The 4th Annual Dream Event
October 24, 2023
Experience an event like no other! You will get the stories,
knowledge, and tools for your success.
Thank you to Thom Knepp and Jim Rose for sharing your inspiring stories to dream big, no mater the obstacles and roadblocks that you may encounter.
1. Thom Knepp - Founder & CEO of Pulp Juice & Smoothie Bars
2. Jim Rose - Global Managing Director of Client Services at Deloitte Consulting
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Thom Knepp
Founder & CEO of
Pulp Juice & Smoothie Bars
Thom Knepp graduated from Hudson High School in 1993. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (concentration in Marketing) from Kent State University. He lives in Hudson Ohio with his wife Misty, and 3 children: Samantha, Alexandra and Nathan.
Thom Knepp created Pulp Juice and Smoothie Bar and opened the original store in Kent, Ohio in 2005. Thom always had the desire to open something of his own, but it wasn’t until his first smoothie that he figured out what that “something” was. He was instantly in love with the idea of a smoothie as a quick, healthy meal and loved the fun vibe many smoothie shops had. He immediately set out to find the perfect smoothie franchise to bring to Ohio. After visiting many different locations across the country, Thom liked a lot of what he saw, but couldn’t find a single concept that he loved everything about. To make his idea of the perfect smoothie bar, Thom decided that he would need to develop the concept himself. Soon after, Pulp was born.
The original Pulp was not an instant success but with time and effort, the store became a hit. After seeing the first Pulp become a successful operation, Thom began selling franchises to expand the brand. Today there are over 60 locations open or under construction with plans for many more. Thom is a big fan of all things Ohio and is a big reason why 57 of those locations are located within the state’s borders. Pulp has been recognized as one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in America and one of the 500 biggest restaurant chains in America.
Thom loves being an entrepreneur and has a passion for helping others follow their entrepreneurial dreams.
Jim Rose
Global Managing Director of Client Services at Deloitte Consulting
Jim serves as the Global Managing Director of Client Services for all Deloitte member service firms to the Ford Motor Company. He is responsible for delivering the firm’s multidisciplinary solutions, including business innovation and IT consulting, digital transformation, privacy and enterprise risk management, tax, and financial advisory services to Ford Motor Company worldwide.
With more than 20 years’ experience, Jim’s career has been accentuated by leading edge engagements to assist automotive manufacturing companies and executives with innovation, technology and business performance improvement. He specializes in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain optimization, automotive aftermarket, marketing, information technology and new product development.
Additionally, Jim takes great pride in supporting senior executives with role development and career transitions both internal to the company and externally to the global marketplace.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Jim worked as an advanced engineering Director for Tata Technologies, held executive management roles in consulting and software services at Carlisle and Company, Vice President Blue Titan Software, Vice President and Corporate Officer at OEConnection [a Ford, GM, FCA Joint Venture] and IBM, his seminal experience, where Jim held many positions from marketing through headquarters Corporate Strategy within both the Commercial Server and Enterprise Software Organizations with his career culminating as the Director and Business Unit Executive of Global Automotive Software and Services.
Jim is distinguished within Deloitte as a Deloitte CIO Fellow awarded to the highest-level professionals specializing in advanced Information Technology Services to Corporate Clients. Also, Jim has a distinguished track record of service to many leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) globally where he has used a broad array of skills to drive excellence in Complexity Reduction, Corporate Scenario Planning, Global Advanced Marketing and Planning.
Jim is a multi-disciplinary individual who holds a BA Degree in Music Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music, Post-Graduate Studies at the Julliard School of Music and is a Graduate of the IBM Executive Education Program with a concentration in Marketing from Warwick University in England and the Harvard University Executive Negotiation Clinic. Recently, Jim was awarded the “Deloitte Innovator of the Year Award” for exceptional strategic client service.
Currently, Jim serves on the Board of Trustees to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; the Community Board of Beaumont Hospital and was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of Olivet College.
The 3rd Annual Dream Event
October 12, 2022
Experience an event like no other! You will get the stories,
knowledge, and tools for your success.
Thank you to Jodi and JP for sharing your inspiring stories to dream big, no mater the obstacles and roadblocks that you may encounter.
1. Jon Peterson - President of SeaWorld Orlando, Head of SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team, and Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership
2. Jodi L. Berg PhD - Past CEO & President of
Vitamix Corportation
The Dream Event
October 12, 2022
5 min version of the highlights. from Oct. 2022 event
Experience an event like no other! You will get the stories, knowledge, and tools for your success.
“The Dream Event”, will feature executive guest speakers, give student attendees the opportunity to listen to leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and others speak about how they followed their dreams. They will speak of their experiences and how to pave a path and how to follow your own dreams. Students will be able to ask questions and learn how the panel members overcame their struggles to achieve their dreams. This engaging conference is meant to motivate and inspire our next generation of leaders to dream big and have the tools to achieve their dreams.
