Becky joined the Cleveland Leadership Center as President and CEO in July 2024.  She leads the civic education, leadership development, and civic engagement organization in its execution of numerous programs to build civic leadership capacity. As a proud member of Leadership Cleveland 2018 and Cleveland Bridge Builders 2008, Becky strives each day to fulfill her personal mission to live a life rooted in meaningful relationships, purpose, and a passion for the possibilities of tomorrow.

Before joining CLC, Becky spent a decade as CEO for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, a professional association for lawyers and business professionals dedicated to promoting the rule of law and the legal profession. She also held positions as General Counsel for Cuyahoga Community College, Deputy General Counsel for KeyBank National Association, and a litigation associate with Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff.

In addition to her passion for the legal industry, Becky is committed to board service. Becky serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for First Federal Lakewood, the largest independent depositor-owned bank headquartered in Ohio with assets of $3 billion; and she is a founding Director of First Mutual Holding Co., a member-owned holding company created to serve a singular mission: to help mutual banks serve their communities and prosper in today’s financial climate. She has also served on several nonprofit boards including most recently the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Foundation, Lake Ridge Academy, and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Becky is a graduate of both Smith College and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Beyond her professional commitments, Becky spends as much time as possible outdoors with her daughter, Natalie, a student at Penn State University, and their Mini Aussie, Beatrice.

Becky Borden has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Cleveland Leadership Center since 2017, when she came to fill a twelve-week interim position.  In her role, she manages CLC’s finance, human resources, operations, and technology needs.

Prior to joining Cleveland Leadership Center, Becky was Administrative Director of Emergency Care Specialists.  She previously held corporate finance and sales positions with Procter & Gamble, and commercial banking roles with Northern Trust.  She has a BS in Finance from Miami University along with an MBA from The Kellogg School of Management.

She is a 2017 alumna of the Civic Leadership Institute.

Becky and her husband Brad have three grown sons and live in Chagrin Falls.

Nicole’s lifelong passion for education, love of people and desire to see Cleveland and its residents thrive led her to Cleveland Leadership Center where she gratefully serves as Director of Civic Leadership Institute.

Nicole comes to Cleveland Leadership Center by way of the Young Entrepreneur Institute at University School where she managed a pitch challenge for NEO students, K-12, and led entrepreneurship clubs and programs at US. Her eight years at Destination Cleveland began as a CLE Concierge in the CLE Visitor Center and led to creating and implementing programs to improve the visitor experience including CLE Travelbackers, the Cleveland Brewery Passport, and the Authentic Cleveland Experiences workshop, which inspired partners to offer visitors immersive and memorable experiences based in Cleveland’s “DNA.” She also taught fifth grade at Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools.

Nicole has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Miami University and a Certificate in Creative Placemaking from Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture.

Nicole resides in downtown Cleveland where she is reinvigorated daily by the city’s energy and people.

Courtney joined the Cleveland Leadership Center in November 2023, as the Special Events and Database Manager. She drives the coordination and logistics for the organization’s primary events along with maintaining the internal database.

Born and raised in the Cleveland area, she has a deep appreciation for all the opportunities and hidden gems this city has to offer. Her background in project and database management, event coordination, and passion for collaborating with people led her to where she is today.

She loves working Downtown, the heart and soul of Cleveland, and volunteering with organizations in our surrounding neighborhoods.

Rachel is the Chief Program & Impact Officer.  In her role, she provides oversight for the design and implementation of all CLC programs along with the evaluation and community impact work of CLC, and development of custom programs and strategic opportunities.  She is a certified TetraMap® Facilitator, Strategic Doing™ Certified Workshop Leader, IDI® Qualified Administrator, and has presented nationally on evaluation, impact, and engagement.

Rachel graduated from Ohio University in 2002 with a BA in Psychology and continued her education at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 2005 with a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA). Rachel has worked as a social worker at MetroHealth Medical Center and as a Program Coordinator at Care Alliance Health Center. Through her work at Care Alliance, she designed, implemented, and measured a federally funded evaluation program and collaborated with nine other programs across the country. She has a special interest in social work issues with the HIV/AIDS community and healthcare.

