Issuu

Means of Production columbus puts film industry in focus Page 26

taking off

acreage around Port columbus is ready for development Page 62

Paying to Play

the business of charity golf outings Page 57

Discover

Grove city special section inside

Michael Drake

Buckeye in chief

leading osu to success in the global economy Page 10

$4.99 7

July 2015

25274 77384

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Contents 26

Means of Production

This summer, Columbus is making a push to own its share of a decentralizing movie business. Key players discuss the fresh initiatives ramping up Columbusâ€™ creative economy.

57 Angle of Approach

AgendA 22 Connections

Golf scramble organizers made the most of their assets to survive the recession. They remain popular central Ohio fundraisers.

Winning companies intermingle at the thirdannual Columbus CEO Top Workplaces Awards at COSI; the Alvis House Evening of light benefit at l Brands headquarters.

25 Events

62 Columbus Developments Take Off Strategic improvements in air service, surface transportation and economic development come together in the JET Task Force study area surrounding Port Columbus International Airport.

July 2015 Cover photo by

Tim JOhnsOn July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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departments 05 Editor’s Notes 06 CEO Whiteboard Letters to the editor, social media buzz & notable developments since the June issue of Columbus CEO.

79 Leaderboards Central Ohio IT Consulting Firms and Law Firms

88 Office Space With baseball season in full-swing, the COLUMBUS CLIPPERS offer a behindthe-scenes tour of Huntington Park.

InsIder 9 Breakdown Columbus exporting statistics and a benchmark against peer cities.

10 Q&A The 15th president of the Ohio State University, DR. MICHaEL DRakE, reflects on his first year in the position and considers the challenges facing highereducation in the global economy.

14 Gadgets The Apple Watch is a welcome addiction for tech junkies. Could it be Apple’s best product to date?

16 Briefing Local merch coming to the Wex; OhioHealth helps the VA; boosting Ohio’s girls.

17 Reading List A review of The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette and Listful Thinking by Paula Rizzo.

18 Spotlight: Small Business Powell entrepreneur taps into customers’ enthusiasm for first-generation muscletrucks at Classic Ford Broncos.

20 Spotlight: Innovation Physicians at Goodbye Dye use laser technology to fade away tattoos when body art loses its luster.

specIal advertIsIng supplement Inserted at page 33

specIal sectIons 68 Health Watch: The Cost of Diabetes 72 Cleaning House Financial planners help clear out financial clutter to reduce risks, alleviate stress and maximize value of investments.

76 Soldiering On Military veterans get help in translating the job skills they learned in the armed services into desirable traits sought by savvy employers.

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Editor’s notes * myost@ColumbusCEO.com

PlanEs, TErrains and auTOmObilEs

y childhood home was in close proximity to Port Columbus. My brother, three sisters and I had plenty of room to run and play ball on our two acres, but sometimes we would venture onto undeveloped airport property that abutted our land to climb its trees and hunt morel mushrooms. Then progress happened. Trees were cleared for runway expansion and a big chain link fence was erected. It gave us a more official left field boundary for our homemade baseball diamond, but I won’t reveal how we retrieved homerun balls in case the statute of limitations hasn’t expired. Now progress continues all around the airport. In a special commercial real estate feature this month, contributing writer Mike Mahoney updates recent construction in the vicinity of Port Columbus and looks ahead to development prospects identified by the Jobs Expansion and Transportation Task Force appointed last year by Mayor Mike Coleman. This area is ripe for growth as more attention is focused on the important corridor from the airport to Downtown. Keep an eye especially on about 300 acres northeast of the airport in Gahanna, where the development mix already includes a golf course and restaurants and future prospects include more entertainment and commercial options. Speaking of golf, are you getting to play as often as you’d like this summer? If you can break away from the office and pony up a little cash for a good cause, you can find a charity golf outing and play some pretty nice courses on just about any Monday in central Ohio. The big business of charity golf scrambles is making a comeback in Columbus after the recession sent it into the rough. Contributing writer Steph Greegor provides a look at how lucrative a business it is and what it takes to make it work.

