(Cleveland) - City Club of Cleveland Executive Director Jim Foster has announced his retirement. Foster came to The City Club in 1993.

At the beginning of his term as executive director, City Club Forums were broadcast only on radio and television. Even in the early years of the internet, Foster led the organization onto the on-line world by securing the www.cityclub.org domain name and building a website. Now, City Club Forums are available on live stream, podcast and on The City Club’s own YouTube Channel.

“Jim is leaving a strong legacy,” says Hewitt Shaw, City Club Board President. “We have had a terrific year celebrating The City Club’s 100th Anniversary and the board just approved the newly completed strategic plan.”

“At the heart of our programming is the opportunity for our audience here in Cleveland to have a face-to-face meeting with some of the most important and influential leaders in our nation and in the world.” Foster said, and added, “Leaders from the public and private sectors; in education, medicine and media and those with significant influence shaping national dialogue, come to our podium because of our national prominence. They know the questions will be challenging, but fair.”

Shaw said the Board will be conducting a comprehensive search to select a replacement. The search firm of Ratliff & Taylor will be directing the search and will cast a very wide net.

“We are looking for someone with the ability to draw national speakers but who also has significant knowledge about the Cleveland community,” says Shaw.

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