T. Sharon Woodberry

T. Sharon Woodberry serves as Director of Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED). As Director of the Department, Sharon oversees the divisions of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning, Community Development, and Environmental Community Neighborhood Services.

Sharon is a life-long resident of Youngstown, a proud Golden Bear alumna of East High School, and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration. She began her career with the City of Youngstown in 1998 and was promoted over various administrations, culminating in her current cabinet appointment in 2015.

Her 20+ years of Economic Development experience have resulted in over $1 billion of business investment in the City of Youngstown. In her tenure, Sharon has been responsible for the securing and management of in excess of $30 million of grant funds awarded to the City of Youngstown. Her accomplishments include serving as lead to attract VXI, a top 10 employer of the City of Youngstown; leading the effort to attract the first wide-scale investment in decades by a grocer; and securing the funding and negotiating demolition of the abandoned Wean site downtown, paving the way for the new $8 million riverfront Raymond John Wean Foundation Park and Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in Downtown Youngstown.

Sharon was the recipient of the U.S. SBA Award for Outstanding Vision in Leadership and the Director’s Economic Development Achievement Award for Innovative Programming. She participated in a 10-day European Study Tour, visiting the Ruhr Valley, Germany and Barcelona, Spain to learn of effective development strategies for Cities in Transition and pursuing the track of Certified Economic Development Professional.

Sharon has been married to her husband Steve for 21 years and has 2 sons, Steven and Christian.