Svetlana Stolyarova
Svetlana Stolyarova, born in the USSR in 1962, is a visionary leader dedicated to cultural heritage, community development, and international collaboration. Her lifelong passion for music, philosophy, and civic engagement has shaped her remarkable journey-from championing democratic reforms during Perestroika to becoming a key figure in Cleveland's multicultural landscape.
After immigrating to the United States in 1999, Svetlana quickly became a dynamic force within the Russian-speaking and greater Cleveland communities. As a real estate broker, investment, and business consultant, she used her expertise to forge meaningful connections, strengthening cross-cultural ties throughout Northeast Ohio.
In 2011, Svetlana co-founded the Russian Cultural Garden, working alongside Dr. Boris Vinogradsky and Sergio Lebid to establish a permanent tribute to Russian heritage within the historic Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Under her leadership, the Russian Garden was designed, built, and dedicated in 2018, marking a significant milestone in Cleveland's celebration of international cultures. She was also instrumental in bringing the bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, to the garden in 2019-honoring one of Russia's greatest contributions to human history.
Beyond her service as the first President and a Board Member (Emeritus) of the Russian Cultural Gardens nonprofit, Svetlana has served as a delegate to the Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF), where she was twice elected as Vice President. Through these roles, she has secured funding, fostered international partnerships, and helped expand the presence of Eastern European culture in Cleveland's global community.
She is also the driving force behind some of Cleveland's most cherished cultural events. She founded the Maslenitsa Pancake Festival, a vibrant Slavic carnival that has grown into a major celebration, drawing thousands of attendees each year. In addition, she is a co-founder and Executive Director of The Stars of Summer International Piano, Vocal, and Dance Competition & Festival, that showcases emerging talents and reinforces Cleveland's reputation as a hub for world-class musical and artistic excellence.
Through her vision, leadership, and dedication, Svetlana Stolyarova has played a transformative role in Cleveland's cultural landscape. By bridging generations, celebrating heritage, and strengthening global ties, she has ensured that Russian culture remains a vibrant and integral part of the city's international identity.
Svetlana Stolyarova was inducted by Dr. Anton Komar
Watch the video of the speeches.
Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Mayor Frank Jackson, Gia Hoa Ryan, Svetlana Stolyarova
(Raj Aggarwal not in picture)
Congratulations Svetlana
Back to the 2025 Cleveland International Hall of Fame Induction Page
”ReadBeverly Kerecman
Beverly Haru Hashiguchi was born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Kent State University. Beverly continued her formal education to earn a Master of Science in Reading and Literacy and an Educational Specialist Degree in Teacher Leadership at Walden University.
Beverly's grandparents immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's with dreams of a good life in a new land. Her father, Mitsuo Hashiguchi's family lived in Los Angeles and had a small restaurant. Her mother, Eva Yoshida's family had a farm in Clarksburg, California. Both families were incarcerated in the Internment camps in the deserts of the United States during World War II. The families' California homes and businesses were taken away, so with other displaced Japanese Americans they settled in the Cleveland area. Beverly's parents met while in the Cleveland Nisei Tennis Club. Growing up in the Midwest as a Japanese American after World War II provided some unique challenges. Due to the social climate, the Japanese Americans formed their own social, sport, philanthropic, and religious organizations. Being good Americans was always prioritized in the family. The family only spoke English and strived to excel in all areas while becoming exemplary citizens.
Beverly joined the ShoJoJi Japanese Dancers during her youth. About a decade earlier, the dance group was formed by Dolly Semonco when asked to perform at the Cleveland Public Library. Linda Omura and Yoshiko Baker soon joined Dolly. These three talented women from Japan remained as the core Japanese dance instructors. The dance group is sponsored by the Japanese American Citizens League - Cleveland Chapter. Over the decades many people have volunteered in a variety of ways to have the ShoJoJi Japanese Dancers continue their mission to preserve the art of Japanese dance. During Bev's college years, she and Nanci Taketa assumed leading the ShoJoJi Japanese Dancers.
Since 1945, the Cleveland Buddhist Church held Obon services which included folk dancing. The annual Obon event honors our families and our ancestors. Last year, Beverly coordinated the Obon Festival of Cleveland by assembling the ShoJoJi Japanese Dancers, the Cleveland Japanese American Citizens League and the Cleveland Japanese American Foundation as sponsors.
