Eight new members have joined this year’s class of new members of the Board of Directors at Lake County’s only four-year degree institution, Lake Erie College.  The new Board members will serve on various leadership committees which include finance and investments, buildings and grounds, enrollment and academic affairs. These members bring experience in a variety of fields and have expertise in diverse areas, from attorneys and general managers to President of University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, former interim president of Lake Erie College and former Dean of Garfield Senior College.

Casey O’Brien is an attorney and partner with Ibold and O’Brien Inc. of Chardon, Ohio and specializes in real estate, employment and corporate law.

Lisa Ward is the Vice President of Research and Development for Steris Corporation where she directs product strategy and new product development.

Mike Bryan joins the LEC Board of Directors from Trane, a global leader in heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. They recently partnered with LEC on the new HVACR lab in the Garfield Center. Bryan is Title Area General Manager for the Cleveland area.

Carol Porter is a retired attorney whose philanthropic and volunteer work is dedicated to promoting the arts and music in the greater Cleveland area.

Kevin Malecek is the Director of Economic Development and International Trade for the city of Mentor. Before joining the city of Mentor, Malecek spent several years working in a variety of roles in government, business, and nonprofit organizations throughout NE Ohio.

Don DeCarlo, M.D. is President of University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center and has many years of healthcare leadership throughout northeast Ohio. He is also the Medical Director for the Lake Erie College PA Program.

Peter Gerhart served as interim President of Lake Erie College and now is a professor of law at Case Western Reserve University where he served as Dean of the law school between 1986 and 1996.

Don Purtill is the former Dean of Garfield Senior College at Lake Erie College and joins the Board after serving as a member of the business faculty at Cleveland State University.  He is a former executive with Eaton Corporation and currently manages an investment advisory business.

"We are delighted to have such a strong group of corporate and civic leaders among our newest Board members," says Dr. Brian Posler, President of Lake Erie College.