Mark Abbott Appointed

Westerville Announces New Building and Code Appointments

The City of Westerville has named Mark Abbott as its new Chief Building Official to lead the Building Division within the Planning and Development Department. In this capacity, Abbott will provide critical oversight for more than $100 million in annual residential and commercial construction. His role is central to maintaining the high standards of building code compliance and customer service expected by Westerville's 40,000 residents and its diverse business community.

Abbott transitions to Westerville from SAFEBuilt, where he served as the Building Official for West Carrollton, Ohio, while simultaneously performing master plans examination for various jurisdictions throughout the state. His professional background is rooted in both the public and private sectors, including seven years as a Plans Examiner for the City of Cincinnati. During that tenure, he conducted complex building and zoning code reviews for a wide array of commercial and residential projects.

Beyond his municipal experience, Abbott spent a decade as a self-employed architect. His portfolio during this period spanned retail, municipal and residential construction, as well as specialized building code consultations for other architectural firms. Earlier in his career, he held project management and architectural roles at DNK Architects and Cole + Russell Architects, where he managed large-scale initiatives such as a $9 million school renovation and the development of the Carl H. Lindner YMCA.

A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Abbott is a registered Ohio Architect and a certified Master Plans Examiner. He is a highly active figure in the professional code community, currently serving as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Southwestern Ohio Building Officials Association. Additionally, as the Education Committee Chair for the Ohio Building Officials Association, he has been instrumental in planning the 2025 Joint Conference curriculum to improve code consistency across the state.

In Westerville, Abbott will apply his expertise to the City's significant growth corridors. This includes managing development within the Westar business district, supporting the "Medical Mile" health system expansions and projects for major corporate headquarters. He will play a vital role in preserving the character of the Historic Uptown district by supporting the installation of fire suppression lines and other essential infrastructure.

Also joining the City's Planning Department this spring is Code Enforcement Manager Doug Richmand, who arrives as a seasoned leader with seven years of experience heading the City of Delaware's Code Enforcement. A dual-certified professional through the ICC and ISA, Doug brings a unique background as a former City Arborist and private sector expert, specializing in community-focused compliance and inter-departmental collaboration. Doug joins the Westerville team on Monday, April 27th