February 22, 2024: Chapter Meeting

Keynote Presentation

TOPIC: Matt Kaulig’s Rise to Success
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Matt Kaulig, Owner of Kaulig Companies, Kaulig Racing, Inc., and Chairman of Kaulig Capital, Inc.

 

 

Matt Kaulig is the Executive Chairman of the Kaulig Companies Limited, his single member family office. Matt is a proven entrepreneur and philanthropist as defined by his founding of Leaf Home™, one of the largest direct to consumer home products companies in the United States and Canada. Leaf Home™ owns brands such as LeafFilter® Gutter Protection, Leaf Home Safety Solutions™, and Leaf Home Water Solutions™. Leaf Home Safety Solutions™ is one of the nation’s leading fully integrated “aging in place” consumer product providers which includes walk-in bathtubs, wheelchair ramps, stair lifts and handrails. Leaf Home Water Solutions™ provides a custom water system for your home, delivering crisp, pure water right from the tap.

Matt’s family office, the Kaulig Companies Limited owns and operates brands in five different verticals which includes Sports and Entertainment, Marketing and Event Management, Finance and Financial Services, Consumer Products and Philanthropy.

Several notable recent accomplishments include being inducted into the Cleveland Business Hall of Fame in 2022, joining the Cleveland Guardians Ownership in 2022, being named the Presenting Sponsor for the Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club beginning in 2023 through 2026, named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst and Young; opening over 150 LeafFilter® offices; partnering with The NASCAR Foundation to deliver over 8000 Speedy Bears to children in over 50 hospitals coast-to-coast since its inception, being named an Akron Children’s Hospital Champions for Children honoree, 2020 Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award Finalist, an annual award created to recognize the philanthropic efforts of individuals within the NASCAR industry. Hosting the 2022, 2021, 2020 & 2019 Cleveland Guardians Charities Giveathon, earning twenty wins, nine poles, 108 top-5 and 240 top-10 finishes to date, as well as earning seven consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Playoff Bids and two consecutive NXS Regular Season Championships with his NASCAR Team, Kaulig Racing™, Inc; and opening the first of its kind video production and editing studio, The Kaulig Media Lab, located in the “I Promise School.” The I Promise School was recently founded by the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. To date, Matt’s charitable giving programs have provided philanthropic support to more than two hundred 501(c)3 organizations.

Born in Columbus, Ohio and raised in Cincinnati, Matt moved to the Chicago area at age 14 where he attended high school and became a nationally recognized quarterback. Matt came back to Ohio to attend the University of Akron where he was recruited by Gerry Faust to be the quarterback of the University of Akron’s Division 1 Football Program in the early 1990’s. During his time at the University of Akron, Matt met his wife, Lisa, who was a cheerleader for the University of Akron Football Cheerleading Program. Upon graduation, Matt and Lisa decided to establish their roots in northeastern Ohio where he founded LeafFilter® Gutter Protection in 2005 from the basement of their home.

Matt graduated with his business degree from the University of Akron in 1996 and started in business immediately after his graduation. Matt is a member of numerous Boards for both businesses and charities. Matt and his wife Lisa have one daughter and currently reside in Hudson, Ohio where they remain heavily involved in the community.

 

Professional Development Session Presented by:

 

Plante Moran

 

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION

Town Tavern
125 Montrose West Ave.
Copley, Ohio 44321

DATE / TIME: Thursday, February 22, 2024

4:00 – 4:45PM Registration, Open Bar and Networking
4:45 – 5:45PM Technical Presentation by Plante Moran
5:45 – 6:00PM Food and Drink Break
6:00 – 7:00PM Keynote Presentation
7:00 – 7:30PM Networking Reception

(schedule subject to change)

 

PARKING

Parking is available in the restaurant parking lot.

 

REGISTRATION

  • Pre-registration is requested prior to noon on 2/21/2024
    Walk-in reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis only.
  • No charge for FEI Members with pre-paid chapter dues
  • No charge for Strategic Partners
  • $50/per person for non-members

 

January 16, 2024: Chapter Meeting

 

Keynote Presentation

TOPIC: Generative AI and Cybersecurity
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Chris Prewitt, CTO/CIO, Inversion6

 

Over the past 20+ years, Chris has acquired extensive experience in end-to-end planning and execution of robust, large-scale security, privacy, compliance, and risk management systems/solutions in Fortune 500 and 1000 environments, supported by strong customer service and technical issue resolution. He excels in designing and optimizing cutting-edge enterprise security systems and data center architectures.

