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Executive hired to lead Columbus State community real estate development

Campus News | Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Whitehall city official will direct projects that support students, enhance neighborhoods

Zachary WoodruffColumbus State Community College has named Zachary Woodruff, a longtime Whitehall civic leader, as its chief real estate development officer. He will join the college on Dec. 1.

In his new role, Woodruff will oversee public-private partnerships and other real estate strategies that benefit Columbus State students while advancing broader community goals. For example, Woodruff will lead Columbus State Community Partners, an affiliated nonprofit that the college formed in 2019 to focus on community redevelopment, engaging with the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. (CDDC) and other partners to enhance the area around the college’s downtown campus and realize the goals of the city’s downtown plan.

Woodruff joins Columbus State with more than 20 years of experience in real estate development and community leadership, most recently as Whitehall city administrator. He has led Whitehall’s Economic Development department since 2012 and the Public Service department since 2014. He previously served on Whitehall’s city council.

“Zach will be a tremendous asset to elevate economic development efforts that benefit the communities Columbus State serves and advance the college’s mission,” President David Harrison said. “I am confident he will take our strategic partnerships to the next level, helping Columbus State Community Partners strengthen our connections to downtown, the neighborhoods we call home and our service areas at large.”

Whitehall’s real estate and redevelopment projects have thrived during Woodruff’s tenure, including projects that have expanded job opportunities and provided additional affordable and market-rate housing. Over the past 12 years, more than 2,300 new housing units were built or are in development, 2,600 new jobs were added, and more than $1 billion in new public/private investment funding was secured.

“I am excited to join the talented team at Columbus State Community College,” Woodruff said. “The opportunity to inspire, manage, and lead the college’s real estate development efforts is exciting. I am eager to assist in the continued revitalization of downtown through equitable development that positively improves student and neighborhood outcomes.”   

Columbus State and CDDC are partnering to accelerate redevelopment efforts in and around the college’s campus. The college is the anchor institution in the Creative Campus neighborhood and a member of the Discovery District Special Improvement District.

“We’re thrilled to work more closely with Columbus State to achieve the community’s vision of a more inclusive, more equitable, and more vibrant downtown,” said Greg Davies, the CEO of CDDC. “Zach will be an important partner in bringing that vision to life.”

Woodruff serves as secretary of Whitehall Community Improvement Corp. and on the boards of directors for Ground Level Solutions Inc., the Franklin County Transportation Improvement District, and Franklin County Energy Special Improvement District. He is a member of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Regional Policy Roundtable, the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange, and the Columbus Commercial Industrial Investment.

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