Rose M. Rodriguez-Bardwell is executive director of the Spanish American Committee. The Spanish American Committee is the oldest and largest Latino based non-profit organization in Ohio. Through leadership and management, she focuses on the creation of programs and services that change the socio-economical impact of the Latino community in Cleveland and regionally.

A native Clevelander, Rodriguez-Bardwell graduated from Jane Adams High School and received a bachelor’s degree in business/management from the University of Maryland, College Park. She currently is seeking a master’s in urban planning.

Rodriguez-Bardwell has developed critical competency and expertise in donor cultivation, proposal writing, grants management and program development. Her vast experience includes positions as accounting and finance officer, Department of Defense (Tokyo, Japan), high school math and English teacher (Montgomery Ala., Yokota Airbase Japan) and programs officer (Cleveland).

She serves as board president of the Cleveland Tenant Organization and was a past board member of the Old Brooklyn CDC. She is a nationally certified housing counselor and a member of the National Urban Planners of America. Her memberships also include the National Society of Hispanic Professionals, which promotes Hispanics in leadership, employment, and advancement in corporate America.

In 2006, she was appointed to a four-year term as a board member of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.