RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT

Ron Stokes Sr.

Teamwork is second nature to Gahanna resident Ron Stokes Sr. The former OSU basketball standout learned it on the court, and continues to see it in action as the color analyst for The Ohio State Men's Basketball Radio Network and co-host of The Chris Holtmann Show.

And now, it’s a different home team helping Stokes assemble a slew of successful businesses: his family.

Shortly after graduating OSU with a marketing degree in 1985, Stokes and his wife Lavita settled in Gahanna to raise their children, Laurel, Amber, Ronnie Jr., and Sydney.

Eager to utilize his marketing acumen, Ron purchased a business. This resulted in Three-Leaf Productions, which provides creative marketing and media consulting. In another strategic move, the Stokes launched LARS Properties, LLC—a family-owned company offering a variety of customizable services to individual construction projects.

Choosing Gahanna as the place for his thriving family and businesses was a natural choice for Ron and Lavita. "We love the community atmosphere, and it made all the sense in the world to establish our business here as well," he said. "Selfishly, our office is only 3.9 miles from our front door! We like the proximity to the airport, accessibility to major highways, great local businesses, fantastic support from the Mayor's office and city entities; plus, being close to one of the best retail centers in the country: Easton."

The Stokes want to make sure they’re part of the community for a long time to come, too. "We take great pride that each family member has ownership and responsibility in the company. It's a legacy driven for multiple generations: we'll be there for our customers," Ron said.

To this end, Ronnie Stokes Jr. will be overseeing the painting project for the new 37,500 square foot Gahanna branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library for LARS, LLC. The Gahanna alumnus is already feeling a sense of community pride in the project. "I’m really excited about the new library!” Ronnie Jr. said. “I remember my mom taking us to the old library when we were kids, and we had to pick up materials for book reports.”

Here in Gahanna, Ron, his family, and their pair of businesses enjoy permanent home-court advantage.

“Gahanna is home,” he said.