For most events, the charitable cause is important, but so are a good location and the opportunity to mingle with celebrities and bring home some bling. Ticket prices raise money for the cause but corporate sponsorships bring in the big dollars, enabling some of these events to be six-figure fundraisers. Here’s something else that commands a bigger payday than you might expect: rebuilt Ford Broncos. Not the 1990s version made famous by O.J.’s notorious slo-mo police chase, but even older Broncos are coveted by professional athletes and others willing to pay as much as $125,000 for totally rebuilt muscle trucks. Classic Ford Broncos of Powell can sell as many of these vintage vehicles as it can find and restore. New contributing writer Jeb Phillips has the story in this month’s spotlight on small business. Finally, if you’ve lived in central Ohio all your life as I have, you may think you know Grove City, but think again. Our Discover Grove City supplement this month is guaranteed to offer some nuggets you didn’t know about the largest suburb in Franklin County. Learn why the Southwest gateway to central Ohio is increasingly attractive to commercial ventures as well as families seeking a “complete, livable community.”

Mary Yost, Editor July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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Whiteboard

June 2015 Top Stories Franklinton rebirth around the bend

* Reader notes, digital buzz & Columbus CEO coverage updates

Office Space: L Brands HQ has sophisticated aesthetic—and an in-house Starbucks Columbus Collaboratory: 7 central Ohio companies form unique alliance

ConneCt with us ColumbusCEO.com @ColumbusCEOmag @CEO_editor facebook.com/ColumbusCEOmag * letters@columbusceo.com OnlinE imagE gallEry

Columbus CEO’s blog features guest columns and additional interviews, breaking news and updates on monthly features. This month, watch for: • Attorney Gerald Babbitt on the legal aspects of economic partnerships among same-sex and cohabitating couples. • Coverage of business and civic events. • Historic timelines of Ohio State’s presidential leadership and university expansion.

Top Blogs Jeni’s Gets Some Love from Fans in Short North New Longaberger CEO cites divine providence in accepting leadership roles Ohio Film Group & CCAD partner to grow Columbus film industry

CorreCtions The June issue of Columbus CEO inadvertently published a photograph of current AEp CEO Nick Akins with a quote from former CEO Mike Morris on page 40. The correct photograph is published online. We regret the error.

TWiTTER RESpONSES @ColumbusCEOmag @RuscilliCC: Have you voted yet? Support your favorite local businesses here @columbusceomag. @FollowMolly_Lp: Best of Business 2015: Vote now! @Battelle: Looking for an invention-tolicensing-to-commercialization story? Look no further (than) @columbusceomag. @ReputationNews: impressive: CEOs form Columbus partnership, which gains national reputation for improving city.

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Welcome to Pickerington

614-833-2204 • development@Pickerington.net • www.pickeringtondevelopment.com

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Cocktails & Hors d’Oeuvres Limited sponsorship opportunities remain for Columbus CEO’s fourth-annual HR Excellence Awards celebration on July 14. To make your business part of this special event, contact Susan Kendall at skendall@columbusceo.com or (614) 410-0692.

SPONSORS: Presenting Sponsor

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Supporting Sponsors

5/28/15 10:03 AM

Breakdown Compiled by Kitty McCOnnEll + Photo courtesy by thinKstOCK.COM

ColuMBuS exPorTInG BenChMarked where do we STand? The Global Cities Initiative shows more work to be done boosting Columbus exports.

