CHERYL STEPHENS: A CANDIDATE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES Cheryl Stephens is Launching her first campaign for elected office as a candidate for Cleveland Heights City Council. She has been a resident of over twenty years in the city of Cleveland Heights, and brings twenty-five years worth of leadership experience in economic development, and finance to her candidacy. Her campaign will focus on creating a positive future for the City of Cleveland Heights, She will channel her thoughts and energy towards finding the best practices and solutions for the City’s operational and budget constraints, in regards to economic development issues and safety services practices. She is committed to working with people and communicating with members of the community as well as City staff to create a collaborative and successful future for Cleveland Heights.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Cheryl, is eldest child of a tight-knit military family. Her father, Cato was a technical sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and her mother, Fran was a registered nurse. One of the benefits of her fathers occupation was that she was able to grow up as an American citizen of the world, as her father’s assignments took the family to Japan, Germany, Spain; as well as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois in America’s heartland. During these travels Cheryl acquired the skill of speaking fluent Spanish, which she proudly maintains to this day.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from a small university in Tennessee, and later received a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Dayton. Cheryl then began her career and found a love for public administration and development. She has worked in four different development departments in Ohio, a New York based national development not for profit, and a leadership program in Northeast Ohio. Cheryl often makes time for members of the Ohio business community to provide research and strategic development services. As principal of her own consulting practice, Strategic Development Solutions, LLC, Cheryl has been a key player in ushering more than $100,000,000 of investments to growing businesses and real estate developments in Ohio.
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
- Director of Acquisition, Disposition and Development, Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
- Principal, Strategic Development Solutions, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Board of Revision Member, Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners, Cleveland, Ohio
- Executive Director Leadership Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Partnership (Regional Chamber of Commerce), Cleveland, Ohio
- Director, National Development Council, New York, New York
- Director of Development, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Ohio
- Director of Planning and Development, City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Economic Development Manager, City of Cleveland Heights, Ohio
- Senior Development Officer, Department of Economic Development, City of Cleveland, Ohio
- Development Specialist, Ohio Department of Development, Columbus, Ohio
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Cheryl likes to say that she has a global education with an American based learning system as a foundation. Her core philosophy and knowledge on life was accumulated and developed on three continents (North America, Asia and Europe).
EDUCATION
- Master of Public Administration, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
- Bachelor of Arts, Southern University of Seventh Day Adventists (formerly Southern Missionary College), Collegedale, Tennessee
- Study of Spanish Language and Culture, Colegio Adventista de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain
- Economic Development Finance Professional Certification, National Development Council, New York, New York
COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
Cheryl currently is serving her second term on the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission and has served on the Visioning Committee as part of citizen led strategic planning process. Over the years she has served on numerous diverse boards and commissions, from the Friends of Shaker Square (now Shaker Square Area Development) to both major Komen for the Cure events in Cleveland; the Race for the Cure and the Breast Cancer 3 Day. Since her mother’s (Frances) death in 2006 Cheryl has been strong believer in proactive measures to help women and men fight Breast Cancer. The pink ribbon used in her campaign materials reflects her commitment to fight breast cancer in honor of Frances, with all her personal and professional resources.
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER AFFILIATIONS
Cleveland Heights City Planning Commission, Current. Breast Cancer 3 Day (A Susan G. Komen For the Cure Event), Training Walk Leader, 2008 & 2009. Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – Cleveland, Team Leader, 2004, 2005, 2006,2007,2008, 2009 Strickland/Fisher Transition Team for Development Issues Pandemonium Fundraising Committee for the Cleveland Public Theater, 2006. Barbara Boyd’s State Representative Campaign, 2006. Sandra L. Walker’s Judicial Campaign, 2005. Peter Lawson Jones’ County Commissioner Campaign, 2002, 2004, and 2008.
