New members bring experience to advance strategies for business attraction, expansion, retention, and opportunities in Northeast Ohio
The Board of Directors of Team NEO welcomes four new members, each offering unique skills and insights to strengthen the region’s ability to attract, retain, and cultivate new opportunities:
- Kevin Chambers, Managing Director. Aerospace, Military/Federal, & Logistics: JobsOhio
- Ethan Karp, Ph.D., President & CEO: MAGNET
- Ben Mathews, Senior Partner: McKinsey & Partners
- Ben Meisenzahl, Senior Vice President, Finance: Sherwin-Williams
The new members join a distinguished group of business leaders dedicated to strengthening the local economy, attracting population growth, and fostering vibrant business districts. Their appointment reinforces Team NEO’s ongoing commitment to these priorities.
“We are delighted to welcome this exceptional group of professionals,” said Matt Dolan, CEO for Team NEO. “Each new member was selected not only for their proven expertise and leadership, but also for their ability to provide insights into key issues influencing business retention, attraction, and expansion in targeted industry sectors.”
“We are proud to welcome these four accomplished leaders to our board,” Don Taylor, Team NEO Board Chair and President & CEO: Welty Enterprises. “Their expertise and dedication will be invaluable in advancing Northeast Ohio’s growth and prosperity.”
About Kevin Chambers
Kevin Chambers is a Managing Director at JobsOhio responsible for the Aerospace, Military/Federal, and Logistics industry sectors. In this role, Kevin is dedicated to leveraging his knowledge and experience to drive opportunities for organizations in all industries to leverage Ohio’s many strengths.
A retired Partner with Deloitte Consulting, Kevin spent over two decades primarily serving Federal and State Government clients with Supply Chain and/or Aerospace-related projects.
Kevin spent 26 years serving in a variety of Active Duty and Reserve leadership roles as an Air Force officer.
A Cleveland native, he holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Cincinnati and an M.A. in Management Science from Webster University.
About Ethan Karp, Ph.D.
Dr. Ethan Karp transforms companies and communities. As President and CEO of MAGNET, he helps manufacturing companies grow through technology, innovation, and talent. Dr. Karp is passionate about driving economic prosperity in Northeast Ohio. Each year, MAGNET helps manufacturers create thousands of jobs and uplifts thousands of people by helping them secure manufacturing careers. He’s a committed change-maker and community builder, serving as the founding Board Chair of Greater Cleveland Works, Executive Board member of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition and the Cleveland Leadership Center, Faculty Director at Case Western Reserve University, and Board member of the Greater Akron Chamber, Team NEO, Greater Cleveland Career Consortium (GCCC), and Cleveland Playhouse.
Dr. Karp is a recognized thought leader and a frequent national media commentator on the future of manufacturing in America, particularly through his regular column on Forbes.com and his podcast: Make It: Frank Conversations on the Future of Manufacturing. Before joining MAGNET in 2013, he worked with Fortune 500 companies at McKinsey & Company. Dr. Karp received undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and physics from Miami University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Harvard University. He lives in Cleveland with his wife and three daughters. His personal passion is leadership self-awareness and development, and he loves a good personality profile system, especially Enneagram!
About Ben Mathews
Ben has spent over two decades with McKinsey in the Cleveland and Chicago offices. He has built a career around his passion for helping consumer, high-tech and industrial clients reach their full potential. He leads the firm’s global Restaurant & Food Service Sector and is a senior leader in the Operations Practice. He founded and leads the Culinary Excellence Center, McKinsey’s food-focused capabilities intersecting with innovation and operations.
Beyond his client work, Ben is committed to community and industry engagement. He serves as a Trustee and Board member of The Cleveland Orchestra. He led the strategy for Columbus 2020!, the regional growth plan for central Ohio. Prior Board service includes Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU), Ohio Public Media (WKSU, Ideastream) and Old Trail School. He is in the evaluation stages of joining the Board of the James Beard Foundation.
Beyond McKinsey, Ben gained experience at Schneider Electric, Kearney and The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
Ben has a BS in Economics and Decision Sciences from Miami University (OH).
About Ben Meisenzahl
Ben Meisenzahl is Senior Vice President, Finance for The Sherwin-Williams Company. He is responsible for providing leadership oversight and strategic direction to the Treasury, Tax, Global Business Services, and Finance Transformation teams. Since joining the Company in 2004, he has held various financial and operational leadership roles across the company’s business units, including several overseas expatriate assignments.
Ben also serves as Vice President and Chair of the Development Committee for GiGi’s Playhouse – Cleveland, which is a locally run, federated nonprofit Down syndrome achievement center providing free programs and tutoring to individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Ben earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that ignites economic vibrancy, fosters sustainable growth, and champions equitable prosperity. As a designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we collaborate across all 14 counties in the Northeast Ohio Region to create strategies to attract and retain companies, drive innovation, cultivate a skilled workforce, advance market-ready sites, and promote and engage the region. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com.
About JobsOhio
JobsOhio, Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO. JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage.