NEO Rising 2025 | Agenda & Details

Bridget Linton is an accomplished sports and entertainment host with a passion for connecting audiences through her dynamic roles as a live event emcee, on-air TV and radio personality, and brand spokesperson. Best known for her work with the Cleveland Browns, she is a familiar face on the sidelines and the big screen during the season, as well as a trusted host for events throughout the year. Her background experience includes interviewing a diverse range of individuals, from current players and notable alumni to executives, all while fostering a strong connection with fans. Outside of her work with the Browns, Bridget has hosted a wide range of events. From major sporting events and award ceremonies, to pageants, corporate events, and charity galas. Whether she’s on TV, on the radio, social media, or hosting a live event, you can usually catch Bridget with a microphone in hand. 

Kelly Lamirand serves as Market President for Key’s Cleveland market, and as such is the senior representative and spokesperson leading the organization’s economic and community development efforts for the market.  She also oversees the Northeast Ohio Commercial Banking teams, including the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown markets.  She leads a group of professionals dedicated to providing expertise and financial solutions to clients whose revenues range from $10 Million to $1 Billion.

Prior to this position, Kelly served as Regional Credit Executive, leading the Great Lakes Credit team in supporting the Middle Market bankers in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan for KeyBank. 

Kelly began her career at KeyCorp in 1998 as a management associate in the credit training program. Throughout her career at Key she has gained lending experience in various roles including portfolio management and underwriting.  Lamirand was named the District Credit Officer in 2012 where she was responsible for the credit function supporting various lines of business in Key’s Corporate and Community Bank. She again expanded her geographic reach in 2015 as a Regional Credit Executive. 

Active in the community, Kelly was named a “Woman of Achievement” by the YWCA.  She is also a member of the Bluecoats, the Chair of the 2025 Heart and Stroke Ball for the American Heart Association in addition to serving on the Board of Directors at Magnificat High School and Team NEO.  Working to develop and coach young talent at the bank, she also serves as a mentor in KeyBank’s MentorMe Program.  Lamirand was named a “Woman of Note“ by Crain’s Cleveland Business, adding to her “Notable in Finance” and “People to Watch in Finance” appearances in the publication.  Kelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Miami University in 1998, with a minor in economics.  She lives in Avon Lake, Ohio with her husband Dean and three sons.

JP and his family are from Dayton, Ohio. He is a former Air Force officer and has been instrumental in the state of Ohio and its communities’ economic development for nearly 25 years. He led the Dayton Region through the 2005 Wright Patterson Air Force Base Realignment and Closure process, which secured additional missions and, by 2024, had doubled the number of workers at the base. He co founded Ohio’s Hometown Heroes effort in 2003 to recognize and honor military service members and their families by providing tickets to sporting and arts events. Since then, JobsOhio has taken the Hometown Heroes programming to all seven JobsOhio Network regions, providing more than 150,000 tickets as part of Ohio’s effort to be the most military and military-family friendly state in the nation.

JP now leads JobsOhio, Ohio’s uniquely structured private economic development corporation, attracting and growing the world’s most important businesses like Intel, Anduril, Honda LG, P&G, and small businesses in every corner of Ohio. His tenure began in 2019, and Ohio has emerged as a national leader in economic development: the only state to be in the top 5 for total economic development projects and projects per capita over the last 5 years, the #1 state for public and private infrastructure investment over that same period, and positive population net-in migration for the first time in a generation. Moreover, companies that work with JobsOhio have given it world- class customer satisfaction ratings for five consecutive years.

Since 2019, JobsOhio project wins are up close to 40% (with more than 1,300 project deals), high- paying new job generation has jumped 14% (to 104,039), new corporate capital investments have soared by 76% (to $53 billion), and new payrolls to support Ohio families grew 30% (to $5.6 billion) as compared to the prior 2015 – 2018 period. Moreover, companies that work with JobsOhio have given it world-class customer satisfaction ratings for four straight years (with Net Promoter Scores of 82-86).

