About Hermes

Hermes Sports & Events, Inc.

Hermes was founded in 1981 and has built a reputation as Northeast Ohio’s premier race management company.  Throughout the Northeast Ohio, Hermes produces and manages programs on behalf of hundreds of local and national businesses and organizations. Hermes is named for the winged-footed messenger god of classical mythology.

Hermes Road Racing

Hermes Road Racing manages and operates over 180 local and national races during the year.  From course set up and event logistics, to marketing and promotional opportunities, to database management and services, Hermes offers full service management tools.

Hermes Sport & Social

Looking to play in a co-ed sports league?  Hermes Sport & Social is where Cleveland comes to play!  We are committed to providing the highest quality sports leagues, tournaments and social events in Northeast Ohio.  Activities include run-clubs, yoga, and co-ed sports leagues for sand volleyball, kickball, football and more.  If you’re looking to get fit or just have fun, Hermes Sport and Social is where it’s at!

Cleveland Corporate Challenge

Cleveland Corporate Challenge is a health and wellness, business networking, team building, and charitable initiative promoting camaraderie, pride and fitness among employees and organizations in Northeast Ohio.  Over 100 companies of every size compete in this annual Summer Event Series.  All events are co-ed and include everything from sand volleyball to cornhole, kickball to 10K relay, tug-of war and more!  There’s a sport for everyone to enjoy!

Akron Corporate Challenge

The Akron Corporate Challenge made its debut in the Akron area July 2016. The corporate athletic competition has an emphasis on building employee wellness, fostering teamwork in the workplace, and creating the opportunity for business networking, all while helping local charities. The Akron Corporate Challenge is a fun and unique way to improve the overall health of your employees while building relationships that bring success to the work place!

 

About Hermes Staff

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 the finance manager at Hermes handling all accounting for the company. He is responsible for the company’s technological advancements, computerized chip timing, and websites and also heads up the division responsible for managing a dozen Susan G. Komen Race for the Cures across the country which raise money for Breast Cancer Research. Nick is a graduate of Miami University with a Bachelors Degree in Finance. Outside of Hermes, Nick enjoys soccer, skiing, playing poker and will also be climbing Mount Whitney (14,505ft) in August.

Gary Easter
Gary, along with Rich 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.

Rich Lawhun
Rich, along with Gary Easter, started Hermes Race Systems in 1981. Lawhun now serves as Hermes Logistics Manager and handles all race course management. He also travels around the country working with the Race for the Cure series to raise money for breast cancer research. 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.

Joe Neroni
Joe 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.

Adam Petrovic
Adam is our longest standing Race Manager. Prior to joining Hermes in 2013, he interned in the sports department at Fox 8 Cleveland. He was also an event coordinator at Hawk’s Cay Resort in Marathon, Florida and most recently a project manager at Gallagher Benefit Services here in Cleveland. Adam graduated from Mount Union College with a B.A. in Sport Management in 2004. In his free time, Adam enjoys music of all kinds, record shopping, craft beer, running (roads and trails) and movies. His favorite area to visit is the Pacific Northwest.

Dominic Tremaglio
Dominic manages the Cleveland Corporate Challenge, the Akron Corporate Challenge, and the Hermes Sport & Social divisions of our company. Prior to stepping into this role, Dom interned with Hermes Sports & Events as a Corporate Challenge Assistant in 2015. Dom’s prior sports experience includes working at the youth, high school, collegiate, professional, and recreational levels of sport, in various directing, operating, and supervisory roles, notably Riverside High School, Marietta College, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Hermes Sports & Events. Dom graduated from Marietta College with a B.A. in Sport Management in 2015.

Ryan Harrison
Before joining Hermes in 2019, Ryan spent 5 years working with Vertical Runner Race Management, fulfilling a similar role in Wooster, Ohio. He also held a position as a Freight Logistics Coordinator at Jarrett Logistic Systems in Orrville, Ohio for several years. Ryan graduated from Bowling Green State University with a B.A. in Sport Management in 2013. In his free time, Ryan enjoys attending Cleveland sporting events, running (roads and trails), golfing, and traveling.

Stacey Baron
Stacey joined the race team in 2021. She graduated from Davenport University in 2014 with her B.A. in Sport Management and in 2016 with her M.A. in Athletic Administration from Central Michigan University. She comes to us with recent work experience as a collegiate track and field coach at Ursuline College and in run specialty at Second Sole & Fleet Feet. Stacey enjoys leading summer group runs/workouts within Hermes Sport and Social and staying outside & active all year-round.

Molly Speyer
Molly joined the team at the beginning of 2022. She graduated from Wittenberg University in 2020 with a B.A in Sport Management and spent the 2021 season as a special events intern with the Cleveland Browns. She loves all things Cleveland sports and in her free time enjoys running and playing volleyball.

Grayson Radvansky
Grayson joined the team at the beginning of 2023. He graduated from Anderson University in 2020 with a B.A in Sports Management. He was an intern at the University of Notre Dame, helping with the operations team at Notre Dame Stadium for 2 years. In his free time, Grayson loves to attend Cleveland sports events, running, camping, and traveling.