20-05-2025
Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz selected as JRA's next executive director
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Former U.S. Rep. Mark Critz will soon begin a new role in his lengthy public service career as executive director of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority.
JRA board members Chairman Mark Pasquerilla, Vice Chairman Richard Truscello, Bruce Haselrig and Sherri Rae approved hiring Critz for the position during a regular monthly meeting Tuesday. Laura Huchel was absent from the meeting and vote as she was busy campaigning in her race for Johnstown mayor on Election Day.
'When I saw this come up, I thought, 'You know, I'm getting up in years, and this is a place where I can finish my career and do something really strong for my hometown,'' said Critz, 63. 'Sometimes things – you want to call it 'providence' or whatever – this happened. And I thought, 'Mark, this is for you. Get in there and do what you can for the city.' '
Critz currently works as the western regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and executive director of the state's Rural Development Council. He is scheduled to begin as JRA's director June 30.
'I have a lot of obligations at the state for my bosses that I'm intertwined and entangled in that we have to unwind over the next six weeks or so,' Critz said.
Critz was selected to succeed former Executive Director Melissa Komar, who resigned effective April 4 to take a job in the private sector.
'I think he's really qualified,' Pasquerilla said. 'Besides being a congressman himself, he was (the late U.S. Rep. John) Murtha's district director, which is a pretty big deal. His work for the state has been, I think, stellar. He has a lot of contacts in the state, so he kind of has that two lives.
"I think he's going to be a good addition. We had a great director with Melissa Komar, but I think he's fit for this job. He's a Moxham resident and he wants to make a difference here in Johnstown. I'm very pleased about it.'
Along with Critz's hiring, the board promoted Finance Director Cheryl Labosky to the position of deputy executive director/finance director.
'I look forward to the opportunity to work with Mark Critz in the next chapter of the authority,' said Labosky, who has been with the JRA for 11 years. 'I appreciate the continued support of our partners and stakeholders as we move forward together. I look forward to working with Mark and our dedicated team.'
Together, Critz, Labosky and other JRA members will continue ongoing efforts on numerous projects, including the regional sewer system and land bank.
A few of the major initiatives were updated during Tuesday's meeting.
The board approved awarding a $1,271,070.24 contract to A. Liberoni Co. for the construction of a connector road for the Johnstown Urban Industrial Park that will be located in the Minersville neighborhood.
The authority also voted to accept a $200,000 state grant for environmental cleanup at the former Cambria-Rowe Business College building, located at 221 Central Ave. in Moxham.
