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Meet the Team
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Board of Directors
Elizabeth Cohen, President
Beth is the owner of Faux Elegance Interiors. She specializes in designing interior spaces & unique paint finishes.
Carol Roe, Vice President
Carol A. Roe JD, MSN, RN - Carol obtained an MSN from Case Western Reserve University and a JD from Cleveland State University. She is retired from the Centers for Dialysis Care of Shaker Heights, Ohio as Director of Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management. Carol's career has encompassed the roles of staff nurse in both acute and long term care as well nursing administrator and educator. Additionally, as a lobbyist for the Ohio Nurses Association, she advocated the professions views to the Ohio General Assembly. She was one of the architects of legislation which resulted in the recognition of advanced practice nurses in Ohio. As public affairs consultant for the Ohio Board of Nursing, she advised the Ohio General Assembly about the impact of legislation on nursing regulation and drafted many of the first rules related to advanced practice nursing in Ohio. She was the first editor of the Ohio Board of Nursings newsletter to licensees. She has published in the areas of nursing law and professional issues. Her presentations in the renal community have focused on enhancing the safety and quality of care for patients undergoing dialysis.
John Heinert, Secretary / Treasurer
Michael T. Delaney
Michael Delaney is an attorney specializing in corporate financial distress, insolvency, and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. He represents corporate debtors, creditor committees, and fiduciaries, and has experience with distressed transactions, debt restructuring, and receiverships. Michael holds leadership positions in professional organizations like the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. He frequently speaks on insolvency issues and contributes to relevant publications. Michael has been recognized in The Legal 500 USA and Chambers USA, and named a Southern California "Super Lawyer" for business bankruptcy. He also provides pro bono legal services to veterans.
He holds a J.D. from Chapman University and an LL.M. from George Washington University. Michael has extensive experience in high-profile bankruptcy cases, including representing companies like Limetree Bay Refining and Relativity Media. His areas of focus include healthcare, debt finance, mergers, and acquisitions
He holds a J.D. from Chapman University and an LL.M. from George Washington University. Michael has extensive experience in high-profile bankruptcy cases, including representing companies like Limetree Bay Refining and Relativity Media. His areas of focus include healthcare, debt finance, mergers, and acquisitions
Michael P. Donnelly
Justice Michael P. Donnelly is the 160th justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. He took office in January 2019, following his statewide election in November 2018 to a full term on the Court.
Prior to joining the state Court, Justice Donnelly served as a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division for 14 years. He was elected to the seat in November 2004 and re-elected in 2010 and 2016. In addition, from 2010 to 2017, he was one of five judges on Cuyahoga County’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, which oversees criminal cases involving defendants who suffer from severe mental illness or developmental disabilities.
Before serving as a member of the local judiciary, Justice Donnelly was an assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor from 1992 until 1997. He then went on to practice civil litigation for seven years, first practicing at an insurance-defense firm, and later joining a firm where he represented injured workers and other plaintiffs in asbestos litigation, personal injury lawsuits, and workers’ compensation claims.
Justice Donnelly served on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism from 2007 to 2012 and chaired the Commission during his final year. During his tenure on the Commission on Professionalism, he helped establish the highly successful Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, which has received national accolades. He also spent more than a decade personally mentoring new lawyers.
In 2011, Justice Donnelly was one of two Ohio judges invited to participate in a two-year program created by the National Judicial College as part of their “Innovative Leadership Skills for Leader-Manager Judges Project,” which aimed to empower future judicial leaders across the United States to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.
Justice Donnelly has also been a faculty member of the Ohio Judicial College, teaching both attorneys and judges at numerous continuing-legal-education seminars on professionalism and issues of criminal and civil justice reform and procedural fairness.
Justice Donnelly has served as a member of both the Ohio State Board of Bar Examiners and the Ohio Jury Instruction Committee. He was appointed by the chief justice to the Ohio Supreme Court Death Penalty Task Force in 2013, and he currently serves as the Ohio Supreme Court’s liaison to the Task Force on Conviction Integrity and Post-Conviction review.
