Experience

Ricardo León is President and CEO of the Cuyahoga Land Bank, where he leads the organization’s mission to transform vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties into community assets that strengthen neighborhoods and expand economic opportunity. Appointed by the Board of Directors in 2024 after serving as Chief Operating Officer, León oversees strategic partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Cuyahoga County, helping drive more than $3.6 billion in economic impact through neighborhood revitalization initiatives.

Before joining the Land Bank, León served as Executive Director of Metro West Community Development Organization, supporting community development efforts in Cleveland’s Stockyards, Clark-Fulton, and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods. His professional experience spans the startup, corporate, consulting, and nonprofit sectors.

He serves on the boards of several regional organizations, including MetroHealth Foundation, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Neighborhood Family Practice, and CHN Housing Capital among others.

Education

León holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Science in Urban Studies with a concentration in Economic Development from Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs.