Columbus CEO - Winter 2024 issue

Wealth Management Crafting a financial plan to keep milestones in mind PAGE 49

Law Firm Mergers

Practices seek a competitive edge by uniting in M&A deals.

PAGE 45

Hospitals Go Green

How local systems are adopting more sustainable practices PAGE 56

Winter 2024

LC Johnson of Zora’s House

CEO OF THE YEAR

16 honorees, plus our annual economic outlook PAGE 13

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WORK-FROM-ANYWHERE STARTS HERE With more than 120 daily departures to 53 nonstop destinations, let’s redefine what it looks like to work remotely during an Ohio winter. With ezPark and valet parking options, you can get from your car to the gate smoothly — and get back online without missing a deadline. That’s just one more reason why we are the start of it all.

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THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING WITH US. We look forward to the next 150 years of serving Franklin County. columbuslibrary.org | 614-645-2275

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When it might be cancer, the choice is clear.

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The best outcomes for treating cancer come from early detection – and early diagnosis.

The James Cancer Diagnostic Center at Ohio State is designed to provide rapid evaluation and a clear diagnosis. We’re transforming care by giving patients direct access to cancer experts who study and treat cancer every day. If you suspect you have cancer, the choice is clear. Choose The James Cancer Diagnostic Center. Visit, cancer.osu.edu/diagnosticcenter.

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Contents

Photo by Tim Johnson

Departments

6 Editor’s Notes Leadership lessons

64 Breakdown Columbus’ tourism boom

Special Ad Sections

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CEO OF THE YEAR Our 13th annual CEO of the Year project recognizes 16 Central Ohio executives in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Find out who our 2023 honorees are, and learn what local C-suite leaders say about their economic outlook for the year ahead.

37 Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio Recognizing the 2023 winners of BBB’s annual Torch Awards, Spark Awards and Students of Integrity scholarship program

59 Association for Corporate Growth Columbus Recapping the 2023 Annual Networking and Awards Event and highlighting three award winners

WINTER 2024 Cover photo by

TIM JOHNSON Winter 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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Find out when you become a Columbus CEO Insider Stay up-to-date with Columbus CEO’s mobile-friendly enewsletter. Delivered straight to your inbox each week, Columbus CEO Insider has the latest Central Ohio executive news and happenings, as well as local events and more.

Photo by Tim Johnson

WHO’S MOVING AND SHAKING THIS WEEK?

41 Insider

8 Tech Talk Akita Biosciences sees promise in nasal therapy treatments.

10 Best of Business Photos from our 16th annual awards celebration

45 Law Firm Mergers As firms seek to remain competitive, an increasing number are gaining an edge through M&A deals.

49 Wealth Management The right financial adviser can help investors prepare for homeownership, college tuition, retirement and everything in between.

In-Depth

51 Senior Living Directory

13 CEO of the Year Profiles

82 options across Central Ohio that suit various care needs

Sixteen executives are honored in our 13th annual awards.

56 Hospitals Go Green

33 Economic Outlook Survey

Health care is an under-the-radar carbon hog, but two local systems are adopting more sustainable practices.

Sign-up today at ColumbusCEO.com

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41 Change Agents for Children Philanthropists Barbara and Al Siemer have made it their mission to help students succeed in school by providing families with stable housing.

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Photo courtesy OhioHealth

C-suite leaders weigh in on the local economy and what they expect in 2024, with analysis from Regionomics.

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Editor’s Notes * jhohbach@ColumbusCEO.com

Celebrating 16 C-Suite Leaders

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ne of the best local market leader parts about of a global bank, publishing a a two-time health community-focused care entrepreneur, a business magazine is CEO whose nonthe opportunity to tell profit helps formerly compelling stories— incarcerated indiwhether it’s a feature viduals start a new on a large public comlife, and the founder pany, a new biotech of a co-working and Awards startup, a community community space advocate who makes for women of color. an impact through a All of them have nonprofit, or one of inspiring stories on countless other tales how they climbed that illustrate why the ladder to the top, Central Ohio is such a vibrant place to found a spark to start a new organilive, work and grow a company. zation, or view their role as leaders Our annual CEO of the Year issue, and mentors to their employees. now in its 13th year, gives us the Just as compelling is our economunique chance to shine the spotlight ic analysis and forecast for 2024, on local executives who are doing compiled from C-suite executives’ good work and have earned the responses to our annual Survey of admiration of their peers. Some do so Economic Conditions. We’re gratein very public roles, while others lead ful to partner again with economist smaller organizations that quietly Bill LaFayette of Regionomics, who make an impact out of the limelight. works to compile the survey, crunch This year, we have the privilege to numbers and analyze the results in a honor four winners and 12 finalists way that all business professionals working in for-profit and nonprofit can understand and learn from. organizations across the Columbus You’ll find the CEO of the Year region. Our winners include the package starting on Page 13.

2023

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If you haven’t heard of local philanthropists Barbara and Al Siemer, unfortunately you’re not alone. The New Albany couple has spent the last 20 years doing life-changing work under the radar, helping schoolchildren by helping their families find stable housing. Between 2011-2022, they impacted nearly 250,000 children nationwide through their nonprofit, the Siemer Institute, in which the couple invested more than $35 million between 2018 and 2022. Their work and their reasons for taking up the cause are truly inspiring. Learn more on Page 41.

Thanks for reading.

Julanne Hohbach Managing Editor

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Tech Talk

Germ Busters Akita Biosciences aims to curb illness with a nasal spray that targets airborne contaminants.

BY CYNTHIA BENT FINDLAY

A

new Columbus-affiliated biotech startup hopes its nasal spray can help keep people healthy this cold and flu season.

Akita Biosciences originated with research on intranasal therapeutics delivery that pivoted during the pandemic, says Alex Revelos, Akita’s Columbus-based co-founder and CEO. Two Harvard Medical School faculty in Revelos’ network, Jeff Karp and Nitin Joshi, were working on more effective ways to deliver medications for multiple sclerosis when COVID-19 hit. “Like a lot of researchers around the world, Jeff actually got asked to join a group researching solutions, this one at Massachusetts General Hospital.

They were like, ‘What do we do if we run out of masks?’ ” Revelos says.

Karp and Joshi turned their nasal spray delivery idea from one that delivers medication to one that provides protection. “It turns out the science is really compelling at this point that your nose is the point

of infection for most respiratory infections, and that includes cold, flu, RSV and even COVID,” Revelos says.

Karp and Joshi tested multiple formulations of ingredients already on the FDA’s Inactive Ingredient Database and Generally Recognized as Safe list. They found one that, according to their published data, rapidly neutralized a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, including influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, adenovirus, E. coli and K. pneumoniae, which causes bacterial pneumonia; pathogen loads were reduced by more than 99.99 percent, according to the company.

Profi, the resulting product, is meant to be used proactively. The nasal spray forms a thin film that helps block absorption of airborne contaminants and neutralizes them for up to eight hours, Akita says.

The spray contains antimicrobial ingredients, is drug free and nonaddictive.

Profi hit the market in October.

Revelos says Akita is sticking to

online sales initially as a way of testing retail waters, target audiences and brand positioning. The company, whose four founders and a handful of employees work remotely, is eyeing Amazon distribution soon and exploring retail brick and mortar sales, as well.

“One thing that really struck me is that respiratory infections were a top five killer worldwide even before the pandemic,” says Revelos, a biomedical engineer by training. “Speaking with Nitin and Jeff and [co-founder] Christopher Lee, it became clear to me they were on to something, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

The future could hold much more, Revelos says. “We consider ourselves a biotech company focusing on pioneering novel intranasal therapies. We’ve just launched our lead product. We’ve got compelling data outside the prevention realm we’re still working on.”

For many drugs, including biologics and gene therapies, the nose can be a more targeted and effective route of delivery. “Nasal anatomy and physiology are super interesting. It’s a highly vascular area that can be accessed noninvasively. And there is the potential for nose to brain delivery long term, like in afflictions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and traumatic brain injury,” Revelos says.

Cynthia Bent Findlay is a freelance writer.

Akita Biosciences akitabiosciences.com

BUSINESS: Advanced biomaterials for intranasal and transnasal therapeutics FOUNDED: March 2022 EMPLOYEES: 4 co-founders, five to 10 employees FUNDING TO DATE: WND

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Profi

Photo courtesy Robin Technologies Inc.

CEO: Alex Revelos

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CONNECTIONS

Best of Business 2023 Photos by Dan Trittschuh Columbus CEO honored the 84 winners of our 16th annual Best of Business reader poll with a celebration at COSI. About 250 guests attended the event, held Oct. 19, 2023.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, as well as our partner, the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, and COSI. 1 Wes Smith, Corey Lamb, Debbie Wilson, Brian and Toria Schottenstein, Terri and Gary L. Schottenstein 2 Keely Buckley, Maria Jones, Jake Vasilj 3 Arthur James, Greg Overmyer 4 Sara Robertson, Doug Davidson, Kyrie Bumpus 5 Chris Ebert, Kim Pheiffer Ebert, Dave Talbot 6 Jill Calendine, Adam DePerro, Raena Zupan, Abraham Green 7 Michael Nocera, Ted Yank, Anna Buehl, Jeromy Buehl 8 Jessie Strait, Gretchen Rhodes, Maddie Zimmer 9 Amanda McFarlane, R. Michael Townsend, Charlotte Joseph 10 Will Vance, Dawn Brahma, Mike Montgomery, Olivia Bell, Rob Sullivan

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Meet four winners and 12 finalists honored in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and learn what executives think about the local business climate.

eadership at any level can be a challenge, with ever-shifting priorities, revenue expectations, technology changes and staffing issues. But for those who hold the top spot on the organizational chart, the pressures are even more intense.

Columbus CEO is proud to again honor some of Central Ohio’s most accomplished leaders through our 13th annual CEO of the Year awards.

These executives have grown their organizations amid challenging economic times and employment markets, earning admiration from their peers.

Our 2023 awards honor four winners and 12 finalists who work in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, in fields including financial services, insurance, health care, water management, development, education, housing and supporting at-risk youth.

These individuals were chosen

by their peers as part of the annual Survey of Economic Conditions conducted in partnership with Regionomics, owned by Bill LaFayette. The survey seeks to gain insight on why Central Ohio is a good place to do business; what factors could be improved; their current challenges; their outlook for the local, national and global economies; workforce and hiring trends; the impact of Intel; diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; and other business issues.

The survey, adapted from the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey, was open to all C-suite and cabinet-level executives in the Columbus metropolitan area. Responses, collected in October and November, were anonymous and were aggregated and analyzed by LaFayette. (Read his data analysis on Page 33.)

As part of the survey, respondents

were asked to vote for the 2023 CEO of the Year awards, recognizing executives whose leadership and organizational performance make them stand out in the crowd. More than 40 nominees appeared on the ballot in four categories: Large For-Profit (500 or more employees), Small For-Profit (fewer than 500 employees), Large Nonprofit ($5 million or more annual revenue/deposits) and Small Nonprofit (less than $5 million annual revenue/deposits). Nominees included past finalists and top vote-getters, as well as select choices from local executives and our staff. A write-in option also was available. Past winners were not eligible.

Two of this year’s winners have previously been recognized as finalists: Corrine Burger (in 2022 and 2021) and Matt Scantland (2018 and 2017).

Congratulations to all of our 2023 CEO of the Year honorees.

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By KATHY LYNN GRAY + Photo by TIM JOHNSON

Removing Roadblocks Market leader Corrine Burger has become an influential voice within JPMorgan Chase and the community.

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Large For-Profit

2023

Corrine Burger Managing director, Columbus market leader

JPMorgan Chase & Co. IN ROLE SINCE: 2015 AGE: 60 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree

in business administration, Ohio State University

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Board member for One Columbus, Nationwide Children’s Hospital governing board, the Columbus Partnership and Columbus State Community College Board of Trustees.

She also co-chairs the capital campaign for Mount Carmel Health System’s $250 million Dublin hospital project.

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hen Corrine Burger got her first accounting job in the 1980s, she wasn’t troubled by a requirement to wear skirts or dresses to work. “I was a female in a man’s world, so I just didn’t think about it or let it get in my way,” she says.

Today, Burger is the managing director and Columbus market leader for JPMorgan Chase & Co.—one of a growing number of women who have attained top leadership or board roles in financial services. According to a June report from Deloitte, women hold 18 percent of the industry’s C-suite positions globally—a figure that’s projected at nearly 22 percent by 2031.

Burger leads the bank’s risk management efforts, where she oversees 3,500 employees, and as market leader she represents 18,000 employees and more than $750 billion in assets under management for the region.

