2025 Community Leaders of the Year: Micki Byrnes

Micki Byrnes laughs, describing one change after retiring from a full-time, high-powered, pressure-cooker position for her present, more flexible, consultant role.

“I went from having a large office with a kitchen and bathroom to a cubby,” says Byrnes. “But I am surrounded by young folks who bring a lot of energy. I am learning all about their lives, and it’s really been a lot of fun.”  

Byrnes retired this past April as president and general manager of WKYC Media. She was with the local NBC affiliate station since 1997, becoming president in 2015. Before that, Byrnes held broadcast management positions in Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta and Orlando. She has won numerous regional Emmy, Telly and Addy Awards.

Byrnes is currently the chief communications officer and senior advisor for Adcom, an influential and integrated marketing agency in Cleveland.

“After 27 years in local media in a collaborative town like Cleveland, you build up a level of civic equity, strong relationships and strong connections. You develop a passion for the region,” says Byrnes, who lives in Chagrin Falls with her husband, Brooke Spectorsky, former president and general manager of WKYC. “I knew I didn’t want to walk away from all of that. I wanted to use that equity in some way to help move the region forward.” 

Byrnes obviously received numerous enticing offers after word got out that she was not going to settle for a non-productive retirement. 

But she especially appreciates the “culture and pro-community attitude” at Adcom and believes it offers a place to exercise her “purpose.” She also sees it as a chance to guide and mentor others.

Byrnes is heavily involved with boards of directors. (Think Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Leadership Center, Destination Cleveland and Coats for Kids — Cleveland.) That dedication allows her to be knowledgeable about Cleveland’s shakers and movers, newcomers, nonprofit organizations and the region’s business community.

“I get joy out of connecting the dots,” says Byrnes. “Sometimes someone with a project is looking for help, and I’ll say, ‘I know the perfect person.’ I feel like I can pull strings.”

However, Byrnes bristles a bit whenever accused of having a leadership style that is “too nice.”

“I have an empathetic leadership style, a more servant leadership style,” says Byrnes. “The downside is you get tagged with the idea that you don’t hold people accountable. But you can still be kind, look for the best in everyone and still make tough decisions.”

Despite “all the challenges and naysayers,” Byrnes believes Clevelanders hold DNA that makes them want to eventually work together. She wants to be a catalyst for that cooperation.

“We may whine about something, but we still do the right thing,” she says.  

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