CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS ENTERING THE 2025-26 SEASON
Posted July 28, 2025 in Press Releases
(Cleveland, OH) Cleveland Play House (CPH), America’s first professional regional theatre and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award, proudly announces the appointment of its new Board of Directors for the 2025–26 fiscal year. This new leadership cohort brings a diverse range of expertise in business, education, philanthropy, and the arts, reinforcing the organization’s mission to inspire, stimulate, and entertain through transformative theatre experiences.
Leading the board as Chair is longtime supporter and civic leader Jon Bloomberg, whose vision and dedication to community engagement will guide CPH through a season of artistic innovation and institutional growth. Joining him are new officers and board members, each bringing a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering dynamic storytelling on and off the stage, including Dr. Ethan Karp (President and Chief Executive Officer at Magnet), Susan Oguche (Former Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer of the Cleveland Cavaliers), Laura Paszt (Cleveland Office Tax Managing Partner at Deloitte), Mark Plush (Former Chief Financial Officer at multiple organizations), and Anne Polkinghorn (Vice President of Integrated Marketing at The Adcom Group). Together, the new board is poised to champion bold artistic choices, expand access to theatre and arts education, and support the organization's long-term sustainability.
Said Bloomberg, “I am humbled to have the opportunity to chair this remarkable institution and fortunate to serve with such extraordinarily talented and dedicated board members. We are stewards of a Cleveland cultural gem that warrants our and the community’s full support.”
Chair: Jon Bloomberg*
Immediate Past Chair: Mike Meehan*
Vice Chairs: Ryan R. Cross*, Brian Grady*, Kathleen A. Hogg*, Kim Meisel Pesses*, and Paul Siemborski*
Treasurer: Sam Steinhouse*
Assistant Treasurer: Mark Plush*
Secretary: Amy Willey*
Honorary Directors for Life: Robert A. Blattner, Robert G. Paul, Alan M. Rauss, and Bloake A. Sells
Directors: Dr. David L. Bronson, Marianne Crosley* (Governance Committee Chair), Tracy L. Forrester, Roe Green, Andrea Kanter Grodin, Janet Kramer (Development Committee Chair), Akil Hameed, Dr. Brian Harte, Dr. Ethan Karp, Janet L. Kramer*, Milton Maltz, Kevin D. Margolis, Sonia Mintun, Deborah L. Neale, Susan Oguche, Anthony M. Panzica, Laura Paszt, Anne Polkinghorn, Rosemary Rehner, Griselda Rondon, Dr. Robert G. Salomon, Karen A. Skunta, Sally Stewart, Stephen Thome, Anne Marie Warren, and Chuck Zellmer (Planning and Progress Committee Chair)
National Directors: lan Alda, Joel Grey, Austin Pendleton, Kenyon C. Bolton III**, and Sandra Kiely Kolb**
* indicates member of the Executive Committee.
BOARD CHAIR BIOGRAPHY
JON BLOOMBERG (Board Chair): Jon Bloomberg is a member of the Environmental, Safety & Health Practice and has more than 30 years of experience. He provides compliance counseling to clients, manages permitting on behalf of clients, handles enforcement actions, evaluates transactional risk management, and has served on crisis management and internal investigation teams. Jon has also advised companies on sustainability programs and managed large multidiscipline project development teams. Jon has more than 20 years of experience serving as counsel to various companies in the refining and petrochemical industry. In addition, he has represented clients in the fuel transportation, ethanol and food processing, mining and waste incinerators spaces. He has experience working with clients in the manufacturing industry, including experience with milling, machining, extruding and coating facilities. Prior to joining the firm, Jon was assistant general counsel at a multistate energy and utility company providing advice, counsel and strategy on air regulation, federal and state air policy, coal ash management and other compliance matters across an eight-state area. Jon also has 10 years of teaching experience, having served as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas Law School, where he taught administrative law and environmental law, and at William Mitchell College of Law, where he taught environmental regulations. A full biography for Jon Bloomberg is included in the media kit provided.
