The CEO Dinner series is one of the organization's longest standing institutions. Attendees have the opportunity to join local C-suite and high level executive leaders for a private dinner. These events are intentionally limited to 10-20 people so everyone has a chance to listen, learn, share and grow together through honest discussion. The speakers represent a wide range of companies and industries, both big and small.
Cost to attend this limited seating event is $50, which includes dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase on your own tab, if desired. We're excited to host this event at The Aviator's private dining space.
About the CEO
Sharon Sobol Jordan has served in top leadership, strategy, business, and advisory roles in a wide-ranging career that has crossed sectors, disciplines, and boundaries. Before her appointment as the first woman to lead the United Way of Greater Cleveland as President & CEO, she was Founder & CEO of OpenSpace Solutions LLC where she served as a hands-on strategic partner and advisor helping transformational leaders reimagine what’s possible. As part of this array of customized services, Sharon served as Interim CEO of DigitalC, a nonprofit digital equity tech startup.
She previously served as President and Board member of Unify Labs, a nonprofit tech innovation lab with the mission of powering inclusive prosperity, after serving as Chief of Staff for Cuyahoga County where she drove key strategic initiatives including early childhood education expansion, workforce systems transformation, the first unified strategic plan, and formation of the first Innovation Office. Sharon was the first woman to serve as President & CEO of The Centers for Families and Children, one of Ohio’s oldest and largest non-profit human service corporations, which tripled in size and reach under her leadership to employ over 550 and serve more than 25,000 people each year. She was appointed to lead The Centers after serving as its Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel.
Sharon joined The Centers after an impactful public service career with the City of Cleveland as Director of Law and Special Counsel to the Mayor. She played a key role in many critical issues facing the City including the effort to keep the Cleveland Browns team, name and colors in Cleveland; protecting the community from the adverse impacts of the acquisition of Conrail by Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads; and the dispute over development of the Chagrin Highlands. Prior to that, Sharon entered the professional services field by way of the Cleveland law firm now known as Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell where she became a partner.
Sharon serves on several boards including Bruening Foundation, City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic – South Pointe Hospital, Cleveland Jewish News, Cleveland Transformation Alliance, and PolicyBridge. She is a member of In Counsel with Women and the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2003. She is a Leader-in-Residence at the Cleveland State University College of Law where she co-teaches a leadership course with Dean Lee Fisher. Jordan is honored to have received various recognitions of her work, including the Smart 50 leaders in Northeast Ohio, Nortech’s Innovative Leader of the Year, EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, Crain’s Woman of Note, and YWCA Woman of Achievement awards.
She received her J.D. and M.B.A. from The Ohio State University, and her B.S. in public administration and management from Indiana University in Bloomington. Sharon is married to attorney David Wallace, a partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister. They have three children.
