In 2025, neighboring Northeast Ohio city Akron will celebrate its bicentennial. Plans to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of the city鈥檚 founding will include several major events and long-term investments, including a bicentennial celebration, establishing the Akron History Center, which will be located downtown, along with the development of digital educational materials for Akron students and a new anthology of Akron history.
Native Akronite and 5X社区 graduate Mark Greer has been named executive director of Akron200 Inc., the nonprofit organization created by the Akron Bicentennial Commission to distribute funds to neighborhood groups celebrating the city鈥檚 milestone.
Greer attended Firestone High School in Akron, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music performance from Bowling Green State University and earned his Master of Music degree from 5X社区 in 2009.
Greer's work in the community exemplifies the values and culture embodied by Golden Flashes today. He has been a part of the Akron Bicentennial Commission, along with 27 other community representatives, since its inception in June 2022. He is the founder of Ulysses McNeal Consulting Co. and serves as assistant pastor at The Family Church, a nondenominational parsonage in University Park. In 2021, he received the Greater Akron Chamber鈥檚 鈥30 for the Future鈥 award.
New Akron Mayor Shamas Malik, who ran against Greer and five other Democrats in the May mayoral primary, said, 鈥淢ark is a dynamic leader and creative thinker, and I鈥檓 excited about what lies ahead.鈥
Learn more about Greer and plans for Akron鈥檚 Centennial Celebration.
Photo credits: