Otis Rolley

Otis Rolley (born 1974) is an American economic development, urban planning, and public sector leader and philanthropist.[1] Since June 2025, he has been the president and chief executive officer of the Baltimore Development Corporation.[2] He previously served as president and CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation and was director of the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities for North America.[3][4] He was a Democratic candidate for mayor of Baltimore in 2011.

Early years and education

Otis Rolley was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. He earned a B.A. in political science and Africana studies from Rutgers College and a master’s degree in city planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1][5]

As a student leader at Rutgers, Rolley was arrested in 1995 for protesting in demand of university president Francis Lawrence’s resignation following racist comments.[6][7]

Career

Rolley moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. He was appointed to the role of first deputy commissioner of Baltimore Housing at the age of 25. In 2003, Martin O’Malley appointed him as the director of the Baltimore City Department of Planning, and he became the youngest person to hold the position at the age of 29.[8]

In 2006, Rolley served as co-director of the transition committee of Mayor Sheila Dixon and was later appointed as chief of staff. In 2007, Rolley left Dixon’s staff to serve as the founding president and chief executive officer of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance.[9] In 2010, Rolley was appointed senior manager at Urban Policy Development, a public sector management firm.[10]

In 2014, the mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, appointed Rolley as chief executive officer of Brick City Development Corporation (later renamed Newark Community Economic Development Corporation), and later named him substantive president and CEO.[11]

Rolley served the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative as its North American managing director, providing technical assistance to member cities across the United States and Canada to mitigate environmental and socioeconomic challenges.[4] He also served the Foundation as a senior vice president, coordinating its U.S. Equity and Economic Opportunity Initiatives.[12]

In 2022, Wells Fargo appointed Rolley as Head of Social Impact to lead the Wells Fargo Foundation and coordinate community engagement and enterprise philanthropy. He was the first African American to lead the Wells Fargo Foundation.[4][12]

Rolley was appointed president and chief executive officer of Baltimore Development Corporation in June 2025. He is the first African American man to hold the position.[13]

Civic engagement

Rolley is chair of the Baltimore Hotel Corporation[14] and serves on boards of organizations such as Visit Baltimore,[15] Downtown Partnership of Baltimore,[16] and the Stonewall Community Foundation.[17] He is also an advisory board member for Black Girls Vote,[18] and a member of the Board of Governors for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.[19] His philanthropic work has also included positions with the Asset Funders Network and the executive committee of The Families and Workers Fund.[20][21]

In 2011, Rolley ran for mayor of Baltimore and finished third in the Democratic primary.[22]

Family

Rolley has three children and lives in Baltimore with his partner.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "The role of faith based institutions in promoting and sustaining local economies : a case study of Allen AME Church Jamaica, Queens". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  2. ↑ Simmons, Melody (9 July 2025). "New BDC president talks Super Block, downtown struggles". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  3. ↑ Shen, Fern; Reutter, Mark (13 June 2025). "Former city planner Otis Rolley to be named head of the Baltimore Development Corp". Baltimore Brew. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Erlichson, Kim. "Wells Fargo Names Otis Rolley as Head of Social Impact". Wells Fargo. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  5. ↑ Gunts, Ed (13 June 2025). "Otis Rolley, a Baltimore City government veteran who once ran for mayor, named to lead Baltimore Development Corporation". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  6. ↑ Pristin, Terry (28 July 1995). "New Jersey Daily Briefing; Rutgers Protesters Plead Guilty". New York Times Comany. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  7. ↑ Russakoff, Dale (27 February 1995). "At Rutgers, a Generational Divide; Reactions to Racial Remark Echo Historical Split in Black Leadership". The Washington Post. WP Company LLC d/b/a The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  8. ↑ Ericson Jr., Edward (16 March 2011). "If Otis Rolley's bright ideas are enough to get him elected mayor, are they enough to fix the city?". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "Dixon's chief of staff resigns". The Baltimore Sun. 17 October 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Otis Rolley Joins Urban Policy Development". BMORENEWS. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Jersey City native to run Newark's development corporation". The Jersey Journal. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "Mayor Scott Announces Appointment of Otis Rolley as president and CEO of the Baltimore Development Corporation". City of Baltimore. City of Baltimore. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Baltimore Development Corporation new CEO appointed". The Daily Record. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  14. ↑ Kelly, Jacques (15 February 2026). "Black Marylanders to Watch 2026: Otis Rolley, Baltimore Development Corporation president and CEO". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "ABOUT US". Visit Baltimore. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "Who We Are: Board". Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Board of Directors". Stonewall Community Foundation. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Advisory Board". Black Girls Vote. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  19. ↑ "Board of Governors". Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  20. ↑ "Asset Funders Network Form 990 2022". Pro Publica Inc. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  21. ↑ "The Families and Workers Fund Annual Report 2021" (PDF). The Families & Workers Fund. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  22. ↑ "Baltimore City, Maryland Election Returns Primary Election September 13, 2011". Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
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