ONOM C IC County Economic Development E D All Stars T Symposium Speakers E N V E ELOP M Mark Barbash, Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Finance Fund [email protected] Mark Barbash is the Executive Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Finance Fund, a statewide non-profit community development entity that moves public and private cap- ital into low-income communities to improve the quality of life for people. He is responsi- ble for identifying funding opportunities, developing relationships and proposing strategic initiatives that can have major impact on Finance Fund’s performance. His 30 years of economic development experience includes service as Chief Economic Development Officer for the State of Ohio, Development Director for Columbus Mayor Michael B. Cole- man, Executive Director for the Columbus Countywide Development Corporation, and Vice President for the National Development Council located in Washington, D.C. Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Mad- ison. Mark has been honored as an IEDC Fellow Member and an SBA Small Business Finan- cial Advocate. Colonel Cassie Barlow (ret.), Ph.D., Executive Director, Aerospace Professional Development Center, Wright State University - [email protected] Cassie Barlow is currently the Executive Director of the Wright State University Aerospace Professional Development Center and the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center. Both of these organizations are laser focused on workforce development needs across Ohio primarily in the aerospace and defense industry. Previously, she was the 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander at Wright-Patterson AFB in command of one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian, and contractor employees. Cassie has served in a variety of positions in the information management, behavioral science and personnel careers fields at squadron, Wing, di- rect reporting unit, major command, Air Force and combatant command levels. Her degrees include a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgetown University; Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Chapman University; Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial/Organization- al Psychology from Rice University; Master’s degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College; and Master’s degree in National Security, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University. Kelly Bates, Manager – OhioMeansJobs Center, Marion County Department of Job & Family Services - [email protected] Kelly Bates serves as Manager of the Marion County OhioMeansJobs Center housed with- in Marion County Job & Family Services. She manages a staff of ten and coordinates with partner services and agencies to oversee delivery of local workforce programs in the Marion area. Kelly and her staff provide information on available programs and services to numerous agencies, service providers and employers on a regular basis. Starting as the Receptionist in the Workforce Development Department, she has been promoted to positions including Workforce Investment Act Case Manager, Business Services Represen- tative, and most recently to her current position, as well as provided contracted summer youth program services during her 10+ years of service. Jay Begg, Allen County Commissioner – [email protected] First term Allen County Commissioner Jay Begg is a member of the County Commission- ers Association of Ohio (CCAO) Agricultural & Rural Affairs and Health & Human Services Committees. In addition, he serves on the Special Committee on Drainage and Ditch Laws to review the petitioned ditch process. Jay is a board member of the Allen Eco- nomic Development Group and serves on the Lima Rotary Board of Directors. He comes to the Commissioner’s office with 17 years of experience as General Manager of the Al- len County Fairgrounds and serving in leadership positions including the Columbus Grove School Board, Ottawa River Coalition, Allen County Farm Bureau, and Allen County Cat- tlemen’s Association. Jay is the sixth generation to live on and manage the family farm with a 550 acre grain operation. Norm Blanchard, U.S. Army Reserve (ret.), Economic Development Director, Cambridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation - [email protected] Economic development is a second career for Norm Blanchard. He joined the Cam- bridge-Guernsey County Community Improvement Corporation after completing 32 years as a public school administrator, culminating as Superintendent of the Rolling Hills Local School District. Concurrent with his career in education, Norm served in the Army Reserve for 27 years after a tour in Vietnam, retiring as a full Colonel, having held command at every level. Soon after taking the position with the CIC, the Guernsey County established a port authority for which Norm also serves as executive director. In addition, he chairs the Guernsey County Planning Commission and Workforce Policy Board. Norm holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Miami in Florida, and Master’s Degrees from both West Virginia University and the University of Dayton. James Branagan, P.E., P.S., Jefferson County Engineer [email protected] Jim Branagan has served as the Jefferson County Engineer since 1989. A grad- uate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, he has worked in design, construction and management of numerous bridge, road, water and wastewater projects. Early in his career, Jim worked for Weirton Steel and was a project engineer for a $40 million stream generation system. He serves as a park commissioner for Friendship Park District of Jefferson County. In addition, he is a member of the Jefferson County Township Trustee Association and received their leadership award in 2013. Jim authored one of the first Road Use and Maintenance Agreements (RUMA) to deal with the gas exploration boom in eastern Ohio and participated with the Ohio Department of Transpor- tation in the development of a model RUMA for general distribution. Timothy Bubb, Licking County Commissioner and Symposium Chair - [email protected] A Licking County native, Commissioner Tim Bubb takes great pride in his lifetime of communi- ty achievement and involvement. Tim’s community career began as a staff executive at the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce and on the commander’s staff at the former Newark Air Force Base. He has been a Newark Public Library Trustee for 20 years and Board Presi- dent for 10 years. Tim was elected as Newark City Treasurer in 2002 and as Licking County Commissioner in 2004, where he is currently serving his third term. In a professional capacity, Commissioner Bubb chairs the County Commissioners Association of Ohio Jobs, Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee and serves the Counties of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA) as treasurer and Board of Directors member. Tim is a graduate of Newark High School and received an undergraduate degree from Ohio University. He also graduat- ed from the National Chamber of Commerce Institute at Notre Dame University. Ryan Burgess, Assistant Director, Ohio Development Services Agency Ryan Burgess is the Assistant Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Fifth Third Bank where he worked for the last 20 years. As a banker, he worked to support business, community and individual development. As Assistant Director, Ryan oversees Legal, Budget, Administrative and JobsOhio liaison sections of Development, as well as supports the staff in improving customer service, cutting govern- ment bureaucracy and growing jobs for Ohio. Burgess received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Wooster. Dave Burrows, Vice President of Development, Dayton Development Coalition/JobsOhio [email protected] Dave Burrows is the Vice President of Development at the Dayton Development Coalition. He has 20 years of professional experience ranging from manufacturing to executive leader- ship in both public and private sectors. Dave has been a small business owner in the Miami Valley area for 10 years. Prior to this, Dave spent 10 years in manufacturing. Dave holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and Management from Wilmington College. He has also completed extensive business ownership and management training through the Kahala Corporation. Currently, Dave serves on a number of local boards and is an active leader and volunteer in the local community. He is an inaugural inductee of his high school’s alumni hall of fame. David Civittolo, Associate Professor & Extension Field Specialist, Community Economics [email protected] David Civittolo is an Associate Professor and Field Specialist focusing on Community Eco- nomics. Currently he is housed on the OARDC Campus in Wooster, but is responsible for conducting economic development programs throughout Ohio. His primary research interests include strategic planning for economic development organizations and con- ducting business retention and expansion surveys for Ohio communities. His research also addresses economic development tools that can be utilized by cities, villages, and town- ships that can strengthen the financial impact of economic development projects. Da- vid has been with Ohio State University Extension since 2000 and has served as a county educator and county director prior to his current position. Before his work with Extension, Civittolo was