Crain’s Cleveland Business | Film Commission Creates Chief Diversity Officer Position

Lowell W. Perry Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


SOURCE: Crain’s Cleveland Business
January 4, 2023

The Greater Cleveland Film Commission enters the new year with a new executive position.

The organization announced it has named Lowell W. Perry Jr. to the new role of chief diversity officer, vice president corporate and community engagement, effective immediately.

In a news release, the film commission said Perry “brings a proven track record of success in nonprofit and for-profit executive management, along with a broad-based organizational development background and significant expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion, community outreach, advocacy, strategic alliances and fundraising.”

Perry most recently was executive director of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area in Yuma, Arizona. In that position, the film commission said, he attracted more than $11.25 million in restoration and preservation commitments for the Yuma Territorial Prison and Colorado River State Historic Park to promote his vision for a “Historic Yuma Experience.”

Prior to that, Perry led the Central Promise Neighborhood, a program of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. He also was chief diversity officer, senior vice president corporate and community engagement for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Film commission president Bill Garvey said in a statement that Perry, a graduate of Yale University, will help the organization “grow the number of local motion picture jobs and develop a more diverse workforce.”

The film commission says that since 2009, it has attracted more than 300 productions to the region, most recently Netflix’s “White Noise” and Universal Pictures’ “Shooting Stars,” a LeBron James biopic.