News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Chief Economic Development Officer Mark Barbash today announced the appointment of Lisa M. Duvall as the Regional Economic Development Director for the Cambridge region. Duvall will be responsible for directing economic development efforts and establishing an agenda for continued growth for Holmes, Coshocton, Muskingum, Guernsey, Tuscarawas, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana and Jefferson Counties in Eastern Ohio. She will serve as a liaison between the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) and state government with local business leaders, elected officials, and economic development groups to meet the economic, business, and community opportunities throughout the region.

"Lisa's strong background in legislative issues, appropriations, and media demonstrate her skill in addressing what's important to constituents and business leaders," Barbash said. "We're excited about the responsiveness, dedication, and breadth of knowledge Lisa will bring to our economic development work in the Cambridge regional office."

Prior to her appointment, Duvall was Press Secretary for U.S. Representative Ted Strickland. Her duties included writing press releases, testimony and talking points for Congressman Strickland's use in interviews. She tracked legislation in the U.S. House and Senate and researched the impact of that legislation on Ohio's Sixth Congressional District. As Field Representative for Congressman Strickland, Duvall acted as a district liaison with elected officials and constituents and coordinated with local, state and federal agencies on issues of concern to the districts. She also performed grant and appropriations request work, developed legislation in response to district concerns and organized outreach events, such as town hall meetings.

Duvall previously was Associate Local News Editor for the Times Leader in Martins Ferry (Belmont County). In this role, she assigned stories and photographs to a staff of ten, planned daily and weekly news budgets and special event coverage, edited stories and wrote a weekly political column covering issues such as the steel import crisis, labor issues, politics, education and local, state and federal election coverage. Duvall was also for three years an English Instructor at Wheeling Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Duvall holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in English from West Liberty State College in West Liberty, West Virginia.

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Media contacts: Melissa Ament at (614) 466-6619 or Kelly Hassett at (614) 466-4133