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SOLON, Ohio — Samikia Burton said she’s a people person, so she believes she’s a good fit as the city’s new human resources director.
“I love working in public service, helping residents and the community,” she said in an interview after the City Council confirmed her appointment on Monday (March 4).
Burton, who was appointed by Mayor Ed Krause, will begin his duties on Wednesday (March 6).
Sarah Kostura, the city’s deputy legal director, said she makes $98,000 a year.
Burton replaces Yolanda Guzman, who resigned as the city’s human resources director in November following a physical altercation with another city employee.
Guzman, who had worked in her position for about 2 1/2 years, was suspended for eight weeks without pay after the incident at City Hall in September.
She was convicted of a first-degree misdemeanor in December after pleading no contest to the charge in Bedford Municipal Court.
Burton, 44, served as the city’s human resources director from April 2022 to last September, when he resigned.
Prior to that, she served as the Human Resources Specialist for the Summit County Council on Developmental Disabilities from December 2019 to April 2022.
Prior to that, Burton also served as a human resources generalist for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health for 2 1/2 years, according to Burton’s LinkedIn page.
Krause joined aldermen in welcoming Burton to the city.
“I think you’ll do great,” Klaus told her. “I think you’re going to really enjoy not only the 280-plus full-time and part-time employees, but also the community.
“We just want to wish you the best and look forward to having you come on board and do great things for all of our employees.”
Burton, a longtime resident of Cleveland Heights, said she has friends who live in Solon.
“So every time I come here, I think this is a beautiful city,” she said. “I love the diversity of this city.”
Burton said her first priority in her new position will be “getting to know the staff and really absorbing everything.”
“I want to be a sponge,” she said. “I want to learn as much as I can.”
Burton is a Cleveland native who grew up in East Cleveland and graduated from Shaw High School.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.
Burton has a 19-year-old son, Eric.
“Employee engagement is one of my biggest goals,” she said. “I want to bring the staff together.
“We spend more time working with colleagues and colleagues than we do with our families. I’m a family-oriented person, so I want to do that with my colleagues as well.
“So just getting to know them, their backgrounds and their likes and dislikes, and seeing how I can be a part of the city of Solon.”
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