ºÚÁÏÍø

​Evan Schumann is an entrepreneur and business leader from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from ºÚÁÏÍø in 2017. During his studies, Evan gained practical experience by working with entrepreneurs in Cleveland, which complemented his academic coursework in operations, production, and finance. After graduation, he founded a company in the chemical industry and worked in consulting and mergers and acquisitions. In 2020, Evan and his wife, Marisa Sergi-Schumann, acquired L’uva Bella Winery, where he serves as President.

Marisa Sergi-Schumann is a third-generation winemaker and entrepreneur from Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Enology from Cornell University, where she developed RedHead Wine as her capstone project. After working in California’s wine industry, she returned to Ohio to grow her brand, later rebranding it as Red’s Wine. In 2020, she became Chief Growth Officer of L’uva Bella Winery, expanding its reach across multiple states. Marisa was recognized on the Forbes Next 1000 list in 2021 for her innovation and impact in the wine industry.

Past Schwebel Lecture Series speakers have included a dynamic mix of entrepreneurs, executives, and creative professionals from across the hospitality and tourism landscape. From leaders in international hotel brands to innovators in sustainable food systems and large-scale event management, each speaker brings a unique perspective and passion for their craft. These engaging presentations offer students and community members a front-row seat to real-world experiences and industry trends.

Joe Savarise joined the Ohio Hotel & Lodging Association as Executive Director in January 2015. He is currently a member of the Boards of Directors for the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Columbus StreetRailway Corporation. He serves on the Advisory Board of the American Hospitality Alliance. Prior to 2015, Joe was Senior Vice President with BIPAC the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, in Washington, DC.

Katie Coach began her career at Oakwood Country Club as a teenager, eventually serving as the Director of Catering and Events at a prominent country club in Austin, Texas. She holds Bachelors' Degrees in Political Science, Women's Studies, and Spanish and a Master's of Science in Organizational Leadership and Ethics (MSOLE). She is currently the Director of Event Curation with Palmer Event Solutions, specializing in developing events for non-profit organizations. 

John Barker is currently President & CEO of the Ohio Restaurant Association, a business trade association with a mission focused on promoting and protecting the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry, and is CEO of the ORA Education Foundation. He has 30+ years of business experience with consumer centric organizations including the restaurant industry, greeting cards/social expressions, non-profit entities and universities. He was also a journalist and an editor for several years.