News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Chief Economic Development Officer Mark Barbash today announced the appointment of Jennifer O. Ruggles as the Regional Economic Development Director for the department's Cleveland region. Ruggles will be responsible for directing economic development efforts and establishing an agenda for continued growth for the Cuyahoga, Lorain, Geauga, and Lake Counties in northeastern 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.

"Jennifer brings to this position an accomplished record of working in collaboration with communities and development organizations to create strategies for economic growth in Northeastern Ohio," said Barbash. "Her strong economic development background and knowledge of state and local programs will be an asset to the region's business growth and expansion efforts."

Prior to her appointment, Ruggles was Director of the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and Project Administrator for the ODOD Technology Division. She directed two regional MEP centers that assist manufacturers in adopting new technologies and processes to increase their productivity, growth and global competitiveness. For the Technology Division, Ruggles managed the $10.4 million statewide Edison Center program, including seven centers that help companies grow through technology, and administered $15 million in Third Frontier grants. She also provided strategic guidance for the direction and focus to Edison Center leaders and ODOD leadership.

Before joining the Department of Development, Ruggles was Performance Audit Manager for the Auditor of State, where she managed a staff of 14 on multiple projects measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations; and Federal and State Relations Project Manager for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), where she developed strategies to gain better alignment with state agency and university stakeholders and promoted the importance of technology-based economic development and the role MEP centers play in improving the economy. As Economic Analyst for the Greater Cleveland Growth Association, she provided her analytical expertise to understand the Northeast Ohio economic market and support business retention.

Ruggles holds a Master's of Public Administration with a specialty in economic development from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the College of Wooster.

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