Ronald Yochum

About Ronald Yochum

With a career spanning decades and a proven history of success, I am passionate about fostering community building, historic preservation, restoration, and driving smart growth. My professional journey has taken me to 19 international cities and nearly 300 domestic communities, including almost every major U.S. city. These experiences have equipped me with a deep understanding of diverse communities and the ability to implement innovative, sustainable solutions that create meaningful impact.I am a highly adaptable and resourceful professional who thrives on tackling challenges with expertise, perseverance, and a commitment to collaboration. Academically, I bring a broad, multidisciplinary foundation, having pursued studies across various fields at multiple universities and institutions. This diverse background fuels my enthusiasm for hands-on engagement and my ability to navigate complex projects with a focus on strategic, forward-thinking growth.In every endeavor, I strive to bring energy, vision, and a results-driven mindset, ensuring that communities and organizations I work with can achieve their highest potential.

Experience

1. Chief Information Officer

   Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Phlf

   Dec 2000 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA, US

   Dynamic leadership role overseeing diverse IT operations, budgeting, software acquisition, policy development, and compliance enforcement. Notable achievements include: Led the design and implementation of a multi-OS network infrastructure and content management system (CMS). Directed the creation of a security surveillance system across historic neighborhoods in Wilkinsburg, PA. Secured over $2M in grant funding from major organizations such as Environmental Systems Research Institute, AutoDesk, Microsoft, and Google. Adapted to diverse roles including leasing manager, purchasing agent, photographer, marketer, and Assistant for Public Policy. Delivered presentations at board meetings, fraternal organizations, community groups, and to audiences of individuals. Managed cross-functional teams, including maintenance staff, security personnel, clerical teams, contractors, attorneys, consultants, lobbyists, architects, and project managers. Advocated for regulatory changes to preserve aging school buildings, driving modernization efforts across 40+ school districts statewide. Led neighborhood preservation and downtown renewal initiatives, resulting in the development of LEED-certified properties and new retail spaces. Secured over $500k in grant funding from the Getty Foundation to support preservation plans for historic Pennsylvania colleges. Oversaw the comprehensive survey of working farms for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Managed the development of a robust database for photographs, planned giving, and fundraising

Education

• Apple

  Apple System Administrator

• University of Pittsburgh

  Research Associate, University Center for International Studies – Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies

• Community College of Allegheny County

  Advanced Russian Language Studies

• Penn State University

  General Studies, Undergraduate

• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

  Aviation Technology, Airframe, & Powerplant studies under professor John Dennis McCauley

• University of Pittsburgh

  Graduate Level Studies, Contemporary Russian History

• University of Pittsburgh School Of Information Sciences

  Geographic Information Systems, IE 1015/2105 (audited), Geographic Information Science and Cartography

• Computer Learning Center

  MCSE, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

• University of Pittsburgh

  Undergraduate Studies, US History, Russian Language, Political Science

• Pittsburgh Soaring Club

  Private Glider, Non-Powered, Student Pilot

Skills

• Consensus Building
• Photography
• Adaptive Reuse
• Public Policy
• Program Development
• Mixed-Use
• Budgets
• Community Development
• Apple Macintosh
• Education
• Proposal Writing
• Continuity of Operations Planning
• Strategic Planning
• Research
• Marketing
• System Deployment
• Budgeting
• System Administration
• Non-Profit Marketing
• Newsletters
• Systems Engineering
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Crisis Management
• Customer Relations
• Policy
• Network Design
• Non-Profit Development
• Program Management
• Security Management
• Event Management
• Operating Systems
• Non-Profit Administration
• Urban Redevelopment
• Redevelopment
• Government Relations
• Public Speaking
• Economic Development
• Downtown Revitalization
• Grants