May 12, 2026 – Chapter Meeting

Program Details

Keynote Presentation: Details Coming Soon!

Presented by John Skrtic, Chief of Special Projects and Collections at Cleveland Public Library, and Mike Polk Jr., Comedian and TV commentator

About the Speakers:

John Skrtic is a figure known for his historical presentations at the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland, often in collaboration with Mike Polk Jr. He is a local history enthusiast, particularly focused on Cleveland’s photographic past, and is described as “the Dean of The People’s University” at Cleveland Public Library,according to Facebook. Skrtic and Polk Jr. present shows at the Music Box Supper Club that delve into Cleveland’s history, often using historical photos and nostalgic advertisements.

Specifically, they have a show titled “Twisted Takes on Historic CLE Photos,” which explores various aspects of Cleveland’s past, including the infamous Balloonfest ’86.The shows are described as hilarious and entertaining, combining Polk Jr.’s humor with Skrtic’s historical knowledge.

Skrtic’s involvement with the Music Box Supper Club and his collaboration with Mike Polk Jr. highlight his role as a local historian and presenter who brings Cleveland’s past to life through engaging and often humorous shows.

https://cpl.org/

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION:
Nuevo Modern Mexican
1000 East 9th Street, Cleveland, OH 44114

DATE / TIME:
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
4:30-7:30pm

REGISTRATION:
FEI Members/Strategic Partners: free of charge
Guests: $50.00

REGISTER HERE

April 21, 2026 – Chapter Meeting

Program Details

Keynote Presentation: “The Davey Tree Expert Company – History, Employee Ownership, and the Future”

Presented by Joseph R. Paul, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of The Davey Tree Expert Company

About the Speaker:

Joe is an accomplished finance executive with more than 40 years of experience spanning public accounting, industry, and service-based organizations. As Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of The Davey Tree Expert Company, the leading provider of horticultural services throughout the United States and Canada and the ninth largest employee-owned company in the U.S., Joe provides strategic financial leadership and operational oversight in support of long-term growth and sustainability.

Throughout his career, Joe has held senior leadership roles with responsibility for accounting, finance, banking relationships, treasury operations, risk management, tax strategy, and information technology. This broad functional expertise has enabled him to align financial discipline with business strategy, strengthen internal controls, and support informed decision-making across the organization.

During the past 20 years, Joe has been instrumental in driving Davey Tree’s successful growth, contributing to financial stability, scalability, and continued value creation for employee-owners. Known for a collaborative leadership style and deep technical knowledge, Joe is committed to fostering a strong financial foundation that supports both operational excellence and long-term strategic objectives.

https://www.davey.com/

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION:
The Davey Tree Expert Company
SEED Campus
6700 OH-43, Kent, OH 44240

DATE / TIME:
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
4:30-7:30pm

REGISTRATION:
FEI Members/Strategic Partners: free of charge
Guests: $50.00

REGISTER HERE

April 8, 2026 – Cavs Game + CPE w/ IIA

Joint meeting with FEI NEO and the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA)

Cleveland Cavaliers on the Forbes NBA Team Valuations List

Join FEI Northeast Ohio and the Northeast Ohio Chapter of IIA for a fun day of training, networking and NBA basketball as the Cavs face the Atlanta Hawks.

RSVP HERE

All registrations will receive a follow up email with directions to purchase game tickets.


DATE AND SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
1:45pm-5:15pm – Program
5:15pm-7:00pm – Dinner & Networking
7:00pm – Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets

Detailed Schedule – Coming Soon!

LOCATION

Rocket Arena
1 Center Court, Cleveland, OH 44115
Enter through the Cleveland Cliffs Entrance located on the corner of East 6th and Huron Rd.

PARKING

Parking is pay on your own for this event and suggested parking can be found here.

REGISTRATION FEES & INFORMATION – Pricing Details Coming Soon!

 

RSVP HERE

March 19, 2026 – Chapter Meeting

Program Details

Keynote Presentation: “Unlocking Northeast Ohio’s Potential: Advancing business growth and opportunity across the 14-county region”

Presented by Matt Dolan, Chief Executive Officer of Team NEO

About the Speaker:

As Chief Executive Officer of Team NEO, Matt Dolan leads efforts to drive economic growth and prosperity across Northeast Ohio. With experience spanning law, business, and government, he focuses on strengthening the region’s economic competitiveness through business attraction and retention, supply chain development, innovation, site preparedness, and positioning Northeast Ohio as a premier destination for investment.

Prior to Team NEO, Matt served in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio State Senate, chairing the Finance Committee in both chambers. He oversaw billions in state budget decisions and played a key role in shaping economic development tools used by JobsOhio and Team NEO to attract and expand businesses and create jobs statewide.

Matt is a partner at Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, LPA, where he has advised businesses and municipalities on economic development, land use, and regulatory matters. A Northeast Ohio native, he holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a B.A. in History from Boston College.

https://northeastohioregion.com/

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION:
Tiffany Glass Space
Tiffany Glass Building – City Side Room
850 Euclid Ave, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH 44114

DATE / TIME:
Thursday, March 19, 2026
4:30-7:30pm

REGISTRATION:
FEI Members/Strategic Partners: free of charge
Guests: $50.00

REGISTER HERE

February 24, 2026 – Chapter Meeting

Program Details

Keynote Presentation- Lessons From the Trail: A Seasoned M & A Attorney’s Observations

Presented by Ben Calkins, Founder and Manager of Calkins Law Firm. Drawing from years of experience across complex transactions, this talk explores the real-world lessons, judgment calls, and behind-the-scenes realities that shape successful M&A deals.

About the Speaker: For decades, Ben Calkins worked at some of the world’s largest and most prestigious law firms. He saw firsthand how the “big law” model, with its crushing overhead and focus on billable hours, often failed the very clients it was meant to serve. He knew there had to be a better way to practice law—a way that was simpler, faster, and more cost-effective.

As a lifelong entrepreneur and small business owner himself—from running a sheep farm to founding High Meadow Skin Care—Ben understands the challenges and pressures that business owners face every day. He founded Calkins Law Firm on a simple premise: to provide the elite expertise of a large downtown firm but with the practical, no-nonsense approach of a fellow business owner.

This firm was built to be different by leveraging technology and a modern, streamlined model to deliver sophisticated legal advice efficiently, always guided by Ben’s career-long commitment to one simple rule: do what you say you will, when you say you will, and for the agreed-upon price.

https://calkinslawfirm.com/

Event Details/Registration

LOCATION:
Tiffany Glass Space
Tiffany Glass Building – City Side Room
850 Euclid Ave, Suite 200, Cleveland, OH 44114

DATE / TIME:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
4:30-7:30pm

REGISTRATION:
FEI Members/Strategic Partners: free of charge
Guests: $50.00

REGISTER HERE