Anne also was a contributor to “The Sixth Level,” a leadership development book that draws from the real-world experiences of female CEOs and organizational leaders. The book not only provides historical context but also encourages readers to grow personally and professionally, using tools rooted in social psychology.

Anne has been invited to speak at several conferences and events, including the 2024 Female Entrepreneur Summit, Crain’s Cleveland 2024 Sustainability Conference, Goodwill Industries International (GII) Spring Conferences, GII Delegate Assemblies, Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio’s annual community breakfasts, as well as numerous rotary clubs and civic organizations throughout Northeast Ohio. In addition, Anne has served on multiple community boards in leadership roles and has chaired Leadership Stark County’s Diversity Day for more than 12 years. She also is a founding member of the Cleveland Chapter of the Private Directors Association.

Anne holds a master’s degree in counseling and human development from Walsh University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Kent State University, both of which she completed with honors. She also is a graduate of Leadership Stark County and Cleveland Civic Leadership programs. Additionally, Anne is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), and a Development Dimensions International (DDI) Certified Training Facilitator.

Anne resides in Massillon, Ohio, with her family.

Wendell Robinson leads ROCK’s economic development and public-facing activities for the group’s growing Cleveland, Ohio presence. ROCK is the For-More-Than-Profit Family Office for the Gilberts and their Family of Companies. The Family of Companies includes Rocket Mortgage, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bedrock Development and more than 100 entities collaborating to maximize positive impact for the businesses and people in the communities they serve for generations to come.

Starting as a Mortgage Banker and then moving to the Banker Training Team to lead Quicken Loans’ (now Rocket Mortgage) effort for the development, regulatory approval and implementation of its licensed training curriculum, Wendell has been with the ROCK Family of Companies since 2010. In 2019 he moved to the Government Affairs team and led the 50 State Government Relations practice until May 2023 when he joined the ROCK team. Beyond his focus on development and organizational relations, Wendell supports the Family of Companies’ national portfolio through expertise in Licensing, Compliance, Education and Tax. His professional background includes responsibilities as a business owner, manager, writer, speaker, advocate, and project leader. Immediately prior to coming to the ROCK family, Wendell led an advisory consultancy serving professional athletes, as well as the entertainment and political arenas.

A native Clevelander, Wendell is a Cleveland State University graduate. His wife Kathleen, an accomplished pastry chef, has appeared on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel. The Robinsons live in Mentor, Ohio where they reside with their daughter Paige.

Emily Lundgard is the Vice President of Elevate Greater Akron, the region’s collective economic development initiative. Emily’s passion for civic service and deep sense of community is at work every day in her role convening and supporting the leaders of Elevate as they advance a shared vision and set of priorities to bring prosperity to Greater Akron.  

With nearly two decades in public policy, strategic communications, and coalition building, Emily has proudly worn the title of advocate at federal, state, and local levels of government, inside the halls of government, and shoulder-to-shoulder with community nonprofits, advocates, and businesses. Emily served as a Legislative Service Commission Fellow in the Ohio Senate and Legislative Liaison at the Ohio Department of Development. Emily was Cuyahoga County’s first-ever Special Assistant for Regional Collaboration and then Director of Communications for two Cuyahoga County Executives. Most recently, Emily worked as Senior Program Director for Enterprise Community Partners, a national housing and community development intermediary, and as Director of Strategy for the George Gund Foundation.  

Emily is proudly Ohio born and raised. She is originally from Dayton, received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the Ohio University, and now lives in Northeast Ohio. Outside of work, Emily serves on the Boards of Ohio City Incorporated, Environmental Health Watch, and Brush Foundation.   

Michael Schoop is the Senior Vice President, Talent. He catalyzes and coordinates regional initiatives and partnerships to advance the Abundant Talent strategies in the All In Plan to increase in-demand credentials, expand work-based learning, and grow high school career exposure. 

Before joining GCP, Michael served as founder and managing director of an educational consulting practice focused on leadership development and strategic planning for college administrators. 

Previously, Michael served as president of the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga  Community College where he led the development of numerous new programs and educational partnerships with Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State  University, and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. He also oversaw the renovation of the Metropolitan campus, spearheading the design and construction of the Metropolitan  Campus Center. 

Michael began his career as a college instructor teaching courses in writing and professional communication. He has taught undergraduate courses in the SAGES program at Case Western Reserve as well as graduate courses in community college history,  finance, and leadership. Michael received his baccalaureate degree from the University of  Chicago and both his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Maryland. 

A transplant from Chicago, Michael is highly engaged with the greater Cleveland community and has served on the boards of many non-profit organizations including  Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, the Campus District, Inc, the Black Professional  Association Charitable Foundation, Burton, Bell Carr, Inc., and Summer on the Cuyahoga.

