Mayor Blackwell

In January 2016, Mayor Blackwell was sworn in as the City of Maple Heights’ 16th Mayor, the first female and first African-American in the City’s 100-year history. She is also the City’s Safety Director.

Professional Experience

Mayor Annette Blackwell is a very successful business professional and her previous employers include:

  • KeyBank (US Bank)
  • University Hospitals of Cleveland
  • Deloitte
  • Ryan International Tax Services

Board Memberships

  • Black Women’s Political Action Committee
  • Cuyahoga County’s Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity
  • Cuyahoga County’s Land Reutilization Corporation Board of Directors
  • Executive Board Member, Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers
  • Policy Committee Co-Chairperson, Global Cleveland Executive Committee
  • Assistant Secretary, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
  • President, Ohio Municipal League, the Mayor’s Association of Ohio
  • Secretary, Regional Income Tax Agency
  • St. Benedict Catholic School, Garfield Heights, Board of Trustees
  • Vice-Chair, The First Suburbs Consortium
  • The Suburban Water Council of Governments
  • Ursuline College Board of Trustees

Awards. Honors

  • 2024 NOACA Jackson Leadership Award named for Former Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson
  • 2024 Cleveland Future History Maker Community Change Maker Award presented by NEON and Radio One
  • 2024 Cleveland Kindland Leadership Award
  • 2024 Environmental Justice Champion, Black Environmental Leaders Association
  • 2023 Women of Distinction Honoree, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio
  • 2021 Community Leaders of the Year Award, Cleveland Magazine
  • 2020 Most Interesting People, Cleveland Magazine
  • Outstanding Leadership Award, Cuyahoga Community College Women In Transition Program
  • Maple Heights City Schools Pathfinder Award
  • Humanitarian Warrior of Justice & Leadership Award, National Action Network of Greater Cleveland
  • Woman of Vision Award, Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats
  • Norman Krumholz Equity Award, The Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association
  • Distinguished Community Leader Award, The Ohio State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
  • Sister Diana Stano Leadership Award, Ursuline College
  • Villa Angela – St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame

Education

  • Senior Stokes Fellow for the 2025 Class of the Advanced Leadership Institute
  • The Ohio State University, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Ohio Public Leadership Academy
  • Cleveland State University, The Center for Public & Nonprofit Management
  • Ursuline College (BA) Public Relations/Corporate Communications
  • Indiana Wesleyan University (ASB)
  • Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute