“Economic inclusion is fundamental to the success of the initiatives put forward by Gilbane. We are thrilled to have Marleise join our team, as she is well known in the community and brings with her several years of experience advocating for the participation of diverse businesses,” said Mark D. Cunningham, Program Director. “The success of these initiatives is vital to our long-term success at Gilbane because it not only strengthens our projects and communities but also generates a greater impact on our clients.”
Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in business management from Ohio Dominican University and a Master of Compliance Administrator certificate from Morgan State University. Before joining Gilbane, Ryan was the Economic Equity Administrator with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners’ Office of Diversity Equity & Inclusion. In this role, she led the small emerging business enterprise program that aimed to increase diverse business enterprise participation in county contracts. In addition, Ryan worked at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority as Business Development Specialist administering the certification, outreach, and small business program.
Ryan is a member of several local organizations, including the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, the American Contract Compliance Association, the National Association of Women in Construction, and the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she is a board member of the Gertrude Woods Community Foundation, whose mission is to provide opportunities that strengthen the Driving Park Community. In 2019, Ryan was awarded the Frank W. Watson Advocacy Award for her work in supplier diversity of minority businesses.
