Gale, McPeak join City Manager's Office Divisions

Stephen Gale, Economic Development Specialist

Born and raised in Westerville, Gale is the third member of theWesterville Economic Development team. He came aboard as a specialist in June. His focus is building contacts and relationships with the business community and supporting retention and attraction efforts of the office. Gale has worked in Westerville for several years, including serving the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM) in its community development office where he helped facilitate charitable giving and corporate/ business sponsorships.

In his role with the City, Gale helps the team develop leads and has early conversations with businesses looking to discuss land or development options in Westerville. He also collaborates with Community Affairs on businesscentric marketing and promotion efforts.

“Residents should appreciate just how much interest there is in Westerville opportunities,” said Gale. “We follow a thoughtful and intentional strategic plan to attract business that helps balance the tax burden for residents while building upon the amenities in the region. It’s very exciting to be part of the process.”

Derrick McPeak, Special Events and Project Manager

The Community Affairs and Economic Development divisions of the City Manager’s Office have grown by two positions. Stephen Gale and Derrick McPeak have recentlyjoined these teams to enhance community engagement and business relationships, respectively.

McPeak joined the Community Affairs team earlier this year in the new role of Special Events and Project Manager. McPeak, an Otterbein University Alumnus, is not new to the City; he most recently served as a Program Supervisor at Westerville Parks and Recreation. In that role, McPeak was instrumental in Westerville’s arts, music and theater initiatives, including The Great Westerville Pumpkin Glow and Westerville Civic Theatre.

The position was created for special event production and management, generating more opportunities for community engagement with residents and increased visibility in the region for visitors. Courtyard programming at Westerville City Hall, holiday events and enhancements and community partnerships are central to McPeak’s position.

“Westerville has such a strong sense of community, so I really appreciate that I get to have a direct impact on creating and expanding opportunities for entertainment and engagement,” said McPeak. “We want to produce more programming in Uptown and new ways to interact with our residents through events on a more regular basis.”

Visit the City’s website for updates about the City Manager’s Office, www.westerville.org.