BAC Member Volunteers
BAC offers strategic business advice from experienced business professionals. All members have extensive business experience and backgrounds, and a passion for sharing their experiences with the next generation of leaders.
John H. McMillan graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Science. He spent 40 years working at the Oatey Company, a diversified manufacturer of products for the residential, commercial and Do it Yourself plumbing markets. His career consisted of a series of sales and sales management positions followed by executive management roles. He stepped back from an active role in 2016 after six years as the Chief Executive Officer. His areas of expertise include sales, marketing, and general management.
Mark Bachmann is marketing professional with extensive experience as a Partner with Marcus Thomas, LLC, in addition to working with Ira Thomas Associates and Malone Advertising. He has served on the board of the American Association of Ad Agencies, among others. Mark volunteers in the Cleveland community with the Boys & Girls Clubs of NEO, the Akron Community Foundation, and the Jesuit Retreat Center. He joined BAC in 2024 to stay engaged in the business community and serve as a client mentor.
Eric joined BAC in February of 2024. He is an executive management professional with expertise in the customer communication, business process outsourcing, and several decades of experience in the print management industry. Notably, he founded Beyond Breakthrough, the alumni network for the #1 public charter school in the state of Ohio. In addition, he has P&L experience, with particular emphasis on training sales and executive leaders and creating sustainable, profitable revenue growth. He joined BAC to continue contributing to the success of the leaders in the Northeast Ohio region. He lives in Chagrin Falls with his wife Tricia.
Jim LeMay led the Corporate Development function at specialty materials manufacturer Omnova Solutions for over 20 years. He was responsible for corporate strategy and growth initiatives including new products, new applications, and new markets, as well as product commercialization focused on a deep understanding of customer needs, product differentiation, channels to market, competitive environment, and value pricing. Jim’s growth experience also includes leading numerous acquisitions, exits, joint ventures, and strategic alliances on a global basis and across multiple industry segments. Jim’s industry experience includes coatings, adhesives, oil & gas, plastics, building & construction, automotive, aerospace, films, laminates, nonwovens, textiles, and other commercial and industrial markets.
Cliff Baggott is a Northeast Ohio guy: a graduate of Collingwood High School, Kent State University with a degree in Business Administration. His entire 50+ year career has been involved with CresCor, a third-generation 87 year young family business. CresCor manufacturers products for the commercial foodservice industry. After serving as President and CEO for 25 years, Cliff stepped down and is now the Chairman of the Board. His area of interests lie in manufacturing, general business management, and family business succession planning.
Jeff had an extensive career in the technology field, spending 35 years with Motorola (now Motorola Solutions). His work centered on work group communications, including two-way radio systems for government and industry. A large part of his career was spent overseas, having been based in places including Japan, Argentina, Singapore, and England. His experience includes general management of sales and marketing organizations, global product management, engineering, and business development. Jeff joined BAC to share his experience with the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in northeast Ohio. Jeff enjoys basketball, music, and geography. He attended Bucknell University and is originally from the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.
Scott T. Harrison is a retired Senior Vice President from PNC Bank, N.A. (National City Bank) who also spent 16 years in private industry in pressroom supply and printing, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of a closely-held business. He holds a BA in Marketing, Management, a MBA in Systems Management, and is a graduate of The Stonier Graduate School of Banking from the University of Delaware. He has served on a number of non-profit boards. Consulting strengths include financial analysis, corporate lending (financing structuring), sales channel development, acquisition analysis, and income statement and balance sheet management.
Bob Bathgate has a BS in Chemical Engineering at Penn State and a Masters degree at Virginia Tech. Bob worked for three companies, all associated with the oil industry: Sun Oil Company (Sunoco), The Ethyl Corporation and The Lubrizol Corporation, beginning in Marketing and moving into Sales. He managed sales for both Ethyl and Lubrizol, helped run their North American businesses and eventually became general manager of global oil operations at Lubrizol before retiring in 2004.
