Rising Stars: Meet Andriana Ruscitto of Cleveland, Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andriana Ruscitto

Hi Andriana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a small town on the east side of Cleveland. My upbringing was of the average you could say – went to high school, and later graduated college from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. At Kent, I got to find myself a little better. I joined TV2, got comfortable with being on-air, and found my passion for writing and telling stories. I later graduated and got a job as an editor – and boy was that fulfilling! I loved my job and the industry I was in – cannabis. Yes, cannabis. In the midst of covid years, I found myself graduating at the worst possible time, but yet, I was getting a dream job. I couldn’t have been happier. But that all changed eventually – thanks to the economy and layoffs.

I’ve since got a job at Hello, a PR agency here in Cleveland, and boy is it a great place to work – women-owned and puts people first. But while all this was going on, my family and I launched a business. The Cleveland Crunch, a professional indoor soccer team in Cleveland. In the midst of 2020, my brother, Luciano Ruscitto, came to me with this idea. I, being 21 years old at the time, was only focused on two things – school and being with friends. I helped here and there with the business, but ultimately it was not my main focus. As I began to get deeper into the business, I started to imagine what life would be like if this – the Crunch – became a full-time gig one day, and boy, did I get excited at the endless opportunities. Now, 4 years in, we have secured two championships – made it to the playoffs each year, and have scored a solid fan base. We have a great, dedicated team. In working at my full-time job Hello, and working on the Crunch in all my after-hours, I would say I am stressed but it is all worth the grind! We have a long way to go, this is just the beginning.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our biggest challenge right now – aside from all the great benefits of running a family business (wink wink) – is time and finding a bigger venue. We all work full time, and in turn, we grind in the after-hours every day working on the Crunch. Sometimes my Mondays – Thursdays are easily 12-hour days, and surprisingly, I would say that is not the biggest challenge. The biggest challenge is not having a bigger venue. If we had a bigger venue in Cleveland, the opportunities would be endless.

We have been able to grow out business with limited resources, but we are at the point where a new venue space would not only benefit us but the entire community, team, and Crunch fan base.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work as an engagement specialist at Hello LLC, an engagement agency in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. There, we work with a variety of clients offering them a span of services and support from organic and paid social to national PR and so much more. I also work as a freelancer for the Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS), which is the league the Crunch is under, and I work as the PR Director for the Cleveland Crunch.

All three of these gigs – while different, carry similarities. No two jobs are the same, but being able to carry knowledge over and expand my knowledge within the PR and marketing industries in various fields has been rewarding. I’ve met great people, and I have had the opportunity to work with great mentors.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in a small town in Cleveland, Ohio. I had a pretty solid upbringing. Great family and great friends. I always wanted to be a cosmetologist. That was my main passion up until after high school. I ended up taking cosmetology classes in high school, worked as an intern at a salon, and later graduated with my cosmetology license. Later found that in addition to cosmetology, my passion also lies in writing, which has later translated into great opportunities – especially in the soccer industry!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theclevelandcrunch.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clevelandcrunch/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clevelandcrunch
• Twitter: https://x.com/clecrunch