Meet Our Team
Chief Executive Officer
Thomas A. Waltermire
Thomas A. Waltermire is Chief Executive Officer of Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO), the regional private-sector-led economic development organization. Mr. Waltermire utilizes his skills and experience as a business leader to help the region’s employers grow here and to recruit medium to large companies in Northeast Ohio.
Before joining Team NEO, Mr. Waltermire was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PolyOne Corporation headquartered near Cleveland, Ohio. PolyOne was formed when The Geon Company acquired M.A. Hanna Corporation in September, 2000. Waltermire led PolyOne from its formation until October 2005.
Waltermire joined The BFGoodrich Company in 1974 as a financial analyst, after receiving a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University and a master of business administration degree with distinction from Harvard University. He held positions as assistant treasurer for corporate finance and assistant controller for planning and analysis. During this period, he implemented ground-breaking project financings enabling BFG’s expansion of its chemical business and led the company’s operating and strategic planning processes.
In 1980 Waltermire joined the BFGoodrich Chemical Group and was named director of raw material and equipment purchasing. He later served as vice president of commercial services with responsibility for finance/control, purchasing, transportation, information systems and marketing services. He served as president of the Elastomers and Latex Division, one of BFG’s specialty chemical businesses, from 1985 to 1989.
In 1989 he returned to the BFGoodrich corporate headquarters, representing the company on Wall Street as vice president of investor relations and assistant to BFGoodrich chairman and CEO John Ong, until BFG spun off its Geon Vinyl division in an initial public offering in 1993.
Tom led The Geon Company’s initial public offering in March 1993, serving as senior vice president and treasurer. Later that year he was named chief financial officer with additional responsibilities for human resources, information technology and corporate communications. During this period, Geon aggressively improved its cost position and implemented industry-leading information technology capabilities.
Waltermire became chief operating officer of Geon in May, 1997, as part of a planned management succession. He then led Geon through a strategic transformation, the first step of which was to create North America’s largest vinyl plastic resin producer by joint venturing Geon’s large-scale plastic resin production and upstream raw material operations with those of Occidental Chemical. This transaction involved an innovative combination of asset exchanges, raw material contracts, venture agreements and cash. Geon also began a series of acquisitions in downstream, value-added plastics compounding. In May, 1999 Waltermire was named Geon’s Chairman and CEO.
Geon acquired MA Hanna in 2000 as part of its transformation strategy, adding capabilities in additional polymer technologies and a global business base. PolyOne was created to be the first truly global business in the polymer services industry with sales of $3 billion and manufacturing operations in over 20 countries. Integrating the 35 acquisitions made by Geon and Hanna prior to the merger, Waltermire created a company-wide identity and culture via common business practices and integrated information systems. Asian operations were expanded aggressively and fully shared in PolyOne’s technology and customer relationships in the US and Europe. Initially (2001-03) PolyOne focused on integration, synergy capture and rationalization of operations. Following this period, the Company returned to a growth agenda based on new technology, marketplace effectiveness, improved customer responsiveness via Lean Principles and increased investment in people training and development. Waltermire resigned from PolyOne in October, 2005, a record earnings year for the company.
Tom was a member of the board of directors of Nucor Corporation from 2003 to 2005. He serves as a member of the Advisory Boards of Early Stage Capital Partners and Delta Plant Technologies.
Tom’s leadership in serving the community is evidenced by his wide range of involvement:
- Founder and Chair of the Ohio Polymer Strategy Council, polymer industry advocacy organization
- Former Board and Executive Committee member of JumpStart, Inc., entrepreneur investor/accelerator
- Former Board and Executive Committee member of The Ohio Business Roundtable and the Greater Cleveland Partnership
- Former Chair of NorTech, the NE Ohio Regional Technology Consortium
- Member of the Governor’s Third Frontier Advisory Board
- Board member and former chair of Business Volunteers Unlimited
- Board member Musical Arts Association (The Cleveland Orchestra)
- Associate of the Presidents’ Council, minority business owners organization
- Board member Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy
- Member The Ohio State University Alumni Advisory Council and former board chair of the Ohio State University world-wide Alumni Association
He and his wife Shirley have three grown children and make their home in Green, Ohio, near Akron.
