Community Leader - August 2022

AU GU ST 202 2

FLATS IN FLUX

What Stakeholders Do to Keep the District Vibrant

INSIDE

+ Are Travel and Tourism Bouncing Back? + Scott Wolstein’s Legacy + Meet Baby Kayembe

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CONTENTS 30

10

COLUMNS

COMMUNITY

BUSINESS

2 From the Publisher 48 My Life 56 1000 Words

14 Guardians of Justice

30 Supporting Species

36 Re:Visiting

Lee Fisher says we are at our best when we show humility, listen to other views and engage in respectful debates.

Learn how Cleveland Zoological Society donors help animals survive and thrive.

Cleveland tourism is rebounding in a big way.

BY JILL SELL

BY ALEX EMERSON, JILL SELL, LYNNE THOMPSON AND TERRY TROY

16 A Prescription for

32 Creating Collaborations

44 Steps to Success

4 A Practitioner President Tri-C’s new president leads with a focus on students and the community.

Great Customer Service Pat Perry offers tips for keeping customers happy and differentiating your business.

BY LYNNE THOMPSON

6 Advocating

Nontraditional Roles Discover how one organization helps women connect and succeed in the manufacturing industry.

BY TERRY TROY

8 Supporting Awareness Diversity Center’s Walk, Rock, Roll and Run returns.

s

36

DEPARTMENTS

UPFRONT

e

COVER STORY 18 Flats in Flux Local stakeholders are working together to expand entertainment and recreational opportunities on the banks of the hardworking Cuyahoga River.

See how the United Black Fund is collaborating to better meet the needs of the underserved.

Greater Cleveland Partnership aims to create a thriving region built on dynamic businesses.

BY CHRISTINA EASTER

BY LINDA FEAGLER

34 Breaking Down Barriers

46 Adapting to Change

Learn what United Way is doing to make sure those in need don’t lose their assistance benefits.

BY JILL SELL

Sales Concepts Inc. is helping clients overcome fears of uncertainty.

BY BOB SANDRICK

51

BY LINDA FEAGLER, JILL SELL AND TERRY TROY

BY ALEX EMERSON

10 Spreading the Word

g

Roselyn Muñiz is leading the charge to recognize and unite Hispanic journalists in Cleveland.

BY RHONDA CROWDER

s

12 In Remembrance

SPECIAL SECTION

Scott A. Wolstein set standards for development and civic leadership.

51 Meetings & Events

BY TERRY TROY COVER: THOM SHERIDAN

s

AUGUST 2022

18

Local experts share ideas for how you can get out and get together with colleagues and friends.

BY SARAH WEBB

clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 1

FROM THE PUBLISHER // BY LU TE HARMON SR .

Our Burning River: A Landmark Event

O

nce upon a time — 1969 to be precise — a burning river made Cleveland a national joke. Today, that river is ablaze with natural beauty, abundant recreation, lively entertainment and vibrant business.

Since 1969 was not yesterday, there is a good chance Clevelanders may consider the burning of the Cuyahoga River an embarrassing historical event. That would be too bad. The problem of not knowing history is to miss out on the lessons it teaches. The lessons we learned from a burning river changed our city forever.

For it was in 1969 that Cleveland won the triple crown for Sorry Cities. Lake Erie was polluted, race riots ravaged the Hough neighborhood and the Cuyahoga River caught fire. Yet, in spite of all of this, the next 25 years were the greatest period of growth in the city’s history. What happened?

Lesson No. 1: Adversity can lead to success. Shortly after the Cuyahoga River burned, a group of civic leaders got together and said enough is enough. They agreed that business, government and nonprofits would work together to build a great city on a great lake. Not only was Cleveland’s rebirth a case study at Harvard University, but mayors from cities all around the country came to learn the secret of our success.

Lesson No. 2: The better we connect, the better we succeed. Before 1969, Cleveland was a city of individuals. The Public/Private Partnership, as this collaboration became known, was formed as a group of like-minded people with common purposes and goals. Cleveland’s greatest achievement in its 226-year history has been creating community collaboration to achieve common goals.

If we have forgotten what made us who we are — and I believe we have — it is time to remember the lessons learned from a burning river. There is not one person who lived here in 1969 who could have imagined what the Cuyahoga River would become.

It was Winston Churchill, speaking to the British people during World War II, who said, “We have learned a great lesson, and it is this: The better we have connected, the better we have succeeded.”

The definition of a landmark event is that it is prominent and crucial. I hope we will always remember the burning of the Cuyahoga River as a landmark event.

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Managing Art Director Rayanne Medford Art Directors Stacy Mallardi-Stajcar Megan Rosta

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Associate Production Manager

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COMMUNITY LEADER is pr oduced i n par t ner s hi p w i t h c om m un i ty s ta k e h o l d e rs .

2 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

UPFRONT LE ADERSHIP // BY LYNNE THOMPSON

A Practitioner President Tri-C’s new president leads with a focus on students and the community.

T

4 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Michael Baston

Northeast Ohio, he credits his former students for his success.

“People think maybe I’m the pied piper,” he says. “My students were the pied pipers. I followed them to help them get to the places they wanted to be.”

Door to Opportunity In 2009, Baston followed his students from Berkeley College to nearby LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, New York. For years — the last seven of which he spent as dean of student development and campus life for Berkeley’s New York campuses — he sent students who couldn’t afford to complete their degrees at Berkeley to the more affordable LaGuardia.

When he received a call that the school was looking to fill the position of associate dean for student affairs and enrollment management, he decided to apply for it. LaGuardia was much bigger and one of the most diverse community colleges in the country, with 50,000 students from 163 countries. Plus, his family was from the area.

“The community college space is certainly a place that really aligns with my social justice mission,” he adds. “I see community colleges as democracy’s colleges — we are those institutions that truly open the door to opportunity for all.”

Eight months later, Baston advanced to acting vice president for student affairs and enrollment. He went on to

COURTESY CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

he trajectory of Michael Baston’s working life began changing one day in 1998. The New York City native, an attorney representing higher education, nonprofit and religious institutions at a Manhattan firm, took a client-offered opportunity to teach a paralegal studies survey course at Berkeley College, a small, private school with eight campuses in New York City and New Jersey.

“I really, truly enjoyed it — and found out that I was pretty good at it,” Baston, now 50, recalls. His evaluations were so high that the school offered him a job as assistant dean of student affairs the following year. For a time, he continued practicing law part time. But higher education proved to be the socially conscious adjunct lecturer’s true calling.

“I could do, I thought, more to advance the community, to advance those students,” he explains. “I’m seeing them as those future attorneys, paralegals — those folks who are going to really change our country in so many powerful ways.”

Two-plus decades later, Baston maintains that passion as he assumes the presidency of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). He’s driven to make continuing education more accessible by cutting red tape and implementing interventions that help students stay in school and finish their degrees. As he begins leading an institution with more than 26,700 students enrolled on four major campuses and numerous training centers across

“I see community colleges as democracy’s colleges — we are those institutions that truly open the door to opportunity.”

— Michael Baston

ISTOCK

serve as acting provost and vice president for academic and student affairs, associate provost and vice president for student affairs and enrollment.

During his time at LaGuardia, he learned about the many reasons why students didn’t finish their studies and scaled initiatives, such as a program that accelerated success by providing students with public transportation passes, book vouchers and counselors who monitored their progress and intervened before an issue could derail it.

“It’s not enough to see the train off the track,” he says. “You’ve got to understand when the train starts wobbling.”

Implementing a Vision In 2017, Baston applied for and landed the president’s post at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York.

This time, the move was inspired not by students but his own experience in the inaugural class of the Aspen Institute and Stanford University’s yearlong College Excellence Program — what he calls “president’s school.”

“I spent years, whether it was at Berkeley or whether it was at LaGuardia, implementing someone else’s vision — when you are working for someone else, it’s their vision, their point of view, what they know,” he says. “I felt like I had my own vision.”

Baston’s vision was of a community college where education and experiences

were not just available, but truly accessible. The changes he spearheaded ranged from recreating an orientation he describes as an overload of rules, regulations and other documents to reorganizing Rockland’s dozens of departments into five schools, each of which paired its students with a peer mentor, academic adviser/career counselor and personal adviser. The reorganization reflected the college’s sharpened focus: turning out students who were real-world ready.

“All of our students would have some practical experiences while they were in college,” he says. “That practical experience would make them more competitive as a candidate for a four-year institution or as a worker.”

A Good Match Even as Baston worked to transform Rockland into an institution that better met its students’ needs, he watched the developments at Tri-C. When others in the world of higher education encouraged him to apply for the president’s post being vacated by a retiring Alex Johnson, he didn’t hesitate.

“I thought it was a really good match,” he says. But to make sure, he and his wife, Tasha, visited Tri-C’s four campuses posing as a prospective student’s parents. They talked to faculty, other staff members and students, checked out classrooms and drove around neighborhoods.

“We found that the students really do love their faculty members, that the community really respects the institution and is supportive of the institution,” he says.

The community’s economic challenges actually were a draw.

“This is a big, vibrant city,” he observes. “But you also — like many cities in the country — have a have-and-havenot scenario, a tale of two cities. I hope that the work that I can do through Tri-C [will] be able to bridge that gap a little bit.”

Baston’s first task as president is to perform what he calls a “landscape analysis of collaboration in the community” that begins with meeting community leaders.

“If we’re going to move a community, we have to look at every player who is in the process of moving that community and every strategy currently being employed,” he says. “How can we integrate strategies? How can we reduce redundancies? How can we be most effective doing what we do well?”

He plans on being a “practitioner president” who teaches a course or two, just as he did at Berkeley, LaGuardia and Rockland. Doing so provides a degree of insight into student, institutional and community issues not available to a typical office-bound administrator.

“It is that work that continues to motivate me, to make sure I’m staying relevant and current,” he says. clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 5

UPFRONT

BUSINE SS SUPPORT // BY TERRY TROY

Advocating Nontraditional Roles Cleveland-based Women in Manufacturing helps women network and address issues they face in the industry.

I

t’s no secret that Ohio is leading a profound turnaround in the nation’s manufacturing sector, and local trade and civic organizations, such as JobsOhio and MAGNET, are playing a significant role. But there is one organization that is leading the way when it comes to advocating for women in nontraditional manufacturing roles.

6 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Flexibility is Key Naturally, technological advancements have made it more practical for women to advance in manufacturing today.

“If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is that we need to be flexible in terms of rules and responsibilities,” Grealis says. “Technology has allowed people to be on schedules and in

a production-centric model that sometimes allows them to be out of the office or not on the shop floor 100% of the time because they can monitor equipment from a mobile device or laptop.

“But company cultures have also changed,” Grealis adds. “Even though there are some companies that are still in need of improvement, many companies have embraced inclusivity in their policies and cultures.”

Creating Partnerships Taking a trade association from basically no members to almost 13,000 is no small feat, Grealis admits. It wouldn’t have been possible without creating some very strong strategic partnerships.

For instance, WiM has a joint membership program with the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), the premier organization for the exchange of knowledge in enterprise excellence. In 2016, WiM created the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF), another arm of the association dedicated to the development and delivery of enhanced educational opportunities.

In addition to its strategic partnerships, WiM also hosts a number of major events each year, through both its national office as well as its 30 chapters around the country. The next big event is the WiM Summit, slated for Atlanta and available virtualy Oct. 10-12. It is expected to attract more than 850 manufacturing professionals from across the country for plant tours, keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, breakout sessions and social events.

COURTESY WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING

Making Connections Cleveland-based Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) has close to 13,000 individual members representing more than 2,000 manufacturing companies in 48 states and 40 countries. WiM has grown into a global trade association that’s dedicated to providing year-round support to women in manufacturing.

“I had the opportunity to work with the [Precision] Metalforming Association and found that we had an interest from our female members who wanted to start connecting, networking and benchmarking with their fellow females in the industry,” says Allison Grealis, president and founder of WiM. “We proceeded and started supporting programs for them. We soon found out that there really wasn’t a resource for women in manufacturing. So we decided to hold a conference called the Summit, where we could bring women together for the purpose of networking and exchanging information, to support one another and to benchmark.”

The first Summit was held in Cleveland more than a decade ago.

“Immediately after holding the event, there was an interest from our attendees about joining an organization and

being a part of something that went beyond the events of the day,” Grealis says. “So I went back to the office and created a business plan and strategy by Allison Grealis which we could welcome members.”

Since then, WiM has been dedicated to addressing the issues women face when trying to enter a career in the manufacturing sector.

“Over the last decade, we have seen a great improvement not only in the percentage of women in manufacturing but also some real growth when it comes to women in leadership positions,” says Grealis. “I think one of our biggest challenges continues to be that women, and especially aspiring young women, don’t often see themselves in manufacturing. So the more we can highlight those individuals who have risen to the top or hold significant positions in the industry, the more we can inspire those who want to pursue a manufacturing job or career.”

since

1845

UPFRONT

CHARITABLE E VENTS // BY ALE X EMER SON

Supporting Awareness Diversity Center’s Walk, Rock, Roll and Run returns.

Azadeh Hardiman

the most money and the company that raised the most money.

Azadeh Hardiman, the top individual prize winner, raised $1,500 and was awarded six tickets for a private tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the opportunity to play her favorite song over the museum’s PA system.

FirstEnergy, the electric services company, won the traveling workplace trophy, raising $13,470.

Hardiman says the Diversity Center

— Azadeh Hardiman

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COURTESY DIVERSITY CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO

T

he Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s Walk, Rock, Roll and Run event this year raised $267,769 to support the organization’s school and youth programs.

2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the annual diversity and inclusion event, as well as a return to an in-person celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the first since COVID-19 hit.

The fundraiser featured two competitions: the individual who raised

Peggy Zone Fisher

“The Diversity Center provides a really important space where all people, regardless of how they identify, can really feel valued, welcomed and be able to have positive conversations and sometimes difficult and challenging conversations so we can all learn from each other.”

