ASSEMBLY FOR THE ARTS WELCOMES SIX NEW BOARD MEMBERS
CLEVELAND, November 5, 2025 — Assembly for the Arts has announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Trustees—F. Allen Boseman, Beth Glas, Kurt Karakul, Esq., Brian Lewis, Christopher Loeser, and Sharlene Ramos-Chesnes—whose expertise spans law, disability inclusion, philanthropy, architecture, finance, and entrepreneurship. Their collective talents will bolster Assembly’s work to unify Greater Cleveland’s creative sector, coordinate information and partnerships, and champion sustained public and private investment so arts and culture thrive for everyone.
“Each of these leaders brings distinct strengths and deep community commitment,” said Chinenye Nkemere, Chair of Assembly’s Board of Trustees. “Together, they will help us widen access to reliable information, connect partners to opportunities, and advocate for the long-term investment our artists and cultural organizations need to flourish.”
Boseman is an experienced litigator and negotiator who has represented a broad range of clients from individuals to Fortune 500 companies with a special focus on the entertainment industry. He is co-founder of Sherman Boseman Legal Group. Beyond his legal practice, Boseman is a well-known Cleveland DJ and a partner in Gumbo, a popular, long-running dance-party series that blends DJs and live instrumentation. He has collaborated on special events with local cultural partners, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Glas is Executive Director of Linking Employment, Abilities and Potential (LEAP), a Center for Independent Living serving adults with disabilities in Northeast Ohio. She co-chairs the Northeast Ohio Coalition of Disability Organizations, serves on the board of Bike Cleveland, serves on the Cuyahoga County Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, and is a member of the City of Cleveland’s Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory Committee. She is a member of Cleveland Leadership Class of 2023.
Karakul is the former President and Executive Director of the Third Federal Foundation. He serves on Assembly’s Board as the representative for Cleveland Arts Prize, where he is co-chair of the board. Before joining the Foundation, Karakul practiced law for 28 years and was a partner and member of the management team at Weston Hurd LLP, where he led the Real Estate Section. He also serves on the boards of The Literacy Cooperative, the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, and ChamberFest Cleveland, and works on Cleveland Mayor Bibb’s Side by Side Literacy Project.
Lewis is Senior Vice President and Private Client Manager with Bank of America Private Bank, based in Cleveland, Ohio. He assists family offices, business owners, senior executives, and philanthropic organizations, and serves on the leadership committee for Bank of America’s Community Involvement and Black Professional Group (BPG) in Ohio.
Loeser is a licensed architect and Principal, Cultural + Performing Arts Leader at DLR Group (formerly Westlake Reed Leskosky). Over the past 18 years, he has led projects locally, nationally, and internationally, with a primary focus on cultural and performing arts spaces, including many of Cleveland’s key cultural institutions. He has served on the board of the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT), has been a juror for the Cleveland Restoration Society and AIA Celebration of Preservation Awards, and currently sits on the Cleveland Landmarks Commission.
Ramos-Chesnes is President and CEO of True North Global, a consulting company focused on supply chain and startups, and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the InterChez family of companies. A former educator, Ramos-Chesnes maintains strong ties to her alma mater, Kent State University, where she established the Chesnes Family Endowment Scholarship. She has served on the board of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, among many other organizations.
The new trustees succeed Fred Bidwell, Paul Westlake, and Aseelah Shareef, whose exceptional service on the Board has concluded.
“These trustees deepen the Board’s collective expertise as we advance our mission,” said Jeremy Johnson, president and CEO of Assembly for the Arts. “Their leadership arrives at a moment when our sector faces both strain and possibility. We’ve been fortunate that in Ohio and Cleveland, public and private commitments have helped temper the financial pressures cultural nonprofits face nationwide. We look forward to tapping their expertise to strengthen the creative sector in Northeast Ohio.”
(Note: Headshots are available by request)
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About Assembly for the Arts
Assembly for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that unifies Greater Cleveland’s creative sector by coordinating information, partnerships, and opportunities and advocating for strong public and private investment in arts and culture. It supports nonprofits, artists, and creative businesses through research, policy, and sector-wide services, working closely with Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and Assembly for Action (a 501(c)(4) advocacy affiliate). Learn more at www.assemblycle.org.
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