Total value of exports in 2014

$9.67 b exports as a share of metro GdP

8.8%

EXPORtinG COMPARED tO PEER CitiEs

Jobs supported by exporting

Growth in exporting value, 2003-2014

63,383

+4.3%

Source: The Brookings Institution Global Cities Initiative “export Monitor 2015”

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Chicago Minneapolis Charlotte Indianapolis Cleveland Cincinnati COluMbus louisville

#4 # 17 # 21 # 24 # 26 # 27 # 38 # 42

July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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Q&A By kitty McCOnnEll + Photo by tiM JOhnsOn

Dr. Michael Drake President

The Ohio State University

BUCkeye in Chief

OSU’s president on his first year and the challenges facing academia.

hio State is everywhere. Just ask Michael Drake. Since taking the oath as 15th president of the university, he’s been recognized as the Buckeye in Chief on his travels from Washington DC to California. The standard salute is, of course, an enthusiastic “O-H.” Drake has already mastered his “I-O.” “I’m expecting it every time a door opens, no matter where I happen to be,” says Drake. The presence of Ohio State grads from east to west, north to south has been the biggest surprise of his tenure so far, says Drake with a smile.

in thE pOsitiOn sinCE: June 30, 2014 EduCatiOn: Bachelor of Arts from Stanford

University; MD from UC San francisco the University of California.

CarEEr highlights: Chancellor of the University of California, irvine (July 2005June 2014), where he was a distinguished professor of ophthalmology and education; VP of health affairs, University of California system; two-plus decades on the UC San francisco School of Medicine faculty as Steven P. Shearing Professor of Ophthalmology and senior associate dean.

“I had worked with people from Ohio State in many walks of life over the years, but it wasn’t the practice that anybody that was from Ohio State in the vicinity would tell me that.” That widespread network is a benefit for students, alumni, faculty and staff, he adds. “We are every place in the country, and it’s really a great thing. Any room I’m in, there are Buckeyes in the room.” The reach of that Buckeye Nation is increasingly relevant given the pressures Drake has seen affecting higher education over the last few decades. American universities are tasked with equipping students with the skills to compete in a globalized economy. At the same time, he’s seen states’ disinvestment in higher education driving up costs. His challenge is to keep tuition affordable while maintaining the competitive quality of Ohio State’s education. “In our quest to come up with the very best ideas, the very best research, the very best medical care, the very best science, the most innovative products, we’re competing with the whole world,” says Drake. “We’re concerned about doing what we can to maintain affordability while continuing to push for excellence.” What’s the story of Ohio State that you’d like to tell readers in the Columbus business community? I think the real story of Ohio State is that we’re an important university for this region, for central Ohio and Ohio, but also for the United States and the world. We have relevance and connectivity with the whole global economy and with people around the world on a daily basis. It’s a privilege for me to be part of this, and it’s gratifying to see how much it matters to so many people.

OSU presidential timeline on ColumbusCeO.com

Why are OSU’s Global Gateway offices in São Paulo, Mumbai and Shanghai important? Our world is globalized in many many ways. Our students are going to be working in a globalized economy. We think it’s very important for them to learn here in Columbus with people

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who are from many places around the world so that they’re connected in a real way. We have about 2,000 students a year who travel abroad. We have professors who have connections with programs abroad, every minute of every day. Our Gateways were set up where we have concentrations of energy and activity already to facilitate some of those exchanges. We have people in scores of countries around the world, but quite a bit of activity in India, quite a bit in China and quite a bit in Brazil. These Gateways were perfect places for us to formalize that. Can the business community play a role in solving the problem of college affordability? The business community is very helpful to us. We have lots of interaction with the business community. We are a consumer of goods and services. (In May), we renegotiated one of our contracts. That’s going to produce, over just this summer, about a million dollars in savings for us. We’ll be able to plug that directly into scholarships. That will potentially lower the debt burden of our students by a million dollars. Anything we can do with the business community to make our relationships more effective and more efficient (allows us to) offset some of the costs that our students are facing. We also can invest in our faculty and our staff to make this the best possible place to work. What are your goals in terms of the commercialization of the research and businesses incubated on the Ohio State campus? Our primary product is knowledge. We transfer knowledge from faculty to students in education. We create new knowledge in our creative endeavors, including our laboratories.

“Our good ideas are wonderful, but we love it when our good ideas are translated into goods and services that people can use.” July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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portant, as it is in all businesses. We have the blessing of an outstanding board: people who have a wide range of knowledge and experience and wisdom. We have a wonderful chair and vice chair, and great support from different segments of the community and from different parts of Ohio.

File/Columbus DispatCh

Our good ideas are wonderful, but we love it when our good ideas are translated into goods and services that people can use. That is routinely as a result of interactions with the business community. We want to do everything possible to facilitate those interactions and be the best possible partners in helping to translate good ideas into goods and services that help people. Are there conflicts between academia and the business imperatives of operating a public institution the scale of Ohio State? How do you as a leader navigate between those components of OSU’s mission? The business imperatives of running the university efficiently and effectively are things that help us to do a better job more than anything. I took a course, years ago, in management with people

who were in business. The reason for that was to help me be a better and more effective leader in the academic world. It helps me every day. Good practices tend to help all of us do better. Where did you take that business course? Harvard Business School, it was called the Advanced Management Program. We were there for ten weeks living in a cloistered environment. It was very instructive, and I had a good time. What does a successful relationship between a president and the university trustees look like, and how would you describe your working relationship with the board? The relationship between the board and the president is critically im-

What’s it like to be president of a large university, particularly in a city like Columbus where it’s such a high-profile position? It’s a very high-profile position here, I would agree. I guess the main thing that I feel is this great balance of privilege and responsibility. It’s a real privilege to work on behalf of our students, who are inspiring young people to be around. It’s a great privilege to work with our faculty, who are among the very brightest and most productive minds in the world in their fields. It’s a great privilege to work with our staff, who are dedicated to making this the best place for our students to learn and our faculty to teach and do research. I feel that great privilege. I also feel that there’s a lot to do. There’s a great deal of responsibility. The nature of the business, the fact that we have 60,000-plus students and the headcount of 40,000 or so employees means we have lots of people doing lots of things. We’re connected all over the world. No two days are the same. That’s wonderful and it keeps you on your toes. How is it different from what you were doing at the University of California in Irvine? The student population is twice as big, the staff population is twice as big, the faculty population is twice as big, the budget is twice as large and the athletic program is 15 times as large. I would say, you don’t add that together — you multiply those times each other. It’s quite a bit more intense. One other thing that’s different: Here there’s one Ohio State University. This is The Ohio State University. At the University of California, where I worked on several campuses, you weren’t quite as on your own. You were part of a system. There was a slightly different vibe there as opposed to being the flagship. Kitty McConnell is assistant editor.

12 ColumbusCEO l July 2015

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Vote

at ColumbusCeo.com now through July 6

Columbus Ceo is asking our readers to vote for some of central ohioâ€™s best businesses. take our online survey and join the twitter conversation with #CeoBestBiz.

010-013_Q&Aâ€“Michael Drake.indd 13

5/28/15 5:05 PM

GadGets By Phil Pikelny

’m an addict. I admit it. I’m addicted to CharityBuzz, an auction website to bid on oneof-a-kind experiences to benefit charity. I can claim over a dozen luxuries ranging from a laser-tailored business suit to an appearance on Broadway all to benefit charity. About a month ago, I was about to lose some tickets and other perks to the 2015 opening night concert of the New York Pops when my Apple Watch alerted me to the fact that I had been outbid. Thanks to Apple’s newest product, and an increased bid, I’m headed to a Pops concert later this year. For that and other reasons, I’m also addicted to my Apple Watch. And this is an addiction for which I plan to get no help. When the watch was first announced, I had thought about waiting a year for the release of version two. I’m glad I didn’t. The Apple Watch (that’s the model I bought for its rock-hard, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal) has exceeded all of my expectations which, frankly, were high. From the watch case to the Digital Crown to the 42mm or 38mm (your choice) touch screen to the technological guts of the watch to its fashionable design to its overall creativity in function, the Apple Watch is distinctive from any other wearable out there. To my eye, it’s Apple’s best-designed product ever.

