Columbus CEO - November 2018

T h e

T r a n s p o r T a T i o n

Joanna Pinkerton

Cota’s new Ceo builds a culture of transformation.

Page 12

taxi turnarounD

Can an old-school cab company survive in the era of uber?

i s s u e Driving lessons

JPmorgan Chase workers go on a car diet at the mcCoy Center.

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Page 39

Best of Business

november 2018

Page 61

Mobility inc. reimagining the Wheel $4.99 november 2018 11 7

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Meet the entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and public officials attempting to turn Columbus into the Silicon Valley of smart transportation.

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Contents

36

Planes, Trains and Autonomous Vehicles

Photo by rob HArdiN

A mobility ecosystem made of startups, innovations and other business efforts is growing in Columbus.

AgendA

special advertising supplement

30 Ceo Corner business leaders share their opinions on employee turnover and attrition.

32 Connections CoTA Annual Luncheon, Positioned to Prosper

35 events Seminars, webinars and business networking opportunities in November

inserted after page 44 Trust is an essential component of ethical business, and more trustworthy winners are celebrated this year.

November 2018 Cover design by

YOgEsh ChaudharY November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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ColumbusCEO.com

vOlUME 27 / NUMBER 11 PRESIdENT

Bradley M. Harmon PUBlIShER/GENERal MaNaGER

Ray Paprocki

aSSOCIaTE PUBlIShER/advERTISING dIRECTOR

Rheta Gallagher EdITORIal EDITOR

Dave Ghose STAFF WRITER

Chloe Teasley COnTRIbuTIng EDITOR

Melissa Kossler Dutton

05 Editor’s Notes The joys and struggles of living without a car in Columbus

06 CEO Whiteboard Letters, social media buzz and developments since the October issue

97 Leaderboards Accounting firms and wealth management firms

104 Office Space: LOTH, Inc. The office design company reworked its existing Grandview building and got rid of unnecessary walls.

dESIGN & PROdUCTION

PRODuCTIOn/DESIgn DIRECTOR

InsIder

Craig Rusnak ART DIRECTOR

Yogesh Chaudhary dIGITal

EDITOR

Erin Edwards PhOTOGRaPhy

PHOTO EDITOR

Tim Johnson ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR

Rob Hardin advERTISING

ADVERTISIng MAnAgER

Susan Kendall

ACCOunT ExECuTIVE

Gail Fullerton

CLASSIFIED SALES

Terri Tribbie, Telana Veil, Amy Vidrick SALES ASSISTAnT

Lauren Transue MaRkETING

MARKETIng MAnAgER

Lauren Reinhard adMINISTRaTION

ADMInISTRATIVE & FInAnCIAL AnALyST

Ryan Koenig

LETTERS: letters@columbusceo.com PRESS RELEASES

pressreleases@columbusceo.com ADVERTISIng

advertising@columbusceo.com

circsupport@dispatch.com

22 Spotlight: Small Business

11 Breakdown

Yellow Cab of Columbus stays relevant with technological upgrades.

If you want to get people to ride the bus, make it free.

24 Spotlight: Innovation

12 Profile Q&A

JOaNNa PINkERTON is readying the Central Ohio Transit Authority for a new era of integration with economic development and other modes of transportation.

18 Tech Talk Transitus connects people living in underserved communities with the things they need the most.

20 Briefing Buckeye great Eddie George talks about how he found business success after football.

Photo ROB HARDIN

AEP is all-in for Smart Columbus with a $185 million commitment to create the electrical infrastructure of the initiative.

26 Spotlight: Nonprofit DriveOhio’s Jim Barna is paving the way for autonomous vehicles and other innovations.

28 Spotlight: Commercial Real Estate With transportation in flux in central Ohio, real estate developers are faced with uncertainty as they build their projects today.

specIal sectIons

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Columbus CEO (ISSN 1085-911X) is published monthly by GateHouse Media, LLC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials. Known address of publication is 62 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Columbus CEO, 62 E. Broad St., P.O. Box 1289, Columbus, OH 43216.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

12 Photo ROB HARDIN

62 E. Broad St., P.O. Box 1289 Columbus, Ohio 43216 Phone: 614-540-8900 • Fax: 614-461-8746

Joanna Pinkerton

departments

61 Best of Business See how the community voted this year and read some new staff picks.

86 Intellectual Property Julie Sloat

How to understand—and tame—pesky patent trolls

l June Toll Free: 877-688-8009 2018 2 ColumbusCEO

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Editor’s notes * dghose@ColumbusCEO.com

Carless in Columbus: The Sequel

W

Photos DavE GhOSE

e’re doing something unusual with this issue. For the first time, we’ve dedicated almost the entire publication to a single subject: transportation, one of the hottest topics in town and an issue that business leaders are increasingly recognizing as important.

It also seemed like a good time for me to revisit one of my favorite journalism stunts of my career.

In 2005, I wrote a story, “Carless in Columbus,” for our sister publication Columbus Monthly that traced my experiences living without a car for a week. It was a much different time, obviously, and I thought it would be interesting to see how things have changed.

First, some caveats: A few variables are different for me. While I live in the same home on the northern edge of the University District, our offices have moved Downtown from the north side, a shift that makes taking public transportation easier. However, my wife and I were childless 13 years ago, and we now have two kids, ages 9 and 12, which clearly complicates our circumstances.

So here’s what I discovered:

Magic Bus: My employer, the

Dispatch Media Group, is part of the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s C-pass program—which aims to decrease traffic congestion and parking challenges Downtown—but until I went carless for a week in October, I really hadn’t taken advantage of the initiative. The cost savings are extraordinary—$140 a month if I give up my Downtown parking spot and go all in on C-pass (which is free for me). I also

Aboard COTA

scooTin’: I didn’t plan on using one of the new scooter services, but when I couldn’t find a Lime bike near my offices Downtown—and I was too intimidated by CoGo Bike Share’s docking station—I gave scootin’ a try.

It turned out to be easy, efficient and affordable. I rode a Lime scooter—an option that wasn’t even imagined 13 years ago— all the way home via the Fourth Street bike path, zipping by congested traffic in the Short North.

It cost me $3.15 and took me 21 minutes, quicker than my usual car drive.

If the weather is good, it’s hard to beat.

The Joy of Walking:

found the bus commute pleasant and convenient, an improvement upon my experiences 13 years ago. I’d be crazy not to ride the bus to work every day—if it weren’t for one thing:

The cello ProBleM: My wife and I drop our daughter off at her elementary school every morning and then pick her up in the evenings at her after-care program. We live about two miles away from her school, but that still doesn’t qualify her for school bus transportation, and we don’t think it’s fair or practical to make her walk, especially on the two days a week she needs to bring her cello to school. As a result, I relied on Lyft and Yellow Cab of Columbus to get my daughter to school during my carless experiment. Both were convenient, fast and the cost was about the same, but if I continued to use the services, I’d eat up my C-pass savings.

This experiment reminded me of something important. When I took my son home from socPhoto ROb haRDiN cer practice one evening and picked up both him and his sister from an after-school program on another, we took the No. 2 bus along High Street and then walked for about a half mile to our home. Those walks were my favorite part of the experiment. The fresh evening air seemed to bring out the best in them and me. We actually talked to each other, and that doesn’t always happen during our car rides home. I don’t think my current circumstances allow me to go carless—or even semi-carless—but I am ready to spend more time moving around the city on my own two feet.

Dave Ghose, Editor November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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Whiteboard

* Reader notes, digital buzz & Columbus CEO coverage updates

tWItteR ReSPONSeS @ColumbusCeOmag @HorizonsCos: A well-deserved high-five for friend and client Jerry Haines and @Volunteerenergy for launching their new smartphone business app NetLines. And more congrats for the recent shout-out in @columbusceomag! take a bow, Jerry!

JANUARY 2019 Estate Planning and Retirement Corporate Hospitality Labor & Employment Law Health Watch: Cardiac Care FOCUS

(Advertising Section) Advertisers can write a full page advertorial that runs opposite a full page ad.

CEO Leaderboards

Hotels Independent Insurance Agencies MBA Programs

Space Closing: November 30

For advertising information, call 614-540-8900 today or email advertise@columbusceo.com

I saw the Office Space profile of Plaskolite offices in the most recent Columbus CEO and wanted to thank you for allowing us to be a part.

VinCE MCMOrrOw Vice president, Fahlgren Mortine With Columbus’ place as a creative hotbed, would it make sense to detail the leadership characteristics for “Columbus Way Community Leadership,” and how other communities can put them to work? The link with our winning the creativity award seems clear.

DiCk wEbstEr, principal, PRM Institute

tOp stOriEs What Does Legalized Sports Gambling Mean for Central Ohio?

Planet Oasis and David Glimcher’s Grand Vision innovation spotlight: Ohio Valley Archaeology Does Not-So Dirty Work nonprofit spotlight: Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation Join Forces small business spotlight: Boren Brothers Uses the Buckeye Advantage

Columbus CEO’s blog features guest columns and additional interviews, breaking news and updates on monthly features.

• Recent appointments.

• Breaking business developments.

• Guest blogs from area experts.

FACeBOOk ReSPONSeS CJDS: We just LOVe seeing our CJDS friends in Columbus CeO! CJDS recently welcomed Sheryl Sandberg to a full house at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts for an intimate and uplifting conversation with our own CJDS parent, board member, and Vice President of the the Wexner Foundation, Jay Moses. #CJDS #thestoryofyourchildscreation #aneveningwithsherylsandberg #NewAlbany #columbusceo (Comments in response to the October Editor’s Notes: Lessons from Obama; Les Wexner’s Break with the GOP) Jim scholl: Good riddance Andrew Murphy: Jim scholl Yes, good riddance to that morally bankrupt party. nathan robinson: If that’s his reason for leaving then he was never a real Republican. scott Ellsworth: Cue people saying they’ll never shop at his stores again. Lol. kevin reardon: Nothing burger story. rey Azteca: Blue all the way

6 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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Breakdown Compiled by dave ghose + Photo by Rob haRdin + Designed by Yogesh ChaudhaRY

Free Ride

What does it take to get downtown commuters to take the bus? Free passes, apparently. Ridership has increased thirteenfold since the June launch of CoTa’s C-pass program, which is funded by grant money and downtown property owners.

20,423

15,719 16,326 12,452

14,922

15,070

13,710

10,628

1,522

June 3rd Source: COTA

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June 17th

July 1st

July 15th

July 29th

august 12th

august 26th

sept. 9th

sept. 23rd

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profile

By DavE ghOsE + photos by ROb haRDin

Joanna Pinkerton President and CEO

Central Ohio Transit Authority In PosItIon: Since April 2018 PrevIous: Transportation Research Center, Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ohio Department of Transportation, Union County Engineer’s Office educatIon: Ohio Northern

University, bachelor’s of science in civil engineering

Transforming CoTA Joanna Pinkerton prepares central Ohio’s transit agency for a more integrated future.

T

he hard work has paid off for the Central Ohio Transit Authority. In August, the American Public Transportation Association named COTA the best-operated midsize transit system in North America. The national recognition validated nearly 15 years of steady improvements at COTA, which has transformed from a poster child of incompetence to a nimble, efficient and much-admired organization.

Joanna Pinkerton, COTA’s CEO since April, was excited to collect the award in late September at APTA’s annual meeting in Nashville. Yet, she also acknowledges some mixed feelings. “Here’s my biggest struggle with the award,” she says, sitting in a conference room at COTA’s massive

McKinley Avenue bus complex a few days after the conference. “We are really good at what we do here, and I am so proud of our employees. But the landscape is changing. The target is moving. There’s an old expression, ‘If you’re standing still, you’re already behind.’ The real opportunity for anyone in the mobility industry is we have to make sure what we’re doing continues to evolve.”

Note her use of the word “mobility.”

Pinkerton, 42, doesn’t see COTA as a bus company or even as just a transit organization. It should be a “mobility systems integrator.” What that means is COTA can’t just be about fixed bus routes. It also needs to help people connect with other forms of transportation, both public and private, such as ride-sharing services, electric scooters, traditional cab companies and—who knows?—maybe a magnetic train traveling at supersonic speeds through a frictionless tube some day. “The other day, someone said, ‘You’re kind of like our chief mobility officer,’ ” Pinkerton says. “I said I like that title better than CEO because that’s what we’re trying to work on—making sure that people can move in this community.”

As nice as it was to receive the national award, COTA can’t rest on its past successes if it’s going to achieve Pinkerton’s vision. “I’m so glad that the national association recognized us for the work we’ve done, because there’s been a lot going on at COTA,” she says. “But I remind our team, ‘We are best in class, but what class are we judging ourselves against?’ We have to do what’s right for central Ohio, and, quite frankly, I’d like to be the model that leads the nation.”

Indeed, a huge opportunity stands before COTA. A transportation revolution is occurring in the city, sparked by the city’s 2016 victory in the $50 million Smart City Challenge. That achievement has resulted in even more excitement and economic activity, spawning mobility startups, new technologies and major investments from the public and private sectors.

As the largest mover of people in the region—with nearly 19 million trips

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Q&A The other day, someone said, ‘You’re kind of like our chief mobility officer.’ I said I like that title better than CEO.

Do you approach the job differently than your COTA predecessors?

Certainly. I’m facing different issues. I served on a commission with Bill Lhota many, many years ago when I worked at Union County. He was dealing with financial issues at COTA. They were having challenges with revenue and the ability to provide service. Thankfully, that’s not the case for me. Then my direct predecessor [Curtis Stitt] was leading through aging fleet and sustainability issues. The past leadership have made great decisions and put us in good shape to operate well.

What we’re facing now is to provide more service to the community and to solve problems that no one has an answer to yet—congestion as our community grows, reducing pollution, providing more equitable access to people who have barriers and ensuring that households that are struggling can move really efficiently.

Is the business community more supportive of COTA than in the past?

No doubt. Any company you hear right now is clamoring and talking about the shortage of skilled workforce, and they’re talking about the challenges they face with getting people to and from work. All of the corporate community leaders here—they’ve reached out to me, and we’ve talked about what they’re facing. Their presidents and their CEOs are sitting down with me with no agenda, saying, “This is what I’m dealing with in my company.” They have been very welcoming. They see [transportation] as an issue impacting their bottom line.

Is COTA still considering light rail as an option?

The voters made that decision with the levy that was voted down. We don’t have any programmed plans, capital plans for light rail. What we do have our eye on is where we would need to have more mass movements of people along corridors, and those analyses are mode-agnostic.

Then when it becomes time to make those type of investments, we would work with the community to decide which mode is appropriate. There’s some really cool research coming out of the East Coast and Europe showing platooned buses that can exceed the capacity of light rail in dedicated lanes because of how they can be spaced differently.

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made in 2017—COTA is well positioned to capitalize on the moment.

William Murdock, the executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, says today’s dynamic transportation scene requires a new kind of leader at COTA. He says the agency needs a chief executive who understands the needs of the people who ride COTA the most, while also embracing new technologies and collaborating with community partners, including the business sector. “It’s a tough balancing act, but this is a time for somebody who’s able to see the future of transportation and mobility for where it’s going but not forget those who really depend on it,�

Murdock says.

Murdock, who served on the search committee that recommended hiring

Those who are getting to know me here at COTA know I’m a solutions-based thinker.

WE FIGHT

Pinkerton, says she’s the ideal person for the task. She’s energetic, collaborative, thoughtful and forward-thinking, with a strong track record in her previous roles at Ohio State, the state of Ohio and Union County. “We need to make things happen, and she’s got a history of it,� Murdock says. “She’s set up for it.�

Finding Solutions After graduating with a degree in civil engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1998, Pinkerton went into the construction field. She worked at Bellefontaine’s Thomas and Marker Construction, which has handled a variety of projects throughout the state, from the Freed Center for Performing Arts at Ohio Northern University— where, coincidentally, Pinkerton, a violinist and a French-horn player, attended on a full-ride, music-performance scholarship—to the Polar Frontier exhibit at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. “I really love construction,� she says. “I love to build things.�

Her move into the transportation field wasn’t expected. While taking

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some time off following the birth of her first son, Pinkerton was recruited

by Steve Stolte, then the elected Union County engineer, to join him in Marysville. She worked for Stolte from 2004 to 2009, overseeing all development processes across the board (water, sewer, roads, bike paths and more) during a time of extraordinary growth. “That set the tone for my entire career,� Pinkerton says. “What I learned there was consensus building, including bringing very disparate people and disparate opinions around a table to work on a solution. Those who are getting to know me here at COTA know that I’m a solutions-based thinker—what are we trying to solve, and how do we get there? That’s what I learned at Union County.�

In 2009, Jolene Molitoris, then Gov. Ted Strickland’s director of the Ohio Department of Transportation, hired Pinkerton to serve as her development coordinator. “She said, ‘I want you to do exactly what you’re doing in Union County statewide,’ â€? Pinkerton says. “Thankfully, I was young and naĂŻve enough to believe that that sounded very reasonable.â€?

Pinkerton’s focus was to make sure that state transportation officials worked hand-in-hand with what was then the Ohio Department of Development, connecting economic development to infrastructure investment. She spent every Friday at the Department of Development’s offices, immersed with the team there, looking at deals and evaluating the impact they could have on the community. “That was a really incredible experience,� she says.

She continued to work for the state under Gov. John Kasich, serving as ODOT’s central Ohio regional manager. Again, she focused on connecting infrastructure to economic growth, and she built ties to local economic development stakeholders focused on job growth during the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Stu Nicholson worked with Pinkerton at ODOT. “She is one of the most quietly brilliant people I think I’ve ever met in the transportation business,� says Nicholson, who served as the spokesman for the Ohio Rail Commission. “Last-mile� solutions are a much-discussed topic today, as business, public and civic leaders try

to figure out ways to better connect people from public transit to their final destinations, such as their jobs or their homes. Yet Nicholson recalls talking with Pinkerton about that issue during their time together at the state about eight years ago. “She’s very forwardlooking,� he says.

Pinkerton continued to focus on the future of transportation and building community partnerships at her next employer, Ohio State University, where she served as the chief operating officer for the Center for Automotive Research

Central Ohio Transit Authority 33 N. High St., Columbus 43215 Founded: 1972 About: COTA is the regional public transit provider for the Columbus region. With a service area of 1.2 million residents, the agency provides nearly 19 million passenger trips annually. budget: $239 million employees: 1,150

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and the co-director of the Honda-Ohio State Partnership after leaving state government in 2012. Her next move came when she took a job overseeing strategy, capital investments and new partnerships for the Transportation Research Center, an affiliate of Ohio State in East Liberty and North America’s largest independent transportation proving ground.

While at TRC, the recruiting firm BeecherHill approached her about taking the helm at COTA. COTA’s leaders spent about a year looking for a replacement for Curtis Stitt, who retired in 2017. During his nearly six years at the helm, Stitt continued the operations improvements and strong financial stewardship that started under his predecessor, Bill Lhota. Last year, COTA debuted a complete redesign of its bus system that better aligned service with community needs. The new grid-like system improved efficiencies, boosting ridership by 9 percent and bringing 100,000 more residents and 110,000 more jobs within a quarter mile of a stop. That was accomplished with 34 fewer buses in operation—a nearly 10 percent drop from before.

Pinkerton, who’d never worked for a transit organization before, acknowledges having some doubts about the job at first. But after speaking with COTA officials and community leaders, she warmed to the idea. She was intrigued by COTA’s internal strength, as well as the opportunity to lead the organization during a time of great technological and cultural change.

“Maybe I didn’t know the transit world specifically, but I’ve been through [transformation] before,” she says.

“That made me more comfortable with joining the team.”

