Every SATURDAY performance will be followed by a post-show discussion with NE Ohio “Sustainability Heroes.”
Stick around after the show, grab a beer or refill your canteen, and join an energetic and informative conversation with some of the individuals working to preserve and protect our precious waterways.
Click here to return to the Fire on the Water performance page.
The Panelists include:
David Beach
Civic Leader, Sustainability
David Beach is a writer and activist in Cleveland who has been a leading voice on environmental and regional planning issues for more than 30 years. From 2008 to 2017, David directed the GreenCityBlueLake Institute, the sustainability center of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. David coordinated the Museum’s SmartHome exhibit, the first building in Ohio to meet the Passive House standard for energy performance. Recently, he developed a regional vision for biodiversity protection for the consortium of conservation organizations convened by the Museum. David is a fifth-generation Clevelander. He lives in the Shaker Square neighborhood of Cleveland, where he enjoys the walkable, transit-rich, urban environment. He is a graduate of Harvard University.
Crystal M.C. Davis
Alliance for the Great Lakes, Policy Director, Ohio Office Manager
Crystal M.C. Davis joined the Alliance for the Great Lakes as its Policy Director in 2016, leading efforts related to Lake Erie and managing its Ohio office. In this role, Crystal has spearheaded the Alliance’s commitment to diverse engagement of Great Lakes communities and authored the organization’s seminal report Step One: Shut Up and Listen. She also developed and executed the organization’s environmental policy and strategy on Lake Erie water quality issues. She previously worked in D.C. as the Federal Relations Director for Kent State University, where she established KSU’s federal office and policy agenda. Her previous experience includes stints with the Ohio House of Representatives, the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Crystal is a 2018 Crain’s Cleveland Business 40 under 40 Honoree.
Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, CEO
Ms. Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells oversees the operation of one of the largest clean-water agencies in Ohio, a district that treats 90 billion gallons of water every year thanks to the work of more than 800 employees. She works closely with seven Trustees and nine directors to ensure efficient management of hundreds of miles of sewer and stream networks, a multi-billion-dollar 25-year Project Clean Lake program, and a regional stormwater management program for the health of Lake Erie and more than one million residents. Kyle is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Before coming to the Sewer District she was Director of the Chagrin River Watershed Partners and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa.
Kirsten M. Ellenbogen, PhD
Great Lakes Science Center, President & CEO
Dr. Kirsten Ellenbogen’s leadership activities at Great Lakes Science Center include Cleveland Creates, a strategic initiative developed in collaboration with regional workforce leaders to change the manufacturing narrative through STEM education opportunities for diverse middle-school youth and families. She received the Crain’s Women of Note Award and was appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication Research and Practice. Dr. Ellenbogen is chair of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance Visioning Committee and serves on the Mayor’s Sustainable City Committee. Her Board service includes the Cleveland Water Alliance and Friends of MC2STEM High School.
Chief Matt Gray
City of Cleveland, Chief of Sustainability
Matt Gray serves as Chief of Sustainability for the City of Cleveland. Working on all things urban sustainability, Matt helps lead the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative to create a thriving green city on a blue lake. He is responsible for advising the City on policies related to sustainability, managing the Office of Sustainability, and leading implementation of the Cleveland Climate Action Plan. Matt also facilitates Cuyahoga50: Celebrating Our River – Igniting Our Future, a community-wide initiative to mark the 50th anniversary of the infamous river burning.
Commissioner Alex Margevicius
Cleveland Water, Commissioner
Comissioner Margevicius, a native Clevelander, began his career with Cleveland Water as a Civil Engineer in 1985 and was appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Engineering in 1995. Margevicius was responsible for coordinating all engineering and Capital Improvement Projects for the Division. In 2011 he was named Interim Commissioner, and in 2016 was sworn in as the Commissioner of Water. Margevicius is an expert in the design and operation of large, complex water systems, and has significant insights into distribution system infrastructure issues. He took the lead in designing Cleveland Water’s Geographic Information System and hydraulic model systems. He is a frequent speaker to engineering, contractor, civic, and other groups. Margevicius holds a Master of Science in Systems Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, both from Case Western Reserve University.
