The Central Ohio Mayors and Managers Association is a consortium of city leaders in the Columbus region.

COMMA Executive Board

The COMMA Executive Board helps to organize and steer board meetings and is comprised of a chair, a vice chair, a secretary/treasurer, immediate past chair, and two at-large members.

  • Mayor Joe Begeny, Chair

    Joe Begeny has served as the Mayor of Reynoldsburg since 2020. Mayor Begeny has spent the past 16 years in public service, first as a public school teacher and Reynoldsburg City School Board President. Joe Begeny is focused on the redevelopment of Reynoldsburg from Olde Town to Brice Road, with a focus on connecting the entire community with improved walkability and is dedicated to attracting new jobs and opportunities to the City of Respect, Reynoldsburg Ohio.

  • Steve Schoeny, Vice Chair

    Steven R. Schoeny joined the City of Upper Arlington as City Manager on September 30, 2019. A 13-year resident of Upper Arlington, Steve previously served as the Director of the City of Columbus’ Department of Development from 2013 through 2019. Steve is an Ohio University Voinovich School Distinguished Alumni recipient, a Columbus Business First Power 100 recipient, and a Rose Fellow from the National League of Cities/Urban Land Institute Daniel Rose Center. His community involvement includes: Board Member and Treasurer for CelebrateOne, Board Member for the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation, and Board Member for Partners Achieving Community Transformation.

  • Mayor Ben Kessler, Secretary/Treasurer

    Ben Kessler was has served as the Mayor of Bexley since 2012.

    Mayor Ben is a past chair of and serves on the executive board of the Central Ohio Mayor's and City Managers Association; serves as the Secretary of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, where he chairs the Sustainability Advisory Committee; is the Chair of the Central Ohio Energy Efficient Special Improvement District; and serves on the board of the Ohio Environmental Council.

  • Michelle Crandall, Immediate Past Chair

    Michelle Crandall was sworn in as the City of Hilliard’s first City Manager on Jan. 1, 2020.

    Before joining the City of Hilliard, Crandall had worked for the City of Dublin since 1992, starting as an intern and then management assistant in the City Manager’s office. She subsequently served in various leadership roles, including Director of Administrative Services, Deputy City Manager and Assistant City Manager.

  • Mayor Andrew Ginther, Member

    Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has served since 2016 as the 53rd mayor of the City of Columbus. Mayor Ginther previously served on Columbus City Council from 2007 to 2015, and served as president of Council from 2011 until assuming the Office of Mayor January 1, 2016.

    Under his leadership, the City of Columbus was named America’s Opportunity City, and as mayor, Mayor Ginther continues to work with community, business, faith and labor leaders to promote opportunities for every person in every neighborhood.

  • Mayor Ike Stage, Member

    Richard L. “Ike” Stage has held the position of Mayor of Grove City since 2008. Stage also served as Mayor from April 1988 through December 1995 and served as the appointed City Administrator of Grove City from January 2000 through November 2003. Stage was elected to City Council in 2005 as the Councilman-at-large and served a two-year term ending Jan. 1, 2008.

Member Communities

 

  • As the 14th-largest city in the United States, Columbus boasts an inclusive and dynamic economy with a population of over 900,000 residents. In fact, Columbus was the only city in the Midwest to gain at least 100,000 residents over the past decade. From a vibrant downtown replete with arts and sporting districts to numerous distinctive neighborhoods each boasting a welcoming, collaborative spirit and affordable quality of life, Columbus is a city on the rise within a region undergoing incredible growth.

  • The City of Delaware is the seat of government for Delaware County, one of Ohio’s fastest growing counties, and features a vibrant downtown, established neighborhoods and schools, and diverse, cultural and recreational opportunities. Delaware is a two-time Ohio Magazine Best Hometown and a Money Magazine Top 50 Best Place to Live in America. Read more about the city at delawareohio.net.

  • ABOUT NEW ALBANY, OHIO: New Albany, Ohio, is an aspirational, welcoming, and collaborative community of 11,000 residents located fifteen miles northeast of Columbus, Ohio’s capital city, and ten miles from the Port Columbus International Airport. Recognized as the best city to live in Ohio and one of “America’s Best 50 Cities to Live”, New Albany is committed to its pillars of lifelong learning, the arts, health and the environment. New Albany is also home to one of the largest planned international business parks in the Midwest, featuring shovel-ready sites, triple-feed electric power and fiber optic capabilities for companies of all sizes, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Amgen, Facebook, Google and Intel. Learn more at www.newalbanyohio.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. #newalbanyohio

  • Westerville, Ohio is one of the largest suburban communities in Central Ohio, nationally recognized as one of "America's Best Places to Live" (Money Magazine). Nestled in northeast Franklin County and southern Delaware County, Westerville provides convenient access to downtown Columbus and John Glenn International Airport (CMH), as well as the region’s two major commerce centers (Polaris and Easton). More than 40,000 residents call Westerville home, and join a bustling business community in using reliable and affordable City-owned and operated utilities (electric, water, fiber). Westerville is also home to the nation’s only municipal data center, several corporate headquarters and historic Otterbein University. Westerville parks are recognized among the best systems in the country, with more than 40 parks and over 50 miles of recreational trails. In the early 20th Century, the Uptown Westerville district was home to the national headquarters of the Anti-Saloon League, an organization that established Prohibition. Today, Uptown’s old-generation facade is preserved while offering all the modern amenities in dining, retail and entertainment. Find all the details on Westerville at www.westerville.org.