PA G E 18
|
A U G U S T 12 - 18 , 2 019 |
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
NOTABLE WOMEN IN NONPROFITS
Katie Eichenauer
Helen Forbes Field
Bethany Friedlander
Elaine Gimmel
Title: Executive director, Believe in Dreams, Beachwood Most recent education: Master of science in social administration, Case Western Reserve University
Title: Executive vice president of regional initiatives and general counsel, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Most recent education: Juris doctor, Howard University School of Law
Title: President and CEO, NewBridge Cleveland Center for Arts and Technology, Cleveland Most recent education: Bachelor of arts in art history, criticism and conservation, Case Western Reserve University
Title: Executive director, Emerald Development and Economic Network Inc., Cleveland Most recent education: Master of science in social administration, Case Western Reserve University
Since joining Believe in Dreams, which strives to fulfill the dreams of disadvantaged youth, Katie Eichenauer has established a code of ethics; streamlined the recruiting, hiring and onboarding process of the growing staff; developed an employee handbook; and established measurable goals and metrics to increase accountability. “She was able to take limited resources and help raise significant funds and brand awareness. Katie is extremely resourceful, inspiring — and her vision helps rally her board, employees and volunteers to want to achieve and surpass the organization’s goals,” said Believe in Dreams founder John DiJulius III. Further, Eichenauer successfully recruited women with a combined 30-plus years of experience in legal compliance, business management, marketing and human resources to successfully double the size of the organization, increase fundraising, and raise child poverty/trauma awareness in less than two years. Believe in Dreams needed dream-makers, those people who coordinate a child’s dream experience, with social work or child counseling experience. However, because funding was limited, Eichenauer partnered with master-degree-level interns from Case Western Reserve University. The innovative solution helped the nonprofit expand the number of students it serves. Eichenauer has created many such partnerships — including with Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Centers, and CWRU’s Center on Trauma and Adversity — to build upon the services Believe in Dreams offers.
Helen Forbes Field does not accept the status quo when it comes to issues that matter to Clevelanders. She is a leader in advocating for diversity, equality, inclusion and racial equity – conditions that are typically lacking in situations of poverty. She facilitated creation of the United Way’s Equity Leadership Council, which addresses those issues and discusses best practices the nonprofit can implement to have a broader impact. Forbes Field serves throughout the community. A skilled collaborator, she connected the Cleveland Museum of Art with United Way’s mentoring program to expand outreach. CMA teachers work directly with the students, who then visit CMA exhibits, where they review the artists’ work. In addition, Forbes Field was integral to the launch of a CMA summer fellowship program for students who attend historically black colleges and universities. The students often secure placement in advanced education programs and opportunities to work in prestigious galleries and museums across the country. “She is chair of the museum’s African American Advisory Committee. She founded our Friends of African and African American Art. Helen was instrumental in creating the strategic plan CMA adopted in 2017,” said CMA director William Griswold. “As gracious as she is smart and determined, Helen is a staunch advocate for the arts and diversity among the museum’s audience, board, staff and collections. She played a significant role in CMA’s new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, hailed as a model for other, similar organizations across the country.”
NewBridge Cleveland Center for Arts and Technology, a social-emotional, arts and after-school education program center, promoted Bethany Friedlander from COO to president and CEO just two years after she joined the organization. “Bethany ... has made our organization much nimbler to the changing landscape of youth programming and workforce training,” said NewBridge board chair David Legeay. “She has built a quality team that trust her and embrace the vision of the organization. Most importantly, the passion for our mission comes through to every student she touches and she handles every student interaction with an incredible amount of empathy.” Under Friedlander’s direction, NewBridge was named a 2019 Best Employer in Ohio and earned the 2018 Gold Award Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. She has implemented solutions to the external pressures that impact the organization, including arranging for full- and part-time staff to obtain trauma-informed certification and overhauling the youth program to better meet the demands of the changing out-ofschool time educational sector. Committed to equity and inclusion, Friedlander had a gender-neutral restroom installed and disaggregated student outcomes data to allow her team to explore potential biases and inequities within their practices. She also serves on the Executive Director Leadership Council at the United Way of Greater Cleveland, the board of Life Act and the Mental Health Taskforce of Cleveland’s Say Yes to Education initiative.
Elaine Gimmel received regular promotions during her 23 years at Emerald Development and Economic Network (EDEN) and last year was promoted to her current role for her skills and knowledge. “Her compassion, empathy and dedication toward our clients is the reason why we are able to serve so many people with quality service; she sets the example,” said Shalesha Andrews, Housing Eligibility specialist at EDEN. In recent years, Gimmel has implemented numerous innovative solutions, including working with EDEN’s partner Place 4 Me, which represents 50 public and private agencies, to house 100 homeless young adults in 100 days. The groups exceeded their goal. Also, recognizing the need for critical improvements to the Norma Herr Women’s Center, an emergency shelter, Gimmel successfully led fundraising efforts. She also works with other community organizations, such as the Cuyahoga County Steering Committee to Prevent & End Youth Homelessness and the Partnering for Success Operating Committee operated by Enterprise Community Partners. Moreover, she helps other women in the field. “Elaine has built her career on empowering and mentoring women of all races, including professional colleagues as well as clients, some who have lost everything,” said Kate Monter Durban, assistant director at the Cleveland Housing Network. “Elaine is an amazing role model. She is incredibly generous and compassionate, but at the same time, she speaks her mind with clarity and conviction.”
John Carroll University
congratulates 2019 Notable Women in Nonprofits Honoree
DANI ROBBINS Director of Nonprofit Administration
Learn more about JCU’s Master of Arts in Nonprofit Administration and Certificate in Nonprofit Management
jcu.edu/nonprofit
P018_CL_20190812.indd 18
8/8/19 1:55 PM