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Marketing & Communications
Colette M. JonesMarketing & Communications
Chief Marketing Officer
Marketing & Communications Coordinator: Melissa Huber 216.615.7140
Colette M. Jones joined the Cleveland Foundation in March 2022 to oversee the organization’s marketing and communications efforts. Prior to this role, for 10 years she served as the head of marketing and communications at Destination Cleveland, the Destination Marketing and Management Organization for Cuyahoga County. Colette led the development and 2014 launch of the Cleveland visitor brand to promote Northeast Ohio as a visitor destination, including the implementation of supporting assets and initiatives such as ThisisCleveland.com and the #ThisisCLE resident engagement and local grassroots activation.
While in this role, she led the marketing and communications efforts for the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee for the Republican National Convention, oversaw the 2019 MLB All Stars Cleveland visitor marketing, and acted as a co-chair for the marketing and communications committees for the 2021 NFL Draft Cleveland and 2022 NBA All Star Game Cleveland.
Colette has received recognition in multiple areas, including as a Crain’s Notable Marketing Executive, an SME Cleveland Sales and Marketing Award recipient, a Marshall Memorial Fellow and an American Advertising Federation Industry - Cleveland Impact Award recipient as well as a being a recipient of awards from industry associations for the Cleveland visitor brand.
Colette brings 25 years of marketing experience to the Cleveland Foundation having worked as an independent consultant, in brand management and in sales with companies such as the Wm. Wrigley Jr., Co., ConAgra Foods and KeyBank. A Shaker Heights native, she holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University and an MBA in marketing from The Ohio State University. She sits on the LAND Studio Board of Trustees, Karamu House Board of Directors, and the Deaconess Foundation Board of Directors.
Lauretta AmanorMarketing & Communications
Events Manager, Program & HQ Engagement
216.615.7181 |
Lauretta Y. Amanor joined The Cleveland Foundation in July 2023 as Events Manager, Program & HQ Events. As the Events Manager, Lauretta is responsible for collaborating with cross-departmental colleagues and the community to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate creative, inspiring, and engaging events, meetings, and experiences in and around our new building and the MidTown collaboration district. Before this role, Lauretta held multiple positions focused on community engagement, capacity building, mentoring, events, and programming.
Lauretta was a Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellow participating in the 2019-2020 cohort. Placed at Invest in Children, Lauretta worked on program planning, contracting, monitoring, and evaluation related to various initiatives, including Step Up to Quality – Universal Pre-K (UPK). She participated in the Cleveland Foundation’s 2022 Foundations of Philanthropy cohort, a program designed to launch individuals into lifelong philanthropy by teaching the skills and strategies to leverage time, talent, and treasure into meaningful impact for our region.
Lauretta earned a bachelor's degree from Ursuline College in Public Relations and Marketing Communications. She went on to earn a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University.
Alan AshbyMarketing & Communications
Media Relations Officer
216.615.7591 |
Alan Ashby joined the Cleveland Foundation in April 2017 and is primarily focused on increasing awareness about the foundation’s innovative work and impact in Cleveland with the organization’s donors and grantee partners through various media channels at the local, regional and national levels.
Alan has more than 20 years of marketing and media relations experience. Most recently, he served as an account supervisor at WhiteSpace Creative, where he managed the strategic marketing initiatives for a diverse portfolio of nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Prior to WhiteSpace, Alan spent nearly five years at Kent State University as Assistant Athletic Director for Communications, overseeing the athletic department’s media relations strategy, and eight years at Cleveland State University, where he was responsible for a number of athletic media relations initiatives.
Alan earned his bachelor of arts in history from the University of Virginia and is a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
Jackie FitchMarketing & Communications
Integrated Marketing Officer
216.615.7153 |
Jackie Fitch supports external and internal communications by helping plan and execute comprehensive content marketing with a focus on digital media and social media properties. She crafts content that articulates our grantmaking priorities and initiatives and helps tell stories that celebrate the work of our nonprofit partners and the generosity of our donors.
A native Clevelander, Jackie brings more than 15 years of editing and marketing experience to the foundation. Most recently, she served as Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University where she helped manage the school’s strategic communications and oversaw digital content and website maintenance. Prior to her work with the engineering school, Jackie worked on university publications across multiple schools at Case Western Reserve as an Editor for University Marketing and Communications.
Jackie earned a bachelor’s degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a double major in journalism and history, and she went on to earn her Master of Business Administration from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.
Stephanie Hicks ThompsonMarketing & Communications
Director, Experiential Marketing and Events
216.615.7148 |
Stephanie Hicks Thompson is responsible for strategizing and managing initiatives that engage stakeholders and community members with the work of the foundation. Stephanie also supports special projects involving the foundation’s new Midtown headquarters, slated to open in 2023, and directs the strategy behind the foundation’s community events and engagement initiatives, including Common Ground and Cleveland Book Week. These initiatives aim to collaborate with, promote, and amplify the work being done by the foundation’s community partners and stakeholders. Stephanie ensures the events, projects, and targeted communications she oversees connect thousands of members of the public each year to the foundation’s network of grantees, strategic initiatives, and partners.
With over 15 years of communications experience, Stephanie previously served as external affairs manager for the Cuyahoga Health Access Partnership, where she managed communications, development, and operations in the lead-up to the 2013 implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Ohio Medicaid expansion.
A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Stephanie earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a dual major in journalism and English. She went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University.
Melissa HuberMarketing & Communications
Marketing & Events Manager
216.615.7140 |
Melissa Huber joined the Cleveland Foundation in March 2019. She provides administrative and special event support for the Marketing & Communications team.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Melissa worked in development at Cleveland Public Theatre and in marketing at American Conservatory Theater (San Francisco), Cleveland Play House, and the Almeida Theatre (London). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Denison University and a master’s degree in Arts Policy and Management from Birkbeck, University of London.
Emily LammersMarketing & Communications
Strategic Communications Officer
216.615.7173 |
Emily Lammers joined the Cleveland Foundation in January 2016 as a Marketing & Communications Coordinator after serving as an intern with the Marketing & Communications team from June 2014 – December 2015. In her current role as Executive Communications officer, Emily serves as the primary creator of written content on behalf of the Cleveland Foundation, including the writing and editing of executive speeches and talking points as well as content for print, online, and other media. Prior to joining the foundation, Emily supported admissions and enrollment operations at John Carroll University and served as an intern at Case Western Reserve University and the Western Reserve Historical Society.
Emily holds a Master of Business Administration from John Carroll University and a bachelor’s degree in art history with a minor in Spanish also from John Carroll University.
Tressa TroddenMarketing & Communications
Events Manager, Philanthropy & VIP
216.615.7182 |
Tressa Trodden joined the Cleveland Foundation in March 2022 as the Advancement Events Manager. In this role Tressa is responsible for executing cultivation and stewardship events for donors, prospects, and professional advisors of the foundation.
Tressa brings more than 14 years of event management experience to the foundation. Prior to joining the Cleveland Foundation, Tressa worked as the Event and Annual Fund Manager with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, where she was responsible for ensuring the successful execution of fundraising events and annual fund program. Prior to her role at the Rape Crisis Center, Tressa was the Event Coordinator at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association.
Tressa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing at John Carroll University.