Bedrock names Deb Janik as senior vice president of business development in Cleveland

Bedrock, the Detroit-based real estate company, has named its point person for the revitalization of Tower City and other key initiatives.

The company on Wednesday morning, Dec. 8, announced it has named Deb Janik as senior vice president of business development in Cleveland, effective Jan. 7. Janik “will help accelerate and advance all development projects and programs while strengthening key relationships within the public-private and civic sectors,” Bedrock said in a news release.

She will report to CEO Kofi Bonner and “will play a key role in Bedrock’s revitalization of Tower City as a destination marketplace and the public-private partnership with the city of Cleveland to reimagine a riverfront neighborhood as part of the city’s Vision for The Valley” along the Cuyahoga River, the release stated.

“With decades of specialized business development experience and her dedication to the City of Cleveland, Deb will undoubtedly be an asset to the team right out of the gate,” Bonner said in a statement. He said her commitment to Cleveland “is evident in her longstanding business and civic relationships” and that her experience “will be key to moving our development plans forward.”

Janik most recently has worked as senior vice president, major projects and real estate development at Greater Cleveland Partnership. She also had been a board officer for Cleveland Development Advisors, GCP’s real estate development affiliate, and senior vice president, business growth and development services.

Baiju R. Shah, CEO of GCP, said in the Bedrock release that Janik’s “experience and knowledge in leading major development opportunities and partnerships to affect positive change in the community will be an asset for the Bedrock Cleveland team.”

Janik’s roots in Cleveland development are deep.

Before joining GCP, she was chief of staff and chief development officer for former Cleveland Mayor Jane L. Campbell and held positions with the administrations of mayors George Voinovich and Mike White. She also has held leadership positions at the Cuyahoga County Port Authority, Neighborhood Progress Inc. (now known as Cleveland Neighborhood Progress) and KeyBank.

In a statement, Janik, who lives in Rocky River, said, “Joining the Bedrock team will certainly be an exciting and new challenge and one that I can draw upon my years of experience in economic development. There is a considerable and strong foundation in place, and I can’t wait to learn, grow and contribute to the next stage of development here in Cleveland.”