OCCD Summer Meeting and Diamond Jubilee Celebration

OCCD hosted the Summer Annual Meeting and Diamond Jubilee at the Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center on July 23-24, 2025 with over 125 individuals attending - OCCD Member Award Recipients, Foundation Scholarship Winners, current members, and invited guests, including OCCD Past Presidents. 

Celebrating our 60^th Anniversary as a nonprofit organization serving the members of Ohio’s communities, we look back to our inception when OCCD began in 1965 as The Urban Renewal Association of Ohio, Inc. with representatives from 17 Ohio cities – including Athens, Akron, Canton, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Mansfield, Marietta, Martins Ferry, Middletown, Portsmouth, Springfield, Steubenville, Toledo and Youngstown.  Later, in preparation for anticipated changes in federal legislation affecting urban renewal programs, the Association changed its name to the Ohio Conference of Community Development, Inc., in July 1972.  In its 60‑year history, the agency membership has grown from 17 in 1965 to some 170 cities, counties and villages in 2025.

The OCCD Summer Annual Meeting and Diamond Jubilee was not only an opportunity to look back and share experiences from over the years, but to look forward to celebrating what is to come.  We celebrate those who have provided outstanding work in the field of community and economic development within their communities. 

Summer Annual Member Awards

Community Development Professional of the Year award is given in recognition of community development professionals who work on a project or progam that had a major impact on their community. This year's awards were presented to Erin Wright, OMEGA and Angela Rahman, Kettering.

Young Community Development Professional of the Year award is given in recognition of young community development professionals who work on a project or program that had a major impact on their community - recipient must be under the age of 35. This year's award was presented to Fallon Robinson, Cleveland Heights.

The Community Development Department of the Year is given in recognition of a department whose programs collectively or one program singly has made a significant impact in their community. This year's award was presented to the City of Zanesville.

Intern of the Year is given in recognition to community development students who have performed exemplary work in and exhibited overwhelming commitment to their internship. The student must be currently enrolled or a recent graduate of a program related to community development at an accredited institution in Ohio.  This year's award was presented to Zach Roach, Ironton-Lawrence CAO.

The President's Award is given in recognition of unique and creative programming that at least partially uses HUD or State funds in the delivery of housing and community development services.  This year's President's Award was awarded to the Haitian Support Center.

OCCD Foundation Scholarship Awards

The OCCD Foundation has provided thirty-five (35) scholarships since 2013 to college students pursing careers in the public service sector.  The Ohio Conference of Community Development Foundation promotes the future of community and economic development through academic scholarships to students and young professionals. Foundation scholarships were presented to Fallon Robinson, Jordan Bereda, Brenna Reynolds, Samantha Panson, and Justin Dreier.

OCCD Member Awards Banquet

The awards presented at the evening banquet included Partner of the Year - Ohio Department of Development - accepted by Director Lydia Mihalik and NCDA Region V - accepted by Region V Past President Angela Rahman.  The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Rita Parise by incoming OCCD President, Lucie McMahon.  The Public Service Award was presented to Paul Tecpanecatl, who recently retired after four decades working in community development. 

Congratulations to all award and scholarship recipients.