All of this year’s Smart 50 honorees have made a difference in their organizations and in the region. Their positive impact on employment has reinvented the Northeast Ohio landscape into one of the most up-and-coming business regions in the country.

The most important dealmaking lessons Frank C. Sullivan has learned in his career have come from his father, Thomas, who was involved in more than 100 transactions during his career at RPM International Inc. Through all the years, dealmaking has been an integral part of the company’s growth strategy.

Culture is the essence and lifeblood of an organization. Culture establishes the energy within an organization and heavily influences the happiness, success and connection employees experience.

It was 2000, and Ray Leach had built an impressive resume — starting two companies, which he sold, then creating two more companies, all in the technology space. He was 34 years old and he was at a crossroads. Things were about to change in a big way.