Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie McHenry is the Chief Executive Officer at The Democracy Collaborative (TDC). This 20+ year-old think/do tank works to turn community wealth building into visions and models that demonstrate new principles of a democratic economy operating within planetary boundaries, while also helping to lay the pathways for systemic transformation. Demonstration projects and consultancies have been conducted in several U. S. cities (including Cleveland) and in Europe.

Prior to her role at TDC, Ms. McHenry was Vice President for Policy, Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP), a nonprofit that provides low-interest loans to important projects that remake city blocks, and it offers technical assistance to community groups.

From March 2011 until January 2019, she was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs & Finance at Cleveland State University (CSU). This urban university is located on 85 acres in the heart of downtown Cleveland, with eight colleges and more than 200 academic programs serving 15,000 students. In this capacity, she oversaw critical university functions including finance, information systems & technology, capital planning, campus safety, facilities management, auxiliary services (dining, housing, arena, etc.), purchasing and human resources.

Prior to joining CSU, Ms. McHenry served as the President of Urban Partnership Bank, Cleveland Region, where she managed local assets of $75 million. She served in various leadership roles at ShoreBank Corporation, beginning as an intern in Chicago in 1986, then at affiliates in Arkansas and Cleveland, OH where she served as President of the bank for seven years.

Ms. McHenry has served on multiple boards in Greater Cleveland and nationally, working in industries ranging from banking to healthcare to public policy. She holds a B. A. in Economics from Dartmouth College.