I can honestly say it has already been a life-altering product. To my doctor’s chagrin, I don’t exercise as I should and certainly don’t eat what would be considered healthy. Courtesy of my Apple Watch, I am now conscious of the steps I take, the calories I burn and my heart rate throughout the day. Also habit-changing is a marked decrease in your need to pull out, or constantly clutch, your iPhone. It’s surprising how many tasks can be performed on the Watch much more easily. While I wouldn’t read a newspaper (or a website) on my phone, I have thoroughly enjoyed how the Apple Watch functions as a mapping/routing/directions assist as I travel from here to there. A simple poke on my wrist tells me a turn is a few hundred feet in my future. The integration of SIRI so you can speak to send a text, activate an app on your Apple Watch or retrieve a snippet of information (weather conditions or a hockey score, for example) makes everything as easy as pie. When lounging at home or working at my desk, I have many times engaged in a phone conversation using only the Watch. In one recent case, I found an Indian restaurant on my phone, called in a carryout order, then got driving directions to the restaurant to pick up my meal. What has been most enjoyable on the watch? Controlling my Apple TV. Also fun is almost anything travel-related: American

Photo courtesy of aPPle.cOm

Watch Out

Airlines, App In the Air, Uber, Open Table and Citymapper are all great apps on the watch. Weather apps are tailor-made for an Apple Watch with Living Earth being a favorite. News alerts from the New York Times, ESPN, Chicago Tribune and the BBC are now part of my daily routine. And if you like Apple Pay on your iPhone, you’ll absolutely love the service on your Apple Watch. Admittedly, not everything works well on the watch. Photos and Reminders are a waste. Anything shopping oriented is not very useful in a watch context. I have tried to use my watch as a DirecTV remote, but am disappointed with the results. Hidden gems on the

apple Watch apple.com

$349-$17,000 (total 38 models)

watch are the button on the side that gives you social app access to your favorite friends or colleagues, the remote control for your iPhone camera and, of course, my CharityBuzz app. The iPod revolutionized how almost all of us listen to music. The iPhone evolved to become the best smartphone on the market. The iPad created a market for tablet computers. Early Apple Watch sales indicate the company has brought a new, not to mention exciting, reality to the wearables market.

Phil Pikelny is vice president of Dispatch Digital and chief marketing officer of The Dispatch Printing Company.

14 columbusCeO l July 2015

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August 28-September 4 Visit

columbuscrave.com/chefsmenu for participating restaurants, tasting menus and sponsor information. Insta

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#cravecbus

5/28/15 9:48 AM

BRIEfING By Kitty Mcconnell * kmcconnell@ColumbusCEO.com

LOCaL LINE-uP By Julie France

hough located near the Short North, the Wexner Center for the Arts attracts more than the typical gallery hopper. With guests arriving for internationally-known exhibits daily, visitors may want to purchase a piece of Ohio from the Wex. The Wexner Center

Store is seeking to give its customers that opportunity with a call for merchandise submissions for its new State Line product collection. The locally made items will give guests a taste of Ohio with a twist of the center’s contemporary aesthetic. By July 31, local crafters and vendors may submit anything, from stationary and apparel to toys and housewares. These items, however, won’t be the classic jars of honey sold at Ohio-oriented shops. Store Manager Matt Reber

National appointment for OhioHealth CEO In a letter to community leaders in late May, Karen Morrison, senior vice president of external affairs for OhioHealth, announced President and CEO David Blom’s appointment to the Congressional Commission on Care. The 15-member commission will analyze operations at the Department of Veterans affairs and improve interaction between the Va and private healthcare systems. Created under the Veterans access, Choice and accountability act of 2014, the primary goal of the commission is to improve access and quality of care for veterans. Blom’s appointment by House Speaker John Boehner is a point of pride for the OhioHealth organization. “The work of the Commission aligns closely with that of OhioHealth,” wrote Morrison. “Dave is honored to serve and has stated that he will focus his work on the Commission to insuring that the best possible care for veterans is achieved.” In a press announcement, Representative Joyce Beatty called Blom a “trusted partner and friend,” praising his 32-year career with OhioHealth. “Dave’s exemplary credentials and outstanding leadership will be a pivotal asset for the Va Commission on Care.”

