Leadership rooted in service, focused on prosperity
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Board elected new board officers and executive committee members at its August 14 annual meeting.
Elected for new officer terms (expiring in 2026):
- Board Chair: Chris Amorose Groomes, Mayor, City of Dublin
- Vice-Chair: Ben Kessler, Mayor, City of Bexley
- Secretary: Laurie Jadwin, Mayor, City of Gahanna
City of Dublin Mayor Chris Amorose Groomes was reelected MORPC Board Chair. A dedicated public servant and life-long Dublin resident, Mayor Amorose Groomes was first elected Mayor in 2020 and again in 2024. She has also previously served in various MORPC Board leadership roles.
“It’s a privilege to continue serving as chair of MORPC’s Executive Committee and to represent Dublin alongside leaders from across Central Ohio. As the region continues to grow, thoughtful collaboration around transportation, sustainability and economic development becomes even more important. Together, we’re advancing projects and policies that will help shape a more competitive, accessible and sustainable future for the entire 15-county region.”
City of Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler succeeds City of Hilliard City Manager, Michelle Crandall, as Board Vice-Chair. He most recently served as MORPC Board Secretary and currently serves as Regional Sustainability Roundtable Chair. Kessler was reelected Mayor in 2023, serving in that role since 2012.
City of Gahanna Mayor Laurie Jadwin was elected as Secretary of the MORPC Board. A long-time Gahanna resident, Mayor Jadwin is deeply committed to civic engagement and guided by a strong spirit of service. She began serving as Mayor in 2020 and continues to champion initiatives that strengthen the community and foster regional collaboration.
MORPC extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to former Board Vice-Chair, Michelle Crandall, for her outstanding dedication. After serving as Hilliard City Manager for over five years, Crandall now serves as Chief Member Services Officer at the International City/County Management Association.
In addition to the board officers, MORPC has three new members elected to its executive committee.
For new executive committee terms (expiring in 2027):
- Jeff Fix, Commissioner, Fairfield County
- Steve Schoeny, City Manager, City of Upper Arlington
- Kelly Scocco, Director of Public Service, City of Columbus
“We are excited to have our new and reelected MORPC board officers and executive committee members in place whose expertise will be invaluable to our mission. As an association of 90 local communities, their vast experience in local government, leadership talents, and passion for advancing prosperity will lead to even greater impact and collaboration for communities across Central Ohio.”
MORPC extends its gratitude for the service of Kristen Atha, Director of Water and Power for the City of Columbus, as her term on executive committee concludes.
The MORPC board convenes ten times per year to address important regional issues, guide the direction of MORPC’s work, collaborate with local leaders to identify and solve common problems, create solutions to shared regional challenges, and provide input on funding decisions. The board’s annual meeting features updates on this critical work along with board leadership elections.
With longstanding commitments to public service, each individual has demonstrated years of unwavering service to their communities. The promotion of these key leaders will further strengthen MORPC’s commitment to advancing regional collaboration and innovation in transportation, sustainability, economic development, and community engagement.
To learn more about MORPC visit www.morpc.org.
