Appearing on ‘3News at 7,’ Dolan told Russ Mitchell he was excited to get to work and help ‘bring new jobs here to Northeastern Ohio.’
CLEVELAND — Former Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan has a new gig, with the economic development group Team NEO naming him its new CEO this week.
The nonprofit’s board of directors announced Dolan’s appointment after a comprehensive search process. Dolan takes over from Bill Koehler, who resigned as CEO after nearly ten years in the position.
Board Chair Kim Riley praised Dolan, a native of Northeast Ohio, as an accomplished attorney and successful businessman. She highlighted his collaborative leadership style and his advocacy for the region’s economic interests in the State House and Senate over the last decade. Riley expressed confidence that Dolan, along with Team NEO’s economic development team, would capitalize on his experience to build on the progress made and further drive economic growth and prosperity in Northeast Ohio.
In an interview with Russ Mitchell on “3News at 7” on Wednesday, Dolan emphasized how his background in politics and business uniquely qualified him for the CEO role. He showed enthusiasm for rolling up his sleeves and getting started on the job.
“I have the opportunity to lead this great organization with our great partners throughout the 14-county region and be able to go out and tell businesses, ‘We’re here for you. You want to grow? We’re here. You want to retain jobs? We’re going to help you,'” Dolan told Mitchell. “Most importantly, we want to bring new jobs here to Northeastern Ohio.”
During Koehler’s tenure, Team NEO says the region’s businesses created more than 56,000 new jobs and retained another 147,000, all while securing $2.5 billion in new annual payroll and $15 billion in capital investments. Dolan lauded Koehler for his leadership, but also believes the organization can go further, particularly when it comes to keeping young Ohioans in the area.
“We have to be more imaginative, more aggressive,” Dolan explained. “We have to get our talent supply working, we have to get young kids wanting to stay here. We have to work with our universities, our community colleges, and match up the needs of our employers with the needs and the certificates and the licenses that we’re getting for our young people.”
Dolan admits it’s “tough” to attract businesses and employees with so much competition across the United States, but also says the region has an “ace in the hole.”
“Our quality of life here in Northeast Ohio,” he said. “Businesses know that we have great schools, we have great opportunities, we have great theater, we have great sports. It’s just a great place to live. We’ve got to do a better job getting out there and marketing it.”
A Greater Cleveland native, Dolan’s family has owned the Guardians baseball club since 2000, with brother Paul acting as head of the franchise. The 60-year-old Matt previously served five years in the Ohio House of Representatives and eight years in the Ohio Senate, exiting this past December due to term limits.
Dolan twice sought a seat in the United States Senate, most recently finishing a distant second in the 2024 Republican primary to eventual general election winner Bernie Moreno. As of now, he currently has no plans to run for office, even with Ohio’s gubernatorial and special Senate elections on tap for 2026.
“I am focused completely on Team NEO,” Dolan told Mitchell. “My focus and my desire is to continue my public service, and that is helping people through this role.”
