Meet The Board

Nick Fortine

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Loraní Orobitg

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Greg Tillar & Peggy Blackmore

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David Suttle

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Jodie Fortine

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Mark Bateman

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Steven Jankowski

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John Kompa

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Eric Weisgarber

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Alexandra Sumkin

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Meet The Team & Advisors

Beth Wenning

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Brian McCann

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John Rue

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Barry Rellaford

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Nick Fortine

Chairman

Nick is president & publisher at Columbus Business First, Central Ohio’s business news authority. He has been with the publication since 2013.

Prior to Business First, Nick held leadership positions at several high-growth companies in the technology, marketing, media and manufacturing industries. Nick was a founding partner of NuGrowth Solutions, president of the Specialty Retail Group at CSC Worldwide and served as VP of sales for e-Cycle, Manta Media, Endforce, and Metatec International.

Nick is deeply committed to The Waterford Project’s mission of empowering individuals to recognize, develop, and take ownership of their unique talents and equipping them with the skills needed to advance their careers and positively impact their families and communities.

Loraní Orobitg

Treasurer

Loraní is a tax specialist and business advisor for pass-through entities, individuals, and not for profit organizations. Loraní started at Brady Ware in December of 2012 and has built her expertise in federal, state, and local taxation. Her goal is to provide clear communication and guidance with her clients on tax consequences and best paths of action. Loraní works with her clients’ entire teams to learn about them and guide their choices.

When outside of the office, Loraní enjoys playing tennis and serving in the community through her ties with The Grove Community Church in Grove City, Ohio.

Greg Tillar &
Peggy Blackmore

Co-founders

Greg and Peggy are the Co-Founders of the Waterford Project. They also lead Waterford Enterprises—a family-owned diversified business focusing on real estate investing, consulting, and investing in early-stage startup businesses, and Waterford Studios—a digital content studio dedicated to the production of top-tier education and professional development content.

Greg’s background is in starting and leading businesses in technology, marketing, and manufacturing sectors. Peggy is an attorney who practiced law for 40 years and specialized in family law and adoption.

Their passion is in assisting individuals who find themselves at a crossroad in their life and providing resources that enable them to develop the skills, foundation, and confidence to reach their full potential.

David Suttle

Board Member

David is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for innovation and a track record of building successful businesses. With a background in technology, he helped build early internet pioneers like CompuServe and Equinix. Known for his strategic vision and leadership, David has cultivated thriving teams dedicated to producing high growth. Beyond his work in the private sector, he actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs.

In his spare time, David enjoys golf, OSU football and family. Having known Greg Tillar for over forty years, I am pleased to be a participant in the Waterford Project.

Jodie Fortine

Board Member

Jodie serves as enterprise discovery and strategic alignment capability lead for Centric Consulting’s Strategic Architecture & Alignment national practice. A seasoned business consultant and AI governance architect, Jodie helps individuals and organizations navigate transformative change.

Jodie is adept at crafting strategies that align technological advancements with human capital requirements. She leverages her experience to design impactful programs aimed at reskilling, upskilling, and assisting individuals through career transitions. Jodie’s approach not only addresses current needs but also anticipates future challenges, ensuring individuals are well-prepared for the evolving workforce.

She is dedicated to promoting equitable opportunities and empowering individuals through training, education, and professional development, instilling them with the confidence to realize their potential and strive for success.

Mark Bateman

Board Member

Mark is a seasoned business development professional with over 25 years of experience. His career has been defined by his ability to build strong teams, train associates, and mentor young professionals. He has worked with industry leaders and helped countless individuals launch their careers.

A dedicated family man, Mark and his wife live in Columbus and are raising three active boys. He is committed to guiding his children toward recognizing their strengths and making a positive impact on their communities.

Steven Jankowski

Board Member

A native of Cincinnati, Steven moved to Columbus to attend Ohio Dominican University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations & Marketing Communications.

Today, Steven is a Strategic Accounts Executive at NetJets, the world’s leading private aviation provider. Steven’s role entails interfacing with both prospective and existing customers to better understand their aviation needs and provide tailored solutions primarily for corporate clientele.

