LADIES OF LEGACY 2020

THE 2020 LADIES OF LEGACY HONOREES

HEATHER CLAYTON TERRY

Heather Clayton Terry, MPA is an advocate, career coach and philanthropist. She currently works for Dominion Energy as the Senior Philanthropy Coordinator for the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Heather is responsible for the company's charitable giving, direct giving, and volunteer efforts for the state of Ohio. Prior to Dominion Energy, Heather worked as the Associate Director for Women in Science and Engineering at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). She advised emerging women and individuals of color in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics/Medicine) and provided individual coaching to help post-secondary education students navigate male-dominated fields.

In 2015, Heather established the Family Equity Committee at CWRU for alternative family building in collaboration with a group of individuals determined to modernize policies to address national trends in infertility insurance coverage, adoption benefits, and foster care support. Heather also established the Women of Color Series at CWRU to address intersectional feminism and the layers of bias which impact interaction and experience based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

Heather is a native Clevelander and first-generation college graduate who has worked as a Project Manager for National Institutes of Health as well as worked as the Francis H. Beam, Jr. Fellow for the Saint Luke’s Foundation. Prior to her fellowship, Heather spent six years managing programming initiatives for the Cleveland Public Library as well as taught adolescents in programs such as the NASA Workforce and Economic Division - Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) Program.

Heather is a Board Development Committee Member for the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, a Woman of Power Conference committee member, and a member of Our Hope, Our Future Giving Circle administered in collaboration with the Cleveland Foundation. Terry is a 2018 Women of Distinction Award recipient (Girl Scouts of North East Ohio), a 2017 Women’s Centers Outstanding Achievement Award Winner (National Women’s Studies Association), a 2017 Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Award Winner (Case Western Reserve University) and a 2009 NEO 25 Under 35 Movers and Shakers Award Winner (The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club & Inside Business Magazine). In her spare time, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband (Brandon), Twincredible fraternal twins (Harper and Braxton) and dog (Duke).

Favorite Quotes

My She-Ro: Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ~ Harriet Tubman
You know all those things you’ve always wanted to do, you should go do them. ~ E.J. Lamprey
Be proud of who you are. Be proud of your skin, your hair, your voice, your aura. The world is hard enough. Do not spend any of your time not loving you – all of you. Be grateful for everything you have been blessed with both good and bad. It has made you who you are imperfect perfection. ~ Heather Clayton Terry

JUDGE SUSAN BAKER ROSS

Judge Susan Baker Ross graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Management in 1988, received her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law in May, 1991, and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in November, 1991. She has served our community as Judge of the Summit County Court of Common Pleas since May 2019. She currently serves on the Ohio Judicial Conference Criminal Law and Procedure and Civil Law and Procedure committees.

She is Co-Chair of the Lawyer’s Assistance Committee of the Akron Bar Association, is a member of Leadership Akron Signature Class 35, ATHENA International, NAACP and the League of Women Voters. She has previously served as a member of the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, Summit County Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, Women’s Network Board and many community organizations.

Judge Ross previously served the Akron Municipal Court as the Traffic Court Magistrate and Judicial Attorney/Magistrate from 2011-2019, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office from 2001-2010, the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office from 1992-1997, the City of Akron Law Department from 1989-1992, and in her own law practice. She has also served the Village of Mogadore as Councilperson and as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board.

Judge Baker Ross lives in Akron with has two adult children and two ornery dogs, Susan is grateful to have celebrated 30 years of sobriety in July, 2019. Having lived through some difficult circumstances in her lifetime, she is seeing how her experience, strength, and hope can benefit others as she serve our county on the Common Pleas Bench.

Favorite Quotes

We have to own our power and our gifts as women in this world by being our own authentic selves. Authenticity is the key to who we are and to whom we become. - Judge Susan Baker Ross
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelo
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

ROHNESHA M. HORNE

Rohnesha M. Horne is the Director of Marketing for Radio One in Cleveland, Ohio. Her career began with Radio One in 2008, as the Assistant Marketing Director for WENZ-FM Z107.9. Shortly thereafter in 2009, Rohnesha was promoted to Promotions Director for all of the station brands, which included WENZ-FM Z107.9, WZAK-FM 93.1, WJMO Praise 94.5 FM and WERE-AM Newstalk 1490 AM. Lastly, in May of 2017, Rohnesha was promoted to her current position.

Passionate about the city of Cleveland, Rohnesha has led several community initiatives over her 12 year career. She’s received the most recognition for her water drive to Flint, Michigan where she charged the city of Cleveland to donate bottled water to combat their water crisis. Thanks to that effort, Radio One transported over 100,000 bottles of water to Flint, MI.

In 2018, Rohnesha accepted another position, becoming the Program Director & Instructor at the Ohio Media School for Sales & Marketing. There, her staff of instructors offer students hands on training from industry professionals using real life scenarios and client cases. Embracing the spirit of entrepreneurship, Rohnesha started her L.L.C, “RH Event Planning & Consulting” after being asked by several of her close colleagues to organize a team of people to work as a day-of wedding coordinator. Her company also offers a variety of services including marketing consultations, sales & sponsorship strategy, branding techniques and PR services.

In 2019, Rohnesha accepted a community position as the City Coordinator for the National African American Male Wellness 5K Walk/Run. In that role she was responsible for organizing/executing the event, raising sponsorship dollars, creating a marketing strategy and rallying the men in Cleveland to come out to get free health screenings. Rohnesha is a proud member of the N.A.A.C.P. (Cleveland Chapter) and the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation.

“What I love most about what I do is that I get to give back to the city that raised me and put people into the positions of their dreams. I love that I can be versatile, one minute I’m producing Summer Jam, the next I’m serving food at a local shelter." -Rohnesha M. Horne

Favorite Quotes

“You already possess the skillset inside of you to become the woman that you are destined to be”
“If God says ‘yes’ but man says ‘no’ than your answer is wait.”
“There is no such thing as a mistake that you can’t use as motivation.”