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Staff & Biographies

Christopher J. Burnham, President

The first President of the SCPA since 2000, Chris has successfully guided and financed numerous development and redevelopment projects in the region. With over 25 years experience in public and private sector development projects, Chris has been instrumental in building SCPA into one of the most active economic development financing programs in the State of Ohio.

During his tenure at SCPA, the Port Authority has issued $182.93M in taxable and tax-exempt bonds leveraging over $390M in private investment in Summit County and Northeast Ohio. Chris has been an innovator in regional cooperation guiding the SCPA to provide economic development finance in seven Northeast Ohio counties. In 2001, SCPA established the Fixed-Rate Common Bond Fund Program, one of only five bond fund programs in the State of Ohio.

As Director of Marketing for ASW Services, Inc., from 1994-2000, Chris was responsible for guiding the development of CAK International Business Park, Foreign Trade Zone #181 located at the Akron-Canton Airport. The business park has attracted eight new businesses bringing $57.85M of private investment and 470 jobs to Summit County.

Chris also served as Director of Development for Summit County, with responsibility for economic development and community development programs, the Department of Building Standards, Capital Improvements, and the Planning Commission.

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