Accomplishments:

★ Developed a global security program at AmTrust and built a global security team focused on the implementation of the security strategy while cultivating relationships with FS-ISAC, NEOCC, and others to support the threat intelligence program.

★ Oversaw the sales support function, improved structured contracts, optimized service offerings, and delivered client engagement support at TrustedSec while providing engagement activity support for Fortune 500 clients.

★ Created a Charter and a three-year Global IT Strategy, including policy and program management/development at Lincoln Electric while transforming the security office from reactive to proactive, providing greater organizational visibility into threats and risk.

★ Architected and administered a $3M Disaster Recovery Re-Architecture to reduce RPO/RTO at Lincoln Electric while redesigning the data center leveraging data center standards to decrease power and cooling needs.

★ Built an IT Security maturity model to examine strengths and weaknesses based on ISO 27002 control areas at Lincoln Electric while establishing an improvement roadmap for IT security improvements and investment.

At this present time, he is excited to share his expertise as an award-winning cross-functional leader with a track record of managing budgets of up to $5M and teams of up to 25 direct reports in crafting and delivering tailored, transformational client solutions (with a focus on educating and upskilling technical teams).

 

Professional Development Session Presented by:

 

Presenter: Christopher Flesher, Director, Cleveland Office, Protiviti

Chris brings over two decades of leadership experience in guiding organizations to meet regulatory standards such as NIST, PCI, HIPAA, and GLBA. He has directed teams in the development of comprehensive information security programs encompassing Data Loss Prevention, Cloud Security, and Governance, as well as Policy and Compliance Frameworks. With a proven track record in both large-scale and niche project management, Chris contributes extensive delivery expertise to every client engagement. He contributed to a pioneering team that formulated a security architecture for an e-commerce client, which led to the issuance of three U.S. patents. Throughout his professional journey, Chris has also dedicated himself to mentoring consultants and has generously donated his expertise to various social causes, including Junior Achievement, domestic violence shelters for women, and initiatives aimed at equipping refugees in America with new skills.

 

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION
Sibling Revelry Brewery
29305 Clemens Rd.
Westlake, OH 44145

DATE / TIME: Tuesday, January 16, 2024

4:00 – 4:45PM Registration, Open Bar and Networking

4:45 – 5:45PM Technical Presentation

5:45- 6:00PM Food and Drink Break

6:00 – 7:00PM Keynote Presentation

7:00 – 7:30PM Networking Reception

(schedule subject to change)

 

PARKING

Parking is available in the Sibling Revelry Brewery parking lot, as well as adjacent lots

 

REGISTRATION

  • Pre-registration is requested prior to noon on 1/10/2024
    Walk-in reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis only.
  • No charge for FEI Members with pre-paid chapter dues
  • No charge for Strategic Partners
  • $50/per person for non-members

REGISTER HERE

December 12, 2023: Chapter Meeting

Keynote Presentation

TOPIC: Cleveland as a Freshwater Capital
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Debbie Berry

About the speaker:

As Chief of Integrated Development, Ms. Berry is responsible for determining the County’s vision for long-term integrated development, housing, mobility, transportation and public works strategies to invigorate the region.

Ms. Berry previously served as Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) Senior Vice President of Major Projects & Real Estate Development. In this role, she was responsible for driving major civic development initiatives throughout the region, including the lakefront, riverfront, and downtown redevelopment. Prior to her time at GCP, Ms. Berry served as Vice President of Community Development for University Circle Inc. She also served as the Lakefront Plan Manager for the City of Cleveland, where she lead the development and implementation of the Waterfront District Plan.

Ms. Berry holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a registered professional engineer in Ohio.  She serves on numerous non-profit boards and commissions.