NEW BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS BIOGRAPHIES
DR. ETHAN KARP transforms companies and communities. As President and CEO of MAGNET, he helps manufacturing companies grow through technology, innovation, and talent. Dr. Karp is passionate about driving economic prosperity in Northeast Ohio. Each year, MAGNET helps manufacturers create thousands of jobs and uplifts thousands of people by helping them secure manufacturing careers. He’s a committed change-maker and community builder, serving as the founding Board Chair of Greater Cleveland Works, Executive Board member of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition and the Cleveland Leadership Center, Faculty Director at Case Western Reserve University, and Board member of the Greater Akron Chamber, Team NEO, Greater Cleveland Career Consortium (GCCC), and Cleveland Play House. Dr. Karp is a recognized thought leader and a frequent national media commentator on the future of manufacturing in America, particularly through his regular column on Forbes.com and his podcast: Make It: Frank Conversations on the Future of Manufacturing. Before joining MAGNET in 2013, he worked with Fortune 500 companies at McKinsey & Company. Dr. Karp received undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and physics from Miami University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from Harvard University. He lives in Cleveland with his wife and three daughters. His personal passion is leadership self-awareness and development, and he loves a good personality profile system, especially Enneagram!
SUSAN OGUCHE is an award-winning, industry-leading communications and sports marketing executive with progressive experience shaping narratives for some of the world's most iconic and beloved brands with over 15 years of experience as a communications leader. As one of PRWeek's 40 Under 40, Susan has led large and small teams to design and execute high-impact campaigns that drive business results and enhance brand reputation. She recently served as the EVP and CCO for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, overseeing a complex communications organization across multiple high-profile sports and entertainment properties. Susan serves on the Board of Directors for Providence House, an organization focused on providing crisis nursery care and family support services. She is also co-founder of Crown Elite, an international basketball not-for-profit organization that works with the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) and the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) to maximize the potential of talented youth athletes and professional players. Additionally, Susan also serves on the Marketing and Communications Board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, which is dedicated to elevating the region's profile and attracting investment to the area.
LAURA PASZT is the Cleveland Office Tax Managing Partner. Laura also serves as the Client Service Tax Partner in iCRS - IT National. Her current focus includes FDII (Foreign Derived Intangible Income, Section 250) and other aspects of tax reform within the iCRS group. Before joining iCRS, Laura spent 9 years in NFTS and 10 years in BTS. Cleveland Office Tax Managing Partner. Client Service Tax Partner in iCRS - IT National. Currently focusing on FDII - Foreign Derived Intangible Income (Section 250) and other aspects of tax reform in the iCRS group. Prior to iCRS I spent 9 years in NFTS and 10 years in BTS. Extensive experience as both a tax generalist and as a specialist. As the Cleveland Office Tax Managing Partner, Laura also serves as the Client Service Tax Partner in iCRS - IT National. Her current focus includes FDII (Foreign Derived Intangible Income, Section 250) and other aspects of tax reform within the iCRS group. Before joining iCRS, Laura spent 9 years in NFTS and 10 years in BTS. With extensive experience, she has worked both as a tax generalist and as a specialist.
MARK PLUSH is a senior level financial executive with over 40 years of experience in financial management, business leadership and strategic planning. He most recently served as CFO of Wireless Environment, LLC – a fast growing startup acquired by Ring LLC (an Amazon subsidiary) – which developed the lighting products now sold under the Ring brand. His previous roles include CFO positions at Trust Technologies and Energy Focus where he led major financial restructurings. Prior to that, Mark was CFO and Controller at Keithley Instruments, a test & measurement company, previously listed on the NYSE. Mark has had extensive experience in developing accounting, financial reporting, and control systems. Mark has been recognized by Crains Cleveland Business with a C-Suite Award for his leadership as CFO at Wireless Environment. He also taught accounting at John Carroll University, his alma mater. Deeply committed to community service, Mark has held leadership roles on several nonprofit boards, including the March of Dimes, University Hospitals Regional Hospitals (Board Chair), and UH’s main board and audit committee (Vice Chair). He currently serves as Chair of UH’s ENT Council, sits on the UH Accountable Care Organization Board, and chairs the Finance Committee for the Lakewood Rangers Education Fund. Mark has a BSBA from John Carroll University, an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, and is a CPA. He resides in Lakewood, Ohio.
