(June 27, 2018, Cleveland, OH)—Each year, Women for Economic and Leadership Development (WELD) recognizes a diverse group of twelve women who are high impact leaders within their organizations, support the leadership development of other women, give time, talent and resources to their community, and invest in the growth of women-owned businesses. A relatively new organization in the Cleveland market, WELD announces the second annual edition of its signature “Women WELDing the Way®” calendar for 2019, featuring twelve prominent Cleveland women.  The honorees have been selected from a pool of local nominees based on their commitment to WELD’s mission to develop and advance women’s leadership, their leadership in their industry, and their readiness to advance to the next level of leadership.  

The 2019 Women WELDing the Way® honorees will be recognized at a November 8, 2018 reception at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. WELD President & CEO Barb Smoot shares, “WELD’s Cleveland Chapter is thrilled to announce the names of the diverse group of talented leaders who will be featured as its 2019 calendar honorees. In countless ways, these women are indeed WELDing the Way® by making an impact in their communities. They inspire others by living WELD’s mission to develop and advance women’s leadership to strengthen the economic prosperity of the communities we serve. We are delighted to have Carrie Murphy, Director, HR & Talent Acquisition, Vertical Knowledge, and Yanna Ware, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Schmidt Family of Companies, as this year’s calendar project committee co-chairs.”

Melanie Farrell, Director of Facility Planning & Board Relations states, “Our organization is honored to be the venue sponsor for the 2018 Women WELDing the Way event.  As this is a new partnership, we are excited to see how the CMBA may help play a role in recognizing these professional and notable women in Northeast Ohio.”  

The production of the calendar is the result of many generous sponsors providing financial support and in-kind services. Style support for the honorees will be provided by Changes Hair & Nail Salon, The House of Sugar Beauty Inc. and Blink Eyelash Salon.  Calendar photography will be provided by Kelly Samardak.

WELD honors the achievements of these notable women who will be featured in the annual Women WELDing the Way® calendar, which will focus on the theme “Be the Difference.”  Join WELD in recognizing the 2019 class of amazing women:

• Jacquelyne E. Bailey, PhD., Director, Regional Coordination & Civic-Based Programming/Civic Education, Cleveland Clinic, Office of Government and Community Relations  

• Robin Doerschuk, Director of Learning & Development, TalentLaunch

• Renee Holcomb Hardwick, Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, KeyBank National Association

• Beth Knorr, Director, Summit Food Coalition

• Amy Martin, Vice President of Marketing, Mezu, Inc.

• Anjua Maximo, Co-Creator of GrooveRyde and Creator of The Electric Life + Pure Mvmnt

• Kris McGuigan, President, Professional Courage

• Linda McHugh, Chief Human Resources Officer, Cleveland Clinic

• Dr. Martina Moore, President & CEO, Moore Counseling & Mediation Services, Inc.  

• Cheryl Perez, President, BIG-HR

• Alicia Robinson, Founder, Executive Director, Limitless Ambition

• Jessica N. Tischler, Regional Director for Service to the Armed Forces and International Services, American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio

The reception will be on Thursday, November 8, 2018, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, 1375 E 9th St #2, Cleveland, OH 44114. For more information on WELD, visit www.weldusa.org.  

• Rosa Y. Beltré, Executive Director, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
• Alexandria Johnson Boone, President & Chief Executive Officer, GAP Communications Group and Founder, Women of Color Foundation
• Katherine Brandt, Partner, Thompson Hine LLC
• Raquel Eatmon, Founder, Women of Power Conference and ProjectHeard.com
• Annette Hazapis, EVP Business Banking, KeyBank
• Sarah A. Krolman, PE, PMP, Lieutenant, US Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit Cleveland
• Steffany Larkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Medical Mutual of Ohio
• Mary McNamara, Director, Cleveland Department of Aging
• Marla E. Perez-Davis, Ph.D., Deputy Director, NASA Glenn Research Center
• Kathy Sterio, GM, Consumer Marketing, GE Lighting
• Kristin Tull, Ph.D., President, PRADCO
• Sonya L. Weiland, PHR, President, WeilandWorks Consulting, Your Partner in HR

Yanna has been a licensed Realtor since 2015. Prior to becoming an agent, she worked in the mortgage and real estate industry for over 15 years.  Yanna studied business and communications at Cuyahoga Community College and the University of Phoenix and proceeded to work in the mortgage and real estate industry including banks, title companies and later property management.  Yanna realized that she had a niche and a passion to work with people and gained the trust of many which helped influence her decision to pursue her Real Estate license.

Her passion for assisting the homeless has continued her yearly involvement in an annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and coat drive with Changes Hair Salon owned by her sister.  The event is free to all who wish to have dinner with Yanna and her family.  She also enjoys helping with inner city childhood literacy.  

Yanna is a proud mother of two wonderful daughters ages 19 and 16; students of Ursuline College and Orange High School respectively.  Yanna loves caring for her family while pursuing a successful business career, which is her big “WHY WELD?”  “Being involved in leadership and personal development with like-minded women intrigued my interest and was exactly what I wanted my daughters to mirror; being part of the WELD community is the role model I use to positively influence myself and my daughters to help shape their futures and enhance their roles as women leaders taking care of their families while pursuing their paths in the business world.”

Congratulations to Lee Ann!