John joined BAC in 2018. He served as Operations Director for ABB, an international engineering and technology firm, based in Zurich Switzerland and was responsible for critical infrastructure projects around the world. This gave him a deep appreciation for working with multicultural teams and attuning to the voice of the customer. He is a certified coach at the world-renowned Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. John brings this insight and experience to his BAC clients.
A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy, The College of Wooster (BA), Ohio University (MEd), and The American College (CLU), Dick joined Business Advisers of Cleveland in 2013 after a business career in Insurance, Higher Education, the Arts, and a software startup company. Over his career he he has also been fortunate to serve as a trustee and officer of eight nonprofit organizations in both Columbus and Cleveland.
Rick Cooper joined BAC in 2023. Professionally, he is a managing partner with with 40+ years of experience at Nicola Gudbranson & Cooper, focused on business transaction, succession planning, estate and trust planning, non-profit organizations, and representation of entrepreneurs. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, and the University of Chicago Law School, and lives in Cleveland with his wife Suzanne.
Bill Braun began his business career in finance and accounting for a small but rapidly growing specialty chemical company. There he had first-hand experience in managing cash flow, operational efficiency, management team building, manufacturing and sales administration. In 1980 Bill purchased Custom Rubber Corp., a designer and manufacturer of elastomeric components. Bill currently serves as Chairman. A graduate of Harvard with a degree in Economics, Bill served in Vietnam as Lt SC, USNR and received an MBA from University of Michigan.
Jeffrey Dean is a Retired Municipal Court Judge, former CEO and General Counsel for the International Society of Explosives Engineers and its education foundation, and former Member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 114th General Assembly. A Vietnam Era veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Mr. Dean is also active with several Veterans Organizations. He and his wife, Laurie, live in Bentleyville, Ohio.
Bill Coole joined BAC after a 48 year career in financial management. Bill was responsible for all aspects of financial management for the four divisions of electronics distribution divisions for Cleveland’s own premier industrial corporation after which he was chief financial officer for a flavors manufacturing company and a leading distributor of prime beef to white tablecloth restaurants throughout the United States. In addition to financial management bill has 13 years experience in consulting with businesses to improve their financial operations and bottom line. Bill is a CPA and holds a Masters degree from University of Illinois at Chicago.
John Kirn served as Senior Legal Counsel with Oglebay Norton, one of Cleveland's oldest iron-ore companies. John is a regular mentor for BAC clients. He also volunteers with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
Bill has many years of experience working in healthcare risk management. He has served on the Board of Trustees of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Lakewood Hospital Association, including a 10 year stint as Chairman. He was awarded the Edward F. Myers Outstanding Trustee Award by the Cleveland Center for Health Affairs in 2000. Along the way he was Executive Vice President and CFO of Insurance Management Services, Inc. and Senior Vice President of Marsh USA, specializing in large casualty programs including medical malpractice. Bill attended Dartmouth College, A.B., and received his MBA from the Tuck School of Business Administration. Along with Business Advisers of Cleveland, Bill volunteers his services to a variety of causes including The Beck Center and as a TaxAide for AARP.
Marty Kolb joined BAC in 2012 after a 30-year career at General Electric Company in Cleveland. GE Lighting is a worldwide leader in traditional and LED lighting products. At GE he had many positions in commercial and marketing operations, before leading the product management and automotive lighting teams on a global basis. Prior to GE, Marty was a management consultant at Booz, Allen and Hamilton, and strategic planner at Pfizer. Marty is a graduate of Bentley College with a degree in accounting and finance, and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
Rich Kaman is the owner and operator of Kaman Art Shoppes, Inc. His experience is in general business management, encompassing all elements of small business ownership and operations. He also has experience in generational transfers and succession planning.