Sarah Ross serves as Executive Director of Huron County Growth Partnership. Under her leadership, the public-private partnership drives the Huron County’s strategy for community and economic development. Sarah leads at the direction of a board of directors comprised of 24 public & private change makers and oversees a team of six professionals. Sarah came to the field from the private sector area of Marketing and worked her way up in the field of economic development under the guidance of partners like Team NEO for the last seven years.

Sarah’s expertise ranges from organizational management to system building, civic collaboration and program development. Recent accomplishments include successfully aligning three non-profits to form the Huron County Growth Partnership and securing Huron County’s ranking as #7 Top Micropolitan in the US by winning 9 business investment deals last year. Sarah was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, is a graduate of Calvin College and Berry University, a wife to John, and mom to Raymond and Lillian.

With a distinguished career at Schaeffler Americas, Prasanna has been a driving force in the company’s operational excellence. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Western Michigan University.

He began his journey with Schaeffler in 1995 as an Industrial Engineer in Wooster, Ohio. Demonstrating a consistent track record of leadership and innovation, he advanced through several key roles, including Manager of Manufacturing Engineering (1997), Director of Torque Converter Manufacturing (2001), and Vice President of Manufacturing and Product Line Torque Converter Global (2008). By 2012, he had taken on the dual role of VP of Manufacturing & Product Line Torque Converter Global and Plant Manager in Wooster, OH.

In 2016, he was appointed Head of Operations for North America, later becoming Chief Operating Officer for Automotive Americas in 2018, and most recently, Chief Operating Officer for the entire Americas region in 2023.

Outside of work he is married with two daughters. His hobbies include cars, spending time with his family, watching football, and collecting watches. A personal fun fact: he put himself through college by buying, fixing, and selling cars—a passion that reflects his lifelong affinity for engineering and problem-solving.

Ms. Nash is the Owner, Chair & CEO of Novagard Solutions, an innovator and manufacturer of silicone conformal coatings and sealants, hybrid and foam solutions for the building systems, electronics, solar power, EV, space, wearable medical, industrial and transportation markets. 

She is Chair of the Board of Bath & Body Works (BBWI -NYSE) where she was Executive Chair and Interim CEO from February 2022 through December 2022. Ms. Nash also serves on the board of directors of Blackbaud (NASDAQ) and privately held HBD Industries, Inc. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board of Bow River Asset Management (BRAM).  She previously served on the Boards of Irving Oil Company in St. John, N.B., Canada and Knoll Inc. (NYSE) until its merger with Herman Miller.

Ms. Nash spent nearly 30 years in investment banking at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (and predecessor companies), building their client facing businesses in North America, retiring as Global Vice Chairman in July 2005. 

Ms. Nash is Trustee of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery, Cleveland Museum of Art and an Advisory board member of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), Panama.  She retired from the Smithsonian National Board in September 2022.  She was a Trustee of Washington & Lee University from 2005-2014.

Ms. Nash holds a BA in political science from Vassar College.  She holds dual US-Canadian citizenship.

Benjamin (Ben) Squires is Head of Government Affairs for Howmet Aerospace and plays a key role in shaping the organization’s global public policy agenda and managing relationships with key stakeholders in support of the company’s growth priorities. Ben previously served as North American Sales and Marketing Manager in the Howmet Wheel Systems (then Arconic Wheels and Transportation Products) business unit from 2018-2019. Prior to that role, Ben had been with the company’s Government Affairs organization since 2012. Earlier in his career, Ben provided on-site public affairs support to the U.S. Department of Energy. He earned a B.A. in History from the University of Virginia. He also currently serves as Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association’s Commercial Trade Committee and on the Board of Directors of the National Aeronautic Association.

Allison Will is the Owner and President of Goodlevel Enterprises, LLC, located in Norwalk, Ohio. Goodlevel is home to TUFTEX Balloons, a premium-quality, professional grade latex balloon brand, the sole balloon brand manufactured in the U.S. and one known for its commitment to products that are the ultimate in balloon quality, defining style & color as well as creating trends and providing educational opportunities in the balloon industry.

Since acquiring the factory with her husband in 2017, Allison has led the company through substantial growth — both in physical capacity and market presence. She offers a unique perspective shaped by her earlier career as a licensed embalmer and funeral director, bringing a hands-on and relatable leadership approach to her current role.

