Kara A. Acri, APR

Kara A. Acri, APR

Covington, Kentucky, United States
8K followers 500+ connections

About

It all started with a dream...doesn't every good story start out this way? After…

Articles by Kara A.

  • Coming Full Circle

    This week, I started a brand new adventure. And it feels a little bit like coming full circle. I began my career in…

    30 Comments
  • Tackling Brownfields in Appalachia

    Brownfields can be redeveloped into community assets in Appalachia. Insisting this was even possible to industry…

    3 Comments
  • Integrating "Livability Principles" in Brownfields Redevelopment

    Have you applied for federal brownfields funding lately? Perhaps you’ve noticed an increasing emphasis on incorporating…

    1 Comment
  • Why Brownfields?

    When I was 13 years old, I spent a few weeks during my summer vacation going to work with my dad. At the time, he was…

    4 Comments

Experience

  • Scarlet Begonia's Flower Truck, LLC Graphic

    Scarlet Begonia's Flower Truck, LLC

    Covington, Kentucky, United States

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    Dayton, Kentucky, United States

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    Cincinnati Area, NKY

  • -

    Dublin, Ohio

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    Columbus, Ohio

  • -

    Delaware, Ohio

  • -

    Columbus, Ohio

  • -

    Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area

Education

  • Ohio Wesleyan University Graphic

    Ohio Wesleyan University

    -

    Activities and Societies: Varsity Field Hockey: 1992 - 1995; Varsity Lacrosse: 1993 - 1995

    Pursued an aggressive course of study to complete a major in Journalism, with concentrations in Politics and Government and Humanities and Classics, and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 3.5 years. Played Varsity Field Hockey and Varsity Lacrosse for the "Battling Bishops," lettering 4 times in field hockey and 3 times in lacrosse. Inducted as part of the 61st class into the Ohio Wesleyan “W” Association Athletic Hall of Fame for Field Hockey in 2021.

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Popcorn Sales Leader

    Boy Scout Troop 418, Hilliard, Ohio

    - 3 years

    Children

    Organized and managed annual $8,000+ popcorn fundraising sale for local Boy Scout troop.

  • Popcorn Sales Leader

    Cub Scout Pack 148, Hilliard, Ohio

    - 3 years

    Children

    Organized and managed annual $25,000+ popcorn fundraising sale for local Cub Scout pack.

  • Volunteer Coach

    Hilliard Youth Lacrosse Association

    - 5 years 6 months

    Children

    Served five seasons as a head coach in the girls youth league program for HYLA, having been actively involved in the organization since 2007. Overall 17 years of coaching experience, including serving previously as a head coach for two Central Ohio-area high school girls varsity lacrosse programs.

Publications

  • Tackling Brownfields in Appalachia: A Decades-Old Challenge

    Renewal & Redevelopment Magazine

    Brownfields can be redeveloped into community assets in Appalachia. Insisting this was even possible to industry insiders just a decade ago would have likely invoked raised eyebrows -- at a minimum -- followed by hefty doses of skepticism. Without hesitation, experts well-versed in economic development and real estate could rattle off in quick order a laundry list of the challenges to redeveloping brownfields in Appalachia: legally-complicated and environmentally-decrepit sites left wasting…

    Brownfields can be redeveloped into community assets in Appalachia. Insisting this was even possible to industry insiders just a decade ago would have likely invoked raised eyebrows -- at a minimum -- followed by hefty doses of skepticism. Without hesitation, experts well-versed in economic development and real estate could rattle off in quick order a laundry list of the challenges to redeveloping brownfields in Appalachia: legally-complicated and environmentally-decrepit sites left wasting away for too long; no available funding resources or deep pockets interested in paying for cleanup.

    See publication
  • Community Support: Integrating "livability" into brownfields redevelopment

    Properties Magazine

    Have you applied for federal brownfield funding lately? Perhaps you've noticed an increasing emphasis on incorporating sustainable concepts, equitable development and other livability-focused activities into these funding proposals. It's a shift in approach designed to support growing stronger, more sustainable communities nationwide, and if you want to secure federal funding for your future brownfields projects it's time to start paying attention to the details now.

