Cleveland's Most Interesting People 2026

Since joining the Cavs in 2021, Jarrett Allen has become a fan-favorite for his love of Pokemon, his High School Musical wedding dance and his iconic afro. One of the quirkier athletes in Cleveland, Allen insists he’s “a normal dude.” “It just happens that I’m 6-(foot)-9 and really good at basketball, but I still enjoy everything that people usually do.” Get to know Jarrett Allen>>

Through her unflinching honesty and sharp sense of humor, Shalida A. Askanazi is changing how people talk about disability and identity. The lifelong Clevelander, who began as a fashion blogger, is now an author and advocate whose voice challenges stereotypes and empowers others to live unapologetically. Get to know Shalida A. Askanazi>>

Fox 8 News meteorologist Mackenzie Bart is also a ventriloquist, a talent that helped The Ohio State University grad win the title of Miss Ohio in 2014. Her puppets have even appeared on the air here in Cleveland. Get to know Mackenzie Bart>>

Logan Broadbent has been throwing boomerangs since he could walk. At 14, he became the youngest athlete to compete on the U.S. Boomerang Team, later earning three world championship titles and back-to-back runner-up finishes at the World Boomerang Championships. Get to know Logan Broadbent>>

After spending 17 years as a finance attorney for an international firm, Melody Chu took a leap. “My husband asked, ‘What would you want to do, if you could do anything?’ and my immediate answer was to try to write novels, just to see if I could do it.” Her debut novel, Mathey Girls, came out in May and was selected as the featured book for Cleveland Public Library’s One World Day celebration. Get to know Melody Chu>>

Since 2024, the senior vice president of culinary at Swensons Drive-In has led collaborations with Cordelia, Black Cap Hot Sauce, Cleveland Kitchen and more. From grilling burgers to curating menus, Charles Craig has maneuvered the restaurant and hospitality industries longer than he’s known how to drive. Get to know Charles Craig>>

Dr. Faith Durden is a board-certified dermatologist in Beachwood and one of only a handful of Black dermatologists in Ohio. She is on a mission to raise awareness about how skin care can differ across racial and ethnic groups and can lead to underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis by health care providers. Get to know Dr. Faith Durden>>

Jenna Fournier thrives as both the frontwoman of shoegaze rock band, Niights, and the soloist behind Kid Tigrrr, whose album was the first vinyl unrelated to The Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan that released under his record label, Martha’s Music. Fournier has since toured with Corgan while still dabbling in other artistic endeavors. Get to know Jenna Fournier>>

Derrick Moore enjoyed posting about his meals (and his opinions about them). But he wasn’t thrilled by some of the comments his followers left.

Specifically, he didn’t like that they often referred to him as “Unc,” short for “uncle” — a playful jab at his age. But now he's embraced the nickname with his popular video reviews. Get to know Derrick Moore>>

Starting a professional women’s soccer team in Cleveland is a task in itself. But a whole league?

“It is a big effort,” says Gina Prodan Kelly, who became involved with Cleveland Pro Soccer during an attempt to bring a National Women’s Soccer League expansion team to Cleveland. Get to know Gina Prodan Kelly>>

Jamey Haddad's home is filled with hundreds of instruments, documenting a lifetime of performing music around the world. One of Paul Simon's longtime percussionists, Haddad got his start in jazz before shifting gears.

"I had this itch about what was so beautiful about the world music scene, and I had to follow my heart.” Get to know Jamey Haddad>>

Sandra Morgan, the granddaughter of famed Cleveland inventor Garrett A. Morgan, has been elected as East Cleveland's first female mayor.

“I make no promises other than I will work hard, pull up my socks, sharpen my pencils and get down to business." Get to know Sandra Morgan>>

When most kids his age are still figuring out what they love, Brady Lewandowski is already chasing his racing dreams full throttle. The rising go-kart driver won the cadet championship at Quaker City Karting in 2025 and made the podium in 85% of his races this past year. With an eye toward the International Motor Sports Association — North America’s top professional sports car racing series — he’s proving that talent and dedication know no age limit. Get to know Brady Lewandowski>>

Geeta Minocha’s path has been anything but linear. With degrees in business and law, she’s built a career examining how systems of power, finance and health intersect. After founding the Ohio Public Banking Coalition, she expanded her impact through pro bono legal work and health equity research. Modeling remains a creative outlet that balances her academic and policy pursuits. Now based in New York City and pursuing a medical degree at Stanford University, she believes meaningful change begins with understanding how structures work and where they fail. Get to know Geeta Minocha>>

Brook Park is buzzing again, and much of that momentum traces to Edward Orcutt. The mayor has guided the city toward fiscal stability, infrastructure improvements and community revitalization — all while preparing it for the development of a new Cleveland Browns football stadium. Get to know Edward Orcutt>>

In each of the past two postseasons, Brayan Rocchio — normally a light-hitting middle infielder — has come on strong, with key home runs against the Tigers in last year’s Wild Card Series and the Yankees in the 2024 American League Championship Series. Rocchio’s postseason statistics track well above his regular season numbers. Get to know Brayan Rocchio>>

Bobby Rutter has mastered the art of balance, being an attorney, entrepreneur, husband and father. As a partner at Rutter & Russin and founder of Forward Hospitality Group, he blends structure with creativity, law with nightlife and family with business. Get to know Bobby Rutter>>

For 38 seasons, Cleveland Orchestra principal trumpet player Michael Sachs has performed on stages from Severance Hall to Salzburg, Austria, shaping the ensemble’s distinguished sound. World-renowned trumpet player Wynton Marsalis composed “Concerto for Trumpet” for Sachs, which he premiered for a sold-out Severance Hall in 2023. Get to know Michael Sachs>>

Vel Scott supports Cleveland neighborhoods and beyond with fresh produce, gardening skills and a message of healthy living through her  expansive Vel’s Purple Oasis urban garden program. “We’ve taken vacant land, almost nothing, and created something very vital to a community." Get to know Vel Scott>>

For almost five decades, Diane Simon has been a fixture at Cavaliers games, greeting players with bags of her homemade cookies. She’s baked for dozens of players, from Michael Jordan to LeBron James. Get to know Diane Simon>>

Seven years ago, Madelyn Varela was chasing a childhood dream of becoming a farmer. But a fulfilling internship on a goat farm in Arizona led her to a love of cheesemaking, which quickly became a full-time career as a cheesemonger. She works locally at Heinen’s and has also gone abroad to learn, taste and talk endlessly about the dairy delicacy. Get to know Madelyn Varela>>

Mitch Zlotnik is the founder and president of Audimute, a Bedford Heights manufacturer of acoustic panels and soundproofing solutions for homes and businesses. The Solon resident’s client list includes musicians, namely drummers, that run the gamut from Carter McLean, drummer for the hit Broadway musical The Lion King, to Matt Billingslea, who keeps the beat for pop star Taylor Swift. Get to know Mitch Zlotnik>>