Smart Business Magazine, December 2018

52 Smart Business Cleveland December 2018 2018Pill r Award for Community Service I t was 2015 and MidTown Cleveland Inc had reached an inflection point Lagging financial performance resulted in a series of operational and personnel cuts and the subsequent resignation of the executive director A search ensued and the organizations board ultimately approved the hiring of Jeff Epstein as executive director in February 2016 As Epstein was beginning his tenure at MTC the board underwent a process of amending its governance which had the effect of replacing nearly two thirds of its directors So with a new board little staff and no room for error Epstein dug in and got to work He helped guide the board in crafting a strategic plan which has four distinct goals build a connected community create a complete neighborhood build the MidTown brand and strengthen the organizations capacity Each of these goals has been positively impacted and made possible by Epsteins hard work and commitment to the organization An organization previously known for only working with the businesses in the area Epstein hosted the first resident block party on East 75th Street and this year has engaged the residents to work on programs such as the successful Leos Listening Party to introduce neighbors to each other while rekindling the memories of the famed music venue Leos Casino Epstein also engaged a new marketing firm to rework the image of MidTown from being a pass through to a place where people work in a variety of fields be it for profit or not for profit a place where people of all income levels live and a place for recreation Jeff Epstein Executive director MidTown Cleveland Inc N O N P R O F I T E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D M alachi House was founded in 1988 through a pioneering effort to preserve human dignity for terminally ill individuals The inspiration for it came from the ministry of Fr Paul Hritz and the St Malachi Church parishioners who often encountered homeless individuals dying under bridges or in cars deserted buildings and other unsuitable places within the city As executive director Judy Ghazoul Hilow has continued her growth as a mission driven servant leader building on the experience she has gained leading organizations and communities over the last 32 years She has crafted a proven process for the mission its finances and development aspects that are so crucial to the success of a nonprofit Her empathetic spirit and business sense create success in every role Residents continue to be served with loving care at the highest level and at a capacity of 15 individuals along with a waiting list There has been a 25 percent increase in the number of volunteers bringing the total number of active volunteers to more than 100 Grant awards have doubled yearly from 225000 to 530000 and contributions from individuals and corporations overall have increased on a similar scale Hilow was recently recruited as a nonprofit leader to receive a scholarship as a student in the Executive MBA program in The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University The program began in the fall and will continue for two years with an international trip to two countries to study their economy and business practices as well as visits to nonprofit organizations Judy Ghazoul Hilow Executive director Malachi House N O N P R O F I T E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D