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION
Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar
1000 E 9th St.
Cleveland, OH 44114

DATE / TIME: Tuesday, December 12, 2023

4:00 – 4:30 PM Registration and Networking

4:30- 5:45 PM Food, Open Bar and Networking

5:45 – 6:00 PM FEI Northeast Ohio Chapter Update

6:00 – 7:00 PM Keynote Presentation

7:00 – 7:30 PM Networking Reception

(schedule subject to change)

PARKING
Parking is available on the pier. To pay on site you will need your plate number and cash or CC.

You can access payment on your phone as well via QR code at the pay station, or visiting www.parking.com

REGISTRATION

  • Pre-registration is requested prior to noon on 12/11/2023
    Walk-in reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis only.
  • No charge for FEI Members with pre-paid chapter dues
  • No charge for Strategic Partners
  • $50/per person for non-members

REGISTER HERE

November 15, 2023: Chapter Meeting

Keynote Presentation

TOPIC: Accounting/Finance Hiring Challenges and How the Profession Can Attract More Students
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Barbara Benton, VP of Government Relations, The Ohio Society of CPA’s

 

 

Barbara Benton is a veteran lobbyist and association leader who has successfully advocated for the interests of Ohio’s CPAs for over three decades.

In that role, she leads OSCPA’s lobbying efforts at the state and national levels, including managing The Ohio Society’s political action committee.  She represents OSCPA on various coalitions and committees related to priorities of OSCPA and its members, and monitors and analyzes legislative, political and regulatory developments affecting the CPA profession to keep OSCPA members and stakeholders informed.

Barbara is a Certified Association Executive, a past president of the Ohio Lobbying Association (OLA), a recipient of OLA’s President’s Award for contributions to the lobbying profession, and the 2019 recipient of the American Society of Association Executive’s national Professional Performance Award.

Passionate about mentoring young government relations professionals and supporting her community, she has served in leadership roles on several local and statewide boards.  She enjoys traveling, reading, hiking and spending time with her husband, Jeff, and their family.

 

View Barbara’s Presentation Here!

 

 

 

October 17, 2023: Chapter Meeting

Keynote Presentation

TOPIC: Edwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute, “A More Powerful Yes”
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Brandon Chrostowski

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Founder, President and CEO of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, Brandon Edwin Chrostowski, is known for impacting culinary and hospitality training both in and out of the nation’s prisons while preserving French cooking traditions.

His mission-driven effort to train and hire former prison inmates at his flagship French restaurant and nonprofit has created a national model for re-entry and an educational pipeline for the formerly incarcerated to learn the discipline and skill of fine dining.

With a one percent recidivism rate, his impactful social program provides more than 100 formerly incarcerated adults with free culinary and hospitality arts training each year.

Since founding EDWINS in 2007, Chrostowski has reinforced his mission by creating the EDWINS Second Chance Life Skills Center; a campus that includes housing, a library, fitness center, kids park and garden as well as providing other wraparound services for his students. Opening late spring, the latest addition to campus is the EDWINS Family Center, which will provides free daycare to EDWINS students during class and service. EDWINS offers a virtual curriculum to more than 400,000 inmates at prisons across the country, and on-site programs at Grafton Correctional Institute and Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center.

Chrostowski’s culinary footprint has also expanded with the opening of Edwins Too, a restaurant and culinary incubator, EDWINS Butcher Shop, and EDWINS Bakery and Diner. All establishments offer deliciously affordable dining opportunities to the Cleveland community and provide careers for EDWINS graduates who want to remain under the EDWINS umbrella.

A classically trained chef and sommelier, Chrostowski honed his skills at fine dining establishments in Paris, New York, and Chicago, including Lucas Carton, Chanterelle, Picholine, Le Cirque and Charlie Trotter’s.

Recognition of his culinary efforts include 2023 James Beard Finalist; IFMA’s 2020 Silver Plate, CNN 2016 Heroes, Crain’s “40 under 40” Awards; The Richard C. Cornuelle Award from the Manhattan Institute for Social Entrepreneurship. Chrostowski was also the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary Knife Skills – a short film following the opening of EDWINS.

Chrostowski has earned a Bachelor of Business and Restaurant Management and an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts from The Culinary Institute of America.

He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Catana and their children, Leo, Lilly, and Lynx.

 

Thank you for joining us October 17th!