FirstMerit names regional CEOs
Akron-based FirstMerit Corp. named David Janus to lead the company’s Cuyahoga and East Lorain offices as president and CEO of the region.
Bruce Kephart will head the company’s Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula offices.
Within the five-county area, FirstMerit has 38 offices and more than 150,000 customers.
Janus has more than 25 years of financial experienced and has managed small business, middle market and large corporate lending units. Most recently, he was a relationship leader for one of KeyBank’s middle market leading regions. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
Kephart joined FirstMerit in 1995, serving as a regional CEO and president. He has more than 30 years of experience in all facets of business and retail banking. He holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and the Stonier School of Banking.
“This five-county region represents a very important marketplace for FirstMerit, and we will continue to invest in an experienced team of leaders that can further our promise of unfaltering customer service while meeting the needs of owner-managed businesses,” says John R. Cochran, CEO and chairman. “Bruce and David are deeply rooted in each of the respective communities, and have intimate knowledge of their customer needs and business dynamics.”
RPM International Inc.
RPM International Inc. named Matthew T. Ratajczak director of taxes. He is responsible for worldwide tax compliance and will develop the strategic direction and management of RPM’s domestic and international tax issues.
Ratajczak has 14 years of professional tax experience, most recently as director, global tax, with Noveon Inc. Earlier, he worked in the Cleveland office of Ernst & Young LLP.
A certified public accountant, Ratajczak graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University in 1990.
Atlas Steel Products Co.
Atlas Steel Products Co. President Lawrence J. “Bo” Burr was selected as a member of the board of directors of the Metals Service Center Institute, the trade association representing the interests of companies in the metals distribution and processing industry.
Burr says serving on MSCI’s board will provide an opportunity to work with an outstanding group of metal service center leaders who are striving to keep American manufacturing healthy and attuned to today’s and tomorrow’s worldwide competitive challenges.
“Teamwork is an essential ingredient in serving Atlas’ customers, so I am pleased now to have the opportunity to team up with others in our industry so MSCI membership can better serve the needs of the global marketplace,” says Burr.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
James J. Pennetti was appointed director of business retention and expansion for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. He retired in December 2003 from Unizan Bank after 32 years in banking.
Pennetti will lead SYCHRONIST, a key component of the chamber’s “Advantage Canton” economic development program, an effort to focus on retention and expansion of existing, locally established companies. SYCHRONIST is a proprietary computer program consisting of a series of forms and personal interview formats and a database management system that has worked well in several other Ohio cities.
Pennetti is on the board of trustees for YMCA. He is past chairman of the board of United Way of Central Stark County, 1992 campaign chairman, and has served on various United Way committees, including planning and allocations, building, community and volunteer services, planned giving, at-risk agencies and the foundation.
Shearer’s Foods
Shearer’s Foods named Christine Hoffer director of human resources.
Hoffer is responsible for designing and leading the diverse functions related to human resources. She has more than 16 years of experience in the HR field, beginning as an attorney specializing in all aspects of labor and employment law.
She gained practical HR experience working for The Sherwin-Williams Co. as a regional director of human resources, having oversight at nine manufacturing facilities. She was promoted to director of human resources, providing strategic counsel to division and regional managers in all areas of employment relations. Hoffer was most recently director of labor and employee relations at Cuyahoga Community College.
She received her bachelor of science degree in labor economics from the University of Akron and her juris doctorate from the University of Akron.
Smithers Scientific Services
Smithers Scientific Services named Derek A. Read operations manager for its Ravenna laboratories. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day activities of the facilities, which include indoor tire and wheel and automotive component testing.
Read began his career with Smithers in January 1995 as a junior technician, became lead technician three years later, was promoted to client services representative in 1999 and then to client service manager in 2001.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from the University of Akron and an associate’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Cincinnati.
Summa Health System
Summa Health System named Robert Hunter director of cardiovascular services. Hunter will report to T. Clifford Deveny, vice president of clinical services and service lines.
With 25 years of experience, Hunter is no stranger to the health care field. He began his career as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy and most recently held the position of associate administrator for the department of cardiovascular medicine for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
