Our Team

Steve Fritsch leads the deployment of Team NEO’s industry strategy, which includes business development, cluster advancement, and network engagement activities that support growth, innovation, resilience, and competitiveness in targeted industry sectors and the integrated supply chains that serve them. In his more than 18 years at Team NEO, he has been a key part of standing up a network ecosystem towards greater collaboration among industry, institution, and economic development partners in advanced manufacturing, sustainable polymers, energy storage, digital transformation, and water innovation across the 14-county Northeast Ohio Region.

Prior to this role, Steve was Vice President of Marketing and Engagement, leading an inclusive initiative to positively and uniquely position Team NEO and the region, including the Northeast Ohio Region brand currently being utilized by partners throughout the region. He currently leads Northeast Ohio’s Smart Manufacturing Cluster, bringing a sector approach and a network system orientation to his work by engaging partners and stakeholders early, leveraging each’s unique capabilities to lift the collective effort. He is a strategic relator, able to connect and unite to achieve greater impact. Through his teams’ efforts, Team NEO’s Smart Manufacturing Cluster and Industry Advancement Council have emerged as a venue for company leaders to share insights, build alignment, drive performance, and advance inclusion. 

Steve currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and Engage! Cleveland. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Ohio Economic Development Association and the Industrial Asset Management Council Demographics Committee. Steve graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences. He is actively involved in the United Methodist Church of Kent and resides with his family in Hudson, Ohio.

As the Managing Director of Global Business Development, Mindy is focused on the recruitment of new business investment to Northeast Ohio, with a dedicated focus on international businesses.

McLaughlin joined Team NEO from JobsOhio where she served as Senior Manager, Global Sales Operations. Previously, she served as Director of Scheduling in the Office of the Governor, as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, and as Associate Director at The White House.

McLaughlin is a graduate of Ashland University with a degree in Political Science with minors in Economics and French.

As Managing Director of Regional Business Growth, Sylvio Mecone sets the strategy and leads the team that supports the expansion of existing businesses across Northeast Ohio—advancing job creation, capital investment, and long-term economic vibrancy. 

His team partners with business and regional leaders to identify high-impact growth opportunities and align companies with the resources required to scale and compete. 

Sylvio joined Team NEO in 2011 and has served in cross-functional roles spanning research, project management, and business development, building a deep understanding of the drivers of business growth and investment. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies and a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University and is a graduate of the Cleveland Bridge Builders program, Class of 2014. 

Director, Business Development

Connect with Mike.

Michael leads Team NEO’s business expansion and attraction efforts with companies in the technology and financial services sectors in Northeast Ohio. In his role, he works collaboratively with business executives and economic development partners to help companies overcome obstacles to growth they are facing and take advantage of resources in the local support ecosystem. He leverages JobsOhio financial and talent programs to incentivize the growth of companies throughout the region.

Prior to his current role at Team NEO, Michael worked on business expansion and tech talent initiatives at Greater Cleveland Partnership, led business attraction efforts at Cleveland Health-Tech Corridor, and was an economic and workforce research analyst at Team NEO.

Michael is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and received a master’s degree in urban planning, design, and development from Cleveland State University.

As Senior Director of Business Development for Team NEO covering the Aerospace & Defense and Military & Federal sectors, Keri engages with companies and federal entities to help them explore growth opportunities and address challenges. Prior to joining Team NEO in June of 2020, Keri served as Economic Development Manager for the City of Beachwood and worked in the City of Hudson’s Community Development department. Keri holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Gannon University and a Master’s degree from Cleveland State University in Urban Planning, Design & Development with a certificate in Economic Development. She served on the Business Advisory Committee for The Employment Collaborative of Cuyahoga County, which places developmentally disabled adults into the workforce and was a member of The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s LeadDiversity class of 2021. Keri is also a Friend of the Garrett Morgan High School of Engineering and Innovation where she shares opportunities with manufacturers to connect with the high school students.

Renee leads Team NEO’s engagement strategy to grow and strengthen a more inclusive coordinated regional economic development network. She utilizes her experience as a 24-year business development and sales expert as she collaborates with elected officials, community agencies, municipalities, nonprofits and small to large for-profit organizations. 