An Energetic Leader Pinkerton’s energy was apparent from the start at COTA. On her first day on the $305,000-a-year job in April, she showed up before dawn to introduce herself to and ride the bus with the first-shift operators. “She was right there, welcoming folks to their work and starting her day with them,” Murdock says.

“She seems to have an aggressive leadership style,” says Andrew Jordan, president of the Transit Workers Union

Local 208, which represents 870 workers, including 700 bus drivers.

He notes that she wasted little time in making some administrative restructuring moves, shifting all training programs, for instance, to the human resources department, a decision the union supported. She also engaged Jordan right away, setting up a meeting with him within a few days from her start date. “It wasn’t, ‘Hey, I need to get my feet on the ground and running and then I’ll meet with you,’ ” Jordan says.

Pinkerton has moved quickly to shore up the organization’s involvement with community economic development projects, one of the top priorities COTA trustees gave her. She’s used her contacts to keep COTA top of mind as big projects get underway, such as new corporate headquarters for CoverMyMeds and White Castle.

“We want to be more integrated in the economic development community,” Pinkerton says. In the past, transportation and transit tended to enter the conversation late in the game. “I think I’ve seen that transformation already— thinking of COTA as a partner at the front end,” she says.

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Internally, an ambitious change agenda is also underway. COTA is working with Smart Columbus to build a new multi-modal app that will incorporate other forms of transportation, such as ride-sharing services, to help people reach their destinations more efficiently. COTA hopes to debut the app next year. The following year, COTA plans to roll out its online payment system and is considering what to do next with its C-pass program. Funded by grant money and Downtown property owners, C-pass provides bus passes to Downtown workers to encourage transit use and ease parking and traffic congestion. COTA is now considering whether to expand the concept to other work and population centers.

All the change has caused some uneasiness within COTA. The transit union launched a campaign, called “People Before Robots,” warning that driverless vehicles pose a threat to jobs and safety. Pinkerton says COTA has no plans to implement autonomous vehicles at the moment. She also points out that automated vehicle experiments currently underway elsewhere include operators on board. “Even with

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automation, there are still operations that go on,” she says. Still, Jordan, the union leader, would like COTA’s leaders to take a stronger stance against automation. “We need COTA to come out and say, ‘We’re backing our union, and we will keep the bus operators in the seat.’ ” Trudy Bartley, chair of the COTA Board of Trustees, is confident that Pinkerton can get buy-in from internal stakeholders as she navigates these technological and cultural challenges.

“It’s difficult because transportation is changing,” Bartley says. “With transportation changing, some of the skill sets are going to change as well. I think she is very good as far as reaching people where they are and not being prescriptive.”

Nicholson, Pinkerton’s former ODOT colleague, echoes Bartley. “I think Joanna is going to be one of the best leaders that COTA has ever had,” he says. “She’s lived her life in engineering and transportation and developing new ideas. I think she’s going to be fun to watch.”

Dave Ghose is the editor.

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November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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thought lEadEr of thE Month

EnsurE Your MarkEting gEts rEsults

Before pushing out a product, make sure there is a market for it.

Y

ou know that feeling when you spend thousands of dollars on a marketing campaign and then, well, nothing happens?

Many business owners dive into marketing efforts expecting overnight success—a huge bump in sales, increased traffic to the website, a product going viral on social media. And it’s easy to fantasize about this, because we’ve all read stories about entrepreneurs and businesses realizing success due to home-run marketing campaigns.

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Businesses do this all the time. They assume marketing is the problem when they don’t get great results because they forget the other major variable at play: the market demand for their product.

This is a common theme my team at Adept Marketing sees with the 200-plus entrepreneurs and businesses we meet with each year—businesses jumping into investing money in developing and marketing a new product, without taking time to study the market need.

Before marketing ever comes into play, businesses need to step back and study the product/market fit, or “the degree to which a product satisfies a strong market demand” (Andreessen, 2007). This is a critical step many businesses ignore, and as a result learn a tough and expensive lesson. Because when product/market fit is not strong, marketing always fails.

In contrast, when product/market fit is strong, marketing can be like gasoline on a fire.

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How do you know if you have product/ market fit? Put your product in front of people you know are ideal customers.

The Sean Ellis test for product/market fit suggests the “40 percent rule.” If at least 40 percent of surveyed customers consider the product or service a “must have,” then you have product/market fit.

What should you do if you don’t have a good product/market fit? Take a step back.

Align your product with various markets and make sure you know which market is most ideal. Then identify the potential buyers in that market through research and interviewing.

Test your product and service. Test, test and test some more, making sure to gather feedback about what potential customers like and don’t like.

Make modifications. Be open-minded and willing to make modifications based on feedback from the testing. If potential customers suggest changes to the product or price, test them.

Develop the go-to-market and marketing strategy. Once you’re confident about the product/market fit, develop a marketing strategy to introduce your product to ideal customers.

While product/market testing takes time and resources, the investment is worth it to ensure marketing efforts are the catalyst for reaching your business goals.

Digital marketing, where our team at Adept Marketing specializes, is especially primed for executing and showing results when done with the right product/market fit. Through knowing the market demand for the product and service, along with identifying the right audiences, we work with businesses to design and execute campaigns to reach the right people, drive them to action and achieve meaningful results.

—Justin Spring

While product/market testing takes time and resources, the investment is worth it to ensure marketing efforts are the catalyst for reaching your business goals.

Justin Spring

Co-Founder, Adept Marketing

jspring@adeptmarketing.com

adept Marketing 855 Grandview Ave., Suite 140 Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 285-3044 adeptmarketing.com

10/18/18 3:29 PM

BrIEfING

By ChlOE TEaslEy + Photo by Dan TriTTsChuh

Eddie George Inc. The Ohio State legend talks about how he found business success after football.

E

ddie George has moved on from football. He owns EDGE, a Columbus-based landscape architecture and development company and Edward George Wealth Management. The Nashville resident teaches at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business—a class called “How to Leverage Athletics for Business and Personal Success.” He even starred in a Broadway production of Chicago.

But getting there wasn’t easy.

George had to rebound from what he describes as a time of uncertainty and depression following the end of his nine-year football career in 2004.

During a recent visit to Columbus to speak at the annual conference of OSU’s Risk Institute, George sat down with Columbus CEO to share his thoughts on his own ventures and on the business of sports.

Of all your roles—what is your favorite hat to wear?

Whatever hat that I wear in that present moment—that’s my favorite.

I’m very in the moment. When I’m acting, that’s who I am in that moment. If I’m an entrepreneur, that’s who I am in that moment. If it’s being a father, that’s who I am in that moment. So there’s not, “I choose to do this [one thing].” Some people feel comfortable with that, but that hasn’t been my calling, so if I’m a speaker right now, that’s what I love to do. I’ll transition into my sweats, and I’ll just be lazy Eddie.

How do you juggle so many different opportunities and endeavors?

I don’t necessarily focus on ancillary opportunities like being a passive

investor. Instead, I’m building my business, establishing relationships— that’s the core. Once that gets to a level where it’s mature, then I can begin to expand on other tentacles within the business. My sole focus, 95 percent of the time, is spent on developing that. … Any other opportunities that would appear to enhance [my wealth management business], I’ll consider it, but if it’s a startup or anything that requires a great deal of risk, then I’m not interested at this point in time.

Have you sought out mentors in business? Why are they important?

I have different mentors for different things. … I like to say they’re my board of directors. They don’t know it, but they are. Any time I have a question on anything, I usually try to run it by them. … You want to have people in your life to help you realize and reach your full potential.

Having the right mentors is having a great deal of humility to say, “I know

what I’ve experienced, but let me take it to someone that has a little bit more experience and give me their perspective.” It’s not just about having mentors, but also being a mentor yourself and having people that you can pour into.

Is there an area of business you haven’t yet entered but would like to?

Eventually, I would love to delve into ownership of a sports team.

That’s something I’m passionate about. There is this burning image in my head of my teammate [former NFL wide receiver] Kevin Dyson stretching out for the goal line. … Stretching out, trying to score the tying touchdown to win the Super Bowl, and that has always eluded me. So my goal is to win a Lombardi trophy, but [mainly to] create a championship culture.

Sports teams to me have lost their mission or their purpose. It’s all about the bottom line, revenue.

–Chloe Teasley

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MIDDLEWESTSPIRITS.COM

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spotlight

By Kathy Lynn Gray + photo by rOb hardin

small Business

taxi turnaround Yellow Cab of Columbus embraces technology to compete in the era of Uber.

N

othing short of a revolution is going on at Yellow Cab of Columbus. Owner Morgan Kauffman is revamping the 90-year-old taxi company from top to bottom, hoping to keep it relevant and forward-thinking in a world where ride-sharing services have been threatening its very existence.

“When we decided to change the direction of where Columbus Yellow Cab was going, we didn’t start by adding electric vehicles, and we didn’t start by adding technology,” says Kauffman, 48, who has been at the helm for nearly five years. “We foundationally rebuilt who we are and what we stand for. And that’s been one of the most powerful things we’ve done.”

As the grandson of founder Frank Kauffman, Morgan Kauffman feels a

Yellow Cab of Columbus 1989 Camaro Ave., Columbus 43207 columbusyellowcab.com abOut: Yellow Cab Columbus was founded

in 1928 by Frank Kauffman using proceeds from his produce stand at the North Market. grandson Morgan Kauffman is the third generation of Kauffmans to run the company, whose parent company is Columbus green Cabs inc.

OwnEr: privately held EmpLOyEEs: Under 50 drivErs: Under 300

morgan Kauffman deep responsibility to the company his grandfather started in 1928 with one taxi purchased from proceeds of his North Market fruit-and-vegetable stand. Soon, Frank Kauffman was buying up other taxicab companies, which eventually were consolidated under the name Yellow Cab. The company hummed along for decades as a family business but began to falter when Uber and Lyft began operating in Columbus in early 2014, draining away customers and, in some cases, drivers. That’s when Kauffman, who grew up in Bexley and ran a trucking company for 20 years, stepped in. “People talk about the taxi industry as being disrupted but I think that’s evolution,” he says.

First, Kauffman looked at the company’s culture and developed a single purpose for employees and drivers: To connect people to the things that are most important in their lives. “Our drivers aren’t just picking someone up and dropping

them off,” Kauffman says. “They’re empowering people to get from Point A to Point B. When a driver feels empowered, and passes that on to the backseat customer, it comes out with kindness, a smile, while doing it all safely. We want to look at everything through the lens of humanity.”

Yellow Cab also has modernized taxi access, creating a cellphone app that allows a rider to order a cab, estimate the cost and time of arrival and pay for the ride with a few taps—similar to the Uber and Lyft apps that have become popular in recent years.

Last year, the company began using a Verizon product, Share Solutions, which allows drivers to find and reserve taxis from Yellow Cab’s fleet and pay for them without time-consuming electronic paperwork. Kauffman also is experimenting with placing cabs all around the city so that drivers can access them quickly, rather than the current system of having all the taxis at Yellow Cab’s main office and hav-

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ing drivers pick them up there.

In addition to technology, the taxis themselves are changing. Kauffman plans to eventually replace all its gasoline-powered taxis—Crown Victorias in recent years—to green vehicles. The company already uses some hybrids and Toyota Priuses in its 200-vehicle fleet and recently added 10 electric Chevy Bolts. Yellow Cab was able to purchase the pricy Bolts in part because of $30,000 in rebates from the Smart Columbus program, an initiative to make transportation in the region more energy efficient through data and technology.

Yellow Cab has been collaborating with Smart Columbus for two years, Kauffman says, including sharing GPS data to determine where electric-car charging stations should be placed in central Ohio. “Morgan has been helping us understand transportation providers,� says Mandy Bishop, program manager for Smart Columbus. “He’s very forward-thinking, trying to reposition his business.�

Yellow Cab was the only company that applied for Smart Columbus’ electric-car grants this year, and

Bishop expects the company to apply for another $90,000 in grants Smart Columbus is offering in the fall for transportation companies to purchase 30 electric vehicles.

Kauffman also is interested in participating in a Smart Columbus project to create a multi-modal transportation app that would allow users to find the cheapest or the fastest way to travel from one point to another using more than one mode of transportation.

Bishop says the app should roll out next summer with COTA and “one other option, which could be Yellow Cab.� More modes of transportation would be added after that, she says.

Driver and passenger safety has been another priority for Kauffman.

New drivers must have FBI and BCI

“People talk about the taxi industry as being disrupted, but I think that’s evolution.� mOrgan kauffman CEO & owner, Yellow Cab of Columbus

background checks, take in-house “taxi university� classes and have mentors.

Each company cab is equipped with cameras—one on the road, one on the driver and one on the back seat—as well as a GPS tracking system so that “everyone’s protected,� Kauffman says.

One problem the company hasn’t had, Kauffman says, is a lack of drivers. “We have in the last few years been attracting more Uber and Lyft drivers,�

Kauffman says. “They were looking for more support, and they couldn’t get it with the other companies.� He believes one reason is that Yellow Cab provides more services to drivers, such as a vehicle switch-out service, available even for drivers who own their own cab, so that drivers can go back to work even if their vehicle breaks down. Competitors don’t offer that, he says.

Kauffman believes that, with all the changes, Yellow Cab is on solid footing for the future. “We’ve been around for 90 years and we’d like to be around for another 90,� he says. “The silver bullet is paying attention to what the customer needs.�

Kathy Lynn Gray is a freelance writer.

November 14, 2018 Expo: 10–Noon Awards: Noon–1:30

Meet leading family businesses at our annual Expo.

Celebrate outstanding family businesses at our 20th annual Awards luncheon.

Info@FamilyBusinessCenter.com

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SPotlIght

By MElissa KOsslEr DuttOn + Photo by rOb HarDin

Innovation

Power Play With its $185 million commitment to create the electrical backbone of Smart Columbus, no company is making a bigger commitment to the initiative than AEP.

A

EP Ohio, the unit within the larger company that serves 1.5 million homes and business in central, southeast and northwest Ohio, has pledged to work with the city to modernize the transportation network and reduce carbon emissions in both the transportation and electric power sectors. The utility has committed $185 million to the project—the biggest contribution from any public or private partner in the Smart Columbus initiative.

The Columbus-based utility is helping provide the “backbone” necessary for the initiative’s success, says Jordan

“the world’s changing.

Customers’ needs are changing. We have to deliver what’s next.” juliE slOat President & CEo, AEP ohio

AEP ohio 700 Morrison Road, gahanna 43230 aepohio.com abOut: Electric utility within the larger

corporate company that serves 1.5 million homes and business in central, southeast and northwest ohio.

EMplOyEEs: 1,582 2017 rEvEnuE: $324 million

julie sloat at the smart Columbus Experience Center Davis, director of Smart Columbus for the Columbus Partnership. “AEP cast a vision that aligns with us and put its corporate muscle behind this project,” she says.

AEP Ohio was eager to join the Smart City effort because the plan gelled with its own goals and provided an opportunity to improve the lives of consumers, says Julie Sloat, president and chief operating officer for AEP Ohio. “The timing is ideally aligned with and suited to what we’re doing,” Sloat says. “The world’s changing. Customers’ needs are changing. We have to deliver what’s next.”

Much of “what’s next” is not so far off, adds Jon Williams, AEP Ohio’s director of distribution technology and innovation. He encourages people to test drive a Tesla—the premier

electric car—to see firsthand what’s coming to the automotive industry.

Teslas are equipped with self-driving hardware that can park the vehicle hands-free in your garage, he says.

Other less-expensive models currently available in showrooms share many of the object-sensing features that will be the foundation for the self-driving vehicles of the future.

Williams is equally excited by the role AEP Ohio will play in the electric mobility revolution. As part of its Smart City commitments, the company has pledged to add to the region 300 “level 2 chargers” (charging stations that use a higher-output 240-volt power source) and 75 “DC fast chargers” (which charge vehicles even more quickly). To further incentivize consumers, AEP Ohio sought and received approval from the Public

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Utilities Commission of Ohio to establish a rebate program for the hardware, network services and installation of the charging infrastructure for those 375 units. Officials believe it is the first approved rebate program for electricvehicle charging in the Midwest.

The $10 million program will offer rebates for site owners to install charging stations, with 10 percent of the stations to be located in low-income areas, Sloat says. Though the project will “not bring a lot of dollars into our coffers,” Sloat says it’s a way to help create “a level playing field” for central Ohioans with mobility challenges.

Improvements to the grid also will play a role in making electric vehicle usage more efficient. The utility will be able to coordinate when customers charge their vehicles and take advantage of off-peak usage hours to maximize usage.

Customers also can take advantage of the information provided by smart meters. A downloadable app will show their usage in real time. They will be able to see how they are using electricity and make adjustments as they see fit.

A key component of Smart Columbus’—and AEP’s—efforts is using advanced tools to assist people living in underserved communities. The hope is that electric vehicles will improve the mass transit system and therefore play a role in helping people get to jobs, doctors’ appointments or the grocery store, Williams says. The region’s expected growth demands that leaders look for innovative solutions that can increase access, he says.

By establishing the new charging stations, AEP Ohio also hopes to address consumers’ range anxiety—the fear that an electric vehicle would not have the range to get occupants where they need to go. In most cases, that fear is “more of a perceived problem than a real problem,” Williams says. Still, having charging opportunities at home, work or in public places will increase comfort levels, he says.

“Smart City is a real clear opportunity for public-private partnerships to really work together to solve this problem,” he says. “These innovations are driven by real need. There are opportunities for greater social good.”

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DON’T MISS A WORD THIS SEASON. On the field. In the locker room.

On the recruiting trail.

If it’s happening in Scarlet & Gray, it’s happening here.

Melissa Kossler Dutton is a freelance writer.

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spOtlight

By LauriE aLLEn + photo by rOb hardin

Nonprofit

in the Driver’s seat DriveOhio is paving the way for autonomous vehicles and other innovations in Ohio.

I

n his position as executive director of DriveOhio, Jim Barna is a bit of a mobility matchmaker.

As he sees it, much of his role is making connections among government, business and education leaders to shape a safe, reliable transportation system designed for the future.

Gov. John Kasich in January launched DriveOhio as a hub for smart mobility development, testing and deployment. So far, Barna is pleased. “This has probably exceeded my expectations in serving that role, making those matches,” he says. “The idea is we’re not a big pot of money, but we’re coming in and facilitating conversations between interested parties.”

Barna believes DriveOhio is unique in its multi-faceted approach. “Everybody has ‘smart’ initiatives, but nothing like this.”

DriveOhio has four pillars: safety,

DriveOhio

1980 W. Broad st., Columbus 43223 driveohio.gov abOut: DriveOhio, under the auspices of

the Ohio Department of transportation, brings together various public and private entities involved in smart mobility research, development and implementation.

EmpLOyEEs: 12 ExECutivE dirECtOr: Jim Barna OwnEr: publicly owned budgEt: $5 million

Jim barna mobility, reliability and workforce. It currently involves six projects, which are in various stages of development and execution: • U.S. 33 Smart Mobility Corridor: The Ohio Department of Transportation is equipping a 35-mile stretch of highway between Dublin and East Liberty with fiber-optic cable and wireless roadside sensors to allow open-road testing of autonomous and connected vehicles.

• I-90 Lake Effect Corridor: With part of the highway running through the “snow belt,” ODOT is equipping a 60-mile stretch with short-range digital communications and will test wireless technologies to better manage the roadway and reduce crashes.

• I-670 Smart Lane: Slated to go live next fall, the state’s first “smart lane” will turn the eastbound shoulder between Downtown Columbus and John Columbus Glenn International Airport into a travel lane dur-

ing peak congestion.

• Ohio Turnpike: Because of excess capacity, the 241-mile turnpike gives researchers the ability to reserve a lane in each direction for testing autonomous and connected vehicles while keeping the other lanes open.

