Addington named new director

Addington most recently was COO for a group of health clinics.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- William G. Addington III of Poland has been appointed executive director of Lien Forward Ohio, a partnership between Youngstown and Mahoning County to return abandoned real estate to productive use.
After a 75-minute executive session Friday, the five-member Lien Forward Ohio Board of Directors voted unanimously to offer the job to Addington, who accepted the position. Addington will start his new job Friday and be paid $43,500 a year.
"We feel that Bill's combination of experiences with private sector firms and not-for-profit organizations will benefit him as he takes up this position," said John Reardon, county treasurer and Lien Forward board chairman. "Bill has excellent communication skills," Reardon added.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity this presents," Addington said. "I want to do whatever I can to make this program a success and to benefit the community," he added.
Lien Forward's goal is to return 5,000 vacant, abandoned parcels of land to productive use within five years by helping interested parties buy delinquent tax liens against the parcels at low cost.
The partnership, founded last year and funded by fees from negotiated tax lien sales, expects to open its rent-free office in Suite M5A on the mezzanine of the city-owned former Phar-Mor Centre, 20 Federal Place, in mid-July.
Previous experience
Addington was most recently chief operating officer of Ohio North East Health Systems Inc., which includes the Youngstown Community Health Center, the Warren West Community Health Center and Good Samaritan Community Health Center in Alliance.
Previously, he was chief development officer of Easter Seals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties, director of group purchase services and insurance with the Eastern Ohio Physicians Organization, assistant vice president for individual and group benefits at Gallagher Pipino Inc., an insurance broker at Eich Bros. Insurance Agency and marketing director at Catalyst Thermal Energy Corp. and Youngstown Thermal Energy Corp.
Addington, who holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Youngstown State University, is a past president of the Easter Seal Society's board of trustees and of the Independent Insurance Agents of Mahoning County.
Kerrington
Addington was one of eight applicants for the Lien Forward position. The other three finalists were: James R. Bolchalk of Boardman, senior project electrical engineer in the facilities service group at Delphi Corp.; The Rev. Sharon R. Carson of Dalton, Ohio, pastor, East Ohio Conference, United Methodist Church, North Canton; and Patrick V. Kerrigan of Youngstown, interim executive director, Lien Forward Ohio.
Kerrigan withdrew his application for the position on Thursday, saying he wanted to focus his attention on completing his doctoral degree at Kent State University.
Kerrigan, who initially volunteered his time for Lien Forward Ohio, became interim executive director of the program in March, working 10-25 hours a week as an independent contractor without benefits at $28 per hour.
Reardon said Kerrigan would remain in his paid capacity for two weeks to assist in the transition to the new director.
Kerrigan's compensation was based on the estimated hourly cost of pay and benefits for a full-time employee in that post, Reardon said.
Kerrigan, a former Youngstown Municipal Court judge, was sentenced in March 1998 to 21/2 years in prison for extortion related to his office. He served 13 months.
In his letter of withdrawal, Kerrigan wrote: "I plan to remain involved in the redevelopment of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, irrespective of what my critics might prefer. I just do not want my situation to adversely affect the credibility of this fledgling agency."