Date Posted: 8.6.2025
Position/Title: Chief Executive Officer
Organization: Lake to River, Empowering Regional Economic Development in Ohio
Location: Youngstown, Ohio
Summary:
The Chief Executive Officer plays a pivotal role in driving job retention, business expansion, and talent and investment attraction across the Eastern Ohio region. This is achieved by fostering a collaborative and inclusive regional ecosystem, aligning strategies and initiatives among key stakeholders, and leveraging the unique strengths of local organizations and business models. In partnership with the Lake to River Board of Directors and staff, the CEO works to deliver the organization's mission by building a strong value proposition and regional framework that supports both public and private sector strategies. By promoting cross-sector collaboration, the CEO ensures initiatives transcend geographic and organizational boundaries, strengthening the region’s competitiveness on both national and global stages.
Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO is responsible for setting and achieving short- and long-term strategic objectives while ensuring the organization maintains a strong financial position. This includes securing and aligning resources to maximize impact and drive sustainable performance. The CEO cultivates and manages vital relationships with stakeholders such as JobsOhio, investors, local economic development organizations (LEDOs), site selectors, media outlets, and community leaders.
As the primary ambassador of Lake to River, the CEO champions regional engagement, builds investor confidence, and ensures the organization maintains a strong and credible presence in the marketplace. Given that Lake to River has been in operation for just 1.5 years, the organization is still in its early stages of development. As such, the CEO operates in a dynamic, startup-like environment that requires agility, entrepreneurial thinking, and the ability to build foundational systems while driving immediate regional impact.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for cultivating and leading strategic partnerships across a diverse network of stakeholders, aligning internal capabilities and external collaboration to achieve the organization’s ambitious economic development goals. This role demands a visionary yet pragmatic leader who can unify a broad range of interests in support of a shared regional agenda.
The ideal candidate will foster a high-performing, solutions-oriented organizational culture and serve as a catalyst for professional collaboration across Eastern Ohio’s economic development ecosystem. To navigate this complex and evolving landscape, the CEO must demonstrate a flexible leadership style—capable of leading through direct action, building consensus, or exerting strategic influence where formal authority may be limited. Success will require the ability to guide transformative initiatives that drive long-term impact both within the organization and across the region.
Primary responsibilities will include:
Strategic Leadership & Vision
· Leads the development and execution of a multi-year strategic plan and annual operating plans aligned with regional needs and opportunities.
· Creates and promotes a compelling regional value proposition to support both public and private sector goals.
· Drives cross-sector strategies that advance job retention, business expansion, and talent/investment attraction.
· Oversees economic development programming in partnership with staff, core partners, and volunteers to position Easter Ohio for growth.
Organizational & Staff Leadership
· Establishes and communicates the organization’s vision, culture, and strategy to internal and external audiences.
· Oversees employment, assignment, supervision, training, and evaluation of all Lake to River staff, contractors, consultants.
· Ensures optimal organizational structure, performance, and alignment to goals.
Resource Development & Fiscal Management
· Directs the organization's resource development strategy, including securing funding from JobsOhio, corporate investors, foundations, LEDOs, grants, and events.
· Develops and manages the organizational budget, ensuring financial sustainability and fiduciary compliance.
· Aligns financial resources with strategic priorities to maximize impact.
Board Relations & Governance
· Collaborates with the Board of Directors to ensure strong governance, compliance with policies and regulations, and alignment with the organization’s mission.
· Delivers performance against board expectations and facilitates development of collaborative strategic plans.
Stakeholder & Constituent Engagement
· Cultivates and maintains trusted relationships with a broad set of stakeholders, including:
o Investors – Secures financial and strategic support, personally engages top investors.
o JobsOhio – Maintains a high-functioning partnership in accordance with network agreements.
o Economic Development Leaders – Collaborates with LEDOs, chambers, and city/state development agencies.
o Government Officials – Builds relationships with elected and appointed leaders at local, state, and federal levels.
o Higher Education Institutions – Fosters partnerships that align workforce and economic development goals.
o Community Leaders – Connects the Lake to River mission to broader community quality of life initiatives.
o Media – Serves as the official spokesperson, representing Lake to River work and value to the public.
Public Relations & Advocacy
· Promotes Lake to River vision, brand, and leadership position in regional, state, and national forums.
· Advocates for policies and initiatives that enhance the economic vitality of Eastern Ohio.
· Builds and maintains cooperative relationships with elected officials and their staff at all levels of government.
Operations, Policy & Compliance
· Ensures efficient day-to-day operations, facility management, and a culture of high performance and accountability.
· Oversees policy development and implementation to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Other Responsibilities
· Performs additional tasks and duties as assigned by the Board or required to advance the organization’s goals.
