Collette Appolito is President of the Presidents' Council and Executive Director of the Presidents' Council Foundation. Prior to joining the Presidents' Council, Ms. Appolito served as director of the City of Cleveland’s Office of Equal Opportunity where she was responsible for administering and monitoring compliance of the Minority- and Female-owned Business Enterprise program, including promoting purchases from MBEs/FBEs by city contractors, and to ensure that contractors meet affirmative action goals. She was appointed by Mayor Jane Campbell in May 2004. Previously, Ms. Appolito was a project coordinator in the city’s Department of Economic Development, where she focused her efforts on ensuring compliance with the city’s agreements with CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. She also developed and administered a $20.7 million budget related to the oversight and development of noise and safety mitigation and residential sound insulation programs. Earlier in her career, Appolito was marketing director of a senior health services organization and a manager and lending officer with a financial services organization. Ms. Appolito holds a bachelor of business administration degree in finance from Cleveland State University and currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio.