Issue: January/February 2010

Players


Education
 
Sohlberg
Tri-C Corporate College has hired Thomas Sohlberg as vice president for solutions management. Sohlberg is the founder and former president of Sohlberg Consultants and has served in vice president roles with National City. Sohlberg holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a dual master’s degree from Texas Tech University.

Finance
 
Gluntz
The Home Savings and Loan Co. has hired Kevin P. Gluntz as vice president and deputy general counsel. Gluntz has more than 23 years of legal experience and founded his own law firm, Gluntz Law, in January 2009. Gluntz received a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and his law degree from the University of Akron.

Law
 
Edwards
Day Ketterer has announced the addition of finance attorney Paul N. Edwards. Edwards is the former chairman of the securities law practice at McDonald Hopkins and has more than 30 years of legal experience. Edwards will help lead growth initiatives for the firm’s Cleveland office.

Reminger Co. has welcomed five new partners at the firm’s Cleveland office. Anthony M. Catanzarite specializes in personal injury, construction, premises liability and general business disputes. Brian T. Gannon focuses on medical malpractice and health care law. James O’ Connor, who formerly ran a family-owned business, focuses on professional liability, complex commercial litigation and employment litigation. Myra Barsoum Stockett specializes in insurance coverage litigation and workers’ compensation. Brian M. Zaber joins the firm with prior experience as a claims investigator. The firm has also appointed Marilena DiSilvo, John O’ Neil and Richard J. Rymond to the executive committee.

Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. has hired Tom Cooperstein as the director of the Real Estate Default Group. Cooperstein joins the firm with 29 years of experience in the consumer finance industry, managing multibillion-dollar portfolios and working for corporations such as Accredited Home Lenders and Associated Home Equity.

Government
 
Raskind
The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has named Peter Raskind as interim president and CEO. Raskind is the former CEO of National City Bank and will hold the interim position for at least three months while helping choose a permanent chief executive. Raskind received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and a MBA with a concentration in finance from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School of Business Administration in 1979.

Manufacturing
 
Kulenkampff


Jokubaitis
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has named Amfred Kulenkampff CFO and vice president of finance and IT. He has previously been vice president of finance at Alcoa Electrical and Electronic Solutions and president of Reum Corp. Kulenkampff holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and a master’s of accounting equivalent from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

MidContinental Chemical Co. has added Linas Jokubaitis as a sales representative to develop growth strategies for fuel and lube oil additives. Jokubaitis has more than 25 years of experience in the refining and petroleum marketing industries with previous positions at Lubrizol, Biz Dearborn and Coastal Chemical. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University.

Nonprofit
 
Thornton


Barker 		The President’s Council has named Duane Thornton its new president. The President’s Council is a consortium of 14 business owners that develop African-American businesses throughout Northeast Ohio. Thornton holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University.

Bob Barker
Chairman, Chancellor University

Robert H. “Bob” Barker Jr. went off to Arizona State University with $300 in his pocket and not another cent to his name. So he worked three jobs while earning a degree. Maybe that’s why he encourages college-bound students to do their homework on financial aid packages and to hunt down every private funding source.

That’s good advice coming from the new chairman of Chancellor University. An entrepreneur who founded EDU Interactive and Barker Educational Services, companies to help colleges increase enrollment, Barker is also a former vice president at the University of Phoenix. These days he lives in Phoenix, Ariz., but frequently travels to Cleveland to Chancellor’s main offices.

Class act: Barker finds the business of education very fulfilling. “What better job could you have than to help people on the way to their goals?”

Making the grade: Barker holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State and a master’s from the University of Phoenix. “All of those together helped me develop a better understanding of not just business but to be a more well-rounded person.”

Moving up: Barker worked his way up from the bottom in higher education. “I always wanted to make sure I was doing as much as I could to make myself indispensable. ... I’ve never asked for a promotion, but I’ve been promoted several times. If you deliver beyond their expectations, they’ll
notice.”

Risky business: “The decision to [start your own business] in the first place is the biggest challenge. It’s a big gamble. There are always risks in starting a business, but three years later we’re thriving.”

Business lesson: “Make sure you have a solid business plan and access to funding. So many good companies start and don’t have a plan to follow, fall apart and realize they’re falling short of cash. You have to make sure you have enough cash for today’s needs and if your worst-case scenario develops.”

Stage crasher: “If there’s a live band or event, then rest assured I’m going to get up there and start singing with them. That doesn’t mean I’m good, just that I like to do it.”

Star turn: Two years ago, the Flutie Brothers Band, which includes former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his brother, Darren, a Canadian Football League star, performed at an event in Phoenix. “He allowed me to get up and sing with their band, so that was my biggest gig.”

Why did you go the route of being an entrepreneur?

I left University of Phoenix three years ago, after a very successful career, on my own terms. But then it was time for me to try something else, and that something was an entrepreneurship itch that needed to be scratched. I wanted to see if I could do it. It went from a structured bureaucratic environment at University of Phoenix, when we were traveling around the country in private jets and going to executive lunches, and a few weeks later there I was, taking out garbage and serving as the temporary receptionist. It was important for me to get back to my roots and re-energize my career. Then low and behold the board of directors at Chancellor’s University came to me with an opportunity.

How has technology changed the face of higher education?
Back in my day, if there was a relevant article it meant going to the library and making photocopies. It was very efficient and time consuming. Today there’s so much access to so much information. That to me has been the biggest advantage. Simulations for courses in not just business but healthcare have helped people learn and it’s clearly a richer educational experience when you can see things in a virtual sense.

What will your duties be as Chairman of Chancellor University?

First and foremost we manage the business in a manner that’s relevant to our business model, so we’re meeting our budget expectations. In a school that’s supported primarily by student tuition, that means we have to work on meeting or exceeding our enrollment goals which means that everything we do we do in a compliant manner that applies to our various regulatory bodies. It’s important to do things well, but it’s equally important to do things right.

We’re a smaller college today, so you’re not talking explosive growth of our peers. This is well-managed growth. Our expectations are set so that we never strain the infrastructure so that we won’t have any delusion of our academic and student services. We want to recruit and hire and train the best employees that we can and make sure they are properly skilled to do their prospective roles. If you do that you can’t help but succeed.

How has the role of higher education in the business world changed since you started your career?

Our economy has changed since I’ve started. You have to be know to work in a know based economy and continue to upgrade your skills to stay relevant. A B.A. of Information Technology would be useless in today’s technology workplace. It really come down to, if you want to stay relevant and be competitive – not just you personally, but us globally -- we have to be constantly upgrading our skill sets.

Advice for someone entering the business world?
The majority of people who I’ve seen succeed in business, including myself, have developed a very large network of professional associates and mentors. That to me is critically important. If you think about it, most of the time you hear about someone getting a job because someone they knew had an opportunity and brought the two together. I think its critically important for anyone today to keep improving themselves. When I look at a resume and I see dated educational experience, I think about what they’ve been up to. But for people who go to seminars and have new certifications, it shows you stay engaged in that career.

How should business students pick the right grad program?
The simplest thing is to do your research and if you are considering a job with a particular company or field, I would talk to hiring employees and get their advice about where to attend. Those are important questions to ask. Take the time to speak to faculty members at that college or university because they’re the ones imparting the knowledge. You know their knowledge and credentials and experiences and know that they are experienced in that field.

Commitment to public service… It is critically important that colleges and businesses and business leaders give back to their employees. We have a history of that at the University of Phoenix and with my current businesses, and we most certainly plan on being an active part in helping Cleveland and the surrounding areas in any way that we can in terms of giving back to the community. I think all businesses should do that because it make the world a better place.

Real Estate
 
Catalano


West 		Antonio Catalano has joined Resource Title in Independence to take on a development role in their retail division. He is responsible for building new client relationships and sales at the agency’s Independence office. Catalano is the founder and owner of Title Xperts and has more than 20 years of experience in the title and real estate
industry.

Bill West
Chairman, Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corp.

Bill West lives part of the year in Bavaria, Germany, and spends much of his time traveling to Mexico, Canada, Asia, Europe, the East Coast, California and Texas. As a partner at Colliers-Ostendorf-Morris Co., he does real estate work for several large corporations, including aerospace supplier Goodrich.

But West still calls Cleveland his favorite city in the world. “Cleveland is a very interesting city,” he says. “There’s a certain pride in the city. If you travel, you’ll go a long, long way before you find the quality of life we have here.”

West is putting his money where his heart is as the new chairman of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corp. With more than 40 years of experience in brokerage and law experience, West will oversee the organization’s efforts to attract more businesses and residents downtown.

Cleveland roots: “I was fortunate to grow up in an area with people very involved in Cleveland. My dad was very involved, and it was always of interest to me.”

Germany? West’s wife is German, so they spend part of the year in Bavaria, about 35 miles west of Munich.

Building a career: West worked in construction during college and loved the business. “After I graduated from [Case Western Reserve University] law school, I said writing papers behind the desk wasn’t for me.” So he combined the two pursuits in real estate. “It’s a great job because you meet a lot of people with a lot of different businesses. They’re really good and interesting people.”

Permanent improvement: In 2004, West, developer John Carney and banking executive David Goldberg, organized downtown property owners to raise money for increased security and a cleaner city. Today, the DCIC raises approximately $3.3 million from property owners that goes to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to carry out those activities.

Giving back gives back: “Getting involved with the local community is good because it gives you more knowledge of what’s going on and where you fit in the world. Do something you like to do. It connects you with people with similar interests.”

Ride on: West enjoys riding his BMW motorcycle. He and his wife rode from Cleveland to the West Coast and up to Nova Scotia. “You really feel where you are instead of just passing through an area. It’s wonderful. This is just a different sensation.”

Vegetation Management
 
Conn 		ACRT Inc., a leader in utility vegetation management, has appointed Gerald Conn to safety and workers’ compensation manager at its Akron headquarters. Conn has more than 15 years of experience in safety and compliance for various industries. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and is an Occupational Safety and Health Administration authorized trainer.

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