JACQUES O. SMITH, SR. Jacques O. Smith, Sr. is a distinguished higher education leader with over 25 years of experience at Cuyahoga Community College, where he has made a significant impact as Program Manager of the Black American Council and as an adjunct professor. Throughout his career, Jacques has excelledContinue Reading
There are many ways to describe life: It’s a journey, a voyage, a process of discovery, or a marathon. However one defines it, it’s going to have its ups and downs, challenges and obstacles, opportunities and celebrations. What it takes to reach the finish line is all about perception andContinue Reading
TIERRA BANKS As a mother-daughter coach and chief of probation, Tierra Banks excels in relationship reconciliation through her unique ability to make everyone she engages with feel seen, heard, and understood. This distinct approach, used in her work with the Mended Inc. foundation and the court system, creates a transformativeContinue Reading
JIMMY FOWOSE Jimmy Fowose helps companies identify, create, and deliver on growth strategies that drive high performance and value creation, both organically and inorganically. Collaborating with executive leaders and senior stakeholders typically within Consumer & Industrial companies, he oversees strategic planning, drives strategic initiatives, and spearheads corporate development (i.e., MergersContinue Reading
COURTNEY SMITH Courtney Smith is an accomplished educator from Cleveland with nearly 15 years of experience spanning from infancy to adulthood education. Holding a bachelor’s degree in English and education from Cleveland State University, and a master’s in industrial and organizational psychology from Adler University, she has a robust background.Continue Reading
Dr. Deanna Kimbrel has established herself as a strategic and transformative leader, accumulating over seventeen years of experience across various sectors, including higher education, corporate, and government. Her initiatives have focused on driving change in leadership, organizational culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Kimbrel is recognized as a visionary leaderContinue Reading
People often wonder who the world’s leaders and professionals turn to when they need guidance. The answer is they turn to Dr. Norma Denise Mitchem — the strategic business partnership and community affairs consultant who helps the business and political elite build strategic relationships, and create impactful marketing strategies toContinue Reading
EVA RODRIGUEZ, CONSULTING OPERATIONS MANAGER Eva Rodriguez is the Consulting Administrator at ThirdSpace Action Lab where she directly supports TSAL’s consulting team in scheduling, client coordination, and project management. With a background in environmental science, science museum communications, and education, Eva spent 10 years working in the non-profit sector at nature-basedContinue Reading
DR. MICHAEL BASTON Dr. Michael Baston is the fifth president of Cuyahoga Community College (TriC), based in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a national thought leader on the role of community colleges in shaping educational success, supporting regional workforce reforms, and developing executive leadership teams. “Tri-C has always been an institutionContinue Reading
DR. MARTHA POTTS Dr. Martha Potts joined TSAL as awareness building manager in 2021 and leads operations of Racial Equity Institute Workshops. Dr. Potts left a career at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority to pursue a doctorate in organizational behavior at Case Western Reserve University. Her research focus isContinue Reading
