Wendy Gramza is the President and CEO of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce. She assumed this role on July 1, 2014, after serving as Executive Vice President for 11 years. During her over 25 years as a Chamber professional, she has also served as vice president of Business Development Services and held several other positions within the organization.

She is a graduate of the University of Toledo, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing. Wendy is also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management.

Wendy is a participant in the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Civic Leadership Program and a member of the Toledo Chapter of Rotary International. She is a board member of Junior Achievement as well as a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Toledo and the Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter. She is also a member of the Northwest Ohio Business Advisory Council.

Wendy received the prestigious 20 Under 40 Award in 2005, which recognizes the professional accomplishments of people in northwest Ohio under the age of 40.

She holds the designation of Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, and has been appointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, an elite group of chamber chief executives that represents the perspectives and needs of chambers and their members to the U.S. Chamber.

Dave Robinson is the founder and principal of The Montrose Group, LLC, a national economic development and public affairs consulting firm based in Columbus, Ohio. With more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of government, business and public policy, Dave is a recognized leader in economic development strategy, corporate site location and advocacy.

Dave has guided Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized firms and local governments through complex development projects, helping clients secure millions of dollars in incentives and successfully expand or relocate across multiple states. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping strategic economic development plans that drive growth and resilience in both rural and urban communities.

Before launching The Montrose Group, Dave served in several high-impact roles, including as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, Press Secretary for the Mayor of Columbus and general counsel for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. These experiences gave him unique insight into the legislative, regulatory, and political processes that influence economic growth.

Dave is also an educator and author. He has written two books on economic development and regularly speaks at national conferences on public policy and business strategy. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at both Ohio State University and Bowling Green State University.

He holds a law degree from Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and completed advanced management training at the Fisher College of Business. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Bowling Green State University.

Through The Montrose Group, Dave continues to shape the future of communities and companies alike, building bridges between private-sector innovation and public-sector opportunity.

Avi Zaffini serves as president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges, leading efforts to support and advocate for Ohio’s 23 community colleges and their leadership teams. Since stepping into the role in 2023, Avi has focused on strengthening workforce development initiatives, expanding partnerships and ensuring that Ohio’s community colleges remain a vital pathway to economic opportunity.

Before joining OACC, Avi was senior vice president of Business Engagement and Strategic Initiatives at the Ohio Business Roundtable, where he played a key role in business development, member engagement and private-sector initiatives. He also oversaw the Ohio CEO Summit, the state’s premier annual gathering of business leaders.

Avi’s career in public service includes serving as chief of staff in the Ohio Lt. Governor’s Office following Jon Husted’s election in 2019. He played a pivotal role in the DeWine-Husted gubernatorial transition and previously held leadership positions in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. His experience in government and business has given him a deep understanding of how education, workforce development and economic growth intersect.

A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Avi completed two combat tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2009. His service instilled a lifelong commitment to leadership, discipline and public service. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Ohio State University.

With a career spanning government, business and education, Avi is dedicated to fostering collaboration between Ohio’s community colleges, employers and policymakers to create stronger opportunities for students and workers.

Mike Duffey was appointed the 11th Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) in January 2024. In this role, he oversees Ohio’s two-year and four-year colleges, universities and Ohio Technical Centers, providing policy guidance to the Governor and General Assembly while implementing state higher education policy.

Prior to becoming Chancellor, Duffey served ODHE for five years as Senior Vice Chancellor, leading key policy initiatives, including transcript release, student debt relief, FAFSA completion, short-term credentials, Ohio’s College Comeback initiative and support for innovation and technology commercialization.

Before joining ODHE, he served eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he chaired the Higher Education and Workforce Committee, vice-chaired the Joint Committee on College Affordability, and co-chaired the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. As a legislator, he played a key role in giving the Chancellor authority to review special fees and enabling the state auditor to conduct performance audits of public colleges. He also sponsored the legislation that created JobsOhio.

Duffey has held leadership roles beyond ODHE, serving as the Governor’s designee on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and chairing the State Committee on Computer Science. From 2019 to 2021, he also served as Deputy Director of InnovateOhio, an initiative supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.

In addition to his education policy work, Duffey played a pivotal role in the legal efforts that saved the Columbus Crew soccer franchise, earning him the Spirit of Columbus award from The Columbus Foundation.

