Akron office responsible for planning, development, recreation to get new director
Akron department tasked with planning, zoning, neighborhood assistance, business development and implementing a strategic plan for the city will be under new leadership in August.
James Hardy, deputy mayor for Integrated Development, has accepted a position with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as a senior program officer, effective at the end of July.
Hardy was Mayor Dan Horrigan’s first chief of staff. He became deputy mayor for Integrated Development when that department was created in 2018.
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A former Akron school board president who spearheaded equity issues for Summit County Public Health, Hardy often showed his passion for racial, economic and social justice while pitching Horrigan’s agenda to council and the public. He was replaced as chief of staff by Annie McFadden, who managed Horrigan’s political campaigns for mayor.
Horrigan has picked Sean Vollman, a development attorney with 22 years of experience, to take Hardy’s place as head of the Office of Integrated Development starting Aug. 2.
“Serving Mayor Horrigan and the city I call home — as chief of staff and as deputy mayor — has been an honor and privilege,” Hardy said in a release. “I will forever be proud of what the city accomplished during my time here, and thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of it. Akron is my hometown, and I have never been more hopeful about what this community can achieve.”
Vollman is serving “initially in an acting capacity” while the Office of Integrated Development undergoes “its post-COVID strategic analysis,” city spokesperson Ellen Lander Nischt said.
“Deputy Mayor Vollman will have all the powers and responsibilities of the deputy mayor for Integrated Development and we are thrilled to welcome him to this position,” she said.
The Office of Integrated Development was formed to bring together the existing departments of planning and urban development, economic development, downtown operations, recreation and elements of engineering under a single strategic vision.
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Horrigan thanked Hardy for “his years of dedicated service” and credited him with successfully merging the city’s economic and community development efforts under one roof.
“James’ diverse professional background and deep community connections were assets to the city during his tenure,” the mayor said. “I wish him the very best in his career and look forward to celebrating his accomplishments in the philanthropic arena.”
Vollman has worked in the city’s Law Department since 2003. A graduate of St. Vincent – St. Mary, Georgetown University and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Vollman was the “lead real estate, development, and construction attorney” on numerous city projects, including the ongoing $1.2 billion sewer overhaul project, the attraction of Stark State to Akron and Amazon to the former Rolling Acres Mall site, the addition of Dave’s Supermarket and the Middlebury Plaza and the redevelopment of the Bowery, East End, Hickory Street and the Law Building.
“Sean is a seasoned development professional with decades of experience using tools and negotiations to draw jobs and investment to Akron,” Horrigan said. “His vast knowledge and familiarity with city operations, services and partner organizations make him an ideal candidate for this position. As deputy mayor, Sean will use his skills and experiences to bring together public and private collaborators to imagine and build a stronger, more vibrant Akron community.”
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is the nation’s largest philanthropic organization focused only on health. The organization supports health research and advocates for access to quality health care.
The Office of Integrated Development is currently undergoing a strategic analysis of strengths as well as opportunities to build capacity, advance equity and drive policy within its critical public-facing services and programs — including Lock 3, recreation and parks, housing, Great Streets, entrepreneurship, business retention and expansion, Elevate Akron and more.
“Creating accessible, healthy public spaces and a resilient, opportunity-rich economy continue to be my priorities for Office of Integrated Development,” Horrigan said. “As we regain the positive momentum in downtown and our neighborhoods, and seize the once-in-a-generation opportunities afforded by the American Rescue Plan funding, I am incredibly optimistic about the investments to come.”
Reporter Doug Livingston contributed to this story.
Eric Marotta can be reached at 33-0541-9433, or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.
