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Piper Trust Thought Leader

Piper Trust Thought Leader Series brings leaders to our community to share their expertise on significant issues and spur idea generation and discussion to impact and strengthen health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Through the Advancing Resilience in Arts & Culture Series, thought leaders share experiences and knowledge that can help fortify Maricopa County’s distinct arts and culture community. Chris Ronayne, President of University Circle, Inc., is Piper Trust’s 2017 Thought Leader in Residence.

Chris Ronayne

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Thought Leader in Residence, 2017

Christopher Ronayne is President of University Circle Inc. (UCI) in Cleveland, Ohio. UCI is the nonprofit community service corporation responsible for the development, service, and advocacy of University Circle—a world-class urban center of innovation in healthcare, education, and arts and culture. Ronayne’s dynamic and aggressive agenda leverages the institutional assets of University Circle’s anchor “Eds, Meds, and Arts” organizations and has transformed it into a vibrant mixed-use district. University Circle and more than 40 member institutions partner to oversee the growth and direction of Ohio’s fastest growing employment district, with UCI providing community planning, development, education, marketing, police, and other shared services.

Prior to joining UCI, Ronayne served the City of Cleveland as its Planning Director, Chief Development Officer, and Chief of Staff. He was the architect of the city’s Waterfront District Plan which reconnected the people of Cleveland to Lake Erie.