Joel Ratner – Board Chair

President and CEO, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

J.D., School of Law, Case Western Reserve University

Joel Ratner is President and CEO of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, a local community development funding intermediary with over thirty years of experience investing in community revitalization work in the City of Cleveland. Cleveland Neighborhood Progress works to accomplish its vision for all of Cleveland’s neighborhoods to be attractive, vibrant communities where people from all incomes, races, and generations thrive, prosper, and choose to live, learn, work, invest, and play. Before joining Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Ratner served as President of the Raymond John Wean Foundation, leading its comprehensive effort to advance the Mahoning Valley. Prior to that, Ratner led the Neighborhood Connections Program at the Cleveland Foundation, which provides small grants to neighborhood groups working to improve their communities.

Email: JRatner@GALACleveland.org | Phone: (216) 315-7942

Michele Scott Taylor, EdD – Board Vice Chair

Chief Program Officer, College Now Greater Cleveland

Doctor of Education, University of Pittsburgh

Dr. Michele Scott Taylor is the Chief Program Officer at College Now Greater Cleveland and provides strategic leadership for the organization’s programmatic efforts, including school- and community-based advising programs as well as federal programs. Her previous role as Coordinator of Access and Retention at John Carroll University focused on college access and retention.  Michele has spent most of her professional career in higher education administration in a myriad of student affairs and academic affairs roles.  Michele is also CEO and principal of Global Learning Solutions, a small consulting firm she started in an effort to provide cultural competency development, program evaluation, program and proposal development, grant writing and organizational development assistance to small businesses and non-profit organizations.  She received two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Akron majoring in Political Science, Sociology, and French.  She earned a Master of Education degree from Kent State University specializing in College Student Personnel as well as Doctor of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in Administrative and Policy Studies.  In the community, Michele takes pride in serving on the board of Progressive Arts Alliance, a non-profit that inspires students to reach their full potential by providing unique and relevant learning experiences using contemporary arts and 21st century media. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a social service organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.

Email: MScottTaylor@GALACleveland.org | Phone: (216) 315-7942

Deborah Stipkovich – Board Treasurer

Senior Audit Strategist, KeyBank

MS: Taxation,  University of Akron

Debbie Stipkovich is a Senior Audit Strategist at KeyBank managing large audits focusing on the Corporate Treasury Department.  She has had several roles at KeyBank including over 10 years preparing regulatory submissions and risk assessments on Treasury functions as well as working with banking regulators.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from John Carroll University and holds an Ohio CPA license and a CFA Charter.

Email: DStipkovich@GALACleveland.org | Phone: (216) 315-7942

Bailey Capelle – Board Member

Director of Advising Programs and Services, College Now Greater Cleveland

MBA, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

Bio: Experience ranging from overseeing twelve 21st CCLCs with ODE, five Rec. Center Programs with the City of Cleveland, and 25+ Starting Point Programs in MyCom Neighborhoods to training the 40+ employees who support those programs; from managing a $2.5 million+ annual budget to writing curriculum in math, grammar, reading, writing, and college & career research; from grant writing to evaluation and compliance management; from running data audits to composing analytical reports. Involvement with a variety of locations across Greater Cleveland in urban and suburban settings: 15+ community centers, 25+ libraries, 15+ High Schools across 7 school districts. Extensive research experience at the master’s level in the fields of literature and business.  Passionate about organizational behavior, leadership development, business and education policy, teaching, and training.

Email: BCapelle@GALACleveland.org | Phone: (216) 315-7942

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