We are thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural Generation NEXT Awards presented by John Carroll University Boler College of Business! The Generation NEXT Awards honor the companies and individuals working diligently to attract, engage and retain young professional talent to Cleveland. Winning companies and individuals will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at The City Club of Cleveland.
Company of the Year
Small: Bostwick Design Partnership
Mid-size: Code3
Large: Union Home Mortgage
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: NOPEC
Program of the Year
Mid-size: Summer Internship Program, GNCO, Inc. (photo right)
Large: Emerging Professionals Group, Oatey Co.
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Cleveland LEADs, Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Young Professional of the Year
Small: Bill Baraona, Owner, Flex Media
Mid-size: Rachael Ossovicki, Search Advertising Strategist 2, Code3
Large: Sophie Hall, Talent Management Specialist, Swagelok
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Laura Mottor, Donor Relations Officer, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Mentor of the Year
Small: Tom Krause, Director, Corrigan Krause CPAs and Consultants
Mid-size: Laurie Ferrante, Senior Advisor, Closing Strategy, Fund That Flip
Large: Elizabeth Newman, Chief of Staff, CBIZ
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Kim Gillan Shafron, Director of Communications and Public Relations, Hospice of the Western Reserve
Engage! Cleveland Employer Member of the Year
Small: Staffing Solutions Enterprises
Mid-size: MIM Software Inc.
Large: The Sherwin-Williams Company
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Lifetime Achievement Award: Ira C. Kaplan
Engage! Cleveland’s current board member and past Board Chair, Ira C. Kaplan, is being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ira is the Executive Chairman and serves as a member of the Executive Committee at Benesch. Mr. Kaplan is often referred to as someone who is a strong advocate for the young professional community.
Join us in congratulating each of these companies, organizations, programs, and people that are making Cleveland a great place to live, work and discover!
19 Employer Members Recognized in The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com Top Places to Work 2022
Engage! Cleveland is proud to congratulate 19 of our Employer Member companies recognized on The Plan Dealer/Cleveland.com 2022 Top Places to Work list.
Why Mentorship Matters
I decided to participate in the Engage! Cleveland mentorship program because of my love for the city and what it has to offer its young professionals and I attended a few events before joining the program. From the welcoming experiences, I was eager to unite with the next cohort.
You Know You’re From Cleveland When…
Being from Cleveland, there are a number of things we all share in common that make us proud Clevelanders. Whether you’re a transplant, boomerang, or a life-long Clevelander, here’s a list of 12 reasons you know you’re undeniable from Cleveland:
