Director, Christine RussellOffice: (513) 346-3977Email: crussell@springdale.org
The Mission of the Springdale Economic Development Department is to retain and attract employers so as to solidify, diversify and expand the economic base of the City.
Springdale has grown from a rural crossroads hamlet in 1806 to a vibrant prosperous City with a strong diversified economy. Measured by payroll generation, Springdale's economy produces over $700,000,000 annually from employers in four major business sectors being office (52%), retail (19%), service (14%) and industrial (15%). In addition, the retail sector generates approximately $900,000,000 in sales annually.
Springdale Economic Development Director, Christine Russell
The primary responsibility of the Economic Development Director is to develop strategies, programs, and opportunities to enhance and stimulate the City’s economy by assisting existing Springdale businesses in the retention and expansion of their operations, as well as marketing the attributes and services of the City in an effort to recruit businesses and industry to locate their operations in Springdale.
Christine M. Russell began her employment with the City of Springdale as the Economic Development Director in July 2014. As a one-person operation, she was quickly thrust into becoming familiar with the City’s business community and their representatives. Christine brings a unique set of skills and perspective to the organization as her previous employment was comprised of both public-sector and private-sector experience.
Prior to joining Springdale, Christine was employed as the Director of Development Services with Hull & Associates, Inc., a private environmental and engineering consulting company. During her four years at Hull, Christine assisted communities with financing and implementing brownfield redevelopment projects. Before working for Hull, she worked at the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority as the Director of Brownfield Development from 2006 until 2010. While working at this public agency, Christine managed the Port’s multimillion-dollar brownfield redevelopment program, returning vacant and underutilized environmentally-contaminated property to productive reuse. After moving to Cincinnati in 1992, Christine spent fourteen years in various roles and positions working on the $4.6 billion Fernald cleanup project.
In addition to her extensive work experience, Christine has held leadership positions in a number of professional organizations including Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and Urban Land Institute (ULI). She is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and the University of Cincinnati Real Estate Round Table. Christine is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class 33 and serves on the Leadership Cincinnati Steering Committee. Recognized as an expert in redevelopment strategy and financing, she is a frequent speaker at local and national economic development forums and events.
Christine has a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and a Master of Science from the University of Findlay. She has also earned her LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) certification from the United States Green Building Council.
Christine and her husband, Dave, live in the City of Mount Healthy with their four children. When she is not promoting economic development in Springdale, Christine enjoys reading, and hiking with her family.