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July 28, 2026
![Mike Butz headshot.]()
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2026
CLEVELAND—The Cleveland Institute of Art Board of Directors recently voted to appoint August L. Fluker as its Chair following a successful succession-planning process. Fluker, who has served on CIA's Board since 2021, becomes the 16th person to serve as either Board Chair or Board President at the College since it was founded in 1882.
Fluker is an experienced architect and urbanist who currently serves as Principal/Managing Member at Fluker Consulting LLC. Prior to that, he was responsible for client contact, project management, and the administration and production of projects at Cleveland-based City Architecture for 26 years.
"As Board Chair, I am honored to support CIA's mission and help position the College for continued innovation, relevance and long-term growth," Fluker says.
The Board voted to appoint Fluker as its new Chair during its annual meeting on June 10. His term started July 1. Fluker replaced Cynthia Prior Gascoigne, whose term as Board Chair ended June 30 after 10 years in that position. Prior Gascoigne remains on CIA's Board and now leads its Governance Committee.
Representing CIA's 2026 Board cohort are new members Jennifer Paine, Vice President of Research & Development at Nestlé; Mohit ("Mo") Ramani, Chief Risk Officer of KeyCorp; and Thomas A. Waltermire, former Chair and CEO of PolyOne Corporation.
"Mo, Jennifer and Thomas bring cognitive diversity, leadership, insight and passion that will strengthen the Board's governance and help the College advance its mission of fostering creativity through education," Fluker says.
Paine leads the Solon-based Nestlé Development Center for Food, where she enables innovation and product development for iconic brands including Stouffer’s, DiGiorno and Hot Pockets, driving growth through new technologies and consumer-focused solutions. A 29-year Nestlé veteran, she has held roles across North America and Europe, with a track record of advancing product innovation, leading R&D transformations and building high-performing, inclusive teams. Known for her collaborative and people-centered leadership style, Paine emphasizes fostering creativity. She is passionate about the intersection of innovation, creativity and community impact.
Ramani is responsible for overseeing KeyCorp's risk management division and ensuring the company operates within its stated risk appetite across all risk domains. He is a member of KeyCorp’s Executive Leadership Team and has served in a number of senior roles throughout the industry. Prior to joining KeyCorp in 2025, Ramani served as the Deputy Chief Risk Officer for Truist Financial Corporation, where he led both financial and non-financial risk teams across the enterprise. He has served in a variety of community leadership roles and enjoys supporting nonprofit organizations with a particular focus on the arts.
Waltermire is the former chair and CEO of PolyOne Corporation (now Avon Lake-based Avient), a global manufacturer of specialized polymers, tracing its roots to The BFGoodrich Company. He was an executive with BFGoodrich, The Geon Company and PolyOne for more than 31 years. From 2006 to 2014, he served as CEO of Team NEO, which promotes Northeast Ohio globally as an ideal location for new business investment and has attracted more than 100 new businesses to the region. Waltermire currently is an active investor and board member with early stage and private companies in fields ranging from manufacturing to real estate to e-commerce.
Contacts
Cleveland Institute of Art
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Michael C. Butz, Director of College Communications + External Relations
mcbutz@cia.edu / 216.421.7404
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private, nonprofit college of art and design that has been the training ground for countless students who have gone on to make important contributions to the fields of creativity and innovation since it opened in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. Its students have designed internationally recognized products, their artwork has been exhibited in major museums and private collections around the world, and their entertainment media has been enjoyed by audiences and game players for generations. It enrolls about 550 students nationally and internationally and has a faculty of about 100 full-time and adjunct members, all of whom are practicing artists, designers and scholars.
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