Justice Donnelly is a proud recipient of the 2015 Honorable William K. Thomas Professionalism Award from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the 2017 Public Service Award from the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, and the 2020 Alumni of the Year Award from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He was inducted into Cleveland Marshall College of Law Hall of Fame in 2020.
Justice Donnelly serves on the board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, which provides baseball and softball summer programs at no charge to children living in lower-income areas of Cleveland and East Cleveland. He also was involved with the development of the Western Reserve Fire Museum, which educates children about fire safety.
He is a graduate of Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School and John Carroll University, and he received his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1992.
He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Cleveland Heights. They have two children.
Prior to joining the state Court, Justice Donnelly served as a judge on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, General Division for 14 years. He was elected to the seat in November 2004 and re-elected in 2010 and 2016. In addition, from 2010 to 2017, he was one of five judges on Cuyahoga County’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court, which oversees criminal cases involving defendants who suffer from severe mental illness or developmental disabilities.
Before serving as a member of the local judiciary, Justice Donnelly was an assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor from 1992 until 1997. He then went on to practice civil litigation for seven years, first practicing at an insurance-defense firm, and later joining a firm where he represented injured workers and other plaintiffs in asbestos litigation, personal injury lawsuits, and workers’ compensation claims.
Justice Donnelly served on the Ohio Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism from 2007 to 2012 and chaired the Commission during his final year. During his tenure on the Commission on Professionalism, he helped establish the highly successful Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, which has received national accolades. He also spent more than a decade personally mentoring new lawyers.
In 2011, Justice Donnelly was one of two Ohio judges invited to participate in a two-year program created by the National Judicial College as part of their “Innovative Leadership Skills for Leader-Manager Judges Project,” which aimed to empower future judicial leaders across the United States to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system.
Justice Donnelly has also been a faculty member of the Ohio Judicial College, teaching both attorneys and judges at numerous continuing-legal-education seminars on professionalism and issues of criminal and civil justice reform and procedural fairness.
Justice Donnelly has served as a member of both the Ohio State Board of Bar Examiners and the Ohio Jury Instruction Committee. He was appointed by the chief justice to the Ohio Supreme Court Death Penalty Task Force in 2013, and he currently serves as the Ohio Supreme Court’s liaison to the Task Force on Conviction Integrity and Post-Conviction review.
Justice Donnelly is a proud recipient of the 2015 Honorable William K. Thomas Professionalism Award from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the 2017 Public Service Award from the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, and the 2020 Alumni of the Year Award from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He was inducted into Cleveland Marshall College of Law Hall of Fame in 2020.
Justice Donnelly serves on the board of the Cleveland Baseball Federation, which provides baseball and softball summer programs at no charge to children living in lower-income areas of Cleveland and East Cleveland. He also was involved with the development of the Western Reserve Fire Museum, which educates children about fire safety.
He is a graduate of Cleveland’s St. Ignatius High School and John Carroll University, and he received his Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He was admitted to the practice of law in Ohio in 1992.
He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Cleveland Heights. They have two children.
Robyn Forney
Robyn Forney is a dedicated volunteer, entrepreneur, and experienced professional. Currently, they volunteer with Red Wine & Blue, where they gather signatures for reproductive rights and help organize events. As the founder of Early Bird Embroidery, they oversee all aspects of the business, including design, customer relations, and operations, growing the business by 200% in five years.
Previously, they worked in product management at American Greetings, handling Target’s gift wrap account, and as a buyer at OfficeMax. They also held a role as Assistant Store Manager at The Gap.
Their career hiatus from 2002 to 2018 was spent raising children and volunteering. They are active in numerous organizations, including the Junior League of Cleveland, and have supported political campaigns and social causes. They hold a Teaching Certificate from Notre Dame College and a BS in Fashion Merchandising from Kent State University.
Previously, they worked in product management at American Greetings, handling Target’s gift wrap account, and as a buyer at OfficeMax. They also held a role as Assistant Store Manager at The Gap.
Their career hiatus from 2002 to 2018 was spent raising children and volunteering. They are active in numerous organizations, including the Junior League of Cleveland, and have supported political campaigns and social causes. They hold a Teaching Certificate from Notre Dame College and a BS in Fashion Merchandising from Kent State University.
Laura Hong
Laura Kingsley Hong, a trial lawyer with 35 years of experience, is nationally recognized for her expertise in class action, mass and toxic tort, product, and commercial litigation. Serving as national, trial, and local counsel, she's successfully defended clients in high-stakes cases nationwide.
Laura was inducted into the Case Western Reserve University School of Law Society of Benchers in 2021 and actively contributes to diversity and inclusion efforts. A former professor, she frequently speaks on legal topics.
Laura's education includes a JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a BA from Oberlin College. Admitted to various courts, she holds accolades from The Best Lawyers in America and Crain’s Cleveland Business Women of Note (2021). Active in legal associations, she still continues to make significant contributions to the profession.
Laura was inducted into the Case Western Reserve University School of Law Society of Benchers in 2021 and actively contributes to diversity and inclusion efforts. A former professor, she frequently speaks on legal topics.
Laura's education includes a JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a BA from Oberlin College. Admitted to various courts, she holds accolades from The Best Lawyers in America and Crain’s Cleveland Business Women of Note (2021). Active in legal associations, she still continues to make significant contributions to the profession.
Pauline Ramig
Growing up as the daughter of Nebraska farmers, college was not a given for Pauline. Until her aunt stepped in with the encougragement and a loan. Pauline holds an undergraduate degree and graduate degree in math from the university of Nebraska and the University of Louisville. Before coming to Cleveland in 1970 to complete her Ph.D in mathematics and statistics at Case Western Reserve University. Since then she has emerged as an admiral volunteer, leader, and philanthropist. After working hard on various projects and being a professor, Pauline decided to open up Ramig Financial Planning in 1992. After a long journey with her business she finally closed it in 2021. Ramig still remains very busy as she makes a positive impact in her community and is a proud member of many prestigious boards, foundations, and committees.
Dennis Terez
Dennis G. Terez represents individuals through his service on the Criminal Justice Act panels for
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Ohio. He previously served as an assistant federal public defender and then as chief defender for the
Northern District of Ohio and as acting chief defender for the Southern District of Ohio. He also serves as
an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, and previously served as
an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to his federal appointments,
he was a partner with the international law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey L.L.P. (now Squire Patton
Boggs). Mr. Terez earned a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service, summa cum laude, from Georgetown
University in 1980, where he was valedictorian, and studied abroad as a Fulbright Scholar at the University
of Bonn Juristische Fakultät-Law School from 1981 to 1982. He earned his law degree from the University
of Michigan Law School, magnum cum laude, in 1985, where he was an Articles Editor of the Michigan
Yearbook of International Legal Studies. He recently earned a master of business administration degree
and a master of science in management degree with a specialization in finance from Case Western Reserve
University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Ohio. He previously served as an assistant federal public defender and then as chief defender for the
Northern District of Ohio and as acting chief defender for the Southern District of Ohio. He also serves as
an adjunct faculty member at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, and previously served as
an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to his federal appointments,
he was a partner with the international law firm of Squire, Sanders and Dempsey L.L.P. (now Squire Patton
Boggs). Mr. Terez earned a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service, summa cum laude, from Georgetown
University in 1980, where he was valedictorian, and studied abroad as a Fulbright Scholar at the University
of Bonn Juristische Fakultät-Law School from 1981 to 1982. He earned his law degree from the University
of Michigan Law School, magnum cum laude, in 1985, where he was an Articles Editor of the Michigan
Yearbook of International Legal Studies. He recently earned a master of business administration degree
and a master of science in management degree with a specialization in finance from Case Western Reserve
University’s Weatherhead School of Management.
Board member emeritus
President's Club
Advisory committee
STAFF
Karen Prasser, Executive Director
Susi Kawolics - Asst. to the Executive Director - Bookkeeper
Emily Olesinski, Special Projects & Video Specialist
Lucas Jones - Social Media & Website Coordinator
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