Meet the Team

Trustee & Co-Founder

Karen co-founded Turtle Plastics Foundation with her husband, Tom Norton. A physician-psychiatrist who retired after 30 years from her active private practice, Karen volunteers as a psychiatrist in Cleveland, Ohio, and has volunteered on numerous international medical missions. Karen works as Turtle Plastics’s Clinical Advisor for Environmental Health and Safety, bringing valuable insight to the EHS component of their products.. Karen received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

An advocate for firefighters’ mental health, Karen authored “But, I’m Not Crazy! An Honest Acknowledgment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Fire Service,” published in the September 25, 2017 edition of Fire Engineering.

Karen enjoys spending time in her butterfly garden, volunteering her time, and lending spiritual support or her educational talent to those in need.

Co-Chair & Trustee

A lifelong recycler, environmentalist, and visionary entrepreneur, Tom started Cleveland Reclaim Industries, later known as Turtle Plastics, in 1980 to recycle plastic rubbish from industrial plants. Turtle Plastics became the first manufacturer of flexible, ergonomic flooring tiles and matting made from recycled materials. Tom also founded the Magnificent Machinery Company, which also was started to design and build recycling equipment.

Tom co-founded Turtle Plastics Foundation with his wife, Dr. Karen Bradley. He enjoys working on many charitable causes, assisting with political advocacy and writing a history of the company. He is a longtime member of Sierra Club, Greenpeace, The Cousteau Society T.A.C. (Technical Advisory Committee), and is past chairmen of the Household Hazardous Waste Committee of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Tom attended John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio majoring in history and speech.

Tom has tremendous energy, and in part due to his own declining vision has recently formed a private venture that will make products for the visually impaired. His new venture is named Seize The Day (Carpe Diem).

Always pushing the envelope, at age 60, Tom and his wife, Dr. Bradley, adopted a 13-month-old Russian child. Tom also enjoys spending time with his six other children, many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Trustee

As President and shareholder of Turtle Plastics, Liz is responsible for all operations of the organization. She works closely with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate organizational or personal development. She directs activities to develop and implement the company’s short- and long-range business goals and profitability objectives.

Prior to joining Turtle Plastics, Liz held executive leadership roles within growth industries including nonprofit management, commercial real estate development, and general business consulting. Liz is a Deloitte alumnus.

Liz is a member of Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society that recognizes academic excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Southern New Hampshire University. Liz is a 2006 graduate and community activist of the Cleveland FBI Citizen’s Academy. Liz volunteers with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (Emmitsburg, MD) and serves as Chairwoman, Finance Committee, as well as serves on the Partners and Advisory Councils.

In her spare time, she and her husband Russ enjoy motorsports, traveling, and spending time with family. She is an avid gardener and has won several local awards for her roses and hydrangeas.

Secretary

In his role as Vice President and shareholder, Dennis continues to lead national and global sales for Turtle Plastics in all industrial, fire/rescue, and commercial industries. Dennis is instrumental in working with major industrial distribution companies throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and South America, Japan, Europe and Australia. He has led key projects individually and with major distributors resulting in Turtle Plastics products being utilized in multiple FORTUNE® 500 companies.

Dennis has extensive knowledge of critical technical and regulatory areas of occupational health and safety. He is certified as a Qualified Safety Sales Professional (QSSP). Dennis serves on the Turtle Plastics Safety Committee and acts as Chairman of the Turtle Plastics’ Advisory Committee on Thought Leadership.

Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Baldwin-Wallace College. Dennis is a classic car and hot rod enthusiast and enjoys spending time with his two daughters.

Treasurer

Ashley has been a valuable member of the Turtle Plastics team since 2016. She serves as the Treasurer for the Turtle Plastics Executive Committee. As Controller/HR Manager, Ashley is responsible for creating and maintaining a documented system of internal and external accounting policies, procedures and controls as well as providing financial reporting.

Prior to joining Turtle Plastics, Ashley interned at the Lorain County Friendship Animal Protective League and worked in the hospitality industry.

She holds an Associate of Applied Business in Accounting degree and an Associate of Arts degree from Lorain County Community College, as well as an Associate of Accounting degree from Ohio Business College and is certified in Microsoft Office. Ashley has been accepted to Miami University, Ohio Regionals to earn her Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Small Business Management degree.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her husband and their five beautiful young children.

Executive Vice President

Christel Best has been involved with Turtle Plastics Foundation for more than a decade now. She started as a volunteer; helping with their global outreach efforts to provide health essentials and medical services in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. From there, Christel became involved with TPF's domestic initiatives before she became the Executive Vice President at Turtle Plastics Foundation. 

Turtle Plastics Foundation has aided countless people through its global and domestic initiatives, including donations to the Fallen Firefighters, Renee Jones Empowerment Center, and their support for the League of Women Voters; just to name a few. "I am inspired by the wonderful work this organization does,” says Christel reflecting on the work and mission of TPF, “We are a small organization, made up of caring people, I'm proud to be part of the TPF team.”

Christel is a Licensed attorney in Cleveland, Ohio. She has two adult sons, and a loving husband, Peter.

Motion Designer & Community Outreach Coordinator

Dillon is a passionate & flexible motion designer, creating exciting animations from broadband marketing to experimental music videos. He is fluent in a catalogue of art & design programs to match any occasion. He has received considerable recognition for his work, including his contributions as animator for Egghead & Twinkie (2023). The film went on to be chosen for 60+ film festivals all around the world, including Cleveland International Film Festival.

Dillon has his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Animation from Cleveland Institute of Art (2021). He earned a scholarship for his painting, “Flint Michigan Still Doesn’t Have Clean Water (2017),” which directly put focus on the clean water crisis.

Dillon lives with his tripod husky & two hermit crabs. He loves to practice guitar, swim, play video games, and of course, create art.