Each week, #SpanningtheNeed will present an “Inspirational Person of the Week’ and have a “Q & A” with one of its many gifted individuals and/or groups who are willing to go out of their own way to help others. This week’s featured is Shelley Webber from American Heart Association.
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Name: Shelley Webber
Position: Executive Director
Organization: American Heart Association
Bio: Shelley Webber currently serve as the Executive Director of the American Heart Association in Cleveland, working passionately to make the greater Cleveland region a healthier place to live, focused on removing barriers to health equity. She has more than 13 years of experience in nonprofit development at the American Heart Association, serving in various roles between Youngstown and Cleveland areas.
During this time, Shelley has been able to achieve many significant professional achievements, including revenue growth, managing top leading accounts, growth of annual giving societies donor base, and have achieved several regional and national benchmarks and awards; most recently the 2023 National Cass Wheeler Award for Team Excellence, the Midwest Leadership Award in 2023, and the Midwest Revenue Award in 2022. She has been able to gain extensive experience with nonprofit leadership development, volunteer recruitment, strategic direction and planning, and stewardship of donors. Her personal passion for this organization stems from my niece Alexa, who was born with a congenital heart condition. Shelley received my Bachelor’s of Science in business administration degree from Youngstown State University and hold previous work experience as a Business Development Specialist at Cubbison Company in Youngstown.
What made you want to go into this field?
I was working in sales and my niece was also undergoing her second open heart surgery at the time when I saw an opening in the Youngstown area for a role with the AHA. I knew right away I had the passion for the role and I have always been energized by external facing roles in sales and relationship building.
What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?
Being open minded and eager to learn is a major factor in my career success. Having the ability to take in knowledge from others and lean into your internal resources to grow and expand your experience. I also was willing to make a lateral move within the AHA, which really transformed my path to where I am today.
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What is the biggest professional mistake you made along the way?
I don’t know if there is one major mistake, but some things I have learned along the way is to follow your interests but don’t only lean into your strengths, challenge yourself in areas you need growth, ask for help when you need it, and always be in a networking mindset both internally and externally within your company.
What is the hardest decision you ever had to make in this field?
Leaving Youngstown. That was a very hard decision to make, leaving my hometown to take a role in Cleveland in 2015. But it was a decision I needed for professional growth, larger metro markets meant more opportunities to gain new experiences, and ultimately took my career to the next level.
If you could start all over again, what would you do differently regarding your profession? I would tell my younger career self to think bigger! Sometimes the ability to cast a vision happens after you’ve successfully accomplished something big, but big picture strategic thinking is such a critical skill needed, especially in nonprofits where you’re number one job is “ask”.
What inspires you to do good in our community?
Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of Americans, and so many risk factors are self preventable. I see it in my own family, where health is not always a priority. I hope through the work I have been able to accomplish in my various roles at the AHA that I have inspired people to take charge of their health. It’s also inspiring to meet such philanthropic leaders in the community with such a charge to give back. Being able to bring a donor’s passion and legacy to life through our community work is my favorite part of the job.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering in our community?
Seeing people come together for a common cause and raise awareness is what I enjoy most.
POTW: Phil Kidd, City of Cleveland(Opens in a new browser tab)
What song best describes you or is the soundtrack to your life?
That’s Life – Frank Sinatra
What is your best accomplishment/experience in life?
My career!
A favorite quote that you live by?
“The most profound relationship we will ever have is the one with ourselves.”
