Colette Jones named Cleveland Foundation Chief Marketing Officer
Jones brings more than 25 years of marketing experience across sectors to lead community foundation’s brand and communications strategy
Release Date: 1.11.2022
CLEVELAND – Following a national search, the Cleveland Foundation is pleased to announce that Colette Jones will join the foundation’s leadership team as chief marketing officer, effective Feb. 28, 2022. Jones will serve as the foundation’s brand strategist, leading integrated marketing and communications to articulate the foundation’s mission, values and strategic priorities and to broaden awareness and support for the work of the foundation and its partners in the community. Jones will join the Cleveland Foundation during an exciting and pivotal time in the organization’s history, as it prepares to move into a new headquarters in MidTown and rolls out a new 10-year strategic direction aligned with its move. Jones will play an integral role in shaping how the foundation shows up in the Greater Cleveland community and nationally. Jones will serve as a member of the foundation’s executive committee and will serve as the lead on talent attraction initiatives.
“It is truly an honor to welcome Colette Jones to the Cleveland Foundation’s leadership team during such a dynamic time for the foundation and our community,” said Ronn Richard, Cleveland Foundation president & CEO. “Colette’s strategic vision and broad experience – paired with her tremendous passion for Greater Cleveland – make her an exceptional leader to steward the Cleveland Foundation’s reputation and relationships locally, nationally and globally as we begin the next chapter in our 108-year history.”
Jones comes to the Cleveland Foundation with more than 25 years of marketing and communications experience, most recently serving as chief marketing officer at Destination Cleveland. She led award-winning marketing and communications efforts to enhance Cleveland’s narrative and improve perceptions of the region on a national scale; and attract leisure, business and event visitors, ultimately helping to grow the economic impact of the county’s travel and tourism sector by 45% since 2011. Upon joining Destination Cleveland in 2012, Jones led the reimagining of Cleveland’s visitor brand, including the popular Cleveland Script signs and #ThisIsCLE movement. As part of her ongoing brand stewardship, she led the marketing and communications efforts for the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee for the Republican National Convention, oversaw the 2019 MLB All-Star Week Cleveland visitor marketing, and co-chaired the NFL Draft 2021 regional and national marketing committee. She is a co-chair of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game regional and national marketing committee.
Previously, Jones worked as an independent marketing and brand strategy consultant and led brand management and sales efforts at companies such as the Wm. Wrigley Jr., Co.; ConAgra Foods and KeyBank. Over the course of her career, Jones has earned a number of awards and recognitions including an SME Cleveland Sales and Marketing Award, American Advertising Federation Industry – Cleveland Impact Award, and two Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Awards. She has been named among Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Notable Marketing Executives (2021).
A Shaker Heights native, Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in communications education from Miami University and an MBA in marketing from The Ohio State University. Jones is an alumnus of the German Marshall Fund’s Marshall Memorial Fellowship program as well as Cleveland Leadership Center’s Cleveland Bridge Builders and Leadership Cleveland programs. Jones serves on the LAND Studio Board of Trustees, Karamu House Board of Directors, and Deaconess Foundation Board of Directors.
“As a native Clevelander with 10 years of deep civic engagement, I have long admired the work of the Cleveland Foundation to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Greater Cleveland,” said Jones. “Now, as the foundation moves into Cleveland’s neighborhoods, explores new ways of working with the community and considers how to amplify the important philanthropic work taking place, I am thrilled to apply my experience and expertise to advance the foundation’s strategic priorities and strengthen new and longstanding relationships for the foundation here at home and beyond.”
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