Charles W. Gehring
President and CEO
LifeCare Alliance
Charles W. Gehring is just the sixth president and CEO to lead LifeCare Alliance in its 116-year history.
The company didn’t get to be this old without having to jump a few hurdles, and under the leadership of Gehring, that continues to be the case.
Due to ongoing economic challenges, the agency has been experiencing significant funding reductions from federal, state and local governments. In order to continue serving all of those in need and ensure there is no waiting list for the agency’s services, Gehring turned the company’s focus from government dependence to fundraising independence.
Not only does LifeCare Alliance have an aggressive fundraising plan in place today, but Gehring also continues to encourage the agency to be more in control of its own destiny to be in a better position to serve those in need. In order to do this, Gehring instituted several successful social enterprise programs.
Russ Gertmenian
Managing partner
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
As managing partner of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, Russ Gertmenian knew the legal industry would forever change as a result of the downturn in 2008.
Rather than waiting to see what would happen, he took action to modify the firm to ensure that the next generation of lawyers would have the most flexibility to successfully deal with the direction of the marketplace. He accomplished this by rearranging the firm’s structure to make it more open.
He grew the management committee and allowed practice area leaders to make decisions regarding staffing based on need.
The firm also evaluated services and offerings for clients, which resulted in an Internet defamation practice group. The defamation practice has more than doubled in size since its launch, and overall firm growth has led to two new offices, in Houston (2009) and Pittsburgh (2013).
Michael P. Glimcher
Chairman and CEO
Glimcher Realty Trust
Michael P. Glimcher, chairman and CEO of Glimcher Realty Trust, built a successful company on a foundation of flexibility, continuous improvement and smart decision-making.
What started as a lumber and supply company became a retail development firm to capitalize on the growth of big box retailers like Kmart and Wal-Mart.
During the recession, the retail sector was hit hard, and Glimcher’s stock dipped below $1 and debt leverage exceeded 80 percent. The executive management team sought to “control what you can control,” and a task force drafted a rebuilding strategy that led to a joint partnership relationship with The Blackstone Group. The partners purchased 80 percent interest in WestShore Plaza and Lloyd Center, generating new revenue for Glimcher.
The company continued to transform itself by focusing on its people, properties and balance sheet. Since 2012, Glimcher has acquired seven properties totaling 2.9 million square feet and averaging $600 per square foot.
Jason Goldberg
CEO
America’s Floor Source
Initially, when America’s Floor Source started, it was a flooring company that provided flooring material and installation to single and multifamily homebuilders. It didn’t take CEO Jason Goldberg long to realize that some of his smaller homebuilder customers that didn’t have designer centers were in need of a place where their customers could select interior and exterior finishes.
So Goldberg expanded the company’s service offering by creating a design center called Décor Blvd. This service offering has helped the company attract dozens of smaller homebuilders and is the company’s largest and most impressive showroom.
Goldberg diversified his company further to service three more distinctly different customer segments — the property management sales division for apartment and condominium replacements, the wholesale division for customers who wanted to purchase material only and handle their own installations, and the retail division for flooring and installation services to homeowners.
Thomas R. Green
CEO
Lancaster Pollard
When Thomas R. Green came on-board as Lancaster Pollard’s CEO in 1997, the company was 9 years old with six employees. Green’s capabilities as an investment banker and senior business executive were pivotal in laying down a plan for company expansion.
Today, his strategic vision has fueled the firm’s growth and honed the disciplined focus on the market sectors it serves.
Just two years ago, the company, an investment banking and mortgage banking services firm, added a private equity funding option to its product line, and earlier this year, the firm expanded its mergers and acquisition services for senior living providers.
Due to this focused strategy, Lancaster Pollard has experienced annual revenue growth of about 30 percent over the past five years, has grown to 117 employees, is now comprised of four companies and has a national presence.
