The Power of Philanthropy Summit is a biennial convening focused on advancing Black philanthropy, leadership and community impact. Hosted by the Cleveland Foundation's Black Philanthropy Center, the event brings together donors, nonprofit leaders, corporate partners and community members to explore how philanthropy can build wealth, expand opportunity and strengthen Black communities.
Warren Anderson is the CEO of The Anderson DuBose Company, a distributor for McDonald's and Chipotle, with centers located in Lordstown, Ohio; Rochester, New York; Jacksonville, Florida; and Knoxville, Tennessee. He serves on the boards of Playhouse Square, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Cleveland Clinic and The Shoreby Club. He is also a member of The Presidents' Council.
Chief Strategy Development Officer, Blue Meridian Partners
As a Philanthropic Advisor, Nichole Collins is responsible for fostering and strengthening relationships with individuals, families and nonprofit organizations seeking to turn their passion into purpose through philanthropy.
Nichole brings more than 15 years of experience to the Cleveland Foundation. Most recently, Nichole was a fundraising consultant with FundTaskIt LLC and Inbloom Consulting. Through this work, she helped organizations build fundraising capacity and increase revenue. She’s also held positions with the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, Cleveland Zoological Society, the national office of the United Church of Christ, and the Intergenerational Schools. Nichole is a fundraising strategist with a strong track record of exceeding fundraising goals. She’s implemented several fundraising initiatives, worked on multi-million-dollar campaigns, developed data management systems, and led cross-functional teams to launch national initiatives.
Nichole believes in using her gifts in service to the community. She is on the board of Enlightened Solutions, chairs the FutureLand Community Builders Sub-Committee, serves on the Association of Fundraising Professionals IDEA Committee, and is a CollegeNow Mentor.
Alongside a Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters in Nonprofit Administration from John Carroll University, Nichole is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Civic Leader
President & Chief Executive Officer, Rondo Community Land Trust
CEO, JIJ Impact, Inc.
Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer and General Counsel, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
On Aug. 1, 2023, Lillian Kuri made history by becoming the first female president & CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, the world's oldest and one of the largest community foundations with $3.7 billion in assets. With over 25 years of executive and civic leadership experience, Lillian is known as an innovator, advocate and coalition builder who delivers transformational results.
As President & CEO, Lillian is currently leading the Cleveland Foundation’s transformation with a visionary strategic plan to both create “A Vibrant Northeast Ohio Where No Cleveland is Left Behind” and a plan that shapes the "Community Foundation of the Future”. Previously, as executive vice president & chief operating officer, she spearheaded the foundation's historic move to Cleveland’s Midtown/Hough neighborhood.
Throughout her career, Lillian has been an influential advocate for Cleveland and Ohio. In August 2025, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Lillian to the Board of Directors of JobsOhio. From 2022-2026, Lillian served as the Chair of the Cleveland Planning Commission appointed by Mayor Bibb -making her the first woman to serve as chair in the city’s 226-year history.
Lillian holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University as well as a Bachelor of Architecture from Kent State University. She is a licensed architect in the state of Ohio.
Randell McShepard is currently employed as the Vice President of Public Affairs and Chief Talent Officer for RPM International Inc., a $7.3 billion-dollar chemical coatings/paint company headquartered in Medina, Ohio. In this post, he is responsible for managing external and governmental affairs for the company. His duties also include leading the corporate philanthropy program, facilitating corporate purchasing initiatives and coordinating executive leadership development activities and succession planning for the company’s top 350 executives. Prior to joining RPM, Randell worked in nonprofit management positions focused on workforce development, economic development and community service.
An active community and civic leader, Mr. McShepard is currently serving on several boards in Northeast Ohio including the Cleveland Foundation (Chair), Destination Cleveland (Vice Chair) and Citymark Capital, LLC. He is Co-Founder and Chairman of PolicyBridge, a public policy think tank serving the Northeast Ohio region since 2004. He is also the Co-Founder of the Rid-All Green Partnership, a thriving urban farm in Cleveland’s Lower Kinsman neighborhood that grows organic vegetables, farm raises tilapia fish and leads environmental stewardship efforts. In May of 2015, he was the first African American elected President of The Union Club of Cleveland, a prestigious business and social club that has been home to the region’s corporate and civic leadership since 1872.
Mr. McShepard’s previous community/civic leadership roles have included serving on the Boards of the George Gund Foundation, Baldwin Wallace University and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. He has served as Chairman of the Manufacturing Advocacy Council of the National Association of Manufacturers; Chairman of the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board; Chairman of the Sisters of Charity Foundation; Vice-Chairman of the Fund for Our Economic Future and Vice-Chairman of Business Volunteers Unlimited. He also served on the Executive Committee for the Cuyahoga County Government Reform transition in 2010.
Randell was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University (BA) and Cleveland State University (MS). Among his many honors, Mr. McShepard was inducted into the John F. Kennedy High School Hall of Fame, recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of Cleveland State University, and bestowed a Doctor of Humane Letters Honorary Degree from both Baldwin Wallace University and Cuyahoga Community College in 2022. He has been honored as a “C-Suite Champion” by Crain’s Cleveland and is included in the History Makers Collection at the Library of Congress. He is a graduate of Leadership Cleveland and remains active at his home church, St. James AME in Cleveland, where he serves as Chairman of the Steward Board.
Randell and his wife Gail reside in Beachwood, Ohio and have three adult children.
Leta Obertacz brings 20 years of fundraising experience to the Cleveland Foundation as the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy. Leading strategy for growth of new donors and stewardship of long-term partners, she has spent her past few months sharing the work of the Foundation in its new storefront location, where philanthropy is accessible to all. Leta most recently served as Director of Advancement for the Cleveland Zoo Society, where she led numerous highly successful fundraising campaigns dedicated to the best quality animal care, education and meaningful guest experiences, including the Daniel Maltz Rhino Reserve; Bear Hollow; and the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Auditorium. In 2022 under Leta's leadership, her team launched the Primate Forest campaign, which, when complete, will result in a 140,000-square-foot world-class destination that will transform and significantly expand the zoo’s rainforest.
Prior to her work at the Zoo Society, Leta spent several years as a fundraising and marketing executive at Career Gear, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide the formerly incarcerated, homeless and veterans with the tools and skills they need to successfully achieve reentry and financial independence.
Leta earned a BA in history with honors from Brown University and a MPA, Pi Alpha Alpha, from Baruch College. She is a co-VP of activities and class officer at Brown. She is also a dedicated community volunteer, having formerly served as the co-VP and Advancement Chair for EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute and the founding Board President for Motogo, a nonprofit that teaches students how to solve problems and build confidence through working on motorcycles. She is a new Board Member at The City Club.
Over the course of her career, Leta has participated in several leadership and professional development programs. She completed Cleveland Leadership Center’s Bridge Builders and Civic Leadership Institute programs and recently participated in the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy program. In 2022, she was recognized as one of Cleveland Magazine’s Women of Distinction and in 2021 she was a Soul of Philanthropy nominee.
Leta had the unique opportunity to tour the country as a professional performer with a variety of artists and groups, including the NBA for the Nets. In conjunction, she served as a national dance judge and presented on navigating the performer’s life and living in NYC.