Lunch with Leaders - Engage! Cleveland

Lunch

with Leaders

About Our

Lunch
With
Leaders

February 11, 2026

12:00-1:30 pm

Case Western Reserve University

Presenting Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

National Interstate Insurance

If you’ve ever wondered how some of Cleveland’s top business and community leaders got to where they are today, then this event is for you.

Lunch with Leaders provides the opportunity to grab lunch and chat with our city’s top leaders and trailblazers representing diverse industries including accounting, banking, philanthropy, marketing, healthcare…and much more!

Seize the opportunity to learn from Cleveland’s leaders who are shaping the future of our industries!

**Attendees have the opportunity to speak with a few leaders in a small group setting.**

Registrations Now Open!

2026 Leaders

Luis Cartagena, President & CEO, Cartagena CPA & Consultants, LLC
Cindy Essell, Chief People Officer, Heinen’s Inc.
Chief Deirdre Jones, Greater Cleveland Transit Authority
Christine Kush, Associate Dean, Corporate Partnership and Executive Engagement, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
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
Margaret Sanchez, Senior Nonprofit Executive and Community Leader
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

2025 Leaders

Eric Biro, Founding Partner, Anderson|Biro, LLC
Kara Buckler, Senior Director, Creative + Design, The J.M. Smucker Co.
Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President, Chief Impact and Equity Officer, Rock Entertainment Group and Cleveland Cavaliers
Shannon Smith, Morning Anchor, Cleveland 19 News
Mac McLaughlin, Senior Wealth Advisor, Managing Director, Wellspring Financial Advisors
Ra-Deon Sledge, Chief of Staff & Acting Chief, Management & Integration Office, Research & Engineering Directorate, NASA Glenn
Joshua Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer, DigitalC
Steve Fritsch, Vice President, Team NEO
Hermione Malone, Executive Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Jason Hanley, Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Tom Kerr, Assurance Partner, BDO
Sonya Pryor Jones, Chief of Youth & Family Success, City of Cleveland
Kathryn Heidemann, President & CEO, Cleveland Institute of Art
Ed Stockhausen, Senior Vice President of Advocacy & External Relations, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
Tracy Wise, Nonprofit Strategy Consultant, ’25 Executive MBA Candidate at Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

our
past
participants

Dr. Kirsten Ellenbogen, President & CEO, Great Lakes Science Center

Craig Hassall, President & CEO, Playhouse Square

Alberta Lee, Vice President, Human Resources, Cleveland Cavaliers

Kristen Baird Adams, Chief of Staff, PNC

Rocco Whalen, Chef/Owner, Fahrenheit

"The true meaning of networking and building relationships"

Lunch with Leaders provides a platform to be introduced to people you would never meet otherwise. Each leader is so willing to help and get to know each individual person. It really shows the true meaning of networking and building relationships.

"It's a great combo, you don't want to miss out on it!"

Engage! Cleveland’s Lunch with Leaders continues to be the ideal, go-to event to meet and interact with both young professionals and our city’s chat with our city’s top leaders!