    See publication
  • Flying High: Preserving a Piece of Dayton History

    Brownfield Renewal

    When Orville and Wilbur Wright began constructing the first of their two airplane manufacturing hangars in 1910, the property they found just 2.5 miles west of downtown Dayton, Ohio was nothing more than a farmer’s field.

    Fast-forward 103 years and today you’ll find the original hangars tucked in among more than 1.2 million square feet of an empty former Delphi manufacturing plant in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Dayton.

    Shuttered in 2009, the current maze of 20…

    When Orville and Wilbur Wright began constructing the first of their two airplane manufacturing hangars in 1910, the property they found just 2.5 miles west of downtown Dayton, Ohio was nothing more than a farmer’s field.

    Fast-forward 103 years and today you’ll find the original hangars tucked in among more than 1.2 million square feet of an empty former Delphi manufacturing plant in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Dayton.

    Shuttered in 2009, the current maze of 20 manufacturing buildings covers the majority of the 54-acre property and completely obscures the Wright hangars – along with three additional identical buildings built before General Motors (GM) acquired the property in 1919 – from public view. While the buildings are well-known among aviation enthusiasts across the country, the average citizen in Dayton has been largely unaware of their existence – until now.

    See publication
  • From Idle to Full Throttle: The Development of the Chesapeake Commerce Center

    Brownfield Renewal

    For almost 70 years, the former General Motors Baltimore Assembly Plant produced almost every type of car in the GM lineup from the Impala to the Pontiac GTO. Located adjacent to the Seagirt and Dundalk marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore, Md., the 182-acre, 3.2 million-square-foot assembly plant provided jobs and sustained the local community until GM closed the facility in 2005.

    Today, this former automotive manufacturing property is well on its way to redevelopment as the…

    For almost 70 years, the former General Motors Baltimore Assembly Plant produced almost every type of car in the GM lineup from the Impala to the Pontiac GTO. Located adjacent to the Seagirt and Dundalk marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore, Md., the 182-acre, 3.2 million-square-foot assembly plant provided jobs and sustained the local community until GM closed the facility in 2005.

    Today, this former automotive manufacturing property is well on its way to redevelopment as the Chesapeake Commerce Center— a $150-million business park that incorporates a number of sustainable design elements, including the recycling of 96% of demolition debris from the site and the construction of a Leadership in
    Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building as part of the overall redevelopment.

    See publication

Honors & Awards

  • Colonel

    The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels

  • George B. Garrett Professionalism Award

    Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Organizations

  • Covington Street Hockey League

    Chairman of the Board

    - Present
  • Public Relations Society of America

    Member, 2003-present

    - Present
  • CREW Greater Cincinnati

    Member; Board of Directors, 2019-2020; Communications Committee Chair, 2016-2018

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  • Ohio's Small Business Environmental Compliance Assistance Council

    Governor's Appointment; Council Chair, 2011-2018

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  • Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association (MSECA)

    Board of Directors, 2017-2019

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  • PRSA Public Affairs and Government Section

    Treasurer, 2016-2018; Membership Chair, 2013-2015; Secretary/Treasurer, 2011-2012

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  • State of Ohio

    Registered Lobbyist

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  • PRSA Central Ohio Chapter

    Board of Directors, 2006-2010; APR Chair, 2008-2018

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  • Ohio Economic Development Association

    Associate Member; Member, Brownfields Subcommittee

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  • CREW Columbus

    Member

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  • PRSSA Chapter, Marietta College

    Professional Advisor

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  • Manufacturing Alliance of Communities

    Participant

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  • Ohio Women in Government

    Member; President, 2005-2007

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  • Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Registered Lobbyist

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  • State of Indiana

    Registered Lobbyist

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  • National Waste and Recycling Association

    Member

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  • PRSA National Capital Initiatives Committee

    Member

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  • National Brownfields Association

    Member

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  • PRSA Environmental Section

    Chair, 2008-2009, 2006; Immediate Past-Chair, 2010, 2007; Secretary/Treasurer, 2005

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