About Cory Berry
My Family
My family is one of the most important parts of my life, and that's why it is listed first. I love my family because they’ve shaped who I am.
My father, David M. Berry, taught me to think independently and to question the world around me—whether it’s religion, politics, or even myself.
My mother, Marilyn Berry, showed me that no challenge is too big to overcome.
My brother, Evan Berry, pushes me every day to be a better version of myself.
My fiancée, Deirdre Scully, reminds me how enjoyable life can be.
And most importantly, my grandmother, Mary Ann Berry, always tells me to follow the ABCs: Always Be Careful.
My Work
APEC Engineering designs and builds manufacturing equipment for a range of industries and was founded in Bedford over 15 years ago. APEC’s success is a direct result of the individuals who work there, and I’m fortunate to serve as their President. Much like a city, it’s not the people pulling the levers at the top who make an organization great—but the people who contribute every day.
At APEC, I’ve had the opportunity to fill almost every role—from cleaning the bathrooms to leading the company. Strangely enough, the more responsibilities I’ve taken on, the more humble I’ve become. A common misconception is that the higher you rise in an organization, the more others should cater to you. In reality, it’s the opposite. As a manager and a President, your job is to support the people around you—to ensure they have what they need to succeed. Because a company can’t thrive unless its people are empowered to excel.
My time at APEC has been invaluable. Between the people I’ve met and the hard lessons I’ve learned, I’ve come to believe that anything can be accomplished. I know APEC can overcome any challenge—and I believe the same is true for the City of Bedford.
My Life
From High Street to Powers Road, I’m proud of the path my life has taken.
After graduating from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, I had one thing on my mind: travel. Exploring the world—whether near or far—is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and the incredible people and places that surround us. I’ve been fortunate to travel through Europe, Central America, Asia, and the Middle East. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned? We’re all more alike than we think—most people are simply working to build a better life for themselves and their families.
In addition to traveling, I dedicated much of my time to rock climbing. Many of my trips were planned around climbing destinations in the U.S., Italy, and Thailand. Back in Cleveland, I created the “Beginner to Badass” class at Nosotros Climbing Gym to help teach newcomers the fundamentals of climbing.
These days, I spend my free time remodeling my home and playing hurling—an Irish sport—with the Cleveland USGAA. Over the past four years, our team has proudly won two national championships, in Denver and San Francisco.
Values & Vision
Communication, Downtown Revitalization, and Bedford's Image.
Communication
Our local city government effects our lives on a day to day bases more than the state and federal. But we find ourselves knowing more about what is happening in Washington than what's happening down the street. During my term I plan on providing the constituents of Ward 5 with a quarterly written update on the decisions and actions of the city.
Downtown Revitalization
I'll be honest, I don't immediately know how to do this; but I know revitalizing our downtown is critical for the future of Bedford. Downtown Bedford is a major gem of our city that we must capitalize on. With the downtown area residing in Ward 5 I'd put together a road map over the 4 years of my term to help promote successful businesses downtown.
Bedford's Image
Bedford has quick access to anywhere in NE Ohio, affordable housing, a beautiful downtown district, a vibrant community, and may I say the best park in Cleveland the Bedford Reservation. But when I mention I live in Bedford people ask why. We have so much going for us in this city and its important we start taking the lead, showing other communities in the NE Ohio that Bedford is a city and community people want to be part of.