Ohio City Near West Development Corporation Appoints Eric Wobser Executive Director

Ohio City Near West (OCNW) Development Corporation, the organization overseeing the continued renaissance of Cleveland’s historic West Side neighborhood, on December 1, 2009, announces the appointment of Eric Wobser as executive director.  He succeeds Nate Coffman, who has accepted the position of executive director with the Ohio Community Development Corporation Association in Columbus, Ohio.

Wobser joins OCNW from the Office of the Mayor of the City of Cleveland, where he served as special projects manager since 2006.  In that capacity, Wobser reported directly to Mayor Frank Jackson’s chief of staff, advising on policy, communications, infrastructure and community development issues and managing a variety of interdepartmental projects and initiatives.  He also served as a liaison between the Office of the Mayor and several civic organizations, including Parkworks, Cleveland Public Art, Build Up Greater Cleveland, and the Greater Cleveland Film Commission.  Prior to joining the Office of the Mayor, Wobser was a member of the inaugural class of the Cleveland Executive Fellowship-A CORO Program, a year-long immersion program designed by the Cleveland Foundation to accelerate the professional development of civic leaders.

At OCNW, Wobser will be charged with overseeing all aspects of the development corporation’s efforts, including residential and commercial development, community outreach, fundraising and marketing.  He also will be responsible for spearheading the implementation of OCNW’s recently completed three-year strategic plan.  He will manage an annual budget of approximately $500,000 and a staff of five.

“We are delighted to welcome Eric to OCNW as executive director,” said Damon Taseff, president of OCNW’s board of trustees.  “Through his work with the city of Cleveland, he has demonstrated his knowledge of and commitment to urban development, passion for improving the quality of life of the city’s residents, and ability to make a positive impact on Cleveland neighborhoods.  I’m confident that Ohio City—with its unique assets and attractions that include a robust commercial district and the most interesting and diverse housing stock in Cleveland—will benefit greatly from Eric’s experience and enthusiasm.”

A resident of Ohio City, Wobser is looking forward to contributing to the ongoing redevelopment of the neighborhood.  “Ohio City is truly a special place and OCNW is one of the premier community development corporations in the country,” said Wobser.  “I thank the OCNW board of trustees for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this dynamic and visionary organization and help write the next chapter in the Ohio City renaissance.  I look forward to working with the OCNW staff and the many dedicated volunteers in the neighborhood to build on the momentum that Nate Coffman and the executive directors before him have created.”  

Wobser is active in numerous community and professional organizations, including the City Club of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Film Commission and Build Up Greater Cleveland.  He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio University and his juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan.