Brown Names New Economic Development Director

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Mayor Jamael Tito Brown announced a reorganization Monday of the city’s department of community planning and economic development office.  

Effective Monday, Brown named Nikki Posterli as director of community planning and economic development. She will replace the department’s current director, T. Sharon Woodberry, who has been named economic development director. 

Posterli also will serve as chief of staff in the mayor’s office, according to the news release announcing the reorganization. In that role, she will oversee city departments and special projects. 

Most recently, she served as chief financial officer and program administrator of business operations at Mahoning County Children’s Services. Prior to that, she served as accounting administrator at the Mahoning County Treasurer’s Office, and before then was assistant vice president and branch manager for Home Savings Bank.   

“The mayor was interested in me bringing both of my facets to move the city forward,” she said. Economic development is “something he’s really been wanting to get showcased,” she said. 

“Since Youngstown’s development is expanding and moving in a positive direction, we need to seize the moment and become more focused on retention, attraction and expansion of business. Economic development has to be our top priority,” Brown said the release. 

The model is similar to one being utilized by Elevate Greater Akron, one of the models the city studied as part of its effort to enhance economic development efforts, Brown said in a phone interview following the news release. The city has a contract with urban planner Hunter Morrison to assist with planning. 

Posterli said the responsibilities of her new role are similar to work she is used to doing. “I have already been a program administrator and was looking at policies and practices that may need updating, that may need reorganizing,” she said. 

As director of community planning and economic development, Posterli will earn $79,101.50. As economic development director, Woodberry will be paid $70,622.45.

Posterli said her role would free Woodberry to do more direct economic development work while she deals more with day-to-day operations in the department.  

Also according to the release, the city will move litter control out of economic development and into the city health department “for greater synthesis of common mission and goals” with growing health concerns such as illegal dumping and bed bugs.   

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.