Current Board Members

Inajo Davis Chappell

Appointed: 2021 (Term Ends: March 2027)

Employment: Chappell is a partner at the law firm Ulmer & Berne LLP where she serves as Group Leader of the Nonprofit Practice Group and as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. 

Education: B.A., Yale University, 1982; J.D., Columbia Law School, 1985.

Background: In addition to her practice, Chappell is a respected civic leader and community volunteer who has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, foundations, and professional groups throughout her career. She also serves on the boards of ERIEBANK Ohio, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, and Say Yes Cleveland Scholarship.

John Corlett

Secretary 

Appointed: 2022 (Term Ends: March 2026)

Employment: Corlett serves as the President and Executive Director of The Center for Community Solutions.

Education: B.S.S., Ohio University, 1981.

Background: Corlett’s career has included leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including serving as the State of Ohio’s Medicaid Director. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Centers for Families and Children, First Year Cleveland, Lakewood Community Service Society, the United Way of Greater Cleveland, and the Woodruff Foundation. 

Maureen Dee

Appointed: 2014 (Term Ends: March 2024)

Education: Master’s degree in social services administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Master's in Business Administration from Cleveland State University.

Background:  As a Licensed Supervising Social Worker (LISW-S - Ohio) and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor and Supervisor (LICDC-CS,) she has extensive experience in the provision of mental health and chemical dependency treatment services to children, youth, and their families, in community-based settings.   

John M. Hairston, Jr.

Appointed: 2019 (Term Ends: February 2027)

Education: Master’s degree in education administration from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor's degree in English from Bluefield State College.

Background:  Hairston had an exceptional career that spanned 27 years with the Cleveland Public School District followed by 17 years in various leadership roles at the NASA Lewis Research Center (NASA Glenn). He worked closely with congressional and agency leaders to facilitate a relationship between the Center and the Cleveland community.

In 2008, he accepted the role of Chief of Communications for Cleveland Public Schools, a position he held through 2011. In 2012, Hairston became the District Director for the 11th District Congressional Office in Warrensville Heights under Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. He also serves on the Cleveland Public Library’s Board of Trustees. 

Robert Hurwitz

Appointed: 2017 (Term Ends: March 2026)

Employment: Hurwitz has spent nearly five decades as a Cleveland entrepreneur, founding and leading companies including OfficeMax, Inc., The Coral Company, HomePlace, Inc, Professional Housewares and Incentive Consultants.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in international trade from Bernard Baruch School of Business at City College of New York.

Background: He has been involved in many community and non-profit boards in the areas of education, business, medicine and community building. Hurwitz is a member of the JumpStart Board of Directors, where he is active in its successful mentoring program.

John M. Moss

Appointed: 2010 (Term Ends: March 2028)

Employment: Moss has been a Financial Advisor since 1992, and currently serves as First Vice President with UBS Financial Services.

Education: Bachelor's degree in history from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, 1983; MBA in finance from the University of Akron, 1987.

Background: Prior to his career at UBS Financial Services, Moss was a field engineer and cost analyst for Turner Construction Company. He also taught in the Chicago public school system. He served on the MetroHealth Foundation Board from 2007-2010, and served on the Board of Trustees for the Cleveland Municipal School District.

J. B. Silvers, PhD

Appointed: 2011 (Term Ends: March 2023)

Employment: Silvers is a Professor of Banking and Finance at Case Western Reserve University. In addition to his professorship at the Weatherhead School of Management, he holds a joint appointment in the School of Medicine.

Education: Bachelor's degree, Purdue University, 1965; master's degree, Purdue University, 1966, PhD, Stanford University, 1971.

Background: Silvers, who conducts research in the areas of financial management and health services, has been published in several journals. He also serves on the board of commissioners for the Joint Commission.

E. Harry Walker, MD

Chair

Appointed: 2021 (Term Ends: March 2025)

Education: Bachelor's degree, Williams College, 1971; M.D., University of Cincinnati Medical School, 1975.

Background: Dr. Walker spent his 32-year career at MetroHealth and retired as the system’s Senior Vice President for ambulatory operations. In his practice, he specialized in internal medicine and led MetroHealth’s primary care department for six years.

Vanessa L. Whiting

Vice-Chair

Appointed: 2011 (Term Ends: March 2023)

Employment: Whiting is an attorney with vast experience in tax credit consulting and real estate work. 

Education: Bachelor's degree in public policy sciences, Duke University, 1982; master's in urban affairs policy analysis, Southern Illinois University, 1983; University of Illinois College of Law.

Background: Her clients have included housing authorities, community development corporations, private sector developers, financial institutions, government entities and equity investors. Her professional affiliations include serving on the Board of Trustees for the Tri-C Foundation, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and Judson.