FutureHeights recently hired Cindie Pacheco as our new Operations Manager and Steve Presser as our new Community Engagement and Events Manager. Welcome Cindie and Steve! Check out the bios of both below.

Cindie Pacheco

A returning resident who was raised in the community, Cindie Pacheco is thrilled to return home and serve the neighborhood that shaped her as FutureHeights’ Operations Manager. Cindie’s journey began locally at Lopez Bar & Grille during high school, followed by a successful decade in commercial auto insurance. This background instilled a deep understanding of risk management, compliance, and operations. Cindie now channels these skills into supporting FutureHeights’ internal operations and fiscal functions. Since returning home last year, Cindie completed the Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Series with FutureHeights, gaining a firsthand look at the organization’s vital impact and inspiring a dedication to its long-term stability. Cindie is also an active community volunteer, serving on the board of the Friends of the Heights Library. In her new role, she focuses on ensuring the organization’s operational infrastructure remains reliable and continues to facilitate a vibrant and sustainable future for Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Steve Presser

Steve Presser was born and raised in his family’s first and only home in University Heights, where they lived for nearly 50 years. Steve’s wife, Debbie Apple-Presser, also grew up in University Heights, where her family lived for nearly 60 years. Debbie and Steve were both legacy Cleveland Heights High graduates, as were their 3 children. Coventry Village has been their home for nearly 44 years. In 1990, Steve created Big Fun, a mom-and-pop nostalgia-based toy and gift store and operated it for nearly 28 years. Steve was a founding board member of the Coventry Village Special Improvement District. Nearly 30 years ago, he was part of the Cleveland Heights Visioning Committee, which led to the formation of the Heights Arts Collaborative, and he remains an active board member of Heights Arts and was a past board president. Steve is also a founding member of the Siegel and Shuster Society, which was established in 2007 with the mission to honor Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, two kids from Glenville who created Superman. Multiple other community and social action groups have been part of Steve’s life as well. He is proud to have created Wild Wacky Wednesday many years ago, where live local bands were featured. It was replaced by Wade Oval Wednesday, which became the place to be on Wednesday nights during the summer. Steve also created Movies in the Park at the Coventry Peace Park, along with Yoga in the Park and the Coventry Drum Circle, which still takes place on Sunday evenings all summer long. For a dozen years or so, Debbie and Steve have hosted backyard summer concerts and also living room concerts in their home. Steve looks forward to working with community members on the revered Heights Music Hop, community events, and other unique programs that Future Heights known for bringing to the community.