Attraction Team

Business Development Specialists

The distiguished Akron Biomedical Corridor Attraction Team consists of experienced business development specialists - professionals who know our city and your industry. It's our goal is to provide you with creative economic development opportunities that meet your business's specific needs. Contact us today to find out more!

Dr. Zev Gurion

Executive Director, Akron BioMedical Corridor

Dr. Zev Gurion has over 30 years experience with large global companies. In addition to being executive director of the Akron BioMedical Corridor, he serves as the executive director of the Akron Biomaterials Commercialization Hub of Innovation and Opportunity and as president of New Global Ventures, an affiliate of the Akron Development Corporation. New Global Ventures supports economic development of the city of Akron, Ohio. This venture focuses on attracting international early-stage companies and helping them develop markets and relocate to the Greater Akron area.

What's more, Dr. Gurion is the founder and president of GlobeChem Marketing, a global strategic planning, marketing and business development consulting firm which works with  private international companies and public economic development organizations. He is a strategic business and marketing advisor to a private /public investment group that invested in Targetech Innovation Center, an early stage business incubator in Israel, as well as a board member of the Targetech Innovation Center and several start-up companies.

Dr. Gurion has held various senior global management positions with Monsanto, Celanese, Advanced Elastomer Systems and ExxonMobil Chemical. His international experience includes working with companies in Japan, China, Korea, Turkey, western and eastern Europe, and Israel.

Robert Bowman

Deputy Mayor, Economic Development, City of Akron

Robert Bowman is responsible for administrating the City's economic development programs, which include the attraction and expansion of commercial/industrial development throughout the downtown area, neighborhood business districts and city-owned industrial/office parks. He also manages city incentive programs and international and domestic marketing.

Mr. Bowman has served as a senior advisor to the president/CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, as well as the executive director of the three-county Community Improvement Corporation. In the last 10 years, the region exceeded $250 million annually in new and expanded manufacturing investment and averaged 19 new plants and expansions per year. Bob's staff directly assisted at least one third of the yearly expansions/locations in the three-county region.

Samuel D. DeShazior

Deputy Planning Director, City of Akron

Samuel DeShazior serves a City of Akron cabinet member specializing in economic development and planning investment. He holds a pivotal role as liaison for both the Departments of Economic Development and Urban Planning. A principal agent for Akron's presence in targeted industry sectors on a local, national and international basis, Mr. DeShazior has traveled globally to attract new investment. He coordinates issues of new business projects and expansion plans of existing businesses and markets the strengths of the Akron economy in new and emerging markets.

Richard F. Rebadow

Executive Vice President, Greater Akron Chamber

Richard Rebadow is the CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber economic development business unit. Since his appointment, Mr. Rebadow has directed the organization's involvement in more than 136 economic development projects. In a career that spans more than 26 years, Mr. Rebadow's involvement in local and regional development projects has contributed to more than $2.0 billion in capital investment; the construction of 17 million square feet of manufacturing, office and distribution facilities; and the creation/retention of over 48,000 jobs.

Gregg P. Cramer

VP of Economic Development, Greater Akron Chamber

Gregg Cramer oversees the day-to-day operations of the Greater Akron Chamber's Department of Development. Since 2003, the program has conducted more than 2,100 visitations with nearly 1,000 companies in Summit County. Mr. Cramer also directs the Chamber's participation in both domestic and international trade. Mr. Cramer leads the Chamber's minority outreach and inclusion efforts, and coordinates incoming foreign delegations and trade missions for the Greater Akron Chamber.

Anthony Margida, Ph.D.

Director of Entrepreneurial Services, Akron Global Business Accelerator

Anthony Margida has more than 25 years experience developing/commercializing new technologies and creating/funding new companies in the advanced materials, cleantech, IT and medical device industries.He has served five years on the Akron ARCHAngels Deal Flow Committee and is currently Leadership Chair for LaunchTown™ Entrepreneurship Awards serving NEO's college students.

Previously, Dr. Margida developed and implemented Battelle's Emergent™ Services NASA Company Formation process and served as a company formation advisor for Glennan Microsystems Inc., also with Battelle. His corporate experience includes roles as director of technology for H.B. Fuller Adhesives and commercial development leader for Lord Corporation. Dr. Margida received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from The University of Akron and a BA from the College of Wooster.

Michael LeHere

CEO, Akron Global Business Accelerator

Michael LeHere has served as the CEO of The Akron Global Business Accelerator, considered among the most successful programs in the nation, since its inception in May 1983. He serves as a consultant to other U.S. incubator programs and is president of Midwest Business Development Group LTD, a company involved in consulting to the public and private sector in the area of small business development and job creation.  

Mr. LeHere has 14 years of industrial experience prior to establishing his consulting practice. Most recently, he served as the director of operations manufacturing and engineering for Gould, Ocean Systems Division, a manufacturer of defense electronic systems. In this capacity, he has been recognized as an expert in small business development and was called to testify before the Congress of the United States as an expert witness on the problems of small businesses in dealing with the defense market place.

Mr. LeHere received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from The University of Akron. He is a member of the faculty of The University of Akron, College of Business Administration and an adjunct fellow of the Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. He also serves as a special advisor to the Board of Directors of the Small Business Development Center in the city of Akron, Ohio. Mr. LeHere has served as Chairman of the Edison Technology Incubator Directors Council and is a member of the National Business Incubation Association. He is well respected in the field of incubator development and has published several articles on the subject. 

Robert Anthony

President, REA Incorporated

As president of REA Incorporated, Robert Anthony provides contracted business development, commercialization and strategic planning management and consultation services. He serves individuals and small-to-medium sized companies with innovative medical devices, products and services both domestically and overseas. With 37 years of diverse, senior level management experience in the medical industry, Mr. Anthony is a powerful and proven resource for emerging companies to rely on. He helps to add value and reduce the risk associated with successfully developing and marketing their medical technologies, products and services.

Mr. Anthony is also involved with other business networks in Ohio, acts as a minority stakeholder in several early stage companies and is founder of Medical Milestones.

Mr. Anthony holds a BS Degree in Biology at Denison University, an MS in Biology at The University of Akron and a MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College. His community and business interests include: Bath United Church of Christ; Revere Youth Sports Program; past Advisory Board Akron General Wellness Center; past Advisory Board Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Study University of Akron; Hattie Larlham Board; BioOhio and other business related organizations.