The Cleveland Council on World Affairs Announces Board Leadership Changes

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs announces the selection of Colleen Petras as the new chair of its Board of Directors and the appointment of five new board members. The new directors joining the CCWA board are Dr. Maan Fares, Tim McGuire, Ambassador David Reimer, Professor Michael Scharf, and Julie Spintzyk. They assumed their positions on July 1, 2026.

“I am looking forward to Colleen Petras’s leadership of the CCWA Board of Directors, first woman to serve in this capacity. Colleen has been a tremendous champion of CCWA’s mission and I am confident that her leadership will help us build on our momentum and seize the opportunities ahead,” reflects Marti Flacks, President and CEO of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs.

“I am also very excited to welcome five new board members to our CCWA family. Their international experience, professional skills, and commitment to our mission will strengthen our organization as CCWA continues to serve as a bridge between our region and the world, helping Northeast Ohio stay competitive, connected, and resilient. These five individuals will all be a great asset to CCWA,” says Marti Flacks.

Colleen Petras has been an active member of the CCWA Board of Directors since 2023, and a member of CCWA since 2009. Prior to assuming the role as board chair, she chaired CCWA’s education committee, as well as served on the finance committee and the Cleveland Committee on Foreign Relations leadership committee. Colleen also served on the finance committee of CCWA's national affiliate, the World Affairs Councils of America, and continues as a member of their investment committee.  She retired as a Private Wealth Advisor from Ameriprise Financial, LLC. During her 27-year career, she owned and operated a team practice as she provided financial advice to clients in Northeast Ohio and across the country. Her designations include Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor. Colleen takes over from Paul Clark, retired Regional Director of PNC Bank, who stepped down from this role on June 30, 2026, and looks forward to continuing his active engagement with CCWA.

“Paul has been a vital strategic partner for me as I have joined the organization as its new President and CEO. His thoughtful guidance and strategic relationships have been invaluable as I've worked to understand CCWA's history, culture, and the communities we serve, It has been an absolute pleasure to work with such a dedicated supporter of CCWA’s mission and team, and I am deeply grateful for his leadership and commitment during this important time of transition.” reflects Marti Flacks

Please join us in welcoming the following new Board members to CCWA:

Dr. Maan Fares serves as Chairman of Global Patient Services at Cleveland Clinic. With locations in the U.S., Canada, Abu Dhabi, and London, Dr. Fares leads a team of professionals dedicated to helping patients from around the world access Cleveland Clinic care. Dr. Fares is a clinical cardiologist who has served at the Cleveland Clinic since 2013.  In addition, he is also an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, and a founding member of the Syrian American Medical Society.

Tim McGuire is an accomplished finance executive with more than 30 years of domestic and international banking experience, with a primary focus on corporate banking and capital markets. He is an Executive Director and Relationship Executive at J.P. Morgan in Cleveland, serving multinational corporations across the Midwest and advising foreign-owned companies with tailored solutions to enhance operating efficiency and financial strategy. During his career, Tim had the opportunity for an overseas assignment in Brussels, Belgium where he developed relationships with European parent companies and partnered with U.S. state economic development teams.

Ambassador David Reimer is a two-time U.S. Ambassador with over three decades of leadership in international affairs and public service, serving as U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone (2021-2023) and Mauritius and Seychelles (2018-2021).  In addition, he served six times as Chargé d’Affairs in countries across Africa.  In Washington, he held leadership positions in the Bureaus of African Affairs, Economic and Business Affairs, and Human Resources.  He also led the U.S. Refugee Offices in Iraq and Switzerland and served as an Economic Officer in Haiti, Italy, Germany and Belize. An Ohio native, prior to joining the State Department, he worked on international agricultural issues for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.   

Michael Scharf serves as the Joseph C. Hostetler—BakerHostetler Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Global Affairs at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he previously served as Co-Dean. He is the President of the American Branch of the International Law Association and serves as Co-Managing Director of the Public International Law & Policy Group, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated NGO.  Michael is the producer and host of a radio program and podcast "Talking Foreign Policy." He participated in the creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, trained the judges for the trial of Saddam Hussein, served as Special Assistant to the Prosecutor of the Cambodia Genocide Tribunal,  and assisted courts in Kenya, Mauritius, and the Seychelles in the trials of maritime pirates.

Julie Spintzyk is a Biotech Pharmaceutical professional who is currently working as an Account Manager for Biogen. She has worked with major pharmaceutical companies for more than 25 years and held roles in sales, sales training, and sales leadership.  She has worked in Business Development, and also has an entrepreneurial spirit, launching two successful small businesses.  Julie has volunteered at CCWA for many years, including hosting Fullbright Scholars and organizing dinners for visitors at her home from more than 30 countries.

Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ Board of Directors 2026-2027

Harlin Adelman

Christopher Blake

Daniel Bollinger

Paul Clark

Elizabeth A. Molloy de Coluby

Howard B. Edelstein

Seda Ergun

Maan Fares, M.D.

David Fleshler

Hiroyuki Fujita, Ph.D.

Su He

Fritz Heintel

Kimberly Holizna

Sanjiv K. Kapur

Wael Khoury, M.D.

Michael Knall

Rebecca Kopp Levine

Kevin D. Malecek

Tim McGuire

Mindy McLaughlin

Bianca Menendez

Colleen Petras

Stephen J. Petras, Jr.

Richard W. Pogue

Elena Ray

Ambassador David Reimer

Linda F. Robertson, Ph.D.

Ronn Richard

Michael Scharf

Martin C. Schulz

Fareed Siddiq

Donald A. Sinko

Julie Spintzyk

Milena Sterio

Carter E.  Strang

Lucy Yasinsky

Paul Winkeler

Mark Zannoni

David O. Zimmer

 

Honorary Directors

Amb. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

Amb. Jennifer Brush

Amb. Edward F. Crawford

Amb. Charles F. Dunbar

Amb. William R. Timken, Jr.

Amb. Lynne Tracy