Leadership Attributes and Professional Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be a strategic, confident, and visible leader with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, communicate effectively across sectors, and balance visionary thinking with disciplined execution. This individual must be comfortable operating in a high-profile environment, as the Eastern Ohio region is served by a robust and engaged media landscape—including newspapers, television, and digital platforms that closely follow economic development activity.
The CEO will possess exceptional communication and human relations skills—able to build trust, listen actively, and cultivate productive relationships across sectors. A collaborative and diplomatic style, paired with strong emotional intelligence, will be essential for leading through influence as well as authority. The CEO must be externally focused, with a deep appreciation for regional dynamics and a clear understanding of how to lead an organization that prioritizes business attraction, growth, and strategic impact within Eastern Ohio. Ultimately, this individual must be both credible and relatable—earning the respect of the Board, staff, public officials, and business leaders across the region.
The CEO should bring an entrepreneurial mindset tempered by a strong sense of accountability and operational rigor—particularly in meeting JobsOhio reporting standards and delivering against defined performance metrics. The role requires a collaborative leadership style, capable of driving alignment across a centralized development effort while unlocking organizational efficiencies and enhancing long-term capacity. Additionally, the successful candidate will be politically astute and adaptable, able to navigate complex local and state dynamics while advancing the region’s economic priorities within the broader statewide framework.
Proven Executive Leadership:
· Demonstrated success in a senior executive role with responsibility for strategic planning, organizational leadership, and performance management within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
Economic Development Expertise:
· Deep understanding of regional economic development principles, workforce and business attraction strategies, and the ability to lead cross-sector initiatives that drive job retention, business growth, and investment.
Collaborative Ecosystem Builder:
· Track record of building and sustaining collaborative partnerships across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors; experience aligning diverse interests into cohesive regional strategies.
Board and Governance Experience:
· Experience working with or reporting to a board of directors; strong understanding of nonprofit governance, compliance, and board engagement best practices.
Marketing Strategy:
· Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing integrated marketing strategies that elevate organizational visibility, drive stakeholder engagement, and strengthen brand positioning across diverse platforms and audiences.
Staff Leadership & Culture Development:
· Demonstrated ability to recruit, manage, and develop high-performing teams; skilled at creating a positive organizational culture and aligning team members to strategic objectives.
Strategic and Operational Planning:
· Skilled in developing and executing long-term strategic plans and short-term operational goals that align with stakeholder needs and regional opportunities.
Resource Development & Financial Management:
· Experience developing and overseeing diversified funding streams including government contracts, corporate investment, foundations, grants, and special events; proven fiscal stewardship and budgeting capabilities.
Stakeholder & Constituent Relations:
· Ability to establish and maintain strong, trusted relationships with investors, economic development organizations (EDOs), JobsOhio, government leaders, media, and community influencers.
Public Speaking & Media Relations:
· Excellent communication and presentation skills; experience serving as the public face of an organization and effectively conveying mission, impact, and strategic value.
Government & Policy Advocacy:
· Familiarity with government operations and policy development; ability to engage elected officials, advocate for economic development priorities, and influence regional policy discussions.
Facility & Operational Oversight:
· Competence in overseeing organizational operations, policy enforcement, and facilities management to ensure alignment with strategic and cultural objectives.
Mission-Driven Orientation:
· Commitment to advancing inclusive economic growth and improving the competitiveness and quality of life in Northeast Ohio through innovation, collaboration, and leadership.
First Year Priorities
In the first year, the new CEO must prioritize building strong political and community relationships to reinforce the organization’s presence as a critical driver of regional success—both from a project execution and fundraising standpoint. Establishing connectivity across the four-county region and demonstrating an understanding of the area's unique dynamics will be essential to foster collaboration and present a unified, strategic voice.
The CEO will need to develop and begin executing a longer-term strategic plan that addresses site development priorities, diversified fundraising strategies, and deeper integration into the statewide JobsOhio network. With roughly two-thirds of the budget coming from JobsOhio, the CEO must maintain focus on core economic development goals. They will also need to effectively work with, leverage and integrate the other Ohio economic development agencies aligning with a high-performing group of peer CEOs and acting as a catalyst for shared initiatives. Strong emotional intelligence, political awareness, and the ability to read and navigate nuanced relationships across a smaller, close-knit regional network will be critical to success in this role.
Chief among the first-year priorities for the CEO and organization:
Relationship Building & Stakeholder Engagement
· Quickly build trust and strong relationships with regional economic development leaders, county mayors, and community stakeholders.
· Establish a presence as a collaborative partner focused on service, impact, and regional success.
· Meet individually with key stakeholders, including funders and economic influencers, to understand expectations and align goals.
· Form relationships with top donors from the past (LTR and regional chamber) and assess opportunities to re-engage them.
Team Leadership & Organizational Development
· Take time to understand the existing team’s strengths and history; leverage institutional knowledge and infrastructure already in place.