Jodi L. Berg PhD Past CEO & President of Vitamix
Jodi Berg, recognized as an international presenter and driver of personal purpose and culture as an agent of change, recently retired as a 4th generation President and CEO of Vitamix, a 100 year young, Cleveland based family-owned company.
She is recognized for making Vitamix the world leader in high-performance blending, catapulting the brand from beloved to iconic, and expanding distribution to over 130 countries. Jodi successfully navigated over 400% organic growth by transforming the organizational structure, articulating the company purpose, mission and business objectives and creating a powerful purpose driven culture.
Prior to joining Vitamix Jodi held leadership positions in The Residence Inn by Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.
Jodi graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Administration, received an MBA from Washington State University and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Her research is on purpose and employee engagement.
Jon Peterson President of SeaWorld Orlando, Head of SeaWorld Orlando’s Rescue Team
Jon Peterson, started his career at Hudson, Ohio as a 1993 graduate, while working at SeaWorld, Aurora’s mailroom. Through hard work and perseverance, he never gave up on his dream and is now VP of Zoological Operations of SeaWorld, Orlando head of rescue in Orlando. and Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership. He is always on call for any animal that needs rescuing. Over the last 55+ years, SeaWorld has rescued over 40,000 animals.
JP, says raising an orphaned manatee baby (or neonate) for release back into the wild takes three years, and they will spend around $600,000 on every neonate that comes in.
"We will bottle-feed every three hours for the first year," Peterson said. "We will start giving them a little bit of lettuce at about month three. At about a year, we start transitioning, we get them out in our exhibit, where we literally go hands-off."
SeaWorld Orlando serves as one of only five critical care facilities in the U.S. for the treatment and care of injured, sick, and orphaned animals, including manatees. SeaWorld can accommodate up to 70 manatees at its Orlando rescue facility at one time.
JP can also be seen frequently on the show Sea Rescue on ABC.
The Dream Event
October 16, 2019
Experience an event like no other! You will get the stories, knowledge, and tools for your success.
“The Dream Event”, will feature executive guest speakers, gave student attendees the opportunity to listen to leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and others speak about how they followed their dreams. They will speak of their experiences and how to pave a path and how to follow your own dreams. Students were able to ask questions and learn how the panel members overcame their struggles to achieve their dreams. This engaging conference was meant to motivate and inspire our next generation of leaders to dream big and have the tools to achieve their dreams.
This Year's speakers:
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Bryan Palaszewski - Rocket Propulsion Engineer
with NASA
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Amy Brady - CIO of KeyBank
-
Tony Ciepiel - CEO of Step2
Speakers
Bryan Palaszewski
Propulsion Engineer NASA
Bryan Palaszewski has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field since 1989 and is currently directing research on high-performance propellants and atmospheric entry.
He has conducted investigations nanometer-scale propellant additives for metalized gelled fuels for space missions. Recently, he led work related to human Mars entry, descent, and landing (EDL) where supersonic retro-propulsion (rocket deceleration) is planned for the Mars landing. He is also investigating the mining of outer planet atmospheres for future ambitious space vehicles.
For six years, he led many studies of advanced space systems for orbital and interplanetary travel at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. He was the lead propulsion subsystem engineer on the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX), as well as being involved in other flight projects such as the Galileo Mission to Jupiter and the Cassini Mission to Saturn.
He holds a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York.
Amy Brady
CIO of KeyBank
Amy G. Brady is Key’s Chief Information Officer, leading the company’s Technology and Operations organization. In her role, Brady oversees all of Key’s shared services for technology, operations, data, servicing, security, and procurement. Technology and Operations are comprised of more than 5,000 individuals and plays a significant role in Key’s ability to win in the marketplace by enabling the company’s goal to build enduring client relationships through innovative solutions and extraordinary service. Technology and Operations deliver innovative technology to clients, such as mobile and online banking, and world-class operations solutions, including loan, payment and treasury services. Brady also serves on the company’s Executive Council and Executive Leadership Team.
Brady serves on the boards for the Achievement Centers for Children, Cleveland Leadership Center, Playhouse Square and the Case Western Reserve University Corporate Advisory Board. She is also Chair of the BITS Executive Board. She formerly served on the Executive Board of the Metro Atlanta YMCA.
Tony Ciepiel
CEO of Step2
Tony Ciepiel is the CEO of Step2 Discovery. In his position, Tony leads the combined businesses of The Step2 Company, LLC and Backyard Discovery. Tony was most recently Chief Operating Officer of Vitamix Corporation (“Vitamix”), a privately held, family-owned and operated manufacturer of high-performance blending equipment for home and commercial use.
