Significant changes, emerging opportunities: GCP outlines 2010 priorities at Annual Meeting

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Organzation also elects new Board chair
and presents 2010 Richard Shatten Leadership Award

Cleveland, Ohio—About 500 people attended the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Annual Meeting, held today at the Cleveland Museum of Art, where the business community outlined its priorities for 2010. Speakers noted that several economic development opportunities have emerged as a result of changes that occurred in 2009 and discussed how the organization would address them in 2010.

Priorities include continuing to assist in the development of a new form of Cuyahoga County government, which voters approved last November. The GCP, one of the largest chambers of commerce in the nation, also will remain a steadfast presence in Columbus and Washington, D.C. to help ensure that the Greater Cleveland business community has a voice in government at the state and national levels.

The organization also is supporting the renewal of the Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy—which will not raise taxes—and statewide Issue 1 on the May ballot that calls for the continuation of the Third Frontier economic development and jobs program that supports the state’s high-tech industries. In addition, GCP leadership said that the business community will be involved in efforts to improve the Cleveland school system.

GCP leaders also emphasized the bright prospects for downtown Cleveland, which is on the cusp of more than $2 billion in investment that will include the city’s first-ever casino, a new convention center, the re-birth of the East Bank of the Flats and a medical mart.

“In three years or so, if all of these projects materialize as we hope and believe they will, downtown Cleveland is going to look much different than it does today,” said Joe Roman, GCP president and CEO. “These projects are going to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into downtown Cleveland and, as a result, will help sustain existing jobs and create new ones. “

Election of new Board Chair

The GCP elected William F. Christopher as the new chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors to succeed Henry L. Meyer, who has been the GCP chair’s the past two years. Christopher is president of Alcoa Engineered Products & Solutions (EPS), Alcoa’s business units that serve the aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, and oil and gas markets. EPS business units reported revenues totaling nearly $4.7 billion in 2009.

Christopher has been a member of the GCP Executive Committee for the past several years and was chair of the organization’s Government Affairs Council from 2007-2009. He also served on Mayor Frank Jackson’s task force for economic development. 

“I’m honored to be the chairman of such an important, involved and vital organization as the Greater Cleveland Partnership,” Christopher said. “This influential organization plays a vital role in so many areas that positively affect Greater Cleveland’s economy. The GCP has a lot of very good minds working for it—and with it—and together they are a true force for helping to move Cleveland forward. Cleveland is fortunate to have such a dynamic, thoughtful and active organization representing the interests of our business community.”

Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award

The GCP also presented the Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award to Art J. Falco, president and CEO of PlayhouseSqaure Foundation. The award is presented in memory of Shatten annually to recognize individuals who embody his lifelong commitment to improving Cleveland’s civic infrastructure. Shatten served as executive director of Cleveland Tomorrow, an organization of Cleveland’s most powerful corporate leaders from 1984 to 1993. He later taught at Case Western Reserve University and was executive director for the Center for Regional Economic Issues.

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As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region. http://www.gcpartnership.com

 

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