David Abbott (ALI 2018, LC 1989)
President, West Side Market Board of Directors
Dave Abbott is the president of the board of the Cleveland Public Market Corporation, the new nonprofit in charge of operating, restoring and transforming the historic West Side Market. He took on this role at the request of Cleveland Mayor Bibb when he retired at the end of 2021 after 19 years as president of The George Gund Foundation.
Prior to joining the foundation, he served as president of University Circle Incorporated, executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and executive director of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission. Abbott was also the Cuyahoga County Administrator under the former county government structure and, early in his career, he was a reporter for The Plain Dealer.
He holds a B.A. in political science from Denison University, a M.S. in journalism from Columbia University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Dave and his wife Jan Roller live in Cleveland and have three far flung adult sons and two granddaughters who fortunately live in interesting places to visit.