COURTESY DIVERSITY CENTER OF NORTHEAST OHIO

FirstEnergy’s team won the Traveling Workplace Trophy, raising $13,470. Other teams participating included (l-r) Applied Industrial, Legal Aid CLE and KJK Law.

is creating an important atmosphere in Cleveland schools.

“I’m a woman; I’m mixed-race and I’m an immigrant. … I never felt like I had a place where I had the space to have discussions about what I was going through,” Hardiman says. “The Diversity Center provides a really important space where all people, regardless of how they identify, can really feel valued, welcomed and be able to have positive conversations and sometimes

difficult and challenging conversations so we can all learn from each other.

That’s why I walk.”

Peggy Zone Fisher, president and CEO of the Diversity Center, shares the sentiment that schools should be inclusive spaces.

“Schools today are dealing with a lot of outside criticism. … Many schools are hearing outside voices saying we should not have diversity programs, that it’s not important, that we should

be focusing on other things,” says Fisher. “We’re living in a time that’s extremely challenging, and I keep thinking that if we don’t keep doing this work, the people who will be losing out will be our children.”

Fisher was happy with the attendance of the first Walk, Rock, Roll and Run since the pandemic. “Together, we raised an amazing amount of dollars.

The community just all came together,” Fisher says.

SUPPORT

THE ZOO

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clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 9

UPFRONT

LE ADERSHIP // BY RHONDA CROWDER

Spreading the Word Roselyn Muñiz is leading the charge to recognize and unite Hispanic journalists in Cleveland.

T

his year, the Greater Cleveland Association of Hispanic Journalists celebrates its first anniversary. There’s a need for more Latino representation in the media, and Roselyn Muñiz — also known as Rosie — has made it her mission to be a guiding light for Hispanic journalists in Cleveland.

Born and raised on the West Side of Cleveland, Muñiz is the youngest of five children. Her dad is Puerto Rican and her mom a native of the Dominican Republic.

She grew up learning English at school and speaking Spanish at home.

Her father, Felix Muñiz, the pastor of New Light Community Church of the Nazarene, has always been active in the community with the Fatherhood Initiative and Nueva Luz Resource Center. He also stayed up on current events and incorporated them into his sermons.

“We grew up in my house doing two things: going to church and watching the news,” Muñiz says. At the same time, she didn’t see her community represented on TV. “I noticed a gap,” she adds. “There weren’t a lot of people in the profession who looked like me.”

10 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

COURTESY GREATER CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS

Power of Journalism Her first real-life encounter with journalism came at age 10 when she attended the Hispanic Youth Center, where her father served as executive director. Through a competition determined by the loudest applause, she won an opportunity to interview a then Cleveland Indians baseball player for the Oscar de Amiga Show, and her interview aired at a game.

Then, as a 17-year-old student at John Marshall High School, she thought topics such as health education and safe sex

should be taught in school, but the teachers were hesitant to present them. However, her participation in the Teens Talking to Teens program at the Hispanic Youth Center gave her an opportunity to write about and discuss the importance of teens knowing about sex education and having sex education in school. Subsequently, a reporter at The Roselyn Muñiz explains NAHJ Greater Cleveland’s Plain Dealer got wind of mission to guests at the chapter’s first-year her writings and wanted to anniversary party. interview her. producer. She loves working on the show “I was so surprised but was able to com- because it subscribes to a brand of reportmunicate my points to her,” Muñiz re- ing she calls “advocacy journalism.” calls. “That’s when I realized the power Last year, Muñiz went full time in comjournalism has. … You are connected with munity outreach with the station, workpeople who may never know you other- ing as Bernstein’s assistant when not prowise. I thought it was a powerful tool, and ducing We the People.

I wanted to take advantage of it.”

Bernstein says Muñiz’s impact in this Muñiz attended the University of Tole- role is already evident. “Rosie is doing do with a dual major in economics and things that haven’t been [done] before at communications. Then, she obtained a WKYC and in Cleveland. I really admire master’s degree in journalism from Co- her,” she says. lumbia Journalism School in New York Knowing Hispanics account for 11% City. She returned to Cleveland upon of media professionals, Muñiz is leadgraduation and secured a position at ing the charge in establishing a Greater WKYC Studios. She’s been there for sev- Cleveland chapter of the National Assoen years, starting as a production assis- ciation of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). tant, then working her way up to asso- It started with 10 members, the number ciate producer on Good Company and necessary to initiate a charter. Everyone Live on Lakeside. agreed, by vote, that Muñiz should be After The Plain Dealer’s former report- the founding president. er Margaret Bernstein joined WKYC as “It always takes one person to rise to director of advocacy and community ini- the occasion to lead something,” says tiatives, the station’s general manager cre- Myra Rosario, president of Latino Cleveated We the People, a call to action show land Media and social influencer within to encourage people to do something im- the Hispanic community. “Roselyn was pactful. Muñiz became the associate the perfect person to do it.”

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UPFRONT

IMPACT // BY TERRY TROY

In Remembrance Scott A. Wolstein set standards for development and civic leadership.

B

12 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Scott A. Wolstein

able to be involved in what was happening on the Flats East Bank. He was not only involved with his father and mother’s work, but he really helped bring their ideas to fruition.

“Scott was absolutely fantastic, and his work was transformative. He was a great corporate citizen, and what he brought to the Flats is but one example of what he brought to our city.”

“He was able to breathe new life back into the Flats at a time when it had grown dormant for several years,” adds Yvette Ittu, president of Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of Greater Cleveland Partnership. “He acquired the property to develop the Flats, which was a multiyear endeavor. And while I’m not sure if you could call him

the ‘Father of the Flats,’ its rebirth was in a large part due to Scott Wolstein.”

Wolstein was born on June 24, 1952, to Bertram L. and Iris S. Wolstein in South Euclid. He is survived by his four children, Harrison, Ilana, Shelby and Merrick; his mother, Iris; his sister, Cheryl (Eugene) Faigus; and his best friend and partner in life, Jillian.

Wolstein was predeceased by his father, Bert, in 2004.

A resident of Hunting Valley, Wolstein went to school in Beachwood and graduated from Hawken in 1970, earning a reputation as a gifted student and athlete. He went on to study business at the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1974. He later earned a law degree at the University of Michigan, but was a loyal fan of The Ohio State University Buckeyes.

He started practicing law at Thompson, Hine & Flory, but transitioned into commercial real estate, joining Developers Diversified Realty as CEO alongside his father. He also served with his father for the Cleveland Force Soccer Team as its executive vice president.

Being Jewish was a very important aspect of Wolstein’s life. He was a longtime member of Park Synagogue.

It’s been said that the only thing Wolstein loved more than his family was his hometown. And he took immense pride in Cleveland.

So next time you head down to the Flats, take a little time to remember and appreciate the man who gave us so much and brought so much to our town. He is sorely missed.

COURTESY THE WOLSTEIN FAMILY

y every definition, Scott A. Wolstein was a community leader — in spirit, in deed and by example. When he passed away earlier this year after a valiant battle with cancer, he left behind a small army of admirers, as well as a loving family and many friends who miss him daily.

Although he wasn’t the “Father of the Flats,” he was absolutely instrumental to its rebirth. The Flats East Bank development is just one physical legacy. However, he also set the professional standard for development not only in the Flats, but across the entire region.

“Scott’s passing is undoubtedly a loss to the Cleveland community,” says David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland and Cleveland Sports Commission. “He was a strategic and skilled real estate developer. His vision for the revitalization of the Flats East Bank helped change the face of our riverfront — returning it to a usable and vibrant area in Downtown Cleveland.

“At a pivotal time in Cleveland’s renaissance, Scott developed a new urban waterfront destination for residents and visitors alike — bringing people back to the area where Moses Cleaveland first landed in 1796. His forward thinking and investment in the area was a catalyst for all of the development we now see in the Flats, including along the Scranton Peninsula and at Irishtown Bend.”

“There is no doubt that he was a phenomenal leader,” says Jim Haviland, executive director of Flats Forward, the nonprofit that helps coordinate development along the Cuyahoga River. “When I worked for the city of Cleveland, I was

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) Welcomes

Michael A. Baston, Ed.D.

Tri-C’s New President

tri-c.edu | 216-987-6000 22-0598

COMMUNIT Y // BY LEE F ISHER

Guardians of Justice

Each August, as dean of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University, Lee Fisher welcomes the first-year class of law students and shares some thoughts.

I

n 1950, U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy experienced a meteoric rise to fame and power when he charged that “hundreds” of “known communists” were in the U.S. State Department. McCarthy — and his followers and enablers — convinced millions of Americans that communists had infiltrated every aspect of American life. Behind closed-door hearings, McCarthy bullied, intimidated and lied his way to power, all under the false guise of patriotism, destroying many careers and lives of Americans in the process.

In 1954, he held Senate hearings charging the U.S. Army of being “soft” on communism. Joseph Welch was a soft-spoken lawyer who represented the Army. McCarthy charged that Fred Fisher (no relation), a young associate in Welch’s law firm, had been a member of the National Lawyers Guild that was a “legal arm of the Communist Party.” Welch responded, “Until this moment, senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness.” Welch then stated the immortal words that ultimately ended McCarthy’s career, “Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?”

You are entering law school at a moment when three of our most cherished values as Americans are at a crossroads: truth, civility and decency. In all of our 14 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

lives there are moments of truth, and now is our moment of truth.

Our work has never been more important than it is right now. Now, more than ever, we need lawyer-leaders to defend these values and the rule of law.

This summer’s compelling congressional hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are a reminder of the fragility of our democracy. Many of the violent insurrectionists carried American flags under the guise of patriotism — but let’s be clear, their actions were disgraceful and unpatriotic.

We must always defend peaceful protest and the right to challenge electoral procedures in the courts, but the actions of the rioters that fateful day ran contrary to what we teach at our law school.

It was a direct assault on the heart of our democracy, the rule of law and our long history of peaceful transitions of presidential power.

But let’s also remember that the actions of the rioters were a failure, and the guardrails of democracy worked. After the November 2020 election, all legal avenues for challenges were open, and the court system worked. There was no finding anywhere of widespread fraud or election irregularities. The results were confirmed and certified by every state. The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on a bipartisan basis to carry out

its constitutionally mandated peaceful transfer of power. Courageous men and women of both political parties stood up to efforts of intimidation and falsehoods and followed the law.

Here is what one U.S. senator said on Jan. 6: “The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken. … If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever. … We cannot keep drifting apart into two separate tribes with a separate set of facts and separate realities with nothing in common except our hostility towards each other and mistrust for the few national institutions that we all still share.”

The senator who spoke those words was the Republican leader of the U.S. Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell. I quote him because they are not partisan observations favoring liberal or conservative policies, parties or personalities. Rather, they are offered as uncomfortable but sober truths that must be spoken if we are to preserve our democracy and commitment to the rule of law.

One of the core tenets of our profession is that facts matter. Lawyers understand the facts, follow the evidence, make arguments and abide by the rulings of our judiciary.

Fidelity to the rule of law does not mean that the law is always just. We all have work to do in making it better. But when our nation has achieved anything

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of consequence, it has done so most often through civil debate and measured compromise. We are at our best when we are showing humility, listening to other views, respectfully debating differences and building consensus.

We seek to be a law school where we welcome and celebrate diverse viewpoints, but where we also share common values.

We want you to understand not only your client’s position, but also the complex motivations and positions of all parties.

We want you to understand that reconciling differences is as important as winning cases. That even as you advocate for your clients, you must remain committed to the law and civility.

We want you to see the practice of law as a calling to serve others, and we are committed to graduating students who are open-minded leaders, change makers and advocates of justice.

The rule of law depends not on institutions such as courts and legislatures, but

on the integrity of the individual human beings who make up those institutions.

Take time to think and decide what kind of leader you want to be. Think about the skills we need to discern truth, to uncover and reveal bias and communicate across differences. We need citizens who are trained in the law, know how to discern what is true and what is a lie and have the courage to speak up when our democracy is threatened.

All people of good faith should stand firm on our principles of democracy and speak up for them in moments like these.

Draw your line in the sand like Joseph Welch did in 1954.

So many of you came to law school not only to learn law, but to live justice.

You drive.

We'll help navigate.

To advocate for fixing what’s broken.

To forcefully call out injustice and decry inequality.

The rule of law is the foundation of democracy, and lawyers and judges are the guardians of the rule of law. Think of yourselves as more than law students.

Think of yourselves as future custodians of democracy and guardians of justice.

It is not hyperbole to say that our hope for the future of democracy lies with you. The world needs you now more than ever.

Lee Fisher is dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler chair in law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. He is the former Ohio attorney general, lieutenant governor, director of the Ohio Department of Development, chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, president and CEO of the Center for Families and Children, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, state representative and state senator.

Get back on track to return to college and finish your degree.

Schedule a free appointment with an advisor today.

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COMMUNITY LEADER 15

HUMAN RE SOURCE S // BY PAT PERRY

A Prescription for Great Customer Service Invest in employees who love their jobs, and good customer service will happen naturally.

A

bout 30 years ago, I was the director of human resources for the Euclid Clinic Foundation.

For those old enough to remember, Euclid Clinic was one of the top destinations in Northeast Ohio for primary care doctors and specialists. The clinic boasted more than 100 physicians and 1,000 employees that included medical professionals and support staff who were second to none. During my nearly eight years there, I was part of an organization that grew from one location at Lakeshore Boulevard and East 185th Street to four locations, including Mentor, Beachwood and Bedford. We had a great family-oriented workplace culture that made it a pleasure to go to work each day.

Though it has been a long time since I worked there, the customer service lessons I learned from that experience benefited me throughout my career. Like other health care institutions, our patients were nervous, anxious and possibly in pain. Imagine the challenges of having customers who were in a bad mood even before they walked through your doors! That presented some unique challenges for our team, and I remember us working relentlessly to figure out new and better ways to enhance their interactions with our staff.

