Meet Our Inaugural Advisory Council
We are privileged to benefit from the insights and strategic guidance of our distinguished Advisory Council. Composed of respected leaders from the corporate and civic sectors, the Council provides valuable advice and recommendations that enhance the effectiveness of our initiatives. Their counsel plays a critical role in supporting our mission and ensuring our work's continued integrity and success.
Nirvana Healthcare Ventures & Nirvana Analytics
Asset management, public funds sector experience
BA Econometrics, Columbia U
J. Burner Crew
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Of Counsel, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP
Executive Director, G4C
Board of Directors: CCWA, CCA, and Asian Liaison Advisory Board City of Cleveland.
Su He, Esq
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Firelands Association for the Visual Arts
Conflict management, ecovillage development, nonprofit/ public administration
Senior Citizens Resources past Executive Director
Kathleen Jackson
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Turner Construction Company SVP, retired)
Awarded > $22 billion to MBE and WOSB
Boards: United Way, UH, NAACP, Tri-C,
Ordained Minister Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church
Rev. Hilton Smith
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Regional Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology, CC
MD, FRCPC (Canada), FHRS. HVTI
Aspire Foundation
Arena FIDE Master, International Federation of Chess
Samuel Omotoye
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Partner, CMO at JumpStart Ventures and Enidan
VC investments, SB Services, Inclusive Economic Growth
Boards: Cleveland Int’l Film Festival, Woman in Revenue, Ellevate Network
Nadine Nana
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Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Community and economic development experience
Boards: Shaker Heights Development Corporation, CSU Levin College of Urban Affairs, Fund for our Economic Future
Kandis Williams
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J. Burner Crew
J. Burner Crew (Burner) is the Managing Director of Nirvana Healthcare Ventures as well as Nirvana Analytics, a full-service asset management and business consulting firm, specializing in financial solutions and portfolio management.
Burner has more than three decades of asset management and public funds sector experience. He has a deep knowledge of capital markets and strong banking expertise, including the management of multi-billion-dollar surety portfolios.
He is also an experienced economic development advisor with expertise in urban redevelopment, industrial and commercial development, housing finance and tax incremental financing. He has worked extensively with officials responsible for municipal finance activities in several states, municipalities, colleges and school districts.
Burner holds a bachelor’s in Econometrics from Columbia University in New York and is a Registered Investment Advisor and Municipal Advisor.
Su He, Esq
Su is an attorney with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department and Immigration Practice Group with diverse experience in both Chinese and American legal systems.
Su regularly serves as co-counsel with U.S. attorneys for Chinese companies in a variety of areas, including foreign direct investment in the United States, immigration and employment management, entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, and international commercial and intellectual property litigation.
Su provides comprehensive assistance to corporate and individual clients worldwide on immigration law matters, covering a broad spectrum of categories, such as EB-1, EB-2, EB-2 NIW, EB-3, EB-5, E visas, H visas, L visas, O visas, TN visas, F visas, B visas, K visas, marriage-based green cards, adjustment of status, naturalization, and I-9 compliance.
In addition, Su plays an active role within the Greater Cleveland Chinese Chamber of Commerce, leading departments in organizing conferences, delegations and collaborative initiatives with local and international partners. She cultivates strong ties with state, county, and city governments, as well as chambers of commerce in Ohio and Greater Cleveland.
She is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Kathleen Jackson
Kathleen Jackson assumed the responsibility as FAVA's new Executive Director in July, 2017.
FAVA is a community inspired, enriched, and engaged through lifelong experiences with visual art with a commitment of over 35 years to regional contemporary art and one of the most unique small gallery spaces in Ohio. FAVA’s mission is to foster creativity and community by exhibiting contemporary visual art, educating people of all ages, and strengthening cultural awareness throughout the community.
Kathleen previously served as the Executive Director of Cleveland Mediation Center and Senior Citizen Resources in Cleveland. Kathleen Jackson earned her Master's degree in Liberal Studies with concentrations in conflict management, ecovillage development, and nonprofit management/public administration as well as her Bachelor's degree in Applied Conflict Management from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts degree at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Kathleen is a member of the Leadership Lorain County Signature “Best Class of 2018.”
Rev. Hilton Smith
Hilton O. Smith is a retired Senior Vice President for National Community Affairs for Turner Construction Company. In this role, Smith was responsible for managing the company’s corporate and national community affairs, minority and woman owned business enterprise program, equal employment and educational programs. He coordinated business development and strategic marketing programs with senior executive officers within the company.
Smith actively led Turner’s efforts in awarding over $22 billion dollars to thousands of minority and woman owned business enterprises.
Mr. Smith is the former president of the Cleveland Branch NAACP; past Board chair of Saint Augustine’s University, Cuyahoga Community College Board of Trustees and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Smith currently serves on the boards of United Way, University Hospital and The NAACP National Foundation. He is an ordained minister at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist church and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Political Science from St. Augustine’s University.
Samuel Omotoye, MD, FRCPC, FACC, FHRS (CARD/E'15)
Samuel Omotoye is a Staff Cardiac Electrophysiologist at Cleveland Clinic main campus, where he serves as the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute (HVTI) Regional Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology department.
With various certifications as well as publications in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Omotoye often credits his support system and superiors as a major influence on his successful career.
Having described himself as a “product of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation” and those who have guided him, Dr. Omotoye now acts as a mentor himself and intends to create deep connections and develop a global network of healthcare professionals.
Outside of his work, Dr. Omotyoe finds passion in watchmaking, classical architecture, and wine chemistry. He also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing family and forging social connections as an important factor in overall health.
Nadine Nana
Nadine is a seasoned CMO and startup advisor with over 18 years of experience in developing and directing strategic marketing initiatives. Throughout her career, she has thrived in ever-changing and dynamic environments, helping businesses navigate through challenges and achieve their growth objectives across a range of industries, including SaaS, cybersecurity, healthcare, and consumer tech. Nadine works as a CMO in residence and startup growth advisor at Jumpstart, where she is privileged to provide Go-to-Market domain leadership and direct advisory assistance to early-stage companies.
With a deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, Nadine has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by emerging businesses. Drawing on her expertise, she assists companies in formulating effective growth strategies, enabling them to establish a strong market presence and drive customer acquisition. Nadine is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and helping them achieve their vision. By leveraging her extensive experience and expertise, she guides startups in making informed decisions, seizing opportunities, and building a strong foundation for long-term success.
Drawing on 25 years of experience in Marketing Operations, we empower your organization to grow its capabilities through knowledge transfer and by developing a long-term, scalable strategy focused on achieving your core business goals.
Kandis Williams
Kandis Williams has over 25 years of community and economic development experience, and most recently was the Vice President for Economic Opportunity with Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, a community development intermediary in Cleveland, Ohio. In this capacity, she supervised work related to asset building, economic development, and workforce development to advance greater equity, inclusion and opportunity for Cleveland residents and the broader community.
Before rejoining Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Kandis was with Citizens Bank as the Vice President of Community Development Lending for the state of Ohio and western Pennsylvania. In this role, she was responsible for fostering lending opportunities in affordable housing, and community and economic revitalization. Prior to her tenure at Citizens Bank, Kandis spent several years as the Senior Vice President of Village Capital Corporation, the CDFI lending subsidiary of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress.
Kandis’ professional career has also included experience as a Program Officer for Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Commercial Development Director for Mt. Pleasant NOW Development Corporation, and as a City Planner for the City of Cleveland. Kandis has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the College of Wooster and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs.
Outside of work, Ms. Williams actively participates on several boards and committees. She is the Board President of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation, a Visiting Committee member of Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs, and an Executive Committee and Governing Board member of the Fund for Our Economic Future.