When she steps down as CEO of College Now at the end of the year, Lee Friedman leaves behind a legacy of success that’s hard to match.
“When I joined College Now, my vision was to transform it from primarily a college advising and scholarship program into one that provided comprehensive college and career advising, financial and postsecondary completion support for students of all ages,” says Friedman. “We have realized that vision. The state of the organization is stable and strong. I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in the last 14 years.
“I continue to believe that one of the best ways to ensure our region thrives is by having an educated and prepared workforce,” she adds.
Friedman, who has led the organization since 2010, is credited with growing College Now Greater Cleveland from an organization with an annual budget of $4 million to a major nonprofit with an annual budget of more than $35 million today. It assists more than 33,000 individuals across six Northeastern counties every year. College Now Greater Cleveland’s staff has also grown from 40 to 175.
It is considered the largest comprehensive postsecondary access organization in the country.
“So much has been accomplished during Lee’s 14 years of visionary leadership, which enriched the lives of thousands of students who otherwise may not have received a postsecondary education,” says Michael Cogan, chair of College Now’s board of directors and president, Ohio Northern Trust. “She has grown the organization’s staff and budget, expanded its mission and tirelessly advocated on behalf of students — many of whom are from marginalized communities and were the first in their families to attend college. She is leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of education in Northeast Ohio.”
“Lee Friedman has had a profound impact on the entire Cleveland community,” agrees Lillian Kuri, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “Her enduring legacy is evident in how she modeled and sustained a robust system of partners all focused and committed to supporting our young people through every step in their college journey.”
Among Friedman’s most notable accomplishments is her pivotal role — along with leaders at the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Foundation, Gund Foundation, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), United Way and other large corporate partners — in bringing Say Yes to Education to Cleveland, a measure that secured $100 million in postsecondary education scholarships for CMSD students.
Throughout her stellar career, Friedman has been dedicated to the education, mentorship and development of community leaders. Before joining College Now, Friedman served as the inaugural president and CEO of the Cleveland Leadership Center from 2005 to 2014. From 1996 to 2005, she was president and CEO for the Downtown Cleveland Partnership, the predecessor to Downtown Cleveland Inc. There she helped create a shared vision and land use plan among more than 100 property owners for lower Euclid Avenue, which saw more than $1 billion in investments in the area. Prior to that, Friedman was executive director of Clean-Land Ohio, (now a part of LAND Studio), an award-winning organization responsible for creating and managing a citywide urban reforestation and environmental education program.
Early in her career, Friedman served in a number of positions including as assistant director of personnel under former Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich. She also held a two-year appointment as a Presidential Fellow in President Jimmy Carter’s administration.
“It has been an incredible privilege to serve in all of these roles,” Friedman says, reflecting on her storied career. “They were each tough but fulfilling jobs. My approach has been to collaborate with the right partners and hire the right team, empower them and trust them.”
While Friedman is moving on from College Now, she is not riding off into the sunset. We’ll likely see her in a new position of leadership.
“I’m not sure what lies ahead, but I can’t imagine not being engaged civically,” says Friedman. “I’m not ready to retire. I see this as a transition toward something new. I’d like to continue contributing to Cleveland’s progress but also hopefully spend less time in meetings and have more time to enjoy life.”
