Christopher Hardesty hired as economic development director
CANTON – Christopher J. Hardesty, who earlier worked in Mayor Thomas Bernabei’s office, will be the city’s next financial progress director.
Bernabei announced Hardesty’s hiring in a memo to Metropolis Council last week and requested customers to vote Monday on an ordinance to waive the residency requirement for the posture. Hardesty currently lives in Springfield Township and has been the group enhancement administrator for Eco-friendly given that past summer time.
Bernabei, describing Hardesty’s skills to the council, reported “he manages all economic development similar pursuits” in Inexperienced, the place he also served as treasurer of the Inexperienced Community Improvement Company. He claimed Hardesty’s information and enthusiasm amazed him throughout quite a few interviews.
Other than elected officials, the city’s service and security directors and neighborhood development and financial progress administrators are needed to dwell in the metropolis, Bernabei explained.
Prior to voting, Councilman Kevin D. Corridor, D-6, explained he would not want to get rid of the residency necessity for all people but comprehended the trouble in locating a candidate for this placement.
Bernabei agreed, saying such residency waivers are created on a “case-by-circumstance” basis.
In a Tuesday information release, the mayor stated, “Chris has first-hand know-how and practical experience in controlling economic development resources and incentives. He beforehand labored in my workplace for nearly four years and is familiar with Canton and understands the economic advancement requirements and problems of the spot. He has the personality and conversation expertise required to be successful.”
Hardesty’s very first working day will be June 13. He succeeds Eugene Norris, who worked for about 6 weeks before resigning in April. Norris took more than from Fonda Williams, who served as the city’s economic improvement director for about eight years.
Williams left in January to develop into the senior vice president of governing administration affairs and financial progress at the Economic and Neighborhood Improvement Institute Inc.
The council on Monday also gave Hardesty credit score for being a metropolis worker concerning 2017 and 2021 to offer him three weeks of family vacation following his fifth entire year of work. Hardesty had various titles for the duration of his time with Canton, including group growth supervisor, company zone supervisor, and neighborhood reinvestment area housing officer.
He graduated from the College of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in political science and felony justice and a master’s diploma in political science – stability scientific studies. Hardesty also has a master’s degree in business administration from Walsh College, in accordance to the news launch.
The city’s financial improvement director is responsible for overseeing business retention, growth and attraction programs as nicely as monetary incentives and other economic development help.
This report originally appeared on The Repository: Christopher Hardesty hired as Canton’s financial development director