Class of 2005-2006
Jeff Pesler came to the Fellowship as a geographic information systems project manager for Woolpert, Inc., a consulting firm for public and private-sector clients. An Akron native, Pesler served during his Fellowship year with St. Clair Superior Development Corporation, the Office of the County Administrator, Forest City Enterprises Inc. and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Jeff completed his master’s degree of urban planning in fall of 2006. Currently, he is the assistant director of MidTown Cleveland, Inc., an economic development organization on the near east side of Cleveland.
Diane Schorr recognized during her Fellowship year that work in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors would maximize her strengths. Diane currently serves as Executive Director of The Suder Foundation, a private foundation providing scholarships and support services to first generation college students. She also consults with nonprofit organizations in the areas of strategic planning, board governance, and social enterprise. Prior to the Fellowship, Diane practiced law for 13 years then served as the coordinator of immersion programs at John Carroll University. She holds a J.D. from Cleveland Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and a B.S. in Business Administration from John Carroll University. Diane’s Fellowship rotations included Vocational Guidance Services, Northeast Ohio Sourcing Office (NEOSO), KeyBank and an independent project with The Cleveland Foundation. Upon completion of the Fellowship, Diane joined NEOSO as supply management consultant and staff counsel.
LaTasha Stanley joined the Fellowship after earning her MSW from the University of Chicago. Before joining the Fellowship, she was a justice systems advocacy coordinator at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Throughout the Fellowship, LaTasha worked with Centers for Families and Children, Cleveland City Council and National City Bank. Upon completion of the Fellowship, Stanley felt her greatest impact on the Cleveland community would be in faith-based initiatives. Thus, she went on to the University of Denver, Iliff School of Theology. LaTasha is now back in Cleveland.
Sonja Thomas joined the Fellowship as an IT Manager at the NASA Glenn Research Center. Sonja was also teaching IT courses as an adjunct professor at Cuyahoga Community College. She received her MBA from Cleveland State University. Sonja spent her Fellowship year working with Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Cuyahoga County Library, Eaton Corporation, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, and NorTech, where she accepted a full-time position as Vice President of Operations. Sonja most recently accepted a new position as Interim Associate of Business, Math, and Technology at Cuyahoga Community College.
Tyrone White, a former teacher and guidance counselor, joined the Fellowship having recently worked as a trainer and consultant for the Ohio Welfare Training Program. Tyrone’s placements within the Fellowship included Great Lakes Science Center, the City of Cleveland’s Sustainability Programs, and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. Following the Fellowship, Tyrone began consulting work with juwi, an international renewable energy corporation.
Eric Wobser, a Sandusky native, joined the Fellowship after finishing law school at the University of Michigan. From 2001-2002, Wobser served as a Corps Member at City Year Cleveland. Throughout the Fellowship year, Eric worked with Shore Bank Enterprise Group, the Chief of Staff for the City of Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Eric served as the Special Projects Manager to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson from 2006 through 2009 and is currently the Executive Director of the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to marketing, programming, planning and advocacy related to Cleveland's historic Ohio City neighborhood.
Rachel Zinn joined the Fellowship as a reporter from The Toledo Blade and is a native of Shaker Heights. During her Fellowship year, Rachel worked with The Metro Health System, the Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s Office, and thunder::tech. Following the Fellowship, she worked for a year as project coordinator for the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education, and later earned a master's in public administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. Rachel is currently a program examiner for the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, where she focuses on job training programs. She has a B.A. from Amherst College in Asian Languages and Civilizations.