Rachel is a graduate of the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2010 and is a member of the Cleveland Leadership Center Alumni Association. She is serving as the Board Chair of the Board of Directors for Motogo, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Courage to Caregivers. She has served on the Board of Directors for the MetroHealth Foundation, the associate board of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, most recently as Chair, and on the Outcomes Committee with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. She was named a Top 25 under 35 Mover and Shaker in 2013 by the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. She and her husband Matt, along with their son Carson, love Cleveland and enjoy all the community has to offer!

Aiola joined the Cleveland Leadership Center in November 2024 as a Program Producer and became Director of High School programs in July 2025. In this role, Aiola leads the development and delivery all high school programs, including Look Up To Cleveland and Career Compass.

With over 10 years of experience in higher education, Aiola has worked with several institutions, such as the University of Georgia, Tulane University, the University of North Carolina – Wilmington, the University of Tennessee, and most recently Cleveland State University, where she served as the Associate Director for Employer Relations.

Aiola earned her degrees from Baldwin-Wallace and Cleveland State University, majoring in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She is passionate about exploring the complexities of human behavior, societal structures, and the dynamics between individuals, groups, and institutions.

Originally from Pogradec, Albania, Aiola considers Cleveland her second home. She resides in the West Park neighborhood with her husband, Tim, and their two children, Sebastian and Fiona.

Michelle is responsible for Cleveland Leadership Center’s marketing and communications, including design, messaging, and strategy.

Prior to joining CLC in 2014, Michelle spent 2 1/2 years as part of the Morino Ventures team working on the Leap of Reason initiative and 11 years at Urban Community School, where she was responsible for marketing efforts, special events, database management and myriad other projects.

Michelle holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from Heidelberg University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Tiffin University. Michelle’s civic passions revolve around physical and mental health and cycling/safe streets for all. She is a northeast Ohio native and lives in Fairview Park with her husband and their two dogs.

Roselyn (Rosie) Muñiz serves as Board Liaison & Development Associate at the Cleveland Leadership Center, a role she assumed in January 2025. Prior to this position, she distinguished herself at WKYC Studios, earning four Great Lakes Emmy Awards for production excellence while serving on the community and advocacy relations team. At Channel 3, she also served as associate producer for the Emmy-nominated community engagement program “We The People.”

In addition to her professional work, Muñiz demonstrates her commitment to community service through her board membership with Sisters Haven, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing supportive housing and community resources to pregnant women and mothers with children.

Muñiz holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and completed her undergraduate studies with honors at the University of Toledo, where she double-majored in Communication and Economics. Born and raised in Cleveland, she leverages her deep community roots and broad professional experience in service to the region.

Angela O’Donnell joined the Cleveland Leadership Center as the Director of Cleveland Bridge Builders in October 2022. In her role, Angela leads all aspects of the 10-month Bridge Builder program for mid-career leaders, and the five-month Advanced Leadership Institute program.

Angela graduated from Mount Union College in 2009 with a BA in Media Studies. She spent a semester studying in Viterbo, Italy where she focused on creative writing at the Universita della Tuscia. She spent nearly 12 years working at Saint Ignatius High School, most recently as the Director of Marketing & Communications. There she served as a member of the senior leadership team, led strategic planning, and managed an integrated marketing strategy supporting admissions and advancement efforts for the school.

Angela is a graduate of the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2014. She is a member of the Centering Space Board of Directors and currently serves as the chair of their marketing committee. She has served as a childcare volunteer at the Providence House and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She has also served on the Pastoral Council at St. Thomas More Parish in Brooklyn, most recently as President.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Angela grew up in Old Brooklyn and spent eight years living in the Ohio City and Tremont neighborhoods. She and her husband Tom, along with their sons Thomas and Charlie, currently reside in Fairview Park.

Dr. Claudia Y. Owens is a strategic communication leader. Before coming to CLC, Dr. Owens was an Associate Faculty member at University of Phoenix and a Graduate Program Coordinator for the Strategic Communication Master Degree and Instructor at Bowling Green State University. She served as chair of the program committee and the Dean’s Diversity Committee. She had previously been the Executive Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Washington State Community College and Director of Client Marketing & External Affairs for the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce.

