Here we go again.

That's what many people in Akron might be thinking as two of the region's biggest institutions — the University of Akron and the Akron-Canton Airport — begin national searches for new leaders, and a third, the Greater Akron Chamber, soon will welcome a fresh face at the top of its ranks.

After all, it was only a year ago that Crain's chronicled what some called a "once-in-a-lifetime" wave of change at the top of corporations, government and local entities.

Now the Akron-Canton Airport is looking for a successor for retiring president and CEO Rick McQueen, and University of Akron must find a new leader yet again as president Matt Wilson, after just two years on the job, will step down and rejoin UA's School of Law in July. Steve Millard, executive vice president of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, is slated to take over the top spot at the Greater Akron Chamber after long-serving head Dan Colantone stepped down last year.

Add moves at Leadership Akron, the Akron-Summit County Public Library and Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, and it sure seems like that wave of change hasn't stopped.

There's a reason people say change is the only constant in life: It's unrelenting and unyielding, and we can't stop it. So we better get used to it.

It can be hard, though. On a personal level, we find comfort in what we know. On the bigger civic and corporate levels, the stakes of change can be much higher. Shifts in leadership can make it challenging to preserve continuity in strategic vision, corporate culture and performance.

That's certainly not to say that good things can't come from change.

Compared to his predecessor, Akron mayor Dan Horrigan is a youngster in the city's top governing role, yet he has come up with innovative initiatives that might not have happened without the change that brought him into the mayor's office.

Akron voters elected Horrigan in November 2015, the first time in 28 years citizens had tapped someone other than Don Plusquellic to lead the city. That's a tough act to follow, yet Horrigan wasn't content to keep the status quo of his predecessor. He introduced a citywide property tax abatement program to spur residential development and boost the city's population. He also ushered in the city's Bounce Innovation Hub, which will propel the city's innovation-driven economic strategy and hopefully include local companies and area colleges in its mission.

And while Wilson's tenure atop struggling UA will be short-lived, he's made some significant improvements, including introducing a plan to schedule most classes Monday through Thursday, leaving Fridays open so students can participate in hands-on learning and internships, both vital for those entering the workforce.

So change can bring about some great things, but it's important to navigate the shifts wisely. In life, we change jobs, neighborhoods, even partners, yet hold tight to our values and beliefs.

On the bigger corporate and civic scene, Akron has to hold onto its values, too.

What are those values? Since I've started covering Akron, the Rubber City has shown itself as a tight-knit and collaborative place. There's a sense of trust among its leaders, and a knowledge that people will step up to work together for the good of the region. People are proud of how the city's players work together.

And as the cycle of change continues, it's up to the incumbent leaders to show the new ones what Akron is all about, to educate them about those values, to work together. That's the key to continuity.

No, you can't stop change, Akron, but you can still keep your identity.