Here are the key customer service takeaways from my days at Euclid Clinic that still apply today to any business:

16 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

FOLLOW-UP — Whether it was lab or test results, many of our patients relied on physicians or their offices following up with them in a timely manner. Follow-up remains important today, and it is so much easier to accomplish with all of the touchpoints afforded through technology. What we also learned was that there was absolutely no good reason for poor follow-up. Customers do not want to hear excuses for poor follow-up; they would just appreciate an apology and the job done right next time.

to their medical concerns. Not surprisingly, the doctors who had good bedside manners were typically our highest rated physicians. That lesson translates well in today’s fast-paced business environment, where the premium seems to be on being faster versus being better.

If you find that your organization could enhance its service to customers, here are a couple of basic concepts that might be food for thought for the upcoming year: ●

SMILE — It was appreciated 30 years ago, and it is appreciated today — a warm greeting with a smile and good eye contact. It makes a huge difference when customers experience a pleasant greeting on the phone or in person.

LISTEN AND BE EMPATHETIC — We knew that patients wanted their doctors and medical staff to listen empathetically

●

ustomer service training makes sense C for employees interested in making improvements and who care about their jobs, your company and, of course, the customer. Try to avoid providing customer service training to employees who dislike their jobs. If you do, you are only giving them some paid time away from the work they dislike. reat customer service happens when G employees love what they’re doing, believe in what they’re doing and know

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MINIMIZE WAIT TIMES — Ironically, the traditional doctor’s office reception area was termed a waiting room. Named appropriately, the waiting room was a poor start to our patients’ experience. In this era of instant gratification and the need

for speed, minimizing customer wait times is essential for your business.

what they’re doing. Focus your efforts around developing good jobs for top-performing people, and terrific customer service happens naturally. ●

●

●

Great customer service happens when employees love what they’re doing, believe in what they’re doing and know what they’re doing.

reat customer service begins at the G top of the organization. Management needs to lead by example by providing good service and support to employees and customers. nsure that all employees underE stand that great customer service is the expectation and not the exception. Again, these expectations are welcomed by top-performing people.

Poor performers couldn’t care less. ublicly recognize employees who P provide extraordinary customer service. These can be cash or noncash awards. In either case, those

providing the great service are acknowledged for a job well done, which reinforces performance expectations with other employees. ●

This is pretty basic stuff, but it may be useful in helping your company differentiate itself in a competitive marketplace. News travels fast these days, and positive word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising you can never buy.

sk your staff for creative ideas on A providing great customer service. Your top performers have fabulous ideas on how to impress customers. Tap into their thoughts. Not only is it cheaper than hiring a high-priced consultant, the advice will probably be better.

Pat Perry is host of the national Success Wave podcast, business book author, keynote speaker, former ERC president, columnist, NEO Business Hall of Fame member and was named to the 2022 Cleveland 500.

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COMMUNITY LEADER 17

Reenvisioning the River FLATS IN FLUX

Stakeholders are uniting to grow a vibrant entertainment district in the Flats while staying true to the Cuyahoga’s roots as a working river. // BY TERRY TROY

I

18 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

the river that once caught fire is a source of abundant civic pride and urban recreational opportunities. The numerous world-class entertainment venues that line the Cuyahoga’s banks offer views and an ambiance that are truly unique anywhere in the world.

Like any dynamic urban environment, the Flats that line the Cuyahoga have a checkered history — one of birth, entropy and rebirth — always rising out of the ashes of a fire that once denigrated the city’s civic pride. Yet, at the area’s heart beats a hardworking industrial river ripe for reimagination.

“The Flats is absolutely critical to travel and tourism in this town,” says Michael Deemer, president and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA), who also serves on the board of an organization called Flats Forward. “We are very fortunate to have not one but two waterfronts: the lake and the river.

“Obviously, we pay a lot of attention to the north coast and the lakefront, but our riverfront is a huge asset. Now, with the trail system that has been built and developed and water recreation and the green space that is being built, all of these things become

WIL LINDSEY

t’s been said that shared pain is not paralyzing, but liberating.

It causes people to come together to confront and extinguish their hurt, to overcome in the face of all odds. But such common journeys rarely end. And if they do, it’s likely only in childhood fiction.

When the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, it was a source of civic pain and embarrassment that spread across all of Northeast Ohio. It also caused local community, civic, nonprofit and government leaders to come together in a way Cleveland had never seen before. Today,

FLATS IN FLUX

COURTESY CLEVELAND METROPARKS, KYLE LANZER

Michael Deemer

Yvette Ittu

important not just to the Flats, but our entire city.”

“In my opinion, the Flats has always been an integral part of downtown, says Yvette Ittu, president of Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP).

“There is also an expectation when people come to our city that the Flats play an integral role in our downtown and in the vibrancy of our entire community.”

The Flats also plays a key role in the city’s competitive profile.

“Being on both the lakefront and the riverfront is a competitive advantage for our city,” says David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland. “If you think about it historically, it’s the reason our city exists. You can’t just create a lake to be on or a river to be on.

“Research shows that people gravitate to water, so it is important to continue to develop our lakefront and riverfront in ways that will allow people to be near or on the water for both residents and visitors. It is critical for our city in the short and long term.”

The Flats is continuing to grow, with new development on an area known as the Scranton Peninsula.

“The new developments along Scranton Peninsula expand visitor experience options and drive additional traffic to the Flats district,” Gilbert says. “The connectivity offered by the Towpath Trail extension and Cleveland Foundation Centennial Link Trail combined with the recent addition of BrewDog Cleveland Outpost and upcoming Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s production facility and riverfront brewpub show how, by utilizing existing space along and

David Gilbert

Jim Haviland

capitalizing on one of our greatest assets — our beautiful waterfront areas — we can continue to drive economic growth for the community and make Cleveland a desired place to visit, live and work.”

In addition to BrewDog and Great Lakes Brewing Co.’s new facility, there are at least two residential developments planned for the Scranton Peninsula that will bring in excess of 600 apartments and townhomes to the area — an entirely new, vibrant and self-sustaining urban neighborhood that will be added to Flats East and Flats West.

Simply maintaining the Flats as we know it today is no easy task. Development along the river requires a series of complex transactions with numerous deal breakers along the way. Finding solutions requires an extensive collaboration of stakeholders, each with a vested interest in the area that stretches from the lakeshore, along the Cuyahoga to Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill.

Founded in 2016, Flats Forward is an organization that was established

through public/private discussion with a mission of creating a framework plan that represents all of the stakeholders in the Flats. And it is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

“We have our own board of directors who, by design, represent all of the stakeholder constituencies,” says Jim Haviland, executive director of Flats Forward. “The largest of those is obviously industry and maritime, so we have nine seats on our board for that constituency. Then we have tourism, entertainment and residential. But what really makes it all effective is that we have all of our partner organizations on our board, as well as a representative of Cleveland City Council.”

That representative would be Ward 3’s Kerry McCormack.

The rest of the board reads like a who’s who of the movers, shakers and makers in Cleveland. They are all needed, says Haviland, to maintain the delicate balance between industrial, maritime, recreational, entertainment and residential interests in the Flats.

“One of our core missions is to promote the river from both points of view,” adds Haviland. “First, that it is a working river, but also to represent the ever-increasing recreational use of the river.”

In that sense, Joshua Allen, who runs Great Lakes Watersports, is joining the board to help represent the recreational component.

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COMMUNITY LEADER 19

“We are very excited to have him because clearly his business is thriving,” Haviland says.

It should also come as no surprise that Michael Ferry, who runs the Foundry, is also on Flats Forward’s board. His business offers another recreational opportunity you’ll read about in the pages that follow.

“The fact that the Cuyahoga has been voted one of the best urban rivers in the country for kayaking demonstrates that people are really starting to make use of the river,” adds Haviland, citing the river’s selection last year by USA Today.

“That means education is critically important. Whether they are paddlers or recreational boaters, we need to educate people on how to react when they see a giant freighter coming right at them.”

A Working River

While the Cuyahoga River and its maritime traffic provides one of the most unique backdrops for entertainment facilities and folks enjoying recreational activities on the river, it is first and foremost a federal shipping channel.

That means that nonprofits such as Flats Forward also have to work with law enforcement and other government agencies that have jurisdiction on the river.

That can mean everybody from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Cleveland Police Department, Sheriff’s Department

20 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Jade Davis

Debbie Berry

and the warnings you see along the river. We also work directly with Flats Forward and DCA. We sponsor the Fast Start program at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School, where they teach

“ Research shows that people gravitate to water, so it is important to continue to develop our lakefront and riverfront in ways that will allow people to be near or on the water for both residents and visitors.”

~ DAVID GILBERT

Maintaining one of the busiest ports on the Great Lakes is a task unto itself, and the Port of Cleveland takes its role in the Flats very seriously.

“Safety is our primary concern,” says Jade Davis, vice president of external affairs for the Port of Cleveland. “We help coordinate the removal of flotsam and jetsam to maintain safe navigation. We coordinate the removal of obstructions and take an active part in safety training

safety. By teaching students while they are in school, we are creating folks who will be working and recreating along the river in the future.”

The Port of Cleveland’s board of directors voted earlier this summer to approve a settlement involving a key piece of Irishtown Bend along the river as part of a project that will stabilize the hillside and eventually help create a large public park overlooking the Flats.

“Once again, our work was all about safety,” Davis says. “Our work involved maintaining the hillside to keep it from sliding into the river, and to stop the calving of rocks off of the hillside into the river, which would have detrimental impacts on both the large and small vessels that use the river. But our work also helps protect the area from a potentially massive hill slide, which might cause flooding and other environmental issues.”

At press time, a county judge had blocked the Port of Cleveland from swift pursuit of the George’s family property atop Irishtown Bend.

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The Cuyahoga is still a working river.

and the Port of Cleveland, which already has a role on the nonprofit’s board occupied by Michael Friedman, president and CEO. Thanks in large part to the recent success of the Cleveland-Cliffs Cleveland Works steel mill, freighter traffic on the river is on the increase. The Port of Cleveland saw a 69% increase in tonnage across its docks in 2021 compared to 2020. This surge was attributed to significant increases in noncontainerized goods, containerized cargo and iron ore shipments to Cleveland-Cliffs.

COURTESY GREAT LAKES BREWING CO.

FLATS IN FLUX The issues along Irishtown Bend offer clues as to the natural impediments to development along the river.

“Historically, one of the issues surrounding development along the riverfront is the condition of the bulkhead along the river, which runs all the way down to Cleveland-Cliffs,” says Debbie Berry, senior vice president of major projects and real estate development at Greater Cleveland Partnership.

“Freighters use the river and their thrusters when they navigate. Then you have all of the recreational traffic running so close to the bulkhead. So it gets old and deteriorates quickly. The good news is that the Port Authority just completed a comprehensive condition assessment both above and below the water so collectively, we can better understand where the issues are.”

Like a sidewalk in a suburban city, the property owner adjacent to the bulkhead is both the owner and the entity responsible for the condition of the bulkhead.

“And if that bulkhead is failing, it can be a very costly endeavor, which can cause the value of the property to go down,” Berry adds. “Sometimes, the property owner might not be able to make the investment.”

This could scrap an entire development deal.

“So collectively, we need a number of entities working together to see if we can create a strategy where we can find public dollars that can be invested in this highly important infrastructure,” says Berry.

“But that would also require that property owners, in some form or fashion, create public access along the waterway.”

The late Scott Wolstein did this masterfully with his Flats East Bank development. Wolstein clearly set the example of how riverfront properties can be developed. But such development takes time due in large part to the complex nature of the issues and parties involved. And many of those parties prefer to work behind the scenes, shunning the limelight while working toward a greater goal.

New Plans for Scranton Peninsula The new Scranton Peninsula development is an excellent case in point.

Thunderbird is a large, 21-acre mixeduse development planned on the peninsula that includes residential, office, retail and light manufacturing. It takes up at least a quarter of Scranton Peninsula and includes the possible construction of more than 600 apartments and townhomes; the renovation of an old warehouse to office space called the Avian at Thunderbird; a new production and retail facility for Great Lakes Brewing Co.; and BrewDog Cleveland Outpost, a large bar that opened at the end of last year and is already pulling in huge crowds.

The project is owned by East-West Alliance Thunderbird, a partnership of two companies.

“What is happening on the peninsula is a realization of a mixed-use plan that we created several years ago,” says Matthew Weiner, who is co-manager of East-West Alliance along with Sergey Kuznetsov. “It is really coming to fruition exactly the way we planned it.”

One of the project principals, says Weiner, is Fred Geis, a household name in the Cleveland development community.

“He actually brought us all together and originally identified the project,” Weiner says. “Working with Fred is kind of like being on a football team. You go right into the end zone and wait for someone to throw you a touchdown pass.

“He got us off to a great start because he is the person who brought Great Lakes Brewing Co. into the transaction.”

Matthew Weiner

Fred Geis

Pat and Dan Conley

Entrepreneurs and beer barons brothers Pat and Dan Conley, owners of Great Lakes Brewing Co., purchased 8 acres for a potential expansion project on the peninsula. While they are being uncharacteristically quiet about the project, the pair confirmed they have already received an important brownfield remediation grant — yet another issue facing many of the developers and investors in the Flats.

“We are appreciative of the brownfield grant we received to support the cleanup and remediation of land on Scranton Peninsula, an important step in the process which we plan to begin later this summer,” the brothers said in a prepared statement for Community Leader.

“While we don’t have additional updates to share at this time, we still believe in the Scranton Peninsula’s potential for the city of Cleveland, and we are excited to see increased interest and development in the area.”

This, of course, starts with BrewDog, one of the Flats’ newest and most exciting brew pubs, which you’ll read more about later in our entertainment piece.

“The addition of BrewDog has really put a lot of energy into the whole project,” Weiner says. “It has brought a huge amount of attention to the peninsula.”

Although Scranton Peninsula represents the future for Flats development, recreation on the river has become increasingly popular. Simply put, the Cuyahoga has become a great place to play. clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 21

Places to Play FLATS IN FLUX

Organizations are working together to bring more recreational opportunities to the Flats. // BY JILL SELL

T

22 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Vision for the Valley

First, you have to have a plan and figure out how get there, meaning not only the concept, but physically, down into the Flats. Sean McDermott is the chief planning and design officer for Cleveland Metroparks. He points to the Vision for the Valley, a collaborative effort of the city of Cleveland, Cleveland Metroparks, Port of Cleveland, Flats Forward and Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA), as leaders in redeveloping the riverfront.

Vision for the Valley, he says, is guiding the “balance of recreational, industrial and maritime uses and needs with land use.” All of those assets are linked and “for the most part, exist in harmony,” according to McDermott. Access for everyone is paramount, and that is vital for the renaissance.

“There are not a lot of places in the country where you can walk or ride a bike and see an industrial area and a downtown area, and then suddenly you are down by a river where you see milkweed and butterflies,” McDermott notes.

“We have finished two sections of the (Cleveland Foundation Centennial) Lake Link Trail that take you from the lake to the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. We are working on the final section in Irishtown Bend in the Flats and will complete that trail immediately following the stabilization project of the hillside,” he says. “We would like to be done by 2025, but we can only follow the Port of Cleveland’s work before we can start.”

In 2009, LAND Studio purchased the land for the trail that is managed by Cleveland Metroparks.

Growing Green Space

Earlier this summer, the Port of Cleveland’s board of directors voted to approve a deal involving the acquisition of a key piece of Irishtown Bend from Mortgage Investment Group LLC, which has owned the land since 2018, as part of a project to stabilize the hillside and eventually create a large public park overlooking the Flats, according to Jade Davis, vice president of external affairs at the Port of Cleveland.

COURTESY GREAT LAKES WATERSPORTS

he East and West banks that flank the Cuyahoga River aren’t exactly the first places athletes think of when it comes to recreation … yet. But plenty of muscle-stretching, heart-pounding, sweat-producing activity is happening in the area for both Cleveland residents and tourists. And the potential for more is real, particularly on the West Bank.

A core question is how recreational opportunities can coexist successfully with the vintage and newer industrial sites. Concerns about the high cost of land, land use and who is pushing whom out of the area are not uncommon. Complaints about reoccurring annoyances that can turn into dangers (think speeding trucks on narrow streets and rogue jet skiers) also frequently lap up on the banks.

But the Flats keeps evolving. Some city planners have declared another “renaissance” for the area. This time around, it includes recreation, with organizations looking to change the Flats into a place Clevelanders can physically play and seriously work out.

FLATS IN FLUX McDermott; Joseph Roszak, Metroparks chief operating officer; and others envision the future Irishtown Bend Park having a “regional aspect that would attract tourists.” With a 900-footlong riverfront promenade, the project “is different from anything we have ever done,” he says, but still would be used by walkers, runners and cyclists. The master plan for the park also includes an amphitheater, according to McDermott.

Additional plans call for 12 day-use slips at Heritage Park adjacent to Canal Basin Park and six at Rivergate Park. McDermott calls the boat docks “the first time in recent history that there will be publicly accessible boat docks on the Cuyahoga River in the city of Cleveland.”

COURTESY CLEVELAND METROPARKS, KYLE LANZER / COURTESY THE FOUNDRY

Sail Away

If visionary Mike Trebilcock and his wife, Gina, executive director of The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center, have their say, there will be no shortage of trained boaters and sailors to use those boat docks. In 2017, the couple opened The Foundry in the Flats. The goal has been to serve as a resource for the community — to expose the community, especially youth, to rowing and sailing.

“Our initial vision for the organization was solid, but the initial operating plan, i.e., no plan, was not as solid as it could be,” confesses Mike Trebilcock, chairman and CEO of MCPc, an international technology company headquartered in Cleveland. “The pandemic

Mike and Gina Trebilcock

The Wendy Park Bridge provides a new connection between the Flats and Cleveland Metroparks Wendy Park.

“ There are not a lot of places in the country where you can walk or ride a bike and see an industrial area and a downtown area, and then suddenly you are down by a river where you see milkweed and butterflies.” ~ SEAN MCDERMOTT gave us the opportunity to pause, and we built a business plan. Over the past 12 months, we have doubled down on the community component.”

While the Foundry, at 1831 Columbus Road, attracts established, serious athletes in these watersports, it also has made solid commitments to high school rowing and sailing.

“We have the opportunity to address deficiencies we’ve had over the past years in Cleveland,” says Trebilcock, noting

The river has become a staging area for pleasure and competitive sailing.

that before the Foundry launched its sailing and rowing programs for area high schools, there was no formal organized training available to all middle school and high school students. In addition, the Foundry’s summer learn-tosail and learn-to-row classes are open to everyone.

For some, finding The Foundry’s main facility has been a bit tricky in the maze of the Flats’ streets. And if you did see it by accident, you weren’t actually sure what the Foundry was. But all of that just got a bit easier with the completion of a two-story, 150-foot painted mural on the side of the building that depicts three rowers on the river. Also look for a new boardwalk on the property.

“Being on the water changes your perspective,” says Trebilcock. “It physically changes it, and it changes it for good. If you want your kids to think about where they are going and why, the water is a great metaphor for that.” clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 23

FLATS IN FLUX

Patrick McKinley, regional vice president of Jacobs Entertainment, bumps fists with Joshua Allen, owner of Great Lakes Watersports.

See the City by Kayak

24 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

A Hole in One

Of course, if you are a golfer, water is one thing you want to avoid. That’s no problem at the West Bank Golf Club, which opened in April in the Flats.

Co-owners Jim Basar, Gabe Adams and Jay Graham are first-time businessmen who call themselves “avid but average golfers.” They joined the growing recreation movement on the West Bank because “it’s a little more affordable” than the East Bank for business owners, and they have an enviable 50-space parking lot, along with nonmetered street parking.

COURTESY GREAT LAKES WATERSPORTS

Joshua Allen, owner of Great Lakes Watersports since 2021 and a computer engineer with NASA’s Glenn Research Center, often rented kayaks from the recreational watercraft business with his son before he purchased the 20-yearold operation. Allen knew a good location when he saw one — the Cuyahoga River was voted the 2021 Best Place in North America for Urban Kayaking by USA Today 10Best.

“Kayaks get the most attention, but we are a bigger boat rental business,” says Allen, citing five boats for rent (including three that are new), 40 kayaks (the largest fleet in the area), plus a huge dock, six boat slips and six kayak slips.

“We are bringing back jet skis this year as well. You can rent here, but we will also launch people’s kayaks and bring you back up from the river for just a $5 tip to our staff. Kayaking through downtown Cleveland is a unique experience.”

Allen generally dismisses any major safety issues someone might bring up about the Flats — on land or on water.

He calls his location “a really bad place to commit a crime because it is a oneway street with nowhere to go.” Also, he believes he has “really good security monitoring around the clock, being under the Nautica Entertainment banner,” so issues are usually quickly handled.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people who come down here are here for a reason, and they want to have fun and not cause trouble,” says Allen. “On the West

Bank, we don’t have the clubs or all of the bars like the East Bank. I think with what is going on with the West Bank, including the improvements Nautica is implementing, that the Flats is headed in the right direction. It’s been an amazing journey already with the U.S. Coast Guard, ODNR and the city of Cleveland Police Department, which patrols our area. And the city of Cleveland has embraced me as the new owner.”

Allen also points out that with jet skis and other emergency equipment, he can get to any kayaker in trouble.

Of course, like the Cuyahoga River, there are twists and turns and nothing is a perfect line when you operate a business in the quirky Flats. Allen says his biggest challenge is keeping his customers on time because of one particular bridge operated by Norfolk and Southern, which must open to allow his watercrafts out to Lake Erie. The bridge operators are given a 30-minute notice, but Allen says it isn’t guaranteed the bridge will go up in 30 minutes.

“We are at their mercy,” he says.

“There are other golf simulators in Northeast Ohio, but from Downtown Cleveland you have to drive 20, 30 minutes to get to them. We wanted to cater to young professionals who live and work downtown,” says Basar. “With our conference room, full-service bar and golf simulators, we have quite a few corporate events, corporate memberships and local sales teams that host clients. But we were surprised to get so many individual memberships. People say, ‘I’ll be here more than 10 times a month, so I might as well buy a membership.’”

The simulators have a driving range component, but they also have what Basar calls a “whole fleet of arcade-style, golf-related games that attract people who may not have the time or interest to play Pebble Beach.”

Other sports games also are available.

Locating in the Flats in a historic building (that started life as the Eclipse Iron Works foundry in 1879) with its high ceilings was perfect for his company, says Basar. He’s not quite sure how he and other West Bank stakeholders can “keep the area from turning into the East Bank,” but he says he’d like to keep his side “more active-oriented.”

He points to additional recreational activities that include indoor and outdoor volleyball at Mulberry’s, a social sports bar, as well as tennis opportunities.

Basar, too, has a bridge problem. He is not happy that the Center Street Bridge that directly connects him to Downtown Cleveland is still under construction.

“It was slated to open in August 2022, but we were recently told it wouldn’t be until next winter. That’s a little painful for a new business. We were hoping to use that connection to include Browns tailgaters and Guardians games attendees. It’s not impossible to get here, but it’s a little more difficult. We’re thinking shuttles.”

With all of this healthy physical activity going on in the Flats, though, the West Bank could soon be known as the place for flat abs and six packs.

Reviving an Economic Engine FLATS IN FLUX

Flats entertainment venues play an integral role in the local economy. // BY LINDA FEAGLER

COURTESY BREWDOG CLEVELAND OUTPOST

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t’s enough to make Moses Cleaveland do a triple-take. The city’s founding father, who landed at Settler’s Landing in the Flats in 1796, would be floored by what the banks of the Cuyahoga River have become. Known for its vibrant nightlife, the area is filled with bars and clubs hosting live music and comedy shows, as well as beer gardens and dining options for every appetite.

But even more, Flats’ entertainment venues serve as an economic engine for the entire region.

“You see a lot of cities around the country making use of the water they are on, but we are fortunate to be on both a Great Lake and a river,” says David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland. “Nothing is more important for the future of our community than taking care of our greatest assets, which are on the water.”

One of the newest entertainment venues is also serving as an anchor to an entirely new Flats neighborhood, the Scranton

BrewDog Cleveland Outpost

Peninsula. BrewDog Cleveland Outpost is an incredible bar with more than 28 taps pouring a mix of BrewDog and other local craft brewers. It has an awesome patio with river views. There are also fire pits for those colder nights in football season, which are not that far off.

BrewDog opened its doors last December to a large crowd, including many of the community leaders who regularly grace the pages of this magazine. It also

Erika Wojno

employs more than 75 people, who enjoy a corporate policy that includes a 50% profit share with employees who work in its bars, according to Erika Wojno, BrewDog’s U.S. director of marketing.

“We chose Cleveland because Ohio is our home market,” Wojno says. “Being a huge sports city with a solid beer drinking culture, we knew BrewDog would fit in. We’re proud to be an Ohio company, and we’re excited to have a presence.” clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 25

Merwin’s Wharf in Rivergate Park

“ The future of the Flats is clearly in mixed-use development like you already see, as well as in future development like what is happening on the Scranton Peninsula.”

~ MICHAEL DEEMER

26 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

and Medina. We also have employeess who make the commute from as far away as Akron.”

When the company first scouted Scranton Peninsula, it was all about, “location, location, location,” Gilliam says.

“We wanted the waterfront, but we also wanted a place where we could offer ample parking.”

Now, BrewDog is looking forward to future residential developments, which

COURTESY CLEVELAND METROPARKS, KYLE LANZER / THOM SHERIDAN

But Scranton Peninsula also offered plenty of space.

“The Scranton Peninsula allowed us enough space to build a sizeable patio overlooking the river,” Wojno says. “The waterfront is a great addition to an already amazing building. We were able to incorporate our personality into the existing exposed brick and concrete columns. It’s truly a great place to have a beer and enjoy the waterfront action.”

And during the weekends, that action can be considerable.

“With our patio open, we can accommodate more guests than what you saw at our grand opening,” says Kevin Gilliam, general manager of BrewDog Cleveland Outpost. “On an average Friday or Saturday, our guest counts can be anywhere from 500 to 700 guests.”

Perhaps more importantly, those crowds keep BrewDog’s Greater Cleveland employees gainfully employed.

“And because we are close to the rapid and RTA stations, it’s only about a 10-minute walk here,” says Gilliam.

“We have people coming here from East Cleveland, as well as West Siders, Lorain

would build a local audience like what has already happened in Flats East and West. One of the hallmarks of Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) has always been the development of downtown sustainable urban neighborhoods.

“And you have that in the Flats right now on the East and West banks,” says Michael Deemer, president and CEO of DCA. “The future of the Flats is clearly in mixed-use development like you already see, as well as in future development like what is happening on the Scranton Peninsula.”

Still, it’s the entertainment factor that draws everyone to the Flats.

“The Flats East Bank offers visitors a wide variety of entertainment options and access to the riverfront, which helps bring outside dollars into our city’s central core,” says Gilbert.

So when you visit one of the many entertainment venues in the Fats, you are actually doing your civic duty, which has never been a more pleasant task. The Flats are also a great place to mix business and pleasure.

“I am going to a meeting at the end of the day at Merwin’s Wharf, and my son and wife are meeting me there afterward,” says Gilbert. “From there, we plan on going to Edgewater. A lot of cities don’t have that luxury, being on a lake and a river.”

FLATS IN FLUX

THOM SHERIDAN

Amenities Galore

Flats East Bank is home to myriad entertainment and dining choices. A tasteful homage to the comfort food for which New England is known mixed with a flair that’s pure southern California, Alley Cat Oyster Bar is the ideal spot for patrons to drink in the beauty of the Cleveland shoreline while dining on oysters, chowder and entrees that include lobster rolls, bass, salmon and walleye.

