Morton L. Mandel, Chairman of the Israel Equity Limited Group (parent company of Phoenicia Glass Works, Ltd.) was born and lives in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a co-founder together with his two brothers, Joseph and Jack, of the Premier Industrial Corporation where he served as Chairman and CEO until April 2006 when the company was merged with the British company Farnell Electronics PLC to become Premier Farnell PLC. Today, Mr. Mandel serves as CEO of the Parkwood Corporation, Israel Equity Limited, and as Chairman of the Mandel Foundation.

Among Mr. Mandel’s international activities were the founding of the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem and the Mandel Center for Leadership in the Negev both of which are involved in leadership training and development. Mr. Mandel is also on the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was the founding president of the World Conference of Jewish Community Centers.

In 2003, with the objective to contribute to the industrial sector in Israel, Mr. Mandel established Israel Equity Limited (IEL) in order to acquire Israeli companies for the purpose of upgrading their capabilities and profitability so as to create value-based employment opportunities. IEL currently owns both Bikurofe and Phoenicia Glass Works, and is a partial owner of Tadbik Group.

Mr. Mandel has throughout the years and in accordance with both his philanthropic and business outlook worked to help companies to realize their potential, through revitalizing their business model and upgrade their business practices.

Over the years Mr. Mandel has received numerous awards and citations for his contribution to various causes, among them:

  • Presidential Award (by President Ronald Reagan) for Private Sector Initiatives
  • George S. Dively Award for Corporate Leadership in Urban Development
  • Civic Leader of the Year, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Charles Eisenman Award, Cleveland Jewish Community Federation
  • Frank L. Weil Award, JCC Association
  • Citizen of the Year, Cleveland Board of Realtors
  • Honorary Fellow, Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design
  • Business Statesman of the Year, Harvard Business School Club of Cleveland
  • Best Management Performance Award, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management
  • Business Executive of the Year, Sales & Marketing Executives of Cleveland
  • Newton D. Baker Distinguished Alumni Award, Case Western Reserve University
  • Businessman of the Year, Cleveland Urban League
  • Outstanding Young Man of the Year, Cleveland Junior Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Mandel has also received honorary doctorates from the following Universities:

  • Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH
  • Brandeis University, Boston, MA
  • Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
  • Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
  • Yeshiva University, New York, NY
  • Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
  • Gratz College, Philadelphia, PA
  • Cleveland College of Jewish Studies, Cleveland, OH

Mr. Mandel has served in the past as a Director in the following companies:

  • Premier Farnell PLC, Deputy Chairman, 1996 – 2002
  • Premier Industrial Corporation, Chairman, 1946 – 1996
  • Central National Bank of Cleveland, 1968 – 1979
  • Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., 1969 – 1979

Mr. Mandel has been active in numerous community endeavors including

  • Case Western Reserve University, Trustee
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, Trustee
  • Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Symphony Orchestra), Trustee
  • United Way Services, Chairman of the Board, 1979 – 1981; President, 1977 – 1979
  • Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, President, 1974 – 1977
  • Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, President, 1952 – 1957
  • Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, CWRU, Co-Founder, 1984
  • MidTown Cleveland, Co-Founder and Chairman, 1982 – 1985; Trustee, 1982
  • Cleveland Tomorrow, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman
  • City of Cleveland Project MOVE (formerly Mayor’s Committee on Volunteerism), Founder, 1981
  • Park Works (formerly Clean-Land, Ohio), Co-Founder and Trustee, 1981 – 1997

Click to view a film of the mandel brothers legacy

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