Beverly served as an officer for the Cleveland Japanese American Citizens League, JACL, and the Junior Japanese American Citizens League. Experiences with these organizations include organizing workshops and speakers about the World War II Internment Camps, working for civil and human rights, organizing social events for the youth, and creating programs for the Japanese American community. She was a contributing writer for the JACL Newsletter. She has volunteered for the Cleveland Internation Film Festival. She is currently the President of the Cleveland Asian Retired Persons and serves on the Scholarship Committee of the JACL.
Beverly's profession is an intervention specialist. She has retired from teaching students from preschool to high school in the Mayfield City Schools and the Shaker Heights School System. Beverly has been an adjunct at Notre Dame College for 10 years, instructing the next generation of teachers. She has consulted and trained teachers in Phonics in Motion, a reading curriculum created by Dr. Terry Kindervater. Professional awards and accomplishments include National Board-Certified Teacher, officer of the Ohio Chapter of the Council of Exceptional Children, presenting at the National Martha Holding Jennings Scholar, Mayfield Education Association Honor, and Ohio Council of Economic Education Award. She continues to work with teachers, paraprofessionals, and students.
Beverly and her husband, Mark, are proud parents of David, Michael, and Kathleen Kerecman and are blessed to love five grandchildren.
Beverly was fortunate to work with teams of wonderful people. She learned from outstanding individuals who modeled community work. She stands on the works of others.
Beverly was inducted by OCAGC President Lisa Wong
Watch a video of the speeches.
at Cleveland International Hall of Fame
(Ray Aggarwal not in photo)
Congratulations Beverly
”ReadRaj Aggarwal
Raj Aggarwal, PhD, CFA is a distinguished academic, executive, and board member with extensive experience and global recognition. He is an active civic leader.
He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, an MBA and PhD in Business from Kent State University, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. A graduate of Leadership Cleveland (2004), Raj has been honored with awards like the Notable Finance Leader and a Notable Immigrant Leader Awards by Crain's and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent State University.
Raj has served on business boards for Manco/Henkel DIY Inc., Ancora Trust Mutual Funds/Maxxus Investments (each for a quarter century), ERC, and the Flood Company. He has also been a principal in three startups and held leadership roles in many professional organizations. His executive experience includes roles at Dana Corporation and Owens-Illinois Inc., along with consulting for the UN, World Bank, Fortune 100 companies, and commercial banks.
His nonprofit volunteer and board service spans organizations like Ideastream Public Media, Kent State University Foundation, Goodwill Industries, Values in Action, Hawken School, and the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. In addition, he gives philanthropic support to these and other area organizations such as the Food Bank, JCU, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
In terms of scholarly impact, with over 11,000 citations, according to a Stanford University study Raj is among the top 2% of scientists globally (top 1% by Research.com). A Fellow of the Academy of International Business and former Fulbright Research Scholar, he has held editor-in-chief roles in academic journals and served as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the SEC, and the Comptroller of the Currency.
Raj has been the business dean at the University of Akron and held Professor and endowed chair titles at John Carroll University, Kent State University, and the University of Akron. He has taught or held visiting professor roles at Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the University of South Carolina, the University of Hawaii, and internationally at Lund University (Sweden), IUJ (Japan), Trinity College (Ireland), Griffith University (Australia), and NUS (Singapore).
Raj could not attend the ceremony so he was inducted by Values-in-Action President Stuart Muszynski who then accepted for him.
Watch the video.
into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame
Congratulations Raj - We Missed You
Back to the 2025 Induction Ceremony
”ReadJohnny K. Wu
A native Clevelander raised in Central America, Johnny K. Wu is an award-winning producer, director and editor for over 25 years. H earned his MBA from Cleveland State University specializing in marketing and branding.
Johnny is fluent in Chinese, Spanish and English. His media/event production company Media Design Imaging was founded in 1998 with a combined of 60+ years of experience, providing video and event producing to non and for profit corporates, small businesses and filmmaking community.
He is well known and respected within the Asian Pacific American community in Ohio, having served as President of OCAGC (Organization of Chinese Americans in Greater Cleveland). He is one of three co-founders of the Cleveland Asian Festival which draws 50,000 people to Cleveland’s AsiaTown and has produced the event since inception in 2010.
Johnny is recognized and respected by other ethnic cultural groups as the Producer for the Cleveland Cultural Gardens' One World Day since 2015.
Johnny K. Wu is one of the few pioneers in engaging talents/skills in Cleveland's independent filmmakers' industry. In October 2003, he founded the monthly Cleveland IndieClub to provide a voice for local visual artists to showcase their work and visions, IndieClub was a national movement with meet up at numerous cities, and Cleveland is now the oldest running group.
As a filmmaker, Wu has 14+ feature films successfully distributed worldwide since 2005. He has given workshops and talk about filmmaking, marketing, branding, producing and distribution at several conventions including Wizard World Cleveland, FanExpo Cleveland, Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention IndieGathering Film Festival and Convention for over 10 years, also provided lectures at CES and NAB in Las Vegas.
He has provided insights and consultation in branding and marketing to nonprofits and small businesses as well as a known film/producing figure in social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Clubhouse. Wu owns a YouTube channel where he does product reviews and interviews with many prominent producers in the country. Wu also has done numerous speaking engagements at universities, conventions and festivals on topic related to Asian culture and diversity.
Johnny's recent scifi-action feature Wu Lin The Society, has signed for distribution while still winning awards (over 24). He's latest documentary History of Cleveland's Chinatown is currently screening at many festivals in Cleveland including showing at WKYC and WVIZ, while winning awards including a Telly. Wu currently in post-production of his latest action thriller Bullets, Brothers and Blood, expected to premiere in early 2024. In his spare time, he loves to watch movies, eat different cuisines and sleep.
Johnny K. Wu currently sits as an executive board member of St. Clair Superior Development Corp, member of the International Task Force for Cleveland Museum of Art, WKYC Community Council Member, City of Cleveland Consumer Affairs Community Board, VP of Communications for OCA Cleveland Chapter, ClevelandPeople.com Ambassador and more. He is an inductee into two Martial Arts Halls of Fame, and an inductee of the International Indie Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
The April 23, 2024 induction event at Windows on the River was a sell out with 500 people in attendance.
Johnny Wu was inducted by Margaret Wong. Over 50 years ago, award-winning practicing immigration lawyer Margaret Wong started her firm after years of adversity. She was born in Hong Kong and founded Margaret W. Wong & Associates, LLC, which began with a single desk rented for $25 and is now one of the nation's premier immigration law firms with offices in nine cities. She is an immigrant, a self-starter and a proud businesswoman.
Here is the video of entire Cleveland International Hall of Fame ceremony. You can jump to about 1:37:11 to watch Johnny Wu being inducted by Margaret Wong.
Enjoy these images of Johnny Wu from the Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Margaret Wong watching Johnny Wu speak
with Johnny Wu and Bill Franklin
Congratulations Johnny!
”ReadSudarshan Sathe
Sudarshan ( su- dar- shun) Sathe ( Saa-the) earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, with first division honors, from the world famous IIT engineering school in India. He arrived in the U.S at a young age of 22 to join University of Akron's master’s in chemical engineering program.
At the same Alma mater, he earned an MBA in International Business. After doing a series of jobs in the chemical and metals industry, and upon acquiring U S Citizenship in 1990, Mr. Sathe founded a company called NewConcepts, influenced by an adage of Akio Morata of Sony corporation that marketing is not simply shipping what you have made, but rather knowing what to make.
He developed products and processes that he has earned patents for and are used in the Steel industry today. New Concepts is also a supplier of various metals and raw materials to the Steel Industry, counting nearly every Steel Mill in North America among its customers.
He is a member of numerous professional and civic organizations and has supported many causes having to do with amelioration of hunger, and with education of the underprivileged children, especially girls' education.
Sudarshan's philanthropic activities extend to Ekal, the One Teacher Schools, Akshaya Patra the inexhaustible food bowl- lunch program in schools- 100,000 Meal goal of Richfield Mayor Mike Wheeler, to end world hunger and Medical Yatra, among others. He has been on the board of Project Love, Values-in-Action that aims to end bullying in schools.
He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Federation of India's community associations, FICA, the pan-Indian American organization in Northeast Ohio.
To this day, he remains a keen student of India's History and philosophy and applies the age-old philosophical principles in business practice. The simplest of them being," What you do with what you have, will determine what will materialize in your life". He also follows not just the golden rule but the platinum rule, that says, Treat others as they wish to be treated.
He believes in the values of Indian culture and legacy that continue to enrich the world, be it Yoga, language, mathematics, or primacy of the mind. Because after all the battles and conquests, after all the technology and modern conveniences have been acquired, one last battle remains: and that is achieving a moment of pure inner peace.
Sudarshan is a Clevelander through and through where he lives with his wife Swati. They have two adult sons, Tejas and Ojas.
Sudarshan was inducted by Baiju Shah
Watch the video (below) of Baiju Shah's induction speech and then Sudarshan Sathe's acceptance speech.