In his free time Steven and his fiancé, Kylie enjoy exploring new restaurants and activities in Columbus. Additionally, Steven is a private pilot and enjoys weekend flying adventures with family and friends alike.

John Kompa

Board Member

John Kompa has led global corporate communications and investor relations teams, as well as serving as vice president and firm officer with two independent public relations firms.

He is past Board president of the Central Ohio Chapter of PRSA and NIRI Central Ohio, as well a graduate of the Leadership Columbus Program. In 2023, he was honored to serve as Board chair for Children’s Hunger Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio.

Kompa earned an MBA from Capital University graduating with honors and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University.

Eric Weisgarber

Board Member

Since founding and leading a professional services firm in 2001, Eric has been helping organizations achieve their goals through a combination of data science, innovative digital marketing, business automation, and management consulting services. My personal mission is to live as the highest, truest expression of who God created me to be and to help others do the same.

I am honored to serve on the board of The Waterford Project alongside its founder, Greg Tillar, whom I’ve known since 1997.ect on LinkedIn

Alexandra Sumkin

Board Member

Alex Sumkin has been an HR Leader at Johnson & Johnson for 8 years and is currently the Program Manager for the Veteran Leadership Development Programs. She is responsible for end-to-end program management and support of J&J’s military talent strategy. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of HR roles. Alex was most recently part of the Acquisitions & Divestitures team leading J&J through diligence and integration activities.

Alex is a certified performance coach and a mentor with the non-profit organization American Corporate Partners. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and earned her MBA at the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Leadership.

Beth Wenning

Executive Director

Beth Wenning is the Executive Director of The Waterford Project, where she helps individuals and organizations leverage their strengths to achieve success. She specializes in career development, developing recruiting best practices, creating onboarding programs, and all aspects of supporting the employee journey.

Beth has held leadership roles at NuGrowth Solutions and Strategic Insurance Software where she led recruiting, onboarding and training initiatives. She has supported sales organizations at Metatec, UUNET and Aelita Software. She is also a certified StrengthsFinder coach and has consulted for Dale Carnegie Training.

Beth is devoted to continuing to help individuals realize their gifts, uncover opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to the organizations where they belong.

Brian McCann

Program Director

Brian is a seasoned professional in sales coaching and training. With a remarkable blend of strengths, including Developer, Belief, Relator, Empathy, and Maximizer, he brings a fresh and practical approach to sales leadership.

Brian is dedicated to using his strengths and experiences to positively impact individuals and teams. He firmly believes in the power of strengths-based leadership principles to transform interactions and drive success.

As a mentor and Gallup Strengthsfinder Coach, Brian’s mission is to nurture the potential of professionals. He uses extensive knowledge and practices to create engaging and impactful training content. He has a strong passion for mentoring and aims to empower the next generation of professionals.

With a focus on curiosity, grace, respect, service, and the importance of helping others, Brian is on a mission to make a meaningful difference with individuals and their career.

John Rue

Advisor

After 15 years in Corporate America and 10 years as a full-time pastor, I’ve been building leaders and teams for privately-held businesses and non-profits in Central Ohio since 2008 with BUILT TO LEAD (www.builttolead.com).

As a colleague and friend of Waterford Project’s founder Greg Tillar since 1982, I’m privileged to serve as an advisor to the board.

Barry Rellaford

Advisor

Barry is the founder of The Strength of 10, a consultancy focused on inspiring individuals and organizations to perform purposeful and sustainable work. A graduate of Brigham Young University as well as The Ohio State University, he was a co-founder and master facilitator of FranklinCovey’s Speed of Trust practice and co-authored the business parable, A Slice of Trust.

His favorite work roles now focus on developing the next generation of emerging leaders. He is the Executive Leadership Coach at the Sorensen Center for Moral & Ethical Leadership as well as a strategic advisor to the Waterford Project and Cumorah Academy in the Czech Republic.

Barry and his wife, Lorilee, live in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains with their family. Barry’s interests outside of work include family activities, music, reading, inspirational writing, and people development.