Committed to Akron
Bruce Bolden brings years of experience and a deep commitment to providing Ward 8 with the leadership it deserves. Bruce Bolden was unanimously appointed by Akron City Council on July 29, 2024, to fill the vacant Ward 8 Council Seat.
Bruce Bolden is a lifelong resident of Akron, earning his education from Akron Public Schools and holding a BA in Communications from The University of Akron.
Bruce and his wife, Desiree, have lived in Ward 8 since 2002, raising their now-adult children; Cate and Ian, in the family home where Desiree grew up. He is an avid fan of Ohio State, Cleveland and University of Akron sports. Bruce enjoys reading, playing guitar and is passionate about fostering a vibrant and inclusive community in Ward 8 and Akron.
Community Leader
Bruce is a storied and respected leader, having held numerous leadership roles in the Akron community, including:
- Leadership Akron Class 15
- City of Akron Board of Zoning Appeals (1999-2024)
- City of Akron, Ward 1 Councilperson (1991–1997)
- Past Board Member: Boys & Girls Club of Summit County, Keep Akron Beautiful, Oriana House Advisory Board, Summit Akron Solid Waste Management Authority( ReWorks), Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) Boards for Copley, Coventry & Springfield Townships
- Member, Past Chair: Board of Trustees at Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ
Professional Expertise
Throughout his career, Bruce has sharpened his abilities to address customer and constituent issues quickly and with care, as well as honed his mediation skills. He also has experience running a local small business as well as Fortune 200 companies.
- Local Account Executive managing shipping logistics and client relations with XPO Freight since 2022
- 7+ years as Account Executive with UPS Freight in a similar role
- Previous experience working at Fortune 500 companies, including Thomson FindLaw and Sprint
- President, Advertising Supply Co, from 1992-1999, managing the day-to-day sales and operations of his family’s Promotional Products business.