Check into Marriott’s boutique Aloft Cleveland Downtown and enjoy hightech amenities, including a fitness center, convenience store and 42-inch LCD TVs. While there, enjoy classic Italian fare — Salerno family meatballs, lobster gnocchi, risotto, cannoli and tiramisu — along with libations that include sangria, spicy kiwi margaritas and Great Lakes Brewing Co. and BrewDog favorites at Lago, a family-owned restaurant that’s been a city tradition for late-night snacks and romantic dinners since 2006.

Boats, barges and bridges are among the bill of fare at Beerhead Bar & Eatery. Known for its “corner bar feel,” the emporium features stunning views of the lakeshore and a menu of sandwiches and pizza accompanied by 50 taps and an extensive assortment of bottled import, specialty and American craft beers presided over by beer pros who help patrons

discover flavors that suit their tastes.

Beer U classes provide an enjoyable introduction to the wild, wonderful and ever-changing world of hops and barley.

Billed as “Cleveland’s hottest night club,” Inferno features pizza and subs; top-shelf rum, vodka, whisky, tequila, scotch, champagne, nonalcoholic Red Bull drinks and VIP bottle service

Advance your career.

Our master’s level Physician Assistant program opens in 2023.* The application deadline is September 1, 2022.

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COMMUNITY LEADER 27

28 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Greater Cleveland Aquarium calls the Flats West Bank home.

visitors the chance to get up close and personal with sea life in a variety of habitats. See a spotted turtle, channel catfish and shovelnose sturgeon from Ohio lakes and rivers; a frilled lizard, giant gourami and banded archerfish from Asia and Indonesia; red-belled piranha, matamata and poison dart frogs from tropical forests; and cownose stingray, potbelly sea horse and moon jellyfish from a coastal boardwalk environment.

Register for upcoming events that include Virtual Freshwater Exhibit Encounters on Aug. 9 at 4 p.m., Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 4:30 p.m., which include online guided tours of exhibits

featuring animals native to Ohio, Asia and Indonesia, followed by a question-and-answer session. Virtual Shark Exhibit Encounters on Aug. 9 at 3 p.m., Sept. 7 at 4:30 p.m. and Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. describe how the aquarium cares for the sharks, eels, stingrays and other ocean fish residing in the 230,000-gallon exhibit.

Cruise the Cuyahoga in style aboard the Nautica Queen for a day or evening of dining and sightseeing featuring majestic views of bridges and the Lake Erie coastline. All cruises include an unlimited buffet meal with beef, ham, the chef’s catch of the day, seasonal fruits, vegetables and beverages, as well as musical entertainment.

Since opening in 1987, Shooters on the Water has earned an iconic reputation as a premier place to spend the summer in Cleveland. Accompanying a menu of fare ranging from burgers and nachos to pasta and perch is a lineup of live entertainment for every taste. Upcoming shows include video and light shows with VJ Impulse from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday nights through Sept.

2, as well as live performances by the Panama Van Halen Tribute on Aug. 14, Wanted Bon Jovi Tribute on Aug. 21 and Disco Inferno on Aug. 28.

Next door to Shooters, the laughs never end at Cleveland Improv Comedy Theater & Restaurant, where the best comedians

COURTESY NAUTICA QUEEN / ISTOCK

accompanied by tunes spun by Cleveland’s hottest DJs. Get ready for a good time like no other at Punch Bowl Social, a 27,000-squarefoot lounge that’s legendary for the multiple bars serving craft cocktails and punches, a scratch-kitchen menu and games galore, including billiards, foosball and karaoke.

It won’t take long to get your groove back at Good Night John Boy, a funky 1970s-era dive bar that serves up dancing, pizza, beer and groovy vibes.

In Cleveland’s Margaritaville, the taste-of-the-tropics ambiance includes a flowing margarita machine, an indoor/outdoor 5 O’clock Somewhere Bar and a menu featuring crab cakes, Beach Club sandwiches, key lime pie and picture-worthy views of Lake Erie.

Named for the powerful commercial ships that traverse the crooked passages of the Cuyahoga River, Collision Bend Brewing Co. showcases a generous happy hour libation menu from 3 to 6 p.m.; crisp, bright artisanal beers brewed on site; and a menu featuring sandwiches, pizzas, desserts and brunch specials crafted with locally sourced ingredients.

Live music takes center stage with upcoming shows that include Emily & Ivory and Katie K, performing folk, rock and gospel on Aug. 12; favorite tunes by cover band the Beams on Aug. 19; rock ‘n’ roll classics courtesy of the Smug Saints on Aug. 26; traditional blues with a fresh twist by Stamper Starr on Aug. 28; Apostle Jones rock and soul favorites on Sept. 16; and high-energy pop-punk band Jurassic Punk and Rage Against the Machine tribute band Down Rodeo on Sept. 23.

Farm-to-table favorites make Lindey’s Lake House a family-friendly place to embrace a casual, laid-back vibe that includes small plates, pizzas and grilled specialties.

Catch a ride on the Water Taxi, and you’ll find even more fun. Tucked away in the historic FirstEnergy Powerhouse, Greater Cleveland Aquarium offers

COURTESY NAUTICA QUEEN

FLATS IN FLUX

touring today take the stage. Upcoming shows for the 21-and-over crowd feature Lavar Walker, Sept. 30 through Oct. 2; Tony Rock, Oct. 7 through 9; and Alycia Cooper, Oct. 21 and 22. Partake of the club’s contemporary American menu ranging from strip steaks to burgers on the spacious outdoor patio located on the Cuyahoga River.

From live music to captivating tales of Cleveland’s past and present, Music

Box Supper Club has become a gathering place for all since it opened in 2014.

Two stages — a downstairs Supper Club and an upstairs Concert Hall — play host to touring musicians, as well as local Northeast Ohio talent. The upcoming playbill includes Sunday brunches featuring live tributes to Elton John on Aug. 7 and the Carpenters on Aug. 14.

The Prince Project takes the stage at 8 p.m. on Aug. 12, followed by Sinatra

Night on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. and a Santana Tribute by Evil Ways Band on Aug. 26 at 8 p.m.

Once a lodging house for Irish sailors and longshoremen working on the Great Lakes, the Flat Iron Cafe enjoys a storied history that began in 1910 and continues today with traditional Emerald Isle fare such as meat loaf and mashed potatoes on Mondays, corned beef and cabbage on Wednesdays and Lake Erie yellow perch on Fridays. Live music is featured every Friday night, and free shuttle service is available to Guardians and Browns games for parties of eight or more patrons.

Situated along the Cuyahoga River, the open-air Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica amphitheater hosts acclaimed luminaries including Goo Goo Dolls on Aug. 10 and ALICIA The World Tour on Aug. 19.

It’s all waiting for you in the Flats, Cleveland’s preeminent entertainment destination.

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COMMUNITY LEADER 29

COMMUNITY Supporting Species Cleveland Zoological Society donors help young primates survive.

By Jill Sell

KAYEMBE

30 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

species at the zoo, is due in part to Cleveland Zoological Society donors.

The nonprofit organization has historically reached out to donors who help provide food, enrichment and habitat enhancements to zoo animals all year round. But this year, some of the traditional fundraising events and programs were tweaked to reflect the changing faces of donors and to make financially supporting the zoo more convenient. Ultimately,

of course, that benefits the lions and tigers and bears (oh, my!), as well as others that fly, swim, slither, hop or strut.

New Ways to Give Support a Species is a new philanthropic program reinforcing an initiative that began in 2020 to help feed and care for zoo animals. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the zoo, cutting into its budget. The zoo was closed for people, but

COURTESY CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

E

leven-month-old Kayembe, a western lowland gorilla, and 16-month-old Zaki, a Bornean orangutan, were both born at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in 2021.

Kayembe is the first gorilla to be born at the zoo, and Zaki is the first successful orangutan birth since 2014.

Both males are doing well and growing nicely. Their good health and well-being, as well as that of other members of their

not for the animals, says Sarah Crupi, executive director of the Cleveland Zoological Society.

“What’s cool about Support a Species is its digital aspect,” explains Crupi. “Trends show that people are donating younger, parents are encouraging their children to become involved with philanthropy and more and more people are using digital for donations. Of course we still work to cultivate large donations in person, but digital is cost effective for nonprofits like us and it allows us to get our messages out to a lot of folks. Also, by watching the matrix of who is donating, it can help us tailor and refine the Support a Species for 2023.”

The ongoing Support a Species program highlights a different animal species quarterly (gorillas and orangutans have been spotlighted so far), and all donation amounts are accepted. Each donor receives a certificate for their generosity and a fact sheet about the species.

Honor and Memorial is another program that provides donors with a way

“ Of course we still work to cultivate large donations in person, but digital is cost effective for nonprofits like us and it allows us to get our messages out to a lot of folks.”

— SARAH CRUPI to show financial support while also acknowledging personal life events, including memorials, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, marriages and retirements. Crupi says that as a mother, she particularly likes the idea that some families celebrate a child’s birthday by suggesting a donation for the zoo instead of giving the youngster a toy.

Animal Habitat Signs also help recognize donors. For dollar amounts beginning at $2,500, someone’s name can be displayed at a habitat of the donor’s preference. Fourteen locations/ animals are available, including the habitats of the bald eagle, reindeer, elephant, tortoise and kangaroo. Signs remain at the site for 10 years.

In 2021, the Cleveland Zoological Society saw the additional memberships of 11,000 new families. Crupi finds that statistic particularly gratifying because the “population of Cleveland is not growing.” Crupi partially attributes new memberships and recent record-breaking zoo attendance as a response to the pandemic.

“We are outside where you can connect to nature, Crupi says. “And the zoo is pretty accessible compared to some other choices people have here.”

For more information about family and individual memberships to the Cleveland Zoological Society or any of its donor opportunities, visit clevelandzoosociety.org.

35 years helping Cleveland families secure affordable housing. And we’re just getting started.

Our third 100-home initiative coming soon.

35

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anniversary 1987-2022

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COMMUNITY LEADER 31

CREATING Collaborations The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland works to establish relationships with legacy nonprofits to meet the needs of the underserved.

By Christina Easter

T

Making an Impact Cecil Lipscomb, executive director of UBF, was destined to lead a major nonprofit organization from an early age.

His parents worked in the nonprofit sector, and he began taking up causes and raising money for others while he was a 32 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

CELESTE TERRY AND RUBY TERRY

Timothy L. Tramble Sr. and his wife, LaTrice, asked UBF to establish a scholarship fund in their late son’s name.

In 2019, the family worked with UBF to establish and fund the Timothy L. Tramble Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“The initial plan was to award three scholarships a year for use at designated schools in Cleveland,” says Adrianne Sims, executive assistant at UBF. “But after 46 applications were submitted in the fund’s second year to attend schools beyond Cleveland, the decision was made to give 12 scholarships and expand the list of schools students could [attend].”

Partnership and Collaboration After Connie Hill-Johnson, entrepreneur and newly elected chairwoman of the board of directors at the Cleveland Foundation, had an epiphany to bring The Soul of Philanthropy (TSOP) — a three-month national traveling exhibition — to Cleveland, she contacted

COURTESY UNITED BLACK FUND OF GREATER CLEVELAND

he United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland (UBF) — founded in 1981 by George White, Ruby Terry, Helen Summons and Roosevelt Cox — is the leader in providing funding and mentoring to nonprofit organizations servicing the African American community.

“UBF was created because Black people needed an organization that served our interests,” says Terry, the only surviving founding member. “Once created, UBF began to receive donations from individuals who were actively involved in the community and worked together. In addition, white organizations did not want to seem racist, so they gave to us, too.”

As a result, UBF founders established relationships with nonprofits such as the Cleveland Foundation, Gund Foundation and United Way of Greater Cleveland. In addition to being donors, these legacy nonprofits have also been collaborators and strategic partners for more than 40 years.

part-time student at Case Western Reserve University working toward a master’s degree in business administration.

“These small initiatives at major nonprofit institutions taught me that there was an opportunity to emphasize African American issues,” Lipscomb says.

As a result, he ensured that organizations that provide basic needs, workforce development, education and social justice issues continued to receive grants.

The Phe’be Foundation has been receiving grants from UBF for seven years for its financial literacy program, which it has been teaching in Cleveland area high schools and colleges for more than 20 years. When the pandemic hit, the Phe’be Foundation created a program called Wired2Work and then applied for a grant with UBF to pay for internet service for one year for Cleveland households.

“UBF understood when we told them internet service was not in the budget of Black households,” says Sharron Murphy-Williams, founder and executive director of Phe’be. “When we told them we would pay the monthly internet bill for these people, they approved our funding request, and after implementation of the program, we saw an increase in schoolwork being completed and adults being able to apply for jobs.”

Golden Ciphers Inc. received a grant from UBF for its rites of passage program for three years and currently receives funding for its entrepreneur and employment training program.

“These monies allowed us to pay for curricula, books, equipment and clothing for our Black Butterflies and Young Men Emerge programs,” says Pamela Hubbard, founder and executive director of Golden Ciphers. “I am most grateful to UBF because they accept, acknowledge and see me as an executive director even though I only have an associate degree in social work.”

COMMUNITY UBF. They began planning to have the national TSOP exhibit, as well as a Cleveland exhibit named Celebrate Those Who Give Black.

“Honorees were selected based on 100 to 150 nominations received from the community,” Hill-Johnson says.

“We contacted Cecil because we knew a fiscal sponsor was needed, and we wanted someone who would quickly understand the vision of Black philanthropy in Cleveland.

“We hooked donors by telling them the local exhibit would remain in Cleveland after the national exhibit ended and would set up a fund at UBF which would be funded with 10% of each donation,” she adds.

Partnership and collaboration are cornerstones of what UBF was founded on and continues to use to fulfill its mission. Getting younger people engaged is another way to ensure an

organization’s mission will extend for generations.