Burger’s business education began in the honors accounting program at Ohio State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration. The Canton native spent six years at Deloitte in Phoenix as an audit manager and certified public accountant before moving back to Ohio in 1991 to work at Bank One. Bank One, which had $29 billion in assets at the time, merged with JPMorgan Chase, whose assets topped $3 trillion. As the company grew, so did Burger’s responsibilities. “They’ve encouraged me to try different things,” says Burger, 60. “If you’re willing to take measured risks, it’s a great place. Over the years I have taken jobs here that I would have never put on my list as the next job I wanted, but I realized the worst thing that could happen would be to go back to what I was doing before.”

“Learning and curiosity has been the key for me,” Burger says. “The company is so big and vast, you can never stop learning.

My leadership and management ability have grown with the company.”

As she moved through varied positions and departments, Burger learned how the pieces of JPMorgan Chase worked and how they fit together, and met many of the company’s employees. “In each experience, I’ve been able to draw on my experience from the last one and to ask questions about why we do things a certain way,” she

says. “All those things helped prepare me for where I am today.”

Her career has included stints as controller for the retail division, controller for asset management and working as a member of the corporate accounting team for multiple mergers and acquisitions, including Washington Mutual Bank after it was seized by federal regulators during the Great Recession following a run on the bank.

More recently, Burger oversaw the renovation of JPMorgan Chase’s regional headquarters on Polaris Parkway, which is also the world’s largest Chase facility. The office features the second-largest solar power installation at a U.S. corporation.

Burger says her leadership style is to help people to do their jobs better, not to micromanage what they’re doing. “One of my big jobs is to help our teams remove roadblocks, so when I see things stalling, I tend to get personally involved,” she says.

“Sometimes that means changing out the process or the people and getting the right people in the room and helping leaders make the right calls. In the long run, it’s about getting the right resourcing. I’m not afraid to make the hard call.”

Kirt Walker, CEO of Nationwide, has seen that leadership as he’s worked with Burger on the Columbus Partnership and the boards of Columbus State Community College and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “She has always added value through her intellect and insight, as well as her unique ability to apply her broad-based experience to local issues,” says Walker, noting that Burger is well-recognized as a community leader.

Throughout her career, Burger also raised a family of four children to adulthood with her husband, Joe. While she regards them as her proudest achievement, she also feels pride related to her numerous career advances and accomplishments.

“There have been ups and downs, and I had to really prove that I could do the job before I got the job,” she says. “So, I was certainly ready for each job when I went into it. I’ve not been in a job yet where I felt I couldn’t succeed.”

Kathy Lynn Gray is a freelance writer.

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Health Care Pioneer

Entrepreneur Matt Scantland’s new venture, AndHealth, aims to help patients with chronic conditions and improve care for the underserved.

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Small For-Profit

2023

Matt Scantland Founder and CEO

AndHealth IN ROLE SINCE: 2021 AGE: 44 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree

in biological sciences, Ohio State University

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Member of the executive committee of the Columbus Partnership and governing committee of the Columbus Foundation; board director for the Columbus Downtown Development Corp., InnovateOhio, the Wellington School and Twofold Ventures, his family’s investment company that backs growing businesses in health care, media and technology

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att Scantland has keen insight into the U.S. health care system on both a personal and professional level.

Three years after founding pharmacy benefits company CoverMyMeds, his doctor asked him to take an active role in his well-being to resolve serious health issues including prediabetes.

As he worked to grow his company, he could see that millions of people like him were being treated in the system, but many weren’t receiving the outcomes or value they deserved. “Are any of those people happy with that? And that got me thinking about, ‘Why?’ ” he asks.

Then in 2020, some stark statistics emerged. U.S. life expectancy was 77.3 years, the lowest it had been since 2003. It had dropped by 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020, the largest one-year decline since World War II. While COVID-19 played an outsized role in the drop, chronic disease did, too. And that got Scantland thinking yet again.

Over the past 160 years, U.S. life expectancy has doubled, rising from 39.4 years to 78.9 years thanks to medical advancements and a health care system designed to tackle infectious diseases, emergency treatments and acute conditions. “Success in that system caused us to build a system that isn’t as well suited to solving chronic [conditions],” Scantland says. “What we’re doing at AndHealth is trying to be part of creating that same success that we created over the last 200 years for the next 100 years. We’re rebuilding our health care system to help people struggling with chronic diseases.”

AndHealth was founded in 2021 and backed by $57 million in investor financing.

Scantland is working with the team that helped grow CoverMyMeds into Ohio’s first “unicorn”; it was acquired by McKesson in 2017 for $1.4 billion.

AndHealth and its partners—community health centers, health systems, employers and health plans—are building a community-based virtual and on-site health care delivery system to address the nationwide specialty care crisis while giving patients support so they can get their lives back from chronic disease. The company’s business model now focuses on Crohn’s and ulcerative

colitis, migraines, psoriasis, and psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis.

The community health center aspect is especially important to Scantland, who wants to increase access to care for people in underserved communities and those who need culturally competent care. Partner Lower Lights Christian Health Center, for example, serves the Franklinton area, which has the lowest life expectancy (60 years) in Ohio.

AndHealth’s entry into the market comes at a time of dire need. A new analysis by the Washington Post found that chronic diseases erase more than twice as many years of life among people younger than 65 as all overdoses, homicides, suicides and car accidents combined.

According to AndHealth, many uninsured or underinsured patients cite cost or lack of access to specialists as a barrier to care.

“We think health is a human right, and every person should have access to incredible health care that helps them not only access the system but get great outcomes for chronic conditions,” Scantland says. “We’re not going to stop until every American has access to incredible care for these challenging and disruptive conditions.”

Doug Kridler, president and CEO of the Columbus Foundation, recently heard Scantland—who serves on the foundation’s governing committee—speak at a Columbus Partnership retreat. It reminded him of a speech Melvin Schottenstein delivered more than 30 years ago. Schottenstein, an attorney and co-founder of M/I Homes Inc., passionately told the audience to work together to make Columbus a place where their children want to help build the next great community.

“Matt’s is not the mindset of, ‘What do we have to do to compete against other markets?’

He understands the value of looking here first, building here first, giving here first,” Kridler says. “It’s incredibly strategic, visionary and respectful of the talent that’s around us and investing at home first. … Matt grew up here, stayed here and had all the options in the world after the success of CoverMyMeds.

And yet, here he is doing it again, while also serving and being generous along the way.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

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Changing Lives

Denise Robinson has grown Alvis Inc. into a sizable change agent, overseeing its work to support people as they build a life after prison.

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Large Nonprofit

2023

Denise Robinson President and CEO

Alvis Inc. IN ROLE SINCE: 2005 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree

in anthropology, Ohio State University

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

President, American Correctional Association; former leader of Ohio Community Corrections Association, International Corrections and Justice Association; founding member, Correctional Accreditation Association of Ohio; board member, LifeCare Alliance

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n her nearly four decades of dedicated service to Alvis Inc., Denise Robinson has never wavered: Everyone deserves a second chance. “And sometimes more than a second chance,” she says.

The president and CEO has been instrumental in transforming Alvis from a small nonprofit organization into a dynamic force in Ohio and beyond addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by individuals leaving the criminal justice system.

Under her guidance, Alvis evolved from a $7 million organization to a thriving $42 million entity with 500 employees, expanding its reach to 40 locations across Ohio serving 700 clients at a time. Alvis provides housing, support services, workforce development and clinical outpatient services to people building new lives outside of prison.

Since joining the organization in 1984, Robinson rose through the ranks, from manager of Alvis’ program for adults with developmental disabilities all the way to the top job, where she has served since 2005.

Through Alvis, Robinson witnessed the transformative power of rehabilitation services. She came to the field with a certain amount of trepidation. When she was in high school, her father, who was a police officer, shot and killed a teenage boy. He was quickly exonerated. The boy’s family began threatening Denise’s life in menacing letters sent to her parents, unbeknownst to her. When she learned about the ongoing danger as a first-year student at Ohio State University, a shell grew around her heart. She shared the story in remarks this year during her installation as the 108th president of the American Correctional Association, a global organization with over 20,000 members worldwide.

“My hardened heart did not want anything to do with people who broke the law,” she said in the remarks. “At that time, I would not have pursued a career in corrections for any amount of prestige or money.”

But when she was promoted to the corrections side of Alvis, “the last parts of the shell around my heart fell away as I saw the offenders we served needed treatment and rehabilitation services to change their lives,” she said. “At Alvis, I found my calling and

a way to make a positive difference in the world. I have never looked back.”

Robinson played a pivotal role in the organization’s 2017 merger with Amethyst, a Columbus-based agency dedicated to supporting mothers recovering from addiction. The merger enabled the expansion of behavioral health models, offering Alvis a comprehensive approach to address the needs of mothers and their children.

When the Amethyst population faced challenges with the loss of rented apartment buildings that served its clients, Robinson collaborated with developer Brad DeHays of Connect Realty on the construction of permanent housing for Amethyst families in Linden.

Robinson’s leadership is characterized by a commitment to evidence-based programs.

Her stance has led to organizational growth and has positioned Alvis as a global influencer, with invitations to share success stories worldwide.

Her advice to new CEOs is to read extensively, listen intently and develop collaborative partnerships. “Relationships, relationships, relationships,” she says.

Robinson has been skilled at building alliances that propel Alvis forward, says Keith Stevens, founder of UpRys and multiple other companies. As Alvis board president, he’s had a front-row view to her leadership style.

Robinson runs Alvis like a for-profit business, with a keen ability to see what’s around corners, he says. The board and staff have the utmost respect for her. “Any organization, especially one working in that space, faces some challenges, but Denise never wavers.

She always leans into them. She’s rock solid.

And the Alvis mission is deep within her,” Stevens says.

Robinson envisions a future where communities prioritize an individual’s potential over their past. She dreams of dispelling labels associated with justice-involved individuals and fostering a society that embraces everyone’s capacity for change.

“I dream of a day when people say it’s not an ex-offender, a former offender or a restored citizen. A day when we just call them people.”

Katy Smith is a freelance writer.

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Creating a Community Through Zora’s House, LC Johnson built a space for women of color to collaborate, learn and grow.

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Small Nonprofit

2023

LC Johnson Founder and CEO

Zora's House IN ROLE SINCE: 2018 AGE: 35 EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in women’s studies, Duke University COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Volunteer for Mental Health America of Ohio’s POEM program (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms)

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hen LC Johnson and her husband, Sheldon, moved to Columbus from North Carolina about eight years ago, they were newly married and thinking about starting a family. Johnson, who worked in the nonprofit sector, also was trying to figure out what was next for her career. She didn’t know anyone here, making it a bit of a lonely endeavor.

One night during that time of transition, Johnson had a dream about finding her power in a community. “I dreamed about being in this really cool space. Lauryn Hill was playing on the conference room speakers, and there were all these really fly women laughing and working,” Johnson says. “And when I woke up, I was like, ‘That space has to exist.’ ” Because of her inspiration and the efforts of co-creators, now it does. Today, Zora’s House welcomes about 2,500 women of color and allies a year to its workshops, Women of Color-Owned Markets, writing circles and other programs. Its 250 members find the 2,000-square-foot community and co-working space on Summit Street in Weinland Park a place to build support and manifest their identities as leaders, entrepreneurs, writers, artists, activists and dreamers.

“It has transformed from being my vision to being a collective vision by so many people in this community,” Johnson says.

It strikes Johnson as unacceptable that so many programs to support women of color are focused on basic survival needs— affordable housing, food security, maternal health. “And that’s not enough,” she says.

“Zora’s House is focused on women of color being able to lead and create—to thrive, to have joy, to be able to activate your leadership and your talents and your vision.”

As the Columbus region makes its bid to attract and retain talent, women of color must be at the table, “leading and dreaming and contributing in meaningful ways,” she says.

The community is supporting that vision, to the tune of $5 million raised since 2022 toward a $6 million campaign to build a new Zora’s House at North Fourth Street and Eighth Avenue. The 10,000-squarefoot, three-story building will stand on a site once called one of the most dangerous

corners in America because of drugs and violence, Johnson says.

“This new building is really going to be a hub of innovation and thought leadership and entrepreneurship,” Johnson says.

Fundraising is going well, yet she and her board members were advised by consultants not to proceed. They were not dissuaded.

“Women in general, and Black women even more particularly, are told over and over that they should only do things publicly if they know they’re going to be perfect at it.

