Meet Your Fellow Board Members

Board Chair | Shaker Heights

Greg Shaw and his wife Debbie have been married for over 30 years. They have three children, each of whom is pursuing their own career. In prior roles he has led R&D, Marketing and Innovation teams for companies ranging from $5 million to $2 billion. He holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees from Case Western Reserve University, all in Materials Science and Engineering. Greg also serves on the Board of Directors for Cleveland Institute of Art; he previously served on the boards of Family Promise of Greater Cleveland and The Agnon School (now Mandel JDS).

Immediate Past Chair | Cleveland Heights

As CEO/President of Howse Solutions, LLC, Chris sets himself apart by providing superior information technology support to many industries and organizations. Chris began his career in sales, delivering both business solutions and customer service to internal and external clients. As a technology training instructor at the former Daimler-Chrysler, Chris developed curriculums and introduced employees, supervisors, and managers to new technologies. At the turn of the century, Chris provided technical and analytical IT support at Rockwell Automation, where he assisted in the company’s migration to the new Windows server. Chris launched Howse Solutions in 2009 with the vision of offering innovative technology, training, and telecommunications support to a wide range of public and private businesses and organizations. In addition to being a visionary, Chris is a mentor to youth, a community leader, and volunteers his time with several organizations. He studied Computer Systems in Business at Ohio University.

Vice Board Chair | Twinsburg

Tamara Fletcher, PhD is Director of Global DEI Advancement at CDW, where she leads CDW’s strategic DEI efforts. Fletcher engages leadership in their commitment and involvement of DEI, develops and facilitates DEI Education and Awareness strategies, designs and develops CDW’s DEI communication strategies, and leads organizational projects designed to attract, retain, engage and mobilize diverse talent. Additionally, she is responsible for CDW’s Global DEI Strategy, as also serves as a DEI Business Partner to Executives. Lastly, she also maintains strategic oversight of CDW’s compliance and regulatory practices and their fourteen Global Business Resource Groups (BRGs).

Dr. Fletcher began her CDW career in 2005 as an Account Manager within CDW-Government’s State and Local Segment. After a year in sales, she joined the Sales Operations division where she quickly advanced into leadership as Supervisor of the CDW’s Account Manager Sales Assistant Program. In 2011, Fletcher was promoted to Sales Support Manager, where she became responsible for the administrative support of CDW’s entire sales organization. She has been in Diversity Equity and Inclusion since 2013.

In 2023, Dr. Fletcher was recognized as The Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion by CIO Views Magazine. In 2024, she was honored with a prestigious cover feature in Global Publicist 24 Magazine’s “Women Leaders Shaping the Business Landscape in 2024” issue. She was also recognized as Business Minds Media’s “10 Most Inspiring Women in D&I To Follow” where she was also featured on the cover.

Dr. Fletcher graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2005. She obtained her Masters of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2011. In 2016, she received her PhD in Organizational Leadership through the Business Psychology department of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her dissertation was entitled “Beyond The Barriers: Exploring the Impact of Feedback on Breaking the Glass Ceiling for African American Women”. She is also a 2019 Fellow of the Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Development program. Presently, outside of work, she is a wife and mom of two young girls: Ryann (5) and Reese (2).

Secretary/Board Development Chair | Lakewood

Nick Hylant is a Client Executive and fourth generation family member at Hylant, a full-service insurance brokerage firm headquartered out of Toledo, OH. Nick’s current specializations are in the Construction and Chemical industries, with a growing focus on both Mergers & Acquisitions and Reps & Warranties. Focusing on Middle Market and Large Clients, Nick prides himself on his ability to create solutions in traditionally challenging industries while being an advocate and a true extension of his clients’ Risk Management teams. Outside of CAL, Nick is an active member in the American Red Cross’s Young Professionals Council as well as an associate board member for the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation. Nick earned his B.A. in Environmental Science and Sustainability Studies from Indiana University while also earning a minor is Spanish.

Treasurer / Finance Chair

Kyle McKinney is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the banking and finance sector, having served in key roles at esteemed organizations such as ParkView Federal Savings Bank (now First National Bank of PA), Imagine Software, and currently Ernst & Young, where he holds a Senior Risk Management position. McKinney earned his Bachelor's degree in Finance from Cleveland State University and has since demonstrated proficiency in data validation, quality control, and risk management.

