Government Market News StaffProfiles in Power highlights public officials nationwide who are improving their communities through their dedication, enthusiasm, creativity and experience.
This week’s profile is Chief of Staff for the City of Hamilton, Ohio, Mallory Greenham.
My public career highlights and education:
I’m currently the chief of staff in the City Manager’s Office here in Hamilton, Ohio, where I’ve spent the past seven years helping lead projects that cross departments and move big ideas forward. Before this role, I worked as the assistant to the city manager and started out as the small business specialist in our Economic Development Department.
Since 2011, I’ve been deeply involved in revitalizing downtowns and urban core areas across Ohio. That hands-on experience in community development, small business support and public engagement really shaped how I approach this work.
Some highlights along the way: I was honored to receive Cincy Magazine’s 2024 Power 100 Rising Star Award in Government & Politics and to be named one of ELGL’s Top 100 Influencers in Local Government for 2025. I’m a proud graduate of both The Ohio State University and the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.
What I like best about public service:
In local government, the impact is tangible. You can walk down the street and see the results of your work in real time. I’m driven by the challenge of solving complex problems and creating connections that make our community stronger. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching government work the way it’s supposed to, making life easier, better and more equitable for the people we serve so they can enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
The best advice I’ve ever received:
“Make the decision.” One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that indecision is still a decision, and often the most damaging one. Decision paralysis can stall progress, kill momentum and derail opportunities. Even imperfect decisions can move you forward, but standing still rarely gets you anywhere.
Something I wish more people knew about my division of government:
The City Manager’s Office isn’t just where high-level decisions are made, it’s where ideas take shape, partnerships are built and real community impact begins. We work across every department to make sure the city runs efficiently, equitably and with a shared sense of purpose.
The pace is fast, the stakes are high and the work requires a big-picture understanding of how all the moving parts of local government fit together. That’s where I thrive. I love having that bird’s-eye view, seeing how policies, people and priorities connect to shape the community. No two days are ever the same.
What a lot of people don’t realize is that this office is both internally and externally focused. Internally, we’re making sure our employees are supported and that communication around our vision, mission and values is consistent, with everyone rowing in the same direction. Externally, we’re focused on tackling real challenges and seizing opportunities in the community. And when someone doesn’t know where else to turn, or when an issue doesn’t neatly fit in a box, our office is often the last stop. That responsibility isn’t always easy, but it’s exactly why the work matters.
A current project or initiative I’m working on:
We’re a legacy, Rust Belt city that was once powered by a thriving manufacturing industry. Like many industrial communities, we experienced decades of decline and disinvestment. But over the past 15 years, we’ve led a strong and steady revitalization effort through strategic business recruitment, adaptive reuse and creative activation programs that have brought long-vacant commercial and industrial buildings back to life. One of our proudest successes is the transformation of the former Champion Paper mill into Spooky Nook Sports at Champion Mill, the largest indoor sports complex in North America at 1.2 million square feet.
That kind of big-picture progress has laid the foundation for our next chapter: reinvesting in Hamilton’s traditional neighborhoods. Our Build Back the Block initiative is doing just that. We’re stepping up to be the first in, taking the lead in revitalizing historic neighborhoods that have been hit hard for too long. Many of these areas haven’t seen a new home built in decades, only demolition. Through partnerships with neighborhood groups, nonprofit housing organizations and local agencies, our goal is to help create at least 100 new homes over the next five years.
One thing people may not know about me:
Outside of government, I helped launch a small business with my husband, Spoken Bicycles, a full-service bike shop. That experience gave me firsthand insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face. It deeply shaped my approach to economic development and strengthened my passion for supporting small business owners.
I know how personal the stakes are when you’re chasing a dream, and I’m proud that my role with the City of Hamilton allows me to offer guidance, resources and support to others so they can build something of their own.
