GCP Board votes at Annual Meeting to support passage of State Issue 1

Thursday, March 11, 2010

GCP members elect nine new directors

Cleveland, Ohio—The Greater Cleveland Partnership Board of Directors unanimously endorsed a resolution to support of passage of State Issue 1, Jobs for Ohioans, the ballot issue that would renew bonding authority for the Ohio Third Frontier (OTF) technology development program. The issue, which will be on the May primary ballot, would raise $700 million over four years beginning in 2012.

The resolution was passed at the GCP Annual Meeting held March 4 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It noted that the Third Frontier initiative “has laid the foundation for the creation and growth of technology-based jobs and businesses, increased early-stage capital investments, improved the environment for technology entrepreneurs and increased collaboration in research and development...” It further noted that OTF has “delivered measurable results by investing $681 million since 2002,” yielding “$6.6 billion in economic activity and (creating) as many as 48,000 jobs.”

“Not only has the OTF delivered what was hoped for, its results are better than predicted,” said GCP President and CEO Joe Roman. “Based on past OTF success, this is arguably the best $700 million we can spend in this state in terms of creating new jobs and leveraging investment. The GCP is urging Ohio voters to pass this issue, which is so very important to our economy.”

In discussion of other important public policy issues, the Board confirmed the importance of the passage of Issue 15, the Cuyahoga County Human Services levy, which also will be on the May 2010 primary ballot. GCP leaders noted the importance of the levy in providing for critical health and human services in Cuyahoga County and that failure to pass the levy would seriously undermine the positive momentum of county government reform, which is underway.

Nine new directors elected to GCP Board

In other business at the Annual Meeting, GCP membership confirmed the election of nine new Board Directors:

  • Paul Clark, regional president, PNC Bank
  • Howard W. Hanna IV, president, Howard Hanna Ohio
  • Richard J. Hipple, chairman, president and CEO, Brush Engineered Materials, Inc.
  • David Huller, president, ICAP Enterprises LLC
  • Kenneth E. Marblestone, president, Charter One Bank, Ohio
  • Scott Mueller, chief executive officer, Dealer Tire
  • Michael B. Petras, Jr., president and CEO, GE Lighting
  • Rion Safier, co-owner and managing director, CoreFocal, Inc.
  • Sharon L. Toerek, counsel, Licata & Toerek

In addition, newly elected GCP Chairman William F. Christopher, president of Alcoa Engineered Products & Solutions, announced that one of his initial actions will be to assemble a new Board task force that will help both the GCP and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District assess the proposed transformation plan and make recommendations as to how the GCP should be involved. He also appointed Rear Admiral Peter V. Neffenger, commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, as federal installation liaison to the Board. This appointment will allow the GCP to closely coordinate its work with the Coast Guard in support of lakefront development projects. 

The Board also approved the appointment of these directors to the GCP’s Executive Committee:

  • Scott Chaikin, chairman and CEO, Dix & Eaton, Inc.
  • Paul Clark, PNC Bank
  • Christopher M. Connor, chairman and CEO, The Sherwin-Williams Co.
  • Jeanne Halladay Coughlin, president, The Coughlin Group
  • Alexander M. Cutler, chairman and CEO, Eaton Corporation
  • Paul J. Dolan, president, Cleveland Indians Baseball Co., Inc.
  • Terrance C.Z. Egger, president and publisher, The Plain Dealer Publishing Company
  • Lyle C. Ganske, partner-in-charge, Cleveland office, Jones Day
  • Louis J. Licata, president, Licata & Tourek
  • Henry L. Meyer III, chairman and CEO, KeyCorp
  • Frederick R. Nance, regional managing partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
  • Dominic L. Ozanne, president and CEO, Ozanne Construction Co., Inc.
  • Sandra Pianalto, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
  • Charles A. Ratner, president and CEO, Forest City Enterprises
  • Tim Reynolds, president, Tribute, Inc.
  • Robert C. Smith, president and CEO, Spero-Smith Investment Advisers, Inc.
  • Jerry Sue Thornton, president Cuyahoga Community College
  • Eric Tolbert, owner, Eric Tolbert & Associates, a Financial Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

In other action, the GCP Board re-elected these officers: Vice Chairs Christopher Connor and Sandra Pianalto, Treasurer Robert Smith and Corporate Secretary Jerry Sue Thornton.

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As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region.

 

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