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Ian Beniston, AICP, HDFP has extensive experience in community development and planning. Ian began their career as a Planner (Intern) at the City of Youngstown, Ohio City Planning Department in 2005, where they gained valuable experience in urban planning. In 2006, they joined ACP-Visioning+Planning, Ltd. as a Project Planner (Intern), where they focused on developing comprehensive plans and community visioning initiatives.

In 2008, Ian became the Director of Policy at the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, where they coordinated grassroots campaigns and projects aimed at addressing quality of life issues. Ian also worked as a Community Organizer, successfully developing a Corner Store Campaign and a regional Vacant Properties Organizing Strategy.

Ian's career progressed at the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC), where they served as Deputy Director from 2009 to 2014. There, they managed the day-to-day operations and was instrumental in growing the organization's annual budget from $250,000 to $3 million. Ian also led a highly successful neighborhood stabilization effort in the Idora neighborhood.

In 2014, Ian was promoted to Executive Director at YNDC, where they continued to oversee the organization's operations and achieved its mission and financial objectives. Ian managed program staff, developed innovative programming, secured resources through grant writing, and established strong partnerships with stakeholders.

Overall, Ian Beniston has a solid background in community development, urban planning, and organizational management. Their experience in diverse roles has equipped him with the skills necessary to drive successful community development initiatives.

Ian Beniston, AICP, HDFP completed their Master's degree in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that, they obtained their Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Youngstown State University from 2002 to 2005. In terms of additional certifications, Ian Beniston obtained the Housing Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council in June 2015. Ian is also a member of the American Planning Association and is currently working towards obtaining the American Institute of Certified Planners certification.