Prior to joining Team NEO, Renee was the Regional Director for the Minority Business Assistance Center at the Urban of Greater Cleveland, a program of the Ohio Development Services Agency, where she led a team of professional business advisors in the development of minority, women, disabled, and veteran owned businesses across eight counties in the state of Ohio. Prior to this she served as the Assistant Director of Diversity & Corporate Relations at Case Western Reserve University. 

The cornerstone of Renee’s career started in the financial services industry where she was Vice President, Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank.  During her 8-year career with JP Morgan Chase, she managed the financial portfolios for commercial sector nonprofit and municipal clients.   

Her notable and numerous boards of director appointments have included, COMPACT, UNCF of Orlando, and the Citrus Club’s Women’s Executive Exchange.  She is currently a member and class officer for Leadership Cleveland Class of 2020.  

Renee holds a B.A. in Communications from John Carroll University and a M.S in Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University. 

Christine Nelson leads Projects and Sites at Team NEO, and believes in the unlimited potential of Northeast Ohio.  Her group works with over 300 companies annually to assist with growth and job creation.  Ms. Nelson brings over 20 years of economic and community development expertise at the city, county and regional levels. She joined Team NEO in 2008, most recently served as vice president, business attraction and aided in the attraction of over 40 companies to the region.

A graduate of Hiram College, Ms. Nelson also received a Master 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 is the President of the Board of Trustees for the Greater Cleveland Community Improvement Corporation and serves as the Vice-Chair of Arts Cleveland. She resides in Lakewood with her husband and twin sons.

As Managing Director of Project Management, Walt leads Team NEO’s project management group which is focused on growing jobs and investments across our 18 county region.

Walt brings 17 years of economic development experience from the Youngstown/ Warren Regional Chamber, most recently as vice president, economic development, business retention and expansion. He was instrumental in leading local development efforts there from 2004 – 2011 that resulted in 156 projects with almost $2 billion in new investment, 9,200 new jobs and 15,600 retained/maintained positions. Prior to that, Walt worked for the Cafaro Company, one of the nation’s most prominent and successful retail real-estate developers.

Walt is a graduate of Youngstown State University, former vice president and board member of the Ohio Economic Development Association, board member of CASTLO Community Improvement Corporation, president of the Mahoning County Community Improvement Corporation and liaison to the Western Reserve Port Authority.

Camille Billups, Managing Director, leads Team NEO’s site strategy work—developing and executing initiatives to identify, position, and advance commercial and industrial properties that align with market demand. Her work strengthens the region’s pipeline of competitive sites and supports faster, more successful project outcomes. 

Camille is also responsible for closing large, complex projects that lead to the attraction of domestic and international companies to Northeast Ohio. She manages client relationships and executes projects by connecting prospective businesses with a variety of financial and non-financial resources.  In addition, Camille leads Team NEO’s professional service engagement strategy. She works with firms and demonstrates the value the economic development network can bring to their clients.

Camille joined Team NEO with 8 years of deal execution experience in investment banking. While at Bank One (now JPMorgan Chase) and Societe Generale, she structured and helped to sell over $600M in Asset Backed Securitization bonds in a variety of industries.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Management from Albion College and a Master of Public Administration degree from Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Camille is civically engaged with a focus on helping children.

As a seasoned economic development professional, Shawn Starlin serves as Team NEO’s Senior Director of Project Management and Site Selection. In coordination with JobsOhio and community partners, Shawn assists companies seeking to locate and expand in Northeast Ohio with the goal of facilitating and supporting job creation and capital investment throughout the region.

Prior to joining Team NEO, Shawn spent six years with the Wayne Economic Development Council where he assisted in projects totaling more than one billion in capital investment, adding 4,600 new jobs to the region. Shawn also served as the first Executive Director of the Holmes County Economic Development Council.

Shawn holds his bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Stephen works closely with local economic development partners to attract and retain businesses in Northeast Ohio, resulting in job creation and an increase in capital investment. He provides insight into the business case for growing in the Northeast Ohio Region and recommends solutions to help drive investment decisions and location options.

Most recently Stephen served as Program Officer, Workforce & Social Investments for the Cleveland Foundation where he helped develop strategies for its $150 million social impact investment initiative and oversaw an annual $5 million grantmaking budget supporting grantee partners across the workforce development, entrepreneurship, innovation landscape as well as investing in urban, semi-rural and rural geographies.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration Degree in System Management from Baldwin Wallace University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Ecology from The Ohio State University. Stephen is civically engaged through various volunteer roles. He resides in Mayfield Heights with his wife and 2 children.    

As a Project Manager, Erika Roitblat works with companies, JobsOhio and partners to facilitate the project and site selection process for investment, job growth and job creation in Northeast Ohio.

Most recently, Erika was a Graduate Assistant for Education Abroad at Cleveland State University Center for International Services and Programs. She also was University Relations Coordinator for Eastern Midwest at CISabroad (Center for International Studies). Erika holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Ohio University and a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University.

Katie Meehan is a Cleveland native committed to driving impactful and sustainable growth across Northeast Ohio. As the Manager of Site Strategies at Team NEO, she collaborates with JobsOhio and community partners across 14 counties to elevate the competitive quality of sites and buildings throughout the region. Her work, with a focus on site and location analysis, helps to strategically position sites for business expansion and attraction projects that drive job growth and stimulate capital investments, positioning Northeast Ohio as an appealing destination for industry and innovation. 

Before joining Team NEO, Katie contributed to strategic economic and community development initiatives in her role at the Mayor’s Office for the City of Lakewood, bringing valuable government-sector insights to her current work. 

Katie holds a dual degree from Ohio University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies. Her focus on intercultural communication and understanding has shaped her collaborative approach to economic development, further enriching her impact throughout the region. 

With more than 20 years of experience in marketing and public affairs, Mark Owens has held leadership roles across a range of sectors, including retail, insurance, financial services, and nonprofit organizations. As Vice President of Marketing at Team NEO, he leads the organization’s marketing strategy, positioning Cleveland and Northeast Ohio to attract business investment, with a strong focus on international markets such as Ireland.

In March 2023, Mark was appointed by the Government of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs as the first-ever Honorary Consul of Ireland for the State of Ohio. In this role, he supports the development of economic, business, and cultural relationships between Ireland and the region, while also providing consular assistance to Irish citizens. He is part of a global network of approximately 100 Honorary Consuls, including just a dozen across the United States. His consulate office is located in Cleveland’s Playhouse Square district.

He was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to serve on the inaugural Ohio–Ireland Trade Commission, which he now chairs. He serves on the Executive Board of Global Cleveland, where he chairs the Marketing Advisory Committee and co-chairs the Sister Cities Committee, and is also a member of the Irish Network USA National Executive Committee. His community involvement includes leadership roles with the Irishtown Bend Park Project, the Greater Cleveland Mayo Society, and the Cleveland Irish American Archives Society. He also serves on the Screening Committee of the Irish American National Hall of Fame.

Previously, Mark chaired the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Associate Board, served as a board member of Ohio City Incorporated, and was a trustee of the West Side Irish American Club. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Business Advisory Committee at Cuyahoga Community College.

Originally from Derry City, Ireland, Mark moved to Cleveland permanently in 2001 after attending John Carroll University through the Study USA scholarship program. He holds a degree in Production Management from the University of Manchester and earned his Executive MBA from South East Technological University (SETU) in Waterford, Ireland.

Nina Holliday markets the Cleveland Plus region’s collective value to site selectors, real estate consultants and targeted companies to increase awareness of Northeast Ohio’s business assets in order to increase business opportunities for the region. She has more than 15 years of experience in marketing, event planning, and media relations.

Previously, Nina was regional marketing supervisor for Alltel where she managed public relations, events/sponsorships, sports marketing, crisis management, employee communications, community relations and philanthropic giving for a five-state region. Nina was also a senior account executive with Liggett-Stashower, Inc., which at the time was one of the largest communications companies in the Midwest. She worked with clients such as Cole Vision Corp, Forest City Properties and Motorists Insurance.

Nina 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.

As Digital Marketing Associate at Team NEO, Mary Clare supports the organization’s digital marketing and communications efforts to strengthen awareness of Team NEO and Northeast Ohio’s economic opportunities.

