Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) was honored to welcome local professionals and community leaders to its Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) welcome celebrations held across seven high schools in Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Warrensville Heights. Throughout the celebrations, guest speakers shared their career journeys, personal experiences and advice for the next generation of the workforce. These conversations reinforce JOG’s commitment to helping young people build leadership and employability skills, graduate high school and lead a path towards a bright future. Each speaker brought a unique perspective to the students, highlighting the many possibilities that lie ahead.
Meet the Speakers
Mackenzie Cook began her career at the Exit Planning Institute as an intern while in college. During her studies, she focused her academic research on organizational culture and employee development, eventually publishing a thesis on building organizational culture through employee onboarding. After graduating in 2026, she transitioned into a full-time position as an executive assistant. Cook spoke at John Marshall High School's JOG welcome celebration, where she shared her experiences and career journey with students. In her current role, she works closely with executive leadership and supports strategic initiatives across the organization.
Marcus Harris earned a Master of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University and has more than 20 years of leadership experience across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. He currently serves as the Director of Programs and Services at Greater Cleveland Works, where he connects employers and job seekers with resources, training and career opportunities. At Warrensville Heights High School’s JOG welcome celebration, Harris shared the importance of perseverance and encouraged students to keep moving forward despite challenges, reminding them, “A setback is not the same thing as a life sentence.”
Dimetrius L. Harris has more than 20 years of experience in retail banking, lending, mortgage, collections and customer service, holding leadership positions at Citizens Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and MBNA. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for developing leaders, improving business performance and creating strong teams. He currently serves as Senior Vice President, Retail Regional Manager for Citizens Bank, leading 19 branches and more than 110 colleagues across Northeast Ohio. In addition to his professional work, Harris is a dedicated community leader and mentor who is passionate about creating opportunities and helping young people reach their full potential. Harris spoke at Glenville High School, where he shared his career journey with the students.
Rafa Hernández-Brito, known as “El Alcalde” (“The Mayor”), is a bilingual sports broadcaster who has called Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Guardians games in both English and Spanish. A Boston University graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, Hernández-Brito, began his career in sales before deciding to follow his passion for broadcasting. Reflecting on that career change, he encouraged the students of Lincoln-West High School to explore what excites them and pursue paths that feel meaningful, sharing, “Find that thing that makes you lose track of time when you do it.” Today, Hernández-Brito, is a nationally recognized broadcaster who also works to promote bilingual education and support immigrant students across Northeast Ohio.
Jonathan Ortiz is the Store Manager at CVS in Cleveland Heights. Originally from Puerto Rico, he joined CVS more than 13 years ago as a Store Associate and worked his way into leadership. Reflecting on his journey, Ortiz encouraged Cleveland Heights High School students not to let their backgrounds or challenges define their futures, sharing, “Your limitations do not get to write your story. You do.”
Councilman Richard A. Starr is a Cleveland native and East Technical High School graduate who began his career with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland in 2008, working in youth development and community leadership. Today, he represents Ward 5 on Cleveland City Council, where he focuses on creating opportunities and strengthening neighborhoods. Drawing from his own journey as a past East Tech student, he encouraged students to take ownership of their futures, work hard toward their goals and recognize that their starting point does not determine how far they can go. He reminded them, “At the end of the day, you can still be successful if you put in the work. Nobody can do it for you. You have to do it yourself.”
Myesha Watkins is a proud Cleveland native and John Marshall High School graduate who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Cleveland State University. Her passion for helping others and strengthening communities has shaped her career in youth development and violence prevention. As she shared with the Benjamin O’ Davis Jr. High School students, “I’m not going to allow where I came from to stop me from where I’m going,” a message reflected in her own journey from growing up in Cleveland to becoming a leader in community violence prevention. Today, Watkins serves as the Administrator of the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention, where she leads countywide efforts to address gun violence and build safer communities.
The Next Step
The speaker’s stories reminded students that there is no single path to success. Whether pursuing a college degree, entering the workforce or exploring a career interest, students can apply these lessons by staying open to opportunities, working through challenges and taking ownership of their goals. Through JOG and its other youth employment programs, Y.O.U. remains committed to helping young people build the skills, gain the experience and access the opportunities they need to prepare for a successful future.