Greater Cleveland Partnership Selects Frederick R. Nance to Chair Board of Directors

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

The Board of Directors of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) at its Annual Meeting of Members this morning selected Frederick R. Nance to serve as chairman for a two year term. Nance replaces Alexander M. Cutler, president and CEO of Eaton Corp., who served two years as GCP’s first chairman.

“Fred’s commitment and service to GCP are a testament to his capabilities as a leader and he is the right person to lead GCP,” said Cutler.

As the chairman of the Cleveland Defense Industry Alliance (CDIA), Nance led the successful effort to save Cleveland’s Defense Finance and Accounting Service office. Nance testified before the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission hearing in Buffalo, NY, arguing that the Pentagon was wrong in its recommendation to close Cleveland’s DFAS office and take 1,100 jobs from downtown. In the wake of the BRAC Commission decision to not only maintain the Cleveland DFAS office, but to grow it by 700 jobs, the CDIA continues its efforts as it works with other community leaders to find a downtown office site, to recruit workers from cities that are losing DFAS facilities, and to train local workers to fill the positions.

"Fred’s dedication to Cleveland is tireless and his leadership is proven,” said Joe Roman, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. “His stellar performance during the BRAC process helped Cleveland overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. I look forward to working with Fred as we confront the challenges and opportunities facing Cleveland.”

Nance, who previously served in the GCP Board of Directors as a vice chairman for advocacy, is the managing partner of the Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Cleveland office.

“In its first two years, under Sandy Cutler’s leadership, the Greater Cleveland Partnership has helped the private sector coalesce around a common agenda,” said Nance. “Small and large businesses must work together to lead this region on matters of economic growth and economic development. While we will work with our partners at the foundations and in the public sector, it is Cleveland business leaders who wake up every day and go to bed every night with a return on investment measurement on their mind.”

During his term, Nance will focus on:

  • Accelerating the regional marketing initiative
  • Helping the new mayoral administration succeed
  • Working with foundations to advance economic development priorities
  • Sorting out GCP’s role in a busy political landscape
  • Building on advocacy successes

Nance graduated from Harvard University in 1975 with a B.A. and from University of Michigan in 1978 with a J.D. Nance is also a member of the Boards of The Cleveland Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, BioEnterprise, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Catholic Charities Foundation. He is a life member of the US Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.

During the GCP’s Annual Meeting of Members, it was announced that eighteen current board members were re-elected, while thirteen new board members were elected to fill vacancies and seats created by board expansion.

Re-elected Board Members

Scott Chaikin, Dix & Eaton

David Goldberg, Ohio Savings

Brian E. Hall, Industrial Transport Solutions

Edward O. Handy III, Charter One

Edward M. Hundert, Case Western Reserve University

James D. Ireland III, Early Stage Partners

Joe Lopez, New Era Builders

Stephanie McHenry, ShoreBank

Sandra Pianalto, Federal Reserve Bank

Robert H. Rawson Jr., Jones Day

Michael Schwartz, Cleveland State University

Fareed Siddiq, Smith Barney Inc.

Carol A. Staiger, Vantage Point Marketing Consultants

Jerry Sue Thornton, Cuyahoga Community College

Les C. Vinney, STERIS Corp.

Eric Von Hendrix, MWV Pinnacle LLC

Scott Wolstein, Developers Diversified Realty Corp.

Thomas F. Zenty III, University Hospitals Health System

New Board Members

Arthur F. Anton, Swagelok Co.

Brent D. Ballard, Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP

William F. Christopher, Alcoa

Lisa L. Hong, eQuest Strategies LLC

AJ Hyland, Hyland Software

Richard A. Johnson, Kaleidoscope Magazine LLC

Donald T. Misheff, Ernst & Young LLP

Curtis E. Moll, MTD Products Inc

David L. Pugh, Applied Industrial Technologies

Timothy Reynolds, Tribute Inc.

Samuel A. Steinhouse, DMI Manufacturing Inc.

Andre Thornton, Global Promotions & Incentives Inc.

Eric Tolbert, Eric Tolbert & Associates

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, the primary voice for businesses in Greater Cleveland, seeks to create jobs and wealth, and improve the economic vitality of the region. Its priorities include technology, innovation and high-growth businesses; connected physical development; education and workforce development; and business attraction, retention and expansion. The GCP emphasizes service to its more than 16,400 members; advocacy on behalf of members and the region; diversity and inclusion; and internationalization of the region and its businesses.

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