Former Cleveland Neighborhood Progress head Tania Menesse joins Towards Employment as CEO

Towards Employment has named Tania Menesse as its new president and CEO.

Menesse, the former CEO of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, will replace Jill Rizika, who announced her retirement earlier this year after more than two decades at the helm of Towards Employment.

“Tania’s rooted in the the community,” Rizika said. “That knowledge, those networks; I think she brings a fresh perspective, which is super important with all of these changes in our environment. ... I’m proud to be able to hand this off this stable, strong organization.”

During Rizika’s tenure, the nonprofit dedicated to helping Clevelanders find employment expanded its annual job placements to the highest in the organization’s 50-year history.

Shenise Johnson-Thomas, who chairs the nonprofit’s board of directors, said Menesse is poised to build on that momentum after 15 years of executive leadership experience across economic development, neighborhood revitalization and public policy.

“Tania brings the strategic leadership, community relationships, and commitment to economic opportunity needed to guide Towards Employment into its next chapter,” Johnson-Thomas said in a written statement. “Her experience building partnerships and advancing systems change will strengthen TE’s work with job seekers, employers, and the broader community.”

Menesse announced her departure from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress in May after a five-year tenure, during which she stewarded significant investment in Cleveland’s community development corporation ecosystem.

A Crain’s Cleveland Business Women of Note in 2022, Menesse left CNP with a number of accomplishments, including $12 million in strategic grants distributed to CDCs, which launched the Middle Neighborhood Initiative and helped revitalize both housing and small businesses in the city.

Menesse also previously served as the director of community development in Shaker Heights and Cleveland.

“When I moved back to Cleveland and started rethinking what I wanted to be doing, I had always envisioned myself in workforce development and regional economic development, because I came from more of a business background and saw and understand very much the importance of people and talent attraction to the growth of our region,” Menesse told Crain’s. “I’m very humbled to step into Jill’s shoes and continue to grow this incredibly important work that she and the team have built.”

Menesse will begin Sept. 21, with Rizika’s departure scheduled for Oct. 1.