Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority Staff
(bio under construction)
Raymond Schafer - Senior Vice President
As Senior Vice President of the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, Mr. Schafer is responsible for agency operations including finance and accounting, human resources, employee benefits, affirmative action, office operations, technology, and general administration. Mr. Schafer participates with the Port Authority team to establish and pursue strategic initiatives in support of the agency's vision and mission as well as to ensure effective and efficient operations.
Prior to joining the Port Authority, Mr. Schafer was Controller for Landrum & Brown, an international airport consultant. Mr. Schafer directed project and financial accounting as well as managed payroll and benefits and business operations. Mr. Schafer began his career in public accounting and has management and finance experience in a variety of industries, which includes a manufacturing company and stock exchange.
Mr. Schafer holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati College of Business and is currently Chair of the City of Blue Ash Planning Commission.
Susan E. Thomas - Vice President of Public Finance
As Vice President of Public Finance, Susan Thomas works actively with businesses, developers and municipalities to promote economic development in the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio. Ms. Thomas leads the Port Authority’s bond issuance activities, specializing in structured lease, tax increment financing (TIF) and conduit bonds. The Port Authority has issued over $350 million in bonds during Ms. Thomas' tenure.
Ms. Thomas’ transaction experience includes the Regency Centers retail and office development on Red Bank Road, the Kenwood Towne Place mixed-use development in Sycamore Township, and the Queen City Square Tower project in downtown Cincinnati.
Prior to joining the Port Authority, Ms. Thomas was a Vice President in the Global Capital Markets Group at Morgan Stanley in New York. While at Morgan Stanley, Ms. Thomas helped raise over $11 billion in debt and equity capital for industrial, basic material and transportation related corporations. Ms. Thoams also served as Project Manager for the divestitures of Morgan Stanley’s Discover Card and aircraft leasing business units.
Ms. Thomas previously served as an assistant to Cincinnati mayor Roxanne Qualls where she focused on transportation, regional cooperation, business retention and homeownership financing. Ms. Thomas also held a number of key roles on Ms. Qualls campaign staff.
Ms. Thomas holds a BA with honors in Public Policy from Stanford University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.
Melissa Johnson – Director of Brownfield Development
As the recent Economic Development Administrator, City of Hamilton, Ohio, Ms. Johnson managed business and industrial development projects resulting in an estimated $78 million on new development, and the creation and retention of over 1,600 jobs. Ms. Johnson managed budgets for $10 million in brownfield redevelopment grant funds from federal and state sources. Additionally, she administered Clean Ohio Fund projects that integrated multi-levels of government funding while fostering public-private partnership.
Ms. Johnson supervised several redevelopment projects including the demolition and remediation of over 1 million square feet of commercial and industrial properties. Ms. Johnson has collaborated with area developers and community-based groups on riverfront development and renewal projects including the construction of a public amphitheatre park and mixed-use residential/retail plan.
Ms. Johnson directed proactive business efforts, as well as targeted industry attraction efforts that included domestic and international investment missions, representation at site selection consulting forums, development of available property database, and prospect leads management.
Through corporate real estate networks and relationships, Ms. Johnson implemented regional visibility strategies and has successfully negotiated financial assistance packages for projects including utility incentives and public infrastructure funding. Additionally, Ms. Johnson has managed advertising, marketing and branding program that developed print, radio and television ads including taglines and copywriting.
Ms. Johnson has comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local assistance programs including enterprise zone tax abatements and tax increment financing.
Deborah Robb - Director of Economic Inclusion
Ms. Robb's direction in economic inclusion assisted the Port Authority in receiving the Going Above and Beyond award in 2005 for Supplier Diversity from the Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce as well as receipt of the 2007 Industry Innovator Award from the Cincinnati Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women. In 2008, Ms. Robb was selected by the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee of the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council as the MBE Advocate of the Year. She is also a past recipient of the YMCA Black Achievers Award.
Ms. Robb holds a BA in Communications Arts from the University of Cincinnati where she was a Minority Scholarship recipient. She is also a graduate of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati African American Leadership Development Program (Class III), Leadership Cincinnati (Class XXX), Project Blueprint and Turner School of Construction Management.
Ms. Robb is currently a board member of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce where she leads the Economic Development Committee. She is on the board of Pro Seniors and is on the advisory committees of the Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program and the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. Ms. Robb was recently selected to participate on the Tri-State Health Care Supplier Diversity Consortium. She is currently a member and past Chairperson of the Local Advisory Committee for the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (SCOMSDC). Ms. Robb has also been involved in community initiatives such as serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Sickle Cell Awareness Group, and board member and secretary for the Cincinnati Business Incubator.