Episode 4: Turning challenges into blessings with Kevin Adelstein
Kevin Adelstein, Publisher and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish News, exudes more energy and joy than most people you’ll ever meet. He also celebrates the gift in every challenge.
His first child, a son, stopped breathing an hour after birth. Deprived of oxygen, Cooper spent 30 days in the NICU. Doctors said he wouldn’t survive infancy. For a long time, all he did was cry.
Cooper turned 23 on Christmas Eve. He cannot speak, eat a meal, shower or toilet himself. His parents take care of every need, and yet Cooper fills their days with joy. He loves to listen to music, hear Harry Potter books and ride outside in his wheelchair.
Kevin talks about how counseling and coaching strengthened both his marriage and his family so much that he and his wife, Daryn, decided to have another child, despite their fears. “I learned a long time ago: Control the controllable,” he says. He also calls Daryn, Cooper’s main care giver, “a saint.”
Kevin talks about the Jewish concepts of bashert, how things are “meant to be” and tikkun olam, how he helps repair the world by spotlighting and elevating those who do, through his work with the Cleveland Jewish News.
He is also CEO of the Columbus Jewish News
Official bio:
Kevin Adelstein’s professional life has been filled with both exciting challenges and great success. The Lyndhurst, Ohio native and Charles F. Brush High School graduate received his BA degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University in 1990.
Kevin’s career in media has included management positions with some of the top local and national organizations in FOX Sports Net, Tribune Companies, NewsNet5.com and cleveland.com, among others. In his role as leader of the 56-year-old Cleveland Jewish News, the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company is one of the few remaining independent, community-owned Jewish publication companies and Kevin and his team have found innovative ways to grow and continue to become relevant in the ever-challenging age of media fragmentation.
In four of his first 6 years running the multi-media company, The Press Club of Cleveland named the Cleveland Jewish News “Best non-daily newspaper in Ohio” - in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. In August 2018, under Kevin’s leadership, the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company launched the Columbus Jewish News, a new, bi-weekly newspaper serving Central Ohio, with it’s website, columbusjewishnews.com, which is updated with fresh local content daily.
Kevin serves on the Executive Boards and committees of several local non-profit organizations including The 250 Inc for Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Press Club of Cleveland, Different Needz Foundation, Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio, Better Business Bureau of Greater Cleveland and Milestones Autism Resources.
He is a graduate of the Leadership Cleveland class of 2017 and serves on the executive committee and is Treasurer of the American Jewish Press Association.
He is also a member of The City Club of Cleveland, The 50 Club of Cleveland and Sales and Marketing Executives of Cleveland, in which he was a recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Marketing and Sales Award. Mr. Adelstein received the 2017 Tree of Life Award presented by the Jewish National Fund and he was named to the 2018 class of Corporate College Smart 50 by Smart Business.
Kevin and his wife reside in Solon, Ohio with their 2 children.