ACG Cleveland: How Our Economic Development System Impacts Northeast Ohio's Deal Pipeline

Accomplished senior corporate financier with over ten years of capital markets and global transaction experiences. I have completed over 100 transactions for real estate and industrial companies accounting for an aggregate deal volume of ~$51 billion. An analytically driven and ideas-oriented approach to decision-making, along with my passion for finance and professional experiences uniquely positions me to pursue a career in the financial services and real estate industry.

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.

Stephen MacKenzie is the President and CEO of the Stark Economic Development Board and Strengthening Stark, responsible for advancing economic development to grow and sustain prosperity in Stark County, Ohio. 

He has spent 30 years in economic development organizations in Nova Scotia, Connecticut, Ontario and now Stark County. Prior to joining the SEDB he held the position of President & CEO of Invest WindsorEssex; a full-service economic development corporation serving Windsor and Essex County Ontario. In the seven and a half years under his leadership the IWE team completed fifty-eight (58) FDI projects generating investment of $5.5 billion and 5,424 jobs. The Business Retention and Expansion program generated an additional $3.1 billion and 4,419 jobs while the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center generated $4.9 million in investment and facilitated the creation of 3,696 jobs.

Previously he served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region and held the position of Senior Vice President of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center. Before joining CERC, he was the Director, Economic Development in Stamford Connecticut. In Halifax, Stephen was a Senior Executive Major Projects for the Nova Scotia Department of Economic Development's Investment and Trade Division.

Previously he spent four years with the TD Bank and later served in sales and marketing functions at different organizations in both Canada and Belgium.
 

Stephen has been a part-time lecturer at European University and Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.

He received a Bachelor’s degree in commerce from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, completed his MBA at European University in Belgium, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He is a member of the International Advisory Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and a Board member for the Canada-United States Business Association (CUSBA).

Steve Millard is President & CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, serving Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. Steve's work is focused on reducing the friction that exists between our region’s companies desire to invest and grow in Greater Akron and their ability to do so.
Prior to joining the Chamber in 2018, Steve spent more than 20 years leading in various roles in economic development including President and Executive Director of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and Executive Vice President of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Previously, he spent time at both GE Medical Systems (now GE Health Care) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in supply chain operations and strategy consulting roles.
Professionally, Steve is a Certified Chamber Executive and has been recognized in a variety of ways for community leadership, Board service and professional contributions. He holds a B.S. in Finance, a B.S. in Transportation and Distribution Management from Syracuse University, and an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University. Steve currently serves on several boards including Leadership Akron Summit Education Initiative, TeamNEO, ConxusNEO, Business Volunteers Unlimited, Downtown Akron Partnership, Downtown Akron Development Corporation and Medical Service Company

Baiju R. Shah is the President & CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s leading economic development organization and with over 12,000 members, the largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation. Guided by a board of corporate and entrepreneurial CEOs, the organization focuses on accelerating growth and inclusive prosperity through strategic initiatives, business services, real estate development, and advocacy.

Prior to GCP, Shah served as the Senior Fellow for Innovation at The Cleveland Foundation, a community foundation with assets of $2.8 billion. His work centered on catalyzing economic growth initiatives including leading the Cleveland Innovation Project. Shah remains a member of the Impact Investing Committee which directs a $150 million portfolio allocation.

Previously, Shah was the CEO of BioMotiv and co-leader of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a national drug development initiative. During his tenure, the company established strategic partnerships with Takeda, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, he was CEO and co-founder of BioEnterprise, an accelerator and industry growth initiative formed with Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and University Hospitals of Cleveland.

Shah serves as a Trustee of Destination Cleveland, Global Cleveland, Ohio Excels, and the Ohio Business Roundtable. Shah previously served as a Director of Invacare (IVC) and Athersys (ATHX) and on the Advisory Board of Citizens Financial Group (CFG), and as a Senior Advisor to FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute. He began his business career with McKinsey & Company. 

Shah has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognized as one of Cleveland’s most influential leaders. He received a JD from Harvard Law School and a BA from Yale University.