In her role, Mary Clare manages digital content across Team NEO’s social media, email, and website platforms, while supporting marketing campaigns, events, and regional initiatives. She works across teams to translate Team NEO’s research, business development efforts, workforce initiatives, and economic development priorities into engaging digital content that connects with partners, businesses, and stakeholders throughout the region.

With experience in social media strategy, email marketing, website management, digital advertising, and content development, Mary Clare brings a creative and data-driven approach to Team NEO’s digital presence. She is passionate about using marketing to tell Northeast Ohio’s story and showcase the people, businesses, and opportunities driving the region forward.

Jacob Duritsky leads strategy, research, and talent for the Northeast Ohio Region’s business development efforts to better serve the information requirements and align strategies among Team NEO’s various partners and communities engaged in targeted and sustainable region-wide economic growth. His primary responsibilities include analyzing the regional economy to provide greater perspective on the challenges and opportunities in Northeast Ohio, developing strategic and coordinated actionable insights to encourage economic growth, and providing a perspective on how the Northeast Ohio economy can better perform. This includes his work in leading Team NEO’s talent strategy and Aligning Opportunities series of reports, the development of the regional Vibrant Economy Index, and regular updates to the community on the evolution and progress of the regional economy with a focus on enabling opportunities for improvement through equity.

Jacob has been with Team NEO since 2008. Previously, Jacob served as an integral part of the organization’s business attraction efforts in leading our national work focused on site selector engagement and the attraction of new companies to the region. He has also led the organization’s proactive renewable energy development efforts. Previously, Jacob has worked for The Center for Public Management, The Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center, and Ohio City Near West Development Corporation.

Jacob holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies from the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He leads Team NEO’s Talent Development Council and is an engaged Board member for the Cuyahoga County Workforce Sector Partnership and the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium Leadership Board. Jacob has been recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as a member of 40 Under 40 and is a past member of the 2012 class of Cleveland Bridge Builders. He is a resident of the Kamm’s Corners neighborhood of Cleveland and is married with two daughters.

As Senior Associate of Research, Natalie provides analytical research and data-driven insights on the regional economy, workforce, and industries to external stakeholders, clients and internal teams at Team NEO. Her work supports business attraction and expansion efforts across northeast Ohio.

Natalie has also led and contributed to several external facing research reports including the Quarterly NEO Pulse Reports, which delivers timely intelligence on the current regional economic conditions through business and project activities.

Prior to Team NEO, Natalie interned and worked in government affairs and policy roles with the European Chamber of Commerce Myanmar, supporting policy research and stakeholder engagement on behalf of European businesses operating in Myanmar. Natalie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Global International Studies with specialization in Economics from the College of Wooster.

As a Manager of Research at Team NEO, Matt supports economic development efforts by translating data into actionable insights on workforce trends, industry performance, site competitiveness, and economic conditions across Northeast Ohio.

Prior to joining Team NEO, Matt worked as a Research Assistant at the Center for Economic Development, where he focused on applied research and economic impact studies for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private industry. He holds a Master of Science in Urban Studies from Levin College of Public Affairs at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bowling Green State University.

Julie Szeltner is Team NEO’s Director of Talent Engagement since February 2022. In this role, Julie develops relationships with the region’s 25+ postsecondary institutions, as well as career centers and workforce development organizations, to better coordinate Northeast Ohio’s talent resources to fill in-demand positions. She is passionate about assisting the residents of the region to improve their families’ lives by accessing and thriving in good jobs at supportive businesses.

Julie spent her previous fifteen years working with youth and adults at College Now Greater Cleveland. She is a proud CSU Viking with a B.A. in History and Teacher Licensure, as well as a University of Akron Zip with an M.S. in Adult Teaching and Training. Julie is a lifelong resident of Cleveland.

Nathasha Cresap is the Regional Talent Manager for Team NEO, the JobsOhio network partner representing 14 counties in Northeast Ohio. Working with the regional economic development organization, she is focusing on closing the talent supply/demand gap in the area and assisting with promoting greater strategies for talent development, especially in business attraction, expansion & retention, and building a more equitable Northeast Ohio. She is the sole representative focused on collaborating with businesses to access JobsOhio training programs to equip staff with necessary skills for their roles.

