Cleveland's CEOs You Should Know

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 business in automating production control. William earned a combined degree from the University of Illinois and Illinois State and holds an MBA from Northwestern University.

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 include working for the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority where she held the titles of Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer, responsible for the Finance and Performance Management functions, as well as those of the department of Research, Analysis and Policy Development. She also held the positions of Director, Office of Management & Budget and Director of Finance for the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. She started her career in transportation as an analyst for the Office of Transportation, Broward County, Florida, working on both highways and mass transit issues. Ms. Gallucci has been an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University, Kent State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University, teaching courses in public finance, economics, public policy and transportation management. Ms. Gallucci holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University, and both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. Ms. Gallucci has been the chair of the Northeast Ohio Sustainability Communities Consortium (Vibrant NEO2040) since 2013, receiving the Daniel Burnham Award for best comprehensive plan from the American Planning Association, its highest honor, in 2015. She is active in various professional organizations including the National Association of Regional Councils. She has served on research panels for the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Science and has been appointed by former US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to serve on its Transportation Review Advisory Committee for Safety. She has received many honors including being named one of Crain’s Business “40 under 40”, and receiving the distinguished alumni award from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs.

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 Experiential Learning Center in Downtown Cleveland. In 2025, JA of Greater Cleveland will also host JA’s National Leadership Conference for the first time. Al previously served as Director of the MBA Program at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and President and CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce. Al received his Master’s in Higher Education Leadership from Capella University, Certificate in Leadership from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University).

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 positioning the firm as an employer of choice that pairs high-touch, personalized service with innovative technology solutions. In their new roles, Michelle and Rachel will leverage their complementary strengths through a clear division of responsibilities. Both leaders have risen through Brunswick's ranks to shape key areas of the business. Michelle will drive strategic vision and growth initiatives for the company, building upon her success in transforming Brunswick Private Client. Rachel will focus on operational excellence and infrastructure, drawing from her extensive risk management and commercial insurance expertise to enhance Brunswick's service delivery and team development. "As a father and business leader, I'm incredibly proud to see Michelle and Rachel step into these roles," said Todd Stein, who will continue to serve as CEO. "They've earned this opportunity through decades of dedication to our clients and team. Their partnership ensures Brunswick will continue to thrive while staying true to our family values and independent spirit." Leadership Experience Michelle brings over 20 years of experience at Brunswick Companies, having founded Brunswick Private Client, a division dedicated to managing risk for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Michelle holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management and the Certified Advisor in Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation from The Wharton School of Business and Chubb Insurance. Rachel has 19 years of insurance expertise, specializing in commercial risk management since graduating from the University of Hartford with a degree in Risk Management. She has been instrumental in turning Brunswick's commercial division into a powerhouse serving diverse industries, including real estate and manufacturing. Both Michelle and Rachel are sought-after speakers at national insurance industry events and serve on multiple non-profit boards, demonstrating their commitment to both professional excellence and community involvement. Under their joint leadership, Brunswick Companies stands ready to transform the insurance experience while staying true to its founding purpose -- protecting what matters most to its clients. "Having worked alongside Michelle and Rachel for many years, I've had the privilege of watching them develop into the leaders they are today," said Lew Patrick, Chief Financial Officer. "Their complementary abilities and shared commitment to Brunswick's success give me complete confidence in the road ahead." Vision for Innovation and Growth The sisters step into their leadership roles with complementary strengths and a shared vision. "In an industry that often feels impersonal, showing the love to our clients is what sets Brunswick apart," said Michelle. "We're committed to combining cutting-edge operations with the personal touch and genuine relationships that have always made Brunswick special." "We're investing in our people and technology to create an even stronger future," said Rachel. "By streamlining our operations, we're empowering our team to focus on what they do best — delivering the exceptional service experiences that define Brunswick." Brunswick Companies Founded in 1972, Brunswick Companies is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance agency serving clients nationwide. With a commitment to "Insuring the world you love and everything in it," Brunswick delivers personalized protection through its private client, commercial, surety bonds, and professional liability divisions,...

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 enhance access to quality medical imaging while upholding the highest standards of care and exceptional patient experience. Prior to Lumina, Lisa was a Managing Principal in Strategy and Innovations at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio where she was responsible for identifying, prioritizing, developing, and executing strategic initiatives in alignment with the organization’s mission. Her approach included data-driven analyses and process assessments to improve and expand medical services such as Bariatric Surgery, Radiology, and Breast Health. Lisa’s career began in finance spanning a variety of disciplines in the rental car and hospitality industries for both large corporations and start-ups. She then pivoted to banking for 10 years in progressively advanced roles as a Business Performance Improvement Consultant, Retail Banking Controller and Corporate Banking CFO at National City Corporation / PNC Bank. Ultimately, Lisa found her calling in healthcare, aligning her passion for health and wellness with her strong business acumen. She served as a Senior Project Manager in Strategic Financial Planning at Cleveland Clinic, honing her skills in financial strategy and large-scale project management. Lisa earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Economics from John Carroll University and later obtained her Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University, concentrating in Finance and Management. Lisa’s diverse background and strategic mindset have established her as an effective leader able to drive growth and innovation in the healthcare, financial services, and hospitality sectors.

