Leadership and Staff

The Fund relies on individuals from each of its members and a small staff to help guide and direct its work.

Fund Officers

  • David Abbott - Chairman

    The Fund for Our Economic Future elected David Abbott to be its second chairman on March 4, 2008. He replaced the Fund's founding chairman, Robert Briggs of the GAR Foundation. David became executive director of The George Gund Foundation in 2003. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as president of University Circle Incorporated, executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and executive director of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission. Abbott was also the Cuyahoga County administrator and, early in his career, a reporter for The Plain Dealer. He holds a B.A. in political science from Denison University, a M.S. in journalism from Columbia University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

  • Deborah Hoover - Vice Chair

  • Deborah Hoover is president of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation based in Hudson.

  • Brian Frederick - Vice Chair

    Brian Frederick is president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of Lorain County.

  • Christine Mayer - Vice Chair

    Christine Mayer is chief operating officer of the GAR Foundation in Akron.

  • Brad Whitehead - President

    Brad Whitehead oversees the Fund’s grantmaking, research and civic engagement efforts. He was named the Fund’s first president in the fall of 2006. He served the Fund while also working for The Cleveland Foundation, the largest contributor to the Fund. In July 2007, he assumed full-time responsibilities with the Fund. Brad joined the Foundation in 2002 and was Program Director for Economic Development. Before joining the Foundation, Brad was a Director at the international management consulting firm of McKinsey and Company. At McKinsey, Brad’s client work spanned a broad range of corporate strategy, operations, and organizational issues, but his major area of focus was in growth and new business building. Brad was one of the Firm leaders of the Business Building Practice and prior to that he was a founder of the Firm’s Environment Practice. Brad can be reached at 216-456-9801 or bwhitehead@futurefundneo.org.

  • Robert Jaquay - Vice President

    Robert Jaquay is associate director of the George Gund Foundation in Cleveland.

  • William LaPlace - Treasurer

  • William LaPlace is a trustee with the Kent H. Smith Charitable Trust. 

  • Michael Shafarenko - Secretary

  • Michael Shafarenko is manager of operations and finance for the Fund. 

Fund Staff

  • Michael Shafarenko - Manager of Operations and Finance

    Michael Shafarenko joined the Fund in 2007 and is repsonsible for managing Fund operations and member relations. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University. Michael can be reached at 216-456-9803 or mshafarenko@futurefundneo.org.

  • Chris Thompson - Director of Funder and Regional Engagement

    Chris Thompson works with fund members, partners and other regional stakeholders to broaden and deepen support for Advance Northeast Ohio, the region’s economic competitiveness agenda. Chris previously worked for Crain's Cleveland Business and Edward Howard, an Ohio-based public relations firm. Chris can be reached at 216-456-9802 or cthompson@futurefundneo.org.

  • Ashley Basile - Finance and Operations Associate

    Ashley Basile focuses on Action Team operations and Fund operations and finance activities. She also serves as primary staff liaison to two of the Fund’s five Action Area Teams. Ashley previously worked for the Ohio Small Business Development Center. She received an MBA from Youngstown State University in 2008. Ashley can be reached at 216-456-9804 or abasile@futurefundneo.org. 

  • Bethia Burke - Manager of Emerging Initiatives

  • Bethia Burke is responsible for developing a portfolio of regional projects consistent with the Fund’s mission and for which it is uniquely positioned to play a convening or leadership role until an initiative is functioning as part of another entity or on its own. She will focus her initial efforts on the Fund’s work with the Brookings Institution and the NEO@Work initiative. Bethia holds an M.A. in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University. Before joining the Fund, Bethia was a manager at TASC, Inc., a systems engineering & advisory services company, where she was a manager and practitioner in Cost and Risk Analysis. Bethia can be reached at 216-456-9805 or bburke@futurefundneo.org.

  • Colette Taylor - Support Coordinator

    Colette Taylor handles administrative and operational duties including facilitating meetings, assisting with fundraising and community outreach activities, and managing records and financials. Colette recently worked for Entrepreneur's Edge and the Northeast Ohio Software Association which is now the COSE Technology Network. Colette can be reached at 216-456-9800 or ctaylor@futurefundneo.org.

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