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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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis.