Mark Barbash

Mark Barbash has over 30 years of economic development experience, having served with public and private sector economic development and investment banking firms, focusing on real estate and business development, and development financing. In his career, he has had senior level leadership and management responsibilities, served in national association leadership positions, created new development financing programs, as well as working “on the ground” to move projects forward to completion.

Mark Barbash is currently the founder and Director of the Ohio Economic Development Institute, the professional development program for the Ohio Economic Development Association. The Institute provides education and training in both basic and intensive economic and community development.

Mark is Executive in Residence at the George Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service of Ohio University, focusing on assisting the University to improve the economies of Ohio communities.

Mark Barbash is a Lecturer at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, concentrating on Public Budgeting and Public Finance for the College, which is a public policy and management school at The Ohio State University. The Glenn College offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in public affairs.

Through his continuing economic development consulting firm, Mark has provided project financing, strategic planning, keynoting, and training services to many of public, private, and non-profit organizations.  

His professional experience includes Director of Development for the City of Columbus, Chief Economic Development Officer for the Ohio Department of Development, Senior Advisor to the Council of Development Financing Agencies, Executive Vice President of the Finance Fund (a CDFI and New Markets non-profit), Executive Director of Community Capital Development Corporation (an SBA small business lender, and Vice President of the National Development Council, a highly regarded nonprofit economic development consulting and training organization.

Mark’s background also includes state government and Congressional experience, having worked for a United States Senator, Congressman and Governor from Wisconsin.

Mark is a nationally recognized economic development practitioner and trainer, developing and teaching a wide range of professional development courses, including business and real estate financing, entrepreneurship, and brownfield redevelopment. Mark has taught for many organizations around the country.

Mark Barbash has served on the Boards of many organizations, including the International Economic Development Council and the Ohio Economic Development Association, the National Association of Development Companies and the CATCO Equity Theater Company (where he served as Board President). In 2007, he was designated a “Fellow Member” of IEDC in recognition for career contributions to economic development, and previously recognized as SBA’s Small Business Financial Advocate of the Year.

Mark Barbash is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, holding a B.A. in Political Science.