January 20, 2026 

Engage! Cleveland Returns 17th Iteration of Unique Networking Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CLEVELAND, OH — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — January 21, 2026–  Engage! Cleveland will host its 17th Lunch with Leaders event on February 11, 2026, at Thwing Student Center at Case Western Reserve University. This event offers a rare opportunity for Cleveland’s emerging professionals to engage in meaningful conversations over lunch with a dynamic group of C-level executives, presidents, executive directors, and trailblazing community leaders from across the Greater Cleveland Area.

 

“Engage! Cleveland is thrilled to host the 17th edition of Lunch with Leaders,” said Ashley Basile Oeken, President of Engage! Cleveland. “With 12 outstanding Greater Cleveland executives, we’re excited to bring together a select group of leaders to share their insights and journeys with the region’s rising business and community leaders.”

 

Lunch with Leaders will run from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., allowing up and coming professionals to chat with multiple leaders in a small group setting.

 

The event features 12 accomplished leaders from Greater Cleveland: 

  • Luis Cartagena, President & CEO, Cartagena CPA & Consultants, LLC
  • Cindy Essell, Chief People Officer, Heinen’s Inc.
  • Chief Deirdre Jones, Greater Cleveland Transit Authority
  • Emily Lee, Executive Director, Metro West Community Development Organization
  • Jason Lockett Sr, Founder, Executive Director, Breadwinners Academy
  • Craig Martin, Partner & Chief Growth Officer, The Adcom Group
  • Chris Mikolay, Senior Vice President of the Specialty Division, National Interstate Insurance
  • Adam Schultz, Principal & Director of Not-For-Profit Services, Rea Business Advisors
  • Meenakshi Sharma, Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
  • Tiffany Tarpley, Good Morning Cleveland Anchor, News 5 Cleveland
  • Logan Weiland, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Oatey Company
  • Margaret Sanchez, Senior Nonprofit Executive and Community Leader

 

Those who are interested in participating can register by visiting: https://engagecleveland.org/lunchwithleaders

 

The 17th Lunch with Leaders is presented by Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, with support from National Interstate Insurance.

 

Registration costs $45 for general admittance and $36 for Engage! Cleveland Employer Members. 

 

To learn more about Engage! Cleveland, new programs, jobs, and civic opportunities for emerging professionals in Cleveland, please visit engagecleveland.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, and Twitter.

 

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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 and emerging professionals and business/community leaders who are passionate about making Cleveland a lasting home for the next generation. Our mission is to attract, engage, and retain emerging, diverse talent to Greater Cleveland. You can learn more at www.engagecleveland.org.

 

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