Huntington Bank’s Nick Browning and Hunt Imaging’s Michael Stanek bring new insights to the board
Cleveland, Ohio – May 7, 2018 — The board of directors of Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO) has appointed Nick Browning, president of the Akron Region for Huntington National Bank, and Michael E. Stanek, co-owner of Hunt Imaging LLC, to the organization’s board. Browning and Stanek join a group of regional business leaders dedicated to advancing Northeast Ohio’s regional economy.
“Michael and Nick are tremendous additions to the board. Each possesses specialized knowledge and expertise that will enhance Team NEO’s efforts to drive economic growth in the region through coordinated supply chain strategies,” said Team NEO CEO Bill Koehler. “I am delighted to welcome them to our team.”
Team NEO Board Chairman Robert Smith, partner and Cleveland market leader of HPM Partners, added, “We feel fortunate to be bringing these two influential leaders into our organization. Their fresh perspectives and wealth of experience will bolster our ongoing efforts to drive job creation and capital investment here.”
Browning brings the Team NEO Board important experience as a civic leader in the Akron area and an executive in a leading Northeast Ohio bank; while Stanek, an entrepreneur and a small business champion, brings an in-depth understanding of the essential elements of running successful companies.
About Nick Browning
Nick Browning is responsible for coordinating the activities of Retail, Wealth and Commercial Banking for the Akron Region, and has direct responsibility for all aspects of Akron Commercial Banking, for Huntington National Bank. He is also president of the Huntington-Akron Foundation. Nick joined FirstMerit Bank, now part of Huntington National Bank, in 1992, and was named regional president in 2003. Prior to joining FirstMerit, he was a commercial banker with Ameritrust Bank and NCNB, where he began his banking career in 1987.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and marketing from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Kent State University. Current and recent community involvement includes Greater Akron Chamber trustee, Leadership Akron trustee and board chair, Summa Health System trustee, Akron Community Foundation trustee, Sisler McFawn Foundation trustee, Summit Education Initiative trustee and past board president, Downtown Akron Partnership trustee, and past trustee and board president of United Disability Services and Greenleaf Family Center.
About Michael E. Stanek
Michael Stanek is co-owner of Hunt Imaging LLC, a manufacturer of electrostatic toners and developers for use in printers and copiers. Headquartered in Berea, Ohio, Hunt Imaging serves markets worldwide and produces toner for most of the major printer manufacturers.
Along with his wife, Carol, Michael is the founder and co-owner of Cleveland Cycle Tours, an entertainment company that operates group party bikes in the Ohio City, Tremont and downtown neighborhoods of Cleveland. Cleveland Cycle Tour outings are popular for pub crawls, family outings and corporate team building.
Michael’s passion for small business and advocacy shows through his involvement on numerous boards, including being a board member and immediate past chair of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE, Cleveland), board chairman of Group Services, Inc. (Cleveland), board and executive committee member of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), vice chair of membership and trustee of the National Small Business Association (NSBA, Washington, DC), and employer trustee of the Cleveland Bakers and Teamsters Pension Fund and Health & Welfare Fund (Cleveland). He is also a member of the State of Ohio Medical Marijuana Advisory Committee (representing employers), appointed by Gov. John Kasich.
Mr. Stanek previously served three stints as an elected public official, serving as councilman for the city of Avon Lake, 2001-2009; the city of Fairview Park, 1992-1995; and the city of Brandenburg, Kentucky,1984.
Michael was recognized as the 2013 CFO of the Year for small privately held companies by Crain’s Cleveland Business. He holds a BBA degree in accounting from Cleveland State University and an MBA in executive management from Baldwin-Wallace College, where he was recently inducted into the Business Honors Society.
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.
Team NEO is part of the robust Northeast Ohio Economic Development System, providing business decision-makers with access to customized solutions that mitigate risk, foster innovation and accelerate growth through a connected and collaborative ecosystem. For more information, visit clevelandplus.com.