And we deserve the same opportunities to fail as white men do,” Johnson says, referring to the common scenario where startup founders are funded for new ventures following the failure of previous ones. “Even if I fail, I still am deserving. I still am a leader,” she says.

Among the many community champions of Zora’s House is JPMorgan Chase & Co., which funded a $1.5 million Equity Design Institute for Women of Color at the center.

The initiative has trained 75 equity design practitioners in the past year.

Johnson credits the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio for making it possible for her to quit her job working for a nonprofit and begin working on Zora’s House full time in January 2021. The unrestricted $50,000 grant was transformative. Since then, Johnson has added eight employees. The Zora’s House board has evolved as Johnson stepped into the role of CEO rather than being solely a founder.

Board chair Jennifer Walton, chief brand officer of Sky Nile Consulting, calls Johnson’s selection as CEO of the Year by her peers a radical act. “When we talk about authenticity, oftentimes many people are like, ‘Oh, it’s being able to talk about what you did over the weekend with your co-workers,’ ” Walton says. “We believe that authenticity is telling the truth, even when it is uncomfortable, and that can be lonely.

“LC stands in the rooms that many people haven’t given us access to before, and she tells the truth. And every single time I observe it, I see her vision grow beyond her. And when you honor her and this organization, that is truly radical work.”

Katy Smith is a freelance writer.

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Stand together against racism, hate, violence, and antisemitism.

Stand up for celebrating our differences and creating a safe community for everyone.

It’s up to US.

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BY LAURA NEWPOFF AND KATY SMITH

LARGE FOR-PROFIT FINALISTS Photo courtesy Robb McCormick Photography

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Scott Barbour President and CEO

Photo courtesy KeyBank

Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.

cott Barbour is a believer in data-driven decision making.

He’s been in the top executive post at 5,000-employee Advanced Drainage Systems Inc. since joining the company in 2017.

“I have a strong commitment to building a high-performing culture and the company’s role in helping to protect the environment, primarily through water management and the use of recycled plastic material in ADS products,” he says. “Taking a long-term view and developing clear strategies will be how we’re successful in reaching company goals and outpacing the competition.”

Barbour, 61, has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University and

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Lara DeLeone Market president of Central Ohio and managing director, senior vice president public sector

ara DeLeone likes to lead by example. “I lead from the front by taking action, facilitating open communication, delegating and finding strengths of other team members and keeping everyone organized to make sure we’re all on the same page and contributing equally.”

DeLeone, 55, has been in her market president role at KeyBank since 2021 and the public sector role since 2013.

As market president, she’s responsible for helping to grow KeyBank’s business and community presence in the region. She also partners with Key’s corporate responsibility officer to plan strategic investments to help the community.

an MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

He is a member of the Columbus Partnership, and his board service includes Allison Transmission, Buddy Up Tennis Inc. and Recreation Unlimited.

Advice on leadership: “Be visible and over-communicate key messages. Create your messaging based on the main objectives you are trying to drive, while knowing your audience.

Share them throughout the organization consistently and incessantly. It’s important that everyone understands the strategy and how their role supports that strategy. We are all part of a team, working together to drive growth.”

She holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies from Wittenberg University and a master's in communications from Miami University.

Her community involvement includes the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Partnership, Meals on Wheels and the Capitol Square Foundation. She was elected vice chair of the 2016 U.S. Senior Open Golf Tournament and of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee.

Advice on leadership: “Show up with energy, a positive attitude and a smile.

Do the best job with the job that you have and the future will take care of itself.”

KeyBank 24

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LARGE FOR-PROFIT FINALISTS Photo courtesy Nationwide

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Kirt Walker CEO

Nationwide

irt Walker says his leadership vision is built around people, planning, performance and partnerships. “Based on the Nationwide values, these concepts guide my actions and decisions and help keep focus on creating value for all stakeholders—members, associates, partners and neighbors.

Walker has been CEO of the Fortune 100 insurance and financial services organization since 2019. In his role leading 25,000 employees, his top responsibilities include: driving business strategy, customer experience and financial results; generating, growing and deploying capital; and cultivating “a strong, caring and inclusionary culture that enables performance excellence and the continuation of best-in-class engagement fortified by people-based values.”

Walker, 60, holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Iowa State University and a master’s in management from the American College of Financial Services.

He co-chairs the governing board of the Columbus Partnership. Other current board roles include: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, American Red Cross, Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business, The Institutes and Catalyst Inc. Advice on leadership: “A leader is only as strong as the people they surround themselves with, which is why I think it’s important to have a ‘personal board of directors.’ Mine includes other CEOs, community leaders and individuals who I respect, and who challenge and inspire me.”

Walker also was a finalist in the 2022 CEO of the Year awards.

The Alvis Board of Trustees and Staff congratulate Denise M. Robinson for being voted CEO of the Year by her peers.

Denise’s leadership of Alvis is creating a community that believes a person’s potential is more important than their past.

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12/19/23 5:58 PM

Photo courtesy Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc.

SMALL FOR-PROFIT FINALISTS

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Heather Brilliant CEO

eather Brilliant says she embraces a leadership style that empowers those around her to collaborate and make informed decisions. “I encourage my team to take initiative, demonstrate our core values of curiosity, trust, respect and ownership, and keep pushing for improvement.”

She’s been CEO of the 130-employee investment firm since joining Diamond Hill in 2019 and oversees all aspects of the business, including setting and delivering on strategy, establishing effective leadership and ensuring a sound investment philosophy and positive long-term investment outcomes for clients.

Brilliant, 47, holds a bachelor’s

degree in economics from Northwestern University, an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.

Her board service includes the Investment Company Institute, Future Ready Columbus and the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. She is a former member of the CFA Institute (2013-2020), where she also was a former chair, and served as chair for the Chicago society.

Advice on leadership: “Lead by example, and, as Ruth Bader Ginsburg said, ‘Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.’ ”

Photo courtesy The New Albany Co.

Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc.

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William Ebbing President and CEO

The New Albany Co.

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or William (Bill) Ebbing, building a cohesive and empowered team is a key focus. “I believe this is achieved by supporting the professional growth of each individual and providing ongoing opportunities for others to take the reins and advance the work.”

Ebbing has been at the helm of The New Albany Co. since joining the organization in 1995. He and his team of 15 oversee the development of the New Albany International Business Park, which drew major recent investments from Intel and Amazon Web Services, as well as development activity of New Albany Co. holdings in the town center, the New Albany Country Club community and other areas in and around the city.

Ebbing, 60, holds a bachelor’s degree

in environmental design/architecture from Miami University.

His current board service includes: Ohio Dominican University, Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, New Albany Community Foundation, the Orthopedic Foundation, City of New Albany Economic Development Committee, Union Village LLC, Urban Land Institute and Building Industry Association of Central Ohio.

Advice on leadership: “Relationships matter and it’s just as important to spend time developing relationships as it is to spend time on the technical aspects of your profession. And the relationships that you develop are often just as rewarding as the work you’re doing.”

Ebbing also was a finalist in the 2022 CEO of the Year awards.

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NEWSLETTER

Kathy Keeney

ackstage pass to the Arch b r u Cit Yo

y

Visit ColumbusMonthly.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter that includes special events, important conversations and more.

Our home is Ohio.

Our reason is water.

TM

Founder and CEO

Boss Gal Beauty Bar

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athy Keeney thinks of herself as a “charismatic leader.” “I am an expert in my field with a passion for the industry. I focus on communication with my team and lead by example. I like to inspire, excite and spark enthusiasm among my team members. My employees’ opinions are always heard and valued. I enjoy coaching people to achieve greatness with a side of competitiveness.”

Keeney founded med-spa business Boss Gal Beauty Bar in 2019 with four employees. It has grown to 63 employees and four locations. She manages the overall operations of the business, sets strategy, and assists in implementing existing policies and procedures and creating new ones.

“I do everything from client care to cleaning, interviewing and onboarding,” she says. “I am very hands on.”

Keeney, 38, holds a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) RN from Trent University in Canada. In the community, she prioritizes collaborating and networking with other female business owners.

Advice on leadership: “Practice letting go, delegate whenever possible.

Clarify the priorities and be flexible.

Don’t take things personally and never focus on your competitors. Stay innovative.”

Congratulations to Scott Barbour, president and CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. for being a Columbus CEO of the Year finalist.

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LARGE NONPROFIT FINALISTS Photo courtesy Columbus State Community College

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David T. Harrison President

Photo courtesy Action for Children

Columbus State Community College

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Eric Karolak CEO

Action for Children

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avid Harrison has served as the leader of the largest community college in Ohio since 2010. During his tenure, he has shaped the institution into a critical and trusted partner to Central Ohio business, workforce development and K-12 education.

Under Harrison’s leadership, the 2,700-employee college has launched efforts including the OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences, White House Workforce Hub, National Information Technology Innovation Center funded by the National Science Foundation, the Columbus Promise program to provide tuition-free opportunities for Columbus City Schools graduates to earn associate degrees, and the Mitchell Hall School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.

Harrison holds a Ph.D. in education-

ction for Children has doubled in size and impact since Eric Karolak took the helm in 2013. Initiatives he has overseen include creating what the 93-employee organization calls the largest fatherhood program in the Columbus region and Ohio’s first staffed family child care network supporting home-based providers. Its child care survey has spurred $30 million in funding to child care locally.

On the national stage, Karolak helped write a child care planning guide for semiconductor manufacturers who qualify for CHIPS Act incentives, founded a national child care advocacy organization and has testified

al policy and leadership from Ohio State University, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Dayton. He serves on the boards of OhioHealth, the Columbus Partnership, Future Ready Five, Rise Together Innovation Institute and the Community College Presidents Initiative.

Advice on leadership: “Leadership is a team effort. It’s about people, values and vision, not strategy and planning. There is no more rewarding professional experience than to be part of a team committed to a common cause. With the right team in place, you can accomplish much more than most think is possible, and can turn challenges into opportunities.”

Harrison also was a finalist in the 2018 CEO of the Year awards.

on child care topics before Congress.

He serves on the boards of: Human Service Chamber of Franklin County; Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children; Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association; and Child Care Aware of America Joint Leadership Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Toledo and master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University.

Advice on leadership: “I’m fond of the lyric, ‘Our life is more than our work, and our work is more than our job.’ Whether you’re thinking about yourself, your team, anyone really, it’s good to remember to balance with that maxim in mind.”

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Photo courtesy Shellee Fisher

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Lark Mallory President and CEO

Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County

ark Mallory has distinguished herself as the leader of the Affordable Housing Trust by serving as a key voice in regional housing conversations and building coalitions with stakeholders. She led the creation of programs to advance equity in homeownership. The AHT’s Housing Innovation Grants aim to further homeowners’ ability to make repairs and to subsidize housing-related efforts in the nonprofit sector. The Emerging Developers Accelerator program supports real estate development organizations led by people of color and other underrepresented groups.

Mallory joined the organization, which now has nine employees, as a board member in 2009 and as a staffer

in 2016. An attorney and former CPA, Mallory previously served as a partner at Frost Brown Todd and an associate at Chester Willcox & Saxbe.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a Master of Laws in Taxation from Ohio State University and a law degree from University of Florida College of Law. She serves on the boards of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and RiverSouth Authority.

Advice on leadership: “Be curious. I don’t know everything, so ask questions and listen for the answers.

Focus on the work, drown out the extra noise.”

She also was a finalist in the 2022 CEO of the Year awards.

honoring Lara DeLeone for her influential business leadership.

Congratulations to KeyBank teammate Lara DeLeone for being recognized as a finalist for the 2023 Large-For-Profit CEO's of the Year.

At KeyBank, we believe achievements that have a positive impact on people and the community should always be recognized.

Thank you, Lara, for your dedication, and congratulations on your honor.

Your commitment to others is inspiring.

Lara DeLeone KeyBank Central Ohio Market President

©2023 KeyCorp. 220603-1599834

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SMALL NONPROFIT FINALISTS Photo courtesy Besa

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Matthew Goldstein Founder and CEO

atthew Goldstein has supported more than 150 charitable agencies by connecting them with volunteers through his nonprofit, Besa. The 11-year-old organization has rallied more than 70,000 corporate and individual volunteers on more than 11,300 service projects, resulting in an $80 million community impact. Besa’s mission is to strengthen volunteerism and the world at large by making giving back simple and more impactful for individuals and businesses.

Besa, which has grown to 19 employees, collaborates on volunteer programs with companies including Bath & Body Works, CoverMyMeds, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Crane Group. Goldstein

volunteers himself as a community gardener in Bronzeville, serves dinners at shelters and delivers gifts to seniors as part of Besa’s annual drive.

