Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman Chosen As New President Of Global Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Jan. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Joe Cimperman, seven-term Cleveland City Councilman, will become the next president of Global Cleveland.  The announcement was made by Global Cleveland Board Chair David Fleshler. 

"This is a very exciting day for Global Cleveland," said Fleshler. "We are very fortunate to have someone of Joe's stature and known leadership qualities at the front of our organization moving ahead.  He believes in the value of Global Cleveland and its mission."

"As a child of an immigrant who grew up on Cleveland's east side, Joe deeply understands how newcomers to our region need to be welcomed and connected so they can become integral, contributing members of our community.  Joe lives the values of diversity and knows how to bring people together to achieve a greater good," continued Fleshler, who also is the vice provost for international affairs at Case Western Reserve University. 

Global Cleveland is focused on strengthening the region by attracting, welcoming and connecting newcomers to Greater Cleveland's many economic and social opportunities.

"It has been a deep honor to serve the constituents of Ward 3 and the City of Cleveland these past 18 years on Cleveland City Council," Cimperman said.  "With this experience and a heart of service I am truly excited to join the Global Cleveland team and to continue its critical economic, community, and human development work of making our city and region ever stronger."

Details of Councilman Cimperman's transition from city government are being addressed by both Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley and Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson along with Councilman Cimperman and Global Cleveland.

"I congratulate Global Cleveland for a very good choice in selecting Joe Cimperman," said Mayor Jackson. "Joe has always shown great passion and compassion in standing with both the immigrant and refugee population here in Cleveland.  His work ethic and leadership speak volumes to his capabilities. One needs look no further than Ward 3 to see the fruits of his labors."

"Cleveland has always been a City that is open to refugees and immigrants," the mayor added. "With Joe's leadership, Global Cleveland and the City of Cleveland will be known internationally for our welcoming of immigrants and refugees."

"Councilman Cimperman will be greatly missed by his colleagues here at City Council," said Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley. "Joe has accomplished more during his tenure on Council than most will in a lifetime.  Joe has been masterful at advocating and advancing development as well as social justice issues and public health.  Throughout his career on council he has been an aggressive agent of positive change. Whoever is appointed to replace him will have to fill some very big shoes. The good news, though, is that Joe is not going very far. As president of Global Cleveland he will still be working with Council to carry out the mission of making the city more welcoming to newcomers and moving our city and our region forward."

"As a child of the numbered streets, growing up on E. 74^th and St. Clair in a family with an immigrant mother in a diverse and culturally vibrant neighborhood, I have always understood and been taught by the many different people who call Cleveland and Northeastern Ohio home," Cimperman said.  "It is with this understanding and passion that I look forward to serving the goals and values of Global Cleveland to welcome newcomers as friends, and to highlight, promote, recognize, and fortify the many cultural components in our community that make our economy and way of life as dynamic as it can be."

The Global Cleveland search committee notes that the candidate pool was diverse and impressive and the committee feels strongly that it has found the right leader at the right time in Joe Cimperman. Global Cleveland retained The Carmon Group to facilitate the search for its new president.  The Carmon Group is a retained search firm based in Cleveland and has practice expertise in industrial, service, and not-for-profit markets.  Chris Carmon, the firm's president, managed the search project.

"Joe is passionate about working with newcomers – particularly those in the refugee and immigrant communities – to help them flourish," Fleshler said.  "Joe will take his ideas, connections and talent to help Global Cleveland bring together constituencies to achieve the mission of Global Cleveland. He is an excellent collaborator and communicator. His passion for helping people has been demonstrated throughout his professional career."

About Joe Cimperman

Currently serving his seventh term and 18^th year on Cleveland City Council, Councilman Cimperman is a senior member of the body who is highly regarded by his constituents and peers for his work ethic and ability to build meaningful bridges to tackle important issues relevant to Ward 3 and the City of Cleveland. Councilman Cimperman currently represents the Ward 3, one of the most diverse wards in the City. Ward 3 includes the neighborhoods of St. Clair-Superior, Tremont, Ohio City, Duck Island, Old Brooklyn, Clark Stockyard Fulton, the Flats, and Downtown Cleveland. Following his graduation from John Carroll University, Councilman Cimperman worked with Cleveland's I Have a Dream Foundation, a program which provided opportunities for the City's youth to pursue higher education and equipped participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed.

In addition to serving Cleveland, Councilman Cimperman completed two years of service as a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps where he worked with cognitively challenged adults in Portland, Maine, and at the Don Miller AIDS Hospice in Baltimore, Maryland, caring for patients before they passed away. Additionally, Councilman Cimperman has been active in the arts community and recognizes the importance of fostering a strong arts and cultural scene across the City and has sponsored legislation to promote this attribute of the City. Another proud accomplishment is helping to bring the Gay Games to Cleveland. The Gay Games is an international event that has built an international legacy of changing cultural, social and political attitudes towards LGBT people. Councilman Cimperman lives with his wife and children in Ward 3. He truly is a Clevelander at heart and looks forward to passionately working towards a brighter future for his hometown through his leadership of Global Cleveland.

About Global Cleveland

Established in 2011, Global Cleveland is a non-profit regional economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for regional economic growth. Global Cleveland actively engages public and private partners in efforts to attract, welcome, and meaningfully connect highly trained and highly skilled immigrants and refugees to the systems, networks, and career opportunities within Cleveland and Cuyahoga County; and, supports organizations that are working to attract and connect other newcomers to opportunities that will strengthen the economic vitality and social fabric of the region. 

Through these efforts, Global Cleveland is helping to:

• Attract increased numbers of trained and skilled newcomers;
• Increase resources and prosperity for regional organizations and individuals;
• Build stronger social and cultural communities that offer vibrant settings for acceptance and appreciation of diverse populations;
• Promote inclusive and supportive local and State policies;
• Create links to global economies; and,
• Increase population in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

SOURCE Global Cleveland