Step2 and Backyard Discovery companies have some of the most innovative products for home, play and leisure. "The combination of rotomolded products, wood and other substrates provides for endless possibilities for new innovation.” stated Tony Ciepiel.
As Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to 2018, Mr. Ciepiel was responsible for establishing and realizing Vitamix’s strategic direction and ensuring alignment of all domestic and international operations. During his tenure, Mr. Ciepiel led the teams that developed new products and expanded distribution resulting in over 400% growth in 5 years. His prior roles at Vitamix included Vice President Sales & Marketing and Vice President of Commercial Division. Mr. Ciepiel’s past leadership positions include: President & Chief Operating Officer at The Flood Company and President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer at Realty One Inc., as well as Executive Vice President, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer at Griswold Inc.
Mr. Ciepiel currently serves on the Board of Directors and is an active committee member of IDEAL Industries, Beckett Air, and The Christian Business Men’s Connection of Northeast Ohio. Prior board positions include: Westfield Bank, Southern Title Company, The National Association of Realtors, In His Steps Foundation, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, and United Cerebral Palsy.
Mr. Ciepiel has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Baldwin Wallace College. Additionally, Mr. Ciepiel is a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A), earned in 1984, and has been a Licensed Realtor, State of Ohio, since 1999.
Step2 Discovery, headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio, is one of the largest outdoor home, play and leisure companies in North America, with aspirational brands including Step2 and Backyard Discovery. Step2 Discovery, which holds lead positions in mailboxes, swing sets, playhouses, activity tables, play kitchens and ride-ons, as well as other outdoor home and garden products.
The Dream Event
January 26, 2019
5 min, 35 sec. version of the highlights.
If the YouTube Video does not load, please click this link.
The Dream Event - Jan. 26, 2019 was a success! Thank you to all of the speakers who inspired us to dream big, and shared your stories with us. I was so amazed at how five of the eight speakers all started out in a completely different area of study, then where they are today. It comforted not only me, but many of the attendees to know that we as high school students, don't have to know exactly what we want to do for the rest of our lives. We learned, we can have a goal, but the road to the goal can change, and that is okay.
Below are some photos from the Jan. 26, event.
We received a personal mini concert from Carl Topilow - The Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra
James Rose - Managing Director from Deloitte Consulting started the event off with a special treat.
Objective of The Dream Event - Jan. 26, 2019
Experience an event like no other! You will get the stories, knowledge, and tools for your success.
“The Dream Event”, will feature executive guest speakers, gave student attendees the opportunity to listen to leaders, executives, entrepreneurs, and others speak about how they followed their dreams. They will speak of their experiences and how to pave a path and how to follow your own dreams. Students were able to ask questions and learn how the panel members overcame their struggles to achieve their dreams. This engaging conference was meant to motivate and inspire our next generation of leaders to dream big and have the tools to achieve their dreams.
Speakers
Jodi Berg
CEO of Vita-Mix
Dr. Berg is fourth-generation president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Vitamix, a 97-year-young, family-owned, mid-market manufacturer of high-performance blending equipment for the consumer and foodservice commercial markets.
After becoming established as a leader in the hospitality industry, she joined Vitamix in 1997with the directive to lead the company’s overseas expansion. At the time, Vitamix had a presence in a few countries. Vitamix products now are available in more than 130 countries around the world. She was named executive vice president (in 2007), then president (2009) and CEO (2011).
Dr. Berg received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (concentration in Hospitality Management) from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH) and a Master of Business Administration (concentration in Service Management and Service Marketing) from Washington State University (Pullman, WA).
Dr. Berg’s research on purpose has been published, and in 2016 earned her Ph.D. in management from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
Amanda Montgomery
VP - Human Resources of The Timken Companys
Amanda Montgomery is vice president of human resources and a member of the executive leadership team at The Timken Company.During her 20 year career at Timken, Amanda has held roles in engineering, project management, and marketing focused on working with customers, employees, and suppliersaround the world.Amanda serves on the Board of Directors for the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank and is a member of Women’s Impact, an organization providing networking, mentorship and leadershipfor professional women in Stark County.When she’s not busy with those activities or driving her two teenage daughters to their vast array of activities she enjoys running, reading, and traveling.She holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern University and a master's degree in business administration from Ashland University.Amanda attended Chardon High School where she played basketball, softball, and tennis. It was during high school that she decided you don’t get to complain about something if you aren’t willing to be part of making it better, an approach she’s carried into her professional and personal life.
