Cleveland, Ohio —May 6, 2024 –  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  — Get ready to be inspired, Cleveland! Engage! Cleveland is thrilled to announce the inaugural 24 in 24 Awards Ceremony, a celebration of the city’s most accomplished emerging professionals.

On Thursday, June 13th, from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM, the Gordon Green Events Center will come alive as Engage! Cleveland honors 24 exceptional individuals who are making waves in their careers, communities, and personal lives. This event, held during the 11th Annual Cleveland Young Professionals Week, is set to become an annual tradition, with plans to recognize 25 rising stars in 2025 and beyond.

“These honorees are the future of Cleveland,” said Ashley Basile Oeken, President of Engage! Cleveland. “They are the visionaries, the innovators, and the leaders who are shaping the city’s tomorrow. We can’t wait to celebrate their remarkable achievements and inspire the next generation of talent to call Cleveland home.”

The 24 Emerging Professionals You Need to Know in 2024 were selected through a rigorous nomination process, where their peers recognized their significant professional, civic, and personal accomplishments. This diverse group of honorees represents a wide range of industries, backgrounds, and areas of impact, showcasing the depth of talent in our community. From a police accountability advocate to a marketing mastermind, this year’s 24 in 24 honorees are redefining what it means to be an emerging professional in the city. Join Engage! Cleveland as we shine a spotlight on these rising stars and ignite the excitement for Cleveland’s bright future.

Nominations were based on significant professional, civic, or personal achievement. They were not selected by age, race, industry, or job title. In order to recognize a wide range of individuals, Engage! Cleveland conducted multiple rounds of calls for nominations beginning in July 2023. 

The 24 Emerging Professionals You Need To Know In 2024 are:

• Leigh Anderson, Executive Director of the Police Accountability Team, Cleveland Division of Police
• James Cowan, Project Manager, Robert P Madison International, Inc
• Jared Daley, Regional Coordinator of Workforce Development, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
• Bradford Davey, Chief of Staff, City of Cleveland 
• Marcela Rodriguez Gonzalez, Director of Community Development, Cleveland Play House
• Jessica Daugherty, Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Beachwood
• Daniel Diaz Nilsson, Assistant Dean for Access & Engagement, College of Education, Health & Human Services, Kent State University
• Donna Dixon, Family Support Specialist, Say Yes Cleveland
• Amanda Dureiko, Sr. Manager Foundation & Workforce Development, Forging Industry Association
• Gulnar Feerasta, Senior Director of Programs, LGBT Center Cleveland 
• Leonela Fuentes Mora, Sr. Manager, Apprenticeship, Greater Cleveland Partnership
• Matthew  Grimes, Head of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Cleveland Guardians 
• Mariah Halata, Graduate and Professional Studies Admission Counselor, Baldwin Wallace University
• Jeff Koons, Shareholder, Maloney + Novotny LLC
• Jazmin Long, President & CEO, Birthing Beautiful Communities
• Rebecca Maurer, Ward 12 Council person, Cleveland City Council
• Yentil  Rawlinson, Vice President, Inclusion, Diversity & Equity, Sherwin-Williams
• Sergio Robles, Assistant Professor of Marketing, Baldwin Wallace University
• Jeremy Seeden, Marketing & Brand Manager, Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Ohio
• Sarah Spinner Liska, Managing Director, FRONT Exhibition Co. (until Feb. 2024 when the org closed)
• Teresa  Struble, Senior Manager, Maloney + Novotny LLC
• Elaine Suarez, Diversity and Inclusion Program Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland 
• Bride Rose Sweeney, State Representative, House District 16
• Gabe Wasylko, Social Media Manager, Destination Cleveland 

This list was selected by a committee of Engage! Cleveland stakeholders, staff, and Board of Directors. Tickets for the 24 in 24 Awards Ceremony are available beginning May 8th, 2024 at engagecleveland.org. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of this inaugural celebration and discover the individuals who are poised to take Cleveland to new heights.

To learn more about Engage! Cleveland, please visit engagecleveland.org and follow the nonprofit on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, and X.

Engage! Cleveland’s 11th  Annual Young Professionals Week is made possible by presenting sponsor the Boler College of Business at John Carroll University and additional sponsors by Sherwin-Williams, Carnegie Companies, Oberlin College and Conservatory, Mars Electric, and Cuyahoga Community College.

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www.engagecleveland.org | 2020 Center Street | Cleveland, OH 44113

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.