President/CEO

Vanessa Smedley has served 35 years in management holding various positions i.e., Interim Deputy Director, Administrative Superintendent, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent, Records Section Director, Human Resource Manager, and a Supervising City Planner. Most of  her appointed positions was a result of functional groups that needed a culture change, accountability strategies, enhanced efficiencies, resolved personnel challenges or some combination thereof. Her experiences called for building relationships with diverse population i.e., Planning Commissioners, Executive Management, non-management staff, unions, interest groups and other community individuals and groups. 

Her strengths are process improvements, organizational development, collaborative problem solving, strategic planning and policy development, budget preparation, accountability establishment, team building, change management, data analysis and labor relations. She looks forward to continuing her passion for collaborative problem solving.

She serves on the Avondale Development Corporation Board of Directors and Cincinnati Works' Financial Wellness Advisory Committee.

Vanessa’s educational attainment augments her work experiences. She holds a master’s degree in Community Planning and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. In addition, she is a State of Ohio Certified Public Manager. Overall, she has a proven record of being an initiative-taker, positively affecting operations, collaborating with various diverse populations, and being loyal and committed. 

Away from her career, she is a mother of five children and three grandchildren, whom she absolutely enjoys mentoring and entertaining. She also loves line dancing and developing her spiritual relationship with her God.