LEADER LUNCH BREAK ARCHIVE

Sandee shared her personal journey and the company’s history, emphasizing its commitment to community stewardship, innovation, and employee engagement since its founding in 1880. She highlighted various environmental initiatives, including partnerships with local sports teams to promote tree planting through programs like “Score for the Trees,” which has resulted in the planting of 5,300 trees in Northeast Ohio over the past five years. She outlined the company’s dedication to tree research, including the iTree project and the Greehill initiative, which utilizes AI for better canopy management. Sandee also discussed the new SEED campus, which is an innovative, multifunctional space for education and community engagement.

Jenice discussed NEOHCED’s mission to support entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journeys. The center serves over 2,000 entrepreneurs annually through its Minority Business Assistant Center, offering free services accessible to all, regardless of language or ethnicity.

Ally shared her background and her commitment to promoting women’s sports. She highlighted the successful pitch to investors that secured funding for the bar, emphasizing the growing interest in women’s sports and the demand for a dedicated venue in Cleveland. The bar aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for all sports fans, with a focus on community engagement and celebrating female athletes through its decor and events.

Kevin shared that Ideastream Public Media has experienced its strongest financial year yet, despite the challenges facing public media due to potential massive changes in government funding. This success came from local support and a healthy endowment fund—something Ideastream is enthusiastic about leveraging to build long-term financial sustainability.

He discussed the importance of collaboration and strategic planning within the media industry, the need for adaptability in content delivery, and highlighted both the significance of partnerships and the successful merger of WVIZ and WCPN as pivotal moments among independent stations.

Ann began by outlining the McGregor Foundation’s services, focusing mainly on the PACE program. This program integrates healthcare and support for seniors to ensure they have a quality life.

She voiced the importance of community engagement in order to reduce isolation for older adults, detailed the need for friendly and accessible centers for seniors, highlighted the array of living arrangements on the East Cleveland Campus, and communicated concerns about Medicaid and Medicare changes. 

She told leaders in Cleveland about workforce shortages they are experiencing, and called on the community to push for aging services while also educating the public on available resources to make a change.

Kip reflected on his upbringing in a family that valued education and public service, emphasizing the importance of listening to clients and acknowledging his colleagues’ influence on his career. He discussed his involvement with the Free Clinic and Federal Bar Association, two organizations that allowed him to dive deeper into his leadership skills.

Kip also introduced Cleveland Leadership Center’s Strategic Vision 2035, which aims to enhance community engagement and address systemic challenges within the region. He emphasized the strong need for unity and collaboration among Cleveland’s organizations and the importance for mentoring our future leaders.