LAKEWOODALIVE ORGANIZATION CHANGES

Lakewood Community Progress Inc and LakewoodAlive merged in October 2008, enhancing the capacity of both organizations to protect and enhance Lakewood’s economic growth and stability. The new organization is using the LakewoodAlive name, and maintains 501-c(3) tax-exempt status.

As a result of the merger, the board has approved a new structure. LakewoodAlive will be led by an executive committee comprised of five officers plus six standing committee chairs:

LakewoodAlive Officers

President – Mikelann Ward Rensel

Vice President –Jack Gustin

Treasurer – Mary Sue McGorray

Secretary – Curt Brosky

Past President – David Shaw.

LakewoodAlive Committees

Governance – Steve Ott, Chair

Development – Jenni Baker, Chair

Finance – Mary Sue McGorray, Chair

Community Engagement – Jay Foran, Chair

Downtown Lakewood - Paula Reed, Chair

Housing – Paul Beegan, Chair.

Mary Anne Crampton remains as executive director.

LakewoodAlive will continue to focus its efforts on the revitalization of Downtown Lakewood using the volunteer-based model of the National Main Street program. On February 06, 2009, LakewoodAlive received national accreditation for its 2008 revitalization efforts.

In other news, Shannon Strachan has joined LakewoodAlive as Marketing & Development Director. As a founding member of LakewoodAlive, a Lakewood native, a graduate of Lakewood schools and a licensed attorney, Shannon brings a wealth of institutional and practical knowledge to the position. An active community volunteer for over 10 years, Shannon most recently co-chaired the Lakewood Library Foundation fundraisers, “An Evening with Garrison Keillor” and “Be the First to See the Best” gala. In 2008, for Main Street Lakewood, Shannon co-chaired Walk+Roll Lakewood. She also served on the Lakewood Schools Levy Campaign, the YMCA Fundraising Committee and for eight years served in various capacities for the Junior Women’s Club of Lakewood including president, vice president and co-chair of various fund-raising projects including the "Sitting Pretty" Bench Project. She was also a founding member of the Lakewood Toy Lending Library, established through the City of Lakewood's Division of Early Childhood. She has practiced law in the areas of general corporate, probate and estate planning.

Shannon graduated from Miami University, earning a B.S in Business/Marketing and was awarded her Juris Doctor degree from Case Western University School of Law. Shannon is a trustee of the Lakewood Public Library Foundation.

LakewoodAlive's 2008 Annual report can be viewed here.

Lakewood Community Progress Inc's IRS Form 990s for 2005, 2006, 2007 are posted on Guidestar.