On January 6, 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
- University Hospitals of Cleveland
- Deloitte
- Ryan International Tax Services
She ended her 16 years as a Senior Commercial Property Tax Analyst and Co-Leader of the Black Employee Network (BEN) at Deloitte and Ryan Global Tax Services where she was also a United States India Liaison when she won the election.
Board Memberships
- Black Women’s Political Action Committee (BWPAC)
- Cuyahoga County’s Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity
- Cuyahoga County Community College Council for Community Access
- Cuyahoga County Council’s Community Reinvestment Subcommittee
- Executive Committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
- First Ring Schools Superintendents’ and Mayors’ Collaborative
- Global Cleveland
- MyCom Saving Our Daughters/Saving Our Candelillas Celebrity Godparent
- Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). Assistant Secretary
- Northeast Ohio Arts + Culture Caucus
- Ohio Mayors Association of Ohio, Ohio Municipal League. 2023 Officer. Secretary
- Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA). Secretary
- The First Suburbs Consortium and the Suburban Water Council of Governments
Awards. Honors
- Maple Heights City Schools Pathfinder Award
- National Action Network of Greater Cleveland Humanitarian Warrior of Justice & Leadership Award
- The Ohio State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Distinguished Community Leader Award
- Cuyahoga Community College Women in Transition Program (WIT) Outstanding Leadership Award
- Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats (NEOYBD) Woman of Vision Award
- Ursuline College’s Sister Diana Stano Leadership Award
- Villa Angela – St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame
- The Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Ohio) Norman Krumholz Equity Award
- Cleveland Magazine 2020 Most Interesting People
- Cleveland Magazine 2021 Community Leaders of the Year Award
Education
- 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