Employer Membership and Leadership Council hits memorable milestone.

CLEVELAND, OH — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 26, 2026 —Engage! Cleveland announced the 10-year anniversary of its Employer Membership program and Leadership Council in January 2026, two cornerstone initiatives that connect Greater Cleveland employers with emerging talent and empower professionals to build lasting careers in the region.

Engage! Cleveland launched its Employer Membership program in January 2016,  in recognition that attracting and retaining early- to mid-career professionals requires strong partnerships with the business community. By collaborating directly with employers, the organization sought to help emerging professionals find meaningful jobs in Greater Cleveland—and to help companies connect with the next generation of leaders.

The first major milestone came when National Interstate Insurance signed on as Engage! Cleveland’s inaugural Employer Member.

“We have a longstanding history with Engage! Cleveland—we were the first ever Employer Member—and to continue to support such a great cause means a lot to us,” said a spokesperson from National Interstate Insurance Company.

Building on that early momentum, the organization refined and expanded the program’s benefits over time, ultimately surpassing 100 employer members and continuing to grow. Today, Engage! Cleveland partners with over 115 employers that are committed to attracting, engaging and retaining emerging, diverse talent in Greater Cleveland.

To ensure emerging leaders had a strong voice in this work, Engage! Cleveland also created its Leadership Council, which now consists of more than 120 local emerging leaders who serve as the organization’s associate board. Leadership Council members act as liaisons between their organizations and Engage! Cleveland, support the planning and execution of events, and help shape programs that enhance the emerging professional experience across the region.

“Leadership Council is one of those secrets that Engage! Cleveland somehow unlocked,” said Tyler Adams, Vice President of Development for Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland and Engage! Cleveland Leadership Council Member. “There’s nothing like coming together as a giant group and brainstorming what the needs of YPs are currently — right now. What do we need as young professionals in Greater Cleveland, and how can we adopt those needs for the future? It’s so cool that Engage! Cleveland can bring us all together, keep their finger on the pulse of our needs, and actually do something about it.”

Employer Members emphasize the value of the partnership in advancing their own talent and culture priorities.

“Rock Entertainment Group continues to support Engage! Cleveland because there is a deep alignment in their values and their mission of attracting, engaging, and retaining young professional talent in Northeast Ohio,” said Gavin Stephans, Senior Director, Talent + Engagement, Cleveland Cavaliers (Rock Entertainment Group). “One of our organizational objectives is commitment to team members and engrained within that is our dedication and commitment to fostering professional growth in our diverse workforce—and the partnership and connection to Engage! Cleveland helps us to expand upon that goal.”

“It’s important to us because attracting and retaining—as well as developing—key talent in the city of Cleveland is critical for all of us,” added Lisa Codispoti, Chief Operating & People Officer at The Cleveland Museum of Art and Engage! Cleveland Board Member. “Engage! Cleveland does a great job of bringing people together, helping them network, helping them connect with one another as well as senior-level members of the community, and exposing them to the city of Cleveland and all the amazing benefits we have here.”

Looking ahead, Engage! Cleveland aims to double its Employer Membership over the next decade, growing from 100+ to more than 200 member organizations. The organization also plans to continue expanding and diversifying its Leadership Council to reflect the full breadth of talent across Greater Cleveland.

Employers interested in learning more about Employer Membership can visit: https://engagecleveland.org/employermembership/

Emerging leaders interested in joining the Leadership Council can learn more at: https://engagecleveland.org/civicengagementboard/#leadership

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www.engagecleveland.org | 3135 Euclid Ave # 103, Cleveland, OH 44115 

About Engage! Cleveland

Engage! Cleveland is a community engagement organization for early and mid-career professionals and business/community leaders who are passionate about making Cleveland a lasting home for the next generation. Our goal is to attract, engage and retain diverse talent to Greater Cleveland by connecting early and mid-career professionals to people, jobs, organizations, and events. You can learn more at www.engagecleveland.org.