40 under 40  Nov 30, 2009
By: Crain's Cleveland Business - Monday, November 30, 2009

Mary Ann Stropkay, 38
President, Shorebank Enterprise Cleveland

Mary Ann Stropkay grew up in the ethnic enclave around East 75th Street and St. Clair Avenue, though her family moved to Lake County in time for her to graduate from Kirtland High School in 1989.

But the president and CEO of ShoreBank Enterprise Cleveland, a bank-affiliated nonprofit that invests in and helps entrepreneurial businesses in Northeast Ohio, has kept her ties to her old neighborhood.

One of her friends from growing up in the neighborhood is perhaps her biggest supporter.

“She is as beautiful as she is kind, as she is effective,” said Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman.

That's high praise, even for congenitally exuberant Mr. Cimperman. But he wasn't done.

He further noted that her name means “white feather” in Croatian, a symbol of an angel.

Ms. Stropkay's nominators for 40 Under 40 recognition are more bottom-line pragmatic but effusive in their praise nonetheless, saying her work at ShoreBank and even earlier “demonstrates her success and ongoing commitment to catalyzing sustainable economic opportunities for local residents that will grow Northeast Ohio stronger.”

A lifelong banker, Ms. Stropkay is happy to have found a home where she can be a banker but also can nurture creative entrepreneurial ventures.

“I've always had an affinity for community development and economic development, but I didn't know those terms,” she said “I can take risks where traditional banks cannot.”

ShoreBank Enterprise, with the Cleveland Foundation, the city of Cleveland and other local institutions, is helping in the creation of Evergreen Cooperatives of Cleveland, a collection of planned employee-owned business. A laundry and a hydroponic greenhouse are under development.

Ms. Stropkay got into banking out of college, first graduating from John Carroll University before earning an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

Her traditional banking career began at National City Bank before she moved on to FirstMerit Bank. She focused on small business lending and wealth management.

“The best part was helping small businesses grow,” she said. “It's very rewarding to see a small business take off and for entrepreneurs to be successful.”