Goldstein, who holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and business administration from Ohio State University, describes his leadership style as “inclusive and thoughtful. I like to bring a variety of people and voices to our table, listen intently and lead with heart,” he says.

Advice on leadership: “Listen to understand rather than talking to be understood. And meditate as regularly as possible, even if it’s only five minutes a day. For me, it clears my head and heart in powerful ways.”

Goldstein also was a finalist in the 2022 CEO of the Year awards.

Photo courtesy Michelle Daniel

Besa

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Sonya Thesing Executive Director

Huckleberry House

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ince 2019, Sonya Thesing has led all aspects of day-to-day operations at Huckleberry House, which supports at-risk youth with a teen crisis shelter, transitional housing across 113 apartments at three locations, a youth outreach team and a counseling program.

Thesing, who holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Dickinson College and an MBA from the George Washington University, joined the 75-employee organization as development director in 2017.

She describes her leadership style as inclusive and authentic. “My co-workers deserve to know that I will always show up for them as my true self so

they can show up as their true selves,” she says. “We generate the best ideas and solutions when we include several authentic voices in the conversation.”

In addition to her role leading the nonprofit, Thesing serves on the board of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County.

Advice on leadership: “I often share President Truman’s quote, ‘It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.’ I would add that it is amazing what you can accomplish when improving human life is the goal. That said, strong leaders give credit where credit is due, and always shine a light on the amazing work of their teams.”

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Toshia Safford

“Everyone deserves access to care like this.”

KEITH, PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENT

President and CEO

The Center for Healthy Families

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oshia Safford has led the strategic growth of the Center for Healthy Families since it was founded in 2007. The 16-employee agency, which includes the Black Girls’ and Young Women’s Collective, delivers services to support youth with education; giving birth to healthy babies; establishing healthy relationships; finding stable housing; and workforce readiness.

“I understand the struggles of young people in crisis—poverty, homelessness, abuse, feeling lost, being trafficked, facing scarcity of all kinds and struggling to stay in school—can weigh heavy. Each day, I urge my team to find joy to share with one another and to take time to reflect and even step away to recharge when it gets too hard,” she says.

Safford, who holds a bachelor’s in communications from Capital University, serves on the boards of the United Way of Central Ohio and CAPA. Advice on leadership: “Maintain [commitment] to the work that you are purposed to do, as well as maintain dignity and the necessary stamina, in order to ensure that those whom you are entrusted to serve are met with joy and dignity. Wholeheartedly understand the connection, and know that one begets the other.”

AndHealth and our partners are radically improving access + outcomes by bringing whole-person specialty care to communities. We work with Community Health Centers, Health Systems, brokers, employers and plans to create healthy communities and reverse chronic disease.

BRING WHOLE-PERSON SPECIALTY CARE TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

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Bill Ebbing, President and CEO The New Albany Company

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Bill.

From your friends and colleagues at The New Albany Company

newalbanycompany.com .

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Inflation Remains a Top Concern for Business Leaders Respondents to our annual economic conditions survey fear inflation could worsen, but more than half expect revenue gains in 2024.

By MARK WILLIAMS

Bill LaFayette

File photo courtesy George Anderson

M

any Central Ohio business leaders aren’t convinced that inflation is going away anytime soon, even as a growing amount of evidence shows otherwise.

In fact, they think it could get worse in 2024.

The 13th annual Columbus CEO survey of economic conditions in Central Ohio shows that 59 percent of business leaders expect inflation to get worse in 2024. Another 4 percent expect a large increase in inflation.

Only about one-quarter of the C-suite executives in companies, nonprofits and government agencies who responded to the survey expect inflation to slow next year, and 13 percent predict no change in inflation, according to the survey.

The notion that inflation isn’t going away anytime soon is something these business leaders have in common with consumers, who complain that they continue to feel the pinch of higher prices even as some costs have eased in recent months. “The findings from the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey found exactly the same thing,” says economist Bill LaFayette, owner of economic consulting firm Regionomics, who completed the analysis of the survey for CEO. “People are thinking inflation will increase.”

Coming out of the pandemic, inflation soared to levels not seen since the 1980s. It peaked at a 9.1 percent annual rate in June 2022 and has been trending lower since, with the annual inflation rate at 3.2 percent in October, according to federal inflation data.

That puts inflation closer to the 2 percent target of the Federal Reserve, which has aggressively raised interest rates over the past year to fight rising prices.

For many business leaders and consumers, this may be their first time having to deal with inflation, and they are uncertain how to handle it, LaFayette says.

The cumulative effect of inflation also may be taking a toll on consumers who see inflation eroding their living standards, according to the Michigan consumer sentiment report from October.

“Over 80 percent of consumers specified that inflation would cause greater hardship for consumers in the year ahead than unemployment, the highest share in 11 months. … While consumers recognize that inflation has slowed down from its peak last summer, they cannot ignore that their budgets remain stretched and their purchasing power reduced,” the report said.

One potential implication is that consumers and business leaders may ramp up spending in advance of that, and that will help the economy in the short term, LaFayette says. “If your expectation is that inflation is going to get worse, you’re going to frontload your consumption,” he says. “You’re going to buy stuff now, whether you’re a consumer or a business buying equipment.”

Consumers and business leaders likely need more time to become convinced that inflation is slowing for good, he says. “You need to see it playing out in your own life for a relatively long period of time to stop worrying about it.”

LABOR AVAILABILITY IS A TOP CONCERN Finding workers continues to be a big issue for executives, although labor markets show signs of softening as a result of the steep rise in interest rates. Among survey respondents, 29 percent say finding workers ranks as their top business concern, down from 38 percent from the prior-year survey.

Job gains have slowed over the past year in the region, with Central Ohio adding just 6,700 jobs in the past year, according to state employment data, which also show the region’s unemployment rate at a super-low 3.3 percent in October.

Job openings also have decreased, falling by 16,054 help-wanted ads placed over the past year to 38,120 ads. That’s more in line with the number of ads before the pandemic started, following a surge over the past two years.

Meanwhile, business executives who responded to the survey have more favorable impressions of the quality of the Central Ohio workforce.

A third of respondents rate local workforce quality as high, 54 percent rate it as adequate (up from 37 percent in 2022) and only 8 percent rate it low (down from 25 percent).

CONFIDENCE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY Even with worries about inflation, 60 percent of the business leaders responding to the survey expect revenue to increase in 2024, compared with 46 percent in the prior year’s survey.

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About one-third expect an increase in profits this year, about the same as last year, and 20 percent are expecting profits to decrease, slightly less than last year.

Overall, respondents are more optimistic about the local, U.S. and global economies next year than this year, and 91 percent expect either a stable or growing economy in Central Ohio compared with 79 percent in the 2022 survey.

REGIONAL PRIORITIES FOR 2024 As was the case in the year-ago survey, 40 percent of business leaders identified the need for more affordable housing as a top priority.

Other priorities include improving public transportation, strengthening public education and increasing incentives for business.

The collaborative culture, cost of living, educated workforce and the presence of suppliers and customers continue to be important business advantages for the region, according to the survey. Business leaders also rank affordable living costs as the top quality of life advantage, along with the region’s family-friendly environment, welcoming community and employment opportunities.

Start your

COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY at columbusceo.com.

INTEL: THE GOOD AND BAD Nearly two years after Intel’s announcement that it was investing $20 billion in Licking County, the business leaders responding to the survey continue to welcome the project and the job opportunities it presents, but acknowledge that the project will bring strains.

The perceived disadvantages largely focus on the growth pains that come with the project, including higher demands on infrastructure and services, increased traffic congestion, housing shortages, increased housing costs and workforce shortages.

Mark Williams is a business reporter with The Columbus Dispatch.

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ECONOMIC SURVEY RESULTS

By BILL LAFAYETTE

The following is an overview of some of the key metrics that Central Ohio executives rated in our 2023 Survey of Economic Conditions. The survey, which was open to all local C-suite and cabinet-level executives, is adapted from the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey. Responses reflect expectations for the next 12 months. All data comes from the Regionomics analysis. Numbers have been rounded.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

INFLATION EXPECTATIONS

World

1%

No opinion

Improve

5%

Small decrease

Large increase

15%

24%

4%

Stay the same

34%

Decline

Large decrease

No change

Small increase

46%

13%

57%

U.S. Stay the same

Improve

22%

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION BUDGETS

No opinion

44%

4%

Decline

DID NOT CHANGE THE DEI BUDGET

28%

30%

INCREASED THE DEI BUDGET 1% TO 5%

9%

Columbus MSA No opinion

Decline

7%

2%

Stay the same

43%

INCREASED THE DEI BUDGET 6% TO 10%

8%

INCREASED THE DEI BUDGET MORE THAN 10%

5%

ESTABLISHED A DEI BUDGET

12%

MY COMPANY HAS NO DEDICATED DEI BUDGET

37%

Improve

48%

CUT THE DEI BUDGET

1%

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Staffing Expectations

Expected Change in Salaries

INCREASE MORE THAN 10%

INCREASE MORE THAN 10%

INCREASE 5–10%

INCREASE 5–10%

INCREASE LESS THAN 5%

INCREASE LESS THAN 5%

11%

STAFFING AND SALARIES

0%

15%

Half of organizational leaders expect to increase their staffing level during 2024, a third expect no changes and 14% expect staffing to decline, almost identical to last year’s results. Expected salary increases are also not significantly different. Three-quarters plan to increase salaries and wages, 19% are expecting to hold pay steady, and virtually no respondents are planning a decrease.

24%

STAY THE SAME

33%

STAY THE SAME

30%

13%

DECREASE LESS THAN 5%

DECREASE LESS THAN 5%

DECREASE 5–10%

DECREASE 5–10%

DECREASE MORE THAN 10%

DECREASE MORE THAN 10%

NO OPINION

NO OPINION

8%

49%

0%

3%

0%

3%

1%

4%

6%

REVENUES, COSTS AND PROFITS Business revenue forecasts are better than those predicted for 2023. Sixty-one percent of business leaders expect revenues to increase in the coming year, compared with 46% in last year’s survey. Given the expectation of far lower inflation, this shift is even more significant. Expectations of cost increases have changed less than revenue forecasts.

The 43% of respondents expecting at least a 5% increase in costs is identical to last year’s results, and those expecting stability in costs is not significantly different. Around one-third expect an increase in profits, almost identical to last year’s result. Those expecting a decrease amounted to 20%, less than last year but not significantly so.

INCREASE MORE THAN 10%

INCREASE MORE THAN 10%

INCREASE MORE THAN 10%

INCREASE 5–10%

INCREASE 5–10%

INCREASE 5–10%

INCREASE LESS THAN 5%

16%

STAY THE SAME

13%

DECREASE LESS THAN 5%

10%

DECREASE 5–10%

6%

INCREASE LESS THAN 5% STAY THE SAME

15%

DECREASE LESS THAN 5%

3%

DECREASE 5–10%

3%

32%

7%

INCREASE LESS THAN 5%

13%

STAY THE SAME

29%

DECREASE LESS THAN 5%

13%

DECREASE 5–10%

4%

DECREASE MORE THAN 10%

DECREASE MORE THAN 10%

DECREASE MORE THAN 10%

NO OPINION

NO OPINION

NO OPINION

8%

3%

36

23%

Profit Expectations

24%

15%

20%

Cost Expectations

Revenue Expectations

21%

3% 3%

3%

16%

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Abundant You Chiropractic & Wellness is not just a healthcare provider. They’re a vital force, nurturing the well-being of their patients and community and creating a story of transformation, impact, and wellness. Abundant You offers complimentary services such as spinal screenings and educational workshops, donates to local charities, and pursues strategic community partnerships. The clinic actively collaborates with local organizations, healthcare providers, and wellness professionals to address community health challenges, promote preventive care, and provide comprehensive support systems for individuals in need.

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Third Street Digital is a pioneering all-women digital agency with standout commitment to a people-first approach. The agency’s dedication to internal growth, including educational stipends and a balanced work-life approach, has been instrumental in fostering a thriving team. Actively engaging with non-profit organizations and local efforts, they offer their digital expertise to create meaningful impact. The organization’s own Pixie Partner Program is a unique initiative supporting minority-owned businesses, non-profits, and organizations by providing education, training, and strategic guidance related to digital advertising and marketing.

Waymakers Restoration is a distinguished emergency services restoration company specializing in emergency water and fire cleanup in Central Ohio.

At the company’s heart is a profound commitment to character. The company’s unique hiring mantra, “Don’t lie, don’t steal, be loyal,” ensures that their team is aligned with their character-driven approach. This focus on character extends to relationships with clients, where they treat every customer as family, regardless of circumstances, ensuring lasting impressions and outstanding reviews. The company’s WayMakers Foundation provides life-critical items for single parents, widows, domestic violence survivors, and individuals in need.

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SPE CIAL ADVE RTISING SE CTIO N

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Change Agents for Children

Barbara and Al Siemer of New Albany

For students to succeed in school, they need stable housing—a simple idea that fuels the quiet but impactful philanthropy of Barbara and Al Siemer.

BY JOY FRANK-COLLINS

Photo courtesy the Siemer Institute

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or the past 20 years, a tenacious New Albany couple have quietly invested in the potential of children by stabilizing families.

Between 2011-2022 alone, they assisted nearly a quarter of a million children across the country by helping at-risk families with school-age children stay in their homes.

This work has had a huge impact—and you’ll have a hard time finding many other Central Ohio philanthropists who’ve done more— but Barbara and Arnold “Al” Siemer remain relatively unknown in the region. That’s by design, with the couple preferring to shine the spotlight on the people and organizations who are using their funding through their nonprofit, the Siemer Institute, to work directly with families in need. Barbara Siemer calls that the “hard work.”

In fact, Kim Habash Dorniden, president and national director of the Siemer Institute, who has worked in the nonprofit sector in Central Ohio for nearly 15 years, had never heard of the Siemers or their organization when she interviewed with them three years ago. “I think that the Siemer Institute and the philanthropic work of Barbara and Al is probably the best-kept secret in Columbus, if not the nation, because their level of giving is phenomenal,” Habash Dorniden says.

In total, between 2018 and 2022, the couple through the Siemer

Institute invested more than $35 million in stabilizing families throughout its network, which grew to 70 major cities this year. If you add on state and federal funding and mandatory matching funds from nonprofit partners, the investment totals over $95 million over that period, according to the Siemer Institute’s 2022 Impact Report.

“Our motivation really is to help people who are on the bottom rung of the economic ladder,” Al Siemer says. “We really want to help people who are down on their luck, so to speak. The ones that need help to stay in their home, get an education, get a chance to be successful.”

While the institute has existed since roughly 2003, Barbara Siemer has long cared deeply about education. She was once a high school English teacher and after-school

tutor for disadvantaged children on Cleveland’s West Side. In 1968, Barbara married Al—the founder and CEO of the Desco Corp., an industrial conglomerate—and she transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom.

Or rather, as she puts it, “I stopped earning money for teaching,” still remaining an active presence as a classroom volunteer for both their daughter, Elizabeth, and son, David.

The family moved to Worthington in 1983, and she began volunteering with programs aligned with her values. The programs included I Know I Can (which helps children in Columbus City Schools achieve post-secondary education goals), the Homeless Families Foundation (now known as Home for Families, which provides homeless prevention and re-housing, education and stability programming), the Community Winter 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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Photos by Tim Johnson

Siemer Family Foundation chair Barbara Siemer Shelter Board (which champions the issue of homelessness) and Congregational Outreach Ministries Program of Assistance & Social Service (known as COMPASS, which works with other faith-based organizations in the community to prevent homelessness and encourage self-sufficiency). “The [COMPASS] program had very little money,” Barbara recalls, and only one staff member.

“It was probably the strongest force for the institute because I just kept thinking, if we could just do more for [the clients], but more importantly, if we could just work with them.”

The Siemers began collaborating with the Columbus Foundation in the early ’90s, and by the end of the decade, they were learning more startling facts about the damage “mobility,” or moving homes frequently, had on school-age children. Not only do children miss weeks, if not months, in the transition between schools, but their presence in a new classroom

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causes a disruption, especially for the teacher, who must spend time assimilating the child into their new environment.

After relocating part time to Sarasota, Florida, in 1999-2000, the idea behind the Siemer Institute began to coalesce in Barbara’s mind.

Al was traveling for work four days a week, leaving Barbara, who was an incredibly active volunteer in Columbus, “sitting there twiddling my thumbs, thinking I don’t know what I’m going to do with my time” in the Sunshine State, she says, laughing.

Then, working through the United Way, to which they’d become donors, she had a thought. “For 30 years, what I had wanted to do was start a program to help people get their feet very firmly on the first rung of the ladder out of poverty,” she says. Housing stability, she realized, was that step.

She soon learned that while Florida, which had one of the largest homeless populations in the country at

that time, had many programs to help homeless people, there was nothing to prevent it from happening. And that became her mission, along with finding an agency that could administer the program. She tread water for two years, she says, trying to work with the schools in Florida before having a lightbulb moment.

“The schools aren’t the problem; the families are where the problem starts,” she explains. “Our average is 2.8 children per family we work with.

So, if we work with the family, we’re getting three children stabilized.”

And the costs of stabilizing a family in their home is tens of thousands of dollars less than getting a homeless family back into a home, she adds.

They piloted a program in Sarasota through the United Way, with the couple providing guaranteed $50,000 funding for three years for all fixed expenses. They also required the United Way to raise matching funds.

Participating families followed it for an agreed-upon time frame (most families work with the program for 6-18 months, Dorniden says), collaborating on mutual goals that help ensure long-term stability.

The Sarasota initiative expanded to a $450,000 program in five years—just at the moment the country was plunging into a national recession in 2008.

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Siemer Family Foundation President Kim Habash Dorniden talks with Siemer Institute chair Barbara Siemer before filming a legacy video.

With help from local United Way chapters, the Siemers expanded the program into five more cities in Florida. And then they went home, enlisting United Way chapters from some of Ohio’s biggest cities: Columbus, Youngstown, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton.

And since that time, they’ve built a national program that currently partners with United Way branches in 70 cities across the country. “The great thing about the Siemer Institute’s program is that they know that it’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all model,” says Lisa Courtice, president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio.

“We all have shared metrics and outcomes. Our goals are the same, but how we go about doing it, there’s a lot of flexibility in that.”

Locally, some Siemer Institute funds go to the YMCA’s Stable Families Program, which empowers families to maintain stable homes by “intentionally focusing on school stability, secure and appropriate housing and increasing family engagement … to promote long-term family success,” according to its website. Each year, the program serves 2,500 children in 1,000 families.

“What we love about the Y is the reach it has throughout the community,” Courtice says. In Central Ohio,

the program has a 99 percent effectiveness rate of avoiding a move for a family during the school year, she says, reeling off other metrics and benchmarks used to gauge success that the Columbus program eclipses. “The outcomes are really kind of remarkable.”

“It’s Crisis Intervention”

In fall 2022, the lease on Kiara Gholson’s apartment expired. And then the engine on her car “blew up.”

Without a support system that could help her get to and from work, she found herself spending most of her paycheck on Lyfts and Ubers just to maintain employment, which left her and her toddler son couch surfing.

She was connected to the Siemer Institute Family Stability program through Columbus-based partner Physicians CareConnection during an intake interview when she sought prenatal care in November of that same year.

“You know you don’t actually expect them to help; they just say it and give you a resource for a shelter or something,” Gholson says, adding that she was surprised when she was then connected to the program and contacted by a case worker.

The program helped place her into a home and funded temporary

shelter while she waited to move in, as well as transportation assistance to and from work. The program even included a meeting with a lactation consultant, which led to Gholson landing a new job as a breastfeeding peer advocate with WIC, the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

“It worked out perfect,” she says while waiting to pick up her 3-year-old from day care. “I breastfed with my last son, too, so I was pre-educated; I knew about it a little bit.”

Gholson’s new job, which she started in September after giving birth to her second son in June, affords her more flexibility and stability, especially as she works through some health complications. While she still worries about affordable housing and maintaining her stability when she leaves the program, she’s thankful for the opportunity it has given her to buy necessities for her children and even save a little. “I’m just trying to figure out after the program is over what are the next steps to make sure I’m not going backwards again,” she says.

That’s the entire reason for starting the Siemer Institute, Barbara says.

“It’s crisis intervention. Don’t let the crisis alter the course of their lives because something unforeseen and uncontrollable has happened to their family that they can’t help.”

The Siemers recognize the good fortune that has put them in the position to be able to help others and have passed that attitude on to their children. The couple plans to give the bulk of their estate to the Columbus Foundation to continue the work they began some 30 years ago.

“We have given [our children] everything that we feel is good for them, and then everything else is going to try and level the playing field for families who are not so similarly fortunate,” Barbara says. “Al has earned everything he’s ever done, and I have been blessed beyond my desserts.

I never dreamed that I would live in this world and be able to do what we’re doing. But we are now dedicated to making sure that other families who have not been that lucky have a chance.”

This story also appears in “Giving: A Guide to Philanthropy” in the December 2023 issue of Columbus Monthly.

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Legal Trends

Strength in Numbers As law firms seek to remain competitive, an increasing number are gaining an edge through mergers and acquisitions.

BY PETER TONGUETTE

W

Photo courtesy Emily Wallner

ith more than eight decades of service to Central Ohio under its belt, few area law firms have stronger reputations than Crabbe, Brown & James. Just ask Larry James, who joined the firm in 1981, became a named partner in 2001 and is now managing partner.

“I had a number of options of firms I could’ve gone to,” James says of his choice to join the firm, then known as Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt. “But this is the one that really stuck out, and I think it aligned with the person I am and my skill set.”

The legal industry is fiercely com-

petitive, however, and even a law firm with a successful track record and name recognition like Crabbe, Brown & James isn’t immune to the pressures. About two years ago, James says, his 10-attorney firm began exploring the possibility of combining with a larger firm. “To remain competitive is next to impossible with our size,” says James, whose firm on Jan. 1 will become part of Chicago-based Amundsen Davis, which has about 250 attorneys in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Missouri.

“When lawyers are doing very well, they don’t want to change.

They’re fine and happy,” James

says. “But when you look to the future and you ask yourself where you’re going to be three to five years from now, you have to take some hard, deep looks.”

Crabbe, Brown & James is far from the only local law firm to undergo such self-scrutiny or to come to the conclusion that it makes sense to join forces. In 2012, Schottenstein Zox & Dunn combined with Ice Miller, and Chester Willcox & Saxbe merged with Taft Stettinius & Hollister. The following year, Isaac Brant Ledman & Teetor joined with Wiles Boyle Burkholder & Bringardner to become Isaac Wiles.

Last year saw the merger of Taft with Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, which is based in Detroit, and a “partnership” between Columbus’ Perez Morris with Giffen & Kaminski in Cleveland.

Don’t look for M&A deals to slow anytime soon. Frederick J. Esposito Jr., chief operating officer of Rivkin Radler, a multistate firm with a presence in New York, New Jersey and Florida, says that mergers and acquisitions are to be expected during

Crabbe, Brown & James managing partner Larry James (center) with Amundsen Davis leaders Lew Bricker (left) and Larry Schechtman Winter 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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Photo courtesy Greg Miller

Everything that we did with our governance, with our structure, with our leadership, was designed to equally represent both firms.”

James Flynn, Bricker Graydon managing partner

times of economic uncertainty. “There were quite a few mergers and acquisitions throughout 2023,” Esposito says.

“You have an economy that’s leaning towards a downturn, and in the fourth quarter of this year, there was a lot of reduction of demand.”

For larger firms, acquisitions can be attractive because they diversify practice areas. “A lot of firms are looking to increase their depth,” Esposito says.

For smaller firms that are acquisition targets, it can be a question of survival. The present pattern mirrors the Great Recession, he says. “A lot of the smaller firms had difficulty surviving, so the larger firms would move in and grab these practices.”

In the case of Crabbe, Brown & James, firm leadership noted that, in recent years, while it could attract good, young attorneys, it had difficulty retaining them. “Almost without exception, in two years, other firms were gobbling them up because they pay more,” James says. “[The lawyers] saw a definite future that they didn’t see with us at the time.”

Amundsen Davis was attracted to Crabbe, Brown & James because of its sure financial footing, strong bench of lawyers and potential for growth, says James, who will make the transition to the new firm while remaining an equity partner. All but one of the firm’s 10 attorneys is joining Amundsen Davis, and 80 percent of the staff is staying on, he says. The Columbus office remains in place, but the CBJ name will not. “There was very little disruption, and we got to move forward

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collectively as a firm,” James adds.

James says he thinks present Crabbe, Brown & James clients will remain with the new firm. “Clients, in many instances, are tied to [their] lawyers,” he says, adding they will be able to take advantage of broadened practice areas. “There are certain disciplines that we didn’t have,” James says.

“Now we do.”