Equity

Jared Daly has a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice and his MA in Organizational Psychology. He currently works for The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, as the Regional Coordinator of Workforce Development. In his role, he assists local organizations in implementing disability inclusion initiatives to hire, onboard, train, and retain individuals with disabilities. Jared is the founder of The Employment Collaborative of Cuyahoga County (ECCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group consisting of over 60 local organizations. The ECCC works to efficiently connect the local business community to a diverse talent pool of job seekers with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Jared is also the President of The Cleveland Society of Human Resource Management, helping lead a talented group of volunteers dedicated to educating and advancing the local HR community.

Marsha A. Mockabee has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland officially since 2011. She is the first female to hold this position at the 106-year-old affiliate. In this role, Mockabee leads an agenda empowering Black Americans to develop and exercise their potential on par with all other ‘Americans through education, research, advocacy, and provision of services. Marsha has the distinction of being a Turnaround Specialist for her efforts in working with the Board, staff and community to revive an affiliate on life support.  Attracting a highly sought after cadre of board members, resolving significant debt, and increasing revenues by 400% are hallmark accomplishments of her 12-year tenure. Recognized as a Thought-Leader in the community, Marsha has been tapped to lead/co-lead several significant community efforts.  Her personal community commitments include membership in the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater Cleveland Chapter and serving as Usher, Sunday School Teacher and Ministry Leader at the Cleveland Church of Christ, Citadel of Hope.

Marsha is the proud matriarch of a cast of 7; including two amazing adult daughters; a son in law extraordinaire and 1 grandson, and 3 granddaughters; all king and queens in development. Special recognition for canine daughter, My K-La. 

Ellen Heinz has spent her career in both the private and public sectors in executive leadership roles in economic and community development, workforce development and corporate leadership.

Prior to joining the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development at the end of March 2024, Ms. Heinz was part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s Chicago Regional Office, serving as the Economic Development Representative for Ohio and Indiana. While working for EDA, Ellen received two federal awards for exceptional service. 

In the private sector, Ellen worked as Vice President of HR and Talent Development and was HR Manager for US Operations for a German automotive manufacturer, serving also on the launch team for a new manufacturing site in Ohio. 

Ellen’s Workforce Development experience ranges from being the Director of Workforce Development at North Central State College to teaching at the secondary and post-secondary education levels. 

Ms. Heinz earned a Master of Education degree from Ashland University and a BA from Michigan State University (MSU). Ellen is also experienced in International Relations and worked in Japan. She has her OhioCED and has been involved with the Ohio Economic Development Association for many years. 

She was recently selected as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Business Leads Fellow for 2025. 

Ellen has a 15-year-old daughter, Charlotte, and golden doodle, Flynn. She says her favorite things about coming back to work in Richland County are the awesome team members, outstanding board and elected leadership, and the wonderful community!

Alan K. Nevel serves as CEO and Managing Partner of INTETHIQ, a leading firm specializing in management consultancy and professional services. INTETHIQ is committed to equipping businesses with the tools they need to navigate transformative shifts in culture, leadership, talent, and digital platforms. 

With over three decades of impressive leadership experience, Alan has a proven track record of driving inclusive systems, fostering equitable workplace cultures, and implementing value-generating programs at global Fortune 500 companies. Beyond his operational expertise, Alan has also served as a trusted advisor,  coach, and mentor to numerous C-suite leaders worldwide, helping them refine their strategies and leadership approaches to achieve success in an ever-evolving business landscape. 

Prior to launching INTETHIQ in 2023, Alan held the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Equity and  Community Impact Officer at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio. In this role, he developed and executed a community-centric, patient-focused strategy to advance healthcare equity. Alan worked across sectors to dismantle healthcare disparities and championed a comprehensive vision of diversity, equity,  and inclusion at MetroHealth. His leadership extended programmatically and administratively across departments, initiatives, and community partnerships, addressing systemic inequities impacting patients,  employees, and the broader community.  

Alan joined MetroHealth in 2018 as SVP, Chief Diversity and Human Resources Officer after having served as VP, Global Diversity and Inclusion for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a $40 billion global life science solutions,  specialty diagnostics and laboratory equipment company with over 100,000 employees in 60 countries. Prior to Thermo Fisher, Nevel held key positions in Diversity and Inclusion, HR Strategy Delivery, Talent  Development, and Organizational Change Management roles at L Brands and Victoria’s Secret, two high profile fashion retailers headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. 

Alan’s career began in R&D and manufacturing at Sherwin-Williams Company before transitioning to a successful management consultancy role with Accenture. Over the years, his ability to coach and guide senior leaders has been instrumental in shaping organizational success globally. 

A highly sought-after speaker and educator, Alan holds a B.A. from Cleveland State University and an MBA  from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management (WSOM), where he also serves as an Adjunct Professor in the WSOM Online Healthcare MBA Program. 

