Staff
Kristine Pagsuyoin
Executive Director & Publisher of the Heights Observer
kpagsuyoin@futureheights.org
Kristine brings a breadth of experience that prepares her well for leadership of FutureHeights. Her prior experience reflects her strength as a collaborative leader to create a strong team that was able to solve problems for their constituents and work strategically to strengthen the organization. Kristine is known for engaging residents, businesses, organizations, and public officials in advancing a shared goal of social justice and economic vibrancy for the community.
Hilary Schickler
Director of FutureHomes and Revitalization
hschickler@futureheights.org
Hilary comes to the organization with a background in non-profit real estate development. A graduate of Cleveland State University’s College of Urban Affairs program with a concentration in planning. She started her professional career at Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization. This experience included working as a community organizer around housing issues that ultimately lead the organization’s residential housing program. After leaving Detroit Shoreway, Ms. Schickler was involved in various volunteer activities including serving on the Board of Directors for Cogswell Hall and the Lakewood Historical Society.
Sarah Wolf
Community-Building Programs Manager
swolf@futureheights.org
Sarah is a Cleveland Heights resident who moved back to the area in 2019 after nearly two decades in Boston, Massachusetts. With +24 years of experience in small business management in her back pocket, Sarah is an LSW (licensed social worker) with a Master of Science in Social Administration from the Mandel School at Case Western Reserve, a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Emerson College, and a BA in English from Kent State. Prior to being involved with FutureHeights in this current capacity, she was a Community Practice for Social Change intern from 2019-2020, served as the Summer VISTA in 2020, facilitated the Spring 2021 Neighborhood Mini-Grant process, and served as an active member of the Community & Civic Engagement Committee (CCEC).
Kasia Bufford
Heights Music Hop Manager
kbufford@futureheights.org
Kasia is a Cleveland Heights native and resident who possesses a strong passion for music, urban planning, and community development. Currently serving as the Heights Music Hop Manager at FutureHeights, she skillfully combines her background in Youth Development and Non-profit Administration with her love for music to create inclusive spaces that empower young talents and foster connections among diverse communities. Beyond her community work, Kasia is also an accomplished musician, driven by her belief in the unifying and transformative power of music. Dedicated to cultivating vibrant and harmonious environments where every voice is celebrated, she strives to leave a lasting impact on the community she holds dear.
Brenda Bailey
Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator
bbailey@futureheights.org
Brenda moved to Cleveland Heights in 2020 and quickly adopted the catchphrase “and I can walk there from my house!” She loves the accessibility and diversity of this city, and embraces its shop local philosophy. Brenda comes to FutureHeights with a background in higher education and publishing and a commitment to civic engagement. A lifelong volunteer herself, she looks forward to building a volunteer base to support FutureHeights programming and the Heights community. If you would like to explore volunteer opportunities, please click here.
Heights Observer Team
Kim Sergio Inglis
Editor
observerhts@gmail.com
Kim moved to Cleveland Heights in 2009 after two decades of living and working in New York City. A former marketing and sales promotion professional, she became involved with the Heights Observer as a volunteer editor. Kim graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer.
Bob Rosenbaum
Advertising and Market Development
brosenbaum@heightsobserver.org
Bob, a lifetime Cleveland Heights resident, is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 30 years of background in publishing and media management. He is principal of The MarketFarm, a consultancy that focuses on strategic communication and the use of content in community and nonprofit marketing. He is co-chair of the Heights Observer Advisory Committee, volunteers as an editor and writer, and manages advertising sales. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) from Northwestern University.
Meg Ostrowski
eNews Associate
info@futureheights.org
No stranger to citizen journalism, Meg brings her years of civic engagement and experience with regional Observer projects to the Heights. Meg is a graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York City, an independent writer, editor, activist, and thirty-year resident of the Cleveland area. As our eNews Associate, Meg assembles and distributes our weekly digital edition of the Heights Observer, keeping residents and businesses informed between monthly print issues.
Temma Collins
Graphic Designer
Temma holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from Colorado State University. She has been a Cleveland Heights resident for 25 years, and a proud parent of three children who have attended the Cleveland Heights-University Heights city schools.
Diane Roberto
Graphic Designer
Diane is a designer and visual consultant with a comprehensive background in both print design and project management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University. Her favorite projects are those which promote community, diversity and well-being. Currently, Diane is on the board of a local nonprofit soccer club, working to secure scholarships for players and serving as its treasurer. Originally from Willoughby, she has been a Cleveland Heights resident for the past 18 years, where she lives with her husband and three children.
Board of Directors
Rhonda Davis Lovejoy, Co-President
Lead Consultant, Cooper Denson, LLC
Chris Jacobs, Co-President
Partner, Renner Otto
Carmen Iammarino, Vice President
Fifth Avenue Realty & Appraisals
Laura Junglas, Interim Treasurer
Principal, The Nonprofit Org Doctor LLC
Harriet Applegate
Executive Secretary, North Shore AFL-CIO
Colin Compton
CC Restoration
Thomas Eastman
Vice President of Acquisitions, Enterprise Housing Credit Investments LLC
Kimberlee Jones
Director of National Development for the College of Arts and Sciences at CWRU
Jason McGee
Branch Manager, Keybank
Maria Schmitt
Executive Director, HR Operations, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Calvin Singleton
Principal, Calvin Singleton & Associates Architects-Planners
Matthew Wymer
WXZ Development, Inc.
Call for Applicants!
Apply to Join the FutureHeights Board of Directors
Are you filled with ideas and energy for improving your community? Can you give time and talent to make the Heights an even better place to live?
FutureHeights seeks candidates for its board of directors to fill seats as current members’ terms expire. New board members will serve a three-year term. Applicants should be members of Cleveland Heights or University Heights communities. Applicants should have a vested interest in the organization and the communities it serves and have the time and talent to donate to the success of the organization and its programming. Applications are due by March 1, 2024, and can be found at the link below.
About FutureHeights
FutureHeights is a nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to facilitate an equitable, prosperous, and vibrant future for Cleveland Heights and University Heights. We work toward this mission through a variety of program areas, including:
· We Care About Housing Our FutureHomes program (est. 2019) has overseen the purchase, rehab, and sale of over 20 houses in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods with the aim of promoting fair housing practices and increased owner-occupancy rates. We are currently rehabbing our 21st and 22nd homes. The 20 homes completed have resulted in a net gain of almost $3.5 million in home values.
· We Care About Community-Building and Strengths-Based Leadership We run the Neighborhood Leadership Workshop, the twice-annual Neighborhood Mini-Grants Program (both est. 2015), and the Crowdsourced Conversations Forum Series (est. 2022), all of which serve to empower residents to engage with and improve this community.
· We Care About Economic Development We organize and staff events that promote Heights businesses such as the Heights Music Hop and Best of the Heights, and assist the City with community engagement on city development projects.
· We Care About Community Voice We publish and distribute the Heights Observer (est. 2008), a free community newspaper for both Cleveland Heights and University Heights, now celebrating 15 years of service to the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. The Heights Observer represents citizen journalism: a place where all stakeholders can share news and opinions about their community.
Board Service Overview
The board is made up of members of the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. Board members come from all walks of life, represent all neighborhoods, and bring their various skills, talents, and interests with them to assist the organization.
Board members participate actively by guiding the organization and its programming, providing staff and event support, friend-raising and fundraising, serving on committees, and more. Serving a large and diverse area, the organization’s board and new members should reflect and represent the diversity of that service area. Consideration will be given to ensure that the experiences, backgrounds, neighborhoods, or skills of new members add to the diversity of the organization at-large.
Board service is a great way to meet new neighbors, to support projects in your own backyard, and to give time and talent back to the communities we love calling home.
Help us elevate the Heights!
Applications are due by March 1, 2024, and interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter.