John R. Stafford,joined IPFW as Director of CRI in 2003 after serving Fort Wayne and Allen County for over twenty years in various capacities, including Director of Strategic Planning, Chief of Staff, Director of Economic Development, and Director of Long-Range Planning and Zoning. More recently, he was the Vice President for Local Government Services for Sagamore Associates in Fort Wayne, the governmental affairs subsidiary of Baker & Daniels. He also worked with the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce, Ameritech, and the Allen County Plan Commission.

Stafford has taught courses for SPEA in the area urban policy and planning for over ten years, and will continue bringing that expertise into the classroom as Director of CRI. Mr. Stafford received his Masters degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois, and his undergraduate from Ball State University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and the Indiana Economic Development Associationn.

Stafford serves on a number of boards, including the Indiana Economic Development Council, Regional Sewer District, Downtown Improvement District, Invent Tomorrow, Fort Wayne/Allen County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Additionally, he was consultant to the Northeast Indiana Corporate Council during the preparation of its white paper on regional economic development entitled "Investing In Our Future", released Spring, 2003.