Our CREW

Executive Board

LIana Lake, President

Liana Lake manages business development in northern Ohio for DLZ, a full service architecture, engineering, surveying and construction services firm. With over 20 years in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, Liana excels in client engagement and market strategy, driving growth and forming lasting partnerships. At DLZ, she focuses on identifying new opportunities and aligning DLZ’s expertise with the needs of clients and communities. 

 Liana also serves as the Chair of ULI Cleveland’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, championing the advancement of women in the industry. Additionally, Liana is former President of the Northeast Ohio chapter of the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). She resides in Fairlawn with her husband, two teenage sons and a golden doodle.

corey warren, First Vice President

Corey is a graduate of The University of Toledo where he earned his BBA, majoring in Professional Sales and Marketing. He has worked as a Sales Representative for Schindler Elevator since 2016. Corey is responsible for handling sales of elevator and escalator maintenance agreements, repair estimates, monitoring account activity and being the general point of contact for his customers who include property managers, building owners and facility professionals. His territory spans from Mansfield to Youngstown, with the majority of customers based in the Akron area where Schindler’s office is located off Main Street at Canal Place.

Corey and his wife, Tina, moved to Fairview Park from South Bend, IN, in 2019. In 2021, their daughter, Haley was born. In their free time, they enjoy taking their dog, Lily, hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and spending time with friends and family.

Denise armstrong, Treasurer & crew fOUNDATION

Denise Armstrong has been in real estate for over 40 years and is currently a Senior Real Estate Manager for CBRE. Denise manages over 600,000 square feet of class A office space in downtown Akron, Ohio including Akron Centre, 222 S. Main and 121 S. Main. In the past, Denise managed the FirstEnergy building in Akron of 335,907 S.F. and Southgate Shopping Center which was over 2,000,000 square feet. Denise has been the Treasurer of the Special Improvement District for the City of Akron for the last 13 years and is a member of Downtown Akron Partnership which she has served on various committees. Denise has been the treasurer of CREW for the past 3 years. Denise has taken management, leasing and marketing classes through the International Council of Shopping Center and is a Notary Public. Denise supports and volunteers for various non-profit agencies.

Lori Sallaz, Second vice president & vice treasurer

Lori Sallaz is the Manager, Bond Finance Programs for Development Finance Authority of Summit County. She is responsible for managing the Jobs and Investment Fund (rated A by S&P). Lori helps structure new deals from inception through bond issuance and manages all post compliance activities. She works with private borrowers and local public and community officials to facilitate closings. Lori also manages all conduit bond activity of the Authority which encompasses tax-exempt private activity bonds and sales tax capital leases. She is responsible for various activities to promote economic development in the region.

Lori is a Development Finance Certified Professional with over 9 years’ experience in economic development financing and 30 years of management experience in both public and private sectors. Furthering her education, she attended ITT Technical Institute and Youngstown State University. She currently serves as Vice Chair for the Ohio Council of Port Authorities, Second Vice President and Assistant Treasurer for the Greater Akron chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate for Women) and Treasurer for the Southeast Youth Baseball & Softball Association.

jen baker, secretary

Jen Baker is a senior tax accountant at Cohen & Co Advisory, LLC. Focused primarily on working with the firm’s large real estate developer clients, she also serves as a team manager and is actively involved in real estate-related tax training. A CPA, Jen earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at Kent State University and her Masters in Taxation at The University of Akron. She is a member of the Ohio Society of CPAs’ Young CPA Committee, and is the medical records coordinator and a volunteer at the Alleycats & Aristocats cat shelter. Jen and her husband live in Medina along with their three cats.

Sarah Young, Immediate past president

Sarah is an Environmental Manager at IRG Realty Advisors, a national commercial real estate management firm. She has been working in the environmental industry for over 20 years with experience managing due diligence for acquisitions, long-term investigation and remediation projects, and comprehensive regulatory compliance reporting. She earned her bachelor’s degree, with a focus in Environmental Management, from Indiana University. She was born and raised in Northeast Ohio and lives here with her husband, three beautiful children, and two dogs. 

Membership Committee

The membership committee works to identify and recruit new members. The chairperson coordinates the application process and verifies qualifications and submits qualified members for vote by the Executive Committee for membership. 

The committee works to retain members and works to follow up on membership renewals each year with CREW National. The committee works with the Program Committee to organize New Member Events and other events for recruiting new members. 

Megan Dellapina, Committee Chair

Megan is SVP, Senior Corporate Banker at First Commonwealth Bank, a community bank that focuses on improving the financial lives of their neighbors and their businesses. She is responsible for the bank’s commercial and investment real estate portfolio for Northeast Ohio. Megan works with local developers and investors to secure financing for construction, renovation and acquisition projects.

Megan earned her Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance and Bachelors of Science in Hearing, Speech and Language Science from Ohio University. She, and her husband, Jesse, reside in Bainbridge with their two children, Giovanni and Giuliana. In their free time, they enjoy playing with their dog, Love, being outdoors, and enjoying the Northeast Ohio culinary scene.

Sponsorship Committee

The Sponsorship Committee shall work to secure Annual and Event Sponsors for each year. The chair person works with the Treasurer to invoice sponsors and confirm receipt. The committee works with the Programs Committee to make sure valued sponsors receive the recognition of sponsorship and the free tickets to events. 

The committee shall work to identify new sponsors and expand the opportunities for sponsorship. These efforts support the activities of the organization not covered by dues and event charges.

chris matejka, Committee Chair

Chris has worked in senior management for two large regional service-based companies for 30 years, holding various positions, such as Director of Life Safety and Security at a large Hospital System, Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, with sales totaling $10 Million annually, and Vice President. In November 2020, he founded Cleveland Corporate Cleaning, and is President and Owner.

He has studied Security Management at Cuyahoga Community College, and Business Administration at Cleveland State University. In Akron, Chris was a former Board Member of BOMA Greater Akron, and the Chairman of the BOMA Greater Akron Golf Outing. For over a decade, Chris oversaw the BOMA Akron’s Business Leaders’ Speakers Series, which saw the likes of former Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, Cleveland Indians VP of Public Relations Bob DiBiasio, and orchestrated an Akron Mayoral Debate at Portage Country Club, covered by the Akron Beacon Journal and WKSU, in a mayoral race that was ultimately won by current Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. He is a former BOMA Greater Akron Member of the Year. In BOMA Cleveland, Chris is a founding member of the Sustainability Committee, and currently sits on the Education Committee. He is an active member of Building Service Contractors International (BSCAI).

He has been married for 28 years to Mary, and has a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Caitlin, both attending college.

Programs Committee

The Programs Committee shall work to provide various professional development events and networking events; both members only and open events for recruiting purposes. Subcommittees may be formed to coordinate some of the signature events; Coffee Talks, Bus Tour, Insiders Tours and Annual Forum. 

Lisa Cotten, COMMITTEE CHAIR

Lisa is Vice President with Real Estate Risk Services at Citizens Bank where she focuses on value-related risk issues of commercial/investment real estate in the New York and New England markets of the United States. She previously work in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton markets valuing commercial real estate for over 20 years.

 Lisa lives in Kent, Ohio where she spends spare time working with her own commercial investment real estate portfolio and enjoys playing tennis and cooking. She serves on the board of the Portage County Port Authority and is a member of the Ohio Council of Port Authorities. She also volunteers as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for children for CASA of Portage County.

Communications Committee

The Communications Committee of CREW Greater Akron is designed to promote and communicate the value of CREW membership to current and prospective members, as well as the value of the organization and its members to the community through our website and media initiatives.

katie thome, Committee Chair

Katie Thome is a Senior Associate on the Advisory & Transaction Office Agency Leasing team at CBRE Akron, where she specializes in representing a diverse range of landlords in the leasing of office and retail space throughout the Akron and Cleveland areas. With a portfolio that includes both small and large properties, Katie is dedicated to delivering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of her clients. Katie’s work also includes Tenant Representation and her background in Interior Design and Project Management equips Katie with a comprehensive understanding of commercial projects across various sectors, including office, industrial, hospitality, and higher education. This expertise allows her to effectively help landlords and tenants visualize their new spaces, while her experience in construction, scheduling, and budgeting ensures a strategic approach to maximizing property value and achieving successful leasing outcomes. Katie is committed to providing exceptional service and fostering strong client relationships, utilizing her extensive industry contacts to drive successful results for her clients in Northeast Ohio.

Bus Tour - Programs Sub-Committee

CREW Greater Akron hosts an annual bus tour that highlights recent, significant real estate projects in the local community. The tour provides insight into the development of the projects and affords participants an opportunity to tour facilities not generally available for public visits. The bus tour is open to members and non-members and has had a significant increase in participation over the past several years.

Lindsay crow, COMMITTEE CHAIR

Holiday Event Program Sub-Committee

CREW Greater Akron hosts an annual holiday event, with net proceeds going to benefit a local non-profit agency. The event provides an opportunity for all to enjoy professional networking and fulfill philanthropic interests during the holiday season. Committee members work to select the organization receiving the proceeds as well as plan the event.

Samantha tomasic, COMMITTEE CHAIR

Scholarship Committee

CREW Greater Akron provides a scholarship opportunity available to Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students enrolled in a local Northeast Ohio College/University, who have an interest in pursuing a career in Real Estate. This is a chance for real estate career seekers to not only receive scholarship money, but to network with women and men in the Commercial Real Estate industry, as well as attending some of our member-only events.

Brittany Michael, committee chair

Brittany is an attorney working in the real estate field. Brittany earned her bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and her JD/MBA from The University of Akron. She has worked in the industry for ten years.