Cleveland, OH - The Future of Cleveland

Alyssa Raybuck Communications and Program Innovation Manager | The City Club of Cleveland Alyssa started her career in the nonprofit sector shortly after graduating from John Carroll University in 2014 with a BA in communications and political science. She spent 4 years working for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank in communications and fundraising – raising awareness of food insecurity in Northeast Ohio.

Alyssa joined The City Club of Cleveland team in 2018 as their Membership and Advancement Manager, leading annual giving and relations with the club’s more than 900 individual members. After 2 years in that role, she now serves as the Communications and Program Innovation Manager, guiding strategic communications and new programmatic projects. Alyssa is a 2017 graduate of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s OnBoard Cleveland program. She serves on the board of Teaching Cleveland, a local nonprofit that connects educators, students, and community members to the city’s history. Alyssa spent two years on Engage! Cleveland’s Leadership Council fostering the retention and engagement of young professionals across Cleveland. After 7 years in Tremont, Alyssa now lives in University Heights with her husband.

Maria Spangler '02, JD/MPA Director, Community Engagement | The Sherwin-Williams Company

Originally from Bryan, Ohio, Maria has called Greater Cleveland home since 1998.  She studied political science and business at John Carroll University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in 2002.  During her time there, she served as President of Latin American Student Association. 

In the fall of 2002, Maria began a dual degree program at Cleveland State University.  She studied law at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Public Administration at the Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs.  During these years, Maria worked as a graduate assistant in the Center for Economic Development, studying and reporting on local, state, and national economic trends, playing a major role in the development of economic impact studies published by the Center.  In the spring of 2006, Maria earned her Juris Doctorate and Master of Public Administration.  In the summer of 2006, Maria sat for and passed the Ohio State Bar Examination.

Maria joined The Sherwin-Williams Company in 2007 and is responsible for crafting and collaborating across the enterprise to drive corporate social responsibility initiatives and programs that help to further alignment with shareholders, customers and employees.  In addition, Maria manages grantmaking for the Sherwin-Williams Foundation, supporting the causes most important to the 60,000 global Sherwin-Williams employees.

Extensively involved and committed to the Northeast Ohio community, Maria serves on the boards of Cuyahoga County Public Library, University Circle Incorporated, and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, and the Cleveland Foundation.  She and her husband Michael are strong supporters of educational access to underserved communities and remain staunchly committed to the mission of Esperanza.

Paul Federico ’88

Vice President, Corporate & Member Relations | Greater Cleveland Partnership

Paul’s career has been dedicated to the betterment of the Greater Cleveland business community.  Shortly after graduating from JCU, he began a lifelong career in economic development, at first helping small companies grow at COSE, the nationally recognized and celebrated small business advocate of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP). In his current role, he continues to work on behalf of businesses, now primarily with the largest corporations in the region.  He creates partnerships and nurtures relationships in his development role, helping GCP become the largest metropolitan chamber in the country. Paul's other professional achievements and community involvement include: 

• Named one of Crain’s 40 under 40 - 2004
• Proud graduate of the Leadership Cleveland -2005
• Honored as a Distinguished Marketing and Sales Executive of the Year - 2006
• Presented with the first ever GCP Catalyst Award - 2017
• ACCE Diamond Award for lifetime achievement in revenue generation - 2019
• Currently on the board of directors at MidTown CLE and the JCU Cleveland Alumni Chapter

Other information about Paul:

• Cleveland Benedictine High School Graduate '84 on a full football/track scholarship – State Football Champion '81
• He is an ordained minister – He is available to officiate weddings and his track record is excellent
• He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife Lisa - they can see JCU from their balcony
• His greatest joy in life are their 2 grandchildren – Lukas and Saige – If you are a grandparent, you know what he means