Ignite your curiosity. Ignite your future. Ignite the world.
Why this series
The leaders building Cleveland, and the people who will continue to transform it.
The best business leaders in Northeast Ohio are building something real here. The people who will build the next wave are still in the room learning. Building in Cleveland puts those two groups face to face, on purpose, during five nights throughout the year.
For students
Be in the room where it happens.
Direct, unfiltered time with the founders, operators, and investors who built companies. No textbook version. The wins, the scars, and the decisions they would make differently. No cost to attend, every session.
For the business community
Access the talent that can make it happen.
A front-row look at the students who will fill your pipeline, plus an evening alongside the sharpest builders in the region. Come to share what you know. Leave having spotted the people you want to hire.
The Schedule
Five nights. One city. Only with the John Carroll University Entrepreneurship Program.
Each evening runs 5:30–9 PM at the Dolan Science Center Auditorium, John Carroll University. Register for one or come to all five.
Meet Our Series Moderator
Ali Manav
Managing Director of The Manav Group, and Chief Revenue Officer, Business Development Officer and Co-founder of Ziru Labs
Ali is a hands-on, seasoned entrepreneurial executive with over thirty years' global public and private experience in artificial intelligence, deep technology, manufacturing, distribution, real estate, healthcare, consumer goods and services, private equity, and SaaS. He is a proven operational team builder and catalyst with effective communication and management skills, having demonstrated business acumen and organizational skills managing complex projects and objectives. Ali is experienced in sourcing debt and equity capital from angel investors, venture capital, private equity, traditional financing sources, and strategic partners such as a Fortune 20 company. He also has extensive experience negotiating domestic and international contracts, as well as negotiating turn-around situations and implementing cost-cutting and containment measures and streamlining operations to ensure viability and growth moving forward.
KickoffTuesday, September 29, 2026
The Kickoff
Customer-experience pioneer John DiJulius opens the series with the playbook behind Ritz-Carlton, Starbucks, and Lexus.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
John DiJuliusPresident at The DiJulius Group
John is considered the authority on world-class customer experience and the best-selling author of six books on customer and employee experience. He is the president of The DiJulius Group, a consulting firm that works with companies like Starbucks, Alcon, Chick-fil-A, The Ritz-Carlton, Nestle, PwC, Lexus, Schneider Electric, and many more. John also hosts The Customer Service Revolution Podcast. In addition to The DiJulius Group, John is the founder of John Robert's Spa, named one of the Top 20 Salons in America with multiple locations and over 150 employees, and Believe in Dreams, a non-profit that helps make dreams come true for deserving children. John will demonstrate how you can make customer service your single biggest competitive advantage, become the brand customers cannot live without, and make price irrelevant.
Part 1Monday, October 12, 2026
Venture Capital & Private Equity
The investors who decide which Cleveland companies get funded reveal what actually earns the check.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
In addition to his role at Resilience Capital Partners, Steven also serves as the Chairman of Azurite Management LLC, a private investment firm focused on investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies, Co-Chairman of Sheffield United Football Club, an English Football League team, and Chairman of Gammite Ventures, a venture capital firm. As an inventor, Steven has been granted 16 patents by The United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Corrie Menary
Managing Partner at Kirtland Capital Partners
Corrie Menary is the Managing Partner of Kirtland Capital Partners, a Cleveland, Ohio based private equity firm focused on founder and family owned businesses with $1 to $6 million in EBITDA. During Corrie's twenty-plus year tenure with Kirtland, she has supported a number of different portfolio investments and currently manages the firm's investment in Galati Cheese Company and PEScience. Outside of Kirtland, Corrie is the incoming President for the Association for Corporate Growth, Cleveland Chapter, and serves on the Finance Committee for the Western Reserve Historical Society.
Mark Filippell
Managing Director at Citizens Capital Markets, M&A Advisory
He brings 46 years of investment banking and financial advisory experience during which he has personally completed over 140 merger and acquisition transactions. These M&A transactions, the preponderance of which were manufacturing and capital equipment concerns, total over $11 billion in aggregate value. Prior to co-founding Western Reserve Partners in 2004, which was acquired by Citizens Bank in 2017, Mark headed the M&A Departments at KeyBanc Capital Markets and McDonald Investments Inc. Prior to that, Mark led McDonald's Bankruptcy and Distressed Business practice. Prior to joining McDonald, Mark was Assistant to the General Manager of Comau Spa in Torino, Italy, Europe's second largest leading factory automation company, then owned jointly by FIAT and Bendix. Prior to Comau, he was an Associate with McKinsey & Company where he specialized on capital goods and industrial marketing.
David Sylvan
Chief Strategy, Innovation & Marketing Officer at University Hospitals
David Sylvan is Chief Strategy, Innovation & Marketing Officer of University Hospitals, a comprehensive health system with annual revenues of almost $8 billion, 21 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices located throughout 16 counties. He was also President of UH Ventures, the innovation and commercialization arm of University Hospitals, from 2020 to October 2025. As Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Mr. Sylvan's responsibilities span core operations, industry partnerships, technology transfer, commercialization, investments, business development and strategic initiatives. As Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Sylvan partners with other leaders within University Hospitals to ensure that Marketing is aligned with the system's strategic plan and operational priorities.
