Lee Friedman is New CEO of Cleveland Scholarship Programs

Lee Friedman joined Cleveland Scholarship Programs on June 15 as Chief Executive Officer.

“Lee Friedman’s talent and enthusiasm, coupled with the talented CSP staff working in collaboration with our funders, public officials and school district leaders, is going to mean more Cleveland-area kids going to college,” Patrick S. Mullin, chairman of the Cleveland Scholarship Programs Board of Directors, said when Friedman's appointment was announced.  “We’re thrilled to have been able to attract someone with her experience and stature.”

After just a week on the job, Friedman joined with CSP Board President David S. Inglis to emcee the June 21 CSP Celebration of Excellence. From the start, Friedman has been meeting daily with civic, government and business leaders as well as the  CSP staff.

Friedman had been the President and CEO of the Cleveland Leadership Center since 2005 when she was hired to work with civic partners to bring together the community’s top leadership programs (Leadership Cleveland, Cleveland Bridge Builders, Cleveland Executive Fellowship, (i)Cleveland and Look Up To Cleveland) under one organizational structure. 

With Friedman heading the Cleveland Leadership Center, the new organization raised more than $8 million from corporations, foundations, individuals and tuition-based programming; participation expanded by 400%; and program delivery costs were reduced from $4,000 per participant (pre-merger) to $600 per participant (post-merger).

Prior to joining the Cleveland Leadership Center, Friedman served nine years as President and CEO for the Downtown Cleveland Partnership, the nonprofit organization committed to fostering development and growth in Downtown Cleveland.  In that position, she helped create a shared vision and land use plan among more than 100 property owners for lower Euclid Avenue, which saw more than a $1 billion investment in that area of downtown, as well as a 2000% increase in membership.

Friedman’s community activities include serving as a president of The City Club of Cleveland; co-chair of United Way Individual Giving Campaign; a member of Mayor Jackson’s Operation Efficiency Oversight Council; a mentor for the Civic Innovation Lab at The Cleveland Foundation; a member of the Flashes of Hope board; a member of the Weatherhead Advisory Committee at Case; and a member of the College of Urban Affairs (CSU) Visiting Committee.  For the past ten years, Lee has also been on “Inside Business Magazine’s” list of the 100 Most Influential Individuals in Northeast Ohio.

"One of the best ways to ensure our region thrives in this competitive, global economy is by having an educated and prepared workforce,” Friedman said. “Simply put, we’ve got to get our kids into college and give them the resources to get in and stay in.

“The five years I spent at the Cleveland Leadership Center have been wonderful.  But when I was approached about this position, I knew right away that this was something I wanted to do,” she said. “I look forward to working with Pat Mullin, David Inglis, the board and staff to implement the CSP’s new strategic plan calling for a significant increase in the amount of funds raised to increase the number of children attending college.”

Mullin, board chair, said, “We’ve already had long conversations with Lee about how the Cleveland Scholarship Program is going to develop more and better partnerships in our community to change our ‘college-going culture’ for young people – and returning adults – so that getting a college or other post-secondary training isn’t a maybe but, instead, a must.”

Friedman replaced Christina (Tina) R. Milano, who served as chief executive officer of Cleveland Scholarship Programs for the last three years after previously serving in the position from 1987 to 2001.  Milano plans to do freelance consulting for nonprofit organizations.