NEO Rising 2026 | Agenda & Details

Bridget Linton is a dynamic sports and entertainment host who excels as a live event emcee, on-air TV and radio personality, and spokesperson for both local and national brands. Bridget is best known for her work with the Cleveland Browns. You can catch her on the sidelines and on the big screen during the season, as well as hosting a variety of events with the organization throughout the year.

In addition to her work with the Browns, Bridget serves as a spokesperson and host for CrossCountry Mortgage and collaborates with Visa Inc. and the National Football League as emcee for events nationwide. She also serves as the host of the Kaulig Companies Championship as part of the PGA Tour Champions, further showcasing her versatility across major sporting platforms.

Bridget has had the honor of hosting a wide range of events. From major sporting events and award ceremonies to pageants, corporate experiences, and charity galas. Her ability to connect with any crowd has made her a trusted presence on stages across the country.

Whether she’s on TV, on the radio, on social media, or hosting a live event, you can almost always find Bridget with a microphone in hand. 

Kelly Lamirand serves as Market President for Key’s Cleveland market, and as such is the senior representative and spokesperson leading the organization’s economic and community development efforts for the market.  She also oversees the Northeast Ohio Commercial Banking teams, including the Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown markets.  She leads a group of professionals dedicated to providing expertise and financial solutions to clients whose revenues range from $10 Million to $1 Billion.

Prior to this position, Kelly served as Regional Credit Executive, leading the Great Lakes Credit team in supporting the Middle Market bankers in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan for KeyBank. 

Kelly began her career at KeyCorp in 1998 as a management associate in the credit training program. Throughout her career at Key she has gained lending experience in various roles including portfolio management and underwriting.  Lamirand was named the District Credit Officer in 2012 where she was responsible for the credit function supporting various lines of business in Key’s Corporate and Community Bank. She again expanded her geographic reach in 2015 as a Regional Credit Executive. 

Active in the community, Kelly was named a “Woman of Achievement” by the YWCA in 2025.  She is also a member of the Bluecoats, the Chair of the 2025 Heart and Stroke Ball for the American Heart Association in addition to serving on the Board of Directors at Magnificat High School and Team NEO.  Working to develop and coach young talent at the bank, she also serves as a mentor in KeyBank’s MentorMe Program.  Lamirand was named a “Woman of Note“ by Crain’s Cleveland Business, adding to her “Notable in Finance” and “People to Watch in Finance” appearances in the publication. 

Kelly received her Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Miami University in 1998, with a minor in economics.  She lives in Avon Lake, Ohio with her husband Dean and three sons. 

Russ Balthis is a transition partner at Kutak Rock specializing in all areas of municipal finance, with a focus on economic development.

Previously Russ served as the law director for the city of Cuyahoga Falls, where he provided legal and policy advice to the mayor, city council and all city departments. Russ led the city’s legal representation in multiple significant economic development projects, including the revitalization of Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Portage Crossings and several residential developments.

Russ also served as the Chief of Legal Services for Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and has previous experience advising non-profit organizations.

Patrick Mohorcic serves as Executive Director of the Lake Development Authority, Lake County’s port authority and the economic development arm of the Lake County Commissioners. In this role, he leads strategic initiatives that utilize financing, real estate, and public-private partnership tools to support business growth, job creation, and community investment. The Authority’s work focuses on four core areas: economic development, coastal development, workforce development, and management of the Lake County Executive Airport.

Prior to becoming Executive Director, Patrick served as Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Director for Planning and Development at the Lake Development Authority. He also held roles as Director of Workforce Development for the Lake County Board of Commissioners and Economic Development Manager for the Lake County Ohio Port and Economic Development Authority.

Patrick’s work has earned regional and statewide recognition. He was named one of the “20 in Their 20s” by Crain’s Cleveland Business and received the 2019 Rookie of the Year award from the Ohio Economic Development Association for his contributions to economic development in Lake County.

A lifelong Northeast Ohio resident, Patrick also serves the community as Ward 1 City Councilman for the City of Willowick, where he and his wife Hallie reside. He has served on several nonprofit and professional boards, including the Northeast Ohio Economic Development Exchange, the Ohio Economic Development Association, United Way of Lake County, and the Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

Patrick studied political science and business economics at the College of Wooster and earned his Master of Public Administration in Public Finance from Cleveland State University. He holds the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation from the International Economic Development Council and the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) credential from Grow America.

Brian Dalton is an Irish diplomat and public servant with more than 30 years’ experience across economic, trade, EU and public policy work. He is currently Head of Economic and Trade Affairs at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, DC, where he leads the embassy’s work on US trade, economic and commercial policy, with a particular focus on protecting and advancing Irish interests in a fast-changing policy environment.

