Executive Board
Executive Director, Claudia Motiu
Ms. Motiu was born in Romania and immigrated to Cleveland, OH with her family. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Cleveland State University. She has worked in three industries (Industrial Distribution, Hospitality and Education) and has held HR (Recruiter) and other leadership positions.
She most recently held the position of Director, Employer Outreach at Cuyahoga Community College where she engaged and built relationships with many NE Ohio employers and connected students and alumni to employment opportunities. Ms. Motiu served as a Middleburg Heights Chamber Board member from 2015 – 2021.
She has lived in Middleburg Hts. for 25+ years and enjoys all that the city has to offer–Metroparks, gourmet grocery store (Heinen’s), proximity to interstate I-71, affordable cost of living and much more!!!
President, Geoffrey Dennis, Dollar Bank
Geoffrey has been in retail management and a customer service specialist for over 23 years now. Currently managing the Dollar Bank Loan Center at the Southland branch in Middleburg Heights, he works with customers to assist them with their lending needs. Not being on commission, he is able to provide information and focus on educating the community on options available to them. Geoffrey also works closely with local businesses to partner with them in providing financing options for their customers and helping those businesses grow and thrive. Being a member of the community that contributes to the growth and success of Middleburg Heights is his ultimate goal.
He is a father and husband, and loves to work with others to help them achieve their goals in their business, personal lives and community relations.”
1st Vice President, Kim Harris, Pathways Caring For Children
Kim Harris is the Community Engagement Manager at Pathway Caring for Children. She handles public relations, fundraising and corporate donations out of their Brook Park office. Prior to Pathway, she spent 16 years in corporate sales while also volunteering much of her time to Strongsville Football League. Today she is a True2U mentor for 8th grade students at Cleveland Public Schools and is also part of Strongsville Rotary.
Kim graduated from Ashland University where she met her husband, Todd, of 22 years. They have one daughter, Kaylee, and live in Strongsville with their yellow lab Charlie.
2nd Vice President, Doug Miller, Polaris Career Center
Doug Miller is the Director of Community Outreach at Polaris Career Center, where he has worked in a marketing/PR capacity for over 21 years. Prior to Polaris, he spent 4 ½ years in the Governor’s Economic Development Offices in Cleveland and Akron, linking area employers to various State and local economic development resources and incentives.
Doug has a BA in Political Science from Kent State University and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Akron. He also holds a Certificate in Marketing Management from Cleveland State University.
Doug is active in numerous community organizations including chambers and business advisory councils. He currently serves on three area chamber boards of directors.
He is also a youth/CYO baseball, basketball, football and track coach. Doug lives in North Ridgeville with his wife, Ann, and two sons, Josh and Drew.
Treasurer, Tim Cooper CPA
Tim Cooper is a small business owner of Tim Cooper CPA located on West 130th, Middleburg Hts., OH. Tim has been a CPA since 1995. He is a 1988 graduate of Cleveland State University with bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has over 20 years of public and private accounting experience. His specialties are Tax Handling and Small Businesses, in addition to his assistance to individuals looking to take a proactive approach to their financial well being.Tim is also a Quickbooks Pro Advisor and has consulted on many Quickbooks set-ups for new and existing businesses.
Past President Advisor, Phillip Henry, Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A.
Phillip J. Henry lives in Berea with his wife, JoAnn and their three children. Mr. Henry is a Managing Attorney with Phillips & Mille Co., L.P.A. Mr. Henry is experienced in the following types of litigation: consumer protection, foreclosure, commercial litigation, collections, corporate disputes, criminal defense, personal injury, medical malpractice, appellate advocacy and also practices in the area of corporate law. Mr. Henry is a member of the Ohio Bar Association and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations. Mr. Henry was named as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Mr. Henry is an active member of St. Adalbert’s Parish in Berea, where he serves as a Eucharistic Minister. He also served as President on St. Adalbert’s Parish Council and was a team leader for weekly collections team. Mr. Henry is a member of the Berea-Midpark Middle School and Berea-Midpark High School PTAs, serves on the Board of Trustees for the Berea Chamber of Commerce and the Middleburg Heights Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of Business Network International (BNI) and the Berea Kiwanis Club. Mr. Henry has volunteered with Junior Achievement for the past 8 years at Grindstone Elementary, was a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 107 for 4 years, and has been a head coach with Lou Groza Football and Berea Youth Soccer Club.
