Rob Cleveland
President and CEO
Cornerstone Alliance
Rob Cleveland is the President of the Cornerstone Alliance. Located in Michigan’s Great Southwest, the Cornerstone Alliance is Berrien County’s premiere economic development organization. He is a Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD) by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). At Cornerstone, Cleveland leads a team of more than 12 individuals devoted to the enrichment of economic vitality, improved employment opportunities, expansion of the tax base and the creation of wealth in Berrien County.
In less than two years under Cleveland’s leadership, Cornerstone Alliance has helped Berrien County companies add nearly 200 new jobs, while investing more than $65 million in Michigan’s Great Southwest. Cleveland led the development of a new, five-year strategic plan that was implemented in 2017 and included $100 million of new investment, creating 50 new small businesses, improving 20 new sites for development and raising $11 million for economic development efforts in Berrien County.
Previously, Cleveland was the Director of Economic Development and Community Affairs at Indiana Michigan Power (AEP), where he led the company’s business attraction, retention and expansion activities. Cleveland was responsible for I&M’s efforts to certify sites with Food Processing and Data Center designations – the only such certified sites in the State of Indiana. He was also a member of I&M’s Corporate Communications team.
Prior to joining I&M, Cleveland was the Executive Director of the Blackford County EDC. While in Blackford County, Cleveland assisted more than a dozen companies in new investment of more than $53 million – representing more than 10% of the entire net Assessed Value of Blackford County – and the creation of 175 new jobs. In 2011, Cleveland led all efforts to recruit Naturally Recycled Proteins (NRP) in locating in Montpelier. NRP had an initial investment of $14 million and 68 new jobs – the largest new-job announcement in Blackford County in 18 years.
Prior to joining the BCEDC, Cleveland served as a Public Relations Specialist with Andretti Green Racing, where he worked with Indianapolis 500 winners Dan Wheldon and Dario Franchitti. Cleveland began his professional career as a Video Coordinator and Scout with the Indiana Pacers (NBA) and Indiana Fever (WNBA). He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport Administration from Ball State University. Cleveland and his wife, Susan, reside in Berrien County (Mich.) with their three children.