One of Pittsburgh’s most visible economic development leaders is planning her exit. Stefani Pashman, who has led the Allegheny Conference on Community Development since 2017, says she will step down by the end of 2026 after more than eight years as CEO. She plans to stay in the role until a replacement is named, setting up a long runway for a leadership handoff.
Board taps Koppers chief to run search
The Conference announced the move on Wednesday, according to TribLIVE. Incoming board chair Leroy Ball, the president and chief executive of Pittsburgh-based Koppers, will lead the search for Pashman’s successor, according to Koppers’ corporate materials. Her planned departure closes a chapter in which the Conference leaned into a more partnership-driven approach to regional economic development.
Pashman's background and priorities
Pashman was named CEO in 2017 after running the workforce agency Partner4Work and earlier guiding Medicaid policy for former Gov. Ed Rendell, according to the Allegheny Conference. Local coverage noted she became the first woman to lead the organization, which dates back to 1944, as reported by NextPittsburgh. During her tenure, the Conference put an extra spotlight on workforce initiatives, business recruitment, and projects aimed at improving public spaces in Downtown.
Downtown projects and the $600M plan
Under Pashman’s watch, the Conference helped pull together partners behind a nearly $600 million, 10-year plan to revitalize Downtown Pittsburgh that funded upgrades to Point State Park, Market Square, and other public spaces, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development and downtown organizers. The package blended state, local, and private dollars and rolled out in phases ahead of major 2026 events in the city. That coalition-building model, in which the Conference played traffic cop for big civic investments, is a key piece of what the next CEO will inherit.
What comes next
With Ball steering the board’s search, the Conference says Pashman will stay on through the transition, per TribLIVE. The initial announcement did not spell out a firm timetable for choosing a successor. Whoever lands the job will step into the Conference’s central role coordinating downtown projects and pushing for the region’s business competitiveness.
