Posted March 17, 2025
CLEVELAND – March 17, 2025 – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, welcomed Anthony J. Searcy as chair of its board of directors for a two-year term, effective January 1, 2025. Catholic Charities is a robust system of family and child, behavioral health, youth athletics, early learning and other programs working to provide help and create hope for all people across eight counties in Northeast Ohio.
“I am honored to serve in this important role,” said Searcy, who has served on the Catholic Charities board of directors since 2004. “I look forward to working with my board colleagues and the leadership team to address the issues most impacting the communities we serve.”
As board chair, Searcy will oversee the operation of the Catholic Charities board of directors alongside the current executive committee: Douglas Tayek, advisor for curriculum design at AARP and Catholic Charities board vice chair; Ali Rife, Ph.D., director of talent development at Leaf Home and Catholic Charities board secretary; Joseph Swiderski, CFA, CFP, founder and president of Tamarack Trail Investment Partners LLC and Catholic Charities board treasurer.
During his term, Searcy will prioritize working with the board to optimize Catholic Charities’ mission and unveil its revitalized strategic framework in 2025. Additionally, as several board terms end next year, Searcy will utilize his organizational change and management experience to facilitate onboarding new board members in 2025.
“I can think of no one better to lead our board during this pivotal moment for Catholic Charities and the health and human services sector as a whole,” said Jim Mullen, who began his role as president & CEO of Catholic Charities on February 3, 2025. “Anthony’s dedication to our most vulnerable communities and his commitment to improved quality of life are what we need to envision a healthier future for all Northeast Ohioans.”
Searcy is a senior financial consultant at Osaic wealth management, where he helps people meet their financial goals. Searcy has prior board experience with Joseph’s & Mary’s Home (six years) and Benedictine High School (10 years).
“Anthony has been a true champion of Catholic Charities’ mission throughout his tenure on our board,” said Megan Kim, who completed her term as board chair in 2024. “His considerable experience across multiple sectors provides valuable insights to help us achieve long-lasting impact with our communities.”
Searcy holds a bachelor’s degree from Curry College and completed post-graduate work at The Ohio State University. A parishioner at Church of the Gesu, Searcy and his wife, Rebecca, live in University Heights.
Additional Members of the Catholic Charities 2025 Board of Directors:
- Charles Aquino, managing director, EdgePoint Capital Advisors
- Daniel Bender, senior vice president, commercial lending team lead, Westfield Bank
- Tom Bernot, president & COO, Falls & Co.
- Amy Buehner, strategic pricing manager, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
- Robert Chambers Jr., underwriting manager, PNC Bank
- Tony Chin, risk manager, PNC Bank
- Bernadette Coberly, office manager, Lighting Dynamics Inc.
- David Croft, chair, business & corporate practice group, Meyers, Roman, Friedberg & Lewis
- Christopher Diehl, partner, Thompson Hine LLP
- Sarah Echan, vice president, senior client executive, Oswald Companies
- Kathryn Esbenshade, retired, Young Truck Sales Inc.
- Kate Fiala, records, Highland Middle School
- Eric D. German, CPA, Macc, partner, Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Co.
- Anna Herceg, product analyst, Thomson Reuters
- Allison Kenney, PHR, SHRM-CP, director, membership & HR services, ERC
- Megan Kim, executive director, COSE and senior vice president, membership development & marketing, Greater Cleveland Partnership
- Danielle LeChard, CFP, wealth advisor, Return on Life Wealth Partners
- Robert Loesch, partner, Tucker Ellis LLP
- Joanna N. Lopez Inman Esq., magistrate, Cleveland Housing Court
- Richard Manson, CFO, Olympic Steel Inc.
- Paul F. Marnecheck, commissioner of economic development, City of Brook Park
- Mike Matoney, CEO, New Directions & Crossroads Health; behavioral health surveyor, The Joint Commission
- Jim Mullen, president & CEO, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, ex-officio
- Thomas Novak, controller, Richard E. Jacobs Group
- Shannon Patton, shareholder-attorney, Littler Mendelson P.C.
- Kevin Peinkofer, GM commercial lines claims, Progressive Insurance
- Tricia Rhea, president, Karen’s Way Inc.
- Jared Rispinto, senior vice president – private bank wealth advisor IV, Huntington Private Bank
- Retanio Aj Rucker, senior litigation attorney, The Rucker Law Group LLC
- Andrea Staron, estate planning attorney, UB Greensfelder LLP
ABOUT CATHOLIC CHARITIES, DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND:
As one of the largest comprehensive health and human services organizations in Northeast Ohio, Catholic Charities carries out the healing and helping mission of Jesus across the Diocese of Cleveland. Catholic Charities delivers 150 services at 60 locations to 400,000 individuals each year – providing help and creating hope for people of every race and religion throughout eight counties: Ashland, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Wayne. For more information, visit www.ccdocle.org.
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Media contact: Rebecca Gallant, 216.318.0518, rebecca.gallant@ccdocle.org
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
