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

Director of Outreach & Development
440-281-8535

llc@LeadershipLorainCounty.com

About Margarita:

Margarita Padua brings a wealth of expertise and a deep-rooted commitment to Leadership Lorain County as its Director of Outreach and Development. A bilingual licensed social worker and grant writer, Margarita has dedicated her career to promoting child welfare, supporting mental health initiatives, and strengthening nonprofit organizations. Growing up in South Lorain, she attended Lorain City Schools through sixth grade before graduating from Elyria Catholic High School in 2015. From a young age, she was immersed in community service, often joining her social worker mother in various outreach efforts. By age 12, Margarita was already advocating for civic engagement, helping register community members to vote—a passion that has continued throughout her life.

A graduate of Lorain County Community College with an Associate of Arts degree, Margarita went on to earn her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Akron, and then achieved her Ohio social work licensure. Her career is driven by a commitment to social justice, stating often, “Purpose is front and center in my career.”

In 2019, Margarita joined the Leadership Lorain County family as an intern, placed at El Centro de Servicios Sociales. This experience ignited her passion for LLC’s mission, making her excited to return as a leader. Beyond LLC, she serves as a Board Member of the Community Foundation of Lorain County’s Hispanic Fund, where she contributes to advancing opportunities for the Hispanic community.

As Director of Outreach and Development, Margarita is eager to expand LLC’s impact by building strong community relationships and inspiring young people to leverage their talents to uplift themselves and their communities.

Sylvia Lyons
llcip ’23

Programs and Executive Assistant
440-281-8535

programs@LeadershipLorainCounty.com

About Sylvia:

Sylvia Lyons serves as the Programs and Executive Assistant at Leadership Lorain County, where she supports initiatives that empower emerging leaders and foster community impact. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a Minor in Nonprofit Administration at Cleveland State University, combining her academic knowledge with her passion for creating safe and equitable educational opportunities.

A proud graduate of Elyria High School, Sylvia discovered her dedication to education and community service early in life. In 2023, she was selected as a Leadership Lorain County intern and was placed at the Lorain County Urban League. There, she coordinated and delivered enriching summer programming for school-aged youth in Elyria, further solidifying her commitment to fostering equitable opportunities for future generations.

Through her work at Leadership Lorain County, Sylvia is dedicated to advancing the mission of inspiring and connecting leaders to strengthen Lorain County.