City of Columbus

Director
Michael Stevens
111 N. Front St., 8th Floor  
Columbus, OH 43215
Office : 614-645-7795
Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Michael Stevens was appointed in April 2020 by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther to serve as the Director of Development for the City of Columbus. Prior to the appointment as Director of Development, Michael served as the City's first Chief Innovation Officer responsible for the Smart Columbus Initiative.

 Michael has also served as President and CEO of Lake County Partners, a 501 (c) 3 economic development corporation that works to maintain economic vitality and quality of life in Lake County, Illinois. Michael was responsible for leading efforts to attract and retain jobs, stimulate capital investment, and pursue economic diversity.

From 2007 to 2012, Michael served as the Deputy Development Director for the City of Columbus responsible for the City’s Economic Development and Planning activities. Michael led the City’s Business Attraction and Retention programs; strategic land utilization; international initiatives; and promotion of public sector tools and programs available to help companies expand.

Michael has also worked for Cardinal Health, Inc. in its Corporate Real Estate Group, with the City of Dublin as the Director of Economic Development, and for the City of Huron, Ohio as its Assistant Service Director.

Michael is a proud graduate of The Ohio State University where he received degrees from the Fisher College of Business and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. 

Deputy Director of Jobs
and Economic Development
Quinten L. Harris JD, MPA
111 N. Front St., 8th Floor 
Columbus, OH 43215
614.645.0772

Quinten L. Harris JD, MPA, is the Deputy Director of Jobs and Economic Development for the City of Columbus’ Department of Development. Harris is charged with the creation, refinement, and implementation of policies, strategies, and programs to enhance and stimulate the City’s economy by assisting existing businesses in the retention and expansion of their operations, as well as marketing the attributes and services of the City in an effort to recruit new businesses and industry to locate their headquarters and other operations in the City of Columbus. Harris joined the City after his tenure as Director of Strategic Project Management for the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Cincinnati. Harris earned his Bachelor’s in English from the University of Dayton (OH) and a Masters in Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) and Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University – Bloomington Maurer School of Law.

Deputy Director of
Community Development
Hannah R. Jones
111 N. Front St., 7th Floor 
Columbus, OH 43215
614.645.7125

Hannah R. Jones is the Deputy Director of Community Development for the City of Columbus’ Department of Development. She oversees and coordinates the activities of the Housing, Code Enforcement, Land Redevelopment and Human Services Divisions. These Divisions focus on having a collective impact on the neighborhoods within the City in order to build stronger, more resilient communities. Previously Hannah served as the Special Projects Coordinator for the Department assisting with the implementation of the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiatives, Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Choice Neighborhood Grant. Previously Hannah worked in various capacities in the Office of Mayor Michael B. Coleman. She graduated the College of Wooster in 2003 with a B.A. in History and a focus on social and human rights.

Deputy Director of
Administration
Rory McGuiness
111 N. Front St., 8th Floor 
Columbus, OH 43215
614.645.6253

Rory McGuiness is the Deputy Director for Administration for City of Columbus’ Department of Development.  He oversees and coordinates the activities of the Fiscal, Human Resources, Public Information, Legislation, and Contracts areas.  These areas provide the administrative support needed to execute the core missions of the department.  From 2012 to 2015, Rory served as a Special Assistant and then Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Michael B. Coleman and was the liaison to the Departments of Development, Building & Zoning Services, Public Service, and Recreation & Parks.  Rory served as Assistant Director in the Department of Public Service from 2010 to 2012 and managed all city public private partnership projects involving transportation.  He serves as Secretary on the Executive Committee, participates on the Benefits and Compensation Committee, and Chairs the Bylaws Committee for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.  He is also Vice-Chair of the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County and a past State President of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio (NAMI Ohio).   Rory graduated from The Ohio State University with B.A. in Political Science in 1999.