COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Ted Strickland recently announced the appointments of Ohio State Senator Kimberly Zurz as director of the Ohio Department of Commerce and John B. Reardon to head up its division of financial institutions.
"Kim's energy, good judgment and common-sense leadership make her the right person to lead the commerce department," Strickland said. "I look forward to working with her to make sure that the Department of Commerce is doing everything it possibly can to help turn around Ohio."
Prior to her appointment to the Ohio Senate in 2003, Zurz served 11 years on the Summit County Council, including three terms as president. During her service, she was a member of all of the legislative committees, and presided over the county budget of more than $560 million. As a member of County Council, she chaired the Investment Advisory Committee and the Summit County Audit Committee. She was instrumental in creating a Foreign Trade Zone in Akron and actively worked toward the creation and promotion of the Summit County Port Authority.
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"As a businesswoman, public servant and a parent, I understand how important the work of this department is to the world we live in," Zurz said. "I look forward to working with businesses and consumers to find ways to strengthen our economy as well as our quality of life."
In Ohio, the Commerce Department includes the division of financial institutions, to which Reardon was selected to serve beginning Feb. 12.
"John will see that regulations are fair to both consumers and Ohio's small and large financial institutions," Strickland said. "He will work hard to see that our families and our economy continue to benefit from Ohio's great financial institutions."
"I am honored to join Governor Strickland's administration in this important role," Reardon said. "I'm looking forward to helping our state's financial institutions thrive, while protecting consumer rights."
Reardon has been treasurer of Mahoning County since 1998, managing investment strategies, pursuing aggressive delinquent tax collection programs and creating the Lien Forward Ohio Regional Council of Governments, a city-county partnership that's focused on returning vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent land to productive use.
Prior to serving as Mahoning County treasurer, Reardon worked as a business manager in small companies and Fortune 500 corporations. He also taught economics at Youngstown State University.
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