• Connected Marysville: Marysville is installing short-range communication units in its traffic signals, which will communicate with public and private vehicles equipped with onboard units. The pilot is designed to test and fine-tune how connected vehicles interact to improve safety and congestion and reduce emissions.

• Smart Columbus: The city of Columbus, named the winner of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s first Smart City Challenge, is creating a first-of-its-kind smart mobility system to address issues such as access to transportation, connectivity and fuel emissions. A key issue is connecting people with public transit systems in

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Jim barna, executive director, DriveOhio a more efficient and convenient way.

Other projects include the I-75 Worklink aimed at connecting workers with logistics enterprises in southwest Ohio.

Barna says Ohio is ideally suited for many cutting-edge transportation projects. Automotive research, manufacturing and technology clusters along Route 33 are important assets, as is the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty. TRC is the largest independent automotive proving ground in North America and home to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Research and Test Center.

The state of Ohio, Ohio State University and JobsOhio have invested $45 million in the first phase of the Smart Mobility Advanced Research and Test Center at TRC to test autonomous and connected vehicle technology. TRC President and CEO Brett Roubinek says he sees more companies exploring possibilities, including the insurance industry. “With vehicles now full of sensors, this affects the frequency and severity of crashes,� he says.

More than 300,000 crashes occurred on Ohio roads in 2016, 94 percent of which were caused by driver error. “Advances in this space will save lives for sure,� Roubinek says.

In addition to the roadway initiatives, two unmanned aircraft projects look to play a role in traffic management and safety, and in commercial applications. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center at the SpringfieldBeckley Municipal Airport has a ground-based radar system that allows operators to test drones beyond the line of sight. The only other locations with similar capacity are in New Mexico and California.

Even though a new governor will take office in January, Barna is confident in DriveOhio’s future. “This technology should solve a lot of our transportation issues, and I really think the new administration, whoever it is, will see the benefits.�

Laurie Allen is a freelance writer.

Who’s moving and shaking this Week?

Find out when you become a Columbus Ceo insider sign-up today at ColumbusCeo.com

I am an orchestra conductor. My work begins far before anybody sees me on stage. I have learned that I need to dig deep into a piece to discover real meaning—

What inspires me most about Columbus is that the people of Columbus really try to make this city the best it can be. Because of this spirit there is a real buzz now in Columbus surrounding the arts. How cool is that?

I’m David Danzmayr, music is my art and there’s no place I’d rather make it.

Learn more about David’s story and other Columbus artists and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

Additional support from: The Sol Morton and Dorothy Isaac, Rebecca J. Wickersham and Lewis K. Osborne funds at The Columbus Foundation.

Photo: Rick Buchanan | Design: Formation Studio

“This technology should solve a lot of our transportation issues.�

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sPOtlight Commercial Real Estate

Moving Parts With transportation in flux in central Ohio, real estate developers must consider an uncertain future as they build their projects today.

C

ommercial real estate developers face plenty of “what ifs” as they consider the many potential shifts, including some already under way, in how the region will move workers and residents from Point A to Point B in the future.

Just since the first of this year, the Central Ohio Transit Authority has launched its CMAX streamlined bus service between Downtown Columbus and Westerville. It also started a C-pass partnership with Downtown businesses that provides free COTA bus passes to commuting workers.

Smart Columbus—the public-private smart-city initiative—is up to its axles with ideas on the next big things in transportation. They include selfdriving cars, electric-vehicle charging stations in parking garages, and microtransit systems aimed at getting workers to where the jobs are. Add to the mix ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, those pesky electric scooters that seemingly popped up overnight in Columbus earlier this year and

maybe even a street-car or passenger rail system farther down the road, and you have a recipe for uncertainty.

Commercial real estate developers have to try to factor those potential transportation changes into their longterm planning, says Michael Schiff, whose Schiff Capital Group has been heavily involved in Downtown and Short North projects. “But nothing is guaranteed, and no one has a crystal ball,” he says.

Some developers, both locally and nationally, are hedging their bets by building parking garages that can be converted to offices, retail spaces and even multi-family housing should transportation changes lower parking demand, especially in high-density areas. As an example, Woods Cos. plans to build a five-level parking structure in the Short North with the intention of converting it to offices or housing should parking demand ever wane.

“You have to be cognizant of what could come about,” says Schiff, whose company plans to use the Woods Cos. garage for a mixed-use project, The Lincoln, in development at 711 N. High St. “Parking garages made to be convertible is a smart way to do it.”

The shifting transportation landscape comes up in just about every conversation that developers have on projects, says Brian Suiter, director of real estate development for Kaufman Development in Columbus. It is of special concern to project underwriters such as banks and financiers thinking about the long-term viability of investments in parking garages.

“We’re in a unique stage of transportation,” he says. “We need to solve the needs of today and think critically about what’s coming down the road.”

For example, Kaufman Development builds in infrastructure for elec-

Photo ROB hARdiN

By JEff BEll

Brian Suiter

“We’re really focused on working with commercial developers and where jobs will go and businesses want to relocate in Columbus.”

MiChaEl BradlEy Chief development officer, COtA

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Photo courtesy CaPiTal CrOssrOads sid

Cleve Ricksecker

File/Columbus CEO/Tim JOhNsON

The Lincoln at 711 N. High St.

tric vehicle charging stations in its new projects. Suiter says that is an easy fix compared to gauging how transportation changes will affect where to build or redevelop commercial projects. “Our core belief,” he says, “is that Downtown urban dense development is the place we all should be pushing for as a development community.”

That belief is tied in part to the MidOhio Regional Planning Commission’s projection that the region could add another million people by 2050. “We need to be critical and think proactively about where we add those people and how we get them around the city,” Suiter says.

Perhaps light rail or a bus rapid transit system could be part of the answer.

Talks about passenger rail here have gone nowhere in the past, but MORPC’s current study of how high-capacity transit along five busy corridors in the region could better serve residents may move the needle on discussions about next-generation transportation.

Real estate developers will be tuned into such discussions because transportation is one of their chief concerns when evaluating project sites, says Jim Schimmer, director of economic development and planning for Franklin County. They want ease of access to their sites for workers, as well as the trucks and trains that deliver materials and ship their products.

One of the big things Schimmer sees impacting real estate development down the road is what he calls “nodal development.” That means highdensity development will spring up around transportation “nodes” such as passenger rail stations and stops on bus rapid transit routes.

Schimmer also says he has been encouraged by the partnerships that COTA is forging in the community.

They include the C-pass program in the Downtown and improved bus service to the Rickenbacker area and New Albany International Business Park. In the latter two cases, local officials have introduced shuttle services to move workers from COTA bus stops to their places of employment. “We’re really focused on working with commercial developers and where jobs will go and businesses want to relocate in Columbus,” says Michael Bradley, chief development officer at COTA. That includes being involved in early discussions about new projects

so COTA can have bus routes and infrastructure in place to serve new or expanded businesses from day one.

Bradley says COTA is focused on the importance of getting workers to their jobs and supporting economic development in Columbus and its suburbs. The CMAX and C-pass programs are two examples of that. Launched in January, CMAX features limited stops and traffic signal priority to move buses more quickly along Cleveland Avenue between Downtown and Polaris Parkway in Westerville. It is designed to speed up trips by 20 percent.

C-pass, which began in May, is aimed at motivating more of Downtown’s 45,000 workers to take the bus.

Workers can get free COTA passes underwritten by property owners in the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and MORPC. Cleve Ricksecker, Capital Crossroads’ executive director, says about 5 percent of Downtown employees ride the bus.

C-pass is aiming to increase that ridership rate to 10 percent, freeing 2,250 parking spaces in the process.

That is critical, Ricksecker says, because Downtown parking is maxed out. No new parking lots are planned at this point, he says, and surface lots are being lost to new housing and mixeduse projects. That makes it difficult for property owners and leasing agents to land office tenants, driving vacancy rates up and lease rates down.

Ricksecker says C-pass is somewhat of an easy sell since people like a bargain. In addition, many workers, especially young professionals, like the idea of working Downtown and using public transit to get there.

“It’s big city life and something people aspire to,” he says, adding that transportation in the future will be shaped more by lifestyle changes than technology.

He is also convinced that transportation will continue to be the single biggest factor that affects real estate development in the region.

“If you build an interchange on a highway, it will focus [development] on a cornfield,” Ricksecker says. “If you build a fixed guideway transit line—bus or rail—it will focus it on that corridor and the central city. The choice we make will determine what the region looks like in 30 years.”

Jeff Bell is a freelance writer.

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Agenda

CEO COrNEr

Compiled by DavE GhOsE

Up tO tHE CHAllENgE

Employee turnover was identified as a local challenge in the 2017 Central Ohio CEO Survey conducted by Capital University for Columbus CEO. Here are how some past CEO of the Year honorees are addressing it.

Dee Anders

Rebecca Asmo

Tom Feeney

Alex Fischer

Ronald McDonald house Charities CEO and Executive Director

Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus CEO

safelite Group president and CEO

Columbus Partnership president and CEO

We are fortunate at rMHC to have a culture where our team knows they are making a tangible impact each day. this is a huge part of job satisfaction for any workplace.

We hire people who are a good fit and share similar values with the team.

We encourage our team to blaze their own path—to create a job that challenges and fulfills them.

We celebrate good ideas and stretch to implement them whenever possible.

While we serve families and try to make their day better, we do the same for our team members.

We encourage our team to value a work-life balance and make family a priority.

the number one reason that a kid returns to the Boys & girls Clubs each day is a relationship they have with a staff person. In our business, staff attrition puts kids’ futures–and lives–at risk.

Staff retention is challenging for Clubs given that 67 percent of our staff are part-time and our age demographics skew young.

But we have seen a lot of success in reducing employee turnover by positioning front-line entry-level positions as leadership fellowships that are a critical step in an individual’s professional and personal development. Our organization’s leadership is focused on increasing employee engagement and ensuring all staff–regardless of their role–feel valued.

At Safelite, we believe the customer experience is grounded in our associate experience and that our business performance is powered by our people.

With our national unemployment rate at a record low, competition for talent is fierce, making it all the more critical to focus on engaging and retaining the talented people we need today and for our future.

We approach this in a number of ways, but it starts with having great leaders who drive performance by putting their people first, ensuring their teams are set up for success and that they feel both fulfilled and rewarded for their hard work.

Extraordinary results are an outcome of that.

Our team recognizes that it’s an honor to be focused making our community better. We get up each day thinking about the future of Columbus, and that alone is a very motivating reason to come to work. And, we’re committed to providing things that make for a great workplace. We value the importance of life outside of work, and we allow flexibility in work schedules.

We offer exceptional retirement, health and lifestyle benefits, which we’ve maintained and added to year after year—our most recent addition is an incentive to drive electric. the work environment is as collaborative and hardworking as any you’ll find, and the team prioritizes time together outside the office, too.

Central Ohio corporate and nonprofit executives can provide contact information to participate in the 2018 CEO Survey at capital.edu/ceo-survey.

Sponsors of Columbus CEO’s CEO of the Year event on Dec. 12 at the Ohio Statehouse

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The Jeweler of the Short North 689 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-233-6666 | AlexandersColumbus.com SIMONGJEWELRY.COM

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AgendA

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Columbus Museum of Art

Positioned to Prosper socialVentures debuted its annual report showing growth in the local social enterprise scene.

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sherwood navo emmanuel and Benjamin Lagemann James dye and Haley Boehning Matthew goldstein and steve Votaw sanjana Chidambaram, Lillian Vail and Joe deLoss tiffany Wright, stephanie dokko, Jerry tsai and Larry smith sharon teuscher, tracy teuscher and Ashly Priest Briana Miller, tina guegold and shannon duffy sharon teuscher and tracy teuscher

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Agenda

EvENTS CALENDAR: NOvEMBER

Compiled by ChlOE tEaslEy

01

4 Ways to Double Your Revenue Within a Year Time: 8 p.m.-9 p.m.

Location: Online Cost: Free Contact: 877-602-6224 or coachieve.co You will discover: the four ways to double your business; how to do it in less than a year; case studies of real businesses who achieved rapid growth; how to apply these strategies to your own business.

The presenter is a business strategist, entrepreneur, Wall Street veteran, Ivy League graduate and award-winning author.

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Startup Office Hours: Get Business Advice from Experts Time: 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Location: 375 N. Front St. Suite 125, Columbus 43215 Cost: Free Contact: 650-494-4252 or fi.co If you have a startup or startup idea and would like to get feedback and guidance from top local entrepreneurs, then join this public event. At the event, attendees will have the opportunity to pitch expert CEO mentors and ask them questions about their business strategy, key decisions, next steps and more.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how experienced entrepreneurs tackle the To submit a business or professional event, go to the online calendar at ColumbusCEO.eviesays.com and add your listing. All qualifying events will be listed on the website; select events also will appear each month in the magazine.

problems you or others are facing.

06

Detection, Response & Recovery: Successful Data and Cyber Security Time: 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Location: The Grand Event Center, 820 Goodale Blvd.Columbus, 43212 Cost: Free Contact: 540-658-1090 or catalystsolutions.co Data and cyber incidents are a way of life, but only the naïve need succumb. How your organization responds is an essential element to success. Join for a morning seminar to evaluate your security protocol and learn how to better protect your company equity. This event is sponsored by Huntington Bank and IBM.

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The Entrepreneurial Equation Time: 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Location: BRIO Tuscan Grille 1500 Polaris Parkway Columbus 43240 Cost: $25 Contact: 614-787-6201 or touchefinancialsolutions.com As a business owner, you probably have your hands full minding day-to-day activities. Are you taking advantage of the financial strategies and tools available to help you run your business more effectively?

Learn strategies to help you save time, attract and retain employees, and preserve your business for yourself and your heirs. You will also have the opportunity to network with other business owners in our community at this event.

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Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Location: Innovate New Albany, 8000 Walton Parkway New Albany 43054 Cost: Free Contact: 614-315-3357 innovatenewalbany.org

Time: 7:15 a.m.-9 a.m.

Location: Dawson, 1114 Dublin Road, Columbus 43215 Cost: $40 for Chamber members; $55 for nonmembers Contact: 614- 221-1321 or columbus.org

When it comes to building a team for a startup, the name of the game is attraction and retention. Crafting and maintaining a company culture that provides a competitive advantage is critical.

This training session will help you to consider how your values shape your startup’s culture and how culture can both attract and retain needed talent. This training challenges leaders to think about and plan for the type of culture they hope to establish. The event speaker is Denise Kestner, the president of ClearPath HR.

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce created CEO Insights in 2013 with the goal of sharing localized ideas, trends and best practices in critical areas such as leadership, management, innovation and others. The series is defined by conversations with regional leaders in an intimate, studio-type setting.

Melisa Miller is president of Alliance Data’s card services business. Alliance offers private label, co-brand and business products to more than 150 of the world’s most recognizable brands.

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Raising Capital: Taking on Investors

Building Culture from Employee One

Thermostat Cultures Live Time: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Location: The Wells Barn at Franklin Park Conservatory 1777 East Broad Street Columbus 43203 Cost: $595 and up Contact: 800-950-2359 or jasonvbarger.com A one-day gathering of innovative leaders and serial learners committed to creating and shaping relevant, dynamic cultures.

Featuring: Howard Behar, a renowned business leader, author, speaker and mentor who helped grow Starbucks from a coffee company with 28 stores to one with more than 15,000 stores spanning five continents.

CEO Insights: Melisa Miller, Alliance Data

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Time: 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Location: Online Cost: $40 for Idea Foundry members; $50 for nonmembers Contact: 614-653-8068 or ideafoundry.com There is a lot of pre-work to do to make a company ready for investors. In this class, learn what types of documents are needed, costs that need to be budgeted for, and what it really means for your business when you take on investors and the new levels of responsibility that come with them. Paul Proffitt from the SunDown Group will instruct and this session can be applied towards the Entrepreneurship Certificate from SunDown Group.

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TransporTaTion issue

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on The Move

How transportation is evolving in Columbus—and what those changes mean for business Stories by Dave Ghose and Chloe Teasley Photos by Rob haRDin

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t’s hard to underestimate the importance of reliable transportation. It expands our horizons, enables economic growth and connects us to each other. It’s an essential human need.

It’s also been something of an afterthought in Columbus. For a long time, we were a car city. We drove to work. We drove to play. We drove everywhere, usually by ourselves, and we lived with the consequences—more highways, more parking lots, more congestion, more suburban sprawl—with little discussion about what it all meant.

Well, those days are changing.

Transportation has moved to the top of the city’s economic agenda, elevated by Columbus’s 2016 victory in the $50 million Smart City Challenge, a catalyst for a transportation revolution in the city. Today, how we get around the city is the hottest talking point in town. “People actually care,” says Joanna Pinkerton, the CEO of the Central Ohio Transit Authority.

“I think for three or four generations, people have just taken for granted that the road was there.”

Now, those roads are beginning to look different. COTA’s ridership numbers are up, as it benefits from a redesigned bus system and its C-pass program, which provides Downtown Columbus workers with unlimited bus passes. Both local and national startups are providing new forms of transportation, including electric scooters, electric bicycles, ride-sharing services and microtransit commuting.

An autonomous shuttle—a joint project of the public-private partnership Smart Columbus and state mobility center DriveOhio—is expected to start operating along the Scioto Mile in December, while planners are studying the feasibility of Hyperloop One’s proposed

“I think for three or four generations, people have just taken for granted that the road was there.”

Joanna PInkerton, CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Midwest Connect, which would link Columbus to Chicago and Pittsburgh via a magnetically elevated tube train that could hit speeds up to 670 miles per hour.

“People’s expectations around transportation and development are changing,” says William Murdock, executive director for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. “At the same time, the type of technology we’re experiencing is rapidly evolving. If you look back three to four years, none of us were talking about Smart Columbus or hyperloops or scooters, for that matter. Now, all of those are parts of the fabric of the way we’re looking at how to get ready for the growth and get ready for the future. It’s an exciting time.”

Columbus businesses are seizing that opportunity, recognizing the importance of transportation. Columbus Mayor Andy Ginther has said he wants the city to become the “Silicon Valley of smart transportation,” and others have locked onto that goal, too, turn-

ing Columbus into a proving ground for bold ideas and technologies. You can see it on Morse Road, where local startup EmpowerBus has ferried new immigrants to jobs that would be out of their reach without the microtransit service. You can see it at JPMorgan Chase’s McCoy Center, the epitome of the car-centric corporate campus that is now embracing alternative forms of commuting. And you can see it at John Glenn International Airport, where efforts are focused on increasing the number of direct flights, a major benefit to Columbus businesses.

Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer says the region must stay focused on transportation as it grows in the coming decades. “It’s [part] of the core genesis of why we were and have been so excited about smart cities—helping us to think about what cities of the future are going to look like and how our region can keep up with this very changing dynamic of urban planning, infrastructure and transportation.”

–Dave Ghose

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File/Columbus Dispatch/ Doral CheNoweth III

JPMorgan Chase’s McCoy Center

Car Troubles

JPMorgan Chase wants to cut the number of workers driving to its massive McCoy Center office complex by 1,000 cars. Easier said than done.

Kate Maratea stands out at JPMorgan Chase in Columbus. Three to four times a week, the 24-year-old business resiliency analyst rides a shuttle—provided by the microtransit company Chariot—to the bank’s sprawling McCoy Center in the Polaris area. She walks about eight minutes from her Grandview apartment to a stop along Fifth Avenue, where a 14-passenger, Wi-Fi-enabled vehicle picks her up and then deposits her about a half hour later at the southern Delaware County office complex.

The free service for Chase employees launched in January. Maratea finds it

convenient and productive, allowing her to relax with a book, read the news or catch up on work rather than drive her own car through rush-hour traffic, especially in the congested Polaris area. “It really takes the stress out of my commute,” Maratea says.

