Speakers

---

Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D., has over 35 years of experience in community college leadership roles advancing student success, workforce and economic development, strategic planning, and advancement. Under her leadership and deep commitment to student success, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) recognized LCCC as the 2018 Recipient of the AACC Award for Excellence in Student Success. Achieving the Dream named LCCC as the 2020 Recipient of the Leah Meyer Austin Award (ATD), recertified LCCC’s designation as an ATD Leader College of Distinction in 2022 and 2026, and recognized LCCC as a Leah Meyer Austin Award Alumni Institution in 2024. In 2026, the Aspen Institute advanced LCCC as an Aspen Prize Finalist, one of just 10 community colleges nationwide eligible for the 2027 Aspen Prize – and the first community college in Ohio to achieve finalist status. LCCC was also featured in several case studies showcased in the 2025 book, “More Essential Than Ever: Community College Pathways to Educational and Career Success,” spotlighting LCCC’s approach to fostering student success and
advancing regional economic mobility.

Dr. Ballinger’s strategic foresight established LCCC as the first community college in Ohio to offer applied bachelor’s degrees, offering Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Microelectronic Manufacturing (2018), Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology (2022), and a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) (2026), aligned to high-demand talent areas and state and regional priorities fueling our economy and helping individuals advance up the socioeconomic ladder. Recognized as a leader nationally in workforce and economic development, LCCC was selected as one of five community college case studies featured in the 2023 book by the Harvard University Project on Workforce, “America’s Hidden Economic Engines: How Community Colleges
Can Drive Regional Prosperity.”

Further advancing workforce, talent and economic development, and student success nationally, statewide, and regionally, Dr. Ballinger currently serves on the Board of Directors for Achieving the Dream, Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM), Cleveland Clinic Avon Hospital, also serving as Board chair, Team NEO board, and co-chair for Team NEO’s Talent Development Council, The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC), Fund for the Economic Future, ONE Lorain County, Huntington Bank Advisory Board, NEO-SMART Governing Board and Nord Family Foundation, among others.

Dr. Ballinger is an inaugural member of the Aspen Institute’s Presidential Fellowship. She holds a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from Walden University, an MBA from Kent State University, and a BA in Journalism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She serves as LCCC’s fifth president and previously held positions as Provost, Vice President for Strategic Development, and Vice President of LCCC’s Foundation.

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 a 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 perform better. 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.

Margaret Trimer serves as vice president of strategic partnerships for Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio,
and Indiana, a national leader in dental benefits. In this role, she guides marketing, public relations,
company culture, and investments in initiatives that build healthy, smart, vibrant communities.
Prior to joining Delta Dental in 2018, Trimer served as president and CEO of Junior Achievement of
Southeastern Michigan, a Detroit-based nonprofit that teaches young people how to manage their
money, think, be entrepreneurial and prepare for the world of work.

Trimer also founded and ran University Prep Science and Math (UPSM) schools in Detroit, one of the
highest performing charter school districts in the region.

She directed communications for the Michigan Education Association (MEA), the state’s largest teachers
union for 10 years. There, she advocated and lobbied for resources, support and development for the
association’s 160,000 public school employees.

While at the MEA she started a nonprofit called Your Child, which is credited with revealing Michigan’s
lackluster culture of education and conducting a major public relations campaign designed to spur
improvement.

Trimer started her career as a reporter for the Detroit Free Press and spent six years covering education
issues and trends before leaving the paper in 1995.
She attended Michigan State University’s James Madison College and earned her bachelor’s degree in
urban studies with a minor in economics.

Heidi G. Petz became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sherwin-Williams in January 2024, and in January 2025, she also assumed the role of Chair of the Board. She is the tenth CEO in the company’s 160-year history.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Executive Officer, she served as the Chief Operating Officer from 2022 to 2024. Ms. Petz joined Sherwin-Williams in 2017 following the acquisition of Valspar Corporation, where she held several leadership positions, including President of the Consumer Brands Group and President of the Paint Stores Group.

In addition to her executive roles, Ms. Petz serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Richmond and the Board of Directors of University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland. She is also active with the American Coatings Association and serves on the Policy Advisory Board of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University.

Ms. Petz holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Leadership from the University of Richmond and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Maryland.

Donzell Taylor is a seasoned professional with over 40 years of experience in the building construction industry. He began his distinguished career with Welty Building Company in 1991, initially serving in a project management role. Under the mentorship of Jerry Welty, Don was appointed President and CEO of the company in 1996.

During his tenure as CEO, Don has transformed Welty Building Company into one of the largest construction management and related professional services firms in Northeast Ohio. His leadership and vision have been instrumental in the company’s growth and success.

Mr. Taylor’s mission has always been to create an extraordinary client building experience. To achieve this, Welty has adopted lean construction methods aimed at maximizing customer value and minimizing waste, resulting in millions of dollars in savings for clients. Donzell Taylor’s commitment to excellence and innovation continues to drive Welty Building Company forward, solidifying its reputation as an industry leader.

Panel Discussion

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.

Closing Remarks

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.