Fifty “strong, stylish and successful women of Northeast Ohio” gathered inside the Heyday Collective (a sprawling lofted sanctuary of self-care nestled above Forest City Shuffleboard at 4506 Lorain Ave.) on Sunday, November 4, to toast the launch of Modern CLE—the new digital magazine created by award-winning journalist Jillian Kramer.

Kramer, a Canton native and 2006 Kent State University graduate, worked as a newspaper crime reporter and associate editor for Cleveland Magazine before following a dream to relocate to New York City in 2015.

"Even though my husband Andrew and I were in the epicenter of culture and activity, I still somehow felt like we were missing out by not being here in Cleveland,” she muses, recalling the couple’s decision to return to their hometown about a year ago. “I wanted to participate in the community in a way that went above and beyond supporting local businesses as a patron, and the best way I believe I can do so is through journalism. Although we have an impressive amount of publications in Cleveland, I felt there was an opportunity to create a publication geared toward professional women—made by them, for them.”

While networking events weren’t part of her initial business plan, Kramer said the launch party’s success and mutual interest of co-hostess Maria LeFebre (founder of Your Local Girl Gang) could mean more opportunities for face-to-face connections might be on the horizon.

“Jillian came to me over the summer and told me that she would be starting Modern CLE and wanted help connecting with some local ladies. I really believe in her mission, so I decided to help her out with the launch party (in true Girl Gang fashion)," explains LeFebre. "I’m hoping there will be a lot of Girl Gang and Modern CLE overlap in the future, too.”

Party attendees snapped headshots with Sharon Hughes and were treated to a spread of sweets that was complimented by shampoo bowls fashioned into ice buckets overflowing with bottles of prosecco. Power networking sessions with some of the city’s most notable lifestyle “influencers” sandwiched an empowering Q&A panel with Kramer and the salon’s proprietor Erin Frazee.

Modern CLE readers can anticipate at least one article each day Monday through Thursday–all geared at spotlighting and informing Northeast Ohio women. Content is organized into three categories: Noteworthy (news, politics, and women’s issues); Aspire (career and money topics); and Life, Styled (a section all about fun, fashion, food, and stylish places). Kramer also makes the distinction that Modern CLE is not a blog, but rather a “journalism product” crafted to the same standards as the content she created at industry-leading publications like Glamour and The Wall Street Journal.

“Readers can trust that the same amount of care and professionalism goes into each article. Everything is fact-checked, sources are vetted, and interviews are recorded by experienced writers," says Kramer.

Advertisers and prospective contributors are encouraged to reach out via email.