Our Staff

Stephen is the President/CEO of the Stark Economic Development Board. He has spent 31 years in economic development organizations in the US and Canada, including Nova Scotia, Connecticut, Ontario, and now Ohio.

He received a bachelor's degree in commerce from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, completed his MBA at European University (International Management Institute) in Belgium, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He is a member of the International Advisor Committee of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and board member for the Canada-United States Business Association (CUSBA), TEAM NEO, The Stark Education Partnership, The Canton Regional Chamber Commerce and Visit Canton.

As Vice President of Business Development, John manages business attraction, expansion, and investment projects for the Stark Economic Development Board, with a particular focus on traded-sector business investment. He works directly with companies considering new or expanded operations in Stark County, helping them evaluate sites, infrastructure, workforce, incentives, and other factors critical to investment decisions.

John's work encompasses projects ranging from the expansion needs of existing Stark County businesses to major new capital investments. He also works to strengthen Stark County's competitiveness for future development through site readiness and infrastructure planning and by identifying and addressing barriers that can affect business investment. John coordinates closely with local communities, utilities, property owners, and regional and state economic development partners to move projects from initial inquiry through site selection and development.

Prior to joining the Stark Economic Development Board in 2019, John served for 25 years as a U.S. Army officer in a variety of leadership and senior staff assignments, with extensive experience in operational and strategic planning. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Lafayette College, along with graduate degrees in military operational art and science, education, and theological studies.

As Vice President of Strengthening Stark, Lori leads the Stark Economic Development Board’s work to strengthen the systems that support Stark County’s growth and economic future, including workforce, housing, entrepreneurship, and community development. Collaborating with partners across the county, Lori and her team focus on creating the conditions Stark County needs to compete for investment, support business growth, and be positioned for emerging economic opportunities.

Lori joined the Stark Economic Development Board in 2026, bringing experience from across the private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Her experience includes leadership roles with AT&T, Green Chamber of Commerce, Home Builders Association of Summit & Portage Counties and Stark Community Foundation. Those experiences help shape her approach to the work of Strengthening Stark: connecting people, organizations, and ideas around a shared vision for Stark County’s future.

Todd serves as the Community, Government & Business Engagement Director, for Stark Economic Development Board and Strengthening Stark. In this role his focus is on continuing to foster relationships and collaboration amongst various partners to help expand economic vibrance throughout the community. In addition, Todd worked with consultants in the development of the Stark County Housing Study in 2024 and is leading the effort to build action plans around the nine recommendations that came from the study.

Todd graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics Management and a minor in Sociology. He worked for the first 25 years of his career in the financial services industry providing financial planning and management advice to individuals, corporations, and non-profit entities. He joined a Stark County based independent financial services firm in 2001, became a partner there in 2009 and then ultimately sold his interest in that firm in 2023 and joined the Stark Economic Development Board and Strengthening Stark.

Todd is an active member of the community and currently is a Board Member for the Canton Regional Chamber Health Fund, Junior Achievement of North Central Ohio, and AultCare. Todd has served as a Volunteer for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival for 26 years including serving as the General Chairperson in 2023. Todd has had the privilege to serve Jackson Township as an elected Trustee since 2012.

As Director of Site Strategy and Development at the Stark Economic Development Board, Nathan Leppo is focused on two things that shape the future of Stark County: bringing high-paying jobs to the region and solving its housing challenges. He identifies, prepares, and positions the sites that attract new investment, so that when a company comes looking, the land, the infrastructure, and the answers are already in place. From greenfield industrial parks to complex redevelopment sites, he resolves environmental, utility, rail, and zoning questions early and connects companies and site selectors with the partners who can carry a project to completion.

Much of that work is brownfield redevelopment. He helps lead the Stark Economic Development Board's $1.5 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Grant with partners across the county, turning former industrial land back into productive sites. He also maintains the county's site inventory, including rail access on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway network, and works with local governments on land use and zoning solutions that make new housing possible, so the workers those jobs attract have a place to call home.

Nathan brings a unique planner's view of how sites, infrastructure, and communities fit together. Before returning to the Stark Economic Development Board, he was Director of Planning and Strategic Development at METRO Regional Transit Authority in Akron and Director of Planning and Economic Development for the City of Stow. Earlier, he worked in planning, urban design, and market analysis at MKSK and Environmental Design Group.

He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners and holds a Master of City and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University.

Mike is Director, Economic Development for the Stark Economic Development Board. His primary responsibility is to oversee day to day operations of the Stark County Port Authority, an independent unit of local government established by the Stark County Commissioners used to create and preserve jobs through a wide variety of financing, real estate and foreign trade zone programs. By working with local businesses, he also assists companies by identifying their growth opportunities and partnering them with the appropriate local, state, and federal agencies to facilitate retention and expansion projects. Mike received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, his master’s degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University, and is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Ohio.

Helene is the Director of Business Development & Engagement for the Stark Economic Development Board, where she leads the organization's Business Retention and Expansion program. Through regular visits with Stark County companies, she learns what is working, what is changing, and where outside support could help them grow. She then connects them with the right local, regional, and state partners, funding, and workforce resources.

Helene brings more than a decade of experience in community engagement, workforce, and economic development in Northeast Ohio. She serves on the NODE Board of Directors and as a business community advisor for JumpStart. Helene holds a bachelor's degree in History from Heidelberg University.

Mitchell is the Grant Coordinator for the Stark Economic Development Board and serves as a go-to grant resource for organizations across Stark County. He works closely with the Strengthening Stark initiatives and helps partners with grant prospecting, readiness, and application support so they can compete for funding that strengthens our Stark County communities. His work focuses on workforce development, affordable housing, talent development, entrepreneurship, and regional economic development. Before joining SEDB, Mitchell was a lead grant writer at CommQuest Services, where he raised more than $3 million in funding. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and Economics from Walsh University. A lifelong resident of Alliance and a Marlington High School graduate, he's committed to bringing new investment and opportunity to Stark County.