Board of Directors

BOARD PRESIDENT, Plexus Chamber of Commerce David is the Director of Social Catering at The Ritz-Carlton. His responsibilities include booking all social and non-profit events for all event space. Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, David owned and operated David's Gourmet. Learn more about David’s personal and professional journey in his 2012 Cleveland TEDx Talk. Born in Cleveland and living in the Warehouse District, David and his guide dog, Harry, can be seen walking the city.

BOARD PRESIDENT, Plexus Education Foundation 

Brian manages a network of over 400 libraries, community foundations, and other nonprofit resource centers that can be found across the U.S. and around the world. Brian assists network partners in providing local nonprofit communities with access to funding databases, nonprofit trainings, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded social sector professionals. Brian serves as an Ohio LGBTQ Funding Ambassador on behalf of Funders for LGBTQ Issues and on the United Way of Greater Cleveland funding committee for Basic Needs. Brian is a Cleveland native with a strong love of the city and commitment to its social sector.

Isaac is the Engagement and Inclusion Coordinator for Stark MAHR. His responsibilities are centered on the improvement of Cultural and Linguistic Competency. Isaac is a certified trainer for Cultural Competency in Health and Human Services through the Cross-Cultural Health Care Program. 
His passion to work with those in need has been the reason why he pursed a career in Public Health. This has given him the opportunity to work with different groups such as: The Akron Non-Discrimination Steering Committee, Summit County Ohio Minority Health, Stark County Latino Committee, and Akron Pride Festival Steering Committee.

Isaac has a diverse background in paid media strategy while communicating for regional and national brands. With expertise in preserving brand integrity through marketing automation, Isaac works to remove barriers to brand compliance in companies with distributed markets. He has supported leading educational and children’s publishers Zaner-Bloser, and Highlights for Children, managing online, direct-mail, and agency channels. A lover of local content and engagement, Isaac founded and sold a regional publishing company, expanding the storyline of LGBT individuals in central Ohio.

Alex brings extensive experience in management and business operations to the Plexus Board of Directors. Originally from South Florida he has been a licensed Realtor since 2006, currently with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty. Alex served as co-chair on the Membership Committee for 3 years prior to officially joining the board and has worked extensively during his time to grow the Chamber and provide resources and opportunities to fellow LGBTQ professionals. He currently serves as the National Vice President for LQBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. The Alliance advocates to raise awareness and educate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community as it relates to housing and discrimination.

Shanelle Johnson serves as the onboarding resource for applicants seeking services from JumpStart and its network of partners. Her role involves engaging with early-stage and small business clients, identifying their service needs, providing value-added feedback, maintaining continued engagement with clients and partners to track continued progress made and making referrals within JumpStart and to our other external services partners. Her primary focus will be Core City: Cleveland clients.

Steve is a First Vice President, Portfolio Management Director and co-founder of The 200 Public Square Group at Morgan Stanley.  With more than 30 years of experience, Steve combines his deep analytical skills with an educational approach to help guide clients towards the achievement of their financial goals.  Steve’s desire to help others is equaled only by his dedication to his community, his firm and his family. He is the President of the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, is a current Board Member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and a member of University Hospitals Health System’s Diamond Advisory Group.  At work, Steve is an active member of Morgan Stanley’s Great Lakes Diversity Council, as well as the firm’s Wealth Management Pride & Ally Focus Group.

Luz is a skilled software consultant with Xerox Corporation for more than 20 years where she currently holds the position of Business Systems Analyst. She is a subject matter expert for ReqDirect Plus Core products. In her role, she provides software support to a wide of array clients spread across the globe. These clients represent diverse industries including healthcare, financial institutions, retail, insurance, and manufacturing.

Erica has 19 years of facilities experience at Kent State University, and was recently promoted to add Diversity Training Manager for Facilities Planning and Operations to her previous role.
She also is Vice President of Spectrum, Kent State’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, volunteers with the LGBTQ+ center (formerly the LGBTQ Student Center), is the faculty/staff advisor to Trans*fusion, Kent State’s organization for transgender and gender-expansive students and KSU oSTEM (out in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics).  Erica is passionate about advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, but especially for transgender people. She spearheaded the push to get trans inclusive health insurance for faculty and staff at Kent State University. 

I'm Jacki the Insurance girl!
A local insurance broker working with multiple carriers to find all types of personal insurance solutions for my friends & clients on their Auto, Home, umbrella & Life insurance.
 
I specialize in helping realtors who work with first time home buyers verify loss history reports on properties as they go under contract so their clients buy with confidence & are armed with historic property knowledge.