Leah Evans is President & CEO of Homeport. She oversees the financing, development, and implementation of Homeport’s neighborhood revitalization initiatives, including new construction and rehabilitation of for-sale single-family housing projects, owner-occupied rehabilitation projects, and community beautification and improvement projects.

She takes tremendous pride in being part of an organization that has impacted thousands of lives over the past 30 years. Through the development of housing and the provision of services, the organization creates healthy neighborhoods and establishes a foundation for strong families and individuals.

Evans holds a Master of Arts degree in City & Regional Planning from The Ohio State University and has had wonderful working experiences. Before joining Homeport in 2013, she worked for the City of Gahanna and the Ohio Department of Development (now the Ohio Development Services Agency).

She is most proud of the business owners she has worked with, the homeowners she has helped, and the youth she has tutored, mentored, and coached.

One of the jobs that taught her the most was her time as a substitute teacher for Columbus City Schools. Being the new person every day, interacting with different schools, administrators, teachers, and students, she built a resilience that serves her to this day. Being grounded in her knowledge and abilities was crucial to performing in that space. Additionally, being a substitute allowed her to visit many of Columbus’ neighborhoods. Not being from Columbus originally (she is from Cleveland Heights), it was a great opportunity to learn more about the fabric of the city and the communities that make it unique.

She loves spending time with family and friends in Columbus and Cleveland (Go Cavs!). Exercising is a passion — for over 15 years, she has been a group exercise instructor. Reading is also a favorite hobby, and she has been a member of the Rose Petals Book Club for over 10 years, preferring mysteries.