Mitchell J. Fallis, took the Oath of Office of Finance Director for the City of Sheffield Lake, Ohio on January 2, 2024. Fallis brings a strong combination of private-and public-sector experience, having served in executive financial positions in the banking industry for two decades coupled with public-sector service as a Council-at-large official in Lorain for 12 years and a Lorain Board of Education member for 4 years. The Finance Director position is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by council.
Personal
Fallis, is a lifelong Lorain resident. His parents were also lifetime residents with roots in labor. His mother, Mildred, was an Admitting Supervisor at St. Joseph Hospital. His father, Michael, was a World War II Navy veteran and worked for U.S. Steel as a pipe fitter. Mitchell J. Fallis is married to Vivian Fallis and is proud of his Bride, five adult step children, thirteen step grandchildren and two step great grandchildren. Vivian is also a lifelong resident of Lorain.
Education
A product of Lorain City Schools, Fallis learned the value of hard work and perseverance at an early age. He spent his post-secondary education as a “Battling Bishop” at Ohio Wesleyan University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and economics. Next, Fallis enrolled at Baldwin Wallace College, earning a Master of Business Administration degree in project management.
Fallis is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in the State of Ohio and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Fallis is a graduate of the Ohio Bankers Association Leadership Institute, Leadership Lorain County and Bond Math University. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Ohio Society of CPAs.
Professional Experience
Fallis started his professional career working for local CPA firms, boosting local business growth by providing financial, accounting and tax services. He then joined Lorain National Bank and worked his way up to the positions of controller, chief accounting officer and treasurer.
As Treasurer of North Coast Community Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Lorain National Bank, he championed an award-winning application of $9 million in New Market Tax Credits for economic development loans. This program received national recognition and added about 450 local jobs over a ten-year period. Afterword, Fallis was an adjunct professor of accounting at Lorain County Community College for two years.
Fallis next joined AmTrust Bank, Cleveland, Ohio, supporting management by analyzing deposits and wholesale funding sources. Subsequently, he joined VacationLand Federal Credit Union serving as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Chairman of the Asset Liability Management Committee and as a member of the Business Loan Credit Committee. Fallis retired from VactionLand Federal Credit Union to pursue a position in municipal government finance.
Government Experience
Fallis decided to seek public office as an advocate for three key issues: attracting progressive businesses and jobs; keeping neighborhoods safe and clean; and committing resources to upgrade streets and parks. Fallis was elected to Lorain City council-at-large six times, serving two-year terms starting in 2008, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Fallis served as Chairman of the Finance Committee and the Parks and Recreation Committee, Vice Chairman of the Streets and Utilities Committee, and member of the Police and Fire Committee, Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC), Property of Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and Lorain City Audit Committee. Fallis served as Lorain City Council Chaplain.
Fallis created the City of Lorain’s first, general fund five-year financial forecast highlighting future cash flow needs. Also, Fallis worked with the Lorain utility department to update a ten-year financial forecast, making modifications resulting in reducing consumers monthly water rates by $6 and monthly sewer rates by $6.
Fallis was elected to the Lorain Board of Education, serving from 2012 to 2015. While on the Lorain City School Board, he Co-Chaired the executive search committee for a new superintendent and championed the creation of a marketing position. Also, Fallis served on the business advisory council.
Community Involvement
As a former volunteer Treasurer of the South Lorain Community Development Corporation, Fallis helped build and stabilize neighborhoods by securing home ownership for first-time homebuyers through affordable housing programs.
Fallis has enjoyed sponsoring and managing a youth baseball team for the last several, teaching the baseball players leadership skills that will last a lifetime. Recently, Fallis’ baseball team plays in the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Youth Baseball Association league. Fallis is a member of the Lorain Lions Club, serving as the Marketing Director.
Fallis is an Alter Minister at Church on the North Coast School. He has served as a missionary to the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Jamaica. Recently, Fallis became a Federal Chaplain through the International Federation of Chaplains and Human Rights, MM. Inc.
Commitment
Fallis, with a record of rational, professional judgment and a blue-collar work ethic, is committed to working with Mayor Radeff and all city employees for the betterment of the citizens of Sheffield Lake in a fiscally responsible manner, employing long-term financial planning.
The Finance Department will develop and periodically update five-year financial forecasts to help focus and achieve Sheffield Lake’s longer-term strategic objectives and support economic development initiatives to increase the tax base of the City of Sheffield Lake.
Contact Information
Contact the Finance Director by mail:
Mitchell J. Fallis, CPA
Finance Director
City of Sheffield Lake
609 Harris Road
Sheffield Lake, Ohio 44054
Telephone: 440.949.7141
Email: FinanceDirector@SheffieldLake.net