If you’d like to get in touch with our staff or help us work behind the scenes, please email us at neohio@cbmc.com.

Our events are made possible by our generous sponsors, hardworking volunteers and dedicated steering committee members.

The Cleveland Leadership Prayer Breakfast event is co-chaired by:

• Anthony M. Ciepiel – CEO, Step2 Discovery

• Joe DiRocco – Regional President of Northeast Ohio, Fifth Third Bank

• Fred Koury – President and CEO, Smart Business Network

• Brenda Leisinger – President, Right Team, Inc.

• Roger Emerson – Intellectual Property Attorney, Emerson Thomson Bennett, LLC

The Akron Leadership Prayer Luncheon event is co-chaired by:

• Roger Emerson – Intellectual Property Attorney, Emerson Thomson Bennett, LLC

• Steve Conzaman – Area Director, CBMC NE Ohio

• Brenda Leisinger – President, Right Team, Inc.

• Erica Howard – Ohio Area Manager, Empowered Network

• To provide a community gathering event that includes an encouraging message from a guest speaker, scripture readings, and prayer for our city and nation given by a diverse group of local business and community leaders.

• To convene a yearly breakfast/luncheon emphasizing the importance of invoking the direction and blessing of God on NE Ohio, offering an invitation to all who would desire to attend.

• To foster goodwill between the various facets and groups of our community, encouraging mutuality of trust by the acknowledgement of the higher authority and leadership of God.

Our breakfast and luncheon events are organized by Northeast Ohio’s Christian Business Men's Connection (CBMC) and Christian Business Women's Connection (CBWC). We also have a volunteer steering committee, consisting of a variety of business and community men and women.

Based on past attendance, we are expecting over 1200 people at this year’s Cleveland breakfast, and over 500 at the Akron luncheon. Past speakers have included well-known movers and shakers in the community, such as Adolph Coors IV, Elizabeth Dole, Cal Thomas, Chuck Colson, Pat Williams, Sam Rutgliano, Ken Blanchard, and many others.