Susan Jaros, President
Practice Co-Founder
Susan has spent more than 30 years designing and executing major comprehensive and capital fundraising campaigns, providing strategic leadership and running the day-to-day development and external affairs functions for large educational and cultural institutions.
Susan served for eight and a half years as the Deputy Director for Development for the Cleveland Museum of Art where she designed and implemented a strategic campaign plan to fund the museum's transformation project. It was the first major capital campaign undertaken in the museum’s history and the largest campaign ever launched by a cultural institution in Ohio. During her tenure, the museum raised $217M against the original $225M goal. Prior, Susan served as Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs at Case Western Reserve University where she planned and executed the university’s $350M campaign, completed in 1994 with an attainment of $417M. A Cleveland native, Susan holds a BA from Denison University and a JD from Case Western Reserve School of Law. She has practiced law and taught at the Case law school. Her board and volunteer service is significant throughout the Cleveland community.
Susan served for eight and a half years as the Deputy Director for Development for the Cleveland Museum of Art where she designed and implemented a strategic campaign plan to fund the museum's transformation project. It was the first major capital campaign undertaken in the museum’s history and the largest campaign ever launched by a cultural institution in Ohio. During her tenure, the museum raised $217M against the original $225M goal. Prior, Susan served as Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs at Case Western Reserve University where she planned and executed the university’s $350M campaign, completed in 1994 with an attainment of $417M. A Cleveland native, Susan holds a BA from Denison University and a JD from Case Western Reserve School of Law. She has practiced law and taught at the Case law school. Her board and volunteer service is significant throughout the Cleveland community.
Cindy Fink, Principal Consultant
Practice Co-Founder
Cindy has developed communications and marketing strategies for capital campaigns, annual giving programs, audience development initiatives and institutional milestones at some of Ohio's most treasured nonprofits.
Previously, Cindy was Director of Marketing and Communications at the Cincinnati Art Museum for five years and at the Cleveland Museum of Art for four years. At each institution, she developed successful communications campaigns for annual and capital fundraising campaigns, reputation building, visitor engagement and expansion, and earned and contributed income growth. Cindy also has a decade of agency experience at an independent advertising agency and at a large public relations firm, where she managed the work of eight consultants serving nonprofit, cultural, government, education and civic affairs clients. Cindy a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Miami University and has served as a master’s thesis advisor in the museum studies program at Harvard University and as an adjunct faculty member in public relations at Northern Kentucky University. She is the past-chairperson of the Public Relations and Marketing Professional Network of the American Alliance of Museums.
Previously, Cindy was Director of Marketing and Communications at the Cincinnati Art Museum for five years and at the Cleveland Museum of Art for four years. At each institution, she developed successful communications campaigns for annual and capital fundraising campaigns, reputation building, visitor engagement and expansion, and earned and contributed income growth. Cindy also has a decade of agency experience at an independent advertising agency and at a large public relations firm, where she managed the work of eight consultants serving nonprofit, cultural, government, education and civic affairs clients. Cindy a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Miami University and has served as a master’s thesis advisor in the museum studies program at Harvard University and as an adjunct faculty member in public relations at Northern Kentucky University. She is the past-chairperson of the Public Relations and Marketing Professional Network of the American Alliance of Museums.
Julie Conrad, Consultant
A strategic communications expert, Julie partners with organizations to define their story and provide cost- and time-effective activities to persuasively share that story with key constituents. Julie is recognized for her effective communications plans and the tactics she employs resonate with target audiences while aligning with marketing and business goals. Throughout her career, she has crafted and driven communications programs for organizations of all sizes, from the local social service agency and neighborhood grocery store to organizations as large as ADP, Sanofi-Aventis, MSN and the PGA of America. She has partnered with executives on crisis situations, led management through message development, and trained senior-level executives in media relations, including the 2004 and 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup Captains.
Julie dedicated her early career to public relations agencies, including Cohn & Wolfe in New York and Dan Pinger Public Relations in Cincinnati. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications from Miami University and is an accredited member (APR) of the Public Relations Society of America.
Julie dedicated her early career to public relations agencies, including Cohn & Wolfe in New York and Dan Pinger Public Relations in Cincinnati. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communications from Miami University and is an accredited member (APR) of the Public Relations Society of America.
Jessica Leary Allen, Consultant
Jessica Leary Allen has two decades of experience in nonprofit management with a focus on fundraising, marketing, and outreach. She has specialized in helping small and midsize nonprofits re-imagine and redesign their development function during periods of organizational transition. Her recent work also focuses on campaign giving. Recent clients include the Children's Museum of Cleveland, Ohio City Incorporated, Cleveland Leadership Center, and the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. Jessica is an accomplished grant writer with more than $12 million in secured grant funding. She also has extensive experience in special events, from small donor gatherings to major galas.
Prior to her consulting career, Jessica served as Executive Director of Fairmount Center for the Arts, leading it through an emergency campaign and remaining at the helm to strengthen its operations. She was also the Director of Development at The City Club of Cleveland and served as a foundation relations officer at Case Western Reserve University. She earned her bachelor's degree from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in 1997 and her master of public administration with a focus on nonprofit management from Ohio University in 2005.
Prior to her consulting career, Jessica served as Executive Director of Fairmount Center for the Arts, leading it through an emergency campaign and remaining at the helm to strengthen its operations. She was also the Director of Development at The City Club of Cleveland and served as a foundation relations officer at Case Western Reserve University. She earned her bachelor's degree from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in 1997 and her master of public administration with a focus on nonprofit management from Ohio University in 2005.
Debra Hollander, Project Management Lead
Debra brings a keen understanding of the interplay between marketing, fundraising and non-profit communications to JarosStrategy. She has worked for more than a decade as an independent consultant helping to bring creative and strategic marketing solutions to a wide variety of healthcare, education and social service agencies. Her work has resulted in increased prominence, fundraising dollars and awareness building at leading institutions, including Montefiore, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Bellefaire JCB, Applewood Centers and Gilmour Academy. She has an extensive graphic design portfolio and experience in event planning and social media marketing.
Prior to consulting, Debra worked for the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland where she developed and implemented their strategic marketing plan. Debra graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Prior to consulting, Debra worked for the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland where she developed and implemented their strategic marketing plan. Debra graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in history.
Photographs on this page taken on site at the stunning Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. Learn more about MOCA here.