CLEARSTEAD EMPOWHER 2020 WOMAN OF THE YEAR: ALLISON SCHAEFER

In the face of uncertainty and new challenges presented by 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, Allison Schaefer, Client Service Associate for the Private Client Group embodied the firm’s core values and culture through serving clients and supporting her colleagues.

Between providing office reception, coordinating with vendors, sorting and distributing mail (including tax documents), mailing client papers and instructions, making deposits, and her usual responsibilities, Schaefer provided steadfast service as one of the few Clearstead employees who remained in-office to perform these necessary operations during the pandemic and Governor DeWine’s stay at home order.

“My days were busier than usual,” Schaefer recalled, “But I like to be busy, and I was happy to help everyone while they were at home.”

As a Client Service Associate (“CSA”), Schaefer offers administrative support for several advisors in the firm’s Private Client Group. She has been with the firm for over three years and ensures services are delivered for her assigned clients, assists in account maintenance, preparing meeting materials, sending information and paperwork to clients, and other special projects. She noted that she considers these broad services that directly impact and help clients to be her most important responsibilities.

She enjoys helping clients with what they need and that the unique requests and tasks adds variety to her days. “No day is typical, and there’s always something new to problem-solve or different transactions to process,” Schaefer said. “The CSAs are really behind the scenes doing a little bit of everything.”

To recognize her efforts in this ever-crucial role, and the support she offered during the pandemic, she was selected as EmpowHER’s 2020 Woman of the year. This is the fifth year that EmpowHER, Clearstead’s women’s initiative, has recognized an accomplished woman in a leadership role at the firm.

Schaefer has over ten years of administrative experience, holds a BBA in Business Management from Kent State University, and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University.

She said that she misses being able to attend shows at Playhouse Square, the local county fairs, or other events that Greater Cleveland has to offer, but is hopeful she will have the opportunity to do those activities again soon. “In the meantime, I’ve started to do a lot of jigsaw puzzles since I’m at home” she shared.

Schaefer also serves on the EmpowHER Board and said, “When I was applying to work for Clearstead, seeing the women’s initiative was a positive point for me and got me excited to be here.” She also noted her happiness at how the entire firm supports the group’s efforts. “Everyone accepts the group, and they are willing to participate in our events and fundraisers for charity.”

She has previously volunteered with EmpowHER at Providence House – a crisis nursery in Cleveland, OH – and looks forward to the opportunity to volunteer at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which EmpowHER has chosen as their charity for 2021.

Schaefer’s willingness to help others is another attribute that aligns her work with Clearstead’s culture and values. “Everyone is really nice here. They say hi when you walk down the hall and everyone seems to work well together,” she said, “For a larger company, having so many nice and helpful people is a really good thing and is sometimes hard to achieve.”

“I’m really happy to have this job and I enjoy working at Clearstead,” she shared, “I love what I do because there is variety in my days and I always have the opportunity to learn something new.”

Reiterating her enjoyment of no two days being the same, Schaefer’s willingness to take on new challenges aids in her ability to support several advisors and the needs of their clients.