REDI Cincinnati President and CEO Johnna Reeder will step down from her position effective September 17 after four-and-a-half years of service. Reeder has been asked to remain as a consultant to REDI Cincinnati through the end of the year.
Reeder
“It’s impossible to overstate the impact Johnna has made on the Greater Cincinnati region,” said REDI Cincinnati Chairman Brian Hodgett. “Johnna has brought leadership, positive national exposure, elevated credibility with decision makers, and tenacity to get things done. She is passionate about developing her team and giving them opportunities. Johnna demonstrates why leadership matters as we couldn’t have gotten to this point as a region and delivered strong results without her.”
Reeder has led REDI Cincinnati, the regional economic development entity and JobsOhio network partner, by coordinating with top regional business leaders, collaborating with local and state economic development entities. She was the leader of a team of regional economic development professionals that help recruit, retain, and expand companies in the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana region.
Reeder managed a $5.8 million operational budget funded through public/private fundraising. The organization has celebrated, to date, 215 project wins while fostering the creation of more than 22,000 jobs and $2.4 billion in new capital investment since the founding of REDI Cincinnati in 2014.
“REDI Cincinnati could not have been launched and achieved such success without Johnna charting our course,” said REDI Cincinnati’s founding Board Chairman Tom Williams. “Her intelligence, attitude and energy have been the perfect combination for this very challenging work. Our community will miss her in this role.”
Reeder said she is honored to have played a part in the regions’ growth and collaborative spirit.
“I am thankful for the support of the business, government and philanthropic communities as we built REDI Cincinnati to compete globally,” Reeder said. “Our success is due to their vision and backing. I am proud to have given my heart and soul to REDI’s mission and team development. Now, it’s time for me to pass the baton, reassess my priorities, and then evaluate my next adventure. New leadership, energy, and ideas will propel REDI’s efforts to the next level. I am excited about the future and my heart is full of appreciation for the wonderful opportunity I have had to serve.”
Under Reeder’s leadership, REDI Cincinnati has received state and national recognition as a top economic team, driving new jobs and capital investment, and become a leader in the JobsOhio network.
Site Selection Magazine has repeatedly recognized REDI Cincinnati’s organizational excellence between 2015-2017 with the prestigious Mac Conway Award. From 2014-2017, they also awarded the Governor’s Cup to the Tri-State region, led by REDI Cincinnati, in conjunction with numerous local economic development partners, for top performance results in the nation.
In 2016, REDI Cincinnati won the highly competitive bid to host the prestigious Site Selectors Guild Conference held earlier this year. The event brought 450 economic development industry leaders to the region and received numerous accolades from attendees for the Greater Cincinnati region.
Lauterbach
Reeder has received numerous honors during her tenure at REDI Cincinnati, including Cincy Magazine’s Power 100, Venue Magazine C-Suite award, and the Founder’s Award from Covington Partners in Prevention. She was named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect and given the Legend Award by Northern Kentucky Legacy.
Earlier this year, Reeder informed Chairman Hodgett of her intent to leave. Hodgett worked with the founding REDI Chairman, Tom Williams, past Chairman Jim Henning, and incoming REDI Chairman David Spaulding to implement a seamless transition plan.
As a result, the REDI Cincinnati Executive Committee has named Kimm Coyner Lauterbach as Reeder’s successor as President & CEO, effective September 17. Lauterbach joined Reeder shortly after the creation of REDI Cincinnati in 2014 and has served as Vice President of Business Development and Project Management.
In that role, Lauterbach was responsible for leading all aspects of an economic development project from business attraction and project management to business retention and expansion. She and her team provide assistance, counsel, and expertise to companies looking to move to or expand in the Greater Cincinnati region.
“Kimm is the right person, at the right time, to assume the role of President and CEO,” Hodgett said. “A national search could not deliver someone who knows our region’s strengths and needs like Kimm. Her eighteen years of experience in economic and community development in Greater Cincinnati, knowledge of REDI’s winning model and passion for the work will allow us to build upon our momentum and lead us into the future.”
Earlier in her career, Lauterbach was the economic development director for Warren County. While there, she created the first economic development office in Warren County with direct reporting to the County Commissioners.
Lauterbach also held positions with the City of Fairfield and the City of Mason in economic development roles prior to joining Warren County.
She was recognized in 2016 as one of North America’s Top 50 economic developers by Consultant Connect, and named a Woman of Influence by Venue and Lead Magazine, as well as receiving the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2017 Women Who Mean Business award.
She is active on multiple boards and leadership councils, including the Cincinnati Zoo Board of Trustees.
The Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Cincinnati is the first point-of-contact for companies locating or growing in the 15-county region at the heart of Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana. REDI is supported by top business leaders and community partners and staffed by a team of economic development experts who are passionate about where they live.
REDI Cincinnati