Before taking up his current role in Washington, Brian served as Trade Counsellor at Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels, where he represented Ireland in EU trade policy discussions and negotiations. In that role, he worked closely on a wide range of trade, market access and regulatory issues, including the EU’s external trade agenda and Ireland’s engagement on major international trade developments.

Earlier in his career, Brian held a number of senior policy roles in the Irish civil service across enterprise, innovation, competition, consumer policy and EU affairs. His experience includes oversight of research and innovation programmes, work on national competitiveness and enterprise policy, engagement with Government departments and state agencies, and regular briefing of Ministers on a range of policy matters. He also chaired the EU Council Working Group on Technical Harmonisation during Ireland’s 2014 Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

As Co-CEO, Craig Martin leads Adcom’s strategic direction, growth, and client advisory approach, focused on helping organizations evolve how they go to market and drive measurable business impact.

He brings a practical, business-minded perspective to complex marketing challenges, helping organizations align brand, communications, and business strategy and make smarter decisions about how they invest in growth.

Over 25 years with the agency, Craig has partnered with a wide range of B2B and B2C organizations, with deep experience across healthcare, financial services, transportation and logistics, and home and construction industries. He is known for helping clients navigate growth in increasingly dynamic markets.

He holds a B.A. from Baldwin Wallace University and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

A proud Clevelander, Craig is deeply committed to the Northeast Ohio community. He serves on the boards of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio, The Cleveland Foundry, Cleveland Public Library Foundation, and Step Forward, and is a member of Leadership Cleveland’s Class of 2022. He is also an 11-year team captain and steering committee member for VeloSano, supporting cancer research through the Cleveland Clinic.

Outside the office, he enjoys traveling, Cleveland sports, coaching basketball, boating, fly fishing, and spending time with his family.

Marki Huston is the Chief Executive Officer of Viega Inc., a leading manufacturer of plumbing and HVAC solutions. Since joining Viega in 2022, she has rapidly advanced from Vice President of Manufacturing to COO, and in 2024, to CEO. A results-driven and visionary leader, Marki is known for building high-performing teams, a customer focus, driving operational excellence, and cultivating a purpose-driven culture. 

Prior to Viega, Marki’s career was in the aircraft industry where she held multiple senior leadership positions, in operations, quality, and engineering, overseeing global teams and major manufacturing programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Wichita State University and is certified in Six Sigma and Theory of Constraints. 

Rooted in her Kansas upbringing, Marki brings a pragmatic and people-focused approach to leadership, advocating for safe workplaces, career growth, and inclusive culture. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and showing horses at local events. 

Mindy McLaughlin is the Managing Director of Global Business Attraction at Team NEO, the regional economic development organization serving Northeast Ohio, including the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Sandusky, and Mansfield. She leads the region’s international business attraction strategy, oversees foreign and domestic investment missions and lead generation efforts for Northeast Ohio.

Before joining Team NEO, McLaughlin spent over five years at JobsOhio, the state’s privatized economic development agency, where she also focused on international investment. Her earlier public service includes roles with the Office of Ohio Governor John R. Kasich, the U.S. Department of State, and The White House.

Originally from Ontario, Ohio, McLaughlin holds a B.A. in Political Science from Ashland University and currently resides in Cleveland.

Megan Malone is a Partner in the Cleveland office and a leader in the firm’s Manufacturing and Distribution practice. With almost 19 years of experience, Megan advises middle‑market, internationally owned and private‑equity‑backed organizations on complex tax matters, helping executive teams navigate risk while making informed, strategic business decisions.

Megan works closely with manufacturing and service companies addressing sophisticated international and multistate tax challenges, serving as a trusted advisor to ownership groups and senior leadership amid growth, transactions, and operational change. She brings a firmwide perspective to every engagement, ensuring clients have access to the right resources and thought leadership to address an increasingly complex tax landscape.

Megan is recognized for her ability to connect strategy with execution and deliver the consistent, high‑impact service her clients rely on to proactively manage their taxes and support broader business objectives.

Reid is currently the Chief Strategy and Planning Officer at Aer Lingus. His portfolio covers revenue, fleet, network planning, schedule planning, strategy, partnerships and alliances. He has 20 years experience in the airline sector, previously working in multiple finance roles at British Airways prior to joining Aer Lingus in 2016. Aer Lingus and British Airways are part of IAG (International Airlines Group) alongside Iberia, Vueling and Level. He is a qualified chartered accountant and holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Reading.

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 History from Boston College.