Previously, Nathasha served as an Economic Development Specialist for the Lorain County Community Development Department focusing on business retention & expansion, diversity, equity & inclusion, transportation needs, and workforce transformation. Her efforts extended as she sat on the working group committee for the 2022 NOACA CEDS and the steering committee to help drive the regional efforts for economic development.

She serves as Chair for the Economic Vitality Committee with Main Street Lorain, and serves on the Elyria Community Partnership board where she also is Chair of the Downtown Development Committee. Nathasha is also on the board for MOVE Lorain County, an organization working to improve the transportation system and accessibility in the County.

Nathasha earned her BS in Criminology from Florida State University and her MPA & MBA from Metropolitan College of New York. Originally from New York City, Nathasha now resides in Maple Heights with her husband and enjoys traveling, sporting events, outdoor activities, cooking & hosting, and quality time with her family.

As a research associate, Zachary conducts data analysis and provides key insights to support Team NEO’s business outreach efforts and strategic initiatives that advance the Vibrant Economy Indicators. He works closely with economic development organizations, government entities, and business clients to help drive regional growth and economic competitiveness in Northeast Ohio. 

A December 2025 graduate of The Ohio State University, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy Analysis. During his tenure at the university, he held several positions that prepared him for his role, including serving as a Research Assistant at the Ohio Education Research Center, a Public Sector Data Science Intern at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and a Fellow at the Franklin County Auditor’s Office. 

Nikki Johnson serves as Investor Relations Manager at Team NEO, where she builds relationships with business leaders, corporate partners, and philanthropic organizations to grow investment and support economic development across Northeast Ohio.

Prior to joining Team NEO, Nicole served as Campaign Development Manager for Light The Night at Blood Cancer United, leading Cleveland’s annual fundraising campaign and building strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors and community leaders. Previously, she was Manager of Development and Public Relations at the Epilepsy Association, where she led fundraising initiatives, expanded donor and sponsor relationships, and exceeded annual fundraising goals.

Nikki holds dual degrees in Communication Advertising and Public Relations from Gannon University, with minors in Business Administration and Marketing. She is passionate about building meaningful partnerships that strengthen communities and create lasting impact throughout Northeast Ohio.

As Vice President for Investor Relations, Dawn is focused on leading Team NEO’s relationship-oriented efforts to elevate support from the business community.

Previously she was chief strategy officer at One Advocate Group in San Antonio. Her most recent posts in Northeast Ohio were vice president of Marketing at The Adcom Group and vice president of Business Development, Sales and Marketing at Goldfarb Weber Creative Studios.

She is a past honoree of Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 and has earned a variety of awards, including the SME Cleveland Distinguished Marketing & Sales Award and SME-International Akron Distinguished Marketing & Sales Award.

Southard earned an MBA at Western Michigan University and a BBA at Davenport University.

Laura is responsible for overseeing the financial and business operations of Team NEO and supports special assignments including the board of directors and emerging talent initiatives.   Previously, Laura was a senior manager at Deloitte where she focused on information systems and internal controls audits and was instrumental in leading regional HIPPA activities for the healthcare industry as well as a national facilitator of Sarbanes-Oxley regulations. Prior to Deloitte, Laura spent 11 years at Ernst & Young, working in the Cleveland, National and London offices where she focused on financial services, manufacturing and health care industries in both Ohio and Michigan. Laura is a Certified Public Accountant. Laura’s not-for-profit board service includes chairwoman of Holy Name High School and the Alumni Board of the Cleveland Animal Protective League as well as a member of the Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union board. Laura also serves on the board of the privately held company, Cleveland Whiskey. Laura is a proud graduate of Kent State University majoring in accounting, computer science and business management. 

Jackie Fairbanks is responsible for Team NEO’s accounting function and supports the VP, Finance and Administration.

For the previous 17 years, Jackie was self-employed as a CPA, specializing in accounting for not-for-profits.  The work included bookkeeping, tax and advisory services.  Prior to that, Jackie spent 10 years at Ernst & Young, working in the Northeast Ohio offices where she focused on auditing not-for-profits, manufacturing companies and benefit plans.

Jackie is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs and the AICPA.