The Cleveland Council on World Affairs welcomes new members to our Young Professionals Advisory Committee (YPAC). YPAC is a body of young professionals who support the work of CCWA in its efforts to engage young professionals and students in our programming. YPAC members do this by providing program feedback and insight to the board and staff of CCWA, leading coordination of young professional events, and serving as community ambassadors for CCWA and its programs. The members of the Young Professionals Advisory Committee have been announced for the 2023-2025 term.
Evan Chwalek is the Workforce Manager at Global Cleveland. With over six years of experience in the area of economic integration, Evan holistically prepares international newcomers for success in the workplace. He has supported the development and implementation of employment, entrepreneurial, and educational programs that expedite self-sufficiency among refugee and immigrant populations. Evan works to make Northeast Ohio a more welcoming place for immigrants of all backgrounds to secure satisfactory, long-term, and upwardly mobile employment opportunities. He is a proponent of immigration’s positive economic impact on our region and strives to demystify immigrant services to employers, educational institutions, governments, and other stakeholders.
Mary Conway is a native-Clevelander who is pleased to be back home after time abroad and in Columbus. She's an Ohio State graduate with degrees in finance and Russian language. Currently, she's an Associate Consultant at INSIGHT2PROFIT, a boutique managerial consulting firm based in Beachwood. Previous work included time in Kazakhstan with the US Department of State as a translator at the International Exposition on Green Energy and Sustainable Development, at additional consulting firms, and working with a variety of nonprofits. She's also a board member with Rocky River Lakewood Meals on Wheels and the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association. She is passionate about making global engagement accessible in the Cleveland community and continuing to explore the world through good conversation and good food.
Bre Ganuelas-Tischler serves as Manager of Marketing and Communications at Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. In May 2017, Bre graduated from Kent State University with a Communications degree and entered the marketing industry immediately after. She has a deep passion for growth, education, and helping others harness their potential for greatness. In her spare time, Bre coaches high school girls lacrosse, serves on the Leadership Council for Engage! Cleveland, serves as VP Women's Game on the USA Lacrosse North Coast Ohio Chapter Board, and serves on the Associate Board at the Beck Center for the Arts. She completed the Cleveland LEADS program through Cleveland Council on World Affairs in the Fall of 2022. Bre also enjoys traveling, meeting new people, learning new things, reading, going out of her comfort zone, staying active, and all things Cleveland sports.
Nate Flauto is a Project Coordinator for a large skilled labor staffing company that operates in the Western Hemisphere. He is also a Freelance Journalist based in Cleveland's near west side who actively pursues stories that elevate those who seek to bring people together and news that affects our shared experience living in Cleveland. Nate is eager to resume his role on YPAC's board as the Social Chair and he is looking forward to helping the Committee carry out its mission into 2025.
Ricky Gilmore-Vega is currently a summer associate at Littler Mendelson, in their Cleveland office. Ricky graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science, History, and Spanish from Case Western Reserve University. Ricky just finished his first year of law school at his alma mater, Case Western, where received the Vattel International Law Scholar Award. Ricky is active in the Black Law Student Association and the Latinx Law Student Association. Ricky is a native of Cleveland and is a big Cleveland sports fan! Ricky is a huge movie buff and enjoys going to the movie theater any chance he gets free time.
Ryan Hulec is the Career Education Manager at the Greater Cleveland Neighborhood Centers Association. In this role, he introduces, educates, and integrates high school students into career opportunities within the Healthcare, Safety and Security, and Manufacturing spaces, as well as teaches an Entrepreneurial mindset. Ryan has previously interned with the United States Agency for International Development, Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and the Mennonite Economic Development Associates. Ryan’s passions include connecting different people, boardgames, and stand-up comedy. Ryan has an M.A. in Global Interactions from Cleveland State University.
