The Board of Trustees
David C. Sinclair, C. Eng, FIEE - President
Mr. Sinclair has over 43 years in global marketing, business management and business development and is an experienced business builder. From 1979 through 2002, Mr. Sinclair served in positions of increasing responsibility within the Reliance Electric Company, culminating in, from 1988 to 2002, his position as Vice President of Strategic Business Development for the Power and Outside Plant division of Marconi Inc, based in Lorain, Ohio. He began his career in 1970 with General Electric and currently is President of Advanced Hydro Solutions LLC, a developer of hydroelectric projects in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. Mr. Sinclair holds an MSEE in Electrical Power & Systems Engineering from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology in Manchester, England and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of London. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a Chartered Engineer. Currently he on the Board of Fusion Inc., a Member of the Board of the National Hydro Association, Chief Advisor to the Hydro Research Foundation and a Trustee of the British American Chamber of Commerce.
David V. Allen, Esq - Vice President
Mr. Allen is the Assistant General Counsel at Forest City Enterprises, Inc. and a former partner in the Cleveland office of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP for 16 years. His principal area of practice is in real estate and corporate transactions, both commercial and residential including, acquisitions, development, construction, leasing, private and public financing, and all other aspects of real estate transactions for shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, apartment complexes, homeowner and low income housing tax credit transactions. Mr Allen taught both business law and ethics at Walsh University and served four years on Strongsville City Council. He is a member of the Cleveland Bar Association and current President of the BACC. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Baldwin Wallace College and Juris Doctor from the University of Akron School of Law. Mr. Allen is currently Chairman of the British American chamber of Commerce.
Elzabeth Jochum Thorne - Trustee, Chair of Student Selection
Elizabeth Jochum Thorne is the Vice President of Client Management for AETNA's Mid Atlantic Region with over 28 years of sales, marketing and account management experience within the Corporate Insurance Industry with her primary focus in Employee Benefit Consulting. Elizabeth’s expertise is assisting large national employers to effectively manage their benefit investments as well as providing strategic guidance on human capital initiatives, long term healthcare strategies and health and welfare benefit solutions. Elizabeth also spent 13 years as a consultant for international consulting firms Willis and Gallagher Benefit Services. Elizabeth graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and has served on the Board of Directors for the Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the National Health Underwriters and WIN (Women in Networking).
Robert Whittall, CPA - Treasurer
Mr. Whittall is a Chartered Accountant and a CPA, who splits time between the UK and US advising companies seeking to expand globally. He specializes in both inbound and outbound international taxation issues for closely held businesses and for individuals. With close to 20 years of tax experience, Rob began his career working with family owned businesses in the UK. He then came to the US to work for one of the Big Four Accounting Firms and later transitioned to another top US public accounting firm where he became a partner specializing in international tax issues. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Ohio Society of CPAs and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in both England and Wales. Rob also has his Master of Accountancy in Taxation from Cleveland State University. He received his undergraduate degrees in accounting from Staffordshire University and Reed College of Accounting. He is Treasurer of the BACC and a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.
Michael Farago - Secretary
Mr. Farago is a Vice President in the Group Benefits Department at Oswald Companies, where he has worked since 2005. Oswald is a leading Independent consultative insurance broker in the Midwest and one of the largest employee-owned firms in the country. In addition to leading the consulting function for the Department, Michael manages a diverse group of domestic and international clients. His areas of expertise include wellness and risk reduction strategies for self-funded healthcare plans. Michael started his insurance career in Boston more than twenty years ago with Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at Boston University and holds a Health Insurance Associate (HIA) designation, along with Life & Health license. Michael lives in Wellington, where he grew up, with his wife and two school-aged children. His family loves spending time together camping and experiencing live music.
Mr. Farago is a Vice President in the Group Benefits Department at Oswald Companies, where he has worked since 2005. Oswald is a leading Independent consultative insurance broker in the Midwest and one of the largest employee-owned firms in the country. In addition to leading the consulting function for the Department, Michael manages a diverse group of domestic and international clients. His areas of expertise include wellness and risk reduction strategies for self-funded healthcare plans. Michael started his insurance career in Boston more than twenty years ago with Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication at Boston University and holds a Health Insurance Associate (HIA) designation, along with Life & Health license. Michael lives in Wellington, where he grew up, with his wife and two school-aged children. His family loves spending time together camping and experiencing live music.
Christina (Christy) A. Woskobojnik - Trustee
Christy is a Tax Manager with Dyke Yaxley and as a former controller, Christy provides her clients with a comprehensive perspective on their tax and operational matters. Christy brings more than 20 years of experience with privately-held companies in the professional services, transportation, and manufacturing industries. Her roles at these organizations have given her the unique skillset of being able to identify issues and provide practical solutions across functional departments as they apply to the financial management of the company. In addition, Christy completed the 10-month Cleveland State University Global Target Program, which matches companies with a mentor company to help implement exporting best practices and teaches a variety of relevant topics including international logistics, compliance, country selection, and customs.
She currently serves as a Trustee, Board of Directors and Chair of the annual fundraising event for Neighborhood Family Practice, and is a board member for the SBCA – Small Business Council of America.
Christy is a Tax Manager with Dyke Yaxley and as a former controller, Christy provides her clients with a comprehensive perspective on their tax and operational matters. Christy brings more than 20 years of experience with privately-held companies in the professional services, transportation, and manufacturing industries. Her roles at these organizations have given her the unique skillset of being able to identify issues and provide practical solutions across functional departments as they apply to the financial management of the company. In addition, Christy completed the 10-month Cleveland State University Global Target Program, which matches companies with a mentor company to help implement exporting best practices and teaches a variety of relevant topics including international logistics, compliance, country selection, and customs.
She currently serves as a Trustee, Board of Directors and Chair of the annual fundraising event for Neighborhood Family Practice, and is a board member for the SBCA – Small Business Council of America.
James (Jim) Wilson - Trustee
Jim is a Senior Consultant with the professional services firm Nitor Partners where he works with clients to understand opportunities and implement efficiency strategies focusing on best practices and FinTech solutions within the Procurement, Working Capital, and Treasury disciplines. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience with global Fortune 500 companies in the banking, transportation, and manufacturing industries. His roles in Finance, Accounting, Treasury, and Risk Management have given him a well-rounded foundation to understand processes within business models in order to solve problems and identify opportunities. Jim is an active member of the BACC and a board member of the Clifton Club in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland State university with a BBA in Finance and received his MBA with a focus on International Business from Baldwin Wallace University. Jim resides in Rocky River, Ohio with his wife and two children. his family loves spending time together and travelling abroad.
Jim is a Senior Consultant with the professional services firm Nitor Partners where he works with clients to understand opportunities and implement efficiency strategies focusing on best practices and FinTech solutions within the Procurement, Working Capital, and Treasury disciplines. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience with global Fortune 500 companies in the banking, transportation, and manufacturing industries. His roles in Finance, Accounting, Treasury, and Risk Management have given him a well-rounded foundation to understand processes within business models in order to solve problems and identify opportunities. Jim is an active member of the BACC and a board member of the Clifton Club in Lakewood, Ohio. He graduated from Cleveland State university with a BBA in Finance and received his MBA with a focus on International Business from Baldwin Wallace University. Jim resides in Rocky River, Ohio with his wife and two children. his family loves spending time together and travelling abroad.