Such comments excite Chase executives, who are attempting a bold experiment at the McCoy Center. One of the largest office buildings in the U.S., the quarter-mile-long, 2-million-squarefoot complex houses some 10,000 employees, almost all of whom drive to work everyday by themselves in their own cars. Chase leaders want to change that figure dramatically, reduc-

ing the number of cars by 1,000. To do so, however, they must create a major cultural shift in what has long been the epitome of the car-centric corporate campus in central Ohio—a place where even people who live just a mile or so away drive to work.

With the region expected to grow by about 1 million people over the next 30 years, how folks move around the city will need to change to accommodate that larger population. Chase wants to stay ahead of those coming developments, while also responding to more current trends, including a younger generation of employees who are demanding more options for getting to and from work. “We have not only a community responsibility, but it’s good for our business, too,” says Corrine Burger, Chase’s chief control officer, who oversees the $100 billion bank’s Columbus operations.

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of not looking at how sustainable it is economically,” says Pinkerton, whose organization has discussed with Chase executives expanding bus services to the McCoy Center. Pinkerton says as long as the will is there, Chase can succeed in reimagining its Polaris facility.

“I’m absolutely convinced of that,” says Pinkerton, adding, “We cannot double or triple the size of [the facility] to fix it.”

Indeed, the McCoy Center has hit a bit of an impasse. Bank One opened the building in 1996 and then more than doubled its size four years later, making it the largest office complex in central Ohio. After Chase bought Bank One in 2004, the building—named for the late Bank One leader John G. McCoy—has remained the hub of Chase’s central Ohio operations. The area’s largest employer, Chase has 20,000 workers in the Columbus region, half of whom are housed at the McCoy Center.

A parking squeeze, however, is limiting Chase’s ability to add more employees to the facility. Chase is in the middle of a $200 million renovation of the McCoy Center, but Burger says adding to the 8,800 parking spots in the 12 lots and four garages on the Polaris campus isn’t on the agenda.

The company doesn’t see a strong return on investment for making it easier to drive to the McCoy Center, which could worsen the already substantial traffic congestion in the Polaris area. What’s more, half of the McCoy Center’s employees are millennials, a demographic that is embracing alternative forms of transportation, includ-

ing bicycles, electric scooters, public transit and ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber. “So where do you invest your time and effort?” asks Burger.

“Is it on a parking garage or is it in trying to solve some of the transportation issues? We’re investing our time in solving the transportation issues.”

To that end, Burger created a group she calls the “1,000 Car Club” in November 2017. She enlisted about 20 mostly millennial Chase employees to find a way to reduce the number of cars going to the McCoy Center every day by 1,000. “We picked a thousand because we thought it was a stretch goal,” Burger says. “We thought it was meaningful. We thought it would give us variability in the facility if we need it.” She didn’t set a deadline for the group, many of whom are analysts or technologists at the bank.

Maratea was enlisted to serve as the chair of the group. The central Ohio native never expected to take on such a task when she accepted a job at Chase two years ago after graduating from Saint Louis University, but she’s em-

“No idea has been too out there.

We’re really trying to consider every commiting option.” kate maratea, chair, 1,000 Car Club JPMorgan Chase

Kate Maratea

braced the challenge. “It’s a really cool project because I’ve gotten to think outside the box,” she says. “Really, no idea has been too out there. We’re really trying to consider every commuting option we can think of.”

So far, the biggest transportation change has been the addition of Chariot, the San Francisco-based startup that Ford purchased in 2016. Smart Columbus, the regional public-private smart mobility initiative, connected Chase to Chariot, which started operating six routes for the bank’s employees during normal business hours in January.

Burger says participation has been “not quite where we’d like it to be,” cutting down on the number of cars by 65 to 70 a day, rather than the 100 or so she hoped for. But ridership did rise during the summer, particularly after the 1,000 Car Club sponsored a “Smart Commuting Week” in late July and early August that raised awareness of Chariot.

Why aren’t more Chase employees riding Chariot? According to research conducted by the 1,000 Car Club, driving is still the easiest option for many, which prevents them from making the leap to a different form of commuting, even if they recognize the value of such a change. The other main obstacle appears to be a fear of being stranded. The employees want the flexibility of having their own cars on hand in case of emergencies—maybe a sick child who needs to be taken home from school.

As Columbus grows, the convenience of driving will become a less serious barrier to entry, as the increased population makes driving more difficult.

To address the fear-of-being-stranded barrier, Chase is exploring the possibility of providing to employees free emergency rides from a ride-sharing service like Lyft or Uber. “I’m pretty optimistic that we’ll be able to offer that in the near future,” says Tony Anzic, Chase’s Columbus location manager and an advisor to the 1,000 Car Club. Chase is also considering developing an app that would help employees carpool. The app could be built in-house or by an outside consultant, Anzic says.

Chase leaders aren’t in a huge rush to achieve their ambitious 1,000-car goal. They know such a change is more complicated than, say, erecting a new parking garage. “It’s not going to be solved overnight,” Burger says.

Dave Ghose is the editor

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Jerry Tsai and Aslyne Rodriguez

The Smart Set

Meet the movers and shakers turning Columbus into a hotbed of bold transportation ideas.

Columbus has become a breeding ground for a handful of startups geared around solving problems in transportation and weighing in on the gradual shift away from traditional individual car ownership. These visionaries are doubling down on the energy, excitement and economic opportunity provided by Smart Columbus, the local entity that was created as a result of the city’s victory in the $50 million Smart City Challenge.

“We are benefactors of the environment that Smart Columbus has created here,” says Ryan McManus of transportation startup Share. “Their publicprivate partnership that created Smart Columbus has created an awareness of change—a desire to change. They’ve got organizations that wouldn’t have otherwise thought about transportation for their employees saying, ‘We need to do something this year.’ That’s major.”

From electric bicycles to research on autonomous cars to the futuristic idea of reliance on car fleets instead of personal automobiles, changes and innovations in transportation are being built and executed just down the

street, turning Columbus into a proving ground for new ideas and technologies.

“There is a real [transportation] community here,” says Kelly James, the founder of Electric Ave. “We’re glad to be a part of it.”

EmpowerBus Former teachers with Teach for America, Aslyne Rodriguez and Jerry Tsai teamed up in 2017 on an idea for a startup. Initially, they focused on education, planning to revamp a school bus for students. Then a mentor suggested they think about the transportation needs of the parents of those children. Rodriguez and Tsai shifted their focus to workforce transportation, and EmpowerBus was born. The social enterprise transports workers to jobs in areas difficult to reach for some populations, such as immigrant communities.

“Because of our background—having taught in high-need, low-income communities—we saw firsthand how transportation could be doing more than just transporting people,” Tsai says. “It could be impacting the community and doing social good.”

After going through the SEA Change accelerator in May 2017, a pilot program launched that fall with a focus on transporting 42 new Americans, primarily on the Morse Road corridor, to work at the New Albany Beauty Park during three different shifts. EmpowerBus teams with organizations that want to provide more reliable transportation for workers, as well as reach pools of potential employees not typically available to them, a critical benefit in today’s ultra-tight labor market.

Rodriguez says revenue from these engagements can be used to potentially provide additional services. One possibility is picking up groceries for riders while they are at work. “There’s so many possibilities—transportation plays a key part in how we receive goods, how we get to work, how we live and play in a community,” Rodriguez says. “I don’t think EmpowerBus has to think in one way.”

Riders also can receive supplementary education during their trips. For example, during the pilot, an instructor on the bus taught English as a second language. Eventually, tablets will be provided with crowdsourced educational content for riders.

EmpowerBus has expanded beyond that initial pilot with the New Albany Beauty Park. The company is now working with such diverse organizations as Kroger, the United Way and Huckleberry House, which supplies workers to XPO Logistics in Licking County. “We have a handful—many November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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actually—other engagements that are about to finalize,” Tsai says.

The company also has garnered interest from other cities, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Louisville and Tampa. “A lot of people see us as their solution,” Rodriguez says.

Pillar Technology The 22-year-old technology consulting company has been a long-time player in the automotive industry. It built the original vehicle crash notification software and is now hard at work creating the technology experience of a 2019 luxury vehicle, complete with driver, rider and time-of-day recognition and instant routing to avoid traffic.

Now, with Columbus at the forefront of transportation innovation thanks to its Smart City Challenge victory, Pillar is also having local impact.

It received a $2.5 million contract to build a computer operation system for Smart Columbus that will serve as a citywide data management platform for mobility data. In addition, Pillar received another $2 million grant to build an autonomous vehicle research center inside its new headquarters under construction in the Short North, as well as another driverless vehicle lab along State Route 33, the connector

Bob Myers Photo Tim JohNsoN

between Dublin and Marysville that’s a testing ground for autonomous and connected vehicles.

Pillar is involved in smart cities projects elsewhere, including Dubai, Tampa, Kansas City and two California cities, Santa Clara and San Jose. Based on insights it’s gained from those initiatives, it has come up with a roadmap for the future of transportation.

“We won’t go directly to autonomy,” says Pillar CEO Bob Myers. “We’re predicting there will be a shift away from personally-owned modes of transportation towards mobility solutions that are consumed as a service. So you won’t actually buy a car in the future—you’ll subscribe to ... a small fleet of cars.”

Myers also talks about automated valet car retrieval—basically, the car will drive itself to an open spot somewhere in its vicinity and will drive itself back to the owner when signaled. “The car shows up in front of the restaurant, you jump in and go do your thing,” he says.

Electric Ave

Kelly James

About 20 years ago, Columbus resident Kelly James had an idea for a green rideshare with bamboo bikes called Kelly’s Green Avenue. Years later, while spending time in California, James noticed electric bikes all over the place. “I thought, ‘No one has done an e-bike share yet,’ ” James says.

In March 2018, he and his fiancé, Laura Graf, corrected that with Electric Ave. “We took our old business model from Kelly’s Green and transformed it into this,” James says.

The bikes themselves are a resurrected model from the ’70s—a sturdy shape that was outfitted with motors at

the time. When a rider pedals, the electric motor matches the cadence, and the bike speeds up effortlessly. Initially, Electric Ave rented skateboards and scooters as well, but revised the business when research told them scooters—such as the Lime and Bird variety crowding Columbus sidewalks—were becoming nuisances.

An early Electric Ave customer is CoverMyMeds, which has the use of six bikes to make it easier for employees to travel between its three Downtown locations. An area hotel also will be leasing some bikes to offer its guests during their stays. Twenty-five of 40 total bikes currently are available to rent by the hour ($15) or day ($25). If riders live within 15 miles of Downtown, Electric Ave will deliver a bike to them.

The e-bike company is gearing up for a big launch in spring 2019 that will bring with it 200 more bikes.

“If you live within 10-15 miles from your job, there’s no better way to get to work because you don’t have to deal with traffic, you don’t need a driver’s license to ride one, and you don’t have to worry about parking or getting sweaty,” says James.

Electric Ave also has worked with the Columbus Department of Neighborhoods’ initiative, Neighborhood Pride, as a mobility partner, to figure out how to make the bikes accessible to underserved communities. James says his business will provide a “metro card” to those who don’t have a credit card with which to make an account on the Electric Ave app.

“Initially, we went to [Columbus Startup Week], and that’s where we first introduced ourselves,” he says.

“Then we’ve met with countless

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Flight Plan

The never-ending quest to bring more direct flights to Columbus

Ryan McManus people since then from the community and City Council members, and they were receptive.”

share Share is a B2B transportation service that operates a fleet of vehicles, something that some in the industry predict could be a next step toward autonomy.

Co-founder and CEO Ryan McManus noticed holes that ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft cannot fill because of the exorbitant cost to the consumer—jobs, education, healthcare.

Using Uber or Lyft to go to work would be around $1,000 per month, vs. $250 per month to get a ride from Share.

“Our business model is to work with organizations to introduce transportation programs that get large groups of people to ride together to where they’re going, to and from, multiple days a week,” says McManus. “Share customers are taking 30-40 rides a month, versus two-three rides for Uber.”

Right now, Share is looking to expand to Cleveland and then “rapidly into the Midwest”—10 cities within the next 18 months, McManus says.

The company is also experiencing 50 percent-plus growth in rider volume month over month in Columbus.

“We get to basically be Smart Citynative,” says McManus, who also is serving as the entrepreneur in residence for Smart Columbus. “We’re looking at how we can write a page in that Smart City playbook. … What they’re building from an infrastructure perspective is going to make us better and our data platform makes them better.”

Chloe Teasley is staff writer.

Every city wants more direct flights. They mean hours of time saved on air travel each week and set the stage for stronger corporate connectivity between regions, allowing for a better exchange of ideas, talent and investments. “More direct flights—particuarly internationally— will help our town as we grow and attract companies coming here, as well as those who are already here,” says longtime Columbus civic leader Jack Kessler of the New Albany Company.

Yet Kessler also recognizes that the quest for more direct connections is a “very competitive struggle.” And recent events seem to underscore that point. In August, city leaders celebrated the news that Alaska Airlines would begin a direct flight between John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in March. The new nonstop route gives Columbus a more convenient link to one of the most dynamic cities in the U.S. But just a month after that news broke, Columbus took a step in the other direction. Despite the efforts of Columbus business leaders and financial support from the city of Columbus and Franklin County, Southwest Airlines announced plans to eliminate its daily route between Columbus and Oakland, California. As Columbus increased access to one critical West Coast location, it lost a daily connection to another.

Even though Columbus is the largest city in Ohio—and the second largest

“We’ve seen good improvements across the board.

That’s keeping up with our economic growth.”

Alex Fischer CEO, Columbus Partnership

metropolitan area in the state—John Glenn Airport has always offered fewer direct flights to major cities than airports in many other comparable cities. The main reason is that no airline uses the Columbus airport as a “hub,” an epicenter of flight activity. Columbus civic and business leaders tried to correct that about a decade ago when they invested millions into the Columbus startup airline Skybus. For a few spectacular months, Skybus gave the city direct flights to airports near major cities all over the country, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston. But the good times didn’t last, and Skybus went out of business after less than a year.

Since then, Columbus leaders have focused on a more traditional approach: winning over established airlines. And they’ve had some success, particularly since the advent of the city’s economic development driver Columbus 2020.

“I remember the discussions on air service 10 years ago, and they’re so much more improved today than they were a decade ago,” says Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer.

“Domestically, we’ve seen good improvements across the board,” adds Fischer. “That’s keeping up with our economic growth, but it’s also helping to fuel—it’s the chicken or the egg, you need both—and they’ve been working in tandem.”

The new Seattle flight is a good example. Columbus Regional Airport Authority CEO Joseph Nardone says Columbus business and airport leaders had been working on the deal for years—well before Nardone arrived in Columbus in January 2018. “It’s been a high priority for us,” Nardone says.

“You have to just keep working it, and it’s a fulltime job.”

Still, the loss of the daily Oakland flight was jarring. Sean Lane, the CEO of the Columbus healthcare IT company Olive (formerly CrossChx), was a frequent user of the flight. Like many other leaders in Columbus’ growing tech sector, Lane maintains close ties to Silicon Valley, where two of his November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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“It’s a constant conversation with the airlines. ... You’ve got to work it all the time.” joseph nardone, CEO, Columbus Regional Airport Authority

Joseph Nardone at the John Glenn Columbus International Airport main investors, Khosla Ventures and SVB Capital, are located. “I was really impressed with the Partnership’s efforts around making that happen,” Lane says. “I thought that was really awesome to see the business leaders coming together, presenting a case to Southwest, really applying pressure to Southwest to open up that line. … I noticed a lot of people on it, so I thought, ‘This is going to stick.’ ” In early October, Lane worried about losing a critical means for reaching talent on the West Coast, as well as customers and partners. “It’s a wrinkle,” he said. “It just makes it a little bit more difficult.” He also says the availability of direct flights in Columbus may affect how and where he grows his company in the future.

“Direct air flights were not part of my calculation [for building a business in Columbus],” he explained. “But, as we grow, whether or not we have

remote offices or keep a sales team, for example, all in Columbus, certainly direct air routes will have an impact on that decision.”

Columbus airport leaders quickly addressed Lane’s fears. About two weeks after the loss of the flight to Oakland was announced, John Glenn Airport declared the addition of daily nonstop service to San Francisco International Airport starting in June 2019 via United Airlines. Nardone says that conversations about the new flight ramped up within the past three to six months, though potential flights can take years to crystalize.

“We [often] go to headquarters of airlines, and we visited United a few months ago in Chicago,” he says.

“Those are the kinds of things you do as you ratchet it up; you get closer to them, you have more conversations, you have more dialogue, you continue to provide information that’s helpful

to them in their decision-making.” He adds that Columbus 2020 provides further valuable information to airlines about Columbus economic growth and potential, and economic connectors in different locations around the world.

And another area of focus is working to secure a direct flight to Europe.

Such a flight isn’t pie in the sky, insist business and airport leaders. What will help Columbus get there, McDonald says, is global connectivity in business. Again, strategic direct routes help business relationships, and business relationships open doors for routes.

“I think people think air service development is like, ‘Let’s get this flight.’

No. It’s a constant conversation with the airlines,” says Nardone. “I went in March to see British Airways, I went to Asia to see some airlines. You’ve got to work it all the time.”

And conversations are continuing to happen. “We believe that, with intentional effort, we can help hundreds of our companies to be more connected globally,” says Kenny McDonald, CEO of Columbus 2020. “We want them to export more services and products from the market into more markets around the world—we think that actually creates more jobs back at home.”

He loves that we are developing a strong connection with Silicon Valley through IT innovations and startups that are springing up locally. A route to Europe, he says, would be useful for a different industry.

“As a manufacturing state, we think the best place to connect in Ohio would be the middle of the state that serves the greatest number of counties and Ohioans and Ohio companies,” he says.

“If we’re able to connect to Europe, for example, with all the European manufacturing locations and headquarters there and sales operations here and things like that, it’s really important.”

Chloe Teasley is staff writer.

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A Celebration of Special advertiSing Section

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champions of TrusT PresenTed by beTTer business bureAuÂŽ serving CenTrAl ohio

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Carrying the Torch for Ethics BBB’s TRUST! framework is designed to help guide business leaders, nonprofit executives and community leaders to take an intentional, introspective look at how they operate their business relative to the six TRUST! principles.

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he foundation of BBB and BBB’s Center for Character Ethics begins with trust— trust in others, in businesses, in our leaders and in our community.

BBB is known as the go-to resource to find trusted businesses and charities. BBB’s services

support businesses and nonprofits while evaluating their commitment to uphold trust, training their leaders and staff, and recognizing best practices.

In order to provide guidance with assessment, training and recognition, BBB developed a variety of tools for businesses and charities to utilize.

BBB’s TRUST! Framework outlines six guiding principles providing companies a benchmark on which to reflect, evaulate their organizational model and determine what will drive their mission and goals.

The TRUST! Principles are the basis for the Torch Awards for Ethics entry process. BBB uses Transformation at the “Top”, Reinforce and Build, Unite the Team, Steer Performance, Treasure People and Enthusiastically Reinvest! to help business leaders, nonprofit executives and community leaders take an intentional, introspective look at how they exemplify each principle on a daily basis.

The Torch Awards continue to be a celebration in the Central Ohio community, honoring trusted businesses and charities whose leaders are committed to building a culture of trust, integrity and ethical principles.

At this year’s luncheon, in addition to the presentation of the 2018 Torch Awards to recipients who are profiled on the following pages, BBB will also award scholarships to the 10 area high school students who are the 2018 Students of Integrity winners and will recognize the three millennial entrepreneur Spark Award winners, which were presented in May. This luncheon showcases that BBB is more intentional than ever at recognizing those who exhibit the best in ethics at all stages of life’s journey and offers the opportunity to reflect on what it takes to rise above the rest and become a Champion of Trust.