Two Ohio firms of relatively comparable size and stature—Columbus’ Bricker & Eckler and Cincinnati’s Graydon—merged in April 2023 to create Bricker Graydon, a new entity that managing partner James Flynn describes as a “merger of equals.”

Prior to combining, both firms had already referred work to the other and held each other in high regard, Flynn says. “This was not a merger that was motivated out of desperation or need,” he says. “This was two groups of people that valued similar things, did business in similar ways, served similar types of clients but largely concentrated in different markets.”

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS Firms entertaining a merger should be meticulous in their due diligence, according to attorneys who have been through them. Cultural compatibility between firms is critical. “Culture can be the demise of any acquisition or merger,” Esposito says. “Some of these mergers look terrific on paper, but when you get them all together, there’s no synergy.”

The firms also will need to mesh their workforces and the habits and practices that come with them. “If it’s

done correctly, it can be a net positive,” Esposito says.

Importantly, potential ethical conflicts must be carefully analyzed.

“Two parties opposed to each other can’t be represented by the same firm,” says Flynn. “Even if there’s not a direct legal conflict, it doesn’t look good to try to be the law firm on both sides of that business equation.”

In the case of Bricker Graydon, the match made sense, and it has played out in an equitable fashion. “Everything that we did with our governance, with our structure, with our leadership, was designed to equally represent both firms,” says Flynn, adding that Bricker & Eckler had about 120 attorneys and Graydon about 80 at the time of the merger. The current headcount stands at just over 200. A few attorneys “self-selected” out of the firm post-merger, Flynn says.

For firms exploring potential mergers or acquisitions, Esposito says the benefits must be tangible. “If you’re bringing on a group, you’re bringing on their expenses … their rate structures for how they’re generating their fees,” he says. “You may go through your own pro formas, and you may find that this does not work for your firm.”

One thing is clear, though: Law firm consolidation is likely to continue.

“If you don’t grow, you’re going to perish,” James says. “There may be a few outliers, depending on where you are, but you’re going to reach an age at some point that it’s going to start to atrophy away.”

Peter Tonguette is a freelance writer.

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THOUGHT LEADER OF THE QUARTER

NAVIGATING THE ROAD TO RETIREMENT Four common mistakes to avoid when crafting a retirement strategy

R

4. Overpaying for Advice and Products.

Advisor and product fees silently erode your retirement savings if left unchecked. The wealth management industry continues to charge fees based upon the amount of money a client invests, instead of the advisor’s work and value they create. It’s imperative to scrutinize fees rigorously. Look beyond the surface and determine the value proposition offered by your financial advisor. Seek transparent fee structures and low-cost investment options. Remember: It’s not how much you make—it’s how much you keep. Every dollar saved on fees contributes to the growth of your retirement portfolio.

etirement planning is a meticulous journey, requiring careful consideration of various factors to ensure a secure and comfortable future.

However, it’s easy to make financial mistakes, even with good intentions.

As you approach retirement, you undoubtedly recognize the importance of avoiding common mistakes that can erode the foundation of your retirement strategy. Let’s explore four potential mistakes that could derail your retirement dreams.

1. Going Alone.

In the realm of retirement planning, overestimating your financial acumen can be a dangerous pitfall.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias where individuals overestimate their ability to navigate their retirement on their own. There are several drawbacks to doing it yourself, including the time and energy required, additional stress and the potential to make very costly mistakes. Recognizing the limits of your expertise is a key step to getting back your time and mental energy for other important areas of your life.

2. Misunderstanding Risk.

One fundamental element of a sound retirement plan is a clear understanding of risk. While conventional wisdom may suggest a conservative approach as you near retirement, we often see people with an inflated allocation to cash and bonds. On the flipside, we also see people with an overallocation to risky and illiquid assets. You can manage risk by working with a financial advisor with years of training and experience. A trusted advisor will develop a personalized asset allocation strategy to ensure

Photo courtesy of PDS PLANNING

your retirement portfolio is well positioned to weather market fluctuations.

3. Discounting the Impact of Taxes.

Taxes significantly impact your retirement income, and many financial advisors don’t pay enough attention to the tax consequences of their recommendations. We often see other advisors ignoring the tax impact of many recommendations.

You likely have a mix of investment accounts, and you should evaluate tax implications of withdrawals from each asset type. Planning for retirement with an advisor focused on tax-efficient strategies can significantly improve the longevity of your retirement and legacy plan.

The retirement landscape is dynamic. A well-crafted retirement plan requires detailed attention to risk, taxes, fees and your cognitive biases. Your retirement success lies in the details, and by avoiding these common mistakes, you will lay the groundwork for a financially secure and fulfilling future. At PDS, we help clients avoid these mistakes for a flat fee stated in dollars and not based on the value of your portfolio.

Jimmy Rogers CFP®, Shareholder

PDS Planning, Inc. 475 Metro Pl. S, Suite 460 Dublin, OH 43017 614-481-8449 pdsplanning.com Winter 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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.

Pediatric surgeon. Nonprofit board member. Topiary artist.

A life well planned allows you to

LIVE YOUR LIFE.

While you may not be a pediatric surgeon volunteering your topiary talents at a children’s hospital – your life is just as unique. Backed by sophisticated resources, a Raymond James financial advisor can help you plan for what’s important to you. That’s LIFE WELL PLANNED. MIKE TELLER Senior Vice President Branch Manager, Columbus 3178 Kingsdale Center Upper Arlington, OH 43221 O 614.442.2343 // C 320.224.6205 mike.teller@raymondjames.com © 2023 Raymond James & Associates, Inc., member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. 23-BRNEH-0007 BS 11/23 .

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Wealth Management

Charting a Course The right financial adviser can help investors prepare for homeownership, college tuition, inflation, retirement and everything in between.

BY TIM FERAN

E

Photo by Getty Images

arly in their marriage, Dan Griffith and his wife sat down to discuss their finances. Like most young couples, they knew they would need to start making plans for such things as paying for their children’s college tuition, buying a home and, eventually, retirement.

Unlike most young couples, however, the Griffiths had a certain advantage when it came to planning

the family’s financial future. That’s because Dan is the director of wealth strategy at Huntington Private Bank.

As part of his job, he educates clients and colleagues on planning techniques and leads a team of advisers dedicated to working with ultra-high net worth clients.

“My wife and I are [still] having these conversations,” says Griffith, who used to practice law. “We sit down every year. We’re no different

from other clients.”

Their oldest child is going to college next year, so they’re plotting how much they will need to put into the “bucket” of cash designated for tuition. But they know to keep track of the retirement bucket, too. “Those are things we’re thinking [about],” Griffith says. “Other people might not be aware of them, but we’re lucky enough to know that different phases of life require different planning.”

Those kinds of discussions take place daily for Mike Foley, who leads PNC’s Asset Management Group in Columbus. “It all starts with a conversation with clients,” he says. “When that conversation works the best, it is a very transparent and honest conversation. What are their goals?

What are they trying to accomplish in the short term—the next year or five years—and then long term?

“Whatever phase of life, whether they’re 25 or 65, if we’re doing it right, we can get to the ‘why’ behind this.

Once we have that nailed down, articulated and understood, then we can focus on the particulars.”

To ensure that the conversation is transparent and honest, “the most important part is finding your adviser,” says Olivia Herzog, a financial planner at Hyre Personal Wealth Advisors. “Someone valuing you as a person, not just your money. It’s really important to find someone who cares about you. Someone you can really trust, someone you can relate to, who understands your unique experience.”

Once that relationship is established, talk about the dollars and cents can begin. The right financial planning partner can help clients plan for homeownership, college costs, retirement and all the little things in between.

If the client is 30, “maybe married, thinking about having children, maybe buying a house, then you need to know, what is the down payment,” Foley says. “That’s all part of the equation, and then you can make a cash flow or budgeting analysis. You figure out how much you spend for a hobby or for entertainment or for dining out.”

If the client has a house and kids already, the focus can shift to their futures. “College is expensive, so if a couple wants to help pay tuition, they might want to look at a 529 Winter 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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plan, which has tax-positive consequences,” Foley says. “That can be a very meaningful vehicle for tuition.” Depending on the specific plan, college funds are usually not taxed while the cash grows or when it is withdrawn for qualified higher education expenses.

CREATING A ROAD MAP “When it comes to planning, it’s never too early,” Griffith says. “When I talk to people about the financial planning process, I compare it to using GPS. A GPS asks two questions: Where do you want to go? And where are you starting from?”

Often, the destination is retirement. “But what does retirement look like to that person? To people in their 30s, 40s or 50s, retirement is a different thing than in the past—a lot of us still want to do things and be relevant,” Griffith says.

“People generally retire from or to something,” he says. “They’ll tell me, ‘I’m really excited about the next stage’—maybe volunteering or spending more time with the grandkids. Or they’re a business owner and say, ‘I can’t be in the rat race anymore.’ ” Both client and adviser also need to pin down the second part of the GPS analogy: the starting point.

“People often don’t understand where they are,” Griffith says.

Clients not only need to know how much is in hand right now, “but how much can they count on from Social Security and their investments, and what are their fixed costs,” Foley says. “If they stop working, that revenue stream from the job stops. So what type of lifestyle do they want to live? Do they have enough money coming in? If they’re on the path, we monitor things to make sure something hasn’t changed.”

Sometimes, things do change, whether due to divorce, a job change or another reason. “And we say, ‘Oh, boy, given current allocations, you’re going to run out of money if you think you’re going to live another 30 years,” Foley says.

That scenario can happen even to high-income clients, he says.

“A lot of times, a couple makes a lot of money, and you think, ‘Oh, they’ll be fine.’ But then you see they have country club fees,” plus

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When you’re finding an adviser, you should ask if they are a fiduciary. A fiduciary is required by law to act in your best interest.”

Olivia Herzog, a financial planner at Hyre Personal Wealth Advisors other expenses that will undoubtedly increase over the years, necessitating course corrections in their plan.

“So, a lot of what financial planners do is getting peace of mind for their clients,” Foley says.

“Having a plan to look back on— that road map—it’s peace of mind,” Herzog agrees. “To know you can throw factors in and know you can be OK. Obviously, all different life stages have so many different factors, and everyone’s story is different.”

When clients are in their 30s and 40s, “they’re more in the accumulator stage, maybe paying down debt,” she says. “So you have to discuss debt management. In their 50s and 60s, it’s about planning for retirement.

People really want to know if they have to make lifestyle changes.”

THE EMOTION FACTOR The big question currently on many investors’ minds is: What about inflation?

“It’s challenging” Herzog says.

“People are scared, and I understand

why. But it’s not as severe as the headlines might make you believe.

With a good investment strategy, you should be outpacing it. It’s going to be coming down soon, hopefully, as long as you have a good team behind you, helping you stay ahead of it.”

Inflation fears are one of many feelings that advisers help clients cope with. “I think one of the secrets of the financial planning industry is that really almost all those decisions are inherently emotional in nature,” Griffith says.

“Do I want to retire? The numbers can give more or less comfort, but every single element in deciding when or if you want to retire is associated with people feeling comfortable with that decision,” he says. “The people I find most effective in this industry understand their clients’ emotions.

Emotional intelligence is a huge part of being successful.”

Emotional intelligence is something Herzog believes is an advantage that she and other women who work as financial planners have in the industry, which “is superskewed to men.”

“Even at conferences I attend, we joke that it’s the only place where the men’s restroom line is longer than the women’s,” she says with a laugh.

Whether or not that emotional advantage holds true, what is undeniable is the fact that more and more women are consulting financial advisers—or will need to soon. Today, women control a third of total U.S. household financial assets—more than $10 trillion, according to a McKinsey study. But by 2030, American women are expected to control much of the $30 trillion in financial assets that baby boomers will possess.

For Herzog, those numbers are promising. She offers one final bit of advice to investors seeking a financial adviser, regardless of gender: “When you’re finding an adviser, you should ask if they are a fiduciary. A fiduciary is required by law to act in your best interest, someone who is not getting incentives to get you to go for certain products.”

Doing so, she says, will help ensure your adviser is motivated to maximize returns on your portfolio— not their own pocketbook.

Tim Feran is a freelance writer.

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Senior Living

7470; 87 AL, 16 MC

Directory of Facilities Central Ohio has a wealth of senior communities spanning a full continuum of care. Here are 82 options across the region to suit a variety of needs.

Our Home Senior Living New Albany 5055 Thompson Road, Columbus; 614-8553700; unknown number of units

BICKFORD SENIOR LIVING bickfordseniorliving.com

Bickford of Bexley

2600 E. Main St., Bexley; 614-235-3900; 33 AL, 20 MC

Bickford of Scioto KEY: IL – INDEPENDENT LIVING UNITS; AL – ASSISTED LIVING UNITS MC – MEMORY CARE UNITS; SN – SKILLED NURSING UNITS

3500 Riverside Drive, Columbus; 614-4573500; unknown number of units

Bickford of Worthington

6525 N. High St., Worthington; 614-846-6500; 54 AL, 27 MC

COMPILED BY ASHLEY ALT

ABBINGTON ASSISTED LIVING

ALPINE HOUSE OF COLUMBUS

abbingtononline.com

Abbington of Arlington Assisted Living

alpinehouse.net 1001 Schrock Road, Columbus; 614-505-3531; 55 AL

1320 Old Henderson Road, Columbus; 614451-4575; 44 AL

DUBLIN GLEN MEMORY CARE

4000 Lakeview Crossing, Groveport; 614-8365990; 73 AL, 16 MC

dublinglen.com 6355 Emerald Parkway, Dublin; 614-7619200; 66 MC

Brookdale Muirfield

7220 Muirfield Drive, Dublin; 614-336-3677; 54 AL, 30 MC

Abbington of Powell Assisted Living

ARROW SENIOR LIVING

3971 Bradford Court, Powell; 614-789-9868; 48 AL

arrowseniorliving.com

1305 Lamplighter Drive, Grove City; 614-2771200; 83 AL, 23 MC

3570 Heritage Club Drive, Hilliard; 614-529-

3500 Trillium Crossing, Columbus; 614-734-

Photo by Getty Images

Abbington of Pickerington Assisted Living 9480 Blacklick-Eastern Road, Pickerington; 614-577-0822; 48 AL

Carriage Court Senior Living

BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING brookdale.com

Brookdale Lakeview Crossing

Brookdale Pinnacle

Brookdale Trillium Crossing

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1000; 120 AL

Brookdale Westerville 6377 Cooper Road, Columbus; 614-901-2100; 31 AL, 12 MC

CAPITAL HEALTH CARE NETWORK capitalhealthcarenetwork.com

Gardens of Scioto

433 Obetz Road, Suite 200, Columbus; 614558-3141; 15 IL

Meadows of Scioto

433 Obetz Road, Suite 100, Columbus; 614558-3141; 120 SN

Villas of Scioto

433 Obetz Road, Suite 300, Columbus; 614558-3141; 32 AL

CENTURY PARK centurypa.com

Mayfair Village Retirement Community 3011 Hayden Road, Columbus; 614-889-6202; 85 IL/AL

COTTER HOUSE WORTHINGTON kemperhouseworthington.com (formerly Kemper House Worthington) 800 Proprietors Road, Worthington; 614-8968700; 55 MC

DANBURY SENIOR LIVING danburyseniorliving.com

Danbury Senior Living of Columbus 2870 Snouffer Road, Columbus; 614-339-0459; 68 IL/AL, 33 MC

Danbury Westerville – Parkside Village

730 N. Spring Road, Westerville; 614-794-9300; 158 IL/AL, 46 MC

Grove City Senior Living by Traditions

3615 Glacial Lane, Grove City; 614-506-6501; 94 IL/AL/MC, plus 30 IL villas coming soon

Harrison on 5th

579 W. Fifth Ave., Columbus; 380-215-1412; unknown number of units

FERIDEAN COMMONS

441 Norton Road, Columbus; 614-812-1200; unknown number of units

FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE OF DUBLIN

1030 High St., Worthington; 614-885-0408; 95 SN, 49 MC

fvdublin.org 6000 Riverside Drive, Dublin; 614-764-1600; 300 IL, 29 AL, 27 MC, 50 SN

THE GABLES OF WESTERVILLE gablesofwesterville.com 131 Moss Road, Westerville; 614-918-0050; 19 IL, 59 AL, 24 MC

THE GANZHORN SUITES SPECIALIZED MEMORY CARE

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES lssnetworkofhope.org

LSS Kensington Place 1001 Parkview Blvd., Columbus; 614-251-7689; unknown number of units

NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES nationalchurchresidences.org

Avondale

5215 Avery Road, Dublin; 614-319-3353; 200 IL

LIFE CARE SERVICES

First Community Village

lifecareservices.com

The Avalon of Lewis Center

Brookwood Point

2685 E. Livingston Ave., Columbus; 866-5696328; 103 IL, opening late January 1800 Riverside Drive, Columbus; 877-364-2570; 211 IL, 38 AL, 36 MC, 47 SN

8875 Green Meadows Drive N., Lewis Center; 740-513-2270; unknown number of units

Harmony Trace

245 E. Main St., New Albany; 740-513-3044; 59 AL, 44 MC

The Hartford

HERITAGE SENIOR LIVING OF MARYSVILLE

Inniswood Village

The Avalon of New Albany

heritageslm.com 1565 London Ave., Marysville; 937-738-7342; 59 AL, 17 MC

HOMESTEAD SENIOR LIVING homestead-village.com

Homestead Village Grove City 4990 Hoover Road, Grove City; 614-653-1567; 130 IL

3550 Fishinger Blvd., Hilliard; 888-211-3477; 25 AL, 57 MC 120 E. Stafford Ave., Worthington; 888-2058740; 85 IL 1195 North St., Westerville; 844-841-5770; 120 IL, 52 AL, 20 MC

Lincoln Village

4959 Medfield Way, Columbus; 614-870-1123; 54 AL

Stygler Commons

165 N. Stygler Drive, Gahanna; 614-342-4588; 32 AL

Walnut Trace

Homestead Village Columbus

389 Olde Ridenour Road, Gahanna; 844-2111329; 93 IL

7300 E. Broad St., Blacklick; 833-455-7587; unknown number of units

OHIO LIVING

HOOVER HAUS ASSISTED LIVING hooverhaus.com 3675 Hoover Road, Grove City; 614-875-7600; 5 IL, 22 AL, 5 MC

LAUREL HEALTH CARE COMPANY

FIVE STAR SENIOR LIVING

5151 N. Hamilton Road, Columbus; 614-3371066; 112 SN

The Forum at Knightsbridge

The Laurels of Worthington

ganzhorn.com 10272 Sawmill Parkway, Powell; 614-356-9810; unknown number of units

feridean.com 6885 Freeman Road, Westerville; 614-8987488; 40 IL, 58 AL

fivestarseniorliving.com

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4590 Knightsbridge Blvd., Columbus; 614-4516793; unknown number of units

laurelhealth.com

The Laurels of Gahanna The Laurels of West Columbus

ohioliving.org

Ohio Living Sarah Moore 26 N. Union St., Delaware; 740-362-9641; 39 AL, 47 SN

Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber

717 Neil Ave., Columbus; 614-228-8888; 198 IL, 30 AL, 20 MC, 128 SN

OPTALIS HEALTHCARE optalishealthcare.com

Canal Winchester Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living 6800 Gender Road, Canal Winchester; 614-

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834-6800; 35 AL, 87 SN

Mill Run Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living 3399 Mill Run Drive, Hilliard; 614-527-3000; 36 AL, 66 SN

SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING

0199; 117 IL

SENIOR STAR seniorstar.com

Dublin Retirement Village

Monterey Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Memory Care

6470 Post Road, Dublin; 614-764-2800; 134 IL, 60 AL, 39 MC

3929 Hoover Road, Grove City; 614-875-7700; 117 beds

SINCERI SENIOR LIVING

New Albany Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living

5691 Thompson Road, Columbus; 614-8558866; 36 AL, 67 SN

sinceriseniorliving.com

Amber Park Pickerington 401 Hill Road N., Pickerington; 614-834-3113; 86 AL

West Park Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Memory Care

STORYPOINT

1700 Heinzerling Drive, Columbus; 614-2744222; 28 MC, 71 SN

StoryPoint Gahanna

Whetstone Rehabilitation Center, Skilled Nursing & Assisted Living

3710 Olentangy River Road, Columbus; 614457-1100; 60 AL, 145 SN

RITTENHOUSE VILLAGE BY DISCOVERY SENIOR LIVING

Sunrise of Dublin

4175 Stoneridge Lane, Dublin; 614-718-2062; 52 AL, 28 MC

Sunrise of Gahanna

775 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna; 614-4189775; 23 AL, 27 MC

TRADITIONS MANAGEMENT traditionsmgmt.net

The Bristol

7780 Olentangy River Road, Columbus; 614886-2818; 55 IL, 54 AL

storypoint.com

Cherry Blossom Senior Living

5435 Morse Road, Gahanna; 614-924-8144; 83 IL, 60 AL, 39 MC

Middleton Senior Living

StoryPoint Grove City

3717 Orders Road, Grove City; 614-875-6200; 116 IL, 35 AL, 44 MC

79 Blossom Field Blvd., Columbus; 614-5307726; 28 IL, 66 AL, 30 MC 1500 Weaver Drive, Granville; 740-587-0059; 28 IL, 85 AL, 35 MC

StoryPoint Pickerington

UNITED CHURCH HOMES

611 Windmiller Drive, Pickerington; 614-9535421; 96 IL

Columbus Colony for Elderly Care

rittenhousevillages.com

StoryPoint Powell

1201 Riva Ridge Court, Gahanna; 614-683-

10351 Sawmill Parkway, Powell; 614-363-6631; 90 IL

Rittenhouse Village Gahanna

sunriseseniorliving.com

unitedchurchhomes.org

1150 Colony Drive, Westerville; 614-891-5055; 110 AL

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• Neighborhood, community, and regional economic analysis • Economic development strategy • Government fiscal analysis • Economic impact analysis • Workforce projections and policy

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WALLICK COMMUNITIES wallickcommunities.com

The Ashford on Broad 4801 E. Broad St., Columbus; 614-641-2995; 131 AL

The Ashford of Grove City

3197 Southwest Blvd., Grove City; 614-9573918; 100 AL, 50 MC

The Ashford at Sturbridge

3700 Sturbridge Court, Hilliard; 614-633-4811; 61 IL, 62 AL

The Grove at Oakleaf Village

5546 Karl Road, Columbus; 614-431-1739; 56 MC

Oakleaf Village of Columbus

5500 Karl Road, Columbus; 614-431-1739; 121 IL/AL

LIFE ENRICHING COMMUNITIES

What We Believe In SPONSOR A HIGHWAY

lec.org

Wesley Glen Retirement 5155 N. High St., Columbus; 614-888-7492; 152 IL, 74 AL, 21 MC, 65 SN

Wesley Ridge Retirement

2225 Taylor Park Drive, Reynoldsburg; 614759-0023; 106 IL, 61 AL, 38 MC, 25 SN

We live and work in this community with you and we are upset about how much litter we see on our roadways as much as you are.

It’s time to take action, and that is why we have partnered with Sponsor A Highway to clean up 200 miles of freeways every single month right here in our local community.

We are picking up 4 tons of trash a month, literally. Please join us in keeping our community clean and safe.

(614) 333-8628 | indoortemp.com

Wesley Woods at New Albany

4588 Wesley Woods Blvd., New Albany; 614656-4100; 72 IL, 15 AL, 20 MC, 16 SN

WESTERWOOD liveatwesterwood.org 5800 Forest Hills Blvd., Columbus; 614-8908282; 193 IL, 66 AL, 14 MC, 75 SN

WEXNER HERITAGE VILLAGE whv.org

Creekside at the Village 2200 Welcome Place, Columbus; 614-384-2271; 83 IL/AL

Geraldine Schottenstein Cottage

1149 College Ave., Columbus; 614-384-2271; 18 AL/MC

Wexner Heritage House

1151 College Ave., Columbus; 614-231-4900; 99 SN

WORTHINGTON CHRISTIAN VILLAGE wcv.org 65 Highbluffs Blvd., Columbus; 614-846-6076; 107 IL, 38 AL, 42 SN

You’ve never been the retiring type.

Why start now?

At Westerwood, feeling younger never gets old, starting with the biggest backyard in Columbus, our 23-acre wildlife refuge Friendship Woods. Other year-round opportunities to learn, laugh and grow can be summed up this way: You’re going to need a bigger bucket list.

We also offer the only bona fide Life Care Community near Westerville. All of this is made even more exceptional because of our welcoming residents and staff.

Together they’ve created a truly inspiring place of kinship, caring and discovery.

Scan the QR code to schedule a tour or RSVP to an event.

Our Campus, Your Canvas 5800 Forest Hills Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43231 LiveAtWesterwood.org

614-245-3931 CD

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Health Watch

Employees fill a bin with blue surgical wrap at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital.

Building a Greener Hospital Health care is an under-the-radar carbon hog, but Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and OhioHealth are beginning to adopt more sustainable practices.

BY KATHY LYNN GRAY

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been charged with reducing the environmental impact of the hospital system, an effort being pursued at hospitals across the nation and encouraged by the federal government and numerous health care organizations. With an estimated average of 29 pounds of waste produced every day for each hospital patient in the country, the task is monumental and mind-bending. “How do we do this in a safe way without impacting patients?” Koch asks herself.

Some changes have been obvious.

One has been switching old-style lightbulbs to LED bulbs that save

OhioHealth composting bins

Photos courtesy OhioHealth

W

hen Lauren Koch lies in bed at night, her mind starts wandering down the corridors of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. As the med center’s sustainability program manager, her mind’s eye is scanning every room, searching for ways to slash hospital waste.

Could paper patient nightgowns be replaced with reusable cloth ones, she wonders? What about the NICU baby bottles that are used and then trashed? Or the unused milk in those bottles that can’t be saved?

For the past four years, Koch has

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OhioHealth uses composted food scraps at a garden at Riverside Methodist Hospital.

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energy and reduce maintenance because they can last a decade or more.

The OSU med center has replaced 40,000 bulbs on its main campus and hopes to do the same at other sites, Koch says.

Another energy-saving move is turning down heat and turning up air conditioning on weekends at facilities that are only used on weekdays. Other efforts are less obvious but impactful: • The Ohio State med center, like many hospitals, has moved away from desflurane, a type of anesthesia used in surgical procedures, because it produces excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. It uses alternative types of anesthesia that are less harmful to the environment.

• It is replacing single-use items with reusable ones when appropriate.

Containers that house used needles, for example, were being thrown away after one use, producing 70 tons of trash per year. Now, they are sterilized and reused up to 600 times, Koch says.

OhioHealth is working on similar efforts, says Terri Scannell, principal adviser for sustainability and environmental, social and governance. Ondemand lighting has been installed in some rooms, LED bulbs are replacing fluorescent bulbs, and patient gowns are being switched from paper to cloth.

The system’s transportation fleet is being converted from gas to electric vehicles, and electric charging stations have been added at multiple sites. Soon, OhioHealth will experiment with a drone-delivery system for small medical supplies, lab work and prescriptions to replace vehicle

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A tote bag made from recycled blue surgical wrap a cost, Koch says, but so far, most efforts at the OSU med center have saved money in the long run—$12 million over six years. “We will reach a point where we’ll have to make investments, but we’re still finding cost savings,” she says.

Scannell says that many waste-reduction efforts have saved money, including $2.4 million a year from reducing the system’s carbon footprint 21 percent since 2018. But she says OhioHealth looks at the efforts in a broader way.

“People feel good about putting less waste in the landfill,” she says. “It really helps with our culture. A hospital is an anchor institution in a community, and we need to be good stewards of how we use our resources so we can be an example for our employees and our community.”

This story also appears in the December 2023 issue of Columbus Monthly.

An OhioHealth electric vehicle

Photos courtesy OhioHealth

PROUDLY & PROFESSIONALLY SERVING EAST CENTRAL OHIO

drop-offs of those items, Scannell says.

OhioHealth also is moving to a zero-waste food system by composting, using digesters and donating unneeded food to pantries or to farmers for animal feed. And it has signed on to the White House Climate Pledge, the only hospital system in Ohio to do so. That means it promises, among other things, to reduce organizational emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

“We need to be good stewards of how we use our resources,” Scannell says. “The pledge is a bold goal.”

Both the OSU and OhioHealth hospitals have come up with unique ways to recycle blue surgical wrap, made of polypropylene (the plastic marked with a five) and used to keep instruments sterile as they’re moved from place to place. The wrap makes up an estimated 19 percent of operating room waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The OSU med center sends its wrap to a manufacturer that recycles it into bedpans. OhioHealth found a local company that could recycle its wrap into tote bags.

Scannell says an employee noticed how much blue wrap was being thrown away and suggested it be recycled. As a demonstration, employees built a huge plexiglass cube at the front of Marion General Hospital to collect the discarded polypropylene.

“We thought it would take forever to fill up, but it only took a week,” Scannell says.

Reducing waste can come with

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2023 Annual Networking and Awards Event

ACG Columbus is focused on growth for middle market M&A dealmakers and the business community In partnership with ACG Columbus

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ABOUT ACG

The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) is an organization dedicated to supporting growth in the Central Ohio middle-market community by bringing business owners and M&A professionals together.

“ACG fosters relationships through networking, building skills and knowledge through substantive programming and recognizing successes,” says Amy Fleenor, board member and chair of the Annual Networking and Awards Event.

LEADERSHIP

Photos by Katie Spinner, Expressions Photography

Pictured left to right: Andy Hays, Copper Run Capital; David Kukucka, PNC; Mary Auch, PNC; Brett Thornton, Porter Wright; Dennis Duchene, Taylor Corporation

Amy Fleenor, board member and chair of Pictured left to right: Renee Tyack, the Annual Networking and Awards Event United Capital Funding; Moniqua Spencer, Advantage Capital

ACG EVENT

THE 2023 ANNUAL Networking and Awards Event was held Oct. 19, 2023, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. As the premier networking event of the year, recipients of the Deal of the Year and Innovation Aawards were recognized. These awards were given to outstanding companies and deal teams who have impacted the Central Ohio middle-market community in a positive, lucrative way.

“The Annual Networking and Awards Event is a culmination of our year-round programming, where our members, sponsors and guests can gather to celebrate significant achievements in the community we serve,” Fleenor says.

The three winners of 2023’s Annual Networking and Awards Event are: Palmer-Donavin (Deal of the Year award) for the acquisition of Diamond Hill Plywood; Crane Group (Private Equity Deal of the Year award) for their creation of Fairwood Brands; and ECO Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians (Innovation award) for their ECO Plumbers University.

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President: Dennis Duchene, Taylor Corp.

Immediate Past President: Andy Hays, Copper Run Capital, Inc. Finance/Treasurer/Secretary: Nick Lombardo, Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. Annual Event Chair: Amy Fleenor, First Commonwealth Bank Program Chair: Renee Tyack, United Capital Funding Diversity Chair: Laura Hult, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP Membership Chair: Meryl Weinstein, Highlights for Children, Inc. Sponsorship Chair: Brent Thomas, Fifth Third Bank Directors: Mike Abramo, Plante Moran; Joe Boeckman, BakerHostetler; Joe Borowski, GBQ Consulting; Melissa Diethelm, PNC Financial Services Group; Laura Fox, ParetoHealth; Nikki Glenn, ACG Columbus Chapter Executive; Neil Johnson, Lawrence, Evans & Co.; Renee Milyiori, J.P. Morgan Private Bank; David Petrill, RSM; Brett Thornton, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, LLP; Eric Wygle, The Columbus Dispatch/Gannett; J. Michael McVey, Hylant Group; Curtis A. Loveland, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, LLP; Bill R. Remias, Huntington National Bank; Thomas C. Washbush, Washbush Business Law, LLC Chapter Executive: Nikki Glenn For more information: Contact Nikki Glenn at acgcolumbus@acg.org, 740.739.7760; acg.org/columbus

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PRIVATE EQUITY DEAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Crane Group

DEAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Palmer-Donavin ROBYN POLLINA serves as the CEO of Palmer-Donavin, a construction material wholesale distributor for building material products, supplying a diversified range for products for both home new construction and remodeling. The company has facilities throughout the Midwest, as well as the Southeast.

Palmer-Donavin is a 116-yearold company headquartered in Columbus that is 100 percent employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership (retirement) Plan. “We are committed to a growth strategy and a growth culture in our efforts to increase our company’s shared value, and therefore our employees’ retirement accounts,” Pollina says. “The [recent] acquisition of Diamond Hill Plywood in the Southeast provided tremendous growth opportunity, and we were very fortunate to be recognized by ACG.” Pollina explains employee-owned companies like Palmer-Donavin are “very involved” in the communities where their employees live and work.

“Here, locally, we support Meals on Wheels and Modcon Living, for example,” Pollina says. Her team also supports United Way and the Salvation Army at all 13 of Palmer-Donavin’s locations.

“This award recognizes both my and our executive team’s success in completing a deal that brought growth in value, development opportunities and job creation to both our new geography and to our home base here in Central Ohio.”

DAN CRANE is the Senior Vice President of the Crane Group, a family-owned company that passionately invests in business, people and good works in the community. “We’re excited about the potential we have to grow Fairwood Brands because not only will that success positively impact businesses and people, but will also allow us to do more good in Columbus and beyond,” says Crane. “At our core, we remain a team of entrepreneurs who, over 75 years, evolved our own business from a plastics manufacturer to an investment company. To be recognized by ACG for an investment that supports other entrepreneurs nationwide is really meaningful. This award is also a recognition of the talent, dedication and positive attitude that our incredible team brings to each deal.”

Supporting the community is important to Crane Group. Crane says he is fortunate to have the opportunity to chair the United Way of Central Ohio Board of Directors, as well as serve on the Board of CelebrateOne. “These are wonderful organizations focused on bringing people and resources together for collective impact in our community.”

INNOVATION AWARD

Eco Plumbers AARON GAYNOR is the CEO of ECO Plumbers, Electricians, and HVAC Technicians. He won the Innovation Award at the ACG event. ECO began in 2007, operating as a home services company offering plumbing, heating and cooling, and electric services to its customers, with the goal of leaving each house in better shape than it was found.

“We are truly honored to have received such recognition in our community,” Gaynor says of receiving the Innovation Award. “This recognition holds special significance for us as it comes from a distinctly different group of business professionals, diverging from our usual accolades centered solely on customer satisfaction. It was a remarkable opportunity to be acknowledged alongside such great businesses and leaders in Central Ohio. This award not only celebrates our achievements, but also represents the diverse facets of our team’s business excellence.”

Gaynor explains his team at ECO Plumbers is committed to giving back to the industry through the establishment of Eco University, for which the company designed a curriculum specifically for individuals without any mechanical or trade experience. “In just six months, we teach [our employees] the fundamental skills needed to build a career in the trades,” Gaynor says. “I am proud to say that, to date, Eco U has graduated over 100 technicians, and we are now in the process of expanding the program’s curriculum to include additional trades.”

ECO Plumbers has formed partnerships with numerous organizations, including the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and the Hilliard Food Pantry, especially during the food pantry’s recent fire. “We are also involved with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a facility we’re fortunate to have here, and the Star House, which supports homeless youth. Beyond these partnerships, our focus has been on building relationships with the individuals we assist, offering support during their highs and lows.”

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Breakdown

BY JULANNE HOHBACH

Photo by Clare Grant/The Columbus Dispatch

The Columbus Crew and fans celebrate the team’s MLS Cup win at Lower.com Field on Dec. 9.

Tourism Uptick Tourism in Columbus is having a bit of a heyday, and a significant driver has been sports. And officials expect that the Columbus Crew’s MLS Cup win on Dec. 9—projected to generate $8 million in direct visitor spending— could help propel even more growth.

According to the most recent 2023 State of the Visitor Industry report from Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, the city saw a 40 percent boost in the number of events and groups through the end of the third quarter, and several major events on the calendar for next year are expected to also drive big numbers.

What’s driving the interest? “I think it’s a combination of things,” says Linda Logan, CEO and president of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “The infrastructure is growing, the reputation of the city is

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growing and all those things combined really make it a very attractive tourism destination.”

Major sporting events on the 2024 calendar include: • The 2024 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, expected to generate up to $15 million in spending • The NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship

• The USA Volleyball Adult Open Championships • The USA Fencing Championships • The 2024 Major League Soccer All-Star Game Logan says events like these that put Columbus in the national spotlight—both for visitors and TV viewers—are a boon to the city and help drive future business.

Tourism By the Numbers

Here’s a sampling of some of the biggest events in 2023.

Event Arnold Sports Festival Assemblies of God General Council AmericanHort’s Cultivate Buckeye Showdown RecruitFest/ Buckeye Elite Showcase Tournament PCMA Convening Leaders U.S. Conference of Mayors

Visitors 100,000 25,000 10,000 8,000

Visitor Spending $15.5 million $10 million $8.8 million $5.2 million

3,300 1,200

$4.2 million $1.5 million

Source: Experience Columbus, Greater Columbus Sports Commission

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It’s your opportunity to immerse in the ongoing dialogue that propels progress, celebrate the vibrant essence of Columbus, and become an integral part of shaping our collective destiny. Together, let’s embark on an exhilarating journey to embrace the future, ignite change, and collaboratively craft a brighter tomorrow.

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