Chancellor Duffey holds an MBA from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan.

Arturo Polizzi is the president and chief executive officer of ProMedica, a leading not-for-profit healthcare system headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. Polizzi is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and healthcare industry. He is highly skilled in nonprofit organizations, strategy, operations, team building and business development.

A first-generation college student, Arturo’s journey began at Miami University, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor in Law from the University of Toledo and later his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan.

Arturo started his career in 1998 at ProMedica as an in-house attorney. Over the past 25-plus years, he has served in various strategic and operational roles at the organization, including associate general counsel, chief human resources officer and president of the metro Toledo ProMedica hospitals. Before returning to ProMedica as the chief operating officer in 2020, Polizzi served as the president and CEO at Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati.

Carla Benjamin is a dedicated community leader and advocate for hope, equity and opportunity. She is a graduate of the University of Findlay, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Business with a minor in Business Administration. Her educational foundation, combined with her lived experience, has fueled her passion for supporting individuals and families striving for a better future.

As executive director of Welcome to a New Life, Carla plays a pivotal role in guiding individuals on the path to personal transformation. Her career is rooted in service, with past roles as a Member Service Coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce, a Sales Representative at WKXA 100.5 and a long tenure at The Ohio Bank.

Beyond her professional achievements, Carla actively contributes to key community initiatives. She serves as co-chair of the Hancock County Community Coalition on Addiction - Community Awareness Committee and is a member of the Affordable Housing Alliance, the Community Corrections Planning Board and the Community Advisory Committee. She is a past member of the Hancock County Cultural Humility/Health Equity Delegation and past board member for Cancer Patient Services.

Carla's leadership is further strengthened by her Minority Executive Leadership Certificate and her Certificate for Nonprofit Management from the Toledo Center for Nonprofit Resources. As the daughter of a migrant worker who overcame cycles of poverty, illiteracy and addiction, Carla’s story reflects her belief that everyone deserves hope and a second chance. She now works tirelessly to help others understand that, with hard work and determination, they too can create a new life for themselves and their families.

Toledo Tomorrow was founded in 2018 as the northwest Ohio region’s first College & Career Access Group, and has worked to build broad and diverse educational & community partnerships, and achieved good changes and progress. Toledo Tomorrow’s mission is to eliminate barriers to student success and ensure that all students and adults, regardless of race, ZIP code or life circumstance, have a pathway to complete a meaningful education and enter the workforce.

President Bob Savage has strong ties to the regional community's education, nonprofit, government, business and philanthropic sectors. Savage is a member of the Ohio College Access and Success Network, Ohio Attainment Coalition and Ohio Cradle2Career Network. He has served on the Toledo Community Foundation Investment Committee, Toledo and Lucas County Plan Commissions, UTMC Provost Advisory Committee and the Downtown Toledo Rotary Chapter.

Savage is the Founder and President of Savage Consulting, which has been in business for over 20 years. Savage raised capital for the first local private-public venture fund under the State’s Third Frontier program, and then northwest Ohio’s first private venture fund in over 20 years, and its most successful fund, CoreNetwork Fund. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Savage majored in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management.

Laura Koprowski is the chief executive officer of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA). She has amassed more than 20 years of leadership in transportation, strategic planning, communications and public policy. Her career is marked by successful collaborations with public officials, civic organizations and businesses, driving partnerships that fuel organizational growth and regional transformation.

Laura holds a Master of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Ohio University. Her educational background in public service has been foundational to her success in developing innovative programs and leading organizational change.

Before becoming CEO in 2021, Laura served as TARTA’s deputy chief executive officer and chief communications and customer experience officer, where she implemented strategic marketing and communications plans and cultivated a customer-centric culture. She has also served as executive director of the Ohio Public Transit Association (OPTA) and vice president of Government Affairs and Communications at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA).

With a proven track record in policy advocacy, organizational transformation and brand development, Laura is committed to advancing public transportation and improving mobility options for the Toledo region. She continues to lead TARTA with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, positioning the agency as a leader in the transit industry.

Laura’s passion for sustainable transportation and her forward-thinking leadership make her a key advocate for public transit at both the state and federal levels.