Most Interesting People 2015: Ramon Rivas II

Why he's interesting: A nonstop comedy ambassador, Rivas is constantly promoting Cleveland as a hotbed for local jokesters such as Mike Polk Jr. and national acts including Amy Schumer. Whether it's curating Chucklefck.com, hosting 200-plus underground comedy shows a year at venues such as Reddstone and the Grog Shop or putting together his Accidental Comedy Fest shows, he's as passionate about entertaining audiences as he is about the Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market and Superior Pho.

Office escape: Rivas was working as an office clerk at a law firm before dedicating himself to comedy. "My boss had '80s hair and brought in a week-old cake as a thanks-for-your-hard-work-I-was-going-to-throw-this-away-but-instead-you-can-eat-it gesture. I saw an ad for a comedy class, signed up and kept with it."

Latino pride: Rivas is half-Mexican and half-Puerto Rican and draws on his heritage for material. "Which half is funnier? I have an equal amount of awful stories about each. I'll pick Puerto Rican solely because, as a culture, they have better rice."

Laugh track: After six years of promoting Northeast Ohio comedy events, Rivas has seen a local comedic style emerge. "This is a very real, hardworking city so most of the comedians here do not have that plastic feel. Cleveland comedians have a common thread of being grounded with acts that tend to be closer to real life."

Mr. clean: Rivas too grounds his stand-up act in reality, spouting about family, dating and the Megabus during myriad shows, including a recent high school graduation party. "I explained to the dad that I wasn't dirty, but I do talk about weed, mushrooms, women and chickens. I know some people get uncomfortable talking about chickens in front of kids."

No joke: Shows are an opportunity to champion the 216, especially during national gigs such a recent six-week stint in New York City last summer and a performance on a Chicago Transit Authority train. "Whenever I travel, I'm rocking a Cleveland shirt and spreading the gospel. My favorite part of traveling is the little 'woo' from someone in the audience when the host says, `Your next comic is from Cleveland, Ohio.' I live for that 'woo.' "