Jerome's Cleveland roots are four-generations deep. He owns Steve Jerome Plumbing, a business that's been in his family for decades, and has never lived farther than Lyndhurst and Highland Heights. A Mayfield Village council member, Jerome has gone back to college to pursue a degree in urban studies from Cleveland State University.
Plumb Crazy: Jerome's great-grandfather Benny, an Italian immigrant, dug ditches for a living. His son Jake, Jerome's grandfather, worked as a truck driver but decided to learn how to become a plumber. "Then my dad, Steve, worked for my grandpa," Jerome says. "I started helping out when I was 10 and just worked my way up. We became a family of plumbers."
Pipe Dreams: Jerome watched his father devote his life to the plumbing business. "My dad was married to his job," Jerome says. "He did everything, made good money but did it his way. I'm more comfortable making less money and diversifying my work and home life."
Urban Life: As Jerome looked to expand his interests, he noticed how government affected daily life and wanted to get more involved. Becoming a council member for Mayfield Village whetted his political ambitions. "Urban studies at CSU is a phenomenal program," he says. "The courses cover government, business, people, society — everything that affects my daily life and our futures."
Back to Nature: Jerome takes regular walks along the hiking trails and scenic walkways along the Cuyahoga River near the Flats and Edgewater Beach. "It's a beautiful view of Cleveland's industry, activities, people and landscape," says Jerome. "There's been more effort in land management to make better connections between walking and biking trails."
Green Team: "Millennials have grown up with emergent technology and can adapt quickly, but we still see the need to preserve our planet."
#WorkHardPlayHard: Being career focused and involved in community politics means that Jerome's schedule is packed, but he still finds time to kick back and relax. "Work hard to make a difference, but also play hard by taking advantage of what the city has to offer, such as the museums and restaurants, or just by volunteering and being a part of the community."
