Community Commitment

Consistent with our moniker of “Commitment to Community”, the professionals and staff at our firm proudly dedicates time and resources to many civic purposes and charitable causes. Below are some of the civic and charitable contributions from our team to Northeast Ohio community:

John R. Climaco is a former Trustee and current Advisory Board Member of the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders; the Center for Mental Retardation, which selected him to receive the 1992 and the 1997/98 Service to the Center Award; and member of the Justinian Forum which serves as a professional organization for attorneys and judges of Italian heritage in Northern Ohio. On May 6, 2000 he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Dennis R. Wilcox is currently serving his third term on the Cleveland Heights City Council. Prior to his council stint, Dennis served on the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals and Fair Housing Board. In addition to his regular council duties, Dennis currently serves as council liaison to the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission, the City Housing Council and the Coventry Special Improvement District. Dennis is also working on a Green Zoning initiative begun last year in an effort to make the city’s Zoning Code include sustainable practices.

John A. Peca serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, the Advisory Board of Cleveland Central Catholic High School, Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Committee member of the NOIA Foundation, former President and Board member of Alta Social Settlement House and Vice Chairman and Board member of Neighborhood Centers Association. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Gilmour Academy, Lyric Opera Cleveland and University Circle Incorporated as well as the Legal Advisory Board of the National Conference of Unions and Employee Benefit Funds.

Scott D. Simpkins currently serves as an Assistant Arbitrator for the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.  Since 2015, Mr. Simpkins has served as a Board Member of the non-profit community development corporation Cudell Development, Inc.  Scott has also volunteered for numerous civic and charitable organizations including the Clifton Arts and Music Fest, the Warehouse District Fest, the Cleveland Synergy Foundation, and Dancin’ in the Streets which benefits the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.

Stewart D. Roll has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hudson, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has served on the Hudson planning and zoning commission, and has been active in Rotary and Kiwanis.

Patricia M. Ritzert has been the Chair of the Review Board for the Diocese of Cleveland since May of 2003, originally appointed by Bishop Anthony M. Pilla and continuing under Bishop Richard Lennon. The Review Board advises the bishop on all aspects of preventing sexual abuse of minors. Patricia also has served as a member of the Board of Consultors for Cleveland Catholic Charities, the largest Catholic charities system in the United States, since 2004, and was a 2006 nominee for the St. Thomas More Award. As an adjunct professor of law in Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University Ms. Ritzert teaches in the field of partnership and corporate taxation, and annually volunteers in moot court competitions for students. In Akron, her family has served as a host family for foreign exchange students and international visitors.

Firm Controller, Cindy Parisi, completed another successful “Walk for the Cure”, in her continuing effort to find a cure for breast cancer.