2026 Northeast Ohio Smart 50 Awards
About the Event
Since 2014, the Northeast Ohio Smart 50 Awards recognize the top executives of the 50 smartest companies in the Northeast Ohio region for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations. All 50 winners will be honored at a special celebration, and three organizations will receive specialty awards for their achievements in three category areas – innovation, impact and sustainability. The Smart 50 Awards currently takes place in the cities of Cleveland and Columbus. Eligible Smart 50 nominees must be a top executive of an organization with a physical office in the Northeast Ohio region. Specialty award winners will be recognized for Innovation, Impact and Sustainability.
2026 Northeast Ohio Smart 50 Honorees
Scott Balogh
President & CEO
Mar-Bal Inc.
Nic Barlage
CEO
Cleveland Cavaliers
Michael Barnes
General Manager
ASG, a division of Jergens, Inc.
Dr. Michael Baston J.D. Ed.D.
President
Cuyahoga Community College
Shane Bigelow
CEO and Co-Founder
CHAMP
Ted Bunton
President
Troy Chemical
Luca Cacioli
Chief Executive Officer
CEIA USA
Dominic Caruso
CEO
Caruso's Coffee
Vish Chandran
CEO
Wild Republic
Brandon Chrostowski
CEO
EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute
Joe Conley
President/CEO
Royce-U.S. Protection Service
Micah Davis
Chief Operations Officer
Lifebanc
Alyssa Dominick
President
Jani-King of Cleveland
Tamer Elzarka
President
Phoenix Corporation
Quentin Fisher
CEO
Aidan Systems
Helen Forbes Fields
President and CEO
YWCA of Greater Cleveland
Eric German
Partner & Executive Committee Member
Bober Markey Fedorovich (BMF)
Afif Ghannoum
CEO
CPG Radar LLC
Mike Greene
President
Air Control Products
Timothy Hilk
President & CEO
YMCA of Greater Cleveland
Larry Hudson
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Jamestown Container Companies
Brandy Johnson
Chief Technology Officer
Babcock & Wilcox
Bill Johnson
President & CEO
Welser Profile North America
Kelly Keefe
President & CEO
ERC
Danielle Krakora
CEO
Ibility, LLC
Matt Kraska
CEO
Lazorpoint
Eli Kratzert
Vice President
Ascot Valley Foods
Chris Kuhar
Executive Director
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Scot Lowry
Managing Partner
PromiseOne Companies
Erik Majkrzak
VP of Operations
OMNI Systems
Matt Malone
President
Kurtz Bros.
Meg Mayhugh
Founder, Managing Director
People Architects
Wes Moloney
Treasurer
Fabrizi Trucking & Paving Co., Inc.
Amy Moneypenny
Sr. Director, Product, Brand and Event Marketing
Home Genius Exteriors
Chet Mull III
President
Mull Iron
Meg Nachtwey
CEO
Welcome House, Inc.
Taylor Norton
Chief Logistics Officer
Dumpsters.com
Jeffery Patterson
Chief Executive Officer
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Joseph Pentasuglio
President & CEO
Clampco Products Co.
Greg Phillip
President
AKS Cutting Systems
Tony Pietrocola
President
AgileBlue
Baiju Shah
President and CEO
Greater Cleveland Partnership
Patty Starr
President & CEO
Health Action Council
Jennell Vick
President & CEO
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center
Andrew Watts & Vinnie Cimino
Proprietor; Chef/Partner
Cordelia
Augustine Wadian
Co-owner and CEO
Premier Home Pros
Scott Wagner
Vice President of Corporate Operations
Regency Construction Services, Inc.
Lindsay Watson
CEO & Co-founder
Augment Therapy
Paula Wheeler
Executive Vice President
TransDigm
Alenka Winslett
Chief Operating Officer
College Now Greater Cleveland, Inc.
PRESENTED BY:
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
For more information, contact Lisa Dore at ldore@sbnonline.com