Coaching
Essential to our program
Inspired Coaching
An essential part of being a successful leader involves the ability to be vulnerable with others about where you are headed and how you might get there. Through successful implementation at NLDP, the Mandel Foundation has learned the importance of and value in coaching. As a result, coaching during the program and post-graduation are included in the CDCLP.
CDCLP Coaches
Michael
Walton
LEAD COACH | FD2H
Michael Walton
FOOD DEPOT TO HEALTH
Coach, Michael Walton, has over 25 years of experience coaching individuals in business, education, social service and grassroots organizations. During his 35-year career as a consultant Michael has been a project manager, lead facilitator, curriculum designer, inside sales associate and business owner. Michael has been one of the most active facilitators of adventure-based experiential education in Northern Ohio, and has demonstrated skill in applying this methodology to a wide range of client groups. He is trained as a coach through the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University and CoachNet Global, and has numerous certifications, including training as a conflict management and mediation trainer by the Kent State Center for Applied Conflict Management. He has worked as a church administrator, an assistant pastor, and a chemical dependency counselor. Michael and his wife Veronica have been leaders in Greater Cleveland’s Urban Agriculture movement since its beginning, and they are strong advocates for food security and healthy lifestyles. Michael values the opportunity to interact with the CDCLP cohort members, as it gives him an opportunity to impact leaders who are making a difference in Greater Cleveland.
David
Fitz
Strategy Design Partners
David Fitz
STRATEGY DESIGN PARTNERS
David is the founder and partner of Strategy Design Partners (SDP), bringing nearly 25 years of experience in crafting tailored solutions that advance organizational strategy, strengthen governance structures, and deliver compelling storytelling for nonprofits, public agencies, and businesses. Since launching SDP in 2008, the team has partnered with nearly 200 organizations across five states, guiding leaders through strategic planning, board development, and communications.
David has held senior leadership roles as a press secretary and legislative director in the Cleveland and Philadelphia city governments; director of media relations at the Cleveland Clinic; and vice president of public affairs at University Circle, Inc. He also serves as a faculty member and coach for the Mandel Foundation’s Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP), where he has led sessions on strategic planning, governance, and communications.
He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University. He was also a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2010.
Merle
Gordon
The Wilbert Group
Merle Gordon
the wilbert group
Merle Gordon is an award-winning professional with a long-standing career dedicated to the advancement of health policy across diverse communities. Her experience includes roles in government, non-profit, public and private sectors. She has been recognized for her collaborative leadership approach to inspire diverse, cross-functional teams and her ability to reimagine structural designs to develop inclusive, innovative approaches leading towards sustainable, high-performing solutions that scale. Merle’s career includes managing the Cuyahoga County Healthcare Sector Partnership (Fund for Our Economic Future), a collective designed to address the labor shortages in the healthcare industry; serving as the City of Cleveland’s Health Department Director where she led and secured department accreditation and served as Covid-19 Response Incident Commander as well as the Executive for Population Health in the Mayor’s Office. She held multiple leadership positions at HealthSpan Integrated Care, Kaiser Permanente, and the Cleveland Clinic in government and public affairs, strategic planning and implementation, corporate philanthropy, compliance and quality improvement, and government & community relations roles. She has a boutique consulting firm, The Wilbert Group LLC focused on strategy development & implementation and organizational infrastructure. Merle was elected and served two terms on Cleveland City Council where she chaired the Public Health Committee and the Community & Economic Development Committee. She has served as a board member, advisor, and consultant to many organizations and individuals in the greater Cleveland community. Merle received her bachelor’s degree from Hampshire College and master’s from Harvard University.
Adam
Stalder
Cuyahoga County Land Bank
Adam Stalder
Cuyahoga County Land Bank
Adam Stalder loves Cleveland, its neighborhoods and its people. His career has been dedicated to connecting neighbors and helping all neighborhood stakeholders realize their visions for their communities. Adam began his career at the Metro West where he assisted businesses and promoted the West 25th Street Corridor. While at Metro West, he developed a strong appreciation for and connection with the Latinx/Puerto Rican community helped develop the La Villa Hispana initiative. After 7 years of service at Metro West, he transitioned to the Detroit Shoreway community where he worked on affordable housing projects and administrative services. In 2020 he was promoted to Executive Director and finalized the merger between Detroit Shoreway and Cudell Improvement, Inc. In 2023, he accepted the position of Director of Community Stabilization at the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. Adam believes that committed Community Development Corporations are true agents for positive change in communities and will continue to work tirelessly to advance CDCs so that they can better serve Cleveland’s people.
