Strength in Numbers
The Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) kicked off the warmer weather here in Northeast Ohio with its Annual Meeting, which drew more than 1,000 attendees. It was the GCP’s largest meeting so far.
Meeting under the theme of “unity” and with a focus on developing abundant talent and creating inclusive opportunity to drive Greater Cleveland’s growth, CEO Baiju Shah’s keynote address offered powerful facts about our population, college grads, downtown’s resurgence and more to let everyone know that “Cleveland is on the rise.” He also talked about the importance of talent creation, attraction and retention.
“We have less than 4% unemployment so we need to attract more people, through in-migration and scaling the brain gain to attract even more college grads to start careers in the land,” he said.
Cleveland has been gaining college graduates since 2010, Shah said, with the region adding 74,000. Shah also praised the work of many groups that have been attracting immigrants, including international students, refugees and others, to the region.
Shah noted that the region must skill up its existing workforce and noted the potential of Ohio’s Tech Credential program.
“To date, more than 22,000 tech credentials have been issued across 800 companies in the region,” Shah said. “That sounds like a lot … but we have nearly 2 million workers in the region.
“Sustainable manufacturing revolution is happening, and we have the opportunity to once again be a leading center for the world.”
In closing, Shah talked about an analysis by Cerity Partners that showed how a “Cleveland Index” of the region’s 33 publicly traded companies outperformed the S&P 500 since 2010 and especially since 2020, returning significantly greater investment returns.
“We have a vision of a great region on a great lake, and a vision that is starting to come into view,” Shah said. “But we can’t get there alone; we can get there together. All In for the Land!”
Later this month, the GCP, Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and JumpStart will welcome semifinalists of its Cleveland Chain Reaction program to compete for handsome five-figure capital investment prizes. Now in its seventh season, the small business pitch competition is designed to connect entrepreneurs to capital and mentors and places new businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods to build prosperity.
“It has been such a thrill to work with these ambitious entrepreneurs over the last six seasons,” said Megan Kim, executive director of COSE. “They are not only invested in building their own success and their own businesses, but they are creating jobs and having a strong economic impact across our region.”
Celebrating Diversity
By all measures, the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s Annual Walk, Rock, Roll and Run event at the Great Lakes Science Center was a resounding success. The event raised more than $224,800 in what has become Northeast Ohio’s largest diversity celebration.
Folks gathered at the Great Lakes Science Center, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the USS Cod to celebrate diversity with a day of family fun and entertainment along with 1- and 3-mile walks and a 5k run.
Lisa Grdina, director of marketing, customer strategy and commercialization for Sherwin Williams, and Shannon Jerse, general counsel and compliance officer for the Sisters of Charity Health System, served as board co-chairs.
Jennifer Collister, vice president of human resources for Medical Mutual of Ohio, was corporate chair for the presenting sponsor, while Russ Mitchell, board director of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and Channel 3 News anchor, served as grand marshal of the event.
Tony Battle, senior vice president of Lincoln Electric and a board director of the Diversity Center, represented Lincoln as the run sponsor, while Kirsten Ellenbogen, president and CEO of the Great Lakes Science Center, was a partner sponsor. Paul Farace, president of the USS Cod Submarine Memorial, represented his organization as a partner sponsor as did Greg Harris, president and CEO of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
