Leadership
Team

Leadership

Team

JACKLYN A. CHISHOLM, PH.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Jacklyn A. Chisholm, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Step Forward, the largest Community Action Agency in Ohio with revenues of over $47 million. Step Forward is a private nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through education, personal and professional development programs, and support services. Dr. Chisholm is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of It’s Worth It Consulting, L.L.C., and the author of the book Leadership Lessons: Notes From and For the Journey.

Throughout her career, Dr. Chisholm has earned the title of “first”: first Vice President of Planning and External Affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum where, as Project Manager, she led the construction of the Museum’s $13 million Library and Archives; and at her alma mater Case Western Reserve University: first Associate Vice President for Community Partnerships, first Director of Community Relations, and the first Coordinator of Recruitment and Placement for the Office of Minority Programs.

Dr. Chisholm is also a committed lifelong learner having earned three degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Medical Anthropology, Master of Arts in Psychological Anthropology, and a Ph.D. in Psychological Anthropology with an emphasis in Educational Anthropology; as well as several executive education certificates from the Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.

She is the recipient of numerous awards including YWCA of Greater Cleveland Woman of Achievement, Crain’s Cleveland Business Woman of Note, YWCA of Greater Cleveland Woman of Professional Excellence, Women of Color Foundation ISIS Award, Council for Opportunity in Education National TRIO Achiever, Cleveland Educators Forum Alumni Achievers Hall of Fame, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Great Lakes Region Community Honoree, City of Cleveland Black History Month Honoree and Who’s Who in Black Cleveland. Dr. Chisholm is an alumna of Leadership Cleveland and a past member of The Western Reserve Chapter of Links, Inc.

DEREK CLUSE, CPA

Chief of Staff and Operations

Derek J. Cluse, CPA is the Chief of Staff of Step Forward, the largest Community Action Agency in Ohio. Step Forward is a private nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives through education, personal and professional development programs, and support services.

Derek’s journey with Step Forward began in 2020 serving as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer. He advanced to the Chief of Staff position in 2022, where is oversees operations, finance, technology and organizational strategic planning. Before joining Step Forward, Derek served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer for The Cleveland Metropolitan School District where he played a leadership role in transforming the finance organization to align with the strategies of the Cleveland Plan. He has also held C-Level positions in finance and operations for Hudson City School District in Hudson, Ohio, Ashland City School District in Ashland, Ohio, The Institute of Charter School Management and Resources in Dayton, Ohio, and Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Derek is a seasoned executive whose accomplishments include successful business start-ups, mergers and acquisitions, and major enterprise resource planning system implementations. He has delivered measurable value everywhere he has been by focusing on business fundamentals, sustainability, and innovation.

A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Derek graduated with honors from Southern University and A & M College with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has served on several boards including the Urban League of Trumbull County, The Ohio Association of School Business Officials, The Ohio School Plan, and the Eaton Estate Community Association. Derek is a graduate of Leadership Hudson and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

In his spare time, Derek enjoys spending time with his family, coaching youth basketball, cooking, and listening to music.

DR. THEA WILSON

Vice President for Children and Families

Dr. Thea Wilson is the Vice President for Children and Families at Step Forward. Dr. Wilson is responsible for managing the operations of Early Head Start, Head Start and Parental Involvement programs.

Dr. Wilson has 47 years of early childhood development experience in a public school system and spent 11 years in administration. She has 13 years of experience teaching college level courses as well as creating workshops and facilitating training for parents, teachers and other professionals. Dr. Wilson served as the Chair of Early Childhood at The Music Settlement — a five-star, arts-based, early childhood education program in Cleveland. Immediately prior, Dr. Wilson served as the Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood – Pre-K to Third Grade – for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Additionally, she is the author of the children's book, 13 Peas.

Dr. Wilson received her Doctorate in Education Leadership and Specialist degrees from the

University of Sarasota (Argosy University). She also holds a Master of Science in Reading Education from John Carroll University and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Baldwin Wallace College.

Dr. Wilson has been on various Boards, including the Cuyahoga Community College Early Childhood Advisory Board and Ohio Association for the Education of the Young Child, Duffy Liturgical Ensemble, Cleveland Children’s Museum, and the Advisory team for East Cleveland. Dr. Wilson was named Outstanding Educator in 2018 by Baldwin Wallace University. She received the Professional Woman of the Year award in 2020 from the YWCA Greater Cleveland, Person of the Week in South Euclid, Black Teacher of the Year, Most Influential Teacher, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and Cleveland Crain’s Who to Watch in Education 2016.

Dr. Wilson was a member of the 2020 Leadership Cleveland class and has been published in numerous education magazines. Dr. Wilson is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. In January 2019, Dr. Wilson became the first African American president for Ohio Association for the Education of the Young Child.

DOUGLASS BENNETT

Vice President of External Affairs

Douglass Bennett is the Vice President of External Affairs for Step Forward. His focus is on development, integration and implementation of a broad range of public relations activities relative to the strategic direction of the organization and its leadership.

Before joining Step Forward, Doug was in Community Affairs for Gateway Health, covering the Northeast and Northwest areas of Ohio. Prior to Gateway Health, Doug had his own consulting business and worked for Medical Mutual. Before coming back to the Cleveland area, he was the first Executive Director of Leadership 18, a membership association of CEO’s of the largest Health and Human Service Organizations in the United States. Doug was responsible for managing the membership and direction of the organization.

Their mission is to provide a forum for the largest human development non-profit CEOs to improve strategic leadership and inspire collective action. He came to Leadership 18 after working at AT&T one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world.

Before AT&T he worked at National City Bank as an Assistant Vice President for Commercial Lending.

Doug was inducted into the Kaleidoscope 40 under 40 in June of 1999. In 2005, he was selected as an American Marshall Fellow-German Marshall Fund of the United States, which builds a global network of leaders understanding international affairs. He has served on many civic and community organizations. His past involvement includes the following boards: President of the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce; the City Club of Cleveland; The United Black Fund; Treasurer- the Diversity Center; and the Cleveland Leadership Center. He served as a Mayoral Appointee to the on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Beachwood.

In addition to Doug’s past involvement on boards, he also served on several committees including, the visiting Committee for Cleveland State University, and helped organize local events for other community organizations. Doug is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Blacks in Management, and the Civil Service Commission in the City of Beachwood.

MADELINE CORCHADO, MBA, LSSGB, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, JTM

Vice President of Human Resources

Madeline Corchado is the Vice President of Human Resources for Step Forward. Her focus is on strengthening talent assets and bringing in best practices for efficiency and effectiveness relative to the strategic direction of the organization and its leadership.

Before joining Step Forward, Madeline served as the Chief of Human Resources and Inclusion Officer for the Cleveland Public Library (CPL). Prior to CPL, Madeline spent 13 years at the City of Cleveland in various Human Resources roles and departments–each role as a result of a promotional change. Madeline knows what truly drives engagement, commitment, and solutions —and it’s not mastering the flavor of the week. It is integrity and how well you connect with the heart-beating people you’re trying to develop or partner with!

Madeline has served on many civic and community organizations; amongst are: Dress for Success, Hope in Transition, Wings of Hope, LEAP, Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, Ohio Library Council, Cleveland Mediation Center, Esperanza, Spanish American Committee, Club Alma Yaucana, Comunidad de Fé, and Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center where she is currently the Board President.

Madeline was named a 2023 Excellence in HR honoree by Crain's Cleveland Business. She was inducted into the Kaleidoscope 40 under 40 in October 2014. She has received numerous community recognitions must recent from Neighborhood Progress, Community Financial Centers for extraordinary partnership. Madeline holds two HR Certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, one from the HR Certification Institute and the other from Society for Human Resource Management. She also holds two Vital Smarts Certifications—Crucial Conversations and Influencer. Madeline completed Lead Diversity Program and SIDE, Summer Institute for Diversity Education. In addition, Madeline has received Fundamentals of Mediation in accordance with Supreme Court of Ohio’s Rule 16. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Information Processing Administration from David N. Myers University.

JACKIE BOEHNLEIN

Vice President of Community Services

Jackie Boehnlein is the Vice President of Community Services at Step Forward. Jackie provides strategic leadership and oversight for Step Forward's Personal Development program, including the agency's Neighborhood Opportunity Centers, the Professional Development programs and services, and Step Forward's Home Energy Assistance Program.

Jackie brings more than 20 years of experience in the fields of human services and higher education. Her career includes significant achievements and leadership roles that demonstrate her commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families in underserved communities.

Since 2007, Jackie has been an integral part of the Community Action movement, holding various positions, including Director of Planning and Organizational Development, Chief of Staff, and ultimately served as the President and CEO of the Lorain County Community Action Agency (LCCAA) since 2012. During her tenure at LCCAA, she led an agency that

provided critical crisis and empowerment services to low-income residents in Lorain County, Ohio. While President and CEO, she introduced the innovative internal referral program, Star Service, which enhanced communication between program staff, ensured timely responses to customers and simplified the application process for clients.

Jackie's expertise extends to quality management and continuous improvement, evident through her roles as a Community Action Pathways peer reviewer, Academic Quality Improvement Program peer reviewer, and Ohio Partnership for Excellence peer reviewer. She holds certifications as a Quality Manager (ASQ-QM) with the American Society for Quality and as a Self-Management Group Performance Coach, focusing on maximizing the results of high-effort individuals and teams. She holds a master’s in business administration degree and a Bachelor of Organizational Management degree from Tiffin University, where she graduated with highest honors.