After earning her master’s degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University, Celeste Terry joined her mother at UBF. During her 25 years, the younger Terry has worked as an assistant to the executive director and is currently the grants manager. In 2016, she started a grant writing class taught at Mount Pleasant NOW Development Corp. until the pandemic began.

Since the pandemic, Celeste Terry has created the UBF Pogue Associate of Fundraising Professional (AFP) Cohort and the Center for Diverse and Thriving Organizations. The AFP Cohort is a yearlong training program that brings together diverse leaders of nonprofits for exposure, networking and learning. The organization is busier than ever, planning and coordinating philanthropic events in and beyond Cleveland.

For example, Lipscomb zipped down Interstate 77 to assist with creating the Black Economic and Wellness Coalition of Akron (BEWCA). He also collaborated with Jumpstart and the city of Cleveland to create an incubator for small businesses. The incubator collaboration was designed to have a safe launch space for young Black tech companies and tech companies for communities of color. The project received a $500,000 grant from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and is scheduled to host its first event throughout three days in October.

What are the plans for UBF going forward?

“To be a self-sustained organization,” Lipscomb says, “that is in relationship with partners who share the same objective for all to participate in a healthy community across Northeast Ohio.”

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COMMUNITY LEADER 33

RENEE TIMBERLAKE

BREAKINGDOWN BARRIERS United Way strives to eliminate detrimental benefit cliffs. By Jill Sell

T

34 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

just one part of the United Way of Greater Cleveland’s Social Determinants of Work (SDoW) Initiative, helping workers face employment barriers.

“State and federal governments create benefit cliffs and we can’t change that, although it is a long-term goal,” says Renee Timberlake, director of economic mobility for the United Way. “Our approach includes mitigating cliffs so when someone hits one, a bridge can be built for them to get across. Also, we provide employers with alternative practices or policies to better support their employees when change hits them.”

United Way of Greater Cleveland and Towards Employment (a workforce development provider in Cleveland) have identified additional SDoW from previously created ones: job flexibility, health care, childcare, transportation, sustained

education, home and community health, broadband access and access to justice.

United Way also has a strong commitment to “bring to light and undo systemic, historic inequities associated with SDoW.” Based on recent local discussions, Timberlake says many people are not aware of SDoW but are open to solutions.

“Most people who manage and run companies have never experienced being on public assistance or don’t have a social circle of people who have,” Timberlake explains. “So, there is a real class difference between the employees who experience it and managers who haven’t.”

A Win-Win Lessening or eliminating SDoW barriers is a huge, obvious plus for affected employees. But Timberlake says employers

COURTESY UNITED WAY OF GREATER CLEVELAND

he case files say it all. One woman who was making $13 an hour received a 20-cent hourly raise from her employer. Her new income total pushed her above the eligibility income for certain federal benefits. The woman lost her SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) federal help. She has six children.

Another individual had a job where her pay was raised to $17 an hour. But that $80 more per month meant she lost her $700-a-month housing waiver and child care waiver. She is a single mom with two kids.

Benefit cliffs occur when someone earns new or increased income that disqualifies that individual from some or all of the public benefit, creating a net loss of income. Dealing with that concern is

COMMUNITY

also benefit greatly if changes are made.

Giving employees a small raise is not always the answer, she says. But if both knocking down hurdles to public benefits and offering a decent wage is possible, then hiring and keeping employees is easier. Employee retention saves a business time, money and effort.

Employers’ new practices don’t have to be extremely complicated to be effective and helpful. Timberlake suggests employers discuss with their employees whether or not a bonus would be more impactful than a raise. That way it may be possible for employees to keep their public benefits while also receiving a lump sum toward a car, appliance or other need. A raise would also most likely cost the employer more money in the long run, according to Timberlake. Supplying childcare vouchers is another opportunity that would be a tremendous help, she says.

This summer, United Way presented educational programs and information gathering activities to employers, nonprofit organizations, business organizations, local government officials and other community stakeholders. The goal was to introduce the SDoW Initiative and to gain important feedback. A public program (day

and place to be determined) in the fall is scheduled to report those results.

Information will include what organizations are already doing and identify gaps.

“It’s a particularly good time in history to have these conversations,” says Timberlake. “Employers are more willing than ever to do things differently.”

“Most people who manage and run companies have never experienced being on public assistance or don’t have a social circle of people who have.”

— RENEE TIMBERLAKE

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COMMUNITY LEADER 35

WHERE BUSINESS GOES TO GROW

BUSINESS Re: Visiting Travel and tourism are rebounding and on pace to eclipse pre-COVID-19 levels.

B Y A L E X E M E R S O N , J I L L S E L L , LY N N E T H O M P S O N A N D T E R R Y T R O Y

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36 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Although the conventions and meetings business is looking much stronger, business travel is still lagging behind the rest of the industry, Gilbert admits.

There are a couple of reasons Cleveland is doing better than the rest of the nation, including the hosting of blockbuster events such as the NFL Draft in 2021 and the NBA All-Star Game earlier this year.

The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, of which Gilbert is also president and CEO, estimates that the NFL Draft, which took place from April 29 through May 1, 2021, had an overall economic impact of $42 million on Cleveland. Attendance, despite lingering COVID-19 fears, was estimated at 160,000 visitors with 40.1 million watching on television nationwide across the three-day event.

Held less than a year later, in February of this year, the 2022 NBA AllStar Game (and associated events) provided Northeast Ohio with an economic impact estimated to be just south of $250 million.

That really helped offset the dramatic downturn caused by COVID-19. For 2020, Cuyahoga County registered 13.8 million visits, down 30% from 2019; and economic impact slid to $7.1 billion, a 27% drop. Both declines resulted from the immediate shutdown and prolonged contraction of the travel industry. Visitation to Cuyahoga County declined at a similar rate to U.S. domestic visitation, a drop of 32% in 2020.

Although business bottomed out at the height of the pandemic, Destination Cleveland is quick to add that the Cleveland brand was and still is on the

ISTOCK

ith Destination Cleveland’s annual meeting a few days off as of press time for Community Leader, David Gilbert, president and CEO of the travel and tourism organization, shares some insights as to what might be on the industry’s horizon in the coming year. Some of the city’s key players also share what they have done to help overcome the negative effects of the pandemic, as well as the ongoing impact those effects are having on Cleveland’s travel and tourism industry.

“To start with, the numbers are trending in the right direction and the recovery is looking very strong,” says Gilbert. “All of the numbers we have so far this year are tracking better than the rest of the nation in terms of our recovery, and all of the indicators are pointing to the fact that we are getting back on our feet.”

upswing. The consideration of Cleveland as a visitor destination by the target audience of millennials grew from 14% to 36% from 2014 to the present. And resident recommendations (by Northeast Ohioans who recommend Cleveland for a visit), increased from 34% to 81% during the same period. The NBA AllStar Game and NFL Draft only help bolster that brand awareness.

Indeed, some economists are now using the term “psychic income” for what happens when cities such as Cleveland host major sporting events.

When citizens of a community host a major sports (or political) event, people feel better about themselves, and their emotional well-being goes up.

When people feel better about themselves, they feel wealthier and spend more. They go out to eat more. They also spend more on clothing.

The consideration of Cleveland as a visitor destination by the target audience of millennials grew from 14% to 36% from 2014 to the present.

If that sounds like promotional poppycock, think again.

Professors from the School of Economics and Management at Shanghai University of Sport and the Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, confirmed the economic impact of “psychic income” on communities either participating in or hosting major sports events — the latter being especially true if local residents were educated on the importance of such events.

Using the Shanghai Tennis Masters as an example, the study found that “sports events are considered to have a

significant impact on sustainable community development in the host country, especially economic, social and cultural development.”

That same phenomenon is also seen when an area’s sports teams do better, which was witnessed when Cleveland’s downstate football rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, made their Super Bowl appearance earlier this year.

Building Upon Success “We had the Stonewall Nationals and the Tall Ships in July,” says Gilbert. “The Cleveland Air Show is also back this year, which should provide us with a nice economic boost as well.”

Although not as big as the NFL Draft or the NBA All-Star blockbusters, these are the types of events that will help bring the industry back up to preCOVID-19 numbers, actually building a more solid economic base for the local travel and tourism industry.

Make no mistake, supporting travel and tourism is an areawide effort, especially within the business community.

“From the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s angle, we are just a piece of the puzzle,” says Yvette Ittu, president of Cleveland Development Advisors, an affiliate of Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP). “We work very closely with our partners and others who really feed the efforts of Destination Cleveland, which does an amazing job, and where there are opportunities to partner on various initiatives. We are all in to collectively work on travel and tourism.”

Certainly, one of the more important civic organizations directly involved with travel and tourism is Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA), which was formed as an outgrowth of other civic organizations in 2006.

Michael Deemer, president and CEO of DCA, says he believes the way to lure people off of their couches and out of their home offices to Downtown

David Gilbert

Michael Deemer

Cleveland is by providing “unique, authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences that you can only find in the city center.”

“We need to … give them opportunities to have the kind of human connection that we all crave, really remind them of what they love about being in cool, fun, vibrant places,” Deemer says.

In May, DCA launched its Connection to a Stronger Downtown campaign, an effort that includes a calendar of warm-weather activities and events. It kicked off with Lunch in the Lane, which closed a different street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. once a week through June for what Deemer calls a “popup block party” with live music, games and giveaways.

Other series listed on downtowncleveland.com include new additions such as Music on the Malls, which puts live music and food trucks on Mall C from 5 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through August, as well as old favorites such as Take a Hike, free guided and self-guided walking tours of areas that include the Flats, Playhouse Square, Public Square and the Warehouse District, which are offered through September.

“In addition to programming downtown with cool and fun experiences, we fully recognize the downtown experience begins with a clean, safe and welcoming environment,” he adds.

To help provide that environment, DCA employs between 100 and 120 cleanliness, hospitality and safety ambassadors. From 7 a.m. to midnight each day, they pick up litter, provide safety escorts and serve as a clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 37

BUSINESS uniformed presence offering directions and other assistance.

“It’s a great opportunity to have an impact on the city and help facilitate our city’s recovery,” Deemer says.

Visit: The Cleveland Orchestra

Celebrating the City’s Cultural Assets

Franz Welser-Möst

André Gremillet

38 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Cleveland Orchestra toured Asia in spring 2019 with performances in Beijing, Macao, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taipei and Wuhan.

The orchestra’s most recent European tour was during the 2017-18 Centennial season with stops in Vienna, Paris, Linz, Hamburg and Luxembourg, and 2017-18 touring also included performances at New York City’s Carnegie Hall and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.

The orchestra’s last scheduled European tour during spring 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic.

“Nearly every season over the past half century, the Cleveland Orchestra has toured internationally,” says André Gremillet, the Cleveland Orchestra’s president and CEO. “We are eager to perform once again for our European audience and proudly represent and promote Cleveland and Ohio internationally.

“The Cleveland Orchestra, universally recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the world, is a great

example of the quality that can be found in so many industries and organizations throughout our state. It also represents the very best American culture has to offer the world. Touring remains essential for our orchestra, both from an artistic and an audience development perspective. Music truly is a universal language that transcends cultures and connects us all, and that connection is probably more important today than it has ever been.

“The Cleveland Orchestra’s standing as one of the very best in the world results from a commitment that is first and foremost to our great city of Cleveland,” Gremillet adds. “Our loyal and broad constituency at home in Northeast Ohio and around the world has supported our work for more than a century. In turn, they have fueled our mission of serving Cleveland and its surrounding communities through our performances, as well as education and community engagement programs — all of which are created to

COURTESY DESTNATION CLEVEL AND AND ROGER MASTROIANNI

One of Cleveland’s greatest sources of civic and cultural pride won’t even be in town for a couple of weeks this fall. Instead, it will be spreading the word of the city’s cultural assets and attractions on an international stage.

In August and September, The Cleveland Orchestra and its Music Director Franz Welser-Möst embark on their 20th international tour together, with 12 performances in nine European cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Hamburg, Linz, Lucerne, Prague and Vienna. Over the course of three weeks from August 31 to September 16, the tour’s concert programs will feature the music of Berg, Bruckner, Rihm, Schubert, Strauss, as well as Mozart with pianist Igor Levit.

That kind of international exposure is sure to draw in people from around the globe.

The Cleveland Orchestra is a proud ambassador for Ohio, carrying the depth and breadth of local arts and cultural understanding across the globe.

The 2022 Europe Tour is part of the Orchestra’s 105th season and the 21st year of the ensemble’s acclaimed partnership with Franz Welser-Möst.

This is the orchestra’s 53rd international tour. Most recently, the

connect people to the power of music in the concert hall, classrooms and their everyday lives.”

When you talk about valuable cultural assets, you simply can’t leave out Playhouse Square, which has been an important fixture in the Cleveland community for more than 100 years.

“A recent study completed by Oxford Economics shows that our annual economic impact on Northeast Ohio is $359.1 million,” says Gina Vernaci, Playhouse Square CEO, who is planning to step down next year. “We take pride in being the home of seven resident companies, a regional economic engine and an ambassador for our city and its people.

“This August and September, we are welcoming out-of-town visitors and Clevelanders alike to four weeks of Disney’s Frozen, the return of the

much-loved Cinema at the Square series, concerts by Gregory Porter and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and a performance by comedian Mike Epps — to name just a few events on our calendar.

“Though entertainment is at the heart of what we offer, we are more than the largest performing arts center in the nation outside of New York — we are stewards of our vibrant downtown district and a champion for arts education as we continue our mission of making the arts more accessible for all.”

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a lot like the artists enshrined in it: It remains a big draw for decades, even during the most challenging of times.

This year, the landmark has welcomed about 80% of the 563,000 visitors it saw in pre-pandemic 2019, according to Rock Hall Hall of Fame president and CEO Greg Harris. That

year it boasted an economic impact of $225 million, a figure that translates into providing 1,872 jobs.

“We think we’re going to have a strong summer,” Gina Vernaci he says. “We think that we will be over 500,000 visitors.”

