ASSOCIATE BOARD
ENGAGE
ADVOCATE
GROW
Overview
The Associate Board helps Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC) achieve its mission to measurably improve the economy of Greater Cleveland and enrich the community by attracting, creating, managing, and enhancing significant sporting and competitive events. The Associate Board is comprised of a diverse group of passionate advocates for GCSC and the City of Cleveland.
Mission
The Associate Board furthers the advancement of GCSC through the generation of ideas, advocacy, and awareness.
Who Is Right for the Associate Board?
We are looking for folks who are passionate about the mission of the Sports Commission and who are enthusiastic about making and maintaining relationships through their A-Board experience. Most Associate Board members are mid-career professionals with 3-10 years of experience. Most have had some civic involvement in the past and are looking to grow their experience, exposure and involvement in the nonprofit realm. Like most things, the more one puts into the Associate Board, the more they get out of it.
Associate Board Benefits & Expectations
- Grow your network through events and activities aimed at supporting GCSC’s mission to improve the economy and enrich the community by attracting, creating, managing and enhancing significant sporting and competitive events,
- Participate in professional development sessions with GCSC Board members, staff and interns,
- Gain perspective on the business of sports tourism by learning about GCSC’s goals and current projects,
- Deepen your connections with our diverse group of professionals who share a passion for Cleveland, and
- Participate in select behind-the-scenes events and gain pre-sale access to GCSC hosted events, when available.
Time Commitment
- The average A-Board member spends 3-4 hours monthly contributing to the success of the A-Board and/or GCSC events/activities. This includes quarterly meetings and as-needed meetings for specific initiatives and projects.
- All members are invited to commit to at least one initiative planning group, which is charged with a specific activity or outcome. Examples of initiative groups include youth programming, fundraising, Sports Awards, Summer Golf Classic, member engagement, and more.
- Members are invited to GCSC’s annual meeting of the Board of Trustees
Election of Members
- Members are selected through a competitive application process that includes submission of a written application, current resume and two letters of recommendation. Most applicants will also be interviewed by two members of the Associate Board Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for the selection of new members.
- Each member serves an initial two-year term and may choose to serve up to two additional two-year terms for a maximum of six years.
- The Associate Board is limited to 40 members. Each annual election is based on the number of members who have termed out or who are rolling off.
- Applications will be accepted only during the application period, which will be highly publicized.
Executive Committee
- Seven members of the A-Board are elected to the Executive Committee for two-year terms (max of two terms per position).
- Executive Committee works directly with GCSC staff to identify the initiative projects, manage initiative group projects, and run the election.
- Positions include Chair, Vice Chair, Communications Chair, and two Co-Chairs of the Community Engagement and Awareness Committees.
- Time served on the Executive Committee is in addition to the max of three two-year terms as a standard member.
Annual Dues
Associate Board members are expected to pay annual dues of $1,000 (personal or corporate contribution). Partial scholarships and non-profit rates are available.
QUESTIONS & MORE INFORMATION
2025 Newsletters
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CHAIR: John Banks l The Shamrock Companies
VICE CHAIR: Angela Almasy l Dix & Eaton
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR: Ariel McNair l EY
AWARENESS CO-CHAIR: Chris Peck l Sequoia Financial Group
AWARENESS CO-CHAIR: Matt Schaefer l Golden Reserve
ENGAGEMENT CO-CHAIR: Paige Rabatin l Brennan Manna Diamond
ENGAGEMENT CO-CHAIR: Mike Vuraich l Mid-American Conference
MEMBERS
Joe Banks l Ancora Advisors LLC
Elizabeth Beard l Topgolf
Connor Gibbons l Baker Hostetler, LLP
Pradeep Giri l PwC
Robert Guy l Re:Build CDI
Dylan Hammon l Destination Cleveland
Jim Hofbauer l University Hospitals
Jaelen Hollinger l DigitalC
Thomas Hunt l KJK
J.R. Klonk l Edgewater Capital Partners
Billy Lawless l Brewer-Garrett Company
Alfonso Makiling l Bank of America
Brian Nally l Reminger Co. L.P.A.
Andrew Newsome l Parrish Street Capital
Beth Orr l Dover Home Remodelers
Greg Pasiadis l CBIZ
Brian Poe l WME Sports
Travis Poppell l Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland
Angel Rice l Cohen & Company, Ltd.
Jason Rothman l Calfee
Dr. Marie Schaefer l Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine
Casey Schrader l Oswald Companies
Brooke Sirak l Kaulig Capital
Connor Stease l Team NEO
Imani Tibbs Boone l Thompson Hine LLP
Maria Tofalo l Haslam Sports Group
Jeff Tolman l Cleveland Metroparks
Noah Toumert l Cleveland Soccer Group, LLC
Constantine Tsatiris l Grant Thornton, LLP
Peter Van Euwen l Baker Hostetler, LLP
Ryan Virtue Positive l Coaching Alliance
Steve Volchko l Cleveland Cavaliers
Blair Vrcan l Lincoln Electric Company
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