Press Club Presents Akron Bicentennial Executive Director
Akron Bicentennial Executive Director Mark Greer will talk about plans for the city to celebrate its 200th birthday at an Akron Press Club luncheon program Thursday, May 30, 2024. Akron turns 200 on December 6, 2024. Greer will focus on the bicentennial’s overall theme and vision, events and programming, and opportunities for community engagement, volunteers and sponsorships. There will be the opportunity for questions from the audience.
Akron native Mark Greer is an economic and community development professional who recently served as the city of Akron’s Great Streets Administrator and Small Business Manager. He is the founder and principal of Ulysses McNeal Consulting, which specializes in economic and community development, business growth strategies, neighborhood planning, urban renewal and spatial justice, organizational culture and grant writing for nonprofits. Greer’s co-authored article, “How Akron, Ohio is expanding economic opportunity by investing in Neighborhood Business Districts,” was published by the Brookings Institution. His recent documentary, “Beyond the Innerbelt,” chronicles the history of urban renewal and the Akron Innerbelt, which razed several predominantly Black neighborhoods and displaced more than a thousand families during the 1970s and 80s. Greer is a 2022 graduate fellow of Leadership Ohio and has served on a number or boards including the Summit County Continuum of Care, Tuesday Musical Association, Spark Akron and Downtown Vision + Redevelopment Plan Steering Committee. An accomplished pianist and composer, Greer holds bachelor’s and master’s music degrees from Bowling Green State University and Kent State University. He has taught at Malone University, the University of Mount Union, Kent State University and the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia.
Program: Akron Bicentennial Executive Director Mark Greer.
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Time: Doors open at 11 a.m. for buffet luncheon. Program begins at noon.
Place: Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway, Akron, Ohio.
Cost: $35 per individual. $280 for table of 8.
Fast and easy online registration here Or contact Morgan Shaw, Press Club administrator, at akronpressclub@gmail.com.
Check only accepted day of event.
Reservation deadline: Noon, Friday, May 24, 2024.
Cancellations: Cancellation requests must be received no later than 48 hours before the event. After that time, there will be no refunds and an invoice will be issued for payment.
The Akron Press Club was founded in 1971 to promote a free press and serve local journalists and public relations professionals. The group has a rich heritage of offering newsmakers a forum to discuss issues of the day at Press Club luncheons and speaking events that are open to the public. The club also funds scholarships for journalists and public relations students. Visit www.akronpressclub.org for information.