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Insight, advice and strategy from some of the most successful business leaders across the U.S.

Hard conversations build stronger people

As leaders, our responsibility is not to eliminate the challenges for those around us but to prepare them to face challenges with clarity, honesty and courage.

2025 Family Business Achievement Awards

The 2025 Family Business and Business Longevity honorees represent some of Northeast Ohio’s successful family-owned businesses that are growing for the next generation.

The remote work dilemma

While I’m of the opinion that being in the office is imperative for both the organization and the employee, objectively, I do understand the argument for remote or hybrid work.

When your best need boundaries

Top performers are difference makers and need protecting — not from outsiders trying to poach, but from themselves and the organization they support.

The three-legged stool of exit planning

The 4:8 Group’s Bob Bove on the Exit Planning Institute’s “Three-Legged Stool” of exit planning and how it can help business owners maximize value in a transaction.

Meet the 2025 Smart Women Award honorees

The 2025 Smart Women honoree class represents savvy women leaders who leverage unique strengths to drive change, build community and revolutionize the status quo.

Don’t fake it, make it

Have you built the company to amplify your strengths and support the areas where you are weak? Or is it built based on your idea of a leader?

2025 Smart Culture Awards

The 2025 Smart Culture Awards honor local organizations that have demonstrated cutting-edge practices in cultivating and sustaining their culture. See who we recognized this year.

It’s time to upgrade your operating system

Creating a framework that aligns your team around a shared vision, identifies and solves issues early, and ensures that you have the right people in place, you can unlock new levels of success.

A lesson in resilience for startups

The odds of a startup surviving 10 years is less than 50 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fortunately, thanks to the support of our investors, our terrific advisory board and talented Citymark colleagues, we have beaten those odds.

For leaders, time is the best teacher

The early stages of your leadership journey are the gathering phase. After 10 or so years of gathering tools, you will begin to apply them more frequently and more artfully, and you will start to see your leadership as a form of creative expression.

How to make a seamless transition to the cloud

Ultimately, not only should a transition to the cloud unlock capabilities that will have a positive impact on an organization, it will also set it up to more easily adapt to future technology.

Don’t shoot the messenger

If someone has bad news, it must be delivered in person or, if that’s not possible, by telephone. Email is not an acceptable substitute.

3 things I got wrong about becoming a leader

People that find themselves in leadership roles, particularly those at a young age, often get there because they are confident they can do it, because they’ve been frustrated with their past bosses, and because they want a challenge.

M&A communication best practices

Effective communication fosters trust, minimizes resistance, and ensures a successful transition, helping companies emerge as trusted organizations to stakeholders, employees and the media.

How highly profitable companies set strategy

By ensuring that you have a visionary strategy, a sales strategy and a marketing strategy all working in harmony, you position your organization not only for immediate growth but for sustained success in the future. 

Understanding a business valuation and how to use it

Too often, when business owners get a valuation, they stick it in the drawer and never look at it again. But if they study it, there are things that they can learn to make their business better and more valuable.

The more important the person, the faster the response

There is little reason to believe that internet communications will be reduced in the future. Therefore, managing your workload, minimizing anxiety, and striving for a pristine and uncluttered inbox reflect a day’s work well done.

Creating an actionable strategic plan

For a strategic plan to be actionable, meaningful, and transformative, you must encompass those famous interrogatives from grade school — What, Why, Who, Where, When, and How — at the onset of planning.

2024 Smart Culture Awards

The 2024 Smart Culture Awards honor local organizations that have demonstrated cutting-edge practices in cultivating and sustaining their culture. See who we recognized this year.

Measure twice, but only cut once

Learn from these near-heart-stopping fumbles and always proofread three times, the last time aloud before pressing the send key.

Unexpected loss

Huntington Bank’s Sean O’Connor on life insurance, and how it can preserve company value in the event of the unexpected loss of a key individual.

Meet the 2024 Smart Women Award honorees

Whether making mid-life professional pivots or dedicating their entire careers to a single field, the women joining this year’s Smart Women Breakfast & Awards panel have successfully carved out opportunities for themselves across a range of male-dominated industries. On April 25, this panel of female leaders will take the stage to share their unique career experiences, with the goal of inspiring other businesswomen to overcome and achieve.

Fax technology will soon lose support. Here are some alternatives.

Organizations should talk with their technology provider and ask them to look at their current fax usage to find an alternative method before the analog lines are no longer supported. There are several faxing alternatives that can be put in place and their technology partner can help them make that transition.

Why your budget should include a line for outside advisers

Those who have been in business for a while should be able to sort out the good consultants from the bad. And if you’d like an outside opinion on that, talk with your peers or professional advisers, who will most likely have a name or two to get you started. 

How Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga expands Apex Dermatology with a focus on efficient care

When Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, MD, MBA, FAAD, FACMS, founded Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center in 2011, he never imagined opening more than a dozen locations within the next dozen years, or cutting the ribbon in front of his brand-new headquarters. He didn’t set out with grand visions of growth, but rather, a goal to improve […]

How to enhance your reputation and polish your image

There is nothing egomaniacal or inappropriate about letting others know what you do. This applies to everyone from a newbie manager to an entrenched CEO. I’m not suggesting shameless self-promotion or gratuitous boast-and-brag assertions about yourself that only a mother would care about, and even that’s iffy. Instead, I’m recommending substantive communications, which are the […]

How CEO Adam Golomb keeps iconic Pittsburgh institution Primanti Bros. evolving

Though it might not seem obvious for a 90-year-old sandwich shop to be on the cutting edge, the Pittsburgh-born Primanti’s, under the guidance of Pittsburgh-born CEO Adam Golomb, keeps evolving with the times and has expanded well beyond its humble origins in the Strip District to become a regional restaurant powerhouse.

Pittsburgh Deal Activity: Founder-owned companies propel optimism in 2024 M&A market

In 2023, various factors posed challenges to the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. Rising inflationary pressures increased borrowing costs and complicated valuation, influencing strategic decision-making and regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, escalating interest rates and overall macroeconomic uncertainty prompted many dealmakers to abstain from engaging in transactions, especially when compared to record years following the COVID-19 pandemic. […]

The fun is in the fight

Embrace the challenge, persevere and enjoy the ride, no matter how rough it gets at times.

Cleveland as Ohio’s career capital

We must have more than “help wanted” signs outside our businesses; we must have a robust system that trains, upskills and matches employees with employers.

The sudden loss of an MVP

Amidst the shock of losing someone you worked beside every day is the reality of losing someone who was so impactful to your organization.

Programmatic M&A

Despite remaining headwinds and some uncertainty, the demand for acquisitive wins is strong.

Prepping your business for 2024

First Federal Lakewood’s Scott Gnau on what businesses need to do to prepare for 2024 and how to start off on the right foot.

Are you talent hoarding?

To retain and attract talent, it isn’t enough to just pay attention to employees’ experience at work but the quality of their life outside of it.

Can you be counted on?

When you and those in your organization look back on how you handled difficult times, how do you want to be remembered?

Everyone is guilty of something

Owning up to mistakes and making appropriate amends can reduce your self-inflicted sentence of doubt based on a flawed decision or misstep.

2023 Family Business Achievement Awards

The 2023 Family Business and Business Longevity honorees represent some of Northeast Ohio’s successful family-owned businesses that are growing for the next generation.

Applying the 80-20 rule to your team

With the right people on your team, playing to their strengths, and with an alignment of interests, motivating and inspiring them will lead to more success.

Balancing short-term needs with long-term goals

Having this strategic balance in place allows organizations to navigate uncertainties they encounter, seize opportunities and drive growth while remaining true to their long-term vision.

Some of the ways M&A deals get messed up

Preparation is key when it comes to M&A. Take the time to get your house in order before going to market and the results are likely to be much more favorable.

Transferable skills and how to find them when hiring

Shifting to a skills and interests-based approach makes the recruitment process more effective and equitable, as candidates are evaluated on their capabilities and motivations, rather than just their credentials.

Meet the 2023 Smart Women Award honorees

These Northeast Ohio professionals encourage, inspire and empower their organizations’ up-and-coming women. Read on to see who has been recognized this year.

Advancing women leaders

Despite 30-plus years of attention and effort, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions across nations, sectors, industries and organization types.

Empathy, entrepreneurship & AI

AI’s version of empathy alone is not likely to carry the day — human empathy will still have a major role to play.

Forget the survey

Engagement is a simple concept for executives, yet surprisingly difficult to implement

Northeast Ohio Deal Activity: Best of times, worst of times

  The domestic M&A market is in a state of great disparity. Valuations from buyers receded to pre-pandemic levels while sellers continue to expect the lofty valuations seen in the latter portion of 2020 and throughout 2021. On one hand, buyers, who are sitting on near-record amounts of deployable dry powder, have demonstrated a willingness […]

Pittsburgh Deal Activity: Best of times, worst of times

  The domestic M&A market is in a state of great disparity. Valuations from buyers receded to pre-pandemic levels while sellers continue to expect the lofty valuations seen in the latter portion of 2020 and throughout 2021. On one hand, buyers, who are sitting on near-record amounts of deployable dry powder, have demonstrated a willingness […]

2023 Smart Culture Awards

The 2023 Smart Culture Awards honor local organizations that have demonstrated cutting-edge practices in cultivating and sustaining their culture. See who we recognized this year.

Listen to learn who you really are as a leader

One way to get to know yourself better is to listen to what those around you are saying. And by learning more about yourself, you can get more clarity on the organization you’ve built.

Talent is a key element of the region’s supply chain

For all companies and organizations working in the talent development space, awareness of and collaboration with regional efforts will be pivotal to ensuring Northeast Ohio has the talent it needs to foster a diverse and vibrant regional economy.

