Following the announcement in December 2023 of Marianne Crosley’s intent to transition out of her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland
Becky McMahon
Leadership Center (CLC) this year, the CLC Board of Directors today announced that it has selected Rebecca (“Becky”) Ruppert McMahon as the organization’s new CEO after a rigorous search. McMahon currently holds the position of CEO of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA) and CMBA Foundation.
The leadership transition is expected to take place in late July, and Crosley will remain with the organization as a senior advisor to ensure a smooth transition.
Crosley’s 14-year tenure as President and CEO of CLC witnessed significant expansion of leadership programming, growth of the organization to serve almost 2,000 leaders annually through its many offerings, and launch of its Endowment Fund. With her guidance, CLC’s initial existing flagship programs – Leadership Cleveland, Cleveland Bridge Builders, Campus Cleveland and Look Up To Cleveland – have seen expanded impact on our region.
She introduced a series of new programs including OnBoard Cleveland, Advanced Leadership Institute, and Legacy Leaders. In addition, she
Marianne Crosley (Photo by Jason Miller, Pixelate Photography)
launched two annual events – the Spark: Grit to Great leadership conference and the Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition. Accelerate has become a region-wide event that fosters creative growth and supports emerging social entrepreneurs who have ideas to make a difference in Cleveland.
“Marianne’s innovative leadership has reached across multiple generations to expand the impact of CLC and its alumni within the community. Under her guidance, CLC has become known as a place where leaders are inspired to drive change and where civic entrepreneurs are welcomed to launch their ideas to improve the community. She has built numerous collaborative partnerships – and did so as a humble, unselfish leader determined to drive impact across Northeast Ohio,” said Bill Caster, CLC Board Chair and President of Gries Financial Partners.
“Although we are sad to see Marianne leave, we are excited to welcome Becky to our organization. Becky’s success as a dynamic leader running a large, highly respected organization, in addition to her track record and belief in the importance of forming a community of trust with staff and other stakeholders, position her as the ideal candidate to advance CLC into the future,” Caster said.
In addition to her decade of leadership at Ohio’s preeminent legal association, McMahon has held leadership positions in banking and higher education, and her civic involvement has included extensive board service for First Federal Lakewood, the Rainbow Babies and Children Foundation, Lake Ridge Academy, and the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. During her tenure at CMBA, she led the development and implementation of comprehensive strategic plans for both the association and its foundation, which elevated both organizations’ visibility and impact across Northeast Ohio and beyond. She was a member of CLC’s Cleveland Bridge Builders class of 2008 and Leadership Cleveland class of 2018.
“During my years at the Leadership Center, I had the opportunity to meet and work alongside so many inspiring community leaders and challenge them to drive positive change in Northeast Ohio,” said Crosley. “With events like the Accelerate civic pitch competition, I am proud to see the impact that we’ve had on our region’s development. I am grateful for the time I’ve spent with CLC and look forward to seeing the organization continue to grow under Becky’s leadership.”
View a special statement from Marianne Crosley >
About Cleveland Leadership Center
Cleveland Leadership Center provides collaborative leadership training, civic education and connections to leaders of all ages, empowering them to identify and take action on issues that resonate with them and positioning them to become change agents in the community. Visit www.cleveleads.org, @Cleveland Leadership Center on LinkedIn, or @cleveleads on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Media contact
Michael E. Bennett, Vice President of External Affairs
Work: (216) 592-2426, Cell: (216) 408-3874, mbennett@cleveleads.org