Annette Blackwell has a long history of steadfast leadership and holding everyone around her to the same high standards she holds herself to. Prior to holding elected office, Annette was a successful business leader for several premier companies including KeyBank (US Bank), University Hospitals of Cleveland, Deloitte, and Ryan International Tax Services.
In January 2016, Mayor Blackwell was sworn in as the City of Maple Heights’ 16th Mayor, the first female and first African-American in the City’s 100-year history. Annette also serves as the City’s Safety Director.
Managing a city budget is the best preparation to serve as our state auditor and Annette has done that successfully for the last decade. She has the experience and the unwavering integrity we need in the auditor’s office.
___________________________
In addition to her experience, Annette also lends her time and expertise on various boards in the community.
Board Memberships
- Black Women’s Political Action Committee
- Chagrin Valley Dispatch Center, Executive Board Member
- Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers, Executive Board Member
- Cuyahoga County’s Citizens’ Advisory Council on Equity
- Cuyahoga County’s Land Reutilization Corporation Board of Directors
- Global Cleveland, Policy Committee Chairperson
- Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, Assistant Secretary
- Ohio Municipal League, the Mayor’s Association of Ohio, Past President
- Regional Income Tax Agency, Secretary
- Benedict Catholic School, Garfield Heights, Board of Trustees
- the First Suburbs Consortium, Vice-Chair
- the Suburban Water Council of Governments
Awards & Honors
- 2025 Interviewee for the HistoryMakers
- 2024 NOACA Jackson Leadership Award named for Former Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson
- 2024 Cleveland Future History Maker Community Change Maker Award presented by NEON and Radio One
- 2024 Cleveland Kindland Leadership Award
- 2024 Environmental Justice Champion, Black Environmental Leaders Association
- 2023 Women of Distinction Honoree, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio
- 2021 Community Leaders of the Year Award, Cleveland Magazine
- 2020 Most Interesting People, Cleveland Magazine
- Outstanding Leadership Award, Cuyahoga Community College Women In Transition Program
- Maple Heights City Schools Pathfinder Award
- Humanitarian Warrior of Justice & Leadership Award, National Action Network of Greater Cleveland
- Woman of Vision Award, Northeast Ohio Young Black Democrats
- Norman Krumholz Equity Award, The Ohio Chapter of the American Planning Association
- Distinguished Community Leader Award, The Ohio State Coalition of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
- Sister Diana Stano Leadership Award, Ursuline College
- Villa Angela – St. Joseph High School Hall of Fame
Education
- Senior Stokes Fellow for the 2025 Class of the Advanced Leadership Institute
- The Ohio State University, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, Ohio Public Leadership Academy
- Cleveland State University, The Center for Public & Nonprofit Management
- Ursuline College (BA) Public Relations/Corporate Communications
- Indiana Wesleyan University (ASB)
- Cleveland Leadership Center’s Civic Leadership Institute
