Staff & Board
Our Staff
Jo Higgins
Jo provides leadership for LakewoodAlive’s internal operations, programs, and strategic initiatives. She works closely with staff, board members, and community partners to advance the organization’s mission and help ensure a strong and sustainable future for LakewoodAlive and the community it serves. Jo also leads LakewoodAlive’s Small Business Support Program.
Matt Clark
Matt runs and organizes our Lakewood Toolbox, which is a membership based tool lending library for Lakewood residents. He is the person to contact for contractor recommendations, performs Aging In Place Assessments for seniors, and runs point on Leaf Raking and Snow Shoveling Programs for residents with physical disabilities and seniors.
Mark McNamara
Mark is part of our Housing Outreach Team and works with low-moderate-income residents in need of assistance with home repairs, performs Aging In Place Assessments for seniors, organizes yard clean ups for residents with disabilities and seniors, and oversees hoarding and bedbug aid.
Kathleen Upper
Kathleen manages all of our fundraising efforts by applying for available grants, crafting fundraising campaigns large and small, and managing event sponsorship. Additionally, she is the staff lead on our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives.
Sara Williams
Sara is our administrative extraordinaire who helps support each and every member of our team. She can point you in the right direction of who to talk to, manages all of our bookkeeping and invoicing, and maintains the Available Commercial Properties page found on our website and the City of Lakewood website.
Megan Futo
Megan leads the planning and execution of LakewoodAlive’s community events, volunteer initiatives, and marketing efforts, helping bring people together to celebrate, support, and strengthen the Lakewood community. She works to connect LakewoodAlive’s programs and mission with the community through engaging events, thoughtful communications, and creative storytelling..
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President – Amanda Santa, 23andMe
Vice President – Jason Weiner, The Cleveland Foundation
Treasurer & Operations Co-Chair – Jennifer Wynn, Cleveland Property Management Group
Secretary – Geoff Mathias, Sauced Taproom & Kitchen
DEI Chair – Andrea Fisher, Lakewood Public Library
Design Chair – Brian Meng, Bialosky Cleveland
Development Chair – Lauren Smigelski, MJM Services
Operations Co-Chair – John Burke, Attorney, Burkes Law
Housing Chair – Emma Petrie Barcelona, EDEN, Inc.
Marketing Chair – Aaron Lemley, Outcast PR
Small Business Chair – Sid Ordog, Volunteer, Sherwin Williams (retired)
Past President – Julie Warren, Erie Design
At-Large
Jodi Barnes, ERIEBANK
Carol Barrett, Carol Lynn's Salon Plus
Hannah Belsito, Destination Cleveland
Kelly Florian, Great Lakes Theatre
Katelyn Greear, PwC
Amy Haney, PIRHL
Maureen Koopman, The CoLab
Christina McCallum, Werner G. Smith, Inc.
Brian Meng, Bialosky Cleveland
Galadriel Olson, Lakewood Art Supply
Mark Plush, Accounting Executive - Retired
Sharon Schuldt, Cleveland Clinic VeloSano
Jesse Smith, JSmith Studios LLC
Chalana Williams, First Federal Lakewood
Non-Voting Members
Kyle Baker, At-Large Councilperson, City of Lakewood
Angela Byington, Planning Director, City of Lakewood
Meghan F. George, Mayor, City of Lakewood
Lauren Small, CEO and President, Lakewood Chamber of Commerce