She holds a Doctor of Management degree in public policy and administration from the University of Maryland University College (now the University of Maryland Global Campus), a master’s degree in communication methodology from Cleveland State University, and a bachelor of science degree in speech from Northwestern University. She is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Owens has served on several nonprofit boards. Her civic activities locally included Junior League of Cleveland, Family Transitional and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Growing up on the east side of Cleveland she is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and currently lives in Warrensville Heights.

Joan has been the Chief Advancement Officer of the Cleveland Leadership Center since the beginning of 2025. With 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and organizational growth, Joan is an experienced fundraising professional known for driving impactful fundraising initiatives and advancing mission-driven causes.

Joan most recently was Chief Philanthropy & Marketing Officer for HELP Foundation, Inc., which serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Throughout her distinguished career, Joan has successfully led multiple capital campaigns, cultivated strong donor relationships, and implemented innovative advancement strategies that have resulted in millions of dollars in funding for various organizations.

She has been a Board Member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cleveland Chapter, President of the Board of the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Chair of the 2021 National Philanthropy Day, and Secretary of the Northern Ohio Planned Giving Council (now known as Northern Ohio Charitable Gift Planners).

Joan received a BA in Political Science and English from Bowling Green State University. Her love of fundraising continues in her spare time as she is actively involved in fundraising at Holy Trinity School in Avon which her son, Patrick, attends.

Jolyn is the Director of Leadership Cleveland where she is applying her extensive business, academic and nonprofit experience to this role. Most recently serving as VP of External Relations for San Diego Oasis, an award-winning nonprofit organization serving over 5,000 older adults, providing stimulation, education and community engagement to older adults to prevent isolation and loneliness, and to encourage engagement and purpose throughout San Diego County.

From her role as former CMO of a large San Diego nonprofit hospice to teaching the business of retail, marketing and communications at a major public university in Ohio to running a multi-million dollar retail operation, she has decades of involvement in the nonprofit community. She has served as board member and past chair of Barrio Logan College Institute in San Diego and as a board member of Friends of Breakthrough Public Schools in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a former member of Community Advisory Council of SDG&E in San Diego and former board member and past chair of Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) of San Diego.

Jolyn was recently awarded the Spirit of Carol Sigelman Award for Excellence in Fundraising, given by the North County Philanthropy Council. She holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Nonprofit Management from Empire State College at SUNY, Applied Associate Degree in Retail Management from Fashion Institute of Technology at SUNY, and a certificate from The College of Distributive Trades, London, England. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she is married to a business turnaround specialist and has one daughter, an attorney.

Andrew has been with the Cleveland Leadership Center since 2011. He serves as the manager of the Civic Leadership Institute, as well as senior program coordinator for Cleveland Leadership Center flagship programs. He began his career at the Cleveland Leadership Center as programs and operations associate in February 2011, program coordinator in July 2011 and manager of Civic Leadership Institute in October 2015.

Andrew is a 2010 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he received a bachelors of arts in political science. While at Miami, Andrew was part of the Transatlantic Seminar on the European Union and a member of the Transatlantic Studies Organization.

Andrew, born and raised in the Cleveland area, is a College Now Greater Cleveland mentor, graduate of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s LEADS program and a volunteer with various local organizations.

Andrew currently lives in Lakewood with his wife, Annie.

Maya joined CLC in October 2022 as Director of the High School Programs and now serves as Director of College & Young Professional Programs. Throughout her career, she has worked in the fields of youth development and nonprofit management. Maya is responsible for the design, coordination, and execution of the Campus Cleveland and OnBoard Cleveland programs.

Maya holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kent State University. In addition, she holds a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration and Leadership from Cleveland State University. For the past six years, she has worked with various youth development organizations, as well as volunteered monthly to support girl empowerment groups. In her past roles, she managed after-school and summer programs at schools located across Northeast Ohio.

An Alabama native, Maya moved to the east side of Cleveland as an adolescent. In her spare time, she enjoys watching football, traveling to see family, and self-care days.