Profiles by Emma Frankart Henterly design by Yogesh Chaudhary Photos by Dan Trittschuh and BBB BBB Champions of Trust is published by gateHouse Media, llC. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

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Kip Morse

President & CEO Better Business Bureau Serving Central Ohio

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etter Business Bureau Serving Central Ohio isn’t your grandpa’s BBB. While the venerable champion for corporate ethics has been in Columbus since 1921, it has worked to stay relevant to today’s hippest entrepreneurs and to inspire high standards in tomorrow’s leaders.

Consumers in the 21-county Central Ohio service area, as well as those across the country, continue to count on BBB to provide a trusted resource of Accredited Businesses, both for-profit and nonprofit, that are screened, approved and monitored for ethical behavior.

BBB also still mediates complaints regarding marketplace issues with business service or products.

And BBB often issues the first warning when scammers devise new ways of stealing from the unwary.

businesses.

Beyond hosting free online profiles for businesses and charities, bbb.org is also home to a wealth of resources and tips covering everything from hiring a contractor to planning a wedding. The BBB Sparkcast podcast covers a variety of topics and features local guests from the business community. A dedicated military section of the website helps educate veterans, military members and their families about scams that could target them.

The more BBB evolves, the more it continues to find itself back where it started: helping business leaders keep their customers and their employees as the focus of every decision and action.

BBB started as an organization dedicated to building business trust; president and CEO Kip Morse promises you can trust that it won’t stop now.

The Value of Trust Building confidence in business ethics remains at the core of BBB’s mission.

In today’s digital world, complaints can be easily logged online at bbb.org.

Customer reviews that others

can consult as needed are also accepted online, allowing customers to share the experiences they’ve had with area

Trust is the most powerful asset you have.

®

Find out how BBB can help you increase trust with your customers.

applybbb.org

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Torch Awards for Ethics Luncheon Featuring keynote speaker Archie Griffin

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nown to the world as the only twotime winner of the Heisman Trophy, Archie Griffin is also one of the select group of Buckeyes to be named a three-time All American player during his playing days from 1972 to 1975.

A member of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame and its current board of directors, Griffin also is a member of the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and was named the All-Century Player by the Tournament of Roses Association during the centennial celebration of the Rose Bowl in 2014. Griffin is one of two players in NCAA history to start in four Rose Bowls.

A sought-after speaker and humanitarian, Griffin serves on many other boards and foundations, including serving as a director of Motorists Mutual Insurance Co.’s board and a member of the boards of directors for The Columbus Youth Foundation and the Ohio Auto Club.

Judges For The 2018 Torch AwArds Cathy Blackford Columbus Builders Exchange, executive director (retired) Tim Burnham Varo Engineering, managing principal Joe Cole TRC, global brand and marketing leader Shannon Lee Relā, executive director Marchelle Moore Motorists Insurance Group, senior vice president and chief legal officer Parag Shah Nationwide, chief ethics officer Tom Welch Grange, CEO (retired)

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Champions of Trust

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reated by Better Business Bureau Serving Central Ohio’s Center for Character Ethics in 1994, the Torch Awards for Ethics have been presented to 100 forprofit and nonprofit companies across Central Ohio, including this year’s three honorees.

The awards were designed not only to promote the importance of building trust, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to help contribute to an honorable marketplace.

Today, the Torch Award is the highest honor that BBB Serving Central Ohio bestows.

BBB Torch Awards showcase ethical companies and charities in Central Ohio that build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, remain transparent and honor their promises. Winning organizations demonstrate how their actions help to advance marketplace trust. local winners go on to compete for the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ Torch

Awards for Marketplace Ethics.

The process begins with contenders applying or being nominated by others at bbbtorchaward.com. To be considered, organizations must demonstrate that they comply with six trademarked BBB TRUST! Principles (see next page).

The online application process requires organizations to undergo a rigorous review of their business or nonprofit’s ethics and character—a valuable assessment even for those not ultimately selected as an award winner. Winners are selected by an independent panel of volunteer judges comprising business and community leaders.

This year’s Torch Awards winners represent a wide variety in Central Ohio’s business community. They’re each profiled in turn on the following pages.

Wherever the journey begins, BBB keeps the flame burning brightly for high ethical standards.

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The TRUST! Principles

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eading with character ethics is not just a matter of style or personal preference; it is good business. The outcome of leading with high character and high competency is order and trust, the essential pillars upon which relationships and organizational performance rest.

The six TRUST! Principles were identified through hundreds of interviews, observations and years of consulting experiences with small, medium and large organizations. They serve as a guide to leaders who aim to model the highest ethical standards and are based on the premise that an organization’s leaders are the caretakers of its culture. Culture is a constant; whether it is functional or dysfunctional is a direct result of leadership.

Transformation at the “Top”

Reinforce and Build

Unite the Team

Steer Performance

Treasure People

Enthusiastically Reinvest!

Leaders are reflective and intentionally work to increase manifestations of their own high character in the culture.

Leaders reinforce and build a culture of high character ethics.

Leaders unify the organization around a clear purpose and compelling convictions.

Leaders guide organizational performance by implementing high competency management practices.

Leaders prize the intrinsic value of people.

Leaders generously support the community that supports them.

Proud to Support the BBB Torch Awards

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Subscribe to The Dispatch today by calling 1-877-734-7728 or visiting dispatch.com/subscribe.

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SPECiAl AdvErTiSinG SECTiOn

Past Recipients 2017 • Acloché LLC • Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea • Echoing Hills • The Eco Plumbers • Ohio Basement Authority

2016

2014

• Choice Recovery • Hetter Heating and Cooling • Zipline Logistics

• Coughlin Automotive Group • GBQ Partners LLC • Linxus Communications LLC

• MicroSolved Inc. • Motorists Insurance Group • Safelite AutoGlass • Westerville Area Resource Ministry

2013

2011

2015 • Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center • KMA Electric, Heating and Cooling • Kern Inc. • Mid-City Electric • Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services • Yoder Concrete Construction LLC

• Buckeye Appraising Inc. • Franklin International • Switchbox Inc. • Varo Engineers Inc.

2012 • EE Ward Moving & Storage • Heartland Bank

• America’s Floor Source • Community Shelter Board • Haughn & Associates • Horizon Telcom • Libertas Wealth Management Group Inc.

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E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. 2235 Southwest Blvd.

Grove City, Ohio eeward.com President: Brian Brooks Employees: 50 Founded: 1881 About: Oldest AfricanAmerican-owned business in the country, which has grown from two horses and a wagon into a multimilliondollar, award-winning moving corporation.

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ohn T. Ward was a fearless trailblazer who served as a conductor on the Underground railroad in the 1800s. drawing on skills he developed transporting slaves to freedom, John and his son, William S. Ward, founded the Ward Transfer lines in 1881. Under the current leadership of owners Brian and dominique Brooks, the Ward entrepreneurial spirit and legacy lives on today.

E.E. Ward Moving & Storage Co. is the longest-running black-owned company in the United States and is recognized nationally by the American Moving & Storage Association as one of the most trusted moving companies in the country. The company is committed to “strengthening the legacy of E.E. Ward while fostering growth and innovation in the company,” dominique writes in their application. The company’s mission statement— We are a self-actualized team that honors our distinguished legacy by embodying service with dignity, strong moral character, and respect for self and others— comprises values based on the Ward family legacy, which still inspires the company’s success today.

The Brooks are committed to expanding the company’s 137-year-old legacy by

Dominique and Brian Brooks focusing on continual process improvement and strengthening each team member through personal development. Onthe-job training, development opportunities and monthly recognition all contribute to the quality service that the company promises—and delivers. Each month, employees are rewarded for going above and beyond with their customer service efforts.

The Brooks also understand the importance of community support. E.E. Ward is involved with many nonprofits, including in Christy’s Shoes, BuckeyeThon, Childhood league and the Gary Sinise Foundation’s riSE Program. in 2017, E.E. Ward Moving & Storage created the laps for learning fundraiser, a swim-athon event inspired by Eldon W. Ward, an avid swimmer,

to provide safety lessons for children at the YMCA. “Ohio’s youth drownings increase 119 percent during the summer months, and it is vital to help reduce this number,” Brian writes. The event has raised $29,475 to provide swim lessons for 393 children in the two years since its inception.

The company’s motto, “do what’s right, come what may,” was inked by its founders and often repeated by Eldon W. Ward, who led the company for 50 years; it continues to be the backbone of daily operation. As Brian writes in his application, “throughout the evolution of E.E. Ward, we have never lost sight of the principles of excellent service and giving back to the community on which the company was originally founded.”

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2010

2007

2006

2004

• Hetter Heating & Cooling • Lancaster Pollard • Lower Lights Ministries • Rumpke Consolidated Cos.

• Buckeye Basements • CarMax Auto Superstore • Children’s Hunger Alliance • Columbus Business First • Expesite • Homes on the Hill • J&D Basement Systems • Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio

• American Red Cross of Greater Columbus • Crimson Cup Coffee and Tea • Handyman Connection • R.W. Setter • Valvoline Instant Oil Change

• Atlas Butler • J.S. Brown & Co. • Regency Wallcraft Inc.

2008 • Artina Promotions Products • Finish Line Building In. • HRH • Jewish Family Services • Kresge Contracting Inc. • Maryhaven • Waste Management of Ohio Inc.

2005 • American Red Cross of Greater Columbus • More Time For You • Peebles Creative Group • Roush Honda • Valvoline Instant Oil Change

Lori Wengerd

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hen Lori Wengerd, president of Home Care Assistance, began planning the company’s opening, she “spoke to many ‘in the know’ professionals, friends and acquaintances who confirmed what we believed: There is a gap in the market for high-end home care,” she writes in a letter from when she founded the company in 2009. That letter is still given to new employees today.

Two key values detailed in this letter, which was excerpted as part of Wengerd’s application for the Torch Award, outline the importance of the caregivers who work for Home Care Assistance and the clients who use its services. “It is a privilege to improve each client’s day,” the letter states. “We recognize that

we are only part of their lives because they allow us to be.”

Building a strong team that embodies these values starts, of course, with the hiring process.

“Our three-person hiring team focuses each interview on the person as a whole—not just on his or her qualifications. We find that character and compassion are what determine whether or not a person will be a good fit for us,” Wengerd writes.

Keeping the team united is another core element of Home Care Assistance’s business model, Wengerd explains in her application. “With our harrowing 24/7 business cycle, we all must completely trust each other,” she writes. “All of us need to be ready at a moment’s notice ... to run to the aid of a team member or client; in order for that to happen, maintaining

2003 • Park National Bank • Progressive Medical Inc. • Revealty • Rosati Windows

2002 • ConTrack Corp.

• The Durable Slate Co. • Nationwide • Wood Werks Supply Co.

a strong sense of team is paramount.”

That goal is achieved through a variety of intentional tactics, from staff meetings that start with meditation and focus on teamwork to office décor that drives home the purpose behind Home Care Assistance’s services, Wengerd writes.

The company’s charitable contributions tend to focus on tangential topics. “Home Care Assistance is a leader in providing educational programming about aging well” for organizations such as The Alzheimer’s Association, OhioHealth’s Gerlach Center for Senior Health and more, writes Wengerd. And in addition, the company often is “the only home care company in the community that financially supports events and organizations that provide research and services for the aging population.”

“We mean it when we say, ‘We’re there for the journey,’ ” Wengerd’s welcome letter states. “This aging journey that we are all on can be long, lonely, scary, unpredictable and fraught with crises. But there are so many opportunities to realize happiness, gratitude, good memories and joy. We have the perfect view to help our clients and their families see these moments.”

Home Care Assistance of Central Ohio 2098 Tremont Center Upper Arlington, Ohio homecareincolumbus.com Owner/President: Lori Wengerd Employees: 120+ Founded: 2009 About: A franchise of a company of the same name, Home Care Assistance of Central Ohio optimizes the well-being of seniors and brings energy, independence and joy to this phase of life.

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2001

1999

1997

1995

• Express-Med Inc. • Hopkins Printing Co. • Owens Construction Contracting Co. • R. Dorsey & Co.

• Holt Cos. • HYTEK Material Handling Inc. • Michael Campbell Builders

• Highlights for Children • Luper, Sherriff & Neidenthal • Renier Construction Inc.

• Bell-Haun Systems Inc. • Cheryl & Co. • The Kroger Co. • OIH Inc.

2000

1998

1996

• Frank Gates Service Co. • Haslett Heating & Cooling • Schoedinger Funeral Service & Crematory

• Dave Fox Contracting Inc. • Excavating Unlimited Inc. • The Longaberger Co.

• Cottone Construction Inc. • King Thompson Realtors • Lexford Inc.

• E.E. Transfer & Storage • Nelson Auto Group

1994

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Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce 99 Commerce Park Dr. Westerville, Ohio westervillechamber.com President/CEO: Janet L. Davis Employees: 6 Volunteers: 220 Founded: 1967 About: A business organization driven to enhance business climate and quality of life in Westerville consisting of 685 business and individual members.

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s president and CEO of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce for 26 years, Janet Davis recognizes the importance of continuous improvement. She stresses this point by example, gathering input on her own performance through a 360-assessment.

“From that feedback i developed a plan to hold myself accountable and not just help my development, but that of the entire team,” she writes in her Torch Award application.

That focus on continuous improvement carries through to the Chamber’s member businesses, too; the Chamber solicits feedback after each event it hosts and at the beginning of each year. Those responses drive the programs that Chamber staff develop, like a free, monthly lunch & learn series that “pairs our membership with relevant topics and provides an opportunity for members and their team [to receive] professional development, develop meaningful connections and collaborate,” Davis writes.

Meaningful connections among Chamber staff members are important, too, and Davis works hard to foster them.

“Each staff meeting begins with messages of support for one another, drawn from submissions in the office affirmation box,” she writes. Additionally, each meeting includes a scheduled activity or teambuilding exercise “to ensure our

Janet L. Davis staff is always learning about one another and establishing a better understanding of one another’s strengths, weaknesses and interests.” Each meeting concludes with a message from Davis herself, detailing community announcements “that are paramount to our mission to enhance the business climate and quality of life in our community,” Davis writes.

The very nature of the Chamber’s work is to support its community, so it’s no surprise that Davis has a laundry list of accomplishments to tout in her application. nearly 75 percent of the Chamber’s membership consists of businesses with fewer than nine team members, she writes, so the majority of its special interest networks focus on the needs of small businesses. And for more than 16 years, the Chamber has held quarterly events for female business owners and leaders to connect and grow, featuring noteworthy keynote

speakers like Jane grote Abell of Donatos Pizza and Stephanie Hightower of the Columbus Urban league.

The Chamber also manages leadership Westerville, a nonprofit organization focused on developing multigenerational leaders who serve the city. With the Chamber’s help, leadership Westerville was able to host the largest Westerville Martin luther King Breakfast Celebration and Service Day in years, Davis writes in her application. The breakfast committee evolved into the MlK legacy Project, which now hosts Community Conversation events throughout the year that facilitate discussion about racial diversity and inclusion in Westerville.

At the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, “we strive to be responsible, accountable and professional” in all aspects of work, Davis writes. “We discuss and accept the responsibility of doing what is right, even when it is difficult.”

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Attributes spark Awards use the BBB’s Center for Character ethics’ trust! Principles as the basis for its defining attributes of Character, Culture and Community.

Character Photo by STEPHEn TACkAS

sparking Ethical practices recognizing young business owners with high ethics

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he third round of Spark Awards— the program from Better Business Bureau and BBB’s Center for Character Ethics that recognizes millennial entrepreneurial leaders who demonstrate good ethics— honored three local organizations on May 8, 2018. The BBB, in partnership with TechStars Startup Week Columbus,

recognized the Spark recipients during the pitch Competition during TechStars Columbus Startup Week.

GiveBackHack, Matic and The EVO Group were selected by an independent panel of judges based on award criteria, including demonstration of the three Spark attributes: Character, Culture and Community. Applicants for the award must be a for-profit, non-government organization within the 21-county BBB Central Ohio service area, with at least one member of the leadership team who is age 35 or younger. The business does not need to be BBB-accredited, but companies with BBB ratings of less than a “B” are automatically disqualified, as are those that have not met their financial obligations.

Read on for more information about the 2018 Spark Awards winners. For more information on the awards, including how to apply, visit bbbsparkaward.com.

Judges for the 2018 spark awards Ann Bischoff Star House, CEO Lauren Edwards Next Step Business Consulting, principal Adam Koos Libertas Wealth Management Group, founder/president Geoffrey Kunkler Carlile Patchen & Murphy, partner Kip Morse BBB Serving Central Ohio, president Allen Proctor SocialVentures, president

This attribute focuses on transformative leadership—leaders who are teachable and open to new ideas. Leaders should habitually seek the truth, be open to criticism and know that personal development is never complete. Ethical maturity cultivates an environment that promotes higher standards of business practices and a mutual understanding that each employee has control over their own character.

Culture A Spark-worthy culture reinforces and unites a valued team of employees while steering the organization’s performance to mission. Purposeful teams have clear visions that are honestly and transparently shared with their members. A good workplace culture helps its team work toward the organization’s goals and establishes guidelines that hold each member—including leadership—accountable. This results in a successful team that can create structures, adapt to change and continually encourage opportunities for all members.

Community Ethical organizations should enthusiastically give back to their communities to show their appreciation. Communitybased organizations help their environment, stakeholders and community members by reinvesting and volunteering within those communities, contributing to their industry’s membership standards organizations and encouraging an ethical marketplace.

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2018 Spark Award Winners Three organizations with millennial leaders, covering a variety of industries, are recognized for their high ethics.

GiveBackHack

GiveBackHack giveBackHack is a weekend-long event that brings together passionate community members to develop sustainable, technology-based solutions to some of the community’s most pressing social issues. it is the launch pad for social innovation needed to turn an idea into a reality, and it brings together community leaders, designers, developers and other concerned citizens to create solutions that will help make a lasting impact.

The 2018 event took place April 27-29 at the columbus college of Art & design’s crane center. The 120 participants formed teams around selected pitches, then worked with mentors over the course of the weekend to develop their ideas before presenting them on the final evening. A panel of judges comprising Jen Bowden, director of community investment at igS; Falon donohue, cEo of ventureohio; lisa S. courtice, president and cEo of United Way of

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central ohio; Emily Savors, director of grants management for The columbus Foundation; and city councilmember Jaiza page selected winners to receive the resources to support their ideas. A total of 14 projects, out of 72 pitched, earned more than $68,000 in support ranging from cash awards to consulting services to coworking passes.

Matic The Matic team lives by certain phrases that articulates its cultural values: leave your ego at the door; We’re obsessed with finding a better way; We’re one team with one dream; and, We’d rather be too honest than too polite. By making the team part of the foundational culture of the company, Matic employees can easily collaborate on how to improve. Matic’s leadership—and its employees—believe that when everyone shares the same cultural values, people make better decisions, people get along better and everyone is happier.

Matic is a digital insurance agency that partners with lenders to get insurance for prospective homeowners during the mortgage process—and does it quickly.

Quotes often are available in as little as 30 seconds, thanks to the company’s innovative approach to obtaining insurance quotes. Founded in 2014, Matic is based in Sherman oaks, california, but has a strong presence in central ohio.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to expand in columbus with a $400,000 investment that would add 50 new jobs.

The EVO Group The Evo group provides a foundation for developing leaders by offering unlimited opportunities to every individual, recognizing team members’ successes and promoting a fun, positive work environment that is conducive to personal growth.

