Industry-supported program introduces high school students to careers in architecture, construction and engineering

Glen Shumate has been named board chair of the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland, effective Jan. 1, 2024. He succeeds Matt Dennis of Shook Construction.

“I look forward to strengthening the education, mentoring and career pathway programs offered by ACE Cleveland,” says Shumate.

Cleveland’s ACE Mentor Program is an affiliate of The ACE Mentor Program of America, founded in 1994, a no-cost after-school program that prioritizes workforce development for high school students by connecting them with experts from the design and construction industry.

ACE Mentor addresses pressing workforce needs, offers a range of exciting opportunities for students, and plays a crucial role in bridging the skills gap, with continuous mentor opportunities from high school through to full-time employment.

ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Shumate has been actively engaged with the program the entire time. The Cleveland program has grown to 13 programs in 12 schools, and is currently supported by 140 volunteers from 70 companies. It has awarded more than $1.5 million in college scholarships.

Shumate, a Sandusky native, brings over 25 years of expertise in marketing, communications, diversity, and inclusion to ACE, along with extensive experience in workforce and government/public affairs. He is also the Executive Director of Contractors Assistance Association and ACE Mentor Cleveland as well as Executive Vice President of Construction Employers Association.

He previously served as president of the Call & Post newspapers; vice president of Cleveland Convention & Visitors Bureau; and director of community relations for the Cleveland Guardians [under their former name]. Glen was a marketing logistics major at the University of Toledo and continued his education at Cleveland State and Case Western Reserve Universities.

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