Throughout his career, McKinney has provided valuable solutions by developing and implementing effective policies and procedures in various banking and finance settings. His strong commitment to community transformation and professional growth has been a guiding force in his career journey.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, McKinney is dedicated to serving his community through active involvement in his local church, East Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he holds positions as Trustee and Treasurer. In his leisure time, he enjoys spending quality moments with his wife, their identical twin girls, and traveling to explore new destinations.

With a diverse skill set and unwavering dedication to both his professional and personal life, Kyle McKinney stands as a highly respected figure in the banking and finance industry, making significant contributions to his field and his community.

Fundraising Chair | Cleveland

Meghan McDonnell is a Business Litigation Associate at Tucker Ellis LLP, assisting in all aspects of commercial litigation.  Prior to joining the firm, Meghan served as judicial law clerk in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Meghan is a proud graduate of Georgetown University and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.  While at Georgetown, she pursued her passion for literature and visual art by majoring in English and Art History and serving as an Events Director for the university’s art club.  Meghan has also previously served as a Board Fellow for the Columbus Children’s Theatre.

Meghan lives in downtown Cleveland with her always-active golden retriever, Winnie.

Strategic Impact & Equity Chair | Twinsburg

Sherrie is a Director with the law firm of Peters Kalail & Markakis, Co., L.P.A. Her practice is devoted to advising boards of education on a variety of legal issues and representing boards in litigation and administrative matters. Sherrie received her undergraduate degree from The College of Wooster and her law degree from The Ohio State University. She serves on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland and the Board of Directors for the Twinsburg Schools Foundation. Sherrie also serves as the Secretary for the Courtney Jones Care and Cure Foundation and is the Past Chair of the Executive Committee for the Ohio Council of School Board Attorneys.

Strategic Impact & Equity Co-Chair

MA, Certified Diversity Practitioner (CDP)

Lavone Lee is a passionate certified diversity practitioner with a proven track record of leading with empathy and encouragement. During her tenure at American Greetings, she was instrumental in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of initiatives that advance a diverse and inclusive high performing culture within American Greetings.

Lavone empowers organizations to craft their diversity, equity, and inclusion narratives, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued. With over 20 years of experience in public health and executive coaching, Lavone adapts her approach to meet individuals where they are, enabling them to make a meaningful impact in their workplaces and communities. Her leadership extends to supporting and developing employee resource networks and community outreach initiatives.

Prior to her work at American Greetings, Lavone served on the Senior Leadership Strategic Planning Committee and was an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lead at the Cuyahoga County Board of Health. She also led the Covid Equity Taskforce and managed programs in child and maternal health, significantly improving equity and population health outcomes.

Lavone earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Hiram College and her master’s degree in psychology and diversity management from Cleveland State University. As a Professional Development coach, she inspires clients to reach their full potential.

A woman of faith, Lavone is an active member of New Community Bible Fellowship. She’s also civically engaged as a member of the NAACP, an executive committee member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., board member and marketing committee chair for the Center for Arts Inspired Learning. Lavone is dedicated to serving others, connecting people, and cultivating a workplace culture that values the unique contributions of every individual.

Pepper Pike

Jennifer Goings Smith is an innovative results-focus management professional with over 15 years of visible achievements providing leading edge IT solutions and a proven record in leading technical and functional teams in implementing solutions to solve business problems and improve operational efficiencies. She has developed strategic plans, managed major technical implementations and global teams with major Fortune 500 companies. Jennifer also has eight years of sales and marketing experiences with IBM. She holds an MSIA and BSIM from Purdue University. She also volunteers as a RedCoat usher at Playhouse Square.

Shaker Heights

After a career in community development and nonprofit management, Jeanne Shatten now volunteers with civic organizations and projects. Before retiring, she most recently managed the Public Education Initiative, a reading enrichment program that is a partnership between the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Other experience includes nonprofit consulting work with a focus on board governance, strategic planning, and retreat facilitation. She has served as board trustee for many community organizations including The League of Women Voters, the North Union Farmer’s Market, and the Shaker Heights Public Library (including 3-year term as president). She is also engaged with the Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC), a non-partisan community of faith-based organizations that work together to build power for social justice. She has a BA in Economics from University from Vermont and a MA in Nonprofit Organizations from Case Western Reserve University.

