Linden Neighborhood Conversation

Melanie Crabill
Director of Media Relations
614.645.5300
[email protected]

Kevin Kilbane
Director of Communications
614.645.6456
[email protected]

Media Advisory
News Date: May 10, 2022

Columbus Finance Director Joe Lombardi Tapped to Lead SWACO

After more than 30 years of service to the City of Columbus, Joe Lombardi announced he will be leaving his role as Director of the Columbus Department of Finance and Management to accept the role of Executive Director of the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). His last day with the City will be June 3.

“Joe has been a dedicated public servant and an exemplary leader. His stewardship of City funds helped us to be financially sound in both prosperous times and in challenging times,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “I am especially grateful for his sound guidance and counsel through the global pandemic and for shepherding the federal funds we received to those most impacted by the economic fallout. While I will miss him personally and professionally at City Hall, I am thrilled for his appointment to one of the City’s great partners.”

Under Joe’s leadership of the Department of Finance and Management, the City was able to weather the economic downturn brought on by COVID-19 and close a $41 million loss of revenue without having to cut services for residents or lay off a single employee. In addition, Joe led the effort to add Construction Manager at Risk to the City code as an optional construction delivery method to improve minority and female participation in our construction projects. Prior to being named Director of Finance, Joe worked as an administrator in the Division of Power where he was able to turn around its financial shortfalls after years of fiscal challenges. Joe was also named the Most Admired Executive in the CFO category in the 2018 Columbus Business First C-Suite Awards.

The City will announce plans to appoint Director Lombardi’s successor in the coming weeks.