Emma Schapp '18
Before even stepping out of the car on her first visit to JCU, Maria Spangler ’02 knew she was ready to make John Carroll home. Hailing from rural Northwest Ohio, Maria knew she wanted a small, faith-based school in a city with access to a variety of opportunities. John Carroll checked all of these boxes and Maria found herself having a conversation with her high school guidance counselor about how she wanted to go to JCU but needed considerable help with financial aid. Her high school guidance counselor advocated for her for competitive merit scholarships and, a few days later, Maria was offered a full tuition scholarship and could work to pay for her room and board. During this time, Maria saw firsthand the impact that effective advocates can have.
“John Carroll changed my life in so many ways.”
During her time at JCU, advocating for others continued to be important to Maria. At John Carroll, Maria fell in love with the concept of being men and women for and with others. She studied Political Science with a minor in Business with hopes of becoming a lawyer. Maria was actively involved in the Latin American Student Association (LASA) and saw how this organization supported people in different ways. “LASA made me feel like my family was there. Something as simple as hearing people speak Spanish was very comforting to me.” said Maria.
As a junior at Carroll, Maria spent a semester in Washington D.C. This experience taught Maria that, although her passion for helping others continued to grow, she did not want to be a lawyer. She was still interested in studying law, but her focus shifted. During her senior year, Maria began exploring dual degree programs while taking the LSAT and preparing for graduation. She chose to attend Cleveland State University for a graduate-level dual degree program. In May 2006, Maria graduated from Cleveland State with her Juris Doctor and Master of Public Administration. Looking back, Maria would complete her education exactly the same way, choosing John Carroll and Cleveland State again, as each institution brought incredible perspective and diverse lessons in leadership.
Following the completion of graduate school and a fellowship with the Cleveland Leadership Center, Maria networked her way to a job at the Sherwin-Williams Company. She has helped pave the path of the position and Community Engagement ever since.
“You can be successful and profitable in business, and still do very good work on behalf of others. Being successful gives you tools to be generous, philanthropic and solve systemic problems.”
Maria describes herself as committed, service-oriented, and consistent – these characteristics deeply align with her current position. Currently, Maria is the Director of Community Engagement at the Sherwin-Williams Company. In this role, Maria is the force behind the drive of commitment and culture. She interfaces with employees and nonprofits to support the community and ensure that Sherwin-Williams is seen as a good citizen in Greater Cleveland and across the world. Maria sets the corporate community strategy by answering questions like who do we want to be to the community? investors? employees? Is it the same or different? How do we connect our tools to the business? Maria is responsible for several programs, including the Sherwin-Williams Foundation, Women’s Club, and Young Professionals, ensuring they are reflective of who Sherwin-Williams is and wants to be.
One of the most rewarding parts of Maria’s job is being part of the Women’s Club at the Sherwin Williams Company. The Women’s Club is 108 years old and currently has 746 members. She loves watching women wrestle with how to maintain the history but also drive the group forward, as well as guiding and leading these women through those decisions. Maria is grateful for the Women’s Group to support women’s confidence as leaders in a safe, supportive, and meaningful space.
Maria finds it a welcome challenge that Sherwin-Williams is 60,000 people with diverse ideas about what the organization could and should do. Managing interests and numbers for what is best for the company challenges Maria to build strong relationships across the organization. The beauty of being at the same company for an extended period of time allows employees to know that Maria follows through and that they can trust her.
For Maria, graduating from John Carroll had a lot to do with how she navigates her role. As the Director of Community Engagement, Maria takes pride in connecting employees with things that are important to them – one being their universities. Maria wants employees to know that Sherwin-Williams cares about the passions of their employees and makes them feel supported. Engaging in the philosophies of equity, as well as seeing people that may otherwise not be seen, are echoed in all she does personally and professionally. John Carroll brought these things out in her in a way that Maria could articulate and have language for. Maria acknowledges that you do not have to do work or do good – you can do them both together.
