Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Jon Eckerle, Board President
Jon is a long time Urbanist, studying urban communities, lifestyles and interactions. He is involved with The Observer Project, a neighborhood development– community newspaper organization, and works as a commercial real estate agent.

Maggie Simak, Treasurer
Margaret L. Simak is an Ohio licensed attorney with an emphasis on tax law.  Her Bachelor’s degree is from Miami University (Ohio) (Philosophy and Political Science, 1985). Her Juris Doctor degree was earned at Ohio State University (1988) and an LL.M. (Taxation) was awarded in 1995 from Case Western University. Simak left the industry to pursue her passion for horses and has competed nationally in eventing, dressage; currently she is training a young horse for competition. Since 2001, Simak has been the Trophy Committee Chairman of the Ohio Professional Horsemen’s Association, a non-profit organization with over 500 members that promotes horsemanship and horse shows in Northeast Ohio. In addition to being on the CGP board, she also retains the role of Treasurer.

 

Jessica Ferrato, Secretary
Jessica Ferrato’s keen interest in sustainable energy background in marine science and water resources engineering led her to take a green manufacturing course on the benefits of applying green industrial practices to the cattle industry. Interested to learn about other like-minded individuals’ work, she designed a cross-country trip volunteering on organic farms which culminated at a family permaculture farm in eastern Washington. Her passion for local foods turned into a cottage local-produce home delivery business which she ran for two years before joining the consulting world. Currently she works with the Cuyahoga National Park system. She holds a Bachelor of Science, marine & freshwater biology from Ohio University

 

 

Brooks Jones Jr.
A career strategic planning consultant, Brooks Jones Jr. is also Cleveland Tofu Company’s former CEO. He’s blended his professional expertise with his interest in recycling and sustainability in recent years with several organizations in Northeast Ohio. In addition to being a key member on the CGP board, he is also facilitating on behalf of the City of Cleveland with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the West Creek Preservation Committee and Naturehood to estableish native plant nurseries to reduce the cost of vacant land management for the City Jones Jr. holds a B.A. in Agriculture from Goddard University.

 

 

Peter Machlup
Peter Machlup’s past focus was computer science. For the past eighteen years he’s worked as a systems and business analyst. His present focus is the practice of law.

 

 

 

 

Lute Quintrell
Lute Quintrell’s professional focus has been in Business Management, Information Technology, and Supply Chain Management in a variety of environments, including the Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical, Consumer Products, Electronics, and Petroleum industries.  His expertise in creating and implementing comprehensive improvement plans is a direct asset to CGP.

Y-VON 
Y-VON is a staunch supporter of small business enterprise, she has been instrumental in helping a number of mini entrepreneurs open and operate both traditional and non-traditional small business outlets and also to maintain the same. Y-VON is a person with many and varied interests mostly centered around  economic, social and environmental justice and restoration for the human race. An Oral Traditionalist or Storyteller, is most often referred to and known as simply “Y-VON”– is a compassionate human rights advocate, with an unshakeable passion for helping people attain their highest level of success. In addition to Y-VON’s extensive community involvement, she has worked professionally in the mortgage lending, small business lending and customer and social services sectors.