September 5, 2025
Engage! Cleveland Announces Exceptional Award Winners of Annual Ceremony
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLEVELAND, OH — September 5, 2025 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Engage! Cleveland is proud to announce the recipients of its 4th Annual Generation NEXT Awards, celebrating the people and organizations driving Cleveland’s future by attracting, engaging, and retaining emerging professional talent.
This year’s honorees will be recognized at a special awards ceremony on Thursday, October 16, from 8:30–10 a.m. at The Aviator Event Center.
“We are thrilled to recognize the organizations and individuals whose outstanding efforts continue to elevate Cleveland as a destination for top talent,” said SueAnn Naso, Board Chair of Engage! Cleveland. “The review process was rigorous, and we are confident that the impact of these honorees will inspire others to follow their lead.”
Awards were presented in four categories—small, mid-size, large employer, and nonprofit/government/public sector—with four winners selected in each by a dedicated Selection Committee. In addition, the Engage! Cleveland Employer Member of the Year and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award were determined through internal nominations and selection.
The winners of the 4th Annual Generation NEXT Awards are as follows:
Company of the Year
Small: Makemake Collective
Mid-size: Osborn Engineering
Large: The J. M. Smucker Company
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Program of the Year
Small:Ratliff & Taylor: Young Professional Forums
Mid-size: Adcom Future Marketers Program
Large: LEAD Internship Program – Union Home Mortgage
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Cleveland Council on World Affairs: Global Ambassadors Program
Young Professional of the Year
Small: Josh Myers, +Detail
Mid-size: Bissan Obaid, Pease Bell CPAs
Large: Olivia Connors, Lincoln Electric
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Tiah Boyd, Youth Opportunities Unlimited
Mentor of the Year
Small:Shana Black, CEO of Blackgirl media and the CLEnagers
Mid-size: Maria Ambrose, GNCO
Large: Elizabeth Pugel Runevitch, Cleveland Clinic
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Renee Ligon, Team NEO
Engage! Cleveland Employer Member of the Year
Small: Five Iron Golf
Mid-size: Cleveland Cavaliers
Large: Benesch Law
Nonprofit/Government/Public Sector: Cleveland Museum of Art
Lifetime Achievement Award: Marianne Crosley, Past Executive Director of Cleveland Leadership Center
To learn more about Engage! Cleveland, please visit engagecleveland.org and follow the nonprofit on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads and TikTok.
The 2025 Generation NEXT Awards are sponsored by Winding River Consulting, National Interstate Insurance Company, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Benesch Law, and Ratliff & Taylor.
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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 young 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 young, diverse talent to Greater Cleveland by connecting young professionals to people, jobs, organizations, and events. You can learn more at www.engagecleveland.org.
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