Ignite your curiosity. Ignite your future. Ignite the world.
Why this series
The leaders building Cleveland, and the people who will continue to transform it.
The best business leaders in Northeast Ohio are building something real here. The people who will build the next wave are still in the room learning. Building in Cleveland puts those two groups face to face, on purpose, during five nights throughout the year.
For students
Be in the room where it happens.
Direct, unfiltered time with the founders, operators, and investors who built companies. No textbook version. The wins, the scars, and the decisions they would make differently. No cost to attend, every session.
For the business community
Access the talent that can make it happen.
A front-row look at the students who will fill your pipeline, plus an evening alongside the sharpest builders in the region. Come to share what you know. Leave having spotted the people you want to hire.
The Schedule
Five nights. One city. Only with the John Carroll University Entrepreneurship Program.
Each evening runs 5:30–9 PM at the Dolan Science Center Auditorium, John Carroll University. Register for one or come to all five.
Meet Our Series Moderator
AM
Ali Manav
[Moderator title — to be added]
[Ali Manav bio — to be added]
KickoffTuesday, September 29, 2026
The Kickoff
Customer-experience pioneer John DiJulius opens the series with the playbook behind Ritz-Carlton, Starbucks, and Lexus.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
John DiJuliusPresident at The DiJulius Group
John is considered the authority on world-class customer experience and the best-selling author of six books on customer and employee experience. He is the president of The DiJulius Group, a consulting firm that works with companies like Starbucks, Alcon, Chick-fil-A, The Ritz-Carlton, Nestle, PwC, Lexus, Schneider Electric, and many more. John also hosts The Customer Service Revolution Podcast. In addition to The DiJulius Group, John is the founder of John Robert's Spa, named one of the Top 20 Salons in America with multiple locations and over 150 employees, and Believe in Dreams, a non-profit that helps make dreams come true for deserving children. John will demonstrate how you can make customer service your single biggest competitive advantage, become the brand customers cannot live without, and make price irrelevant.
Part 1Monday, October 12, 2026
Venture Capital & Private Equity
The investors who decide which Cleveland companies get funded reveal what actually earns the check.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
In addition to his role at Resilience Capital Partners, Steven also serves as the Chairman of Azurite Management LLC, a private investment firm focused on investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies, Co-Chairman of Sheffield United Football Club, an English Football League team, and Chairman of Gammite Ventures, a venture capital firm. As an inventor, Steven has been granted 16 patents by The United States Patent and Trademark Office.
CM
Corrie Menary
Managing Partner, Kirtland Capital Partners
Mark Filippell
Managing Director at Citizens Capital Markets, M&A Advisory
He brings 46 years of investment banking and financial advisory experience during which he has personally completed over 140 merger and acquisition transactions. These M&A transactions, the preponderance of which were manufacturing and capital equipment concerns, total over $11 billion in aggregate value. Prior to co-founding Western Reserve Partners in 2004, which was acquired by Citizens Bank in 2017, Mark headed the M&A Departments at KeyBanc Capital Markets and McDonald Investments Inc. Prior to that, Mark led McDonald's Bankruptcy and Distressed Business practice. Prior to joining McDonald, Mark was Assistant to the General Manager of Comau Spa in Torino, Italy, Europe's second largest leading factory automation company, then owned jointly by FIAT and Bendix. Prior to Comau, he was an Associate with McKinsey & Company where he specialized on capital goods and industrial marketing.
David Sylvan
Chief Strategy, Innovation & Marketing Officer at University Hospitals
David Sylvan is Chief Strategy, Innovation & Marketing Officer of University Hospitals, a comprehensive health system with annual revenues of almost $8 billion, 21 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices located throughout 16 counties. He was also President of UH Ventures, the innovation and commercialization arm of University Hospitals, from 2020 to October 2025. As Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Mr. Sylvan's responsibilities span core operations, industry partnerships, technology transfer, commercialization, investments, business development and strategic initiatives. As Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Sylvan partners with other leaders within University Hospitals to ensure that Marketing is aligned with the system's strategic plan and operational priorities.
DB
Dominic Brault
Managing Director, Kaulig Capital
Part 2Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Hospitality
Cleveland's most celebrated restaurateurs on building places, and teams, people come back for.
Dolan Science Center Auditorium · John Carroll University · 5:30–9 PM
Executive Vice President of Growth, Retirement & Investment Solutions at CBIZ
Mike is the Executive Vice President of Growth for the Retirement & Investment Solutions practice of CBIZ, Inc. He leads a national team of advisors, consultants, and business development professionals. Mike is responsible for leading, developing, and executing the national sales strategy for retirement plan solutions, including 401(k), 403(b), third party administration, pension, and related fiduciary and advisory services. This role drives revenue growth by managing a high-performing business development team, expanding distribution channels, and building strong relationships with plan sponsors, advisors, and strategic partners.
