Team NEO’s Board of Directors appoints two new members
Team NEO Board of Directors appoints Dr. Beverly Warren, President of Kent State University, and Dana A. Saucier, Jr., Managing Director of JobsOhio.
Team NEO’s Board oversees the economic development organization and is responsible for leading the implementation of Northeast Ohio’s Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy (RECS), which was created by business and philanthropic leaders to guide the region’s growth.
“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Warren and Mr. Saucier to our Board,” said Team NEO CEO, Bill Koehler. “As we work to grow and strengthen the economy of our 18-county region, these individuals add unique perspectives and experiences that will be valuable as we strive to meet the goals set by RECS. I look forward to working with both of them as we, along with the rest of our Board and our many economic development partners, address the region’s challenges and opportunities.”
Team NEO’s Board of Directors consists of regional leaders from the business, philanthropic and higher education communities. The Board was reconstituted in 2015 to better align with the strategies put forth by RECS. Dr. Warren and Mr. Saucier will join a strong group of leaders, each with an invested interest in growing Northeast Ohio’s economy.
“We are grateful to have the support of these two influential leaders,” said Chairman of Team NEO’s Board, Jim Clay. “With their guidance and participation, along with the rest of our Board, I believe we are well-positioned to enact positive change on behalf of our region.”
As one of six JobsOhio Regional Network Partners, Team NEO works closely with JobsOhio to drive job creation and new capital investments in Ohio. Mr. Saucier’s appointment to the Team NEO Board will further strengthen this vital relationship. Kent State University, a globally recognized institution of higher learning, serves as a valued partner to Team NEO, collaborating on several initiatives, particularly in the area of flexible electronics and smart materials. With Dr. Warren’s appointment to the Board, Team NEO will continue to deepen its ties to this world-renowned institution.
About Dr. Beverly Warren
Dr. Beverly Warren serves as Kent State University’s President, responsible for overseeing one of the nation’s largest university systems. With more than 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 300+ academic programs and eight campuses, Kent State is an integral piece of the Northeast Ohio community. The university is the largest producer of college graduates in Northeast Ohio and has a worldwide alumni body exceeding 233,000.
Dr. Warren is an internationally respected and widely published scholar in the fields of education and exercise physiology. Her most recent research focused on urban education, including access and success for urban youth, the preparation of teachers for urban environments and coordination of education through P-20 initiatives. She is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the Research Consortium of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Dr. Warren earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Science degree from Southern Illinois University. She holds two doctorates, an Ed.D. in administration of higher education from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in exercise physiology from Auburn University.
About Dana A. Saucier, Jr.
Dana A. Saucier, Jr. is a Managing Director for Shale Energy & Petrochemicals at JobsOhio. In this role, he assists existing and new companies who are looking to expand in Ohio understand and leverage Ohio’s diverse energy markets and infrastructure. Mr. Saucier also assists JobsOhio in its efforts to support Ohio entrepreneurs that are seeking to create, launch, and grow new businesses in the state.
Prior to joining JobsOhio, Mr. Saucier spent over 20 years in the energy industry, including 10 years with Accent Energy, a retail energy company that he co-founded and grew to $350 million in revenues and over 150,000 customers. Before launching Accent, Mr. Saucier spent 11 years at Enron leading various efforts in risk management, long-term origination, retail, and project finance. He is a graduate of the University of Maine, a recipient of the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and an avid pilot for over 20 years.
About Team NEO
Team NEO is an economic development organization focused on creating jobs for Northeast Ohio’s residents. In collaboration with our partners, it leads the region’s business attraction efforts, supports business retention and expansion work as Northeast Ohio’s JobsOhio affiliate, accelerates the impact of innovation in the region, and aligns strategies and resources within the economic development network to maximize its impact. In addition, Team NEO provides tools to assist employers in attracting talent to the region.