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CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH -- At its January 21 meeting, Cleveland Heights City Council confirmed Mayor Seren’s appointment of Rodney Hairston as the new Director of Finance. Mr. Hairston is eminently qualified to oversee the City’s finances and budgetary processes from his tenure overseeing the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport’s budget, and as Chief Financial Officer for the Cuyahoga County Department of Disabilities, which has a total annual budget $294 million.
Hairston served most recently as Chief Financial Officer at Saint Martin de Porres High School in Cleveland, overseeing an $11 million annual budget.
Hairston earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration (with a concentration in Finance and Accounting) and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Finance from the Case Weatherhead School of Business.
At his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, January 15, Hairston addressed questions from the Council, and said his priority is firm fiscal oversight.
“My focus coming in will be to get processes and procedures in place so that [a budget impasse] doesn’t happen again,” he said. “My goal is to fully understand the roles, but also, these deadlines are critical as governmental requirements.”
Hairston added that his range of experience, particularly with the city-owned airport, prepared him for the role at Cleveland Heights.
“At the airport, the CFO’s perspective was to keep costs down. There were 35 different operating budgets, and I was responsible for all of them. That included hiring and operating a fire department and a police division.
“I have spent my career preparing budgets, and was acknowledged for my financial literacy.”
Of the announcement, Mayor Seren said, "I am thrilled that Mr. Hairston both accepted my nomination and was unanimously approved by Council for this critical role. He's joining the City at a crucial moment, when we're both working through budgetary discussions with Council and preparing for large infrastructure and development projects in the very near future. We're lucky to have him."
Hairston's first day with Cleveland Heights will be Monday, January 27.
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