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 numerous partnerships and collaborations with schools, community-based organizations, municipalities, and faith-based institutions to help Y.O.U. realize its vision of a greater community working together to ensure every young person is ready to pursue a path to economic self-sufficiency. Under Craig’s tenure Y.O.U. has been named a best place to work in Northeast Ohio in 2023 and 2024. Craig has served on several committees and Boards including the United Way Vision Council on Strong Families/Successful Children; Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Act Youth Council; a member of the Bowling Green State University Honors College Advisory Council and Adoption Network Cleveland, where he served a term as Vice Chair. Currently he serves as Secretary of the Literacy Cooperative Board; a member of ReSource Cle Board of Directors and the Cuyahoga Community College Workforce Board of Visitors. Craig is a graduate of the Leadership Cleveland Civic Leadership Institute and is a member of the 2022 Leadership Cleveland class. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and an M.S. in education from Syracuse University.

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 data and analytics, revising the curriculum, devising instruction tools, and overseeing all student services. Andrew's purpose is deeply rooted in building enduring systems of excellence for African-American students and transforming organizations to empower communities. He holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a Principal certification from the Texas Education Agency. He is skilled in strategic planning, budget management, operational improvement, instructional design, educational assessment, project management, curriculum development, and staff training and leadership. He is also enthusiastic about permission-less learning models that allow students to be the drivers of their learning and reignite their imaginations.

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 of Premier Home Pros, a fast-growing home improvement company projected to hit $180 million in revenue by 2025. With a background in sales, Noah helped lead the company from launch to $100 million in just two years. He’s all about building smart systems, scaling sustainably, and keeping people at the center of growth

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 wholesale agency with 40 direct reports and built it to a multi-million-dollar business. He also partnered in a population health management business and scaled it from $0 to $150MM in revenue within five years.

Jeff Beck is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in the home improvement industry. He began his career at Leaf Home Solutions, where he quickly worked his way up the ranks to become the company's CEO. Under Beck's leadership, Leaf Home Solutions experienced significant growth and expansion, becoming the world’s largest provider of gutter protection with LeafFilter. In his new role as CEO of Window Nation, the nation’s 3rd largest window replacement company, Beck is expected to drive the company's growth and continued success. Beck is a graduate of Kent State University, where he earned a degree in Business Administration who many consider a visionary leader, who brings a wealth of experience and a great understanding of how to apply leading edge big data principles and technology to the home improvement market. In his free time, Beck enjoys physical fitness, attending Cleveland sporting events, listening to music and loves spending time with his family – fiancé Krystal, daughter Regan, son Peyton and dogs Krom and PAC. Beck is actively involved in the community and is a member of various professional organizations within the industry.

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 veteran of the fire service personal protective gear manufacturing and sales marketplace. He joined the company in 2014 to serve as Director of Sales then was promoted to VP of Sales & Marketing in 2016. Fire-Dex continues to grow with a facility expansion finalizing this year.

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 center, operations, and finally as Senior Manager of the central region for Bus Supervision and Instruction. In 2015, she was appointed Chief Operating Officer of WeGo Public Transit in Nashville, where she served until coming to Cleveland. At RTA, Birdsong Terry oversees more than 2,000 employees at the largest transit system in Ohio, which provides more than 24 million annual rides to customers using the bus, rail, paratransit, trolley, and bus rapid transit system across the county’s 457 square miles. Responsible for managing the Authority’s $292 million operating budget, Birdsong is committed to transparent leadership, management accountability and sound financial oversight.

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 Enablement Category. Mark is the founder of OTB Solutions, LLC and the popular business development blog here at https://www.nosmokeandmirrors.com/blog, ranked #1 in fixing sales problems. Today he is the founder and president of OTB Sales where he helps clients diagnose and improve sales effectiveness and hire and develop their sales talent to improve sales results. Author of Driving Explosive Growth, Voice of Customer, and Branding Backwards, as well as several whitepapers and articles.

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 both in the commercial and residential arenas. Ted served as the 2017 President of the Home Builder's Association of Greater Cleveland and is currently a member of a national Builder's 20 group. Ted Otero is also the managing partner of the Otero Group. Ted strives to offer clients a unique approach to selling their homes in a highly competitive market, which uses his extensive experience in marketing high-end luxury homes. Kelly Otero: Kelly Otero earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve University. She used her entrepreneurial and business skills to start Otero Signature Homes in 2004 alongside Ted. Working closely with clients to select all of their custom home finishes, Kelly recognized the need to expand her talents. Clients were so pleased with their experience that they often asked for continued design services to give their home the finishing touch, thus founding Ovation Interior Design in 2013. Her creative talents and extensive knowledge of residential design give her the edge needed to expand both businesses and create cutting edge offerings in the Cleveland market. Kelly enjoys working alongside her team to provide the best possible experience to their customers and trades.

