TSEP president leaving for Crawford Co. job

David Zak, president and CEO of Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, has resigned from the organization for a similar job with Crawford Partnership for Education and Economic Development in Crawford County. After more than eight years in Seneca County, Zak said his last day will be May 12. "One of the things that was important to me is to make sure everything transitions well," he said. "I can focus on making sure everything will be good in the interim." Zak said he'll be involved in the search for his replacement for the next few weeks. "I'm assisting in its promotion," he said. "I'm helping the organization in any way I can." He said the position will be posted nationally on Monday, and the job has already been listed at the state level. "I'm grateful to this community and to the boards and volunteers that work on this, to the elected leaders and other community leaders," he said. "I have felt very welcome here. "I have a big strong sense of 'thank you' for being able to serve in this community," he said. "There's such as amazing team here to take over." He said there's a "great sense of collaboration here, and I see a lot of the same elements in the community where I'm going." Zak said he's changing jobs because, "I would say it's a great opportunity, and it's good for me and my family." He said the population of Crawford County is similar to Seneca County, but there are three population centers instead of the one he's been working with. Because Fostoria has a separate economic development organization, he's been mainly working with Tiffin and the rural areas of the county. In Crawford County, he'll be working with the towns of Bucyrus, Galion and Crestline. Every community is unique, he said, and he'll have similar goals at his new job as he had in Seneca County. "I'll have a similar approach to economic development," he said. "You have to build the community in order to be successful. You have to work on the ecosystem to have success. "I've loved being here and I'm looking forward to going there," he said. "It's been great being here. I will miss this community. But this is a great opportunity." The search begins In a news release announcing Zak's resignation Thursday, TSEP said it has launched a national search to find its next leader. The position description and requirements can be found at tsepsearch.com. Resumes and cover letters will be accepted by email only to tsepsearch@tiffinseneca.org until 5 p.m. May 16. "We are one of the premier local economic development organizations in the country," said Lillian Schumacher, chairwoman of the TSEP Board of Trustees and president of Tiffin University, in the release. "And we are looking for a strong, experienced, dynamic and visionary leader to help us continue the success we have seen over the past decade. "I am grateful for David Zak's leadership and wish him the best in his new position," she said. The release said Site Selection magazine has ranked the Tiffin-Seneca County micropolitan in the top 20% nationally in economic development for 11 straight years, and for five of the past six years, it has ranked among the top 10 of the 581 micropolitans in the United States. Since 2014, companies have invested half a billion dollars and created 2,800 new jobs in Seneca County, and in 2021, the organization won the Ohio Economic Development Association award for Innovation in Economic Development for its small business relief grant program. "We have incredible collaboration here, and we believe you need a holistic approach to economic development," said Dean Keller, head of the search committee, past chairman and president of First National Bank of Sycamore, in the release. "In addition to traditional industrial and commercial development, we also focus on downtown revitalization, community development, entrepreneurship and workforce development in order to be a community of choice where people want to live, work, invest and run a business." Thanks in large part to TSEP's efforts, the release said, Downtown Tiffin has received state and national Main Street accreditation every year since 2016 as well as nine state awards for revitalization excellence. It has also recorded more than 70 new downtown businesses, $35 million of new investment and 100 façade projects downtown. TSEP Director of Downtown Revitalization Amy Reinhart has been recognized as Ohio's Main Street Manager of the Year, and more than 50 volunteers contribute 1,500 hours per year to the downtown efforts. Also on the TSEP team are Development Coordinator Adam Gillmor, Seneca Job and Family Services Business Services Consultant Carol Owen Kern and Operations Manager Corrina Haynes. Gillmor helps coordinate the Dream Big Tiffin community development initiative, Tiffin-Seneca Entrepreneurship Clearinghouse and rural development. Owen Kern leads adult-based workforce development and the organization's INSIGHT retention and expansion program. Haynes supports the team, manages finances and administers the Sandusky-Seneca-Tiffin Port Authority. "We continue to push for excellence in everything we do, and we aspire to continue becoming one of the best communities in the state and country," said Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz. "In order to get there, we need an experienced leader at TSEP to join our community and help us move forward with passion, dedication and a high level of engagement." Seneca County Commissioner Mike Kerschner, a member of TSEP's Executive Committee and Board of Trustees, said he strongly supports the organization and the search. "It will be difficult to fill the shoes of David Zak, who is unfortunately moving on," Kerschner said in the release. "We know, though, that TSEP has a great team in place and works extremely hard to promote our community, communicate with stakeholders and drive economic growth. We think this is a great opportunity for the right person." In a statement Thursday, the Seneca County Commissioners thanked Zak for his hard work and dedication to the community. Under Zak's tenure, Kerschner said the commissioners were happy to renew the focus on economic development in the rural areas of the county, creating a new position to work closely on those types of projects. Commissioner Anthony Paradiso thanked Zak for his time and for the work he did to help improve Seneca County. He said the county attributes much of its economic success to the work of Zak, the TSEP team and other economic development-minded local leaders. Commissioner Tyler Shuff agreed. "I wish Mr. Zak the best of luck moving forward," Shuff said. "It's been a great learning experience working with David and I'm confident he will be able to do great things for our neighbors in Crawford County." The three commissioners said they are optimistic about the future of TSEP. Started in 1983 as Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp., TSEP is a private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to driving positive economic, downtown and community development in Tiffin and Seneca County.