Chief of Staff Brittany Grimes Zaehringer
Brittany Grimes Zaehringer is an accomplished executive with higher education, nonprofit, legal and public sector experiences. She is a native of Akron, Ohio, and a graduate of John R. Buchtel High School. Zaehringer received her Juris Doctorate and Master of Science in Social Administration (nka Master of Social Work) from Case Western...
Read MoreChief of Strategy Nanette Pitt
Nanette Pitt was born and raised in South Africa but has found her home here in Akron. Originally a theater professional and small business entrepreneur involved in development and the arts in South Africa’s burgeoning democracy, Pitt graduated summa cum laude from Simmons College (Boston, MA) in 2008, receiving her Bachelor of Ar...
Read MoreDirector of Finance Steve Fricker
Steve Fricker began his service to the citizens of Akron in 1991 as an Accounts Analyst within the City’s Audit & Budget Division.
He is formerly the Treasurer for the City of Akron, a role he served since 2008. As Treasurer, he managed the investment of City funds; issuance and payment of City debt (bonds, notes and loans); man...
Read MoreDeputy Director of Finance Mike Wheeler
Mike was named Deputy Director of Finance in October of 2022. He has nearly a decade of experience in the City’s Audit and Budget Division, where he most recently served as the Audit and Budget Manager. Over the course of his career with the City, he has implemented various accounting standards for the City’s Annual Comprehensive Fin...
Read MoreDirector of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Esther Thomas
An Akron native and lifelong student of justice and equity, Esther L. Thomas joins the City of Akron with 20+ years of public service. She has held positions of Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Magistrate with Summit County Juvenile Court, and Human Resources Director with Community Act...
Read MoreActing Police Chief Brian Harding
While the city conducts its search for the next Chief of the Akron Police Department, APD will be led by Acting Chief Brian Harding. Deputy Chief Harding attended the University of Akron where he earned his bachelor’s degree in technical education with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He has 28 years of law enforcement expe...
Read MoreASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT JOSEPH NATKO
Joseph Natko first began his career with the Akron Fire Department (AFD) in March of 1991 as a firefighter/medic. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1997, Captain in 2005, Provisional District Chief in 2011, District Chief in 2015, Deputy Chief in 2022, and later in 2022 took on the top job of Akron Fi... Read More
Director of Communications Stephanie Marsh
Stephanie Marsh obtained a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Kent State University where she studied English and graduated with University Honors in 2012. Before joining the Mayor’s Office communications team in 2019, Marsh was a Senior Customer Content Specialist at PR Newswire/Cision and was the President of C...
Read MoreDirector of Public Service Chris Ludle
Chris Ludle began his service to the City of Akron in 2004 as a Mechanical Inspector in the Building Inspection Division. In 2007, he joined the Sewer Maintenance Division and was later promoted to supervisor where he gained firsthand experience managing CSO projects. Ludle was appointed acting Highway Maintenance Superintendent in the Pub...
Read MoreDeputy Director of Public Service Eufrancia Lash
Eufrancia Lash is a lifelong resident of Akron, Ohio, and a product of the Akron Public School system. He is a graduate of both Central-Hower High School and the University of Akron, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Organizational Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. He joined the Mayor&rsq...
Read MoreDeputy Director of Public Service Jim Aitken
Jim Aitken began his service to the City of Akron in 1986 as a sewer maintenance worker in the sewer division. He was promoted through the ranks and eventually became acting sewer superintendent. In this role, he managed day to day operations of the city sewer collection system including 36 pump stations, 6 CSO storage basins, 13 CSO ra...
Read MoreDirector of Labor Relations Frank Williams
Frank Williams brings over 30 years of Public Service experience, leadership skills, Community Relations, and Collective Bargaining knowledge to his role.
Frank grew up in Akron. He attended Akron Public Schools and then earned a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice/Political Science and an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice Technolo...
Director of Sustainability and Resiliency Casey Shevlin
As the city's first Director of Sustainability and Resiliency, Casey Shevlin will be responsible for helping coordinate and grow the city's focus on environmental issues. Shevlin most recently served as the senior sustainability analyst in the Corporate Responsibility department at FirstEnergy, where she was responsible for improving the company...
Read MoreDirector of Planning Kyle Julien
Kyle Julien joins the administration after most recently serving as the Managing Director for the Western Reserve Community Fund (WRCF) at the Development Finance Authority. Julien has helped launch WRCF lending programs including the Akron Resiliency Fund, the Minority Contractor Capital Access Program (in collaboration with the Akron Urban Lea...
Read MoreDIRECTOR OF LAW DEBORAH MATZ
Deborah S. Matz currently serves as the Director Law for the City of Akron. Prior to her current position, she was most recently serving the Department of Law and Risk Management for the County of Summit Executive. In that role, she acted as General Counsel to the County...
Read MoreDEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LAW BRIAN ANGELONI
Brian Angeloni began his legal career in private practice at a full-service, Akron-based law firm, where he focused primarily on complex financial insolvency matters. During this time, he was an active member of the Akron legal community serving on the Attorney Constituent Group for the U.S. Bankrupt... Read More
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUZIE GRAHAM MOORE
For over twelve years, Suzie Graham Moore has served as President and CEO of Downtown Akron Partnership. With a keen focus on safety, beautification, creative placemaking, planning, and economic development, she has elevated the entire downtown Akron experience. Her strategic initiatives, including the first of its kind consensus-led Downtown Ak...
Read MoreDEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SEAN VOLLMAN
Sean Vollman served as Assistant Director of Law in the City of Akron’s Law Department for over 18 years before joining the Office of Integrated Development in 2021. Prior to joining the City, he worked in private practice at Buckingham, Doolittle and Burroughs.
As an Assistant Director of Law, Vollman focused on transactional...
Read MoreDIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES MONTRELLA JACKSON
Montrella S. Jackson, Esq. has over 25 years of public service experience at the county and local levels. She currently serves as the Chief Executive /Court Administrator for the Akron Municipal Court appointed by the Judges to that role in November 2012. Her primary duties include managing the overall operations of the court and supervisi...
Read MoreACTING CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT STEVEN KAUT
Steven Kaut has proudly served the citizens of Akron as a member of the Akron Fire Department for over 31 years. Over his career, he has worked as a firefighter, paramedic, and company officer before accepting an assignment to Fire Administration in 2016. He currently holds the rank of Fire Deputy Chief and is responsible for oversight of the fi...
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