2012 Saw Leadership Changes in Kent Community

Kent's skyline isn't the only element of the Tree City undergoing a transformation.

Multiple key leadership positions across Kent, from posts on Kent City Council to top jobs in the city administration, Kent City Schools and Kent State University all experienced turnovers in 2012.

Here are some of the big changes, starting with the city.

Kent administration:

• Kent Fire Chief Dave Manthey took over the department in November following the retirement of James Williams. Subsequently, the department named a new captain to replace Manthey at that post in Dave Moore.
• Bridget Susel took over as the city's top development administrator in October following the death of long-time Community Development Director Gary Locke.
• Kent attorney Scott Flynn was appointed to Kent City Council in November following the resignation of Robin Turner.
• Former high school principal Roger Sidoti also was appointed to council, in February, to fill the vacancy left by Erik Valenta's resignation.

Kent State University:

• Kent State hired a new No. 2 man in the university's academic administration in February when Todd Diacon was announced as new provost following Bob Frank's resignation.
• In December Jane Timken took over as chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
• In November Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., was named the new dean of the College of Business Administration.
• Dr. Said Sewell was named new dean of undergraduate studies in January 2012.
• Dr. Paul Haridakis took over as the new director of the School of Communication Studies.

Kent City Schools:

• Anthony Horton took over as principal of Stanton Middle School in the fall of 2012.

Citywide leadership changes weren't just a theme of 2012. Such changes in key community positions across Kent have been ongoing the past few years.

At Theodore Roosevelt High School, Bob Klinar took over as principal for Roger Sidoti in October 2011.

The community also saw a new director of the Kent Free Library, Stacey Richardson, take the reins in June 2011.

The city saw a new health commissioner, Jeff Niestadt, start in 2011 along with a new police chief, Michelle Lee.

The slew of changes in leadership posts at the city's largest institutions doesn't indicate instability.

The majority of the new leadership members have extensive experience in their field right here in the Northeast Ohio region.

Combined with the transformative redevelopment, Kent's truly undergoing changes to set the tone of the community for years to come.