Sanaa Julien, Chief Executive Officer 

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Sanaa Julien is the CEO of the Group Plan Commission, leading the programming, maintenance and operations of Cleveland Public Square since March of 2016. 

 

Julien's career includes 18 years in broadcast programming and marketing at premier radio and television stations in the Cleveland market, 10 years and 11 seasons leading the marketing and entertainment programming for the Cleveland Indians, most recently as Senior Director, and three years as Chief Marketing Officer for Cleveland Metroparks.

Julien is an award-winning producer, writer, director, and programmer having won numerous awards for best in-stadium/in arena entertainment from the National Sports Forum, Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year from Sales and Marketing Executives, 3 regional Emmy Awards and 11 Marcom International Marketing Awards.

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Rick Grospitch, General Manager

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Rick Grospitch has worked for 30 years in special event services, combining dining, administrative, and planning expertise to create consistently successful high-profile programs across the Cleveland region. 

 

His event career began as a District Manager for AVI Foodsystems overseeing multiple large-scale accounts with responsibility for extensive corporate catering and special events, then for 20 years as Director of Conferencing at Cleveland State University.

 

Under his direction, but with the help of a great team, CSU built a conference department that successfully hosted multiple national and international events. A few career highlights included the International Biomechanics Conference, Gay Games, Senior and Children’s Olympics Games, and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. 

 

The department extended the University’s national political programming influence to include a visit by the United Nation’s Attorney General, the 2008 Democratic Debates, in addition to all levels of government programs including multiple U.S. presidential visits.

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Colleen Kelly, Director of Development

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Colleen joined The Group Plan Commission in August 2021 after ten years of fundraising for arts organizations including The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, moCa Cleveland, and The Cleveland Orchestra. She has broad experience rooted in creating individual giving programs, grant writing, board relationships, event planning, organizing donor travel, and articulating an organization’s mission and vision.

 

In her role as Director of Development, Colleen oversees all aspects of The Group Plan Commission’s fundraising program, from research and proposal development to engagement, recognition, and stewardship. She loves to cultivate relationships with other people who love Cleveland and are committed to participating in the city’s success.

 

Colleen earned a BA at Kenyon College, an MA at Case Western Reserve University, and completed the Management Fellow Program with Chicago’s Development Leadership Consortium. She lives in Cleveland Heights, is an avid runner, and programs a weekly radio show on WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland.

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Katherine Boyd, Digital Marketing Director

 

Katherine Boyd is an Emmy-winning reporter and TV host who spent much of her career covering the news in Cleveland.

 

She started at WEWS-TV where she was quickly promoted to morning news anchor.

After that, Katherine worked as a reporter at WKYC-TV and then morning co-host at Q104-FM.

 

That eventually lead to an offer from SiriusXM to host a nationwide classic rock radio show from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

 

During the pandemic, Katherine was forced to switch from broadcasting live from the Rock Hall to broadcasting from her daughter's closet. It got a little cramped.

 

In May of 2022, Katherine decided it was time to give back to the city she loves and joined the Group Plan Commission as Director of Digital Marketing to promote Cleveland Public Square.

 

Now Katherine loves being out in Public Square, enjoying the sunshine, blue skies and smiling faces of the people of Cleveland.

 

A Clevelander through and through, Katherine was named one of Cleveland's Most Interesting People by Cleveland Magazine, a Titan of Style by Currents, and created a video that won her the honor of enjoying The First Pour of Great Lakes Christmas Ale in 2011.

Besides enjoying Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Katherine loves gardening, Jazzercise, and running 5K races--including the A Christmas Story Run, which starts in Public Square.

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Lisha Navarro, Sales Coordinator

 

Lisha Navarro has more than 10 years of experience in the event management industry successfully planning, leading, and managing promotional events, corporate events, community/social events, fundraisers and special engagements throughout the Greater Cleveland area, the State of Ohio and the region.  

 

She started her career managing event promotions with various international brands including Sorme Cosmetics, SoHo Experiential, and All State Insurance.  Her experience in leading stellar promotional events led to an opportunity to join SLMG Brand Management Firm where she served as director of events and special engagements for the company’s full roster clients.  Her phenomenal work and impactful event management practice led to her promotion to partner at SLMG, which later provided a pathway for her to lead her own full-service event management imprint, The Elite Event Co.  

 

Always seeking to serve the community and give back to the City of Cleveland, Lisha joined the Group Plan Commission as Sales Coordinator in March 2023 to assist the team with developing partnerships designed to foster more opportunities for meaningful events to take place at Public Square.