Yvette M. Ittu

Yvette M. Ittu is the executive vice president of finance and operations of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. In addition, she is president of Cleveland Development Advisors Inc. (CDA), an affiliate of GCP that is responsible for the management of real estate investment funds initiated, and in part capitalized, by certain GCP members.

CDA-managed capital serves as a source of private-sector funding for catalytic real estate development projects that have significant impact on Northeast Ohio’s growth and development. Under Yvette’s leadership, CDA has successfully raised three private equity funds and secured multiple tax credit equity allocations.

These funds support neighborhood development, job creation and retention, as well as business attraction and expansion, through strategic investments in projects throughout the City of Cleveland and targeted areas of Cuyahoga County.

Yvette is also chairperson of the Cleveland International Fund (CiF), a private equity firm that operates as an EB-5 regional center authorized by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. One of CiF’s goals is to be a driving force for economic development throughout Northeast Ohio.

Prior to joining CDA, Yvette was an associate with the law firm of Calfee, Halter and Griswold LLP practicing in the areas of public law and public finance. She served as bond counsel on multiple financings for the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, the City of Cleveland, and several other Ohio local governments.

In addition, Yvette served as finance director for the City of Lakewood and held several financial management positions for the City of Cleveland including the chief financial officer post for Cleveland Public Power, the city-owned power company. She also was asked to serve on the transition committees for the administration of both Mayor Frank Jackson and Mayor Jane Campbell.

Yvette obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. In addition, she is a certified public accountant and has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cleveland State University.

She currently serves on several community and nonprofit boards including Benjamin Rose Institute, Village Capital Corporation, as well as audit and financial advisory committees for several local governments including the City of Cleveland, City of Rocky River and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

She is a native of Cleveland and lives in Rocky River with her husband and two children.