As a panelist, Allison represents the voice of small business, sharing firsthand how support from Team NEO and JobsOhio has helped accelerate TUFTEX’s development. She speaks to the tangible impact of strategic funding on workforce expansion and regional economic growth.

Bio coming soon.

Catherine Bieterman has been serving as the Economic Development Director for the City of Beachwood since 2022.  She has been in the field of Economic Development since 2005, serving as Director of Economic Development for the City of Painesville and prior served various supporting roles for Chambers of Commerce including Executive Director of the Streetsboro Area Chamber of Commerce and intern for government affairs division of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce while attending Youngstown State University. 

She has been recognized for her ability to support asset based economic development and her efforts in regional collaboration.  She has been instrumental in projects related to business financing, brownfield revitalization, mixed-use redevelopment, energy and sustainability and strategic community and urban revitalization.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Major in Public Administration.  Catherine is passionate about supporting business growth and commercial revitalization and actively pursues collaborative partnerships that support the greater region.    

Some of her most recent projects within the City of Beachwood include the restructuring of a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).  Under this CIC a new Revolving Loan Committee and Innovation Committee have been formed to oversee a new $1 million-dollar revolving loan fund which has been established to support investments in emerging industry clusters and revitalization for commercial office buildings.  She has also been working on a new Commercial Office Building Technical Assistance Program that will support owners of commercial office buildings within the City in exploring new opportunities to finance investments, lower operating costs and increase energy efficiency.  As of late she has been gathering regional support to open new site development opportunities by working in partnership with the City of Cleveland, Team Neo and the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, enabling City leaders to acquire 43 acres at Harvard Road and I-271 to the west of Eaton Corporation.  

In addition to these items, she has also formed a new One Stop Business Resource Center with a virtual platform and a new podcast series called the Beachwood Business Compass Podcast.  This Center is designed to share the resources that exist here within Northeast Ohio to support the growth of small businesses. 

Russ Balthis is a member of the Public & Infrastructure Finance Practice, where he works with other practice group members in all areas of municipal finance, with a focus on economic development.

Prior to joining the firm, Russ served as the Law Director for the city of Cuyahoga Falls, where he provided legal and policy advice to the mayor, city council and all city departments. Russ led the city’s legal representation in multiple significant economic development projects, including the revitalization of Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Portage Crossings and several residential developments.

Russ also served as the Chief of Legal Services for Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and has previous experience advising non-profit organizations.

Kevin K. Johnson is a thought-leader, technologist, philanthropist and advisor to boards. He has held multiple leadership positions in the areas of Engineering, Information Technology, and Association Management. He has introduced a myriad of successful new products, solutions, and innovative business models into various markets across a number of highly competitive industries. He has a track record of developing business initiatives that have achieved sustainable competitive advantages for both employers and clients in the United States, Europe, and Japan. His expertise spans a wide array of functional areas including strategic planning and implementation, business process optimization, expert system design, product lifecycle management, program management, and team-based management processes. He has worked with multinational companies including Robbins & Myers, PTC (formally Parametric Technology Corporation), Cooper Oil Tool, PMI Food Equipment Corporation (Hobart Corporation), Bendix Corporation, and Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. He has been awarded U.S. Patents for the design of new products along with several U.S. Trademarks. He and has also served as Executive Director of an international professional Association. Mr. Johnson has been intensely engaged in non-profit and for-profit initiatives associated with economic development, community development and the health and well-being of older adults.

