Staff

Lee Chilcote
Executive Director and Housing Program Manager
lchilcote@futureheights.org

A Cleveland Heights native, Lee brings a depth and diversity of experience to FutureHeights. As Housing Program Manager, Lee will be responsible for the execution of FutureHeights’ new Housing Rehabilitation Program, which will support neighborhood stabilization through strategic acquisition and rehabilitation of distressed residential properties. Lee’s experience in home rehabilitation and historic preservation will ensure homes are rehabilitated to the highest quality while also on-budget and on-time. In his capacity as Executive Director of FutureHeights, Lee will bring leadership and expertise from a diverse career that includes leadership positions with The Land, Literary Cleveland, and Freshwater Cleveland as well as other community development work. Additionally, Lee is a licensed realtor and has managed several real estate projects from pre-development to completion. “I am thrilled to be ‘coming home’ and joining FutureHeights as housing program manager and executive director. I look forward to working with staff and the board to continue the growth and development of this vibrant community organization,” stated Lee. Most recently, Lee served as Communications and Development Director for Greater Cleveland Congregations, an organization that unites people across lines of race, class, religion, and background toward the promotion of public, private, and civic sector actions that strengthen and improve the quality of life in Cuyahoga County neighborhoods. Lee graduated from Cleveland State University, earning a MA English with a Nonfiction Writing Concentration as well as a MPA with an Economic Development Concentration from the Levin College of Urban Affairs.

Cindie Pacheco
Operations Manager
cpacheco@futureheights.org

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
Community Engagement and Events Manager
spresser@futureheights.org

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.

Heights Observer Team

Kim Sergio Inglis
Editor-in-Chief
observerhts@gmail.com

Kim moved to Cleveland Heights in 2009 after two decades of living and working in New York City. A former marketing and sales promotion professional, she became involved with the Heights Observer as a volunteer editor. Kim graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also an Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener volunteer.

Bob Rosenbaum
Advertising and Market Development
brosenbaum@heightsobserver.org

Bob, a lifetime Cleveland Heights resident, is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 30 years of background in publishing and media management. He is principal of The MarketFarm, a consultancy that focuses on strategic communication and the use of content in community and nonprofit marketing. He is co-chair of the Heights Observer Advisory Committee, volunteers as an editor and writer, and manages advertising sales. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism (BSJ) from Northwestern University.

Temma Collins
Graphic Designer

Temma holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from Colorado State University. She has been a Cleveland Heights resident for 25 years, and a proud parent of three children who have attended the Cleveland Heights-University Heights city schools.

Diane Roberto
Graphic Designer

Diane is a designer and visual consultant with a comprehensive background in both print design and project management. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University. Her favorite projects are those which promote community, diversity and well-being. Currently, Diane is on the board of a local nonprofit soccer club, working to secure scholarships for players and serving as its treasurer. Originally from Willoughby, she has been a Cleveland Heights resident for the past 18 years, where she lives with her husband and three children.

Board of Directors

Board Service Overview

The board is made up of members of the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. Board members come from all walks of life, represent all neighborhoods, and bring their various skills, talents, and interests with them to assist the organization.

Board members participate actively by guiding the organization and its programming, providing staff and event support, friend-raising and fundraising, serving on committees, and more. Serving a large and diverse area, the organization’s board and new members should reflect and represent the diversity of that service area. Consideration will be given to ensure that the experiences, backgrounds, neighborhoods, or skills of new members add to the diversity of the organization at-large.

Darren Cross, Co-Chair
Small business owner, The Cleveland Brew Shop     

Matthew Katz, Co-Chair
CEO, Cornerstone Design and Renovation, LLC

Melody Joy Hart, Interim Treasurer
Retired

Harriet Applegate
Executive Secretary, North Shore AFL-CIO

Charita Boseman
Sr. Health Manager, Special Olympics International

Katherine Brown
General Counsel, Nova Title Agency, Inc.

Cinda Dietrich
Dow Jones

Connor Gail
Housing Manager, Old Brooklyn CDC

Pat Jones
Owner, Flagstick LLC

Alexander McEvoy
Designer, Meta Platforms

Alicia Sloan
Professor; Small business owner – Nova Dance Studio

Aaron Ware
Progressive

Matthew Wymer
WXZ Development, Inc.

Interested in joining the FutureHeights Board of Directors?

Are you filled with ideas and energy for improving your community? Can you give time and talent to make the Heights an even better place to live?

FutureHeights seeks candidates for its board of directors to fill seats as current members’ terms expire. New board members will serve a three-year term. Applicants should be members of Cleveland Heights or University Heights communities. Applicants should have a vested interest in the organization and the communities it serves and have the time and talent to donate to the success of the organization and its programming. Applications can be found at the link below. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time.

Board service is a great way to meet new neighbors, to support projects in your own backyard, and to give time and talent back to the communities we love calling home. Fill out our board of directors application below.

Help us elevate the Heights!