Natalie
Leek
Providence House
Natalie Leek
Providence House
Natalie Leek has over 30 years of experience in non-profit and corporate environments focused in business development, program design, data and outcomes measures, advocacy, marketing, fundraising, and education. Since 2001, Ms. Leek has been the CEO and President for Providence House, Inc., a non-profit family preservation crisis nursery for infants and children focused on keeping kids safe and families together. During her 22-year tenure at Ohio’s first licensed crisis nursery, Natalie has quadrupled the organization’s service capacity and revenues, engaged broad audiences in support of her agency, and has positioned Providence House as a nationally recognized leader in child abuse prevention, family preservation, and foster care prevention. In 2019, she and her Board launched “Giving Hope for the PHuture” – a $21 Million capital campaign to expand the organization to Cleveland’s near east side.
Natalie is deeply committed to collaboration and community engagement in both the nonprofit and public sector. She is a thought leader, educator, and advocate at the state and national level on child welfare issues and policy barriers impacting families in poverty. She has served on a number of nonprofit Boards, is a regular presenter and lecturer at local and national conferences and universities, and consults with a range of interested parties across the U.S. who strive to adopt the unique program model she has developed at Providence House. Natalie has received many prestigious awards including; The Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Nonprofit Executive of the Year, Crain’s Cleveland Business Woman of Note and Notable Women in Nonprofit, Smart Business News Progressive Woman, and the Community Shares Eleanor Gerson Leadership in Social Justice Award.
Natalie’s passion for the Providence House mission is founded in her experiences as child survivor raised in a family with three generations of single-mom households. She is an influential voice for our most vulnerable citizens and collaborative convener among local, state, and national public and private constituents who seek positive action and systemic change.
A member of the Cleveland community her whole life, Natalie is currently a resident of Rocky River with her sons and enjoys working in her art studio, reading, gardening, and home renovation. Natalie also co-instructs CDCLP's Sessions 6, 8 and 12.
Ayonna
Blue Donald
Enterprise Community Partners
Ayonna Blue Donald
Enterprise Community Partners
Ayonna Blue Donald is vice president of Ohio market for Enterprise Community Partners. Ayonna leads Enterprise’s work across the state, advancing housing-based programs and creative policy solutions that help Ohioans achieve housing stability and economic mobility. A longtime public servant for the city of Cleveland, Ayonna served as director of the city’s Department of Building and Housing from 2017 to 2021 and most recently served as the chief of Commercial Services and Governmental Affairs for the Department of Port Control. As the director of Cleveland’s Department of Building and Housing, Ayonna oversaw the enforcement of the city’s land use ordinances; eliminated thousands of vacant and abandoned properties throughout the city; reinstated a systematic rental inspection program; established strong relationships with community leaders; and worked hand in hand with the Lead Safe Cleveland Coalition to legislate and implement a lead safe certificate program. Originally from Detroit, Ayonna first made Cleveland home when she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. She also holds a juris doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Ayonna has served as the president of the Greater Cleveland Delta Foundation Life Development Center and was named a Woman of Note by Crain’s Cleveland Business in 2021.
Bridget
Kent Marquez
Northwest Neighborhoods CDC
Bridget Kent-Marquez
Northwest Neighborhoods
Bridget Kent-Marquez (she/they) is a fourth generation Clevelander who has spent their adult life fiercely dedicated to supporting the communities they operate in through a variety of mediums. Bridget is currently the Interim Executive Director at Northwest Neighborhoods, a Community Development Organization in Cleveland, Ohio. Formerly the Managing Director at Northwest Neighborhoods, Bridget oversaw the departments of Economic Development, Housing, Special Projects, Community Engagement, and Marketing and Events, serving as the neighborhood services liaison to the Executive Director. Prior to their work with Northwest Neighborhoods, Bridget was the property manager for the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ and the Lead Street Outreach Worker with St. Paul’s Community Church, both positions that required them to have a high familiarity with the west side neighborhoods of Cleveland and trust with the residents. From living in an intentional community, to developing real estate; Bridget approaches life with a tenacious and adventurous spirit. A proud spouse and parent of two amazing children, they understand the perpetual growing and learning required to embody the best version of oneself. One would be hard pressed to find a plant that Bridget does not appreciate. Bridget seeks to cultivate community, build equity, and find joy in la vida sabrosa!
Throughout the CDCLP experience, participants will benefit from their relationship with a coach who has deep expertise and experience in the CDC sector. The CDCLP will provide consistent and ongoing post-graduate coaching to ensure that the learning from the program continues and has an impact on individual, organizational, and neighborhood needs and aspirations.