Ralph Della Ratta

Ralph Della Ratta
Term: 2012-2021
Residence: Gates Mills, Ohio  

Gov. John Kasich has named Ralph M. Della Ratta of Gates Mills, Ohio, to serve on the Kent State University Board of Trustees. Della Ratta’s appointment is from July 13, 2012, through May 16, 2021. Della Ratta served as Chair of the Board of Trustees from May 2018 through June 2020.

Trustee Ralph Della Ratta is Co-Head of M&A Advisory and Managing Director of Citizens M&A Advisory. Previously, Della Ratta was founder, CEO and managing partner of Western Reserve Partners, a Cleveland-based middle market investment bank that provides mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and other financial advisory services. In May 2017, Western Reserve Partners was sold to Citizens Financial Group at which time Ralph also attained the title of President, State of Ohio. He has more than 30 years of experience in investment banking and commercial banking. Prior to founding Western Reserve Partners, Della Ratta managed the Investment Banking Division of McDonald Investments Inc.

Della Ratta’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a graduate degree in banking from the Stonier Graduate School at Rutgers University. He serves on the board of directors of numerous private and public companies, including Olympic Steel Inc. (Lead Independent Director) and TCP, Inc. (Former Lead Independent Director). He is a past board member of McDonald & Company Securities, Inc., Hyland Software and NDI Medical. 

In addition, Della Ratta has been actively involved in various charities and not-for-profit organizations. He currently serves the University Hospitals Health System (Board Member, Chair of the Life Sciences Committee, Strategic Committee Member and past Investment Committee Chair). He is also a member of the 50 Club of Cleveland.

He has previously served Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital National Leadership Council (past Chair and Board Member), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Board Member), University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Board Member), the Ohio Venture Capital Authority (appointed by Governor Ted Strickland) (Chair), the City Club of Cleveland (President and Chair of its Campaign for a New Century), Business Volunteers Unlimited (Board Member, Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Capital Campaign), the Annual Fund of Duke University (Board Member and Executive Committee Member), the Duke Alumni Association (Board Member and Executive Committee Member), the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art (Board Member), the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon (Chair), INROADS of Northeast Ohio (Chair), the Achievement Centers for Children (President) and the Capital Improvements Board of the City of Indianapolis (Board Member and Treasurer).