CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH— National Association of Counties (NACo) President J.D. Clark appointed Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne as Chair of the Great Lakes Regional Forum.

Wise County, Texas Judge J.D. Clark issued leadership appointments shortly after being sworn in as NACo’s president on July 14, at the conclusion of NACo’s annual conference, the nation’s largest convening of county leaders.

“I am honored to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Great Lakes Regional Forum and to work with county leaders within the Great Lakes region to advance our shared priorities,” said Executive Ronayne. “I’m ready to work together with leaders at all levels of government to improve freshwater quality and access, sustain critical infrastructure, and bolster economic and destination development throughout the Great Lakes.”

Before being elected as County Executive, Chris Ronayne served for 16 years as President of University Circle Inc. (UCI), the nonprofit Community Service Corporation that leads community development, education, and safety efforts in the University Circle neighborhood. A planner at heart, he served on the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, led the City of Cleveland's Planning Commission, and served as Chief of Staff and Chief Development Officer for the City of Cleveland, leading initiatives ranging from the Cleveland Lakefront Plan to the Euclid Corridor. Chris Ronayne also partnered with local agencies on innovative projects like the Towpath Trail and the Cleveland-Europe Express container service.

In 2024, Executive Ronayne established the Fresh Water Institute, a Cuyahoga County program focused catalyzing the region’s culture of freshwater stewardship with a focus on education and research, economic development, as well as advocacy and access.

The Great Lakes Regional Forum provides an opportunity for county leaders from across the Great Lakes watershed to convene and discuss shared priorities and advocacy opportunities relating to water quality and watershed protection, economic development and more.

The Great Lakes contain more than 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water and provide drinking water for more than 40 million basin residents. The Great Lakes fuel a $6 trillion regional economy supporting more than 1.5 million U.S. jobs.

For more information about NACo, click here.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) strengthens America’s counties, including nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees. Founded in 1935, NACo unites county officials to advocate for county government priorities in federal policymaking; promote exemplary county policies and practices; nurture leadership skills and expand knowledge networks; optimize county and taxpayer resources and cost savings; and enrich the public’s understanding of county government. www.naco.org