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Business Attraction : Major Projects
Jay Foran
Senior Vice President, Business Attraction
Jay Foran is responsible for generating business attraction and expansion lead opportunities, with an emphasis on high-growth industry clusters. He fosters mutually beneficial relationships with site selectors and corporate clients, and steers opportunities through the regional economic development framework, partnering with local and state economic development groups.
Prior to joining Team NEO, Mr. Foran was Vice President, Business Development for The Lake West Group LLC, a management consulting firm, that provides technology, strategic planning, process redesign and change management services primarily to the retail industry. He also served in a variety of key leadership positions with Procter & Gamble during a lengthy and distinguished career. Mr. Foran was responsible for a variety of business building initiatives that have been emulated throughout the consumer products industry.
Mr. Foran has an extensive record of leadership in enabling successful civic advocacy organizations, private and public campaigns, and assessments to support community sustainability. He has served as the Chairman of Lakewood Schools Facility Assessment Committee, led multiple successful bond campaigns, and is the 2005 Recipient of State of Ohio NPRSA “Friend of Education” Golden Apple Awards. He also sits on the Board of Trustees for Lakewood Hospital Foundation – Lakewood Public Schools Alumni Foundation and is a Lakewood Alive Founder, Officer and Board Member.
Mr. Foran received his Bachelors in Marketing Management from Miami University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. He resides in Lakewood with his wife and four children.
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Thomas (“Tom”) Sudow
Vice President, Business Attraction
Thomas (“Tom”) Sudow is Vice President, Attraction for Team NEO and in this role he works with Cleveland Clinic Innovations as Director of Business Development for the (GCIC). Tom is charged with attracting bioscience and medical device companies to the GCIC.
Prior to joining Team NEO and the GCIC he served as Executive Director of the Beachwood, Ohio, Chamber of Commerce. In his role with the Chamber he also coordinated economic development efforts for the City of Beachwood. During his tenure as Executive Director, he recruited more than 20 international companies to establish their North America headquarters in Beachwood.
Mr. Sudow is actively involved in the Northeastern Ohio community and served a three-year term as chair of the Northern Ohio Area Chambers of Commerce (NOACC), an association of 123 chambers with more than 35,000 members. The largest independent Chamber organization in the US. During Tom’s Chairmanship NOACC membership increased by over 100%.
He also served as President of the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce; President of the Beachwood Transportation Management Organization; President of the Cleveland Indians Wahoo Club; President of the Cleveland Cavilers Rebounder organization; and he serves on the board of several community organizations.
Sudow is also an active community leader and has worked with and for nonprofit organizations for nearly 30 years. He is a frequent guest columnist in publications such as Crain’s Cleveland Business, Inside Business and the Cleveland Jewish News. In addition, he is frequently called upon to lecture and has taught a course in fund-raising management for seminars sponsored by Case Western Reserve University. He has also appeared on radio as a host of several programs.
He has been recognized with awards from many economic development and community organizations.
Tom holds a B.A. from Kent State University and an MSW from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
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Christine Nelson
Director, Business Attraction
Christine Nelson manages projects to generate and execute new business investment leads in targeted industries for Northeast Ohio. Within this capacity, she works to form strong relationships with partners such as regional chambers of commerce, state and local governments and other public and private entities to help attract businesses to the Cleveland Plus region. She brings more than 14 years of economic and community development expertise to Team Northeast Ohio.
Prior to joining Team NEO, Ms. Nelson was the Economic and Community Development Manager for Cuyahoga County. In this capacity, she was directly responsible for creating two national award winning economic development programs leveraging research, consensus building, funding and implementation.
Prior to this, Ms. Nelson held economic development roles with the City of Bedford and the City of Lakewood. In these roles she designed, developed and implemented comprehensive economic development programs.
