Overview:
City leaders and state reps honor Rochelle Thompson for 30 years of impactful public service in Cincinnati. Learn about her significant contributions and current role as Training Manager for the City's Water Works department!
Contributed by
Link Communications Inc.
On a cold wintery day in January, where the temperature was 12 degrees and people had the option to stay home and watch the football playoff games, state and city leaders, private sector executives, retirees and about 50 other people came to honor and celebrate a long-term (30 years) public servant, Rochelle Thompson on her birthday.
All speakers (shown in the photograph) made remarkable statements concerning Thompson’s impact on the great city of Cincinnati. State Rep. Cecil Thomas spoke highly about the information he received concerning inclusion and mentioned that when he served on City Council, “Rochelle was my go-to person.” Peg Moertl mentioned that the housing projects Thompson oversaw received various awards. Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney spoke about Thompson’s fiction book Full Pockets and how it sounded so real, and then she actively engaged the audience as she read the proclamation from Mayor Aftab Pureval. Deb Carney, Thompson’s friend and mentor, spoke personally about Thompson and her family. Not pictured, LaTonya Springs, Thompson’s sister, gave a humorous roast.
At the height of Thompson’s career in local government, she managed the Office of Contract Compliance under City Manager Milton Dohoney overseeing the economic inclusion efforts of the Banks Project as well as selecting the national consultant to conduct the City’s Disparity Study. Prior to Thompson’s role in economic inclusion, she served as the City’s project manager over its HOPE VI efforts, in partnership with Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, to revitalize two former public housing communities — Lincoln Court and Laurel Homes — into a mixed-income community, City West. City West abuts the FC Cincinnati Stadium. Thompson was responsible for managing the City’s $15 million dollar investment.
Thompson currently serves as the Training Manager for the City’s department of Water Works where she conducts leadership development, designs and facilitates soft-skill workshops, manages professional staff, and forwards a learning culture.
Thompson is also the founder of Link Communications, LLC, a business communications, consulting and publishing company.