More than 150 political and business leaders connected in Washington

Washington, D.C. - Last week, more than 150 of Greater Cleveland’s political and business leaders descended upon the U.S. Capitol for the two-day Empowering Local Leadership conference. Organized by the Greater Cleveland Partnership, in collaboration with Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association and the Cuyahoga County Mayors and City Managers Association, the annual gathering in Washington, D.C., is designed to connect the region’s local elected officials and business leaders with Ohio’s congressional delegation and other federal policymakers.

 
Hosted by Representatives Dave Joyce, Shontel Brown, Max Miller and Emilia Sykes (pictured below), the conference drew an impressive roster of guests over the course of two days, including Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Greg Landsman, Joyce Beatty, Bill Johnson, Mike Turner and Senator JD Vance.

In addition to the opportunities to connect and converse with elected officials, the conference offered a rich agenda spanning a range of topics. Prasun Desai, Associate Administrator (Acting) at NASA, shared insights into the future of space exploration, emphasizing the pivotal role of NASA Glenn Research Center in those endeavors. John Brennan of Scale AI delved deep into the future of artificial intelligence, highlighting the opportunities and challenges of this ever-evolving field. 

A somber yet essential topic followed: the battle against human trafficking, detailed with firsthand insights by representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Closing out the conference was Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, PhD., the former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, provided a global lens through which to view America's national affairs, knitting a comprehensive narrative around international relations and domestic policy. 

But the conversation doesn't end in Washington. On November 20, GCP’s All In Leadership Forum will provide another opportunity to connect with community leaders and local, state and federal elected officials.