· Develop a strategy to further develop the team focusing on performance, innovation, and future-readiness.
· Provide mentorship and support for key staff while clarifying roles, goals, and team structure.
· Empower and develop internal leaders to support growth.
Fundraising & Resource Development
· Manage and expand fundraising strategy with focus on JobsOhio funding requirements.
· Clearly define donor value propositions—what contributors receive at different giving levels, especially public sector donors.
· Build trust and transparency around fundraising processes to ensure long-term sustainability.
· Identify and re-engage top historic donors for long-term relationships and renewed investment.
Governance & Board Engagement
· Guide the Board of Directors toward a strategic, engaged advisory role.
· Design board meetings that encourage participation, generate ideas, and drive strategic direction.
· Empower all board members to contribute to governance and organizational guidance.
Strategic Planning & Operations
· Establish and finalize the annual budget well in advance of January 1 to allow for proactive planning and alignment.
· Encourage long-term thinking and planning beyond immediate tasks—create space for innovation and strategy.
· Explore opportunities for partnerships or shared services to improve operational efficiency and engage donors.
· Rotating host sites for events and meetings across counties to promote regional inclusion.
Economic Development Outcomes
· Focus on achieving early wins in economic development projects, even recognizing many outcomes are influenced by external factors.
· Integrate with JobsOhio and the statewide network of economic development leaders—establish the region as a strong and collaborative partner.
· Serve as a visible leader in the state network, catalyzing new opportunities for Eastern Ohio and representing the region effectively.
Education
· University degree or equivalent acceptable combination of education and experience.
Compensation
· Compensation and benefits range $200,000 - $225,000
Application Process
· Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to: LaketoRiverCEO@kornferry.com
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Date Posted: 8.6.2025
Position/Title: President
Organization: Greater Columbus EDC
Location: Columbus, Indiana
Summary:
The next President of Greater Columbus EDC will be the chief executive of a long-standing and highly successful local economic development organization. Working with an engaged Board of Directors comprised of business, civic and government leaders, and leading a small but very high-performing team, the position leads economic development strategy and tactical implementation of efforts that attract new businesses, support expansions of primary employers, and create high-paying jobs for the residents of Columbus, Edinburgh, and Bartholomew County, Indiana. Work is primarily conducted five days a week from our new downtown offices, but domestic and international travel is also a part of the rewarding job.
KEY DUTIES
The President is the organization’s chief executive officer and has the primary responsibility for the accomplishment of the EDC’s mission.
• Management Duties
o Responsible for the direction of all employed team members: assign key tasks, establish time periods for project completion and budgets, establish goals and objectives, and assist staff in reaching targets.
o Conduct annual Performance Evaluations of team members. (President’s own performance evaluation will be conducted at the end of each year jointly by the Chair and Vice-Chair.)
• Strategic Direction and Leadership
o Lead implementation efforts of an Economic Development Strategic Plan, focusing on attracting targeted new business and industry, and the retention and expansion of existing primary businesses.
o Mobilize the community around specific initiatives to assist in providing and maintaining a business climate appropriate to the needs of those targeted business and industries.
o Oversee development and implementation of the EDC’s marketing activities. Utilize a variety of marketing mediums to promote Columbus, Edinburgh, and Bartholomew County. Monitor and oversee all prospect activity, RFI proposals, and direct staff that support this effort.
o Mentor and develop staff by providing guidance, support, and opportunities for professional growth to build a high-performing, future-ready team.
• Recruiter in Chief
o Time and budget permitted, attend trade shows, site selector events, industry association meetings, etc., both domestically and internationally, to recruit targeted businesses to Columbus, Edinburgh, and Bartholomew County. Typically, this work will be done as part of a regional approach, but when appropriate, individual (Greater Columbus EDC only) travel may be appropriate.
o REQUIRED TRAVEL: Approximately 30 overnight travel days annually, including (typically) one week in Europe to attend trade show(s) and one week in Japan for B.R.E. headquarters visits.
• Business Retention and Expansion
o Support expansion opportunities of local primary businesses, including but not limited to site and building searches, local and state incentive applications, etc.
o Oversee and participate with annual B.R.E. Executive Surveys (up to 25-30 annually), typically conducted during Q4.
o When beneficial, oversee implementation of an annual Wage and Benefit Survey, potentially with neighboring Jackson and Jennings Counties.
• Local Government Support and Engagement
o Oversee and implement efforts to deliver effective business attraction, business expansion, and development services as outlined in respective “Fee for Service” Agreements with City of Columbus, Bartholomew County, and Town of Edinburgh.
o Develop and maintain good working relationships with key elected and appointed officials, including but not limited to Columbus Mayor, Bartholomew County Commissioners, Edinburgh Town Manager, and other key Department Heads and/or various commission members.
o Support Columbus’ Sister City relationships with Miyoshi (Japan), Pune (India) and others as may be requested or beneficial to EDC business attraction and/or BRE efforts. Organize and participate with annual local official trip to Japan.
o Supports the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County in their work with existing and new businesses on workforce and building incentives (tax abatements or other available funding).