Dominic Brault
Managing Director of Kaulig Capital
Dominic Brault is the Managing Director of Kaulig Capital, the direct private investing arm of the Kaulig Companies. He joined Kaulig Capital in early 2017 at the onset of the family office. Dominic has more than 15 years of professional and leadership experience in the financial services sector. At Kaulig, he is responsible for all of the alternative investments, and he is actively involved in the Board and Management Committees of Kaulig Capital's investments, such as Foundation Wellness, Sill, and Phillips Syrup & Sauces. He also serves on the Board of Hockey Players in Business. Prior to Kaulig Capital, Dominic was a Principal at HTV Industries, Inc., a Northeast Ohio-based private investment holding company, and a Managing Director at Carleton McKenna & Company, a boutique investment bank, where he advised middle-market companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, fairness opinions, and other strategic advisory engagements. From 2005 to 2011, Dominic was with Stout Risius Ross, Inc., providing financial advisory services to public and private companies on complex finance and accounting matters. He began his career as an equity research analyst and was one of the original eight founding members of Longbow Research, an independent institutional equity research firm. Dominic is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University.
Part 2Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Hospitality
Cleveland's most celebrated restaurateurs on building places, and teams, people come back for.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
Bobby Rutter is the Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of Forward Hospitality, one of the nation's leading experiential hospitality companies. Since co-founding the company in 2014, Bobby has helped build a portfolio of destination restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues recognized for creating unforgettable guest experiences and distinctive brands. As COO, Bobby leads the company's operations, strategic growth, leadership development, organizational design, and systems implementation. His philosophy is that exceptional hospitality is never created by systems alone; it is built by exceptional people who share a common purpose and culture, guided by Forward Hospitality's four core values: a great work ethic, positive energy, creativity, and a team-first attitude. Today, Forward Hospitality owns and operates a growing portfolio of hospitality concepts, including Good Night John Boy, Welcome to the Farm, Shiso, Trailer Daddy, Hi-Five, and My Rich Uncle, with venues across multiple states and continued expansion into new markets.
Laurie Torres
President at STP Restaurant Group (Mallorca)
Under her leadership, Mallorca has become the city's most awarded restaurant, earning 28 consecutive years of Silver Spoon awards alongside recognition from Wine Spectator, Zagat, TripAdvisor, and Cleveland.com's Editors' Pick, plus "best of" honors from Scene Magazine, Cleveland Magazine, the Akron Beacon Journal, and the Ohio Hospitality & Restaurant Alliance. This year, after nearly three decades in business, Mallorca was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for hospitality, one of only 20 restaurants recognized nationally. Laurie also serves as Vice Chair of the Ohio Hospitality & Restaurant Alliance, President of Cleveland Independents, and serves on the Advisory Council for Destination Cleveland. Her recognitions include Cleveland Magazine's 2022 "Most Interesting Person," the Ohio Hospitality & Restaurant Alliance's 2021 Board Member of the Year, the Cleveland Business Journal's 2025 "Woman of Influence," and Crain's Cleveland 2026 "Woman of Influence."
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Hospitality Group Founder
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Corporate Hospitality Manager
Part 3Tuesday, January 26, 2027
Entrepreneurial Leadership
The leaders behind some of Northeast Ohio's biggest companies on culture, trust, and leading when it gets hard.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
Joe is the president of Global Cleveland, an economic development agency that works to enhance the competitiveness of local employers by giving them greater access to international talent. With a small but dedicated team, he leads efforts to attract and welcome immigrants and refugees to Greater Cleveland and to connect them to opportunities that will speed their success and enrich the community. A highly regarded civic leader, Cimperman was a member of Cleveland City Council for 18 years, distinguishing himself as champion of diverse peoples and cultures.
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President, Sports Franchise
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CEO, Food Service Giant
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President, Manufacturing Firm
Part 4Wednesday, March 10, 2027
How to Be an Operator
The operators who run Cleveland's most demanding organizations pull back the curtain on how the machine really runs.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
Executive Vice President of Growth, Retirement & Investment Solutions at CBIZ
Mike is the Executive Vice President of Growth for the Retirement & Investment Solutions practice of CBIZ, Inc. He leads a national team of advisors, consultants, and business development professionals. Mike is responsible for leading, developing, and executing the national sales strategy for retirement plan solutions, including 401(k), 403(b), third party administration, pension, and related fiduciary and advisory services. This role drives revenue growth by managing a high-performing business development team, expanding distribution channels, and building strong relationships with plan sponsors, advisors, and strategic partners.
Jason Therrien
CEO and President at thunder::tech
Jason is a founder, investor, board member and civic volunteer. He has started several businesses since 1997, including thunder::tech, the leading full-service marketing agency for midsize brands. Today, that business serves clients coast to coast with offices around the Great Lakes in Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit and Chicago, specializing in brand strategy, marketing, web development and communications. His experience includes creating integrated marketing strategies for clients ranging from Six Flags, Life Fitness, USA Track and Field, Parker Hannifin and many more. thunder::tech has been named to the Inc. Magazine 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in America five times, and Therrien has been recognized multiple times in Crain's Cleveland Business 150 names to know. He has been quoted in USA Today, AdAge, Time, Crain's and other outlets on marketing topics. Therrien is a corporate board member and investor in several businesses spanning publishing, real estate and transportation, and serves on a number of boards including John Carroll University. Most importantly, he is a husband to his high school sweetheart and proud father of two kids they love to travel with.
