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. 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.

  • If you are interested in interviewing Brad or inviting him to speak at an event, contact Molly Johnson, Manager of Communications for the Fund.

  • 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.

  • Ashley Basile - Secretary

    Ashely Basile is the Manager of Finance and Administration at the Fund for Our Economic Future.

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Fund Staff

  • 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 - Manager of Finance and Administration

    Ashley Basile manages the Fund's overall operations including finance/accounting, human resources, facilities, legal and administration. She serves as the primary staff liaison to the Finance and Nominating/Personnel committees of the Fund and two of the five Action Area teams. Ashley previously worked for the Ohio Small Business Development Center as a Research Assistant. She received a BSBA from Youngstown State University in 2007 and an MBA 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.

  • Emily Garr - Manager of Research, Grants & Evaluation

  • Emily GarrEmily Garr is responsible for all aspects of the Fund’s work associated with its research agenda and the policies and administration of its grants. A former Fulbright Fellow, Garr brings experience in regional labor market analyses gained in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the Fund, she held multiple positions at The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program, working most recently as a consultant to the program. In addition, she has worked as a research assistant at The Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. and as an analyst for the evaluation and assessment of the Metrobus Transportation System in Mexico City. Garr has a master’s degree in urban studies from El Colegio de México and a Bachelor of Arts in political communications from Emerson College. She can be reached at 216-456-9803 or egarr@futurefundneo.org.
     

  • Molly Johnson - Manager of Communications

  • Molly Johnson manages internal and external communications for the Fund. She focuses on maximizing awareness of the Fund and educating and engaging key stakeholders about the organization’s mission and initiatives. Prior to joining the Fund, Johnson was a corporate communications manager at the Cleveland Clinic. She has previously worked at Fleishman-Hilliard International Communications. She graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and political science.  Molly can be reached at 216-456-9806 or mjohnson@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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