(Plain Press January 2024) Cleveland Public Market Corporation (CPMC) announced on November 27th that Rosemary Mudry will serve as the inaugural Executive Director leading the West Side Market’s historic transition to non-profit operation. Mudry currently serves as the Executive Director of West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development. 

   “We are excited that CPMC has appointed Rosemary as the West Side Market’s first Executive Director,” said Mayor Justin Bibb. “As a seasoned community development professional with a proven track record in building and leading high performing teams, working closely with community stakeholders, and delivering on strategic priories, she’s exactly the leader the West Side Market needs as it begins this new chapter.” 

   David Abbott, President of CPMC’s board of directors, chaired the Search Committee that worked with Waverly Partners, a national executive search firm, to conduct a search that included candidates from the local, statewide, and national marketplace.  

   “We are thrilled to welcome Rosemary as the new Executive Director of CPMC,” Abbott said. “Her strategic mindset and passion for the Market make her an ideal leader to deliver on the West Side Market’s potential. We are confident that under her guidance, CPMC will make tremendous progress towards our goal of making the West Side Market the nation’s premier public market.” 

   The Search Committee included Don Whitaker, President of the United West Side Market Tenant’s Association, Abbott, and CPMC board members Jason Russell, Tanisha Velez, and Ann Zoller. “I’ve been impressed by Rosemary’s energy and excitement about the job and her commitment to working closely with merchants,” said Whitaker. 

   Mudry holds a Master of Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Latin American Studies from Oberlin College.  

   “The West Side Market is such a beloved Cleveland institution, and I am beyond excited to be a part of guiding its future,” Mudry said. “I feel privileged and honored to be chosen by CPMC’s Board of Directors and look forward to engaging with all those who care so deeply about the Market as we make the transition to non-profit management.”