Julie Cruz Blair ’17

President & CEO
440-281-8535

director@LeadershipLorainCounty.com

About Julie:

Julie Cruz Blair has served with Leadership Lorain County for several years, currently as the President & CEO. Born in the city of Lorain, she has embraced her passion for providing individuals with the resources and initiatives necessary to meet goals by investing in their community. We are rich with people full of energy, desire, and compassion for others. We need to channel this energy.

As a graduate of Cleveland State University through the Lorain County Community College partnership, she was introduced to opportunities regarding being an active community member. She previously served on the Board for the Elyria YWCA, including a term as Vice-Chair. Currently, she serves on the Main Street Lorain Board, as well as their Design Committee, and is a member of the Elyria Sunrise Rotary. She is the mother of three ambitious children, who make her proud and drive her nuts all at once. They have each taught her unique lessons in life which includes being the example of your own expectations.

“When one finds their passion, they find the time.” Each day, she witnesses the connection between people and community through outreach. Leadership is genuinely about bringing people together for the better of all – leaving things better than how they were found. Improving things is not always about changing someone or something, sometimes it is about opening your mind to a better understanding of why it is.

margarita padua
llcip ’19

Community Outreach & Development
440-281-8535

llc@LeadershipLorainCounty.com

About Margarita:

Margarita Padua comes to Leadership Lorain County as a bilingual, licensed social worker and grant writer with experience in child welfare, mental health and nonprofit administration. She was raised in South Lorain where she attended Lorain City Schools through sixth grade. She is graduate from Elyria Catholic High School class of 2015. She is a passionate advocate for social justice and states, “Purpose is front and center in my career.” When considering a major in college, she knew she wanted to help people improve their quality of life. After attending Lorain County Community College and earning an Associate of Arts, she graduated from University of Akron with a Bachelor of Social Work. She subsequently earned her Ohio social work licensure.

In 2019, she was a Leadership Lorain County Intern placed at El Centro de Servicios Sociales. Her positive experience in the intern program ignites her passion therefore has her excited about joining the team at LLC. As the Community Outreach and Development Assistant, Margarita hopes to expand Leadership Lorain County’s impact through building relationships and empowering youth to use their talents to strengthen themselves and our community.