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

Board Memberships

  • Black Women’s Political Action Committee (BWPAC)
  • Cuyahoga County Council’s Community Reinvestment Subcommittee
  • Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers
  • Cuyahoga County’s Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity
  • Executive Committee of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
  • First Ring Schools Superintendents’ and Mayors’ Collaborative
  • Global Cleveland. Policy Committee Co-Chairperson
  • Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA). Board of Directors. Assistant Secretary
  • Ohio Municipal League. The Mayor’s Association of Ohio. President
  • Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA). Secretary
  • The First Suburbs Consortium. Vice-Chair
  • The Suburban Water Council of Governments
  • Union Miles Development Corporation

Awards. Honors

  • 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.
  • 2021 Community Leaders of the Year Award. Cleveland Magazine
  • 2020 Most Interesting People. Cleveland Magazine
  • Cuyahoga Community College Women In Transition Program (WIT) Outstanding Leadership Award
  • 2023 Women of Distinction Honoree. Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio (GSNEO)
  • Maple Heights City Schools Pathfinder Award
  • National Action Network of Greater Cleveland Humanitarian Warrior of Justice & Leadership Award
  • Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats (NEOYBD) Woman of Vision Award
  • The Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Ohio) Norman Krumholz Equity Award
  • The Ohio State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Distinguished Community Leader Award
  • Ursuline College’s Sister Diana Stano Leadership Award
  • Villa Angela – St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame

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