The Cleveland Council on World Affairs welcomes new members to our Carter E. Strang 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 following new members of the Young Professionals Advisory Committee have been invited to join the 2024-2026 term.
Aimon Ali is a fashion entrepreneur, content creator, and founder of Fashion Talks and the FT Foundation. With over a decade of experience in the fashion industry, Aimon is dedicated to empowering diverse creative entrepreneurs and promoting inclusivity in fashion. Through Fashion Talks, Aimon organizes events that highlight local talent and elevate the fashion scene in Cleveland. The FT Foundation aims to close gaps in representation within the industry and supports underrepresented voices. Aimon's background also includes founding a bookkeeping and accounting business, leveraging her skills in finance and management. Additionally, she holds a background in psychology and previously worked as a behavioral therapist, bringing a unique perspective to her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Mario Codispoti, a proud Italian-American, joins the Cleveland Council on World Affairs’ Young Professional Advisory Committee with a fervent dedication to advancing Greater Cleveland’s growth and prosperity. As a servant leader and accomplished marketing and communications executive, Mario brings a wealth of experience from both private and public sectors. His career is highlighted by leading innovative and strategic teams, where his collaborative approach and adept decision-making consistently deliver exceptional results. Mario’s commitment to leveraging his skills for community advancement underscores his role as a pivotal advocate for Cleveland’s future. As the Director of Marketing and Communications at Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Mario spearheads the organization's marketing, communications, branding, public relations, and recruitment strategies, showcasing the system's talent strategies and workforce readiness.
Sydnie Echols (they/them) is an administrative professional with twelve years of experience working in an administrative and finance role in a non-profit organization. Sydnie is a powerful force in the workplace and uses their passionate attitude and infectious energy to encourage others to be open and collaborative. In their spare time, Sydnie enjoys reading, participating in various book clubs, playing video games and hosting virtual safe spaces for people of multiple identities to discuss a range of topics and issues, how they affect their everyday experiences and resolutions that elicit change.
Sara Kalout is a current rising second-year medical student at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Cleveland. In May 2022, Sara graduated from John Carroll University with a B.S. in Biology. In medical school, Sara is actively involved in various organizations like the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS). She was also recently chosen as a member of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland & Northern Ohio (AMCNO) Future Leaders Council. Sara is a native Clevelander who moved back to Cleveland after growing up abroad. Sara's background is enriched by her international upbringing, which has fueled her interest in global affairs and cultural exchange. In her personal time, Sara enjoys running, baking, traveling, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with her two cats, Cookie and Labaneh.
Santana F. King is a defense and national security professional. Santana is passionate about international security and global affairs and aspires to be a decision maker in the foreign policy/national security community. Currently, Santana works for a leading defense contractor, SAIC, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in a congressional affairs office. Prior to his role as a defense congressional analyst, Santana was a management consultant at Guidehouse (formerly PwC public sector) where he worked in the company’s Defense and Security Segment, specifically in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) account. In college, Santana was a member of Model Congress where he served as the Senate Foreign Relations Chair. Additionally, he interned for the U.S. Department of State, the United States Senate, and the City of Parma. Santana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government, International Relations, from the University of Maryland, College Park. In his free time, he likes to read, watch international news, go on walks, hang out with friends, and weightlift (not really but I still do it). Santana loves sports, especially Cleveland sports teams.
Megan Lowes-Bolin is a Cleveland native, currently residing in Brook Park. She has dedicated the past decade to roles of leadership within the nonprofit sector. Her expertise lies in strategic planning and cultivating leadership skills at both individual and organizational levels. As an alum and instructor of John Carroll University, Megan serves as an instructor for leadership, non-profit and management courses. Additionally, Megan is the Executive Director of Magis Consulting Group, LLC, specializing in strategic consulting and leadership development services. In her free time, Megan loves traveling the world and exploring all of Cleveland’s hidden gems. She married her husband Bobby in 2018 and they are the proud pet parents of 6 cats!
Thomas Rovito is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the General Felony Unit of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, where he has worked since 2018 after obtaining his J.D. from the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. He is also a Judge Advocate with the Ohio Army National Guard. Thomas recently returned from a deployment in the CENTCOM Area of Operations for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. He brings a vast array of experiences with him through previous work with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the U.S. Department of State’s Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications.
Andrew Sobhy is a senior at Cleveland State University studying finance and striving to become a successful lawyer working with multinational corporations. Issues he cares about most are American foreign policy, financial literacy, and Cleveland's economic development. In YPAC, Andrew aims to connect and hopefully work with individuals of different backgrounds to raise awareness of CCWA's work at educational institutions and relevant stakeholders throughout Northeast Ohio.
Uliana Spiridonova relocated to Cleveland in 2012. She pursued her academic journey at Cleveland State University, earning a BA in Political Science and Urban Studies with a concentration in public management in 2017, followed by an MA in Global Interactions in 2021. While initially harboring aspirations of a career in politics, she found her true calling in higher education. She currently works as an Assistant Director for Residential Communities at Kent State University.
Mike Steensen has spent his career leading international expansions for US manufacturers. He graduated from the University of Akron after studying International Business, Spanish, and Human Resources. He completed the United States Global Leadership Coalition's Next Gen Program as one of the top 100 young professionals working in International Trade and Affairs across the USA. He enjoys learning about other cultures and their values.
David Szabo is excited to join YPAC. As a new member of YPAC, David is eager to support global awareness within the Cleveland community. His life-long enthusiasm for international affairs is highlighted both personally and professionally. David’s educational experiences included participation in German student exchange programs as both a high school and college student, and an internship with the Political-Economic Section at the US Consulate in Frankfurt. As an e-discovery professional, David’s fluency in German has been valuable in a variety of discovery procedures in litigation and government inquiries. He also works in a freelance capacity as a German to English translator and interpreter. He holds a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University's College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from The Ohio State University.
Emily Weaver is the International Student Career Specialist at Case Western Reserve University. She helps CWRU's international students find and prepare for professional opportunities, as well as strengthening connections with employers and local workforce development organizations. She is also an incoming co-lead for the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Global Talent affinity group, where she will lead programming to educate employers and fellow career services professionals about overseas recruitment and hiring international students. Before starting at CWRU, Emily spent almost six years working for Taiyuan University of Technology in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China. She has a particular interest in helping people navigate unfamiliar cultural settings. Emily holds dual bachelor’s degrees in History and Global Studies: Asia from Ohio University. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places, hunting for antiques, and trying out new recipes.
We welcome these young leaders to YPAC and look forward to seeing the future impact they have in the community! For more information about YPAC, contact ccwa@ccwa.org.
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