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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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