ANNE POLKINGHORN is the Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Adcom, where she leads strategic agency growth by developing integrated marketing programs that drive measurable results for clients. With 25 years of experience in E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, Anne has worked with major brands, including Pennzoil and Michaels, before transitioning to the agency side, where she now serves clients across the fitness, healthcare, grocery, manufacturing, financial, and non-profit sectors. A passionate advocate for digital innovation, Anne stays at the forefront of marketing trends and specializes in helping clients adopt AI technologies to enhance their marketing effectiveness. Her commitment to mentorship and community involvement runs deep with Engage! Cleveland, where she has served as a mentor for two cohorts, helping develop the next generation of civic leaders. Anne has also been a dedicated volunteer with the Prayers from Maria Organization for over 10 years, demonstrating her long-term commitment to community service. As a proud Ohio State University graduate, she also actively participates in their mentorship program, dedicating time to guiding young professionals in their career development. Anne resides in Bay Village, Ohio, with her husband Chris, their four children, and two dogs. Her dedication to community involvement and proven track record in marketing for both commercial and non-profit organizations align perfectly with the Cleveland Playhouse's mission to engage and inspire audiences through exceptional theatrical experiences.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
MICHAEL BARAKIVA (Artistic Director) is an Armenian-Israeli American director and writer who has staged new plays, revivals, and classics in New York City and around the country. Michael was appointed Artistic Director of Cleveland Play House in December 2023, where he served as director of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as well as co-director of CPH’s world premiere production of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure. Barakiva’s work has been seen at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Primary Stages, Syracuse Stage, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and the Hangar Theatre, where he served as Artistic Director. He founded The Upstart Creatures, a theatre company that creates community through performance and food, as well as the Leadership Initiative Project, which equips historically excluded artists with the tools to succeed in leadership positions. Barakiva has received three Drama League directing fellowships, the Phil Killian Directing Fellowship (OSF), the David Merrick Prize in Drama, and was a Granada Artist-in-Residence at UC Davis. He led a week-long workshop on musical theatre at the International Puppet Theater in Sofia, Bulgaria, and was a presenter at the International University Theatre Festival at UNAM in Mexico City. He served as producer of Summer Camp 6 (Soho Rep) and as the Readings and Workshops Coordinator at New York Stage and Film, as well as a Primary Coach on Season 2 of MTV’s Made. As a writer, Barakiva is the recipient of a Red Bull Commission for his adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, an EST/Sloan Project Commission, and a co-author of String Theory (Connotation Press). His young adult novels have been named to the Rainbow List, Equality Family Council Reading List, The Barnes and Noble’s Perfect Valentine’s Day YA Novels list, spending over a year as Goodreads #1 LGBTQ YA Novel. Education: Vassar College, The Juilliard School.
RACHEL L. FINK (Managing Director) is thrilled to be returning home to Northeast Ohio after 25 years. Her childhood was filled with fundamental and rich Cleveland arts experiences — and it was at Heights High that Fink’s passion for arts access, social justice, and inclusive, equitable practices was ignited. She carried those values with her as she enrolled at Case Western Reserve University, where an astute professor introduced her to the field of arts administration, and she hasn’t turned back since. The experience at CWRU led to an internship at Cleveland Play House, followed by earning an MFA in theater management at the Yale School of Drama (now the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale). After graduate school, Fink ventured west to Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, where she founded and grew the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre into a nationally-recognized learning hub which centered theatre as an essential education and engagement tool for all ages, providing direct service and support to more than 300 theatres and 2,000 artists across the San Francisco Bay Area. Most recently, Fink served as the executive director of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois. Fink is on the boards of the League of Resident Theatres and CreativeOhio, and is excited to join the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2026. Shehas held professional distinctions including co-leading the Professional Association of Chicago Theatres; and serving as a Fellow at the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago/Harris School of Public Policy; as the US delegate for the British Council’s Cultural Leadership International Programme; as a member of the American Express/Aspen Institute Fellowship for Emerging Nonprofit Leaders inaugural class; and as a 2016 artEquity facilitator cohort member.
ABOUT CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE
CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE, founded in 1915 and recipient of the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is America's first professional regional theatre. Throughout its rich history, CPH has remained dedicated to its mission to inspire, stimulate, and entertain diverse audiences across Northeast Ohio by producing plays and theatre education programs of the highest professional standards. CPH has produced more than 100 world and/or American premieres, and over its long history more than 12 million people have attended over 1,600 productions. Today, Cleveland Play House celebrates the beginning of its second century of service while performing in three state-of-the art venues at Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Play House is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Cleveland Play House is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. To learn more, visit:www.clevelandplayhouse.com.
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