Over 80% of those visitors come from outside the area — people who patronize hotels, restaurants, retail establishments, etc. A large percentage are leisure travelers. But Harris notes that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame remains a muchin-demand corporate and private event venue. The 200-plus events booked each year range from small lunches to celebrations honoring top-performing employees to marquee affairs staged by the

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COMMUNITY LEADER 39

BUSINESS

Visit: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

40 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

along with accompanying events from the Nominee announcement to HBO broadcast, provides the Rock Hall with valuable media exposure, even when the ceremony is conducted in New York City or, as it will be in November, in Los Angeles. Harris says this year’s inductee announcement alone generated 14 billion media impressions in the first 48 hours.

“The media value was $158 million,” he says. “It gets people excited about visiting the museum and about visiting Cleveland.”

A study conducted by Tourism Economics shows that the Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are among Cleveland’s most lucrative institutions.

But so is the internationally acclaimed Cleveland Museum of Art. In 2019, these four institutions had 2.6 million total combined attendees at their events, exhibitions, concerts and shows. Of these, approximately 1.4

million traveled to Cleveland from outside of the region. Visitors from out of town accounted for $317 million in onand off-site spending.

The museum has such an impact on tourism in Cleveland because of its contents and the particular way it’s managed. Since it was founded in 1913, the museum has remained completely free of charge, a trait in museums that’s become less common even with organizations less than half of the size of the Cleveland museum.

The museum’s collection of 45,000 pieces has also been met with acclaim.

In 2016, Business Insider ranked the Cleveland Museum of Art the second-best museum in the country, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

A noteworthy museum exhibit taking place in August is FRONT International, a contemporary art exhibition with seven installations on view from late July until early October.

COURTESY DESTNATION CLEVEL AND

likes of the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, the 2021 NFL Draft and the 2022 NBA All-Star Game.

“Every major citywide conference or event does their opening or closing at our place,” Harris says.

Current attractions include The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be, an exhibit the Rock Hall describes as “an immersive complement” to the Peter Jackson TV docuseries The Beatles: Get Back that shows how the legendary band wrote and recorded many of their songs, and a Legends of Rock exhibit that’s been expanded to include artists such as Alice Cooper, Def Leppard, the Doobie Brothers and the Mamas and the Papas.

The annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame InducGreg Harris tion Ceremony,

Noteworthy museum exhibits in September include: The New Black Vanguard Photography Between Art and Fashion and Impression to Modernism, The Keithley Collection, which features impressionist, post-impressionist and modern European and American paintings.

Bringing People to the Waterfront Cleveland’s large appeal as a travel and tourism destination is the centrality of its location and the diversity of its offerings.

The city has it all — arts, culture, worldclass restaurants, wineries, breweries, trails, parks and, of course, a Great Lake.

“The Nautica Queen exposes visitors to several of those assets, giving them a chance to experience Cleveland’s shoreline, skyline and historic bridges,” says Ellen Kelley, director of operations for the popular cruise ship.

“I think that’s important. We contribute to the vibrancy of downtown (people love to wave as we pass by), and we employ around 70 seasonal and full-time employees.

“The Nautica Queen has indoor and outdoor spaces which, coupled with our voluntary reduction in capacity, give passengers opportunities to spread out. It was a little quiet downtown for a while there, and we’re excited to see the activity building now and to be one of the reasons people come to the city.”

The Nautica Queen is a great way to see next month’s Cleveland National Air Show.

“The Cleveland National Air Show is always a major event for us and sells out very quickly,” adds Kelley. “I think overall though, the Nautica Queen is a spot for your major event. People

Jade Davis

Ellen Kelley

come aboard to celebrate personal milestones. We’re a special spot for reunions, proms, birthdays, anniversaries and weddings.”

In increasing numbers, the lake has become a destination for pleasure and dinner cruising. With its connection to the St. Lawrence Seaway, it’s also bringing people to Cleveland from all over the world, especially Europe, thanks to luxury travel cruising. That returned to the city in a big way this year, starting

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COMMUNITY LEADER 41

BUSINESS with the Ocean Voyager’s stop in Cleveland earlier this year.

“Over the past five or six years, we have had people approach us at the port to help out welcoming cruise ships,” says Jade Davis, vice president of external affairs for the Port of Cleveland. “We are expecting 36 cruise ships this year, but we could be looking at 10 to 20 more than that next year.”

Prior to the pandemic, the port had already invested in a customs clearance facility with work that started in 2018 and was completed in April of 2020. Sadly, the facility couldn’t open because of a lack of vessels due to COVID-19.

“So it sat dormant for two years, but we opened it this April,” says Davis.

“It’s working just as designed, and we are excited. We’ll be here to help this business grow by as much as we can.”

The ships coming into the port aren’t as large as the cruise ships in Miami or other ocean ports. After all, they

do have to fit through the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Welland Canal.

“So they typically only hold about 300 passengers as well as the crew,” adds Davis.

With 36 visits this year, the numbers do add up.

“We are considered one of the most popular destinations on the Great Lakes,” says Davis. “Routinely, we are in the top two ports on the Great Lakes, the first being Mackinac Island.”

Those ports include major metropolitan destinations like Toronto.

“People love to come here because of attractions like the Rock Hall or the Flats,” says Davis, “But they also come here to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park or our Metroparks.”

All About the Animals, Too Although many of its indoor programs and facilities had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cleveland Metroparks never shut its doors during the past several years to nature

or to the outdoors for Northeast Ohioans or tourists. In 2021, Cleveland Metroparks drew more than 19 million recreational visitors for only the second time on record. (The highest visitation was 19.7 million in 2020.)

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo also attracted more than 1.3 million guests in 2021, the highest annual visitation in a decade and the fourth highest annual visitation on record. If it squawks, screeches, trumpets or roars, people want to see it.

A study in 2018 by the Trust for Public Land showed that Cleveland Metroparks contributes $873 million annually to the regional economy, a significant portion of which is attributed to direct visitor spending. Expanded parks, improvements to reservations and the completion of the Re-Connecting TIGER Trails, plus better access to Lake Erie through trails created and/or managed by Cleveland Metroparks, all make a huge difference in enhancing the region.

“Over the past several years. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo [has invested] in

Visit: The Nautica Queen

“We are expecting 36 cruise ships this year, but we could be looking at 10 to 20 more than that next year.”

42 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

COURTESY PORT OF CLEVEL AND

— Jade Davis

COURTESY CLEVEL AND METROPARKS

animal habitats like Asian Highlands and the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve that enhance animal care and create more immersive experiences for our Chris Kuhar guests,” says Chris Kuhar, PhD, Cleveland Metroparks executive director. “Community-driven after-hours events, including the Asian Lantern Festival and Wild Winter Lights, and new offerings like the Eagle Zip Adventure, also have helped attract new guests.”

And of course, there is nothing quite as effective at luring zoo visitors than introducing new baby animals like Kayembe, the first gorilla ever born in Cleveland. Can you say, “adorable”?

Visit: The Cleveland Metroparks

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COMMUNITY LEADER 43

BUSINESS

Steps to Success Greater Cleveland Partnership outlines its focus and priorities.

BY LINDA FEAGLER

B

aiju R. Shah is the president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), the region’s business leadership group and chamber of commerce.

“GCP’s history traces back to 1893 when the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce was formed to focus on civic matters,” Shah explains. With more than 12,000 members, GCP is the largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation. It focuses on strategic initiatives, member services and advocacy to build a thriving environment for all businesses and individuals.

From that foundation, GCP works with partners on the priorities outlined in the All In plan.

Priority 1

A thriving region is built on dynamic businesses.

“Businesses must leverage technology for both productivity and innovation — because if they’re not, their competitors are,” says Shah.

The Manufacturing Blueprint, an effort led by MAGNET, is one example of an initiative. Its goal is establishing Greater Cleveland as a global leader for smart manufacturing.

“This priority also focuses on growing research institutions, including NASA Glenn, and better connecting their technologies and capabilities with local companies,” says Shah.

GCP and partners including Team NEO, JobsOhio and the Ohio Aerospace Institute developed an advocacy strategy for increasing funding for NASA Glenn in the country’s space and defense missions.

With the leadership of Ohio’s federal delegation, NASA Glenn recently secured up to $80 million in new defense funding for enhancing its hypersonic testing facilities.

“NASA Glenn is a treasured resource and a major economic asset to the region,” says Shah.

COURTESY MICHAEL COLLIER

44 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

GCP recently released its All In plan for Greater Cleveland to become one of the great regions in the Great Lakes.

To achieve this, Shah and leaders from the private, public and nonprofit sectors developed a system in which these groups work in unity for the betterment of the region.

“The system is powered by All In values that define the mindset, spirit and practices expected in civic initiatives,” Shah explains. “These values start with being INspired and end with IN-unity, always focused on working together for community outcomes.”

Priority 2

Dynamic businesses need abundant talent to grow.

In addition to increasing degree and certificate-program graduates in growth sectors, the strategy is focused on broadening work-based learning experiences such as internships, apprenticeships and career awareness at all educational levels.

“Through industry sector partnerships and the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium, 110 different employers are working with community colleges, workforce partners and high schools to connect students to programs and career opportunities,” Shah says.

The effort also focuses on attracting talent through the Cleveland Talent Alliance, led by Destination Cleveland and supported by many partners.

Priority 3

Abundant talent requires inclusive opportunity.

GCP’s focus on diversity reaches all aspects of business — from workforce to executives to ownership.

“Our goal is for business employment to reflect our region’s demographics in ethnicity, gender and foreign-born background,” Shah says. “Our work with employers is focused on ensuring individuals feel welcome and have a chance to advance.”

GCP is also home to the Minority Business Development Agency, which

supports scaling minority businesses through connections to business opportunities and growth resources.

Priority 4

Appealing communities attract and retain dynamic businesses and talent.

“Talented individuals can live anywhere, especially today,” Shah says. “We want rising generations to choose Greater Cleveland because of its appeal as a place to work, live and play.”

Plans are in the works to enhance downtown through development and activated public spaces, better connect and create access to the region’s lakefront and riverfronts and expand recreational amenities.

Priority 5

Confidence that accelerates the first four priorities.

“The fifth priority is the accelerant to it all,” Shah says. “In particular, ‘business confidence,’ the recognition that the region is not only a great place to live and visit, but also to work and grow businesses.”

To advance this, GCP is planning a campaign to ensure leaders are more aware of the companies investing in thriving throughout the region today.

“Ambition and innovation are in the region’s business DNA,” says Shah.

“Businesses must leverage technology for both productivity and innovation — because if they’re not, their competitors are.”

— Baiju R. Shah

Baiju R. Shah

Bill Koehler

Paul Dolan

Shah noted a number of growing companies and also the governor’s and JobsOhio’s recent success in securing Ford’s $1.5 billion expansion for electric vehicle production that will create 1,800 jobs.

Bill Koehler, CEO of Team NEO, a nonprofit organization that works to accelerate growth and prosperity in business development throughout 18 counties in Northeast Ohio, applauds the highly synergistic relationships that exist among Northeast Ohio’s economic development organizations, including Team NEO and GCP. “We’ve built a nice network of organizations that work together,” Koehler says.

“Each organization brings different capabilities to the table, and we’ve knit them together to identify and capitalize on the opportunities we see in our region.”

Paul Dolan, GCP’s board chair, says he appreciates the all-in spirit of inclusion the plan incorporates.

“What appeals to me more than anything is the broadening sense that we’re not going to be a vibrant business community unless we have talented people living here,” says Dolan, who’s also the chairman and CEO of the Cleveland Guardians. “In order to be at the top of the list of regional peers that include Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Detroit, we need to make sure all people in our region are ably positioned to participate in the workforce. Our economy doesn’t stop at the city’s border. It’s much bigger than Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. And, as its name suggests, GCP is dedicated to working in partnerships to make Greater Cleveland a great region on a Great Lake.” clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 45

BUSINESS

Adapting to Change In an ever-changing business world, Sales Concepts Inc. helps clients overcome fear of uncertainty.

BY BOB SANDRICK

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 2020, the world anxiously waited for it to pass so everything could return to normal. Whether normal ever returned, or ever will, seems iffy at best.

That uncertainty continues to shake up the sales profession. Keith Strauss, president of Sales Concepts Inc., a Westlake sales and sales management training firm, says his clients must adapt to the new, unstable business climate if they hope to find success again.

“When COVID-19 hit, seasoned, experienced salespeople who relied on face-to-face meetings didn’t know how to navigate virtual platforms like Zoom, and they struggled to interact with customers,” Strauss says. “A lot of the work we did was teaching people to sell virtually.

“Now, my clients are finding other ways to leverage online tools and social media to create an audience that will move toward them,” he adds. “They are target marketing and text messaging and using popup ads to push more people to their websites, where they can use e-commerce to sell directly from there.”

Proceeding with Caution

46 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Before visiting in person, for example, determine the customer’s COVID-19 protocols and mask-wearing practices.

Sales professionals should then respect the customer’s position, regardless of their own beliefs.

“We need to be ultrasensitive to where people are,” Strauss says. “Matching and mirroring your audience has always been important, but this pandemic has been so divisive that it has become more important than ever. Learn what your customer’s belief system is so that you don’t alienate them.”

Strauss says one salesperson he knows visited a customer unannounced. The customer was offended because they weren’t ready to receive anyone in person, due to the lingering pandemic.

“They lost business right there,” Strauss says.

ISTOCK

The sales landscape remains rocky, though. Companies are still struggling to regain the foothold they had two years ago. For a while, it seemed that the pandemic had passed. Then came another spike in COVID-19 cases, and the business community turned tentative again.

Strauss says customers and potential customers are using that uncertainty to avoid making buying decisions, just like they did during the height of the pandemic, when sales activity was virtually shut down.

“Clients called me saying that they hadn’t talked to customers for a yearand-a-half,” Strauss says. “For a lot of our clients, it was debilitating.”