Navigating M&A Uncertainty

Deal math is changing in the face of economic headwinds. With plenty of capital still to deploy, how will strategies evolve?

Snake oil sellers remain a threat

Foundational due diligence and basic governance may not sound as fun or sexy as a fast-talking entrepreneur, but fundamentals matter.

How pass-through entity deduction impacts Ohio

Brady Ware & Co.’s Matt McKinnon how businesses and owners can reduce their tax burden by transferring the tax responsibility for some of their income off themselves and back to the company.

Avoid blind spots

While your past wins may give you confidence, your future success depends on a perspective that’s broad enough to avoid blind spots.

Opportunity in disruption

We can’t go back; we can only go forward. It’s our choice to move forward with optimism and agility

Prepare for success

As you set out to find your next big success, remember that it probably won’t come from a single action or choice.

Can nice guys finish first?

Good sportsmanship teaches that every CEO, business leader, politician or government bureaucrat must lead through day-to-day actions, not just words.

2022 Business Growth Awards

Twenty six outstanding companies have been honored that fortify the strength of our regional economy. See who we recognized this year!

A successful acquisition

Ultimately, it was our discipline and laser-like focus in the first 100 days post-integration that shaped our results many years later.

Columbus Deal Activity: M&A in a virtual world

A highly virtualized due diligence process is improving efficiency, saving time and cost, and satisfying acquirers’ needs to conduct comprehensive due diligence in a turbulent global economy.

Commuter benefits

High gas prices and expensive used cars are just a few reasons employees need transportation solutions.

Pittsburgh Deal Activity: M&A in a virtual world

A highly virtualized due diligence process is improving efficiency, saving time and cost, and satisfying acquirers’ needs to conduct comprehensive due diligence in a turbulent global economy.

Balancing the modern mixed office

Finding the right balance to maximize productivity, provide an ideal work/life balance and do what’s fair for all employees remains a huge challenge.

Count the cost

Before speaking, or choosing not to speak, count the cost.

You’ve been served!

Squandering resources on legal gymnastics can be an exercise in futility because too many times, when you win, you still lose.

Finding the right partner

Great partners, like great husbands and wives, have the most success when each person puts the interests of their partner ahead of their own.

Try it before you buy it

What do ice cream shops, online entertainment streaming services, and car dealers all have in common?

How business owners can protect data and enhance security

Babst Calland’s Justine Kasznica and Ember Holmes offer their take on the Biden administration’s response to the cybersecurity threat, and how business owners can minimize risk and stay compliant with regulatory requirements.

The latest innovations in behavioral health

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Bradley E. Karlin looks at the latest innovations in behavioral health, how to overcome barriers to care and the role employers play in keeping employees well.

2022 Smart Culture Awards

The 2022 Smart Culture Awards honor local organizations that have demonstrated cutting-edge practices in cultivating and sustaining their culture. See who we recognized this year.

Your employees are not OK

One of the most important takeaways of the last two years for business owners is this: You must focus on the mental health of your employees.

Navigating the incentive roadmap

The right consultant can help you stay focused on your most important responsibilities while ensuring that you and your company receive maximum incentives.

The philanthropic landscape

It is rarely a good idea for the first generation to establish philanthropic goals on their own or to choose goals that are important solely to them.

The difference between management and leadership

Hopson Communications & Coaching’s Edward C. Hopson breaks down the difference between leading and managing, how this affects an organization and what companies can do to address the issue.

The importance of options

It takes a lot of effort to retool an organization, and doing so is not without risk, but the payoff could be transformative.

Managing betrayal in the workplace

Nothing cuts deeper than investing, believing and trusting in individuals who decide that their self-interest is the only factor in their decisions.

How COVID is impacting P&C insurance

Zito Insurance Agency a Division of Risk Strategies’ Chris Zito covers how to address the impact of COVID-19 on your property and casualty coverage.

3 hard truths about today’s biggest HR challenge

Effective recruiting remains vital as small businesses struggle with the labor shortage. For now, the best approach is to focus on the hard truths to make small businesses more competitive and attractive to job seekers.

2021 Family Business Achievement Awards

The 2021 Family Business and Business Longevity honorees represent some of Northeast Ohio’s successful family-owned businesses that are growing for the next generation. Check out this year’s class.

J. David Heller’s team of A+ players makes it happen for The NRP Group

The NRP Group, before it was The NRP Group, was essentially two people: J. David Heller and Alan F. Scott. Heller was approached, at the age of 28, by a local neighborhood nonprofit in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland that wanted to develop a project to serve the residents of its community. Heller and Scott […]

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019

These are the visionaries who launch and reimagine businesses, employ millions and set the pace for generations of entrepreneurs to come.

2018 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

EY celebrates dynamic mold breakers in its EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® program. Meet the 2018 winners and finalists who come from Kentucky, Ohio (except Toledo), Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.