Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award

 

About the award

Each year, the Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award recognizes professional individuals who exhibit the same traits and passion for moving the region forward through public-private partnerships. Recipients reflect Richard's spirit through their work to enhance Cleveland's physical and human capital in imaginative ways. These endeavors are sure to carry their own legacies for years to come.

Nomination process

Individuals who meet the criteria for eligibility can be nominated using an online interactive PDF form. Entry deadline is Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. A committee chosen by the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Richard Shatten Family Foundation will select an honoree from the nominated individuals. The 2010 award will be given during the Greater Cleveland Partnership Annual Meeting on Thurs., March 4, 2010. Click here to read the criteria for nominees. Download the nomination form at www.gcpartnership.com/shatten.

About Richard Shatten

Richard A. Shatten's 20-year professional career in Cleveland encompassed experiences in the private and non-profit sectors, as well as in academia. Throughout that time, Richard helped to invent, and then demonstrate a set of skills that embodied the development of a new way of advancing bold ideas in our nation: the public-private partnership. He did so, very characteristically, behind the scenes. He knew that ultimate and sustained success of any program or any new idea, depended on an exciting and well executed launch that lay leaders from all sectors embraced from the beginning.

For 10 years, he served as president of Cleveland Tomorrow, a civic organization of corporate leaders. During his tenure, he led efforts that helped attract venture capital, incubate businesses, improve higher education, and renew neighborhoods. He had a unique ability to create results from an idea. He went on to teach at Case Western Reserve University and served as the executive director of the Center for Regional Economic Issues.

While Richard passed away in 2002 of a brain tumor, he leaves a lasting legacy: the concept of public-private partnerships. Richard understood that major projects require the skills, resources and commitment of government leaders, the public sector, and business leaders, the private sector. This understanding, and the relationships between foundations, government officials and business leaders, spurred an urban renewal in Cleveland that resulted in major development projects including Playhouse Square, Gateway and the Lakefront.

"Richard left his mark on Cleveland. The major projects this city undertook in the ‘80s and ‘90s were accomplished because of the quiet, persistent, optimistic leadership of Richard Shatten," said Joe Roman, president of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. "Cleveland misses him dearly, but he has taught some of today's leaders who now carry on his tradition of behind-the-scenes work that makes big projects happen."

Past recipients

  • 2007: Chris Warren, chief of regional development, City of Cleveland
  • 2008: Dorothy Baunach, president (emeritus), NorTech
  • 2009: David Abbott, chairman, Fund for Our Economic Future