Executive Staff Bios
Jack Staph - Executive Race Director
Jack Staph is the president of the Cleveland Marathon, Inc., owner of the Cleveland Marathon. He is also the Executive Director of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Mr. Staph is an attorney and counselor in private practice in Pepper Pike, Ohio, specializing in corporate, business and antitrust law. He is also a private investor and an executive in several companies throughout the country.
Staph was named to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 for meritorious service to the sports community. He has also been elected to the 2012 Running USA Board of Directors for a two-year term.
From 1972 to 1997, he served as senior vice president, secretary and general counsel for Revco, D.S., Inc. in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Mr. Staph has been involved with the Cleveland Marathon as Race Chairman for 34 years. He has completed seven marathons.
Ralph Staph - Race Director
Ralph Staph is the vice president of the Cleveland Marathon, Inc. and Race Director for the Cleveland Marathon. He has an extensive background in marketing research. He has experience in the automotive, consumer electronics, Internet, health care, music and entertainment and financial industries.
He previously worked as a project director for MORPACE, International in its Irvine, CA office. Before MORPACE, Mr. Staph worked for CDNOW.com in Fort Washington, PA, as a Marketing Information Analyst.
Mr. Staph has been involved with the Cleveland Marathon since 1989 as a volunteer and a consultant.
Darla Hudson - Event Coordinator
Darla Hudson's position with the Cleveland Marathon consists of two primary roles. First, she is Executive Assistant to Jack Staph, overseeing and managing general office procedures. Darla is also Event Coordinator for the Cleveland Marathon, assisting with vendor account management, sponsorships, permits, VIP coordination and marketing efforts.
Prior to her position with the Cleveland Marathon, Darla worked at NCS Healthcare as Compliance Administrator handling state licensing and permits for existing and new pharmacies.
Darla has been with the Cleveland Marathon since 2002.
Joan Freese - Race Coordinator
As Race Coordinator of the Cleveland Marathon, Joan Freese assists with all aspects of pre and post-race planning and task execution including registration management, sponsorship fulfillment, volunteer recruitment, runners services and coordination and marketing efforts.
Previously, Joan worked as a Program Coordinator for the Cleveland Foundation in the Civic Affairs/Neighborhood Development Department as well as assist with Special Grantmaking Initiatives including the Neighborhood Connections program. She previously worked in various fields including advertising, healthcare and entertainment.
She has been with the Cleveland Marathon since 2006.
Mary Grace McGuirk - Director of Cleveland Marathon Charities
Mary Grace is the Director of Cleveland Marathon Charities and has served in that capacity since 2008. Mary Grace has over a decade of significant fundraising experience and has served as treasurer and/or finance director for numerous ballot issue campaigns, candidates for elected office, nonprofit organizations and scholarship funds.