A graduate of Hiram College, Ms. Nelson also received a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Cleveland State University and is a Certified Economic Developer by The National Development Council. In addition to her responsibilities with Team NEO, Ms. Nelson serves on the Steering Committee for The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture and is a National New Market Tax Credit Reader for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She resides in Lakewood with her husband and twin sons.
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Carlos Fuentes
Director, Minority Business Attraction
Carlos Fuentes is an experienced business professional with senior leadership positions in the financial services and advertising industries. Carlos has spent his career specializing in serving diverse and multicultural consumer and business segments through marketing, business development and new product development.
Over his 15-year career, Carlos has been recognized as a national leader in diversity- and multicultural-related business issues. He has been invited to speak at a variety of national and international trade meetings and is considered as an expert in multicultural marketing and communications.
Prior to joining Team NEO, Carlos was the Vice-President of Affinity Group Marketing at National City Corporation. Carlos was responsible for developing strategic marketing and communications strategies, as well as develop new products that serve the needs of a variety of diverse consumer and business segments. Among the diverse segments that Carlos served in the company’s 9-state footprint included African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Polish, Lesbian and Gay (LGBT), and Low- to Moderate-income individuals.
Among the achievements Carlos achieved while at National City, he saw the bank achieve significant market share gains in the Hispanic segments and introduced new strategies for the Polish and LGBT segments. During Carlos’ tenure National City saw it’s market share jump in diverse segments in each of it’s 9-state footprint. Additionally, National City received a 40% increase in its Human Rights Campaign 2010 Corporate Equality Index score.
Before moving to Northeast Ohio for the position at National City, Carlos was the Strategic Marketing Director for UNO Branding Agency, based in Minneapolis, MN. Carlos was responsible for managing the business development and strategic direction for the branding agency’s key clients, including developing new accounts and expanding existing relationships. During his tenure Carlos oversaw a growth in the agency’s revenues of over 33%.
Carlos is a native of Chicago, IL and holds a masters degree in International Affairs from Ohio University in Athens, OH and a bachelors degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. He is actively engaged with many non-profit organizations in Northeast Ohio and Chicago, IL, including Hispanic Business Association of Northeast Ohio, DANCECleveland, Northeast Ohio Coalition for Financial Success, and Latino Art Beat. Carlos currently resides with his wife and daughter in Bay Village, OH.
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Camille Chin Billups
Manger, Business Attraction
Camille Chin Billups is responsible for managing projects that lead to the expansion and attraction of companies in key industries in the Cleveland Plus area. Ms. Billups manages client relationships and helps to execute projects by connecting prospective businesses with available properties, potential supply chain partners, and various incentives.
Ms. Billups joins Team NEO with 10 years of deal execution experience in the banking industry, including serving as an analyst, and associate director with Bank One. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Albion College. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration degree from Cleveland State University.
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Chris Windham
Project Associate, Business Attraction
As a member of the business attraction team, Christopher Windham acts as a catalyst and makes connections to help attract key industries to the Cleveland Plus region. He does this by facilitating a regional response to opportunities leveraging the relationships with the regional chambers of commerce, state and local governments and other public and private entities.
Mr. Windham is a recent graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College where he participated in the Honors Program and earned a degree in Economics. He was active in collegiate sports where he played varsity soccer at the goalkeeper position. He resides in Lakewood and continues his passion with soccer as a goalkeeper coach for Holy Name High School Boys Soccer in Parma Heights.
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Finance & Administration
Laura Koballa Hudak
Vice President, Finance and Administration
Laura Koballa Hudak is responsible for overseeing the financial, information systems, human resource and fundraising functions for Team NEO. In addition, Laura supports many attraction projects through special assignments such as workforce development, talent attraction and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Mrs. Hudak previously served as senior manager in Deloitte & Touche’s Enterprise Risk Services (ERS) group. She has more than 17 years of experience in a variety of IT platforms including MVS, AS/400, NT, Unix and Novell. In addition, Mrs. Hudak has considerable experience with Oracle Financials.
During Laura's tenure at Deloitte, she was instrumental in leading regional HIPPA activities for the healthcare industry and employers with self-insured health plans. In addition, she was one of the national facilitators of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. Past client experience includes KeyCorp., National City Bank, Charter One, The City of Cleveland, The City of Akron, Parker Hannifin, Eaton Corporation, Medical Mutual of Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Health System and University Hospitals of Cleveland.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Laura spent 11 years at Ernst & Young. She worked in the capacity of a financial and information systems security auditor, splitting time in the Cleveland, National and London offices. At Ernst & Young, Ms. Koballa primarily served the financial services, manufacturing and health care industries in both Ohio and Michigan.
Mrs. Hudak is a Cleveland native and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, computer science & business management from Kent State University. In addition, she is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Laura is also involved with various civic and not-for-profit causes outside of Team NEO. Laura sits on the boards of the Animal Protective League, Cleveland Leadership Center and The Club at Key Center. Laura has been a volunteer for the United Way in various capacities since 1988. In addition, Laura is a 2003 graduate of Cleveland Bridge Builders.
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Regional Research
James Robey, Ph.D.
Vice President, Research
As Vice President of Research, Jim Robey is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for the retention, expansion and attraction of key industries by analyzing the region’s economic structure, including business and occupation trends.
While supporting Team NEO, the Research team also supports partner organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, state and local government economic development activities as well as other regional economic development organizations such as NorTech and World Trade Center Cleveland. In addition, the Research team supports public, not-for-profit and for-profit entities with cost recovery research in the areas of planning, economic impact, data and information and geographic information systems (GIS).
Dr. Robey was director of Economic Research at the Greater Cleveland Growth Association for more than seven years. In that capacity, he oversaw the process of setting and collecting the organization’s key performance measures, conducted economic impact studies of the organization’s activities and established new perspectives on the supply and demand for IT and Biomedical workers in the region.
Prior to joining the Growth Association, Dr. Robey was part of the Economic Development team at Cleveland State University’s Economic Development Program with the Levin College of Urban Affairs. He served as the project manager for the Ohio Economic Development Database Project.
Dr. Robey is also an adjunct member of the economic development faculty of Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. He is an Erie, Pa. native and earned a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and a Masters in Public Administration from the Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs. He holds an undergraduate degree from Edinboro State College.
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Richard J. Seifritz, Jr.
Manager, Research
As a member of the research team, Rick Seifritz supports Team NEO’s core mission of business attraction, retention, and expansion by managing and tracking research projects that the organization undertakes. His role involves conducting research, providing technical assistance, collecting data, providing analyses and forecasts, and writing reports for both internal and external clients. His responsibilities include economic impact analyses with Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) software and data analysis with Environmental Services Research Institute’s (ESRI) ArcView geographic information system. These analyses are used to gain insight into location decisions, policy discussions and viability of economic development projects.
Mr. Seifritz has contributed to several regional economic development projects for Team NEO, including: Impact analyses for mixed-use development projects in Cleveland and Seven Hills; data structuring and collection in the form of the regional Starting Wage and Benefits Survey; an industry and occupation profile for the City of Stow; demographic and industry-based research for the DFAS retention effort and the NASA Shared Services attraction effort; and economic and workforce estimates for the Region’s Department of Labor’s WIRED grant proposal.
Mr. Seifritz holds a Masters in Urban Planning, Design and Development from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University, where he also received graduate certificates for specialized training in Urban Economic Development and Geographic Information Systems. He completed his undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Brockport.
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Jacob Duritsky
Manager, Research
As a member of the research team, Jacob Duritsky supports Team NEO’s core mission of business attraction and expansion by researching and analyzing economic indicators and providing both economic and demographic data. This includes quarterly development for Team NEO’s regional economic review, geographic information systems (GIS) spatial analysis, the maintenance of databases, and assistance with the conduction of REMI modeling.
Most recently, Jacob was a graduate and research assistant for The Center for Public Management/Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center where he conducted a regional economic impact study for the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, co-developed metrics for use by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), participated in the facilitation of Ohio Department of Development Stakeholder Forums, and developed social indicators for pending U.S. EPA litigation. He has additional economic and community development experience as an intern with the City of Bedford Heights Department of Economic Development and the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation. Jacob holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University, where he also holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies. Jacob is currently pursuing his Doctoral of Economic Development from Cleveland State. He is a member or the Urban Studies Association, American Economics Association and American Planning Association.
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Marketing : Communications : Outreach
Carin Rockind
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
As Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Carin Rockind is responsible for regional business attraction branding and targeted marketing programs that promote Northeast Ohio’s assets and benefits for business expansion. In addition, she is responsible for encouraging engagement in regional economic development among Northeast Ohio’s business and community leadership. She is one of the founding members and was instrumental in developing Cleveland Plus, Northeast Ohio’s marketing and brand campaign.
Ms. Rockind brings nearly 15 years of marketing communications and public relations experience to Team NEO and Cleveland Plus Business, with previous focus in the automotive industry. She specializes in building strategic marketing communications that incorporate traditional and non-traditional mediums to accomplish business objectives. Prior to joining Team NEO, she served as communications manager for Alcoa Wheel Products, where she developed and managed internal communications, public relations, community relations, and marketing communications for the global, billion-dollar division of Alcoa Inc. Her marketing experience includes brand development and execution, e-commerce strategy and implementation, direct marketing, public relations, event management, incentive marketing and print for companies including Helm Incorporated, Omnicom and Entertainment Publications, which are based in Detroit, Michigan.
Ms. Rockind is also an adjunct professor of marketing communications, serving as a guest lecturer in Kent State University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and as an Advertising and Promotions instructor at the Virginia Marti College or Art and Design.
Ms. Rockind is involved several civic and not-for-profit causes outside of Team NEO. She is the 2009 Chair for the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Cleveland, a member of the Jewish Federation Human Resources and Marketing Committees, and sits on the YWCA Experienced Leaders Advisory Council. In addition, she is a B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Advisor. Ms. Rockind has earned numerous honors for marketing work, and in 2008, Ms. Rockind was named on of Northern Ohio Live Magazine’s Rainmakers, an award for business women making significant impact.
Ms. Rockind received her Bachelors in Communications and Bachelors in English Literature from the University of Michigan. She is a marathon runner, writer, cook and painter, and lives in Cleveland with her mutt puppy, Henry.
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Nina Holliday
Director, Marketing
Nina Holliday is responsible for marketing and communications programs to support Team NEO’s outreach activities.
With more than 15 years of experience in marketing, Ms. Holliday has extensive experience in all aspects of sports marketing, event planning, and media relations.
Before joining Team NEO, Ms. Holliday was regional marketing supervisor for Alltel, a communications company with almost 13 million customers and $8 billion in annual revenues. At Alltel, she managed public relations, events/sponsorships, sports marketing, crisis management, employee communications, community relations and philanthropic giving for a five-state region.
Ms. Holliday also was senior account executive with Liggett-Stashower, Inc., one of the largest communications companies in the Midwest, with annualized billings of more than $80 million. She worked with clients such as Cole Vision Corp, Forest City Properties and Motorists Insurance.
Ms. Holliday is a Cleveland native and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baldwin-Wallace College. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Substance Abuse Initiative of Greater Cleveland. In addition, she is a marathon runner and member of Women in Sports and Events (WISE) and Friends of the West Side Catholic Center.
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Steve Fritsch
Director, Marketing & Business Attraction
Steve Fritsch is responsible for overseeing Team NEO’s external marketing efforts for business attraction, as well as managing Team NEO's online business, including the web site, email and emerging social media. In addition to managing the Cleveland Plus Business marketing efforts to location consultants, Steve is also an active member of CoreNet Global, the Industrial Asset Management Council and sits on the Board of the Ohio Economic Development Association.
Mr. Fritsch previously served as director of production, online services & strategy for New Media Communications Inc. In this role, he executed creative Internet marketing strategies and was responsible for online project management.
Mr. Fritsch holds a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and resides in Munroe Falls. He currently serves as President of the Greater Akron Alumni Chapter of Sigma Chi
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