CCWA’s Global Ambassadors program invites emerging leaders in Northeast Ohio on a transformative journey to think more globally and to develop a broader vision for the future of our city. The program combines CCWA’s interactive global leadership course (LEADS) with an international study tour to Helsinki, Finland and Dublin, Ireland to explore business, social, and policy issues that resonate with Northeast Ohio’s emerging professional leaders.
We are pleased to introduce the 2025-2026 cohort: Ceylon Allmond, Adam Davenport, Belle Espinal, Alex Johnson, Taylor Jones, Larissa Harris, Nichole Lopez, and Tariq Mohammed.
Ceylon Allmond is a Senior IT Business Analyst in the Technology Project Management Office at KeyBank. A proud alumna of Bowling Green State University, she is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Cleveland State University to further deepen her expertise.
In her current role, Ceylon supports the delivery of technology initiatives by providing governance across the portfolio and cultivating innovation and optimization of workflows through strategic use of tools and methodologies. She also serves as the Community Engagement Chair for the KeyBank Young Professionals employee resource group. Ceylon is deeply passionate about advocacy. She is one of the youngest individuals nationally inducted into The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. As the Mentorship Program Chair of the Greater Cleveland Chapter’s Through Her Eyes Mentorship Program, she is committed to empowering and mentoring the next generation of Black women leaders. Outside of her professional and advocacy work, Ceylon enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling to new destinations, and discovering hidden gem coffee shops throughout Northeast Ohio.
Adam Davenport serves as the Manager of Neighborhood Planning for the Cleveland City Planning Commission overseeing district planners and transportation staff working on bettering Cleveland’s diverse neighborhoods while implementing new policies and programs. He previously worked at Northwest Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation, has served as a committee member in his hometown of Berea for their Planning & Development Committee, and on the Board of Directors of APA Cleveland and Gordon Square Art District’s anchor, Capitol Theatre. Adam graduated as Valedictorian from the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He is passionate about neighborhoods and bringing experiences from other cities back to his hometown. Most days you can find Adam out in the communities or Cleveland or in his backyard park of Edgewater, even in winter as one of the adventurous people who try to surf on the lake during the wild weather.
Belle Espinal is a proud Bronx native and Oberlin College alumna who has dedicated her career to breaking the cycle of poverty through education and economic empowerment. A former New York City public school teacher, she transitioned into economic development in 2021 and finished her Executive MBA at Cleveland State University in spring 2025. Belle is the founder of Sisters of Economic Action and Strategic Mami, both launched in August 2024 to advance economic inclusion. Her work centers on neighborhood revitalization and support for minority-owned businesses, driven by a deep commitment to creating opportunities in underserved communities. In addition to her nonprofit work in economic development, this fall she is excited to pursue a PhD in Geography at Kent State University, with a focus on international business.
Alex Johnson serves as an Environmental Supervisor at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, leading the Voluntary Action Program and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act cleanup programs within the Northeast District’s Division of Environmental Response and Revitalization. In this role, he works closely with communities, businesses, and environmental partners to advance remediation projects, protect human health, improve the quality of the environment, and promote redevelopment. Alex earned his B.S. in Environmental Science and Biology from Cleveland State University and his Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. Moving to Cleveland for college, he quickly realized it was where he wanted to put down roots and dedicate himself to public service. His early experience includes research fellowships and jobs focused on Great Lakes science and water quality. Beyond his professional work, you can find Alex at Playhouse Square, where he volunteers, supporting Cleveland’s arts and cultural scene. Alex is committed to highlighting and improving all that make Northeast Ohio a great place to live, work, and grow, and is always on the lookout for the best local ice cream along the way.
Taylor Jones serves as the Special Projects Manager in the Department of Economic Development at the City of Cleveland, where she works with senior leadership to support catalytic development projects, advise on policy improvements, and drive cross-functional collaboration and alignment across city hall. She started at the city as a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow in the Office of the Mayor where she advised the Integrated Development cluster. During her tenure with the city, she has led the successful procurement of an enterprise software platform that will streamline development activities, coordinated a values-based planning process to reprogram vacant land, and spearheaded the strategic redesign of the city's development ecosystem. Taylor is an alumna of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Public Policy and International Affairs Program and the Harvard Project on the Workforce. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She received her Master’s in Public Policy with a certificate in Management, Leadership and Decision Sciences from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she was a fully funded Public Service Fellow and a B.A in History from Howard University. A 4th generation Clevelander, she enjoys traveling; all things media, fashion, and culture; and exceeding her annual reading goal.
Larissa (Rissa) Harris is a dedicated professional in international business and economic development. She is passionate about inclusive economic development, comparative policy, commercial diplomacy, and public service. Currently, Rissa works as an international trade professional within a federal agency. In this role, she has helped hundreds of U.S. companies find foreign buyers, increase their international sales, and overcome trade barriers - contributing to millions of dollars of exports for U.S. companies. Moreover, Rissa is also the Co-Founder of BeRe Stewardship, a social enterprise focused on teaching justice-informed financial literacy education within correctional facilities. Alongside her husband, Rissa strives to empower justice-involved individuals to be good stewards of their time, resources, and abilities. Rissa’s educational background includes a Master's of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a minor in International Business from Eastern Kentucky University. Throughout Rissa’s career, she has participated in several distinguished programs, including Globally’s Emerging as a Global Leader Experience (EaGLE), CCWA’s Richard W. Pogue Fellowship, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Presidential Management Fellowship. Rissa’s hobbies include traveling, playing sports, and reading.
Nichole Lopez was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, surrounded by unique biodiversity, beautiful landscapes, and rich natural resources. There, she developed a passion for our resilient, yet vulnerable ecosystems and has become an advocate for conservation and restoration. Her previous experiences have included work with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Summit Metro Parks, and Summit Soil & Water Conservation District ranging from regulatory compliance to public education. Currently, as a Watershed Coordinator with Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, Nichole works with the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern (AOC) and surrounding communities to promote healthy waters, ecological stewardship, and environmental justice. She graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Marine and Geological Sciences.
Tariq Mohammed is a Business Operations Administrator II at Power & Way, a division of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), where he supports the rail infrastructure system spanning over 60 miles of track, signal, and overhead lines. Tariq began his journey with GCRTA in 2021 as a Public Transit Development Program intern, aspiring to join the agency’s competitive two-year rotation program. During the program, he competed rotations across four departments and led a range of impactful projects focused on employee engagement, workforce development, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI), and process improvement aimed at advancing departmental goals and supporting the agency’s broader mission. Deeply committed to public service, Tariq serves as Secretary of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), where he continues to immerse himself in the transportation sector. His passion for community impact began in education, where he served as an AmeriCorps member and later as a manager with City Year Cleveland, working in the Glenville, Slavic Village, and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods. Tariq has a growing interest in data analytics and leverages data to uncover insights and tell compelling stories about impact and outcomes. He holds a Bachelor’s in History with a minor in Middle Eastern Studies from Miami University, and a Master’s in Public Administration with a certificate in City Management from Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. In his spare time, Tariq enjoys exploring Cleveland through running and attending the city’s many vibrant neighborhood festivals and attractions.
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