Mr. Henry graduated from the University of Toledo in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and from the University of Akron School of law in 1999 with a Juris Doctor degree.
Board of Directors
John Grech, Edward Jones
John Grech is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments. He established the Middleburg Heights branch office of Edward Jones in 2009 and was named a Limited Partner with the firm in 2015. John specializes in serving individual investors and small business owners with their financial needs. He provides highly personalized service which helps him better understand and meet his clients’ unique financial goals.
Born and raised in Middleburg Heights, John is very active in the local community. He currently serves as the Past President and Advisor of the Chamber of Commerce after being President in 2015 and 2016. John has often been a presenter of various financial presentations within the Cuyahoga County Public Library system in addition to teaching adult education investment courses at Polaris Career Center.
John is a graduate of Saint Ignatius High School as well as the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration. His qualifications include having the following licenses: Series 7 (General Securities Representative), Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law), State of Ohio Life Insurance, State of Ohio Health Insurance and he is certified as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®).
John resides in Middleburg Heights with his wife, Nancy and their daughter, Vivienne.
Dan Sage, Machor Insurance
When Dan isn’t running his second generation family owned insurance agency with his wife Michelle, you can find him volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Strongsville, City Club of Middleburg Heights, Boy Scouts of America, Saint John Bosco Church or coaching his kids’ ball teams.
Dave Herwerden, WestPoint Wealth Management, LLC
As a Financial Advisor with WestPoint Wealth Management. Dave enjoys being able to work with families, no matter what stage of life they are in, and help them with ‘planning beyond the obvious.’ He specializes in helping families realize that their financial goals and dreams are attainable- with a little planning, a bit of discipline, and a trusted advisor to help them along the way.
Shelley Chornak, Sage Partners, LLC
Shelley is the owner and President of Sage Partners LLC. Sage Partners is an independent insurance brokerage firm that specializes in Employee Benefit Plans for companies of all sizes, Individual and Family Health Insurance and the Senior Market. Shelley has over 35 years experience in the insurance industry and is currently serves as a Trustee of the Northeast Ohio Health Underwriters Association.
Shelley has been an active member of the Middleburg Hts. Chamber and the Senior Life group at the Middleburg Hts. Recreation Center. She resides with her husband, Mike, in Brook Park. She enjoys traveling and exploring the many bike trails in Ohio.
Charles Bichara, City of Middleburg Heights
Charles Bichara has over twenty years of experience in municipal government, and has been employed with the City of Middleburg Heights since the year 2000.
In 2006, Charles was appointed to be the first Director of Economic Development for the City of Middleburg Heights. His experience in the areas of economic and community development date back to 1992 when he helped establish the Enterprise Zone Program for the City of South Euclid, Ohio where he served as Enterprise Zone Manager and Community Development Coordinator from 1993 to 2003. In recent years, he has served as a consultant to several other Ohio communities by assisting in the administration of various Federal, State, and County community and economic development programs.
Charles has also served as a member of the Governor’s Economic Development Advisory Board, and is currently a member of the Berea City Schools Business Advisory Council, and the Ohio Economic Development Association. In addition, Charles serves on the Board of Directors for the Middleburg Heights Chamber of Commerce and is a founding member of the Middleburg Heights City Club.
Charles is also a State of Ohio certified Residential Building Inspector and maintains specialty inspector certifications in the area of concrete construction and property maintenance.
A native Clevelander, Charles received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Cleveland State University and is proud to be a resident of the fine City of Middleburg Heights.
Jennifer Gosnell, Dollar Bank
Jennifer graduated from Baldwin Wallace University in 2012 with a B.A. in Finance. She previously worked at Southwest General Health Center. She began her career with Dollar Bank in 2014. She is currently the Service Manager at the Southland Office in Middleburg Heights. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, hiking, movies, and travelling.
With over 8 years of experience in retail and business banking, Jennifer is happy to help you with any questions you may have about loans, deposits, credit, retirement, and more.
Mike Tomon, Tomon & Sons Funeral Homes
Honorary Board Member
Karen Raisch-Siegel, LifeWorks of SW General
Karen is the Executive Director of LifeWorks fitness and Director of Comprehensive Women’s Health Care at Southwest General. She holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Akron University and a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a minor in business administration from the University of Florida. Karen is an adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University in the Health and Physical Education Department. She is a certified First Responder for the State of Ohio and a certified group exercise instructor. When she is not juggling her job duties she enjoys time with her two daughters, husband, and French Mastiff, Guiness.