Shaker Heights, a suburban enclave known for its idyllic neighborhood charm, is embarking on a new chapter in commercial revitalization, with Callie M. Cripps steering the ship as the freshly appointed executive director of the Shaker Heights Development Corporation (SHDC). Cripps has a solid resume, including a recent stint as Economic Development Division manager for the City of Euclid and a tenure as director of corporate relations at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
"We are delighted to welcome Callie to Shaker Heights Development Corporation and look forward to the insight and strategic thinking she will contribute," Kandis Williams, president of the SHDC board, said in a statement obtained by the City of Shaker Heights official website. Her record of fostering commercial development and creating Special Improvement Districts promises fresh momentum for a city eager to strengthen its residential neighborhoods and diversify its tax base.
Since its inception in 1981 by the City of Shaker Heights, the SHDC has served as a non-profit vanguard for the city's commercial vibrancy and progress. It functions as a close-knit partner with the city, who reciprocally acts as the corporation’s fiduciary agent, symbolizing a mutual commitment to economic prosperity and community welfare.
In her role, Cripps is tasked with a multi-faceted agenda. As executive director, she will wear several important hats—overseeing establishing a business improvement district, executing the SHDC’s five-year strategic plan, and managing the organization’s fundraising efforts. Furthermore, she is responsible for the stewardship of commercial development and real estate assets and The Shaker Lee Development Fund, an Ohio LLC designed to rejuvenate Lee Road's commercial district by optimizing its vacant and underutilized properties.