Ethan Isaacson is the Founder and CEO of LegalEase-Tech, Inc., he has been at the forefront of integrating technology and law since 2017, managing a successful venture that has received multiple acquisition offers from private equity firms. Ethan was also recognized as a finalist at the prestigious ABA TECHSHOW 2023 start-up competition. Before his entrepreneurial journey, Ethan gained extensive experience in the judicial and legal research field. He served as a judicial extern for Justice R. Patrick DeWine of the Supreme Court of Ohio and Judge Jack Zouhary of the U.S. District Court for the N.D. of Ohio and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, California. At the international level, Ethan worked as a research fellow with the Public International Law & Policy Group in Washington, D.C. Ethan holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he served as an associate editor for the Journal of International Law and represented his peers as the American Bar Association Representative. He also holds a B.A. in History from The Ohio State University. Earlier in his career, Ethan demonstrated his commitment to service as a Cadet in the United States Army at West Point, New York. In addition to his professional pursuits, Ethan was an active Board Member of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division from August 2020 to May 2021.
Susan Kuilder is a dynamic leader passionate about elevating event experiences. Susan has actively engaged consumers in more than 1,000 creative campaigns throughout the last decade. Kuilder is currently an Experiential Marketing Manager at MarshBerry, the nation’s #1 M&A advisory firm. She has taught public speaking and intercultural communication at The University of Akron where she also completed her Masters of Communication in 2014. Susan is a graduate of The E.W. Scripps School of Communication at Ohio University. For 15 years, Susan has been a volunteer for The Vatican, currently serving as an English social media correspondent.
Laura Marica currently works as a case manager for her organization, Cleveland Angels, to support youth and families experiencing foster care. Prior to this role, she dedicated a year to serving high schoolers in East Cleveland as a student mentor and success coach through City Year. While achieving her BA in Peace Studies at Kent State University, Laura completed internships for a women’s shelter and human trafficking collaborative. It was through her educational experience that Laura developed an interest in global affairs and cultural exchange and plans to pursue these career pathways in her future. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, thrifting, and learning martial arts.
Danielle Mihalcea is a first-generation Romanian. She currently serves as the main researcher at the Cleveland Foundation to cultivate donors and advocate for community issues that include racial equity & inclusion, learning opportunities, and young professional development. Prior to her current role, Danielle worked as a Research Analyst at Scherzer International where she gained research skills investigating both an individual and company’s criminal and financial history on a domestic and international level. To maintain her research skills, Danielle is a member of the Ohio Prospect Research Network and the Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement. In addition, Danielle is on the Leadership Council for Engage! Cleveland. Danielle holds both a Master of Arts in Global Interactions and Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Cleveland State University. She is bilingual in Romanian. In her free time, Danielle enjoys spending time with family and practicing yoga.
Anu Ngwa was born in Douala, Cameroon, grew up in Houston, and recently moved from Detroit to Cleveland. She graduated with honors from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and double minors in English and Health. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Affairs with a focus in policy analysis from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. After completing her masters, she plans on attending law school. Anu is a part-time substitute teacher for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and the Local & Domestic Programs intern for MedWish International.
Michael Schauer is a Partner in the Business and Real Estate practice groups at Schneider Smeltz Spieth Bell LLP. Prior to joining the firm, Mike served as in-house counsel for closely held companies and worked closely with ownership to facilitate rapid and sustained growth across business units throughout the United States. Mike advises and assists clients on transactional, employment, cybersecurity, and real estate matters. Mike graduated from The John Marshall School of Law in Chicago in 2015 where he served as Articles Editor on the Review of Intellectual Property. Prior to attending law school. Mike graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Loyola University Chicago. Mike is also a registered patent attorney with the USPTO. Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and young family exploring the city.
Rebecca Schueller is a Staff Attorney in the Immigration Legal Services department of Catholic Charities Diocese of Cleveland. She previously practiced commercial litigation and transactional law before transitioning to immigration practice and has previously clerked with the Ohio Supreme Court. Rebecca holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a juris doctor degree from Cleveland State College of Law. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring the Cuyahoga Valley National Park by foot and kayak, as well as cooking and travel.
Cameron Taylor is a Workforce and Policy Specialist at Global Cleveland. He attended Ashland University from 2014-2018, focusing on political science, international relations, and history. As a student, he was an Ashbrook scholar and completed a senior thesis that examined the history and development of the European Union and the broader European project. While at Ashland, Cameron was the president of the Alexander Hamilton Society, a nonpartisan organization promoting discussion of international affairs on campus. In his free time, he enjoys reading, food, travel, and motorsports. His hobbies include wildlife photography, tennis, and skiing.
We welcome these young leaders to YPAC and look forward to seeing the future impact they have in the community!
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