Portage DD Board Extends Superintendent, John Vennetti (February 2024)

The Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities on Wednesday voted to extend John Vennetti’s employment contract an additional five years effective January 1, 2024. This extension will run through December 2028. The vote was unanimous. 

Vennetti, an employee of Portage DD for 13 years, was named Interim Superintendent on December 18, 2019, and was appointed Superintendent on April 15, 2020.

As noted by the Board,” John’s leadership as Superintendent of Portage DD has positively impacted our staff, communication with surrounding agencies and programs, services being offered in Portage County, and the vision we have for the future of Portage DD. John’s performance, since being named interim Superintendent in December 2019, has led the Board to approach him regarding an extension of his employment contract. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for John's outstanding contributions to Portage DD. The Board is thrilled to have him with Portage DD for the foreseeable future. Thank you, John!”

John joined Portage DD in October 2010 as a Service and Support Administrator. He was promoted to Service and Support Administration Supervisor in 2014 and was later promoted to Director of Service and Support Administration in March 2018.  

Prior to his employment with Portage DD, John worked for the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Valley Counseling Services, and the Trumbull County Jail. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, and a Master of Education in Community Counseling, both from Youngstown State University.