Shaker Heights

Ted Appleton advises private equity and venture capital funds in formation and governance matters, M&A transactions, and early stage investments at Jones Day. He also has experience representing public corporations in transactions and corporate and securities law matters. The private equity and venture capital funds with which Ted has recently worked include Drive Capital, MPE Partners, The Riverside Company, and Trinity Hunt Partners. On the transactional side, Ted recently advised Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in connection with its acquisitions of Fisher Container, LLC and Packaging Products Corporation LLC. Other notable transactions on which Ted has worked include: Associated Estates' $2.5 billion sale to Brookfield Asset Management and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.'s provision of $500 million in construction financing for a hotel and conference center in Aurora, Colorado. He earned his J.D. from University of Michagan and B.A. in History from Columbia University. In community matters, Ted is a member of the Alumni Representative Committee of Office of Undergraduate Admissions of Columbia University. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.

Cleveland

Constance Edwards has served as Associate Dean of Creative Arts at Cuyahoga Community College since 2019. Previously, Dr. Edwards was Associate Dean for Arts and Sciences at Lakeland Community College, and Interim Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Fairmont State University where she was also a tenured faculty member in the Department of Music. Beyond her academic duties, she is responsible for department performances and exhibitions and has coordinated campus performances and master classes by major ensembles including The Cleveland Orchestra, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Edwards has also successfully negotiated articulation agreements with the Cleveland Institute of Art and Baldwin Wallace University.

As a bassoonist, Dr. Edwards is an active performer in both symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. She is currently a member of the Cleveland Repertory Orchestra and the Falls Bassoon Quartet, and has performed with the Lakeland Civic Band and the University Heights Symphonic Band. She has also been engaged as a soloist at Lakeland with both the Lakeland Civic Band (2016) and the Lakeland Civic Orchestra (2018). Dr. Edwards has twice performed at the annual conference of the International Double Reed Society, a gathering of oboists and bassoonists from around the world.

Dr. Edwards is a graduate of the University of Arizona (D.M.A. Performance, minor in Musicology). A native Ohioan, she also holds degrees from the University of Akron (M.M. Music History and Literature) and the College of Wooster (B.M. Bassoon Performance). She has taught bassoon, music history and appreciation as well as world music in Ohio, Arizona and West Virginia. Her teaching at FSU was recognized by several student nominations for the Straight Award for Innovative Teaching and the Boram Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Edwards won the Straight Award in 2014. Her leadership was acknowledged in a 2012 feature in Corridor magazine’s “20 Under 40” profile.

Bakita Hill advises clients in a variety of business matters, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, corporate due diligence, and corporate reorganization.

Bakita is experienced in analyzing laws and regulations that are critical to businesses. Through her analysis, she is able to determine what provisions will affect a particular transaction. She uses her analytical skills and a keen attention to detail to draft legal documents, including ancillary transaction agreements, license agreements, disclosure schedules, operating agreements, distribution agreements, promissory notes, and asset purchase agreements. She assists clients in managing their businesses, including filing documents with the Secretary of State and IRS, creating business plans, and drafting loan documents. Bakita’s goal in every engagement is to provide superior, efficient service to help clients achieve and maintain their goals.

While in law school, Bakita was a legal intern for a multinational power management company, where she gained valuable experience drafting non-disclosure agreements for potential mergers and acquisitions with companies around the world.

In her free time, Bakita enjoys traveling, listening to music, experimenting with new recipes, doing home projects, and spending time with her family.

Macedonia

Cara Jablonski currently works at Marcum LLP, supporting their Advisory Services group as a Training Supervisor. Cara's passion for learning started during her undergraduate experience at Mount Union University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle Childhood Education. Cara went on to earn an M.Ed. degree from Cleveland State University. In addition to her learning experience, performing arts are close to her heart. Cara took ballet lessons for a majority of her youth, and also participated in the school band. Cara loves carrying on that tradition now by taking her daughter to her weekly dance classes as well. Cara lives in Macedonia, OH with her Husband and daughter.

Full bio coming soon!

Cleveland

Mission‐driven, results‐oriented senior construction and project management professional with years of expertise in directing highly complex projects and cross‐functional project teams, resulting in millions of dollars of improvements and efficiencies at one of the nation’s top healthcare institutions. Proven track record of structuring and implementing project portfolios that yield measurable results and cost reductions from improved system / process performance. Keenly focused on customer requirements and service levels, which directly contribute to bottom‐line results. Solid leadership skills, capable of leading and motivating individuals to maximize levels of productivity while forming cohesive team environments.