Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative's (CUDC) own Dawn Mayes has been named one of . She will be featured online and in print on Sept. 30 with recognition for her work expanding the diversity of design practitioners in Northeast Ohio.
Mayes is the Director of Design Entrepreneurship and Inclusion at the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative (CUDC), a part of 5X’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design, where she works to strengthen pathways for people of color into the design profession and offers entrepreneurial support for new design firms. A Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University Bachelor of Science alum with a Master of Architecture and Certificate in Urban Design from 5X, Mayes harbors many skills and experiences that empower her visions for the future of design professions. Come Sept. 30, a special editorial feature honoring Mayes’ strong initiatives and commitment to diversity will be published online at and in Crain’s Cleveland Business print edition celebrating Notable Leaders.
According to their website, has been the trusted source for business news and information for Northeast Ohio for the past 40 years. Crain’s “Notables” highlights individuals who manage, mentor, innovate, and give back, all of which Mayes accomplishes through her leadership and entrepreneurship.
“Receiving this honor is an affirmation that all of my hard work to help toward the greater good did not go unnoticed,” said Dawn Mayes, Director of Design Entrepreneurship and Inclusion, CUDC.
With a career-high of creating and facilitating eight workshops with over 150 participating businesses as the Senior Program Manager of the Progressive Fields Renovations, Mayes’ efforts toward aiding design firms while benefiting communities goes without saying. The “Scale Up Your Business for Success” workshop series was one of many works supplementing Mayes’ rightfully awarded recognition. Within the CUDC, Mayes cites her most exciting work: interviewing and understanding eleven minority architecture firm owners’ past experiences to create more sustainable solutions for those beginning their own firms.
Winning this award is nowhere near the end for Mayes, if anything, it is empowering for her future goals. “My future aspirations are to leave a stamp on the world where it is a better version of itself because of my contribution," Mayes said.
An active member of the Cleveland Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture, National Organization of Minority Architects, and Cleveland Council of Black Colleges Alumni Association, Mayes stays at the forefront of her community through organizational contributions.
An icon among DEI practitioners, a wise hand to developing design firms, and an inspirational visionary for women and people of color, Dawn Mayes proves through her work in and out of the office why she is named one of Crain’s Cleveland Business’ 2024 Notable Black Leaders.