Leaders come and go and the past year wasn't an exception around Erie, where the heads of numerous organizations left for various reasons. Some of their positions were filled in 2022, while others remain open.

Government, arts, business, entertainment, education and more fields have or are experiencing changes in leadership.

Here is a list of some of the departures that have occurred or will be coming soon as well as what is happening with replacements.

City of Erie

Kathy Wyrosdick left the position of director of planning and neighborhood resources for the city in late May to take a private-sector planning job in Harrisburg.

David Forrest was hired in September to replace her. A Philadelphia-area native, he most recently served as planning and zoning coordinator in Douglas County, Nebraska.

Key position:Philadelphia-area native David Forrest hired as city of Erie's new planning director

Erie Arts & Culture

Patrick Fisher intends for his last day as executive director of the regional art agency to be April 28. Hired in 2018, his timeline for his position hadn't extended more than five years, according to a 2022 statement from the agency.

Erie Arts & Culture's board in May adopted a succession and transition plan that includes a 16-week timeline for transition that was to begin Jan. 2. The board was building a transition committee and a search committee to help find Fisher's successor.

From 2019:Q&A with Patrick Fisher

Erie Downtown Development Corp.

CEO John Persinger was to leave his position with the EDDC early this year, with an exact date not established as of late January. His departure had previously been expected to happen by the end of 2022, but he said in December that he would remain into the new year and he said he was still on the job as the end of January neared.

Persinger said a national search was being conducted to find his replacement.

Heading to Australia:The EDDC helped transform downtown Erie. Now its leader is leaving

Erie Downtown Partnership

CEO John Buchna stepped down from the partnership on Feb. 4, 2022, to take a job with Clarion County Community Bank.

Emily Fetcko began serving as acting CEO on Feb. 7, 2022. She said she was made permanent CEO by the partnership's board in September.

From February 2022:John Buchna leaves Erie Downtown Partnership for Clarion County Community Bank

Erie Events

Executive Director Casey Wells informed the Erie County Convention Center Authority, also known as Erie Events, in September that he intended to retire in January .

Gus Pine, the Bayfront Convention Center’s general manager, was selected by the authority's board in December to succeed Wells, effective Jan. 30. Erie Events operates the convention center as well as the Warner Theatre, UPMC Park and Erie Insurance Arena.

New leader:Erie Events picks Gus Pine to succeed Casey Wells as executive director

Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority

Executive Director Brenda Sandberg's last day with the Port Authority was Sept. 2. She left to become director of community affairs for Highmark and the Allegheny Health Network in western Pennsylvania and southwestern New York.

The authority's 11-member board of directors enlisted the services of a professional search firm to find her replacement. On Jan. 25, the board voted to hire Martin LaMar, an economic development specialist from Atlanta. He was expected to start his new job Feb. 6.

What's next:Erie port director Brenda Sandberg lands new high-profile position

Gannon University

President Keith Taylor revealed in August that he will be retiring from Gannon at the end of June.

Gannon announced in November that Taylor's successor will be Walter Iwanenko Jr., the university's provost and vice president of student experience. He will become Gannon's president on July 1. He had been established in advance as the university's internal candidate to be vetted for consideration. Had he not been chosen, Gannon would have begun to look at outside candidates, officials had said.

New leader named:Gannon concludes its president search by naming Keith Taylor's successor

Hagen History Center

Caleb Pifer returned as executive director of Erie's History Center on June 13. He previously held the post from 2013 to 2016 before working for Mercyhurst University and Duquesne University.

Pifer's appointment followed the Dec. 31, 2021, retirement of George Deutsch. Mark Squeglia, a member of the center's board, served as interim executive director during a national search for Deutsch's replacement.

Return engagement:New executive director has a history with Erie's Hagen History Center

Manufacturer & Business Association

President and CEO John Krahe's tenure came to an end Aug. 1, as part of a mutual agreement approved by the MBA Board of Governors, according to a July news release from the association. However, he was to provide a consulting/support role to the MBA and interim President and CEO Lori Joint through the end of 2022 and beyond, if necessary, while he pursued new career opportunities, the release said.

Joint was later appointed president and CEO, without the interim designation, effective Jan. 1, according to a December news release.

From 2017:Pontillo to retire from Manufacturer & Business Association

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Key leaders' departures result in vacancies, new faces at Erie organizations