Hermes was founded in 1981and has built a reputation as Northeast Ohio's premier race management group. Throughout the Greater Cleveland and Columbus areas, Hermes has produced and managed programs on behalf of the Cleveland Indians, the Cleveland CAVS/Rockers, the Cleveland Browns, FOX Sports Net, the "Race for the Cure" in Cleveland, Columbus, Baltimore, Madison, Milwaukee, Knoxville, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Kansas City and North Carolina. Additionally, as event manager of the 1999 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Hermes oversaw more than 25 events at over 40 different venues throughout Northeast Ohio.

Hermes is named for the winged-footed messenger god of classical mythology.

We are a company that emphasizes teamwork- the link between event sponsors and participants. That's just part of the "Home Team Advantage": Hermes commitment to Northeast Ohio's athletes, organizations and business community.

Neal Neroni
Neal Neroni is president of Hermes and has been a partner with the organization since 1993. Neroni has worked on hundreds of events in the northern Ohio area since his graduation from Bowling Green state University in 1988. He began his sports management career as an intern for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Later, he joined the Cleveland Indians as an account executive. From 1989 to 1993, he worked in sports and operations for the Ohio Sports Festival, which was the first statewide amateur sports "State Games" in Ohio, assuming the director's position in 1991. From 1993 until 1999, he was the director of Sports and Operations for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, helping to bring several events to the city and guiding their management.

Nick Swingos
Nick Swingos is Hermes' financial manager and is responsible for the company's technological advancements and producing client websites. Nick also heads up the division responsible for managing the popular Susan G. Komen for the Cure Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Nick is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Andrew Kraemer
Drew Kraemer serves as Hermes’ Director of Event Operations.  He is responsible for the planning and operations of Hermes Sport & Social, LLC and the Cleveland Corporate Challenge events.  A graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in Sports Management, Kraemer joined the Hermes team in 2006.  Prior to Hermes, Kraemer served as the Assistant Director of Football Operations for the Bowling Green Athletic Department.

Joe Neroni
Joe Neroni is responsible for sponsorship sales and new business development for Hermes Sports & Events.  Prior to Hermes, Joe started his career in 1981 and held a number of sales and management positions in the advertising division of The Plain Dealer.  His responsibilities included developing strategic plans, product improvement / development, co-promotion, association partnerships, sales, and support staff.  Joe is a graduate of The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio.

Matt Peters
Matt Peters serves as Hermes’ Event Manager. He is responsible for the planning and operations of Hermes' road races. Before joining Hermes in 2010, Matt served as intern for Hermes Sports & Events, Inc. He is a graduate of Cleveland State University with a B.A. in Communications.

Elyse Underwood
Elyse Underwood serves as Hermes’ Race Manager. Prior to joining the Hermes team in 2011, she was an intern for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and the Akron Aeros. Elyse is a 2010 graduate of the University of Mount Union with a degree in Sport Business, where she was a member of the tennis team.

Brian Palsa
Palsa serves as Hermes’ Race Manager. He is responsible for the planning and operations of Hermes' road races. Before joining Hermes in 2011, Brian worked as the Stadium Operations Assistant for the Hickory Crawdads, Single A affiliate for the Texas Rangers in Hickory, North Carolina. Brian received 3 varsity letters at Baldwin-Wallace College while playing on the varsity football team. Brian graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 2009 with a degree in Sports Management.

Danielle Davis
Danielle Davis serves as Hermes’ Race Manager.  Danielle holds a B.S. in Sports Management from The University of Akron. Danielle has been an athlete most her life and most recently became a self-invented runner. While she only has a half-marathon under her belt to-date, she’s ready to go the distance for Hermes.

Heather Kline-Ruminski
Heather Kline-Ruminski joined Hermes as Race Manager in 2011. Upon graduation from Bowling Green State University, Heather started her career in advertising sales at The Plain Dealer, where she worked with dozens of local and national retailers for over 11 years. More recently, she worked as Fundraising Project Manager for The National Basketball Academy.

Gary Easter
Easter, along with Lawhun, started Hermes Race Systems in 1981. At that time, the first race of the organization was the First Turkey Trot which was held in the Metroparks and had 600 runners. He was President of the Cleveland West Roadrunners from 1979-1981, and President of the Athletic Congress in 1984. Gary was Chairman of the Long Distance Running Division of the Athletic Congress from 1982-1984. He has completed 22 marathons, and is married with two children. Gary is currently a police officer in Lakewood, OH.

Rich Lawhun
Lawhun, along with Easter, started Hermes Race Systems in 1981. Lawhun now serves as Hermes Logistics Manager. Lawhun graduated from Ohio University where he ran track and cross country.  Prior to Hermes, Lawhun coached cross country at St. Joes Academy and completed 10 marathons. He resides in Lakewood, Ohio and is married to wife Kathy. They have 3 daughters, Sarah, Beth and Anne.

Kyle Wilson
Wilson serves as Hermes' Database Specialist and Timing Technician. A graduate of of Bowling Green State University where he played 4 years of club hockey and earned a degree in Sports Management, Wilson joined the Hermes Team in 2009. Prior to joining Hermes, Wilson served as student intern.