Bob Lapin graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Microbiology and the University of Florida with a BS in Food Science. He has held quality control and management positions with General Mills, Quaker Oats, and was Director of Quality Assurance with Anderson Clayton Foods. He has Quality Management consulting experience with Philip Crosby Associates and his own consulting practice. His areas of expertise are quality control, quality management consulting and general management.
Bernie Karr is an Estate Planner and Tax Lawyer with 44 years of experience. He led the Estate Planning Department at McDonalds Hopkins LLC for more than 25 years, and is an extensive volunteer in the Cleveland community.
Tom Marchetti has 38 years experience at Nordic Engineering in several areas: Accounting, Marketing, Sales, International Business, Business Ownership.
John Nunnari joined BAC in 2015 after a 40 plus-year career in the Petrochemical and Specialty Chemical Industry with Sohio (Standard Oil), BP Oil and retired from The Lubrizol Corporation. John was born raised and educated in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland West Technical High School and Cleveland State University. John is an engineer and international businessman. After joining BAC in 2015, John has served on the Executive Committee (EC), as Second VP, First VP and President of BAC. He is currently a member of the EC and Head of Mentoring and Fundraising Committees. John is an active member of the Marketing, Counseling, Technology, Luncheon and Nominating Committees for BAC.
Matt Timmons retired from an extensive Sales and Marketing career with Lubrizol, with additional experience in original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and Advanced Materials. He has worked to grow business units both domestically and internationally, specifically in Asia markets. He is a graduate of Ohio University with an additional MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.
Grace Ann Bourne serves as the Executive Director of Business Advisers of Cleveland, where she is fortunate to meet the most interesting people working to move ideas forward. She has experience in nonprofit leadership, large corporations, trade associations, and international consulting. She graduated Michigan State University with a BA in International Relations and Political Theory, and earned her MBA from the University of Maryland. She enjoys making connections between ideas and with people, and has a passion for helping the people of Cleveland reach their full potential.
Terry Brizz joined BAC in 2024 after a long career as an entrepreneur. He founded Galaxy Balloons, an award-winning printing company, based in Lakewood, OH. He has served as Adjunct Professor at Baldwin Wallace University and Case Western Reserve University, and is a member of several professional associations, including two he founded. He holds degrees from Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University, and was awarded the 1997 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and the 1998 State of Ohio Entrepreneur of the Year. His business was inducted into the Ohio Promotional Products Association Hall of Fame in 2004. Terry is an active member of BAC, interested in working with clients and serving the Cleveland community.
Edward Towns worked with Reliance Electric and Engineering (a precursor to Rockwell Automation) from 1961 - 1999 as a Human Resources professional. At the height of his career he was the Vice President of Human Resources and Community Affairs. He has a BA from Westminster College in Pennsylvania and a Masters degree in Industrial Psychology from Ohio University. Ed has served the Greater Cleveland community in a number of ways in addition to volunteering for Business Advisers of Cleveland, including as an instructor for Cuyahoga Community College, as Mayor of Chagrin Falls Village, and as a warden for Christ Episcopal Church, among others.
Allen has an extensive 30 year career in Marketing, Sales, Territory & Product Management with and IBM and Xerox Systems, in addition to 15 years with Ameriprise as a Financial Advisor. Allen is an accomplished collegiate gymnast, a professional dancer and instructor, and also volunteers with the Rotary Club.
Jim Trutko is a professional market researcher and economist with over 30 years research experience, including 10 years as Market Research Manager at The Plain Dealer. He has been involved in several venture capital investments, owned a small business and provided professional consulting services to a range of businesses, nonprofit organizations and governmental officials. He conducted a study of franchising for the SBA. Jim has a B.A. in Political Science from Allegheny College, a M.A. in Political Science from Case Western Reserve University, and a M.A. in Economics from Kent State University. He lives in Rocky River. In addition to serving as head of the Marketing Committee for BAC, he is involved local community and political affairs, He enjoys exercise, following local sport teams, golf, travel and good wine.