This time, however, it’s not just COVID-19 that’s worrying customers and stymieing sales. Due to the Great Resignation, companies are having trouble finding workers. Supply chain breaks are delaying projects. Inflation has reached a 40-year high. Economists are predicting a recession.

In that kind of atmosphere, salespeople should proceed cautiously and show empathy toward individual customers.

Understanding Your Customers Salespeople must realize that customers, like they’ve been since the pandemic started, are afraid of making the wrong decision. They’re frozen, unsure what to do.

“We have to understand the emotions of prospects and get those emotions out of the equation,” Strauss says. “The salesperson needs to focus on the problem they’re solving for the customer.”

For example, if customers are worried about the employee shortage, a technology that would help them operate with fewer workers would probably interest them.

“We, the salespeople, should focus on something the customer is excited about and the value we can add to that, or focus on making a problem go away for them and providing a solution,” Strauss says.

Since 1981, Sales Concepts has provided tailored training for people who work in sales, service, telemarketing and

management. Sales Concepts was founded on the philosophy that training should be productive, competitive, tailored to the individual, enjoyable and designed to improve performance.

The company believes there is more than one right way. There is no such thing as a silver bullet that works in all

markets, for all people. To be applicable to your business, training must be tailored to your market, products, services and people. Customized training by Sales Concepts helps to develop a continuing, focused training program that is delivered in the time and format specified by its clients.

“We, the salespeople, should focus on something the customer is excited about and the value we can add to that, or focus on making a problem go away for them and providing a solution.”

— Keith Strauss

Keith Strauss

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COMMUNITY LEADER 47

My Life

By Lynne Thompson

My Home

Breathing Easy Inside The dog days of summer typically force a retreat to the air-conditioned cool Dr. DeVon of the great Preston indoors — a move that should refocus attention on indoor air quality, according to Dr. DeVon Preston, an allergist and clinical immunologist at Cleveland Clinic Lakewood Family Health Center.

“It can often be worse than outdoor air quality, mainly because of the collection of different irritants, allergens and pollutants in the home,” he says. The list includes garden-variety pollen and dust, as well as microscopic dust mites and their feces, animal dander, cleaning products and insecticides.

To keep them at a minimum: Have HVAC duct systems cleaned. “You may only need to do it once if you have a high-efficiency filtration system attached to your HVAC system,” Preston says. Otherwise, have it done every five to 10 years.

Replace HVAC filters as recommended by the manufacturer or service professional.

For those using window and wall air conditioners, Preston advises checking that units are 48 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

draining properly and cleaning or replacing filters regularly — he did it every three months when he used them.

Clean. Dust and vacuum at least once a week. Preston dusts blinds and ceiling fan blades and vacuums drapes once a month and vacuums walls every few months. Remove mold or mildew from nonporous surfaces with bleach or fungicide and eliminate the cause. “If you can’t clean it off [from porous surfaces], then you probably need to remove it, put up some new drywall or new plaster and then cover that with an antimold type of paint,” he says.

Ventilate spaces while using cleaning products and pesticides.

“If it smells strong, you’re going to need to open the windows, or else you’re going to feel the negative effects” — dizziness, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and skin irritation, he says.

Consider an air purification system. Preston says a portable unit with a high-efficiency particulate air filter is a good option. He advises against units with ionic filters. “They literally create these ions,” he explains. “What that does is forces allergens to stick on things” rather than remove them from the air.

My Health

Coping with Scary School News New teachers, new classmates, a return to lessons and homework — they Carolyn Ievers can make the Landis most well-adjusted children anxious about going back to school. But this year, they may have another reason to dread it: recalling news of the May shooting at Ross Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Carolyn Ievers Landis, a clinical psychologist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, says that while many children won’t be affected by learning about such a tragedy, others will. She offers the following advice for helping them deal with it.

Limit media exposure. Landis observes that the constant coverage of a shooting and subsequent developments can make it seem like the event is happening over and over again. She recommends providing age-appropriate answers to children’s questions

and discussing their fears, perhaps even initiating a conversation by saying, “Hey, have you heard of this? Do you want to talk about it?”

“They’re going to hear about it from friends,” she acknowledges. “But they should not be inundated.”

Reassure.

Point out that such tragedies are, in fact, rare.

Prepare children just starting school by letting them know that they may be asked to participate in live-shooter drills.

Matter-of-factly put them in the context of all of the other things they do to stay safe, from participating in home fire and tornado drills to sitting in car seats or wearing seatbelts.

Adults should check their own responses to events. “They will take our lead,” Landis says.

Watch for signs of stress.

“Not all children are aware of why they’re feeling the way they are,” Landis says.

“I find that particularly true for younger boys. They feel a sense of worry, dread or unease, but they don’t necessarily have the thoughts that explain why.” They may, however, complain of headaches or stomachaches, sleep more or less, eat more or less or throw tantrums. “If things are really affecting their quality of life, that’s when you probably need to talk to your pediatrician,” she says.

My Earth

Terese Antle

Environmentally Friendly Furnishings

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Common sense dictates that buying quality products is an inherently environmentally friendly way to furnish a home. Terese Antle, a buyer for Sedlak Interiors in Solon, points out that a case good can be refinished or an upholstered piece can be recovered.

“It’s going to last decades or a lifetime, depending on the piece and how it’s used,” she says. “So it doesn’t go into a landfill.”

Some furnishings, however, are definitely greener than others. She suggests shopping for the following: Case goods. Opt for chests, tables, etc., made of solid hardwoods such as maple, cherry and oak harvested from sustainably managed forests rather than much-less-durable plywood or medium-density fiberboard — a material Antle says is made by mixing wood pulp with chemicals and glues.

“When you’re using solid wood, you’re obviously not using those chemicals and glues

that can be harmful to the environment,” she says.

Upholstered pieces. “A lot of the manufacturers today are using soy-based foam,” Antle observes. She adds that tests have shown foam with a soybased content of up to 70% are as durable as their petroleum-based counterparts.

Look for spring units made from recycled metals and wrapped in fibers made from recycled plastic. Solid wood frames provide the “good bones” needed for longevity.

Antle notes that, like buying quality, buying American is generally greener.

Air-quality standards are higher in the U.S. than in many other countries, which Antle says affects how finishes are made and applied to case goods, for example. It is easier to confirm sources of hardwoods harvested in the U.S. Companies such as Century, Lee Industries and Stickley manufacture their goods with domestically sourced materials. “ T h e y ’r e being made and delivered often within just several hundred miles from where [the furniture is] being produced,” she says — a fact that reduces the environmental impact of shipping.

My Food

Brian Moses

Blue Point Grille Chef Fires Up a Diverse Menu

Brian Moses’ grilling repertoire extends beyond the usual hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and ribs. The executive chef at Blue Point Grille in Downtown Cleveland — a Fort Worth, Texas, native who spent the last 15 years in the state capital of Austin — uses his large, wood-fired smoker grill at home to prepare everything from appetizers to desserts. His summer favorites include: Eggplant.

Moses places a whole 1.5to 2.5-pound eggplant directly on the coals, then turns it every five or 10 minutes while he’s grilling the main course. “It takes roughly 45 minutes,” he says of the process. While the blackened skin is hard and tough to the point of being inedible, the meat inside is squishy soft, with a smoky flavor. “You just cut the eggplant open lengthwise, squeeze in a little lemon, put in a little roasted garlic and salt, and mix it up in the skin,” he says. “It’s an automatic dip or a sauce, ready to go.”

Watermelon.

Moses cuts the melon into 2-inchthick planks, lightly brushes each side with olive oil

to prevent sticking, sprinkles them with a tiny pinch of salt and a little sugar, then grills each side for a minute or two.

“You really just want to caramelize the outer layer,” he says.

The result is served chilled, cut from the rind into chunks and tossed with fresh mint and a little feta cheese. “It makes a good little salad or a fresh dessert for a hot day,” he says.

Pineapple.

Moses prepares and grills a peeled-and-cored fresh pineapple the same way he does a watermelon.

The pineapple, however, is plated warm or chilled sans mint and cheese.

It’s especially good as a side with pork.

“Pork really likes something sweet,” he says. “It balances all of the smoky flavor.”

clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 49

Cleveland’s Cleveland’s greatest attraction greatest attraction is its ALL IN business community. is its ALL IN business community.

Through partnerships among the public, private, philanthropic and Through partnerships among philanthropic civic communities, we are ALL IN onthe ourpublic, visionprivate, of building a great and regioncivic on acommunities, Great Lake. we are ALL IN on our vision of building a great region on a Great Lake.

Learn more about the All In plan Learn more about the All In plan The nation’s largest metro chamber of commerce The nation’s largest metro chamber of commerce

MEETINGS EVENTS

GETTING

TOGETHER

Organizations are finding new ways to meet in a postpandemic world.

BY SARAH WEBB

W

ith the shutdowns of 2020 in the rearview mirror, companies and organizations are jumping at the chance to once again host in-person events.

“People want to celebrate life events or their businesses and get back in touch with colleagues, and that drive is getting people more excited about hosting those events,” says Jonathan Levoy, president and CEO of Levoy Hospitality Group.

Gregg Mervis, president & CEO of the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau and the John S. Knight Center, agrees.

“Regardless of temporary or even more lasting obstacles to hosting in-person meetings, the innate desire ‘to be’ with our colleagues and friends will never be fully thwarted,” Mervis says.

Levoy, Mervis and Sam Cario, director of events and experiences at Cleveland Metroparks, lay out the top trends for how organizations are approaching events in a post-COVID-19 world. clevelandmagazine.com/cleader

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COMMUNITY LEADER 51

MEETINGS EVENTS

“Pre-COVID-19, groups would host hourslong meetings with just content, but now it’s how do they partner with their venue on how to spread their message but to do it in a way that offers health and wellness for their guests, such as a leisurely walk or guided hike during the lunch hour.”

– Sam Cario

Nontraditional Venues Instead of a hotel conference room with four walls and no windows, event planners are now opting for nontraditional venues where attendees can feel more comfortable and engage with one another in more meaningful ways, Cario says.

He adds that attendees especially appreciate programming that takes place outside of the main location.

“For example, we manage the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo location, and our locations are busier than ever because groups can have a meeting but then walk and enjoy the zoo property and engage with their colleagues that they haven’t seen for two years.”

While groups are becoming more accustomed to the idea of living with the coronavirus as a part of everyday life, event planners seek to keep event attendees safe and healthy.

52 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

Levoy notes that event facilities always provide hand sanitizer and antibacterial soaps, sneeze guards and barriers if requested.

“As far as interactions between our guests and our staff, we try to be respectful of everyone’s opinions and approaches,” Levoy says. “Most of our clients feel confident in the vaccines and the things that’ve happened in the past six to eight months as far as trends of the virus. Our

COURTESY CLEVELAND METROPARKS

Prioritizing Health and Wellness

“As we collectively continue to move forward, not taking any aspect of our current positive momentum for granted, we do have to remain cognizant of the spectrum of rebounding budgets and people’s comfort levels in gathering again,” Mervis says. “Current research suggests that event organizers, venues and service providers should continue to implement safety best practices across all aspects of the event.”

Host your next event at

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MEETINGS EVENTS

food handling is at a higher level, making sure we’re doing certain things that are a level above what’s required from a food handling perspective. We have all of the different supplies and products to provide any level of service from a cleanliness perspective, and we’re continuing to do higher level sanitation of common areas.”

Levoy adds that the extra attention to detail from a cleanliness and sanitation point of view is one of the silver linings to come out of the pandemic.

In addition to protecting the physical health of attendees, event venues seek to safeguard the mental health of attendees.

“Pre-COVID-19, groups would host hourslong meetings with just content, but now it’s how do they partner with their venue on how to spread their message but to do it in a way that offers health and wellness for their guests, such as a leisurely walk or guided hike during the lunch hour,” Cario says.

Now, the old way of doing things is becoming obsolete.

“It’s getting people outside of their environment, because guests don’t want to be stuck in a room for hours and [they can] socially distance if they need to and get up and be more comfortable,” Cario says.

More Engagement

54 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

ADDITIONAL TIPS Know your audience.

Levoy says it’s essential to know your guests’ desires and wants.

“Knowing the guests and what they would enjoy is key, whether it’s music or food or activities,” Levoy says. “Look at the group and what they would like versus what the planner would like. If you take that into consideration, the experience of the event is better.”

Book well in advance.

The availability and capacity for event locations is slim because there was such a quick influx in the first quarter for groups to look for locations, Cario says.

Additionally, the Great Resignation means that there isn’t the full staffing support there was before COVID-19.

“Event hosts are struggling to fill booking dates because of staffing issues,” Cario says. “Event planners say they want to book 12 months out to secure their vendors. Before, we were lucky if they were booking six months out.”

COURTESY CLEVELAND METROPARKS

In line with the mental wellness aspect of events, planners are exploring ways to enhance gatherings with more engaging activities.

“Enhancing an event agenda with additional networking activities not only underscores the intrinsic value of in-person meetings we’ve missed, but it also provides valuable opportunities that encourage conversations and nurture collaborations,” Mervis says.

“We have to meet the new demand for

elevated event production and strategically indulge our attendees with unexpected experiences they didn’t see coming. Companies and organizations should be creating events that demonstrate their ‘thought leadership’ and ‘brand expertise.’ Research shows that people are willing to invest more for a product or service if it’s exclusive, premium and unique. Therefore, event planners should leverage the direct correlation between elevating the event and growing their revenue.”

In order to boost engagement and connect with attendees on a deeper level, Cario says event planners tend to deal with smaller group sizes instead of hosting an event with 500 people, where it would be difficult to interact with every single person.

With the smaller group sizes, it’s easier to plan networking opportunities, off-site activities and cocktail hours that offer attendees the chance to fully connect with one another.

Finally, Cario says the ability of attendees to virtually dial in from home offers an additional chance for event planners to impact people who may not be able to be there in person.

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High flying entertainment returns to the Cleveland National Air Show on Labor Day weekend.

By Thom Sheridan 56 COMMUNITY LEADER | AUGUST 2022

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