Mayor Blackwell

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 Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity
  • Cuyahoga County Community College Council for Community Access
  • Cuyahoga County Council’s Community Reinvestment Subcommittee
  • Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers Association
  • Executive Committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
  • First Ring Schools Superintendents’ and Mayors’ Collaborative
  • Global Cleveland’s Board of Directors
  • MyCom Saving Our Daughters/Saving Our Cinderellas Celebrity Godparent
  • Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). Assistant Secretary
  • Northeast Ohio Arts + Culture Caucus
  • Secretary for the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA)
  • The First Suburbs Consortium Executive Committee
  • 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
  • Cleveland Magazine CLE 500 2022

Education

  • The Ohio State University, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Ohio Public Leadership Academy
  • Cleveland State University, Ohio Certified Public Manager @ The Center for Public & Nonprofit Management
  • Ursuline College (BA) Public Relations/Corporate Communications, Pepper Pike, Ohio
  • Indiana Wesleyan University, Independence, Ohio (ASB)
  • Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute