Cleveland Spears

Cleveland is a native New Orleanian, an alumnus of the  University of New Orleans, and 14 years of professional experience in marketing, advertising, public relations and event production across many industries.

In July 2008, Cleveland founded Spears Consulting Group. In November 2014 the company rebranded as Spears Group, indicating a more partnership-like relationship with its clients. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Spears Group currently operates as a full-service marketing, public relations and experiential marketing firm.

Under Cleveland’s thoughtful and steady leadership, Spears Group has grown into one of the most respected marketing and public relations firms in Louisiana and in the Gulf South. Boasting a client portfolio of most major institutions in the state that include Entergy, Ochsner Health Systems, BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana, Xavier University as well as several national brands. The NBA also tapped the Spears Group lead all public relations for NBA All Star games in 2014 and 2017.

Cleveland was named the 2018 recipient of the prestigious T.G. Solomon award presented by the Solomon Family and The Times-Picayune/Nola.com. He was also named Agency Executive of the Year at the 2015 American Advertising Awards. He was listed in Biz New Orleans’ New and Notable in 2017 and named a 2018 Person to Watch by New Orleans Magazine. Cleveland remains active in the community through volunteerism and board appointments with organizations including the New Orleans City Park (board member), Liberty’s Kitchen (board member), GNO Inc. NextGen Council (board member), the Downtown Development District (board member), The New Orleans Public Library Foundation (board member), Kingsley House (board member), New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) (board member).

The Spears Group has a successful experiential portfolio, serving as the founder and producers of The National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans, which hosted 175,000 guests in 2018,  The Millennial Awards and La Fete du Rosé produced in Atlanta, Nashville and Washington DC. Cleveland and his team also produce the global pop-up dining experience known as Diner en Blanc in New Orleans and Houston, Texas.

Cleveland is also a graduate of the 2010 Brian Bell Leadership Forum, the 2011 Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Business Program, Justice Revius Ortique Leadership Institute, 2016 Junior Achievement Rising Star, and recipient of the Urban League’s 2010 Rising Star Award.