FirstMerit Corp. appointed Norman A. Bliss as senior vice president, Corporate Community Reinvestment Act officer. Bliss will head FirstMerit Corp.’s CRA compliance in its 24-county market.
He has more than 15 years of banking experience, and most recently served as the community reinvestment officer for FirstMerit’s Northern Ohio banks.
“Norm is a community leader and has a successful track record in helping to develop low- and moderate- income communities,” says Robert P. Brecht, senior executive vice president. “His experience in community reinvestment, combined with his ability to work with community-based organizations, will continue FirstMerit’s history of strong community partnerships and investment in organizations that help to build stronger communities.”
As corporate community reinvestment officer, Bliss is responsible for directing community reinvestment and development activities for FirstMerit Corp. He has been recognized for pioneering efforts in community development and investment and has successfully implemented three Neighborhood Reinvestment Agreements, which have resulted in more than $1 billion in Northern Ohio community development within the past six years.
Bliss serves on the regional advisory board for Local Initiative Support Corporation, Shaker Heights Neighborhood Revitalization Committee and Cleveland Action to Support Housing loan committee, and is past chairman of the Lorain County Urban League.
Bliss has a bachelor’s degree from Howard University. He and his family reside in Shaker Heights.
Ohio Business Week Foundation
The Ohio Business Week Foundation membership elected Steve Lefkowitz of Copley to its managing board of trustees.
The Ohio Business Week Foundation, a Columbus-based nonprofit organization, sponsors weeklong residential summer programs for eligible high school students to learn about business and entrepreneurship.
Hosted on the campuses of The University of Findlay and Youngstown State University, Ohio Business Week brings a diverse group of young people and businesspeople together to translate textbook principles into real-world business practices.
Several business professionals are incorporated into the weekly schedule to share their expertise of the business world and build awareness about career trends and employment opportunities. Lefkowitz has shared his experiences for the past two years at the program as a speaker.
The Timken Co.
The Timken Co. hired Kenneth L. Hopkins as director, automotive strategy development. He reports to Jacqueline A. Dedo, president, automotive, and is responsible for developing the long-term strategy for the company’s global Automotive Group, which had 2003 net sales of $1.4 billion.
An automotive veteran of more than 14 years, Hopkins joins Timken from Motorola, where he was director of global marketing. Hopkins spent previous years as sales vice president at Covisint, director of commercialization at Johnson Controls and a sales manager at Bosch.
Hopkins earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. He is based at Timken’s automotive sales office in Detroit.
The Timken Co. also named Brian Walters director of heavy-duty sales. Walters is responsible for sales to the original equipment heavy-duty industry for Timken’s automotive division.
He has been with Timken for more than 25 years, serving in a variety of marketing and sales positions. Most recently, he served as manager of global business development. Walters graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business administration.
Brunswick Cos.
Mark Levinson was named vice president of Brunswick Cos.’ Surety Group.
Levinson joined the company in 1998 after spending several years as bond manager for Chubb & Son Inc., where he was responsible for the Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky region.
Levinson graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance/real estate from the University of Cincinnati. He is a member of the executive committee of the Ohio Contractors Association, the Certified Financial Managers Association and the Associated General Contractors of America.
RPM International
RPM International Inc. promoted Laura Yates to director of internal audit.
The appointment recognizes that Yates, previously manager of internal audit, has assumed greater responsibility for managing the company’s internal audit staff and meeting the expanded work requirements mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Yates will continue to lead RPM’s internal audit activities and communicate with the audit committee of the company’s board of directors. She will continue to report to Robert W. Matejka, vice president, chief financial officer and controller.
Yates has been with RPM for seven years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Akron and is a member of the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
ELECTRONIC PHOTO of STRUCK
SummaCare Inc.
Crystal A. Struck was promoted to director of contracting with SummaCare Inc. and is responsible for all aspects of the health plan’s provider network contracting. Gina B. Shure was promoted to contracting coordinator and is responsible for direct provider contract development. Debra Gentner was promoted to contracting project coordinator and is responsible for project leadership related to network expansion opportunities.