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 Thailand from 1992-1994. During her 2 ½ years of service, Megan traveled to Calcutta, India to work with Mother Teresa. Megan adds, “I have always had a desire to serve, to know and understand others of different walks, backgrounds, and cultures. When I was young, I had a particular desire within me to give back to others and to learn from them as well. Mother Teresa was a very big example and role model to me. My experience observing Mother Teresa and serving the beautiful people in her homes who were either dying, diseased or sick physically and/or mentally had a major impact on my life as well as did the people I served in Thailand.” Once back in the U.S. Megan was a pioneer on the Internet Team at Progressive Insurance, obtaining 3 patents. In 2006, Megan’s 6-year-old daughter, Maria, was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor with no hopeful treatment or cure. Maria was given 10 months to live and succumbed to the disease a year later after finishing her first grade year. Inspired by her daughter’s battle with the disease and the tremendous love that Maria had for her fellow friends suffering from cancer, Megan co-founded the Prayers from Maria Foundation with her husband Ed in 2006 with a mission to put childhood cancer at the forefront of the battle against cancer. Megan and her husband Ed live in Cleveland, Ohio with Maria’s four brothers- Eddie, Aidan, Blake and Josh.

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 entrepreneurial endeavor to support the cost of his education. At the age of 19, Nick founded his first painting LLC, and every summer thereafter he painted homes to help pay for tuition, books, and cost of living. By doing so, Nick developed a real passion and love for the craft of home improvement. In his third year as the owner of the company, the “light bulb” went off. He realized that those years of painting didn’t have to be his last, and that a future in the home improvement industry he had grown to love, made sense. From that point forward, Nick focused himself on building a business that would set the standard for excellence in painting and home improvement. Upon graduation, Nick and his soon-to-be wife moved back to Colorado to start their family. Soon after, Nick launched LIME Painting in Denver. He created, developed, and perfected a game-changing business model for consistently delivering exceptionally high-quality home improvement services. High-quality people were the secret to LIME’s early and ongoing success. They have been the key to making LIME the special home service company that customers have been searching for. LIME has perfected a partnership model that appeals to the most talented professional painters within a market and marries them directly to clients for exceptional craftsmanship. Through it all, Nick has retained the passion for excellence that inspired him to build LIME.

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, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram franchises in multiple locations in northeast Ohio with close to 300 employees. Richard is often heard saying, “titles represent responsibilities, not rank, as every team member, starting with me, is a customer service representative.” Like his father, he remains committed to a business model recognizing customers & team members (PEOPLE) as the foundation of their success. Richard is at work every day leading by example and adhering to the core tenets of that business model, hard work, respect, empathy, integrity, and a genuine concern for others.

The Center for Black Health & Equity is a leading nationally recognized public health entity that provides solutions to issues impacting African American health. We engage health care organizations, public health officials, faith leaders, and African American communities in health promotion and disease prevention work.Our mission is to facilitate programs and services to benefit communities and people of African descent. We do this by building community capacity, developing community infrastructure, and advocating for equity-centered policies. We are committed to addressing the social and economic injustices that have marginalized our communities and led to deep health disparities.We apply our proven framework for policy and social change to our work in tobacco control, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS, women’s health, cancer, mental health and other disparities.

Matt Jones, CPA serves as CEO of Affinity Whole Health. Founded in 2012, Affinity has assisted thousands of men and women with hormone therapy and injectable weight loss. Matt's career began in public accounting, he spent time in Fortune 500 sales and business operations. Matt is a life-long Clevelander and enjoys reading, exercise and spending time with his wife and two sons.

Ilan Sobel has been the CEO of BioHarvest Sciences since July 2020. Ilan has brought the company’s first product, VINIA, to North America, building a direct-to-consumer machine that is now generating significant revenues. VINIA’s go-to-market success has established a template for the company’s near-term product pipeline of nutraceutical plant cell banks. In addition to commercial focus and planning, Ilan has scaled production capabilities from R+D up to industrial levels, and is building a biotech company with novel, and even patentable plant-based products that are based on science and backed by clinical trials.. Prior to BioHarvest, Ilan served for 6 years at Weissbeerger, as both Chief Operating Officer and then Chief Commercial Officer. In this capacity, Ilan played a major leadership role in building a disruptive BIG Data, IOT & Software Company servicing major Beverage players which was ultimately purchased by Anheuser Busch InBev. Previously, Ilan served an 18 year stint as an International Employee of The Coca-Cola Company, where he played a pivotal role in key senior leadership positions generating significant revenue and profit growth and improving brand health trends across diverse global markets including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Africa.