The Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund operates lean by design, relying on trusted partners and outside experts. Day-to-day leadership is driven by a small but experienced team.
Brad is a longtime leader in Cleveland’s economic development scene. He founded and led the Fund for Our Economic Future, where he helped launch key intermediaries like Team NEO, MAGNET, JumpStart and the Minority Business Accelerator, and championed inclusive, place-based development. He was a vocal proponent of core city redevelopment, smart growth and economic inclusion. He was active in the aggregation of land adjacent to the Opportunity Corridor and planning for its use. Brad stepped down as President of the Fund for Our Economic Future in 2020 and worked with the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program as a nonresident senior fellow on economic development projects across the United States.
Before that, Brad was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, advising global clients across sectors. Since stepping down from the Fund in 2020, he’s continued his civic and economic work through Brookings, executive coaching and local partnerships—including supporting Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb on economic strategy.
Brad holds degrees in economics and public administration from Harvard. He’s also a devoted rower, civic mentor and urban chicken farmer. He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife Amy and enjoys time with their four grown children and two granddaughters.
Rick brings deep public and nonprofit real estate experience to the Site Readiness Fund. He previously led development efforts at MidTown Cleveland and served as the Brownfield & Special Projects Manager for Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development. His expertise includes brownfield remediation, land assembly and incentive-based development.
Rick also worked for Cohen and Company, consulting on Opportunity Zone and Tax Increment Financing projects, and advising on financial models, deal structures and processes related to federal, state and local incentives. Previously, Rick served as loan officer for New York City’s Housing Preservation Department.
He holds degrees from The Ohio State University and NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate. Rick lives in Ohio City with his wife, two daughters, a black cat and 10,000 bees. He’s an active gardener, sailor and community volunteer.
Orlando leads community engagement and strategy development for the Site Readiness Fund, including directing Cleveland’s EDA Recompete Grant. His work focuses on aligning land reuse with inclusive growth—particularly along the Opportunity Corridor.
Sara is a Project Manager with the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund. She is dedicated to building vibrant, connected, and resilient places where people can access meaningful work, affordable housing, and reliable transportation.
Sara brings a strong commitment to economic, racial, and environmental justice to her work, and is particularly interested in building paths toward economic mobility and lasting community wealth.
Sara holds a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Michigan. Before graduate school, she managed fundraising communications at Public Justice, a national legal advocacy organization in Washington, D.C., supporting efforts to advance workers’ rights, protect the environment, and hold wrongdoing corporations accountable.
Originally from Michigan, Sara now calls Cleveland home, where she lives with her partner and their rescue chihuahua, Ollie. Outside of work, she enjoys running, biking, hiking, snowboarding, and camping with her friends and family.
Olivia Dong joined the Site Readiness Fund in July 2025 with a background in both urban planning and real estate finance. She is passionate about advancing socially impactful development through creative financing strategies. Olivia is especially interested in leveraging public financing tools to support brownfield redevelopment and other mission-driven projects.
Originally from China, she brings a global perspective to industrial land reuse and development.
Prior to joining SRF, Olivia earned her Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University, where she also pursued a minor in Real Estate. She served as a teaching assistant for Real Estate Finance and Investment Modeling at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration. In the summer of 2024, she worked as a policy analyst at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Earlier in her career, she held a support role at Colliers International’s Shanghai office.
Outside of work, Olivia is a devoted music lover and former alto in a chorus. She enjoys attending live performances, experimenting in the kitchen, and exploring the world of wine.
The Site Readiness Fund is governed by a nine-member board jointly appointed by the Mayor of Cleveland and Cleveland City Council President. The board members bring a powerful mix of local experience and national expertise in economic development, public service, community investment and real estate. They are joined by three non-voting representatives from Cuyahoga County, Team NEO and the Cuyahoga Land Bank.
Chair
Fred Nance is Executive Group Member and former Global Managing Partner at Squire Patton Boggs, where he leads the U.S. Sports & Entertainment practice. A trusted legal and business advisor, he represents global icons like LeBron James and Dave Chappelle, and has played a key role in economic development initiatives in Cleveland for many years. Fred has served on numerous boards including the Cleveland Clinic, RPM International and The Cleveland Foundation, and chaired the Greater Cleveland Partnership.
Ben McAdams is a Senior Fellow at the Sorenson Impact Center and founder of the Common Ground Institute. He served as a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of Salt Lake County, and Utah State Senator. A bipartisan problem-solver, he has worked across government, academia and private practice. Ben holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and has taught at the University of Utah.
Joan is Vice President with the Fund for Our Economic Future, where she leads implementation of job access and development strategies. Her prior roles include leading government consulting at Allegro Real Estate, managing community technology initiatives at DigitalC, and working in investment and economic development roles at CIF and Greater Cleveland Partnership. She holds degrees from Case Western Reserve and Cleveland State.
Councilman Hairston represents Cleveland’s Ward 10 and previously served on Cuyahoga County Council. Known for his work on housing, infrastructure and community development grants, he has long championed equitable investment and veterans’ services. A Cleveland State graduate and Collinwood native, he’s been politically active since his early 20s and remains a vocal advocate for Cleveland’s East Side neighborhoods.
Councilman Slife represents Cleveland’s Ward 17 and previously served in the Mayor’s Office and Economic Development Department. He also worked in industrial site selection at The Austin Company. His background spans brownfield redevelopment, real estate and regional collaboration. He holds degrees from Miami University and Cleveland State University and lives in West Park with his wife, son and daughters
