As the City of Cincinnati's Director of the Department of Community Development, Mr. Cervay is responsible for overseeing market-rate and affordable housing programs and neighborhood business development, as well as the department's human services and small business divisions. He also oversees the workforce development and neighborhood support programs.

Mr. Cervay has experience with the implementation of Capital Grant Programs, HOPE VI Demolitions and Revitalization Grants and managing other grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He successfully prepared the $1.9 million HOPE VI Demolition Grant application for the clearance of a 250-unit development on 29 acres in Indianapolis. Additionally, he wrote the $16.8 million HOPE VI Revitalization Grant awarded for mixed-finance redevelopment of that site for 165 units of rental housing, 52 sites for home ownership, a community center and convenience retail.   

Before serving the City of Indianapolis, Cervay was the Assistant to the City Manager for Economic Development in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and the Director of the Division of Planning and Development in Gary, Indiana. Additionally, he has served as the Assistant Director of Finance for the City of Cleveland, Ohio, and worked for the City of Cincinnati as a Community Assistance Officer from 1974 to 1980.