Press Release

Smart Business Magazine Names Equity Trust Company CEO George Sullivan One of Northeast Ohio’s Smart 50 for Second Year

CLEVELAND, OHIO, November 10, 2022

Equity Trust Company CEO George Sullivan has been recognized as one of Smart Business Magazine’s Smart 50, an award that recognizes Northeast Ohio’s top executives. This is the second straight year Sullivan has been named to this prestigious list.

The award recognizes “the top executives of the 50 smartest companies in the Northeast Ohio region for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations,” according to the publication.

The evaluation process focuses on the nominee’s performance in one of three category areas: innovation, impact, and sustainability.

“All of this year’s honorees have made a difference in their organizations and the region,” the Smart Business Magazine Smart 50 article says. “Their positive impact on employment has reinvented Northeast Ohio as one of the up-and-coming business regions in the country.”

Sullivan, who has helmed Equity Trust since 2019, embodies smart leadership by challenging the company to become a performance-driven culture. He has led the investment in top talent and formalized an annual review process of key positions to identify opportunities to upskill and/or promote high performers.

Recognizing the importance of creating fast, quality learning cycles that deliver skills, knowledge, and results, he encourages each employee to approach their work with a problem-solving, idea-sharing mentality.

In addition to his innovative approach to the business, Sullivan’s contributions impact the Northeast Ohio community. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association (AHA)’s Cleveland chapter, among other volunteer board positions. In 2021, he led the AHA’s Cleveland and Lorain Heart Walks and rallied Equity Trust associates to raise more than $105,000 for the cause. One of only two organizations in Northeast Ohio to raise more than $100,000, Equity Trust was a recipient of the AHA’s national Circle of Excellence award.

Sullivan and the other Smart 50 award winners were recognized at a special celebration on November 9, 2022.

About Equity Trust Company

Equity Trust Company is a financial services company that enables individual investors and financial professionals to diversify investment portfolios using alternative asset classes such as real estate, tax liens, private equity, cryptocurrency, and precious metals. Equity Trust Company evolved from a predecessor brokerage firm founded in 1974, to a directed custodian today with over 45 years of experience and more than $34 billion in assets (as of 8/31/21).