The organization thrives off diversity while mentoring and developing successful indi-

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The EVO Group Matic

viduals. By breaking out of the mold of current marketing strategies, The EVO Group aims to revolutionize the industry and bring a fresh, vibrant method of acquiring long-term customers for its clients.

The direct marketing company began on the East Coast seven years ago. It has a portfolio consisting of more than half a dozen multimillion-dollar global clients and has acquired more than 11,000 customers for its clients. In addition to direct marketing services, The EVO Group also provides customer service, consulting and brand awareness services. The company’s philanthropic arm, characterized by its #EvoPaysItForward hashtag, has partnered with Heifer International to purchase farm animals for families in need. For each social media post featuring an EVO laptop sticker and the designated hashtag, The EVO Group contributes $1 to Heifer International. Every 120 hastags allows for the purchase of a pig, goat, sheep or flock of chicks to help a needy family become self-supporting via the “teach a man to fish” philosophy.

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Leading the Pack high school seniors who set an example for their peers.

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or more than 15 years, BBB center for character Ethics has been committed to recognizing integrity in area youth through the Students of integrity Scholarship Awards. Each year, hundreds of central ohio high schools in BBB’s 21-county service area each have the chance to nominate a student for the

scholarship in recognition of his or her exemplary leadership, community service, overall personal integrity and academic accomplishment.

From that pool, a panel of judges from the business community select 10 winners to each receive a $1,000 scholarship to the college or university of their choice.

Students are judged based on applications that include an essay of the student’s reflections on one or two ethical principles outlined in the UncommonSense® Framework adopted by the center for character Ethics.

The student honorees, along with their parents, school counselors and principals, are invited to the annual Torch Awards for Ethics celebration to receive their award and recognition. The awards are sponsored by columbia gas/niSource.

®

JudgEs for thE 2018 StudentS of IntegrIty AwArdS Hillary Bates Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, director of strategic partnerships Barry Chandler Storyforge, co-founder Erin Ensign Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Jack Hanna team manager Scott Failor Nationwide, senior vice president of trial division and P&C legal Jackie LaMuth Ohio State University, faculty (retired) Diana Morgan DLM Consulting, president Theresa Potter Franklin University, faculty Janet Tressler-Davis Westerville Chamber of Commerce, president

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Cory Burkhart West Muskingum High School, Zanesville ACTIVITIES: Community Youth Foundation, Key Club, National Honors Society For cory Burkhart, compassion isn’t a trait; it’s a way of life. So he writes in his essay, which details a memorable experience he had during the 2017 Hugh o’Brian Youth leadership seminar. There, he participated in a “privilege walk”—an exercise that exposes the privileges that many take for granted. After the exercise, a frank discussion gave everyone present an opportunity to show compassion to a fellow seminar attendee. “i believe there is no better indicator of maturity than putting others before oneself,” Burkhart writes. “Just one act of kindness can change someone’s entire outlook.” Burkhart’s experience at the seminar drove him to establish himself as a support system for others. “compassion is the choice we must make to live a life of respect for others,” he writes. “i strive to make this choice each and every day.”

Emma Conrad Sheridan High School, Thornville ACTIVITIES: 4-H Club, National Honors Society, volleyball Two years ago, a classmate’s suicide attempt taught Emma conrad an important lesson about compassion.

While she was not close with this peer, they sat near each other in class and conrad noticed that her Twitter posts were concerning. “Even though i was fully aware of her depression … i didn’t view her situation as my business,” she writes in her essay. now, conrad strives to reach out to others with positivity, especially when she notices that they appear to be feeling down. “i often step out of my comfort zone and compliment people who i don’t normally talk to,” she continues. “life can be rough

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and we all get dragged across the rocks at times. One cruel comment can send someone over the edge, but one kind word or gesture could keep them from falling.”

Chloe Cox Hilliard Bradley High School, Hilliard ACTIVITIES: Bradley United Program, Jaguar Ambassadors, Key Club, orchestra Chloe Cox’s parents were the subjects of her essay on compassion and service leadership.

“From a young age, I’ve always been taught that serving your community and paving your own way is a responsibility that everyone has,” she writes. Her father’s career in mental health, and her religious background, instilled this notion in her. Watching her father work made Cox “want to diminish the limits of acceptance in our world, and not wait on anyone else to make those changes happen.”

Supporting her mother’s breast cancer battle, on the other hand, gave Cox “a heart of compassion and unconditional positive regard for everyone,” she writes.

Combined, these experiences have led Cox to pursue a career in social work or law, where she can “make a hands on difference wherever I am. My goal is to help nurture the hearts and minds of our youth in a positive way. … Like the generations before me, I want to leave a legacy of love and kindness.”

David DeWeese Graham High School, Saint Paris ACTIVITIES: Boy Scouts, National Honor Society, track A succession of experiences at Boy Scout leadership camps taught David DeWeese much about leadership.

The first, at scouting’s National Youth Leadership Training before his sophomore year began, saw DeWeese as a patrol leader for a day.

He went on to win Honor Scout of the Week and a scholarship to the National 2018 BBB Torch Awards for Ethics l ColumbusCEO

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SPECIAL ADvErTISING SECTION Advanced Youth Leadership Experience.

The following summer, DeWeese was asked to return as staff for both camps after attending a “dry run” of the course.

There, a team exercise taught him that “a leader will never be able to reach his best, and his team will never reach their full potential, [if the leader stays] in his comfort zone,” he writes in his essay.

Carrie Dietz Newark High School, Newark ACTIVITIES: Key Club, National Honor Society, student council Transformation was the subject and title of Carrie Dietz’s essay, in which she detailed her growth through her school’s Key Club. “When I began high school I was very shy,” she writes. “I [felt] uncomfortable talking to others and sharing my thoughts.” That soon changed when Dietz attended the Ohio Key Club District Leadership Conference, where she was inspired to face her public-speaking fear and run for club secretary the following year.

That change inspired another: a drastic rise in confidence. “I transformed to become the person I am today, someone who gives everything her best effort, but takes her failures and mistakes in stride and laughs and learns from them,” she writes.

“No one is born knowing who they are and who they want to be. Instead, we are all created by our experiences, and we transform to fit the roles we aspire to attain.”

Matthew Dinnen Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon ACTIVITIES: Band, National Honor Society, Spanish club, tennis Choosing a single topic to write on was difficult for Matthew Dinnen, but he eventually decided to focus on courage. “Courage is what gives you the ability to persevere during difficult situations and overcome your fears. It helps you stand up

14

for your beliefs and gives you the confidence to lead others to reach common goals,” he writes in his essay. “Basically, doing anything to better yourself takes courage.”

Dinnen would know. A speech impediment caused by a mouth defect caused him to stutter in his younger years.

Speech therapy and surgical interventions improved the defect, but Dinnen still struggled with self-confidence. “One evening during a church youth program, I somehow found the courage to do something I had really been wanting to do for some time,” he writes. “I volunteered to speak and sing a solo part for a children’s choir performance.” This small step helped Dinenn discover his love for singing and for helping others learn to speak, too—today, he volunteers in a community outreach program for children whose first language is Spanish. “I am so thankful I found the courage to take each small step in my life that has made me who I am today,” Dinenn writes, “and that I am able to help others find their own voice, just as I literally found mine.”

Angel Francisco Westfall High School, Williamsport ACTIVITIES: Choir, National Honor Society, student council, track In a poignant essay about the importance of honesty, Angel Francisco details how her experiences as a child in the Philippines helped shape her as a person today. She recounts an episode from preschool when she ran with friends in the middle of the street. At the culmination of their race, she realized that she had broken a family rule and immediately turned herself in. While she wasn’t eager for punishment, she writes, she was keen to atone for her transgression. “If there’s one thing I know,” she writes, “it’s that great outcomes result from honesty.”

That lesson came full circle during Francisco’s sophomore year, when she felt compelled to reveal a secret boyfriend—kept so because of her mother’s disapproval of dating while in high school—to her parents. She risked her relationship to come clean, and was relieved when both sets of parents gave

their approval. “I am thankful for how they raised me, and I am proud that even though I will never be perfect, I know just how much honesty can impact a person’s life,” she writes.

Caroline Liggett Northridge High School, Johnstown ACTIVITIES: 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America, National Honors Society, softball, volleyball If there were a prize for “most interestingly titled essay,” Caroline Liggett would win. In “Stuck Between the Dusty Goat Barn and the Dirt Softball Fields,” Liggett explores a difficult choice between her 4-H show goats and her travel softball team. Torn between the bucolic world of agriculture, where she practices leadership skills, and the competition of sports, where she focused on personal glory, Liggett ultimately opted for the former, “with hopes of ensuring that younger members are still able to enjoy every moment of their 4-H career.”

“This was a huge learning experience for me,” Liggett continues. “I’m so happy with my decision and what has come from it. I am able to connect with younger members and I am able to lead them and teach them … I hope that if one day they come across a similar situation, they are able to choose the one that isn’t about them, but about the future.”

Allison Sheehan The Wellington School, Columbus ACTIVITIES: Ohio Youth in Government, Wellington Gay-Straight Alliance, Wellington School Summer Options Program Allison Sheehan doesn’t hesitate to admit that she owes her success through the first year of high school more to natural talent than hard work.

“I had always remained in my comfort zone,” she writes in her

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essay. “I didn’t even know what real effort was.” That quickly changed during her sophomore year when, in an effort to become more involved, she became president of the school’s gaystraight alliance and joined a host of clubs, all while maintaining her after-school job.

After her grades and her general happiness started to decline, Sheehan assessed her situation. “I realized that I had not been myself for a long time,” she writes. “I decided to buckle down for the end of the year and start holding myself to be honest in my selfreflection and make myself proud and happy.” The challenges of her sophomore year helped her mature, she says, “into a serious young woman who knows that I must put true effort into my work to succeed with integrity, passion, and purpose.”

CONGRATULATIONS to the recipients of the 2018 Torch Awards for Ethics.

Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2018 Nationwide CPO-0913AO.2 (09/18)

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congratulates all 2018 Torch Awards for Ethics recipients. go.sheakley.com/torchawards

Kennedy Yowell Grove City High School, Grove City ACTIVITIES: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium volunteer, National Honor Society, student council For her essay, Kennedy Yowell chose to focus on two principles: integrity and seeking council.

“Both are vital characteristics of a good leader, and leadership is one of my most valued personality traits,” she writes. She values integrity as “one of the most important qualities an ethical person needs to possess,” she writes, because integrity is vital to building the trust necessary to collaborate and lead.

Seeking counsel is also vital, she writes, because “being able to ask for help and acknowledge your mistakes and shortcomings is critical to becoming a leader.” Not being able to do so can have disastrous results, Yowell writes, including failure. “With this traits,” she concludes, “a person will be able to develop into a wellrounded, ethical leader with the capability for greatness.”

Congratulations to the 2018 Torch Awards Recipients!

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Special advertiSing Section

BBB’s Center for Character Ethics strives to reach businesses who desire to be intentional about building a culture of trust. The Center for Character Ethics wants to work with your business and provide you resources for these next steps in your commitment to being a trusted organization.

For more details on BBB’s programs or the 2019 Torch Awards, please visit bbbtorchaward.com or send an email to torchawards@centralohio.bbb.org.

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2018 File/Columbus Monthly/TIM JOHNSON

File/Columbus Dispatch/BARBARA J. PERENIC

Courtesy ROOT INSuRANCE

IGS

Root Insurance

Frederic Bertley, COSI

W

e are proud to begin our second decade of recognizing the region’s best-in-class businesses.

For the 11th year in a row, our Best of Business poll is shining a light on the insurance companies, restaurants, law firms, dentists, educational institutions, orthopedists and more that have earned the admiration of our community. It’s our

longest-running and most farreaching recognition program, as well as the only one in which our readers get the final say.

This year’s poll attracted more than 47,000 votes, with readers weighing in on 80 categories in 11 sections: Business Support Services, Education, Financial, Food and Beverage, Healthcare, Legal, Meetings and Events, Personal Perks, Real Estate, Workforce and Best of

the Rest. Voting occurred from May through July.

If you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you’ll notice some familiar names in our list—perennial winners we’ve celebrated since our poll launched in 2007. You’ll also see a handful of new names in the list, as well as a few who’ve vaulted from the runner-up position to claim the top prize in their respective categories.

But the biggest change this year is something we’re calling “Staff Picks.” In these items, our editorial team weighs in on such off-the-wall categories as “Best Vindication,” “Best Retail Outlier,” “Best Executive Wardrobe” and “Best Hotel in a Brewery.” We have opinions of our own, and these picks give us a chance to share them. After all, why should our readers have all the fun?

File/Columbus Dispatch/BROOkE LaVALLEY

Oakland Nursery

OSU Wexner Medical Center File/Columbus Dispatch/DORAL CHENOWETH III

Women’s Final Four File/Columbus Dispatch/BROOkE LAVALLEY

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Ad Agency

Fahlgren Mortine SBC fahlgrenmortine.com Runners-up:

2 GSW 3 RevLocal

Architectural Firm

Moody Nolan moodynolan.com Runners-up:

2 M+A Architects 3 NBBJ

Commercial Data Center

Expedient

expedient.com Runners-up:

2 Cologix 3 Metro Data Center

Energy Company

IGS Energy

igsenergy.com Runners-up:

2 AEP 3 Columbia Gas of Ohio

IGS Curt Moody

Engineering Firm

Burgess & Niple burgessniple.com Runners-up:

2 EMH&T Engineers 3 Jezerinac Geers & Associates

Graphic Design/Branding Agency

Fahlgren Mortine SBC fahlgrenmortine. com Runners-up:

2 treetree 3 Ologie

File/Columbus Dispatch/EAmoN QuEENEy

BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES

File/Columbus Dispatch/Rob HARDIN

2018

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F R O M D AY O N E A N D E V E R Y D AY S I N C E we’ve been humbled and grateful to contribute to the growth of this amazing city we call home.

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2018

What was your first job?

Information Technology Company

HMB

hmbnet.com Runners-up:

2 Revolution Group 3 Leading EDJE

Insurance Brokerage

Overmyer Hall oh-ins.com Runners-up:

2 Bazemore Insurance Group 3 Huntington Insurance

Insurance Company

Ours was finding work for soldiers as they returned home from World War II. And, we’ve been the employment experts ever since. Today, we connect top talent with opportunities at the best employers throughout Central Ohio.

Nationwide Insurance nationwide.com Runners-up:

2 State Farm 3 Erie Insurance

Internet Service Provider

Spectrum

Search and apply for jobs anytime at dawsoncareers.com.

spectrum.com Runners-up:

2 WOW 3 AT&T

Logistics Provider

UPS

ups.com Runners-up:

2 FedEx 3 USPS

Manufacturing Company

Honda of America Manufacturing Best Temporary Employment Agency 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

2018

Best Executive Search Firm 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

ohio.honda.com Runners-up:

2 Worthington Industries 3 T. Marzetti Company

Mobile Phone Service Provider

Verizon

verizonwireless.com Runners-up:

2 AT&T 3 Sprint/Boost Mobile

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It’s our people. It’s that simple.

Team Safelite!

2018

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2018 Office Furniture

Continental Office Environments continentaloffice.com Runners-up:

2 Dupler Office 3 King Business Interiors

Printing Company Continental Office Environments

Hopkins Printing

hopkinsprinting.com Runners-up:

2 Baesman 3 Key Blue Prints Inc

Public Relations Firm

Krile Communications krilecommunications.com Runners-up:

2 Belle Communications 3 Fahlgren Mortine SBC

File/Columbus Dispatch/ANDReA NOAll

S t a f f

P i c k

Best Coming-Out Party (Tech Edition) Can tech companies thrive far away from the traditional economic power centers on the coasts? Columbus began to make that case last year, when McKesson bought CoverMyMeds for $1.1 billion. But 2018 turned out to be an even more significant breakthrough year for Columbus’ tech scene. Insurance startup Root Insurance was valued at $1 billion after it raised $100 million—a record-setting venture capital round for an Ohio startup—while Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest investment fund declared Columbus the top rising city for startups in the nation.

—Dave Ghose

Bu ad pl

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W P en

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We are thrilled to be named to Columbus CEO’s Best of Business list in the catetogy of Private Wealth Management Company! Since 1979, our passion has been to help our clients to achieve their dreams. From all of us at Budros Ruhlin & Roe, we extend a sincere thank you to all of our clients,, colleagues, g , friends and familyy who voted for us.

Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc.is a fee-only, SEC registered investment adviser, located in Columbus, Ohio. For more disclosure information, please visit: www.b-r-r.com/disclosure.

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Magic 8 Ball...

Who is the BEST Promotional Products Company?

2018 Signage Company

FastSigns

fastsigns.com Runners-up: 2 Columbus Sign Co. 3 DaNite Sign Co.

EDUCATION Continuing Education Offerings

Ohio State University osu.edu

Runners-up:

2 Columbus State Community

College 3 Otterbein University

MBA Program

OSU Fisher College of Business fisher.osu.edu Runners-up:

We are humbled to be voted Central Ohio’s Best Promotional Products Company for the 8th year in a row.

2 Otterbein University 3 Franklin University

Private Schools (K-12)

Columbus School for Girls columbusschoolforgirls.org Runners-up:

2 Wellington School 3 Bishop Watterson High School

FINANCIAL Accounting Firm (upto 20 CPAs)

Whalen & Co. whalencpa.com Runners-up:

2 Holbrook & Manter 3 Susan E. Thomas CPA

Accounting Firm (20 plus CPAs) 50 S. Liberty St., Ste. 250 Powell, OH 43065 614.635.8865 www.artina.com

GBQ

gbq.com Runners-up:

2 Deloitte 3 Schneider Downs

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2018 Commercial Mortgage Lender

KEMBA Financial Credit Union kemba.org Runners-up:

2 Heartland Bank 3 Park National Bank

Credit Union

KEMBA Financial Credit Union kemba.org

Clinical lab at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center File/Columbus Dispatch/ADAm CAirNS

Runners-up:

2 Pathways Financial Credit Union 3 Wright-Patt Credit Union

Private Wealth Management

Budros, Ruhlin & Roe b-r-r.com

Runners-up:

2 Morgan Stanley 3 Hamilton Capital Management

S t a f f

P i c k

Best Vindication Despite an extraordinary amount of internal strife and drama over the past couple of years, Ohio State University leaders have maintained that the OSU Wexner Medical Center was on the right path with its more integrated model. The financial numbers are backing up that claim, even as former Ohio State President Gordon Gee and his team at West Virginia University continue to poach medical talent from OSU. The med center generated $3.7 billion this year, a new record, while also increasing its margin slightly to 8.9 percent.

—Dave Ghose

OVERMYER HALL ASSOCIATES

Proud to be recognized as the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Best Insurance Brokerage by Columbus CEO

2018

Overmyer Hall Associates prides itself on its big broker experience delivered by a community-oriented, family-owned business.

We’re committed to being an extraordinary sales and service agency that treats its clients like friends, and associates like family.

Thank you recognizing our efforts and voting us as Best Insurance Brokerage.

BUSINESS INSURANCE · SURETY BONDING · HOME & AUTO

614.453.4400 www.oh-ins.com info@oh-ins.com

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Admission

PREVIEW

DEC.

5 2018

She will know her power.

9-10:30Am

www.columbusschoolforgirls.org/preview

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Columbus School for Girls Age 3 to Grade 12 • RSVP Today!

10/18/18 12:25 PM

Thank you for voting us #1 Landscaper & Nursery!

Visit one of our garden or specialty stores this holiday season for holiday decor and gift ideas!