Kevin Johnson is a philanthropist specifically focused on attaining sustainable outcomes through focused philanthropic initiatives with select engagement partners. He and his wife Constance Hill Johnson have been awarded the Cleveland Foundations’ 2015 Frederick Harris Goff & Legacy Societies Philanthropic Award for Service. A practicing Entrepreneur, Mr. Johnson is a principle in three for-profit concerns. Managing Partner at NexGen Interactive, LLC, (NGI) a business-to business technology consultancy focused on helping clients understand and implement Industrial 4.0 (4IR) technologies to increase profitability and attain competitive advantage. NGI product and service offerings include Robotics, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and AI-Assisted Access Monitoring Systems. Managing Partner of KDJ Group LLC, a business-to-business boutique risk management strategy consultancy building and helping to execute business models on behalf of their clients. Partner with Visiting Angels Cleveland, a business-to-consumer, senior home-care agency. Mr. Johnson is also a founding member of philanthropic entities, The Soul of Philanthropy Cleveland

(TSOPCLE), Celebrate Those Who Give Black® (CTWGB) and the Cleveland Black Equity & Humanity Fund® (CBEHF). Mr. Johnson has served as an adjunct professor of Strategic Management at Antioch University’s McGregor School of Graduate Management. Mr. Johnson is also a former adjunct instructor of Applied Physics including Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics at Lorain County Community College and Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus in Ohio. Through his work with a number of significant regional entities, Mr. Johnson is engaged in the extensive economic development taking place throughout Northeast Ohio. Prior community and civic involvement include serving as a Trustee for Habitat for Humanity (Dayton, OH) and as a task force member for the City of Dayton, Ohio’s ‘Year 2000’ mitigation project. He was the Technology Chair for the 2004 International Children’s Games in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Johnson was instrumental in the creation of the City of Cleveland’s Strategic Emergency Operation Center. He speaks on wide-ranging topics from technology to economic/community development to eldercare. A native of Cleveland, Ohio Kevin Johnson earned a Master of Arts in Business & Management from Antioch University’s McGregor School of Management in Yellow Springs, Ohio. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Johnson is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® accredited by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) ®,

David Kuntz, CPA, joined Cuyahoga Community College as Executive Vice President/Treasurer on February 1, 2016.  With more than twenty-five years of financial management experience and executive leadership, he oversees all operational, administrative and financial departments at the College, including finance, information technology, human resources, safety and security, capital and construction, treasury management, auxiliary services, and procurement. As a graduate of Tri-C, Kuntz has lived and firmly believes in the College’s mission, vision and values. He wants to ensure that Northeast Ohio residents continue to have access to the high-quality, affordable education offered at the College. Kuntz holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baldwin-Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University) in addition to the associate degree in applied business management that he earned at Tri-C.

Megan is a partner in the Cleveland office and leader in the manufacturing and distribution practice. As a tax partner, she works with clients to manage their tax risks and exposures by providing them the information they need to make effective and realistic business decisions. Her clients are typically middle-market internationally owned or private equity-owned organizations that are manufacturing and service companies with both international and multistate issues. Megan helps to ensure her clients receive the right resources from across our firm to provide a fresh perspective and find innovative solutions.

Megan been with the firm more than 17 years and leverages her experience to provide the overall service her clients count on to manage their taxes.

As Chief Executive Officer of Team NEO, Matt Dolan is dedicated to driving economic growth and prosperity across Northeast Ohio. With a career spanning law, business, and government, Matt has a deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and challenges. His leadership is focused on strengthening Northeast Ohio’s economic competitiveness by advancing business attraction and retention strategies, strengthening the supply chain, fostering innovation, enhancing site preparedness, and promoting the region as a premier destination for investment.

Before joining Team NEO, Matt served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate, chairing the Finance Committee in both chambers. In these roles, he oversaw billions of dollars in budget decisions and spearheaded initiatives to strengthen Ohio’s economy. He was instrumental in shaping the economic development tools used by JobsOhio and Team NEO to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing companies, and drive job creation across the region. His leadership in the General Assembly was marked by key efforts in tax reform and infrastructure investment, laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth.

Beyond public service, Matt has been a leader in the private sector as a partner at Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, LPA, where he provided strategic legal counsel to businesses and municipalities on land use, economic development, and regulatory matters. His business acumen extends to real estate and family enterprise leadership, having overseen investment and development initiatives at 7th Avenue Properties and 422 Company. Inc.

Matt’s leadership has earned him widespread recognition, including numerous legislative and business advocacy awards. He is a recipient of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Champion of Business Award and has been recognized for his contributions to sectors ranging from healthcare to energy policy.

A Northeast Ohio native, Matt holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College.