Staff

Brianna joined the City Club in January 2024 and currently serves as the Customer Engagement Associate. Her role involves acting as a key liaison between visitors, patrons, and the City Club team, while providing organizational support to ensure a professional and welcoming environment. Brianna is a graduate from the University of Mount Union where she obtained a B.S. in neuroscience. She enjoys reading romance books, writing poetry, and expanding her cognitive scope.

Noelle joined the City Club team as Director of Advancement in 2016. Previously she was principal of her own consulting firm working with non-profits that included the Cleveland Foundation, the Cleveland International Film Festival, Civic Commons, and the City Club, to name a few. She also served as Corporate Relations Director at ideastream; Director of Marketing & Community Relations at MOCA; and campaign manager for two successful countywide campaigns. In 2011, she launched Edible Cleveland, an award-winning quarterly magazine covering the people and stories of Northeast Ohio’s local food scene. Noelle has a B.A in American Studies with a concentration in Media and the Arts from Yale University. Mom of two, Noelle lives with her family in Cleveland Heights.

Cynthia Connolly joined the City Club as Director of Programming in 2021 where she is directly responsible for the strategic vision and production of over 100 live forums a year. With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Cynthia also served as the Development Director at Policy Matters Ohio, and spent time at other notable organizations like Ohio City Incorporated, and the Center for Nonprofit Policy & Practice at Cleveland State University, where she earned a Master of Public Administration degree. She received a BA in American Culture with a focus in Native American Studies from the University of Michigan.

A citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, she began her civic work at an early age, serving as a youth tribal representative at the National Congress of American Indians located in Washington DC, which advocates for government policies to help Indigenous people. Today, she is Board Chair for the Lake Erie Native American Council and taught the Native American Studies course at Kent State University for eight years. She also serves on the Community Advisory Board at Ideastream Public Media; and the boards of the YWCA USA, and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in Washington, DC.

In 2021, Cynthia was named a Native American Top 40 Under 40 by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise and Development; as well as a 2021 Crain's Cleveland Business 40 Under Forty awardee. She is in the current Leadership Cleveland class of 2025.

Adam began his career at the City Club of Cleveland in 2012, and stepped into a leadership role as the Executive Chef of the City Club in July of 2013. He earned degrees in both culinary arts and food service management from Johnson & Wales University, Norfolk Campus. His creative, hands-on approach to incorporating various food styles, with an emphasis on fusion cuisine and flavor theory, provided a variety of unique and bold meal selections at the City Club. In the summer of 2023 Adam has stepped away from the City Club kitchen and into the new role of Content and Event Production, bringing a fresh eye and the same passion, as in the kitchen, to this position.

Maria joined the City Club team in 2008 as an operations assistant, and took on her current role in 2015. As the Digital Content Manager, she is responsible for the promotion and distribution of all City Club content through various media outlets, including the City Club's social media channels. Maria is a graduate of Bowling Green State University’s School of Media and Communication and holds an M.Ed. degree from Kent State University. She is a Northeast Ohio native and lives in Lakewood with her husband and two children.

Julie joined the City Club in 2012 and is responsible for the financial operations of the City Club and the City Club Forum Foundation. Previously, Julie was Chief Operating and Financial Officer at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs and also managed her own CPA/Consulting firm focused on small businesses and nonprofit organizations. She resides in Westlake with her husband and daughter and has two adult sons. Julie attended John Carroll University. She enjoys spending time with family, playing tennis, volunteering at school, watching her daughter's soccer, Cleveland sports, and gardening.

Dan was appointed to the City Club's helm in 2013, after many years as a member, volunteer, and frequent forum moderator. Prior to joining the City Club he was co-founder of The Civic Commons, a pioneer in the field of social media for civic good. Dan is also the former host of 90.3 WCPN's Sound of Ideas and co-author, with Dave Eggers and Ninive Calegari, of the best selling book Teachers Have it Easy: The Big Sacrifices and Small Salaries of America's Teachers (The New Press, 2005), which provided the basis for the 2011 documentary American Teacher. He's an award winning journalist, a former high school teacher and a graduate of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife and three children. His favorite forum changes almost monthly.

Stacy joined the City Club team in 2022. In her role as Customer Experience Manager, she works closely with all members and guests. She is a Cleveland native and attended Indiana Wesleyan University. Prior to joining the City Club, Stacy spent more than several years running her cleaning company and publishing her children's book. She enjoys spending time with her family and roller skating.

Jerome Sheriff Jr joined the City Club team in 2023. As the Communication and Project Manager, Jerome is responsible for ensuring the City Club effectively communicates with its diverse audience and creates an engaging environment for all members. He attended Denison University where he holds a BA in psychology. Before joining the City Club, he spent five years working in education and studying marketing. Jerome, a Chicago native, loves taking long walks in Cleveland Metroparks with his wife and dog.

Ariana joined the City Club in March 2023 as the Educational Engagement Manager. She is a Shaker Heights native and attended John Carroll University. Prior to joining the City Club, Ariana worked as an educator for over 10 years, launched her own nonprofit (MOTIVATE), and coordinated programs and events for K-12 students and educators across NE Ohio, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. Ariana enjoys being able to teach and connect with students and is looking forward to finding intentional ways to engage with students and educators. She is also a part of Cleveland Leadership Center's Bridge Builders class of 2023.

Amber joined the City Club in November 2021, and currently serves as the Membership, Outreach, and Office Manager. She is responsible for cultivating relationships with the City Club community including members, community partners, and speakers, and also provides administrative support to the leadership team. She has over 15 years of experience working in both the non-profit and corporate sectors, having most recently worked in human resources at a global specialty chemicals company. Amber is a graduate of The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and also holds a master’s degree in human resources and labor relations from Cleveland State University. She resides in University Heights with her husband and daughter.