New Executive Director Named for Parma Public Housing Agency

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PARMA, Ohio – Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter is pleased to announce that Priscilla Pointer-Hicks has been appointed Executive Director of the Parma Public Housing Agency. This appointment removes the “interim” tag under which she has been serving since mid-February; Pointer-Hicks’ new appointment begins immediately.

The appointment came after the mayor met with members of a search committee he had appointed to look for candidates to fill the position. DeGeeter recommended to the committee that a search was no longer necessary and that he recommended Pointer-Hicks stay on as permanent director. Pointer-Hicks also has the support of City Council President Sean Brennan, from whom the committee received a letter of recommendation on her behalf.

“I have nothing but respect for Priscilla, and she has done an outstanding job as interim director,” said Mayor DeGeeter. “I have full faith in her leadership in this position. She is an excellent choice.”

The former director of Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, Pointer-Hicks was appointed as interim in mid-February by DeGeeter after the previous director of the agency resigned. Pointer-Hicks said she is excited to fill this role officially.

“I am very pleased to have the ‘interim’ tag removed and to undertake the challenge of leading the Parma Public Housing Agency,” she said. “I am very grateful for the support of Mayor DeGeeter and the confidence he places in me with this appointment. Because of my background and experience at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, I feel that I am appropriately qualified to lead this agency with the integrity and respect that it deserves.”

The informal search committee, which was assembled by Mayor DeGeeter, had originally included Pointer-Hicks. The Mayor removed her from the committee when she became interested in filling the position long-term.  The committee was comprised of a number of local housing experts and officials, as well as the current chairman of the Housing Board, Ward One Councilman Vito Dipierro.

Members included:

Committee chairman Mike Foley, a former state representative who was just appointed as director of Cuyahoga County’s Department of Sustainability, who also served as executive director of the Cleveland tenants organization.

Peter Iskin, former managing attorney of the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland's Housing Practice Group and chair of the CMHA  the Board of Commissioners  from  1981-1985.

Phil Star, former Executive in Residence at the Urban Center in Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affair, former director of the Cleveland Tenants Organization, and chair of the Cuyahoga Affordable Housing Coalition.

Doug Shelby, former Cleveland HUD Field Office Director who served in that role for 17 years.

Vito Dipierro, Parma Ward One Councilman who also serves as chairman of the Parma Housing Board.

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