Jenice Contreras
Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development, President & CEO
Jenice Contreras is a recognized leader in business, community, and economic development, as well as an accomplished real estate developer and the founder of CentroVilla25. As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development (the Center), Jenice directs the organization’s dynamic portfolio, including the NEO Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and innovative community development initiatives.
As someone who grew up in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood—the most densely populated Hispanic enclave in Ohio—Jenice is a visionary force behind equitable neighborhood revitalization. Dedicated to cultural preservation, wealth creation, and business growth, Jenice is the founder and co-developer of CentroVilla25, a transformational, $14 million mixed-use project revitalizing a vacant 32,500-square-foot warehouse in the heart of Clark-Fulton. This adaptive reuse initiative will feature twenty micro-retail kiosks, a commercial kitchen, a business innovation center and co-working space, office suites for Latino and neighborhood-serving organizations, an outdoor restaurant plaza, and a vibrant community gathering space for arts, culture, and local events—serving as an economic and cultural anchor for the region.
Jenice’s expertise in equitable development has been further strengthened by her completion of the Equitable Development Initiative, where she advanced her skills in inclusive, community-first real estate. She also completed a fellowship with the Business Alliance for Living Local Economies (BALLE) and served as Faculty Chair for the National League of Cities Equitable Economic Development Fellowship.
Jenice holds a Bachelor of Arts from Capital University and an Executive MBA from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business. She sits on the Boards of National Main Street America, the Center for Community Solutions, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic–Medina Hospital, and serves on the City of Cleveland’s Near West Design Review Committee and the Cuyahoga County Citizen Advisory Council on Equity.
Born in Puerto Rico, Jenice is proudly bilingual and bicultural. Her lived experience drives her advocacy for racial equity, diversity, and the economic empowerment of Northeast Ohio’s Latino community. Through her leadership and vision, Jenice is helping shape a more inclusive, prosperous future for generations to come.
As someone who grew up in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood—the most densely populated Hispanic enclave in Ohio—Jenice is a visionary force behind equitable neighborhood revitalization. Dedicated to cultural preservation, wealth creation, and business growth, Jenice is the founder and co-developer of CentroVilla25, a transformational, $14 million mixed-use project revitalizing a vacant 32,500-square-foot warehouse in the heart of Clark-Fulton. This adaptive reuse initiative will feature twenty micro-retail kiosks, a commercial kitchen, a business innovation center and co-working space, office suites for Latino and neighborhood-serving organizations, an outdoor restaurant plaza, and a vibrant community gathering space for arts, culture, and local events—serving as an economic and cultural anchor for the region.
Jenice’s expertise in equitable development has been further strengthened by her completion of the Equitable Development Initiative, where she advanced her skills in inclusive, community-first real estate. She also completed a fellowship with the Business Alliance for Living Local Economies (BALLE) and served as Faculty Chair for the National League of Cities Equitable Economic Development Fellowship.
Jenice holds a Bachelor of Arts from Capital University and an Executive MBA from The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business. She sits on the Boards of National Main Street America, the Center for Community Solutions, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic–Medina Hospital, and serves on the City of Cleveland’s Near West Design Review Committee and the Cuyahoga County Citizen Advisory Council on Equity.
Born in Puerto Rico, Jenice is proudly bilingual and bicultural. Her lived experience drives her advocacy for racial equity, diversity, and the economic empowerment of Northeast Ohio’s Latino community. Through her leadership and vision, Jenice is helping shape a more inclusive, prosperous future for generations to come.
