Annette Iwamoto has been named the inaugural Director of the Human Services Chamber of Cuyahoga County, formed to organize collective advocacy—particularly on the local and state level—on behalf of the human services sector. This new initiative will be the first to serve Northeast Ohio, joining successful human service chambers in Franklin and Hamilton counties.
There are 1,785 health and human service-focused nonprofits in Greater Cleveland employing more than 12 percent of the workforce in Cuyahoga County.
Iwamoto (ee-wuh-MO-tow) will be responsible for developing, leading, and managing the overall operations of the chamber and ensuring that it provides a forum for collaboration and mutual support and collective voice for human service nonprofit organizations in greater Cleveland. The chamber will focus on identifying opportunities, building relationships, engaging with public officials, influencing and advocating for public policy, and creating efficiencies for members.
“The human services sector has been a quiet force in the greater Cleveland community for more than a century,” according to Emily Campbell, president & chief executive officer of The Center for Community Solutions, which will house the new Chamber. “The recent pandemic showed the good that happens when organizations work together for common purpose. The new chamber seeks to catalyze that energy to benefit those people and organizations working every day to improve community conditions.”
“The Center for Community Solutions is pleased to host this important initiative. We’ve found a leader in Annette Iwamoto with a proven track record in taking an idea to realization. Her combination of executive leadership and direct human service experience will be invaluable to the initiative and chamber members,” Campbell said.
Iwamoto will launch this new initiative fueled by her enthusiasm for building relationships, strategic planning expertise, and a commitment to financial sustainability.
Previously, Annette Iwamoto served as the first Executive Director at the nonprofit community development corporation One South Euclid. According to One South Euclid Board President, Rick Krivanka, “Annette’s vision and commitment to servant leadership and community development have strengthened our core initiatives, from residential and commercial development projects to our Neighborhood Grant Programs and annual events. Under her leadership, we expanded our reach and impact by building strong partnerships that will continue to shape our future. Annette’s breadth of management and communication skills as well as her dedication and passion for community engagement have been invaluable to our organization and community.”
Annette is eager to get started. "I am thrilled to begin this journey with the Human Services Chamber of Cuyahoga County. By bringing together voices from across the human services sector, we can create a unified vision for advocacy that speaks to our shared goals and amplifies our collective impact. The Chamber’s work will draw from the perspectives and expertise of all members to form an advocacy agenda that truly addresses our community’s needs," said Iwamoto. "This collaboration holds incredible potential to strengthen our impact in the Greater Cleveland area, and I’m excited to be a part of this initiative."
Iwamoto was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 in 2023, Distinguished Young Woman Award, YWCA Greater Cleveland in 2019, and was a member of Cleveland Bridge Builders in 2017.
She graduated from Trinity College with a Bachelor of Arts in History, a minor in Human Rights and from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University where she earned a Master’s of Science in Social Administration with a Concentration in Community and Social Development.
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