1. Alexander “Sandy” Cutler, chairman and CEO, Eaton Corp.

2. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, president and CEO, Cleveland Clinic
The Clinic’s expansion, from the main campus to Mayfield Heights to Abu Dhabi, shows Cosgrove’s sweeping power. The awkward decision to close Huron Hospital’s trauma center hurt him a little, but even the fact that the protests weren’t angrier shows Cosgrove’s stature.

3. Christopher Connor, chairman and CEO, The Sherwin-Williams Co.

4. Dan Gilbert, majority owner, Cleveland Cavaliers; chairman, Quicken Loans Inc.; principal, Rock Gaming

5. Sandra Pianalto, president and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Her vote on the Fed’s Open Markets Committee has worldwide implications: Its new stimulus policy boosted the stock market in November and led other nations to protest.

6. Anthony J. Alexander, president and CEO, FirstEnergy Corp.

7. Frank Jackson, mayor, Cleveland

8. Thomas Zenty III, CEO, University Hospitals

9. Ed FitzGerald, Cuyahoga County executive

10. Henry Meyer, chairman and CEO, KeyCorp
Even with four months left before retirement, Meyer remains influential, pushing for more regional cooperation among business groups.

11. Albert Ratner, co-chairman, Forest City Enterprises Inc.
Even in his 80s, Ratner is involved in shaping the community. His backing of a global Cleveland initiative to boost the city’s population is bearing fruit in efforts to create an international welcome center near Cleveland State University.

12. Barbara Snyder, president, Case Western Reserve University
Although Snyder isn’t exercising much influence outside University Circle, she’s steadily consolidating the gains CWRU has achieved in its finances and relationships since she took over.

13. Beth Mooney, president, COO, and incoming chairman and CEO, KeyCorp

14. Don Plusquellic, mayor, Akron

15. Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator

16. Steven LaTourette, U.S. Representative

17. Ronn Richard, president and CEO, The Cleveland Foundation
Richard’s feud with the other foundations in town over the Fund for Our Economic Future hurt everyone involved, not the least Richard himself, whom many blame for the dispute. But Richard’s assertiveness in debates over public education and progress in the wind power effort he championed show his clout.

18. Luis Proenza, president, University of Akron
The university keeps booming under Proenza while he’s also active in Washington through the Council on Competitiveness. UA’s shared-services agreement with Lorain County Community College could become a model for regional cooperation in education.

19. Sam Miller, co-chairman and treasurer, Forest City Enterprises Inc.
His 2007 speech at the NEO Success Awards helped spark the Cuyahoga County reform effort. Only now, at 89, is Miller slowing down, but he’s still funding candidates, helping civic efforts and dispensing sought-after advice.

20. Umberto Fedeli, chairman and CEO, The Fedeli Group
More than anyone in town, Fedeli stands at the spot where business, politics, fundraising and networking intersect. As Republicans take over state government and the U.S. House, his fundraising for conservative candidates will give him influence.

21. Joseph Roman, president and CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership
Roman and the Partnership have exerted influence on several fronts lately, from the closing of the Medical Mart deal to the Cleveland schools transformation plan to the effort to keep a hub at Hopkins Airport in the wake of the Continental-United merger.

22. David Abbott, executive director, The George Gund Foundation
The battle over the Fund for Our Economic Future hurt Abbott’s standing as well as Richard’s, but his work on Ed FitzGerald’s transition shows that Abbott, a former county administrator, is still an influential voice in civic circles.

23. Roy Church, president, Lorain County Community College
It’s hard to find a bigger advocate of regional cooperation than Church, an evangelist for community colleges and a supporter of innovative partnerships on economic and work force development.

24. Jerry Sue Thornton, president, Cuyahoga Community College
Pay no attention to the Tri-C faculty’s vote of no confidence, the result of difficult contract negotiations. Thornton has the confidence of the school’s board — and the many Cleveland-area power players who consult her for advice.

25. Ward J. “Tim” Timken Jr., chairman, The Timken Co.
The longtime godfather of Stark County is becoming a regional player with his strong efforts to promote NEO 77, a budding alliance among the Cleveland, Akron and Canton chambers of commerce.

- Cover Story

- Features

Popularity:
This record has been viewed 2806 times.