Engage! Cleveland Announces Winners of 5th Annual Generation NEXT Awards

Published: Aug 30, 2026 - 12:57 p.m.

By David Jones

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CLEVELAND, OHIO — Local leaders are preparing to recognize the driving forces behind the city's professional growth as Engage! Cleveland announced the winners of its fifth annual Generation NEXT Awards. The awards honor 21 individuals and organizations that have prioritized attracting and retaining emerging talent in Northeast Ohio. The honors come at a critical time for the region's workforce. According to Engage! Cleveland, the organization is focused on making the city a premier destination for the next generation of workers, a goal that requires cooperation across the private and public sectors. The winners were chosen by a selection committee after being nominated by their peers for fostering cultures of belonging and personal fulfillment. Ashley Basile Oeken, president of Engage! Cleveland, said the organization is impressed with the honorees who are helping engage local talent across various industries. The winners represent a mix of nonprofits, small businesses and large corporations. The individual categories highlight the human element of workforce development. Meenakshi Sharma, acting president and CEO of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, is being recognized as Mentor of the Year for the nonprofit sector. In the large-company category, Marisa Darden of Benesch earned the mentorship honor for her leadership within the firm's government investigations practice. There is a poignant addition to this year's list of honorees. Ruth Barnum, the former vice president of marketing and growth for Apex Skin, is being recognized posthumously as Mid-Size Company Mentor of the Year. Her inclusion serves as a testament to the lasting influence professional leaders leave on their colleagues and the local business community. The Young Professional of the Year awards went to individuals such as Hannah Dible, a senior specialist for early talent at The J.M. Smucker Co., and Andrianna Sheriff, who manages marketing and communications for the Cleveland Public Library. The awards specifically recognize those who are not just succeeding in their roles but also actively contributing to the city's professional ecosystem. Corporate culture also took center stage in the selection process. Oatey was named Company of the Year in the large-company category, while the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities took the top spot for nonprofits. The Program of the Year awards went to initiatives such as Lincoln Electric's Early Talent Program and the LAUNCH Internship Program at Corrigan Krause. The organization will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to SueAnn Naso, CEO of Staffing Solutions Enterprises. Naso has spent her career focused on the staffing and recruitment needs of the region, aligning with the core mission of the awards. The Generation NEXT Awards ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 8 a.m. The breakfast event is supported by several local sponsors, including Team NEO and Mars Electric. Tickets for the ceremony are currently available on the Engage! Cleveland website. The organization maintains its headquarters at 3135 Euclid Ave., Suite 103, in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.