 
Gulam Khan
CEO,
US Endoscopy
Shaker Heights High School
Class of ’85
Favorite class: History. “I had a natural interest and a great professor who drew upon his own experiences from World War II.”
The business lesson: “The power of storytelling. If you can tie an
objective or goal into a story or put it into historical context, that just
seems to keep everybody interested.”
High school job: Working in his surgeon father’s office
I remember my high school for: The diversity. “It’s ingrained in me that you need to be open-minded and there are different ways for people to show good judgment.”
Extracurricular activities: Football, soccer and track
Best moment on the field: A Hail Mary kick with a few seconds left to beat Lakewood in soccer
Lesson from the field: “It’s not that one last kick. It’s all the work that went into it.”
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Christine Amer Mayer
Chief operating officer and legal counsel, GAR Foundation
Our Lady of the Elms High School
Class of ’89
Favorite class: English. “The professor, Mrs. Sawan, frequently quoted Shakespeare, saying, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit.’ She’d return papers and tell us, ‘Make it crisper; make it shorter. Get to the point more quickly.’ ”
The business lesson: “As people have limited time, you have to make your point quickly.”
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Sawan. “She always set the bar high and got us to clear it every time, and that’s applicable to business.”
First job: A women’s shoe boutique. “I learned … the customer is always right. If you come at things with that mentality, you can usually find a solution that works for everybody.”
I remember my high school for: Its emphasis on social justice and business. “It also showed us how to make our way in the world and share our gifts with others.”
Least favorite class: Calculus. “I couldn’t see how it would help me in daily life. Calculus is a metaphor for something insurmountable. You have to figure it out.”
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Robert Wolleben
CEO, Trumbull
Memorial Hospital
Brooklyn [N.Y.] Preparatory High School
Class of ’72
Favorite class: English. “I came from a science-based family. ... English gave me the opportunity to explore another side of life.”
The business lesson: Have a broad perspective. “I read as much as I can get my hands on. In my field, it’s an advantage to know what’s going on in the airline or nuclear power industry because some of those strategies also apply to health care.”
My favorite teacher: My English teacher, Charlie Winans. “He could make the words of Wordsworth and [Percy] Shelley fly off the page.”
lesson from the field: “Being able to communicate in a team is what matters. The lone wolf days are over.”
Favorite hangout: The gym. “I’m 55, and I still swim a mile four times a week. Being involved in athletics has helped me stay healthy. It’s also a great stress reliever.”
Extracurricular: Basketball, where he was a reserve forward for four years. “I didn’t see much playing time, but you learn a lot being part of a team. In business, being able to communicate in a team is what matters. The lone wolf days are over.”
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Donald Washkewicz
President, chairman &
CEO, Parker-Hannifin
Garfield Heights High School,
Class of ’68
Favorite teacher: Freshman English teacher, Mr. Blue. “He was so good at diagramming sentences and breaking things down in a way you could understand.”
The business lesson: How to write things properly
High school ride: A 1964 Chevy Impala that he shared with his sister. “Back then if a fender wasn’t flopping or if you didn’t have a big rust hole in the door, you haven’t lived. My car had rust holes everywhere.”
Favorite memory: The people. “The camaraderie of meeting new people and getting to know them.”
At the last reunion: Being the head of a $10 billion company really wasn’t a big topic of discussion. “I don’t have a big ego to stroke. I have my job; my friends have theirs. We just all had a good time and reminisced.”
High school job: “I worked in a gas station, worked on cars and in a pizza shop.”
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