• Local and Regional Engagement
o Establish/foster collaborative relationships with economic development “centers of influence” on a local, regional, state, and national level.
o Serve as a member of the South-Central Indiana Economic Development (SCIED) group, South Central Indiana Talent (READI) Region, Indy Partnership and/or other regional initiatives to help shape and contribute to their work (ultimately bringing more opportunities to our area).
o Represent the EDC on various boards, when appropriate to advance the EDC’s mission. If invited, serve as an Ex Officio member on the boards and/or committees of the Columbus Area Economic Growth Council, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Education Coalition, IUC Board of Advisors, and/or other as may be appropriate or made available.
• Budgets and Finances
o Develop an Annual Budget for recommendation to the Executive Committee and Board approval.
o Responsible for all expenditures within the framework of the budget. Direct/Oversee preparation of monthly financial statements of income and expenses. Oversee appropriate use of company credit cards and other resources.
o Ensure financial records of the EDC are audited annually or at other interval as may be requested by the Board of Directors.
• Board of Directors Engagement
o Current Board schedule is to meet two out of three months each quarter. President will develop the agenda and oversee the preparation of Board meeting presentation materials, using staff resources.
o President will be expected to have monthly meetings with Board Chair, schedules permitting, and will typically organize monthly Executive Committee meetings or less frequently, if requested/authorized by the Officers of the Board.
o With staff and Executive Committee support, convene three additional sub-committees of the Board: Business Retention and Expansion (BRE), Sites and Buildings, and Business Attraction.
o Meet individually with each voting member of the Board at least two times each year, to engage with members outside of Board Meetings.
o Participate in Board Member recruitment and retention.
• Professional Development
o Continuously maintain an understanding of current trends/opportunities in economic development. Attend one or more Indiana Economic Development Association (IEDA), International Economic Development Council, and/or other professional development conferences annually.
o Pursue and/or maintain Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) status, with Board support.
o Support similar efforts for appropriate staff team members.
• Other
o Quarterly: Oversee plans for the “Great Discussions Roundtable Series”, in support of B.R.E. efforts and company engagement.
o Annually: Oversee plans for the EDC Annual (Community) Meeting with 300 or more persons in attendance. Secure keynote speaker, prepare remarks for self and Board Chair. Deliver remarks.
o Annually: Help plan and support an annual networking event co-sponsored with the Columbus Japanese Business Association, the Mayor, and the Bartholomew Commissioner offices.
o Other duties as may be assigned by EDC Executive Committee on behalf of the Board of Directors.
OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Strong interpersonal skills and desire to work collaboratively.
• Executive presence with hands-on work style.
• Dynamic and energetic.
• Passion for excellence.
• Ability to prioritize potential opportunities.
• Presents a forward thinking, data-driven approach to economic growth.
• Strong sense of urgency with proposals and successful completion of deals.
• Demonstrates high integrity and trustworthiness.
• Team leader/coach.
EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will have 5–10 years of relevant experience—preferably in economic development—strong communication skills across formats, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, with HubSpot CRM and CEcD certification as pluses. A bachelor's or advanced degree is preferred, as is completion of the OU Economic Development Institute. International or cross-cultural experience is a plus. Candidates must live in Columbus, Edinburgh, or Bartholomew County within 3 months of hire, be passionate about promoting the community, and possess a valid driver’s license and passport (or be able to obtain them).
COMPENSATION
Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications: $150,000+, including benefits.
This full-time, onsite position offers bi-weekly pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including a 10% employer 401(k) contribution (after 6 months, no match required), 90% employer-paid medical insurance, paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave, plus access to dental, vision, life, and supplemental insurance. Standard hours are Monday–Friday, with occasional evenings or weekends required for travel or duties.
APPLICATION PROCESS
This position is open until filled. Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you are considered for this position. Upon receipt, resumes and cover letter will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted by Jorgenson Pace. For consideration, please submit a cover letter and resume to Brittany McCoy at ColumbusEDC@jorgensonpace.com
REFERENCES AND BACKGROUND CHECK
Candidates will be checked extensively for background and references. Once strong mutual interest has been established, candidates are asked to provide a list of references that should include, but not be limited to, a supervisor, a peer, a development client, and a subordinate, as applicable. Candidates will be asked to sign an authorization to release information for the purpose of the background investigation, which will include education, social media background, credit check, criminal, and driving records. Should an offer be extended before to the completion of these checks, the offer will be made contingent.
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