The Akron department tasked with preparing, zoning, community aid, business growth and utilizing a strategic program for the metropolis will be beneath new leadership in August.
James Hardy, deputy mayor for integrated development, has approved a position with the Robert Wood Johnson Basis as a senior method officer, successful at the conclusion of July.
Hardy was Mayor Dan Horrigan’s 1st chief of team. He turned deputy mayor for integrated improvement when that office was produced in 2018.
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A previous Akron faculty board president who spearheaded fairness troubles for Summit County Community Overall health, Hardy typically showed his enthusiasm for racial, financial and social justice though pitching Horrigan’s agenda to council and the public. He was changed as chief of employees by Annie McFadden, who managed Horrigan’s political strategies for mayor.
Horrigan has picked Sean Vollman, a progress legal professional with 22 decades of expertise, to consider Hardy’s place as head of the Business office of Built-in Progress beginning Aug. 2.
“Serving Mayor Horrigan and the metropolis I simply call household — as main of employees and as deputy mayor — has been an honor and privilege,” Hardy explained in a launch. “I will without end be proud of what the city attained for the duration of my time here, and grateful for the possibility to have been a part of it. Akron is my hometown, and I have in no way been additional hopeful about what this community can realize.”
Vollman is serving “originally in an performing ability” although the Office environment of Built-in Enhancement undergoes “its publish-COVID strategic investigation,” city spokesperson Ellen Lander Nischt explained.
“Deputy Mayor Vollman will have all the powers and responsibilities of the deputy mayor for Integrated Enhancement and we are thrilled to welcome him to this situation,” she explained.
The Office of Built-in Enhancement was fashioned to carry with each other the existing departments of planning and urban advancement, economic growth, downtown operations, recreation and factors of engineering less than a single strategic eyesight.
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Horrigan thanked Hardy for “his years of devoted support” and credited him with effectively merging the city’s financial and neighborhood growth endeavours below one particular roof.
“James’ various skilled qualifications and deep group connections ended up assets to the town through his tenure,” the mayor mentioned. “I desire him the pretty very best in his profession and search ahead to celebrating his accomplishments in the philanthropic arena.”
Vollman has worked in the city’s Law Division due to the fact 2003. A graduate of St. Vincent-St. Mary, Georgetown University and the Ohio Point out College Moritz University of Legislation, Vollman was the “lead real estate, development and building attorney” on many metropolis projects, including the ongoing $1.2 billion sewer overhaul project the attraction of Stark Point out to Akron and Amazon to the former Rolling Acres Mall site the addition of Dave’s Supermarket and the Middlebury Plaza and the redevelopment of the Bowery, East Stop, Hickory Street and the Law Setting up.
“Sean is a seasoned advancement skilled with a long time of encounter applying instruments and negotiations to draw jobs and expenditure to Akron,” Horrigan mentioned. “His huge knowledge and familiarity with city operations, products and services and lover companies make him an ideal applicant for this placement. As deputy mayor, Sean will use his expertise and ordeals to bring jointly community and non-public collaborators to think about and create a more powerful, far more vibrant Akron neighborhood.”
The Robert Wood Johnson Basis is the nation’s premier philanthropic business focused only on wellness. The corporation supports health and fitness exploration and advocates for entry to quality well being treatment.
The Workplace of Integrated Enhancement is at present going through a strategic investigation of strengths as nicely as possibilities to create potential, advance equity and travel policy within its essential public-dealing with companies and courses — including Lock 3, recreation and parks, housing, Wonderful Streets, entrepreneurship, small business retention and growth, Elevate Akron and additional.
“Creating obtainable, healthy community spaces and a resilient, chance-prosperous economic system go on to be my priorities for Place of work of Integrated Improvement,” Horrigan said. “As we regain the positive momentum in downtown and our neighborhoods, and seize the at the time-in-a-era opportunities afforded by the American Rescue Plan funding, I am unbelievably optimistic about the investments to come.”
Reporter Doug Livingston contributed to this report. Eric Marotta can be achieved at 33-0541-9433, or [email protected] Observe him on Twitter @MarottaEric.