Visit www.oaklandnursery.com for locations and store hours

2018 Business Lender

KEMBA Financial Credit Union kemba.org Runners-up:

2 Huntington National Bank 3 Pathways Financial Credit Union

FOOD & BEVERAGE Happy Hour

Lindey’s

lindeys.com Runners-up:

2 Marcella’s 3 The Pearl

Outdoor Dining

We are HONORED to work in a community

THANK YOU Central Ohio, and especially our

clients and partners,

FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

Lindey’s

lindeys.com Runners-up:

2 Milestone 229 3 Barcelona

Place to Entertain a Client

Lindey’s

lindeys.com Runners-up:

2 Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse 3 Mitchell’s Ocean Club

Power Breakfast

First Watch

firstwatch.com

We will continue to strive for excellence and always represent our industry with integrity and quality.

Runners-up:

2 Northstar CafĂŠ 3 Bob Evans

Power Lunch

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar capcityfinediner.com Runners-up:

2018

2 Northstar CafĂŠ 3 Hot C hicken Takeover

Restaurant

strategy • marketing • public relations

krilecommunications.com

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar capcityfinediner.com

N

Runners-up:

2 Lindey’s 3 The Top Steak House

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COULD WE REALLY HAVE BEEN NAMED

BEST SUBURB TO DO BUSINESS? ( YEP, 8 YEARS IN A ROW. )

EVERYTHING GROWS HERE.

Named “Best Suburb to do Business” for 8 consecutive years by Columbus CEO

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2018

HEALTHCARE Cardiac Practice

Ohio State Heart and Vascular Center wexnermedical.osu.edu Runners-up:

2 OhioHealth Heart & Vascular

Women’s Final Four File/Columbus Dispatch/EriC AlBrEChT

Physicians

S t a f f

3 Mount Carmel Columbus

Cardiology Consultants

Dermatology Practice

Buckeye Dermatology buckeyedermatology.com Runners-up:

2 Westerville Dermatology 3 Central Ohio Skin & Cancer

P i c k

Best Coming-Out Party (Sports Edition) Columbus hosted its first Women’s Final Four this year, and it couldn’t have gone much better. Not only were the games thrilling, but the off-the-court performance was just as impressive. Attendance at Nationwide Arena topped last year’s event, while turnout at fan events also was solid. Outsiders praised the city for its welcoming, fun atmosphere, and the economic impact for the city was significant—$21.7 million in direct visitor spending.

The Women’s Final Four even took top honors in the sport events industry’s SportsTravel Awards, beating out the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics, among others. —Dave Ghose

We’re honored to be awarded Columbus CEO magazine’s Best Private Flight Service for the 7th year in a row.

To learn more, visit netjets.com or call a Private Aviation Concierge at 1-877-JET-2017.

NetJets is a Berkshire Hathaway company. Aircraft are managed and operated by NetJets Aviation, Inc. NetJets is a registered service mark. ©2018 NetJets IP, LLC. All rights reserved.

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THANK YOU In a city filled with so many wonderful choices, thank you for voting Mills James BEST AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION COMPANY for the tenth year in Columbus CEO’s Best of Business reader poll.

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e-newsletter

Dental Practice

Dr. James Hutta lovethatsmile.net Runners-up:

ackstage pass to the Arch b r u City Yo Visit ColumbusMonthly.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter that includes special events, important conversations, exclusive giveaways and more.

2 OSU School of Dentistry 3 Gentle Dentist

Family Medical Practice

Central Ohio Primary Care copcp.com Runners-up:

2 OhioHealth Primary Care 3 OSU (all locations)

Hospital/Medical Center

Thank you for choosing us as central Ohio’s

best contractor six years in a row!

OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital ohiohealth.com Runners-up:

2 Nationwide Children’s Hospital 3 OSU Wexner Medical Center

Oncology Medical Practice

OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center—James Cancer Hospital cancer.osu.edu Runners-up:

2 Zangmeister Center 3 Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Oncology

Orthopedic Practice & Sports Medicine

Orthopedic ONE

orthopedicone.com Runners-up:

2 Joint Implant Surgeons 3 OrthoNeuro

S t a f f

P i c k

Best Retail Outlier While other old-school, brick-and-mortar retailers have struggled (Les Wexner of L Brands just took a 50-percent pay cut), DSW is enjoying one of its best years in decades, with a second quarter that puts it on track to exceed a $3 billion threshold in sales for the first time ever. The second quarter showed a 16.4 percent increase in sales, and the shareholders’ response was a 20.2 percent increase in shares. The quarterly sales, $795.3 million, exceeded Wall Street estimates by $105.9 million.

—Chloe Teasley

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2018

To be named to Columbus CEO magazine’s Best of Business list is indeed an honor for all of us at GBQ. Our sincere thanks to the central Ohio business readers, clients and friends who believe we are the very best at what we do.

230 West Street Suite 700 Columbus, OH 43215

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Tax Accounting Consulting

www.gbq.com

10/18/18 3:35 PM

2018 Law Firm (Fewer than 50 attorneys) Physical Therapy Practice

Orthopedic ONE

orthopedicone.com Runners-up:

2 OhioHealth Rehabilitation

Centers 3 OSU Sports Medicine

LEGAL Law Firm (More than 50 attorneys)

AlerStallings

alerstallings.com Runners-up:

2 Carlile Patchen & Murphy 3 Grossman Law Offices

Business Law Firm

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease vorys.com

Runners-up:

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Porter Wright

Family Law Firm

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease

AlerStallings

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

vorys.com

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter

alerstallings.com 2 Carlile Patchen & Murphy 3 Grossman Law Offices

Orthopedic ONE Courtesy OrthOpediC ONe

2018

Celebrating 40 years

of Award-Winning Senior Living!

Named Best Retirement Community

by Columbus CEO’s 2018 Best of Business Awards

2018

2017

Are you ready to start living the Village life? Call (614) 304-3415 or visit fvcolumbus.org to learn more.

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2018

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2018 Labor & Employment Law Firm

Bricker & Eckler

Country Club

PERSONAL PERKS

Muirfield Village Golf Club

bricker.com

mvgc.org

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease 3 Porter Wright

Litigation Firm

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease vorys.com

2 Scioto Country Club 3 New Albany Country Club

sparkspace.com

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter

Roush Honda

roushhonda.com Runners-up:

2 Byers Auto 3 Germain Motor Co.

Meeting Space (Conference Center)

sparkspace

Runners-up:

Auto Dealer

Runners-up:

2 Greater Columbus

Fitness Facility

Planet Fitness

planetfitness.com Runners-up:

2 LA Fitness 3 LifeTime Fitness

Convention Center

MEETINGS AND EVENTS

3 Hilton Columbus at Easton

Private Golf Course

Audiovisual Production Company

Mills James Productions millsjames.com

Muirfield Village Golf Club mvgc.org

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Live Technologies 3 Bartha

2 Scioto Country Club 3 New Albany Country Club

Public Golf Course

Caterer

Cameron Mitchell Premier Events

cameronmitchellpremierevents.com

Safari Golf Club

safarigolf.columbuszoo.org

2 City BBQ Catering 3 Two Caterers

Promotional Products Company

Attraction for Visitors

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

Artina Promotional Products

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

columbuszoo.org

2 Ohio State athletic events 3 Columbus Blue Jackets games

S t a f f

Diamond Cellar

diamondcellar.com Runners-up:

2 Worthington Jewelers 3 Kay Jewelers

Private Flight Service

NetJets

netjets.com Runners-up:

2 Lane Aviation 3 Wheels Up

Runners-up:

2 Golf Club of Dublin 3 New Albany Links

Runners-up:

Jeweler

artina.com

2 Leaderpromos 3 Outreach Promotional Products

P i c k

Best Econom ic Triumph Plenty of people doubted Columbus 2020 could deliver on its ambitious goals in its allotted 10 years, let alone hit those targets two years early. Yet that’s what happened in 2018, as the 11-county central Ohio region surpassed $8 billion in capital investment and 150,000 in new jobs since 2010. All that’s left is increasing per-capita income by 30 percent—and the region is on pace to achieve that goal soon if economic conditions remain strong.

—Dave Ghose

Spa/Salon

PENZONE Salons + Spas penzonesalons.com Runners-up:

2 Kenneth’s Hair Salons & Day Spas 3 Salon Lofts

REAL ESTATE Commercial Developer

Crawford Hoying

crawfordhoying.com Runners-up:

2 Daimler Group 3 CASTO

Commercial Interior Design Firm

KP Designs & Associates

kpdesignsandassociates.com Runners-up:

2 Moody Nolan 3 FITCH

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There is no routine lung cancer.

A revolution in lung cancer treatment is happening at The James. Our research is proving that cancers are not defined solely by their locations and stages, but also by individual molecules and genes that drive each patient’s unique cancer. To deliver the most effective ways to treat lung cancers, we work to understand each cancer at a genetic level, then pinpoint what makes it grow. Our teams of world-renowned scientists, oncologists and other specialists use their collective knowledge and expertise to deliver treatments that target one particular lung cancer‌yours.

To learn more visit cancer.osu.edu/lung.

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Custom Home Builder

Bob Webb Group

THANK YOU READERS Voted best outdoor dining, happy hour and place to entertain a client for 2018.

bobwebb.com Runners-up:

2 Romanelli & Hughes Building Co. 3 3 Pillar Homes

Residential/Multifamily Developer

M/I Homes

mihomes.com Runners-up:

2 Epcon Communities 3 Trinity Homes

General Contractor

Corna Kokosing corna.com Runners-up:

2 Ruscilli 3 Compton Construction

HVAC Company

Atlas Butler

atlasbutler.com Runners-up:

2 Bruner Corporation 3 Columbus Worthington Air

Landscaper/Nursery

Oakland Nurseries oaklandnursery.com Runners-up:

2 Strader’s Nursery 3 Greenscapes

Real Estate Agency, Residential

HER

herrealtors.com Runners-up:

2 Keller Williams Greater

Columbus Realty 3 Coldwell Banker King Thompson

Real Estate Agency, Commercial

HER

Thank you for voting A Kid Again Best of Business in the Small Nonprofit category!

herrealtors.com Runners-up:

2 NAI Ohio Equities 3 Robert Weiler C ompany

Retirement Community

Friendship Village Columbus fvcolumbus.org Runners-up:

ÂŽ

2018

2 Wesley Communities 3 Kensington

82 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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Oakland Nursery File/Columbus Dispatch/Brooke LaVALLey

Commercial Roofing Company

Able Roofing ableroof.com Runners-up:

2 Feazel 3 Arrow Roofing/Siding

WORKFORCE Employee Benefit Firm

Rick Harrison Wolfe, North Market File/Columbus Ceo/roB HArDIN

Executive Coach Firm

Synergy Consultants

synergyconsultants.com Runners-up:

2 Gallagher Consulting Group 3 Executive Elements

Executive Search Firm

USI (formerly Accelerated Benefits)

Dawson

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

usi.com

2 ClearPath Benefit Advisors 3 Willis

Frederic Bertley, COSI

dawsoncareers.com 2 Acloche 3 Cochran Executive Search

File/Columbus Monthly/TIM JoHNsoN

S t a f f

P i c k

Best Executive Wardrobe It’s a tie: COSI’s Frederic Bertley and the North Market’s Rick Harrison Wolfe are challenging the idea that business executives must have a subdued look. The two men can be seen wearing colorful, patterned socks and ties, Chuck Taylors, interesting hats and, in Wolfe’s case, a lavender suit jacket. As Frederic Bertley pointed out in a Columbus Monthly interview, “the apparel oft proclaims the man.”

—Chloe Teasley

November 2018 l ColumbusCEO

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10/18/18 2:05 PM

Employer (More than 500 employees)

Safelite AutoGlass safelite.com Runners-up: ÂŽ

Creating an Ethical Marketplace BBB builds a community of trusted businesses and helps give consumers peace of mind.

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2 IGS Energy 3 Ohio State University

Employer (Fewer than 500 employees)

City Barbeque

Runners-up: 2 Fahlgren Mortine SBC 3 GBQ Partners

Temporary Employment Agency

Dawson

dawsoncareers.com Runners-up:

2 Acloche 3 Portfolio Creative

Best of the rest Congratulations 2018 Best of Business Recipients!

Large Nonprofit (Annual revenue over $7 million)

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio rmhc-centralohio.org Runners-up:

2 Mid-Ohio Foodbank 3 Lutheran Social Services of

Central Ohio

Small Nonprofit (Annual revenue under $7 million)

A Kid Again akidagain.org Runners-up:

2 Habitat for Humanity-Greater

Columbus 3 Dress for Success Columbus

Startup

Hot Chicken Takeover hotchickentakeover.com Runners-up:

2 Root Insurance 3 BYBE

Suburb To Do Business

Dublin

dublinohiousa.gov Runners-up:

2 Westerville 3 Grandview

84 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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10/18/18 3:35 PM

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE 2018

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10/17/18 1:25 PM

Intellectual Property

Understanding—and dealing with—pesky patent trolls

By Evan WEEsE

W

hether or not a company has tangled with patent trolls, it’s important to be aware of the threat

they present.

Patent assertion entities—the more polite term—cheaply acquire overly broad patents with no intent to protect intellectual property but rather to threaten legitimate companies with infringement lawsuits. With the prospect of a costly and drawn-out legal battle hanging over their heads, many businesses will succumb to exorbitant “licensing” fees to continue operating as usual.

It’s a nightmare scenario for any business, and especially smaller ones, but there are tried-and-true practices for fending off patent trolls.

File photos/Columbus Dispatch/JoshUA A. BICkeL

Taming the Trolls

•••

Changing Landscape The purpose of a patent—generally granted for 20 years—is for businesses to protect their intellectual property from theft. Technology may come to mind, but it’s often patents for “business processes” that ensnare companies in legal battles.

Starting in the late 1990s, trolls began to wreak havoc as weak

White Castle in the short north

patents were granted by the U.S. Patent Office for business processes around, say, online shopping. The trolls, sometimes publicly traded companies, became sophisticated in abusing the system.

“They would go out and scour the patent office and look for patents that were still valid that were very, very broad, and in areas that people might be using them on,” says trademark and copyright attorney Joe Dreitler, principal of Joseph Dreitler Co. LPA. “When this first began, the Patent Office was swamped and overwhelmed.”

Making matters worse, particular courts, such as the Eastern District of Texas, became infamous as the venues of choice for infringement lawsuits, taking cases from all over the country.

Trolls send out mass letters to legitimate businesses saying they control a certain patent and will license it to them for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Reading between the lines, and fearing the cost of litigation, businesses may be

“It doesn’t mean they’re still not out there sending letters. But they have a higher hurdle than they did five years ago.”

JOE DrEItlEr, principal of Joseph Dreitler Co. LPA

tempted to simply pay whatever the troll is demanding—and justifiably so.

“A patent case that goes the distance can take years and require over a million in legal fees, sometimes more than a quarter million just to resolve the meaning of the patent claims through what is known as a Markman hearing,” says Greg Krabacher, a partner at Bricker & Eckler whose practice includes a wide range of intellectual property and information technology matters.

The median damages awarded in 2016 was $6.1 million, according to consulting firm PwC. That’s down significantly from a median of $10.2 million in the prior year, but still large enough that only 5 percent of cases go to trial, according to advisory firm Willis Towers Watson.

Columbus-based White Castle is among the many companies dealing with the familiar shakedown from trolls. The family-owned hamburger chain received at least three letters in recent years, accused of infringing on patents for digital menu boards, QR scans and use of a hyperlink in digital marketing. Executives said at the time it made them hesitant to embrace new technology.

“Patent trolls are very challenging for us,” White Castle CEO Lisa Ingram told Columbus CEO in 2014. “We want to be able to utilize technology to allow our customers to have a better interaction with us and not have to not use technology because

86 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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W46296

10/17/18 3:01 PM

THAN K YOU

BECAUSE CHILDREN NEED HOPE, AND HOPE NEEDS A CHAMPION. Thank you to our 2018 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon Mile Sponsors for giving kids hope!

W46296

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10/17/18 3:02 PM

File photos/Columbus Dispatch/Joshua a. BiCkel

we’re worried about getting sued or getting a frivolous letter from one of these patent trolls—who may or may not have invented the technology that we’re actually using.”

In recent years, stronger legal protection and preparation has made honest companies better able to combat the trolls. In 2013, implementation of the America Invents Act established Inter Partes Review, through which patents can be challenged using the Patent Office’s administrative review process rather than through the courts. And a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court cut down on “venue shopping,” by which trolls were able to choose friendlier courts, like the Eastern District of Texas.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has decided several important patent cases in recent years,” Krabacher says. “There’s now a bit more clarity on the type of subject matter that should qualify for business method patents, and also more clarity on the separate standard of nonobviousness. After these decisions, it became more difficult to register and assert software patents.”

It’s a double-edged sword, as well-meaning businesses may have to work harder to protect their intellectual property. “It has made things more difficult for all software patent owners, especially for the small software startup,” Krabacher says. “It’s harder, I think, for startups to get the same kind of IP credentials they once were able to get.”

Of course, the changes haven’t completely shut down bad actors.

While the number of patent cases has fallen to the lowest level since 2011, according to IPWatchdog.com, there were still 4,057 cases filed in 2017.

“It doesn’t mean they’re still not out there sending out letters,” Dreitler says

88 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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10/17/18 3:02 PM

Each subscription will include: 12 2 Home & Garden 1 1 Best Driving Vacations 1

086-091_SS_IntelectualProperty.indd 89

Columbus Monthly Restaurant Guide Giving 1 Health

10/18/18 2:12 PM

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Publication Title: Columbus C.E.O. Publication Number: 1085-911 Filing Date: October 1, 2018 Issue Frequency: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: None Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio 43215.

Contact Person: Brad Harmon.

Telephone: (614) 461-5000.

Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: Same as Above.

Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher - Ray Paprocki, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Editor – Mary Yost, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Owner: New Media Investment Group, Inc., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor New York, NY 10105.

Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or holding 1 percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: Ci tizens Bank 28 State St. MS 1500 Bosto n, MA 02129 Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at non-profit rates). Does not apply.

Publication Title; Columbus C.E.O. Issue Date for Circulation Data below: September 2018

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Lisa Ingram

Average No. No. Copies of Copies Each Single Issue During Issue Preceding Published 12 Months Nearest To Filing Date

a. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 22,332 b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 5,164 (2) In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 16,292 (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers; Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside the U.S.P.S. ® 127 (4) Requested Copies Distributed

by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3) & (4)) 21,582 d. Nonrequested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies stated on PS Form 3541 0 (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 0 (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by other Classes of Mail 0 (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail 125 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) 125 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e) 21,810 g. Copies not Distributed 522 h. Total (Sum of 15f and g) 22, 332 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by f times 100) 98.96% Circulation on PS Form 3526-X Worksheet. N/A

File/Columbus Dispatch/Joshua a. BiCkEl

(Required by 39 USC 3685)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

22,331

5,525 16,026

127 0 21,678

0 0 0 125 125 21,803 528 22,331 99.43%

17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requestor Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2018 issue of this publication.

18. Signature And Title Of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner.

Brad Harmon President and Publisher I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

“Doing this will demonstrate you are taking the matter seriously and also put them on the spot to either put up or shut up.” grEg KrabaChEr, partner, Bricker & Eckler of the trolls. “But they have a higher hurdle than they did five years ago.”

•••

Fending Off It’s important for businesses across all industries to be familiar with intellectual property law and vigilant in dealing with trolls. That means conducting a thorough search of patents before putting a product or service on the market, using the Patent and Trademark Office’s online search function.

Businesses should consider hiring a patent lawyer, and they may want to consider acquiring intellectual property insurance. And, more simply, they should be familiar with their suppliers and partners.

Be sure to have a game plan for when patent trolls do come harassing. “In the event you get one of these letters, it’s not a good idea to merely ignore the letter,” Krabacher says. “If you send a letter back that shows you retained counsel and put in due dili-

gence, you can demonstrate you’re not an easy target.”

