Cleva came to the valley and Rockingham County in 1973 after her husband retired from the military. In 1984, she became a realtor and joined Kline Realty in 1992. In 1996, she became an Associate Broker in that firm which later became Kline Commercial Realty, then on to its name today, Cottonwood Commercial Realty. Cleva hold licenses in both Kline May Realty and Cottonwood Commercial Realty.