Ex-Lake County official hired

Former commissioner Malecek to fill economic development role for city

“Mr. Malecek has a very strong blend of private and public sector business experience.” — Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak

Kevin D. Malecek will lead economic development efforts for Lake County’s largest city and the state’s sixth-largest retail center.

The city of Mentor this week announced the hiring of Malecek, 38, as economic development director. He replaces Ronald M. Traub, who retired last month after nearly 30 years in the post.

“Mr. Malecek has a very strong blend of private and public sector business experience,” Mentor City Manager Ken Filipiak said. “He’s familiar with the local business community; he is familiar with all of our business development and growth programs, and he’s, frankly, got a very strong skill set with respect to economic development practices, so he was an easy fit for us.”

Filipiak said he spoke with a number of candidates informally. He noted that the city now will advertise for an economic development administrator. Malecek will be paid $100,000. The Willoughby Hills resident

has served in a variety of capacities in local government, business, nonprofit and political arenas in the area. Currently, he is senior development officer for the Lakeland Foundation and Lakeland Community College. He steps into his new role Sept. 4.

“Mentor is a tremendously well-positioned community with dynamic resources,” he said. “My professional experiences in both the private and public sector in working with businesses, communities and residents have provided me unique insight that I hope will continue to bring Mentor prosperity and growth.”

He sees supporting the city’s manufacturing and retail sectors as a priority, especially in light of the proliferation of online shopping leaving vacant “big box” stores such as hhgregg and gordmans in the community.

“Obviously, with the changes we’re seeing in the retail market right now, I think that’s something the city is going to have to work at and try to find out the best ways to address an altering economy, to best position the city going forward,” he said.

He would like to create an economic development strategic plan in the next several months to “try to direct what the short- and long-term growth plans are going to be for the city.”

Malecek is a former Lake County commissioner, serving from February 2015 through December 2016, after appointment to the unexpired term of retiring Robert E. Aufuldish.

Prior to that, Malecek was president and CEO of the Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, the Chamber went from a deficit to a surplus in less than a year, implemented new programming highlighting dining options in the Mentor area and, in partnership with the city, began a Veterans’ Discount program for goods and services which is now implemented countywide.

Mentor Council President John Krueger called Malecek a great choice.

“He can hit the ground running as not only being the past president of the Mentor Chamber of Commerce, but has even been able to attend the International Conference of Shopping Centers the last several years with the Men- tor City representatives and also attend the International show in Europe with city representatives,” Krueger said. “He is therefore up-to-date on what is going on with future developments within the city and I look forward to working with him on a daily basis.

Malecek also has served in leadership positions on Willoughby Hills City Council, the Laketran Trustee Board and the nationally ranked PartTime MBA Program at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He earned a master’s degree in government/applied politics and a bachelor’s in political science and history from American University in Washington, D.C.

“I look forward to continuing the city’s success that was engineered by my predecessor, Ron Traub,” he said, “and also look forward to working with Council, the administration, business owners, entrepreneurs, developers and all of the citizens of Mentor so we might continue to ensure Mentor remains the ‘City of Choice’ — for everyone.”

“I look forward to continuing the city’s success that was engineered by my predecessor, Ron Traub.” — Kevin Malecek

Malecek