Teleange’ Thomas was appointed to the Board of Directors by the Mayor of the City of Cleveland in 2022.

Teleange´ is the Chief Operating & Relationship Officer for JumpStart Inc where she is responsible for aligning the talent, infrastructure, and resources of the organization to unlock the power of entrepreneurship to transform communities. She sets strategy for JumpStart’s long-term sustainability, strengthens partnerships, and spearheads the organization’s involvement in civic initiatives including the Cleveland Innovation Project, the MidTown Innovation District and other initiatives aligned to JumpStart’s goals and values to drive equitable economic impact.

Thomas brings with her nearly twenty years of experience in public health, nonprofit management, philanthropy and community and economic development. She is committed to building sustainable opportunities for children, women and neighborhoods, particularly BlPOC communities. Prior to joining JumpStart, she served as the Director of Partnerships at Candid. Before her tenure at Candid, Thomas served in leadership and management positions at The Sisters of Charity Foundation, University Hospitals and the City of Cleveland. Teleange´ has been combating social and economic inequities and driving transformative change throughout her career.

A social entrepreneur herself, she is the founder of Plattforms LLC, a women and minority owned firm that specializes in the design, startup, and sustainability of social change initiatives to improve humanity through socio-economic opportunity and equity-based solutions, elevating people, places and ideas. As importantly, she is a committed civic leader and change agent.

Thomas earned a Bachelor of Business Management and Entrepreneurial Studies from Case Western Reserve University. Along with the Port of Cleveland, she is on the boards of Community Health Charities, Policy Matters Ohio, and the Cleveland Public Library. She is a Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is published in academic journals. Teleange’ lives in Cleveland, is a loving daughter, committed big sister and proud auntie.