Professional

Will Tarter serves as a Fellow at The Center for Community Solutions, a non-partisan, non-profit public policy think tank located in Downtown Cleveland.  He works primarily in health and human services, examining demographic trends in seniors and young adults, as well as what community planners can do now to effectively prepare for the future. 

He previously worked as the Community Engagement Specialist for OneCommunity, a technology firm in Downtown Cleveland, as well as Manager of Business Research and Communication for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.   While at DCA, as a member of the Business Development Center in 2011, Will played a key role in attracting over 5,500 jobs to Downtown Cleveland. He created a speaker series called “The Voice of Downtown,” which reached over 4,100 people.  In addition, Will created and managed the DCA Volunteer Corp, a collection of over 50 volunteers who supported community engagement by volunteering at Downtown events.  Finally, Will facilitated the DCA Membership program, which saw membership double and membership revenue jump by 60%.

 Will was selected by Crain’s Business Magazine as a member of the “40 Under 40,” “Business Networking Star of the Year” by Cleveland Business Connects Magazine and "One to Watch" by Cleveland Magazine.  

Will has also worked in the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, where is oversaw Voter Education in Northern Ohio, engaging with veterans, seniors, college students, the Latino community and college students.

Will was a fellow with the Legislative Service Commission in the Ohio House of Representatives in 2007.

Civic

Will is also very active in his community:

  • Advisory Board, Cleveland VOTES
  • Advisory Committee and Strategic Planning Committee, Cuyahoga County Division of Senior and Adult Services
  • Community Relations Committee, Cleveland Orchestra
  • Community Representative, City of Cleveland Division of Police, Wearable Camera Policy Committee
  • Debate Committee, Co-Chair, City Club of Cleveland
  • Editorial Advisory Committee, FreshWater Cleveland
  • Executive Committee, Cuyahoga County Democratic Party
  • First Vice President and Life Member, NAACP, Cleveland Branch
  • Past President, Cleveland Young Professional Senate
  • Past President, Toastmasters, Cleveland Club #351
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
  • Sergeant-at-Arms, Toastmasters, Cleveland Club #351
  • Web team, Cleveland Church of Christ Citadel of Hope Ministries

He was the youngest member to be selected by County Executive Ed FitzGerald to serve on the inaugural Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission. 

Will was a Fellow in the Legislative Service Commission of the Ohio General Assembly, a Fellow in the Center for Progressive Leadership and a Leaders and Scholars Appointee for Opportunity Nation.  

Will graduated cum laude with a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelors of Science in Communication from Ohio University.

Personal

He is married to his college sweetheart, Sarah, and has two children, Abigail and Luke.