James Rose - Managing Director of Deloitte Consulting
Jim serves as the Global Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting. With more than 20 years of experience, Jim’s career has been accentuated by projects to assist automotive manufacturing companies with innovation, technology and business performance improvement. He specializes in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain optimization, and new product development. Jim has a distinguished track record of service to many leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) globally. Prior to joining Deloitte, Jim worked as an advanced engineering Director for Tata Technologies, held executive management roles at Carlisle and Company, OEConnection, and IBM where he was Business Unit Executive of Automotive Software.
Carl Topilow
Conductor of the Cleveland Pops Orchestra
Following his longtime dream of conducting his own pops orchestra, Carl founded the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. The orchestra, currently in its 23rd season, plays its subscription series in Severance Hall and performs in several other locations throughout Ohio. The Cleveland Pops Orchestra's diverse, innovative and electrifying programs have been critically acclaimed. The orchestra has three CDs, Music to Grow On, an exciting collection of music for children and adults of all ages, Live at the Pops, a stirring compilation of music taken from live performances, and a 20th anniversary CD, which includes a selection of live performances taken from concerts over a span from the past decade.
Carl is Music Director and Conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra, a summer music festival based in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado. He has assisted in the training of talented young musicians and conductors for positions in symphonic orchestras in the United States and abroad.
In 2008, Carl was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the the Firelands Symphony Orchestra, based in Sandusky, OH. During Topilow's tenure with the orchestra, the number of subscriptions has increased from 56 to 550. Featured soloists have included pianists Sergei Babayan, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and Daniil Trifonov, violinists Danielle Belen, Andres Cardenes, Jaime Laredo, Kurt Nikkanen, cellist Sharon Robinson, guitarist Jason Vieaux, trumpeters Michael Sachs and Alan Siebert, and winners of the Sphinx Competition and Cleveland International Piano Competition.
Carl served as Conductor and Director of the Orchestral Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music for 37 years.
Carl is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, with a degree in clarinet performance and a masters degree in music education. He has held conducting fellowships with the National Orchestral Association with Leon Barzin and the Aspen Music Festival with under Jorge Mester. Carl began his professional career as Exxon Arts Endowment Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
Dan Flowers
President & CEO of Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
Over his 20 years in the non-profit sector, Dan Flowers has developed a small, grassroots community organization into one of the nation’s top performing Foodbank’s. Along the way he has become an expert in organizational culture and built a reputation as a powerful motivational speaker. He is a columnist for Smart Business Magazine and frequent guest on various talk shows and media outlet. He resides in Akron with his wife Holly and their three children. He is an avid reader, runner, bow hunter, video gamer, and martial artist.
High School Dream or Passion:
If there was one consistent dream or passion that defined my high school years, it was to become a rock star. Literally. I played in metal bands and even studied music in college my first two years. I had a fire to perform and still love to play guitar. Beneath that fire was a deep want to enjoy what I do in life and a commitment to not accept a vocation that I did not love. My resolution toward those ends eventually led me to the Foodbank of Eastern Michigan where my career began and has fueled my journey since.
Rob Heiser
President an CEO of Segmint and Wired Views
Rob Heiser is the CEO and co-founder of Segmint Inc, an innovative financial technology company based in Akron, Ohio. Segmint empowers financial institutions and financial technology providers to easily understand and leverage data, interact with customers, and measure results. Rob has been awarded 7 U.S. and international patents for Segmint.
Rob is also the founder of WiredViews Inc., a digital marketing agency with clients in several industries including CPG, Manufacturing and Technology. Previously, he was Chief Technology Officer of SupplierInsight, where he led the application and product development of the first commercially available Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) application serving several fortune 500 companies.
Rob was awarded Crain’s Cleveland 40 under 40 and currently serves on the Advisory Board of Kent State University’s LaunchNET entrepreneurship program. Rob holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management and Information Systems from Kent State University.
Dr. Cynthia Kubu
Cleveland Clinic Neuropsychologist
Cynthia S. Kubu, PhD, ABPP-CN: Dr. Kubu is a Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She was elected a Fellow in the American Psychological Association in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field. Dr. Kubu completed her doctoral degree at the University of Iowa and joined the staff at the Cleveland Clinic in 2001. She is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist with an international reputation in deep brain stimulation and neuroethics. Dr. Kubu’s research efforts have been funded by the National Institutes of Health and are highly pragmatic and patient-centered. In addition to her research efforts, she serves in multiple leadership roles and is committed to teaching all levels of learners.
Mark Kawada
General Manager
Pier W Restaurant
General Manager Mark Kawada is a veteran of the hospitality industry with more than 25 years of experience. A restaurateur, musician, community activist and craft beer aficionado, Kawada practices a simple management philosophy in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant: Guests are the focal point. “We treat our guests as I would treat a guest in my own home,” says Kawada. His approach is felt throughout the restaurant by everyone from cooks and servers, to bartenders and administrative staff.