Ask good questions and put the onus on the patent troll to demonstrate specifics.

“When patent trolls send these letters, they are intentionally vague,” Krabacher says.

He recommends writing back and asking for specifics, such as asking for a claim chart detailing the infringements.

“Doing this will demonstrate you are taking the matter seriously and also put them on the spot to either put up or shut up,” Krabacher says.

Insist on putting a nondisclosure agreement in place when discussing sensitive information about intellectual property. Research and investigate the patent troll to find out whether others have defended against them.

“First, find out if they filed lawsuits against other people, and get someone to study their patent—it’s probably $50,000 to do that,” Dreitler says. “It’s probably worth it to find out how strong the patent is. Go through the exercise before making any kind of response.”

Ultimately, should a dispute arise, there generally are two defenses: that the patent in question is invalid, or that the product in question is noninfringement.

Dreitler says it’s understandable that some small business owners will have the mindset that, “even if these guys are crooks, I just want to get them the hell out of here.”

Evan Weese is a freelance writer.

90 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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10/17/18 3:02 PM

C

• H

Ho In •

•A • J

Ent • Rick O’B Co

Thank You.. … to our valued sponsors, donors and friends for making this year’s Home in Ohio event an extraordinary success. Your gifts will be used to enhance community-based wellness programs and services that help bring the exceptional care of OhioHealth closer to home in the communities who need it most.

— PRESENTING SPONSORS —

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— INTEGRITY SPONSORS — • Linda and Larry Abbott • AVI Foodsystems • Baird Advisors • BakerHostetler • Benesch Law • Drs. Arthur G. H. Bing and Hetty L. Bing • Byers, Minton & Associates • Central Ohio Primary Care Physicians Inc. • Columbus Blue Jackets • Columbus Oncology & Hematology Associates • Corna-Kokosing Construction • Coverys Community Healthcare Foundation • • Diamond Cellar • EMH&T • Epic • Exhibitpro • Gryphon International Investment Corporation • Income Research + Management • Jackie O’s Brewery • LabCorp • Lillibridge Healthcare Services • McCullough Industries Inc. • MedOne Hospital Physicians • The Memorial Tournament • Mid-Ohio Emergency Services • Midwest Physician Anesthesia Services Inc. • Moody Nolan Ltd. • Karen J. Morrison • Morrison Sign Company • NEPC LLC • Osteopathic Heritage Foundation • • Perez & Morris • Vizient • Gifford Weary and David J. Angelo • White Castle • David Williams • Zeiger, Tigges & Little LLP •

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“In Columbus? I know just who to call.”

People who know, know BDO.SM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

BDO provides assurance, tax, financial advisory, and consulting services to companies across Ohio—and around the world.

With our new Business Service Center based right here in Columbus, we’re committed to serving the evolving needs of our clients and supporting our city’s business community.

8

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9 Mike Voinovich

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096-099_Leaderboard_Accounting.indd 96

10/17/18 1:34 PM

10

Central OhiO aCCOunting Firms

ranked by number of central Ohio CPas and for ties, by consultants and accountants

Firm 1 Ernst & Young LLP 800 Yard St., Suite 200 Grandview Heights 43212 614-224-5678 • ey.com

2 Deloitte

180 E. Broad St., Suite 1400 Columbus 43215 • 614-221-1000 deloitte.com

CPas

131 114

COnsultants aCCOuntants

162 165

33 74

tOtal emPlOyees

maJOr serViCes OFFereD

333

Assurance; advisory; tax, transaction advisory services; core business services, including HR and IT services

403

Audit & assurance; tax; risk & financial advisory; business consulting & technology

251

Audit; tax; merger & acquisition; estate planning

255

Audit; tax; riskconsulting; managementconsulting; transaction services

146

Assurance; tax; valuation; forensic and dispute advisory; information risk management and cybersecurity

161

Audit; tax; advisory services; risk consulting; performance consulting; applied technology

3 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

41 S. High St., Suite 2500 Columbus 43215 • 614-225-8715 pwc.com

4 KPMG LLP

191 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 500 Columbus 43215 • 614-249-2300 kpmg.com

5 GBQ Partners LLC

230 West St., Suite 700 Columbus 43215 • 614-221-1120 gbq.com

6 Crowe LLP

155 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 500 Columbus 43215 • 614-469-0001 crowe.com

7 Kaiser Consulting

34 Grace Drive, Powell 43065 614-774-2828 kaiserconsulting.com

8 BDO USA LLP

300 Spruce St., Suite 100 Columbus 43215 • 614-488-3126 bdo.com

9 Schneider Downs & Co. 65 E. State St., Suite 2000 Columbus 43215 • 614-621-4060 schneiderdowns.com

10 RSM US LLP 250 West St., Suite 200 Columbus 43215 • 614-224-7722 rsmus.com

100 92 77 62

40 73 11 28

70 66 30 55

40

3

18

63

33

28

78

139

33 28

12 24

35 7

lOCal tOP OFFiCer

Daniel Valerio Office managing partner

John McEwan

Managing partner

Michael A. Petrecca

Columbus managing partner

Matt Kramer

Office managing partner

Darci Congrove Managing director

Chris Barrett

Office managing partner

Controller & business analyst functions; compliance; Lori Kaiser internal control review & recommendations; process CEO improvement Assurance; advisory; tax; transaction

Mike Voinovich Office managing partner

90

Accounting & auditing; tax; Michael A. risk advisory; technology Renzelman consulting; business Shareholder advisory

62

Audit; tax; technology consulting; transaction advisory; technology assessments

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The February Leaderboards will feature central Ohio cardiology group practices and general contractors. The deadline for inclusion in those surveys is Nov.17. If you want your central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at 614-461-5109 or cteasley@columbusCEO.com.

Information included in this survey was provided by companies listed and was not independently verified.

Roger Prough

Managing partner

na = not applicable Source: Survey of Accounting Firms Information compiled by CHlOE tEaSlEY

November 2018 l ColumbusCeO

096-099_Leaderboard_Accounting.indd 97

97

10/17/18 1:51 PM

Central OhiO aCCOunting Firms

ranked by number of central Ohio CPas and for ties, by consultants and total employees, respectively

Firm 11 BHM CPA Group, Inc. P.O. Box 875, Circleville 43113 740-474-5210 bhmcpagroup.com

12 Clark Schaefer Hackett 4449 Easton Way, Suite 400 Columbus 43219 • 614-885-2208 cshco.com

13 Brady Ware & Company 4249 Easton Way, Suite 100 Columbus 43219 • 614-885-7407 bradyware.com

14 Maloney + Novotny

38 S. Franklin St., Delaware 43015 740-362-9031 maloneynovotny.com

15 Rea & Associates, Inc. 5775 Perimeter Drive, Suite 200 Dublin 43017 • 614-889-8725 reacpa.com

16 Holbrook & Manter CPAs 775 Yard St., Suite 160 Columbus 43212 • 614-494-5300 holbrookmanter.com

17 Blue & Co., LLC

9200 Worthington Road Westerville 43082 • 614-885-2583 blueandco.com

18 Wilson, Shannon & Snow, Inc.

10 W. Locust St., Newark 43055 740-345-6611 • wssinc.net

19 Tidwell Group, LLC

4249 Easton Way, Suite 210 Columbus 43219 • 614-528-1400 tidwellgroup.com

20 Bodine Perry

7620 Olentangy River Road Columbus 43235 • 614-431-1040 bodineperry.com

CPas

COnsultants aCCOuntants

tOtal emPlOyees

maJOr serViCes OFFereD

lOCal tOP OFFiCer

27

6

32

65

Accounting & auditing; tax services; consulting

Jeffrey A. Harr

22

8

12

50

Assurance; tax; business advisory; managed services; HR solutions

Edward V. Walsh Betty Collins

42

Dealership consulting; long-term care consulting; comprehensive tax services; accounting; audit & assurance services

21 20 19

9 na 8

12 8 26

President

Shareholder-in-charge

Columbus managing partner

Sam Agresti

Director

33

Tax; audit; consulting; accounting services

G. Michael Dickey

53

Audit; tax; business valuations; investment services; accounting services

Mark McKinley

19

8

9

36

19

2

23

44

16

5

9

30

16

1

20

39

12

na

10

25

Taxes; audit assurance; accounting outsourcing services; business consulting; financial planning Healthcare consulting; assurance services; tax services; small business services and third-party administration Audits, reviews and compilations; tax; estate planning; small buisness accounting and consulting; computer consulting; trusts Assurance; tax; commericial & multi-family real estate; benefit & incentive plans; uniform guidance Accounting; auditing; tax; business valuation; consulting

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The February Leaderboards will feature central Ohio cardiology group practices and general contractors. The deadline for inclusion in those surveys is Nov.17. If you want your central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at 614-461-5109 or cteasley@columbusCEO.com.

Information included in this survey was provided by companies listed and was not independently verified.

Shareholder

Regional president, west central Ohio

Justin Linscott and Mark Welp Principals

Larry King

Director-in-charge

Michael J. Crumrine

President & firm manager

Todd Fentress Ohio managing partner

James E. Hunter Columbus managing partner

na = not applicable Source: Survey of Accounting Firms Information compiled by CHLOE TEASLEY

98 ColumbusCeO l November 2018

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THE FACES OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT

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Shortcuts don’t lead to the best financial planning, and that’s why Chornyak & Associates doesn’t use them.

Developed over 40 years, Chornyak uses proprietary processes and systems to research, analyze, select and monitor recommended investments. With a thorough understanding of each client’s financial picture, Chornyak builds comprehensive planning strategies to help achieve their dreams.

It takes more time to ask lots of questions, gather detailed information and act as a true partner, but Chornyak believes that’s the best way to be sure every financial decision supports their clients’ goals and desires with broad diversification and proper investment allocation. This disciplined approach is based on one simple belief: investors rarely reap above-average returns by taking unnecessary risks.

Chornyak manages over $1,000,000,000 in assets for over 1,000 individuals and businesses nationwide.The Columbus firm grew its business through referrals from satisfied clients who recommended its customized, comprehensive financial planning to friends and colleagues.

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CHORNYAK & ASSOCIATES 716 Mt. Airyshire Blvd., Suite 200 • Columbus, OH 43235 (614) 888-2121 • chornyak.com Robert A. Mauk, CFP • Joseph A. Chornyak, Sr., CFP Managing Partner • Joseph A. Chornyak, Jr., CFP

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2018 Central OhiO Wealth ManageMent FirMs ranked by total assets under local management, and for ties, by tax-deferred assets tOtal assets

FirM 1

Diamond Hill Capital Management 325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 200 Columbus 43215 • 614-255-3333 diamond-hill.com

2 Huntington Bank

41 S. High St., Columbus 43287 614-480-2265 huntington.com/privatebank

3 United American Capital Corporation

75 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite C-3 Worthington 43085 • 614-885-7596 uacc.com

4 Park National Bank

50 N. Third St., Newark 43055 740-349-3900 parknationalbank.com

5 Lifetime Financial Growth 8425 Pular Place, Suite 450 Columbus 43240 • 614-785-5100 lfgco.com

6 Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc. 1801 Watermark Dr., Suite 300 Columbus 43215 • 614-481-6900 b-r-r.com

7 Hamilton Capital

Management, Inc. 5025 arlington Centre Blvd., Suite 300 Columbus 43220 • 614-273-1000 hamiltoncapital.com

8 Summit Financial Strategies Inc.

7965 N. High St., Suite 350 Columbus 43235 • 614-885-1115 summitfin.com

9 Chornyak & Associates 716 Mt. airyshire Blvd., Suite 200 Columbus 43235 • 614-888-2121 chornyak.com

10 Morgan Stanley 4449 Easton Way, Suite 300 Columbus 43219 • 614-473-2401 morganstanleyfa.com

Under management as of Dec. 31, 2017

nuMber OF Central OhiO Clients

nuMber OF Central OhiO CFas

nuMber OF OFFiCes

taX-DeFerreD assets

POrtFOliO Managers

Other MgMt. staFF

Firmwide

$22.3 b $1.7 b

180 10

44 36

1 1

2000

$18.3 b* na

wnd 5

2 wnd

82 999

1866

$13.4 b** na

wnd 3

1 3

1 1

1991

$5.4 b $1.5 b

wnd 11

1 16

9 11

1907

$4.3 b ~$1 b

65,997 9

na 42

1 13

2014

thomas D. Wyatt

Fee & commission

na

$2.5 b $1 b

464 19

2 10

1 1

1979

$2.3 b $1.1 b

1,884 4

4 3

1 1

1997

$1.2 b na

745 11

1 11

1 1

1995

$1.1 b $50 m

1000+ 3

na 8

1 1

1976

$1 b $150 m

1,250 5

na 7

1 500

1989

brian J. edwards

Fee & commission

na

Central Ohio

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The February Leaderboards will feature central Ohio cardiology group practices and general contractors. The deadline for inclusion in those surveys is Nov.17. If you want your central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at 614-461-5109 or cteasley@columbusCEO.com.

Information included in this survey was provided by companies listed and was not independently verified.

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Year FOunDeD COMPensatiOn

Fee only

Central OhiO tOP OFFiCer seniOr inVestMent OFFiCer Chris bingaman CEO

Chris Welch & austin hawley Co-CIOs

Fee only

Fee only

Fee only

Fee only

Fee only

sue Zazon

Central Ohio president

John augustine

Chief investment officer

Dennis Yacobozzi President & CEO

Kevin Klingel

Sr. VP & portfolio manager

tom Cummiskey Sr. VP & Ttust officer

J. bradley Zellar

Vice president & portfolio manager

Executive director

Peggy ruhlin CEO

Daniel roe

Chief investment officer

r. Matthew hamilton Chairman & CEO

antonio M. Caxide Chief investment officer

Fee only

samantha Macchia President

liam hurley

Chief investment officer

Fee & commission

Joseph a.

Chornyak

CFP, Managing Partner

na Executive director

*Includes all assets under management across Huntington footprint, **includes $8.3 billion under advisory, na=not applicable, wnd=would not disclose

Source: Survey of Wealth Management Firms Information compiled by CHLOE TEaSLEy

November 2018 l ColumbusCeO

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Wouldn’t you like to be looking at your home?

Ask your Realtor to market your home in the Executive Living section of Columbus CEO Magazine!

East of I-71 call Telana Veil at (614) 469-6106 or e-mail at tveil@dispatch.com West of I-71 call Amy Vidrick at (614) 461-5153 or e-mail at avidrick@dispatch.com

SORRELL AND COMPANY

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SORRELL AND COMPANY Martha Corbett (614) 395-6551 martha@ sorrellandco.com

Martha Corbett (614) 395-6551 martha@ sorrellandco.com NOT ACTUAL PROPERTY

1477 COLLEGE HILL RD. - Pristine home situated on a double lot in Upper Arlington. Great curb appeal 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 family rooms. Huge master bedroom. Walk to UA High school and shops on Lane Ave. Minutes to OSU. $525,000

RIVERSTONE ESTATES - Newest upscale development located in Upper Arlington.

Rare opportunity to build your dream home on a beautiful one acre wooded lot. Enjoy the amenities of the City of Upper Arlington, Only mins to downtown Cols, OSU and airport. Builder recommendations available or bring your own custom builder. For more information go to www.sorrellandco.com. Priced from $395k to $475k.

HOMES THAT CLICK

KELLER WILLIAMS CAPITAL PARTNERS

Lora Roulston (740) 360-4789 lora@homes thatclick.com

Sue Van Woerkom (614) 582-6616 sue.a.van woerkom@gmail.com

8900 MORRIS ROAD - 12+ acre horse farm with 5BR 3 BA home.

Riding arena, stables, huge workshop. Lots to love- close to Prairie Oaks Metro Park. Pond, gazebo, fenced. Hilliard Schools. $850,000

JEFFERSON VILLAGE GATED COMMUNITY - Located just a nine iron away from the private Jefferson Country Club. This is maintenance free living at its finest. Walk into luxury as soon as you step foot into the large 2 story foyer of this bright and airy home.

A 1st flr owner suite boasts a luxury bath & walk-in closet. Escape to your own private backyard sanctuary. This is a perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee or summer evenings.

RE/MAX CONNECTION

LEPI & ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE Roberta “Bobbi” Lepi (740) 891-1068 blepi@ lepirealestate.com

Sherrie Miller (614) 582-5803 sherriemiller.com

OASIS IN CANAL WINCHESTER - Serenity abounds on this 32.5-acre park like setting. 4 BD, 3.5 baths. 6916 sf. Solid Cherry wood throughout. Wolfe SS. appl., 3 balcony’s, Finished LL w/full bath. Heated Pole Barn (3862 sf) with auto-lift & mezzanine. PLUS 865 sf cabin. Secluded yet close to Hospitals and more. 5962 Waterloo Rd. NW $1,250,000

1540 CHEVINGTON CIRCLE - Rest or raise your horses on this 30 acres just outside of the city limits of Zanesville, Ohio. Top quality home that you will be proud to entertain your friends in or rest after long trips on the show trail. Visit 1540chevington.com for more details, pictures and videos.

RE/MAX PREMIER CHOICE

RE/MAX PREMIER CHOICE

Kevin Sullivan (614) 419-2026 kevins@ columbus.rr.com

Kevin Sullivan (614) 419-2026 kevins@ columbus.rr.com

STUNNING RENOVATED CUSTOM-BUILT HOME - on secluded 2.46 acre lot w/amazing views, Open Flr Plan, Din Rm & Fam Rm overlooks scenic private yard, Hdwd Flrs, Gourmet Kit & hand Chiseled FP, private Den/Library, Spacious Mstr Ste w/FP & Spa Bath addition w/Steam Shower & heated flrs. Private InLaw Ste, amazing fin Walk-out LL, many updates. 905 Retreat Lane. $729,900.

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OUTSTANDING CUSTOM-BUILT HOME - Luxurious living on 3 Levels with scenic views from every room. 5 BRs, 4.5 Baths, 4 Fireplaces, and 5 Car Garage. 2 Story Entry, beautiful Hdwd Flrs, stunning updated Kitchen w/Granite Counter tops and SS Appls.

Amazing Walk-out Lower Level. 7731 Seminary Ridge Dr. $949,900

10/17/18 12:21 PM

home?

cutive

614-583-5760 Help Wanted

lot ly n

Lawn Care & Landscape

HELP WANTED

e.

HELP WANTED

30 home trips ures

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10/17/18 12:21 PM

Office Space

By ChlOE tEaslEy + Photos by rOb hardin

LOTH, Inc. 855 Grandview Ave. Columbus 43215 lothinc.com

Office walls came down during a remodel and public spaces with varying degrees of privacy were added.

space reimagined

Rather than finding a new space, LOTH employees decided to give their own a facelift. A change from displaying furniture for sale showroom-style, the office furniture and design company opted to use the pieces throughout the office, showcasing the myriad options for uses of the products.

‘70s Vibes

This room was created to showcase the diversity of office design.

soft spot

A sitting area in the middle of the office floor is encased with gauzy curtains hanging from a freestanding metal structure, making a “room” for partial privacy.

swatches n’ samples

LOTH staff decided to leave evidence of the creative process used in designing their space.

the “Patio”

A staff favorite, this bright space with plenty of greenery was created in lieu of an actual outdoor area—since the property can’t accommodate one.

Quiet time

There is no talking allowed near these pods used for ultra-focused work.

Visit columbusCEO.com for a full article on the space.

104 ColumbusCEO l November 2018

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Are you ready to be your best?

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www.franklin.edu Franklin Makes It Possible. Franklin Makes It Personal.

Franklin University is nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440).

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10/17/18 1:58 PM