Jenita McGowan
Eaton, Sustainability Manager
Jenita McGowan is the Sustainability Manager for Eaton Corporation, a power management company with a vision to improve the quality of life and the environment. Previously, she led sustainability efforts at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and served as Chief of Sustainability for the City of Cleveland, working to advance the Sustainable Cleveland 2019 initiative and sharpening the focus on racial equity and inclusion in the field of urban sustainability. Jenita has a BS in Journalism and a BFA in Dance Performance from Kent State University. She has a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University. Jenita believes that creating a culture of possibility, inclusion, empowerment, and accountability is critical to creating a sustainable future.
Shanelle Smith
Trust for Public Land, Ohio State Director
Shanelle Smith is the Ohio State Director for the Trust for Public Land where she’s working on a campaign so that people in every neighborhood have a high-quality park within a 10-minute walk. They’re designed with intensive input, so each community gets the kind of outdoor space it needs. As the first Deputy Director of Sustainability for Cuyahoga County, she assisted with launching the county’s first bike share program and started a project to put solar on a landfill that could power county facilities. In March 2018, Grist Magazine named Shanelle to their list of the top 50 “fixers” who are “cooking up the boldest, most ambitious solutions to humanity’s biggest challenges.”
Andrew Watterson
KeyBank, Senior Vice President, Head of Sustainability
Andrew is Senior Vice President and Head of Sustainability for KeyBank. Andrew uses his sustainability and organizational change expertise to lead the bank in the development and execution of a sustainability strategy that positions the bank for growth. In his role, he works with the corporate responsibility team and bank leadership to balance margin and mission to achieve dependable results. Prior to his position at KeyBank, Andrew was senior consultant at BrownFlynn, a sustainability and corporate responsibility consulting firm located in Cleveland, OH. Previously, Andrew was the City of Cleveland’s first Chief of Sustainability and led the coordination of Sustainable Cleveland 2019, an action plan to create an economic engine to empower a green city on a blue lake.
Hon. Matt Zone
City of Cleveland, Councilman
Councilman Matt Zone was first elected to City Council in 2001, representing Ward 15, which includes the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood where he and generations of his family grew up. Ward 15 also includes the Edgewater area, Gordon Square, and parts of Ohio City, Cudell, and Stockyards neighborhoods. Councilman Zone is chairman of council’s Safety Committee and vice chairman of its Finance Committee. He also serves on the Health & Human Services Committee and the Operations Committee.
The Moderators:
Molly Andrews-Hinders
CPT Artistic Associate
Molly Andrews-Hinders is a performer, composer, educator, and activist who has been performing and teaching with CPT since 2011. She has taught in CPT’s Brick City Theatre Program, Global Teen Performance Project, and the Student Theatre Enrichment Program (STEP). Molly’s original compositions have been featured in Entry Point (2018), Station Hope (2017); Light the Lights, Ol’ Moses CLE! (A Wild Holiday Romp); Earth Plays (Part Two of the Elements Cycle); Air Waves (Part Three of the Elements Cycle); and Soliciting for Change (Big Box 2011), as well as numerous STEP shows. Featured acting credits include 44 Plays For 44 Presidents, Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, Rusted Heart Broadcast, and Akarui.
Caitie H. Milcinovic
CPT Director of Organizational Advancement
Since 2014, Caitie has managed CPT’s fundraising—accounting for three-quarters of the organization’s total revenue—including the annual Pandemonium extravaganza. Caitie also oversees the patron experience department, managed by CPT’s Director of Patron Services. Prior, she served as Associate Managing Director of Special Events at Yale Repertory Theatre, and the Grants Writer for Center Theatre Group in LA. She holds a BA in Theatre from University of Southern California, an MFA in Theatre Management from Yale School of Drama, and an MBA from Yale School of Management. She is a member of the Class of 2016 for Cleveland Bridge Builders.
Click here to return to the Fire on the Water performance page.