Alan serves on numerous local and national boards, including The Cleveland State University Foundation,  Urban League of Greater Cleveland, CHC-Creating Healthier Communities, and the National Society of  High School Scholars. As part of his passionate commitment to education and giving back to the community, he established the Alan K. Nevel and Family Scholarship Endowment for under-resourced students attending his alma mater, Cleveland State University in 2020.

Resilience

Joe Ferenczy is Principal and Executive Director of Infrastructure at Osborn Engineering. His career comprises over 30 years of experience in the design and construction of public and private infrastructure projects including noteworthy projects such as Public Square Redevelopment, Irishtown Bend Stabilization, the North Coast Connector and Bedrock’s Cuyahoga Riverfront Masterplan Redevelopment in downtown Cleveland.  He is responsible for the overall operation and performance of the Infrastructure Division which provides engineering services for public and private clients involved in transportation, water, utility, development, and construction projects. Projects range from site due diligence, conceptual design, project planning, detailed design to construction administration and management along with agency coordination, governmental approvals, and project financing.

Steve Lazarides is a Vice President with CBRE’s Industrial and Logistics Advisory & Transaction Services. Now in his 23rd year in the commercial real estate arena, he has represented clients across the spectrum, including landlords and tenants in lease transactions and buyers and sellers of commercial properties. Now specializing in office and industrial property assignments, Steve has had listing responsibility for many millions of square feet of space and maintains an exciting pipeline of Fpending deals in both channels.

Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Lazarides was associated with Tom Jackson Commercial Realty in Canton, where he was consistently ranked as a “Top Producer”. Specializing in office lease and sales, as well as disposition of multi-family properties, he was instrumental in the leasing of tens of thousands of square feet in commercial space as well as the sale of nearly 1,000 apartment units.

Before going into commercial real estate, Mr. Lazarides served for several years as Export Sales Manager for an Ohio-based manufacturer of cutting tools. His responsibilities required him to spend quite a bit of time overseas.

Mike Jacoby is a seasoned economic development professional with over 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked at the state, local, and regional levels. His understanding of both private business and public sector economics, and his sensitivity to the interests of entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies, places him in a position to manage resources necessary to retain and help grow existing businesses, attract new businesses to the area, and coordinate private and public economic development programs of mutual benefit.

At Mike’s previous role he led the Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) team in supporting companies in a 25-county region of over 1 million in population. Under Mike’s leadership, the team successfully undertook expansion and attraction projects that created over 5,800 jobs. Additionally, he worked closely with JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, as the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern and eastern Ohio. He actively engaged with business, government, and economic development leaders across the region and the state, representing southeastern Ohio and leading site development, workforce, and planning initiatives.

Brad is the Managing Director of the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund, an organization formed by Mayor Justin Bibb and Cleveland City Council in 2023 to reactivate 1000 acres of disinvested industrial land in the City of Cleveland.  The Site Readiness Fund conducts this work in partnership with the City of Cleveland, the Cuyahoga Land Bank, Cuyahoga County, Team NEO and many other partners in neighborhoods throughout the city.  More recently, the Site Readiness Fund has partnered with The Cleveland Foundation to further scale the work. In the last 18 months, the Site Readiness Fund has aggregated over 200 acres and is now in the process of readying them for market. 

Prior to the Site Readiness Fund, Brad founded and subsequently led the Fund for Our Economic Future for over 16 years.   Brad stepped down as President in 2020 and worked with the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program as a nonresident senior fellow on economic development projects across the United States.  He also remained active on economic development and business growth projects throughout Northeast Ohio, including extensive work with Mayor Bibb and his team on a variety of economic development issues and in Akron and Wayne Counties. 

Brad spent the first part of his career with McKinsey & Company, where he was ultimately elected a senior partner.  Brad’s twenty-year career spanned many practice areas related to business growth for a broad range of organizations in the U.S., Europe, and Latin America including large corporations, principal investment firms, and nongovernmental organizations.

Innovation

Brent Duersch serves as Managing Director of the EY-Nottingham Spirk Innovation Hub in Cleveland, with responsibility for crafting exceptional client experiences, making breakthrough concepts into reality, and overseeing the collaboration with alliance partner Nottingham Spirk. The Innovation Hub combines Nottingham Spirk’s product development offerings with EY strategy, digital transformation, and supply chain capabilities to help businesses drive efficiency, resiliency, agility, and growth throughout their value chains.

Prior to joining EY, Brent spent 20 years at Procter & Gamble – working in a variety of product development, service design, and emerging technology roles – before joining Walmart for 3 years to oversee the enterprise digital transformation portfolio.

Brent earned his MBA from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s degree in MIS (Management Information Systems) from the University of Dayton. 

Michael Oakes serves as the Senior Vice President for Research and Technology Management at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, OH. He is the Veale Professor of Technology Transfer and Commercialization, as well as a tenured professor in the School of Medicine.

Oakes oversees all aspects of CWRU’s rapidly growing $642 million research enterprise, including its technology transfer program. He is responsible for the university’s forthcoming $300 million Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, as well as its startup incubator building. Oakes leads CWRU’s efforts in economic development, including its $275 million NSF Engines initiative with Ohio manufacturers and the NIST-supported initiative for a national center on AI in manufacturing.

Prior to joining Case Western Reserve, Oakes served as the University of Minnesota’s interim vice president for research, leading their $1.2 billion research enterprise. While there, he founded and served as the executive director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, a national program designed to elevate the impact of historically disadvantaged scholars.

Oakes is an applied statistician and epidemiologist whose research has been highly collaborative, interdisciplinary, and focused on three main areas: research methods, social epidemiology, and research ethics. He has published over 150 scientific papers and co-authored the leading textbook in the area.

Margaret Pafford is an innovation and technology leader with broad experience in polymer and materials chemistry.   She currently serves as the Director of External Technology and Open Innovation at The Lubrizol Corporation, where she leads global university partnerships, government funding strategies, and investments in startups to accelerate innovation. Her previous roles at Lubrizol include Senior Manager of Corporate Strategic Technology & Innovation, and various technology leadership positions where she supported the development of new technology, led technical teams, and managed extensive project portfolios. 

Prior to Lubrizol, Margaret held technology development roles at Rohm and Haas Company (now part of Dow Chemical Company) and DuPont, as well as teaching positions at John Carroll University and Arcadia University.  Margaret holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Scranton.

Stubbs is a recognized leader in implementing sustainable economic development strategies and building resilient communities. He has over twenty years of experience leading technologically and environmentally focused projects in Chicago, Silicon Valley, and Ohio. As President and Executive Director of Cleveland Water Alliance (CWA), he oversees the development of one of the most effective water innovation clusters in North America. 

Stubbs has grown the organization’s reach and impact around the hypothesis that improving water quality through innovative technology and strengthening a regional economy are not mutually exclusive. CWA recently mobilized five million dollars of investments from federal, state, and municipal supporters into its world-class Water Accelerator Testbeds and has catalyzed explosive water economy job creation that is outpacing that of the advanced manufacturing, biohealth, and additive manufacturing industries. 

Stubbs earned his BA from the University of Kansas, his MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and his Executive MBA from the Presidio School of Sustainable Management.

Keynote

David Allen is an Executive Director and Market Team Lead in the Cleveland office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, covering Northern Ohio. Dave manages a group of professional advisors and specialists dedicated to designing integrated strategies that help families plan, invest, bank and borrow. A native of Cleveland, he delivers a local presence, extensive industry experience and the global capabilities of J.P. Morgan.

Dave is particularly focused on working with executives, entrepreneurs and business owners to help unlock the value of their concentrated wealth. As a former Chief Operating Officer, he is attuned to the diversity of their needs and takes a personalized approach to address their complex ecosystem. Dave is a dynamic leader who builds an environment of excellence for team members and clients alike. He is known for his ability to solve problems, remove obstacles and turn challenges into successes.

Over the course of his 20+ year career, Dave has built a well-diversified and successful background in financial services. Before joining J.P. Morgan, he was the Chief Operating Officer with Equity Trust Company and spent the majority of his career in senior roles with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Dave has a B.S. from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, specializing in Finance, Strategy & Marketing. He holds FINRA Series 7, 63, 65 and 9/10 securities licenses and Ohio Insurance License.

Dave and his wife are pleased to be raising their son and daughter in his hometown among extended family. He contributes to the development of his community as a City Plan Commissioner and enjoys traveling as an experienced mountaineer who has ascended four summits of 18,400 feet or higher, including three of the “Seven Summits.”

Dr. Dell Gines is the Chief Innovation Officer at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the world’s largest membership organization for economic developers. In this role, he helps professionals leverage emerging technologies, market shifts, and societal changes to foster equitable economic opportunities. With over 15 years of experience in organizational transformation and economic development, Dr. Gines oversees IEDC’s professional development, research, and emerging practices functions. 

An expert in entrepreneurship-led economic development, Dr. Gines has authored six influential guides and a book on building entrepreneurial ecosystems. His research has been featured in outlets like PBS, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNN Business, Brookings, and Entrepreneur magazine. As a keynote speaker, he has shared insights on innovation and economic transformation in over 30 states and territories. 

Dr. Gines is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with an MBA, Master of Finance, and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska School of Public Administration. His contributions to the field have earned him recognition as one of Omaha’s Top 10 Outstanding Young Leaders, induction into the Kansas City Black Achievers Society, and multiple Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City President’s Awards.