is looking to stock the store with innovative items unique to the Wex. “We’re not looking to compete with shops that feature local items,” says Reber. In fact, the idea to create the line came out of a desire to celebrate. “It started out as something to coincide with our 25th anniversary, but we decided to make it more like a public relationship with local vendors,” says Reber. That relationship will be defined once vendors are chosen by the selection committee. The

committee will consist of Reber and several other members who have yet to be decided. State Line will debut in the fall, buying time for locals to produce their crafts and Ohio State to open its doors for a new semester. Once stocked, the local goodies will take up a special section of the store. Depending on its initial success, State Line products may remain a constant attraction. “If anything, I’m excited for cool stuff for me to buy for my wife,” says Reber.

Mentoring key to boosting Ohio’s girls

mentor young women at every opportunity. “Role models are important. They come in all shapes and sizes and genders,” said Wharton. Pettis concurred: “Let’s open up our doors for more internships for young girls.” Moderated by WBNS-10TV anchor and GSOH board member Kristyn Hartman, the panelists considered the repercussions hof Ohio’s low rankings in the Girl Scout’s annual State of the Girl national report. Statistics from the report:

The Columbus Metropolitan Club hosted a panel in May to discuss the state of girls’ development in Ohio. “Surviving or Thriving: The State of the Girl” featured former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown; Theresa Pettis, executive director of Columbus City Schools; and Tammy Wharton, CEO for Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland. “Many people think of Girl Scout Cookies and camping, but they don’t think about what’s behind that,” said Wharton. The Girl Scouts offer girls the chance to develop problem-solving skills and explore their interests in an all-girl environment. “I did not get the sewing or cooking badge, but I did learn leadership,” said McGee Brown. Growing up in Columbus’ impoverished Brittany Hills neighborhood, participation in the Girl Scouts showed her her potential, said McGee Brown. The panel encouraged the professionals in the audience to

Ohio’s National Rank in the Well-Being of Girls: Physical Health and Safety

29th

Economic Well-being

30th

Education

26th

Emotional Health

41st

Extracurricular activities

38th

16 Columbusceo l July 2015

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reading list reviewed by TErri SChliChEnmEyEr, bookwormsez@yahoo.com.

Paula rizzo, Viva editions $15.95, 228 pages

t’s no wonder that sometimes you’re cross. Your schedule is overloaded, and so is your memory: phone numbers, grocery needs, calls to return, client wants, arguments to make. Blink, and there’s a new restaurant to try or it’s time for that meeting. How can you be expected to remember it all? Write this down: Listful Thinking by Paula rizzo. author rizzo says learning the art of list making can help alleviate the stress of a chaotic life. By creating a list system that works for you, tasks can be prioritized and ideas remembered, you’ll more easily focus on immediacies, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you check off what you’ve finished. to get started, know what kind of list you need. What you’ll add to a packing list, say, will differ from what you’ll want to remember for work. next, decide where you’ll put your list, so it best serves its purpose. For a “fun list,” a pocketsized journal may be perfect. rizzo says she keeps a spiral-bound notebook for ideas at work. You can go digital or plaster the walls with sticky-notes. Whatever works for you—and “You know yourself better than anyone can”—the first step is to “Just write it down.” then organize and prioritize. as issues occur, you can add them to your list; conversely, you’ll feel good when you eliminate tasks and see progress. Finally, before you leave work for the day, write a new list for tomorrow and refresh it first thing in the morning. as someone whose life is run by scraps of paper, i was eager to see what was inside Listful Thinking. i was pleased… and i was puzzled. author rizzo has “glazomania” (a passion for list making) and it shows in this enthusiastic book filled with ideas and suggestions. What you’ll find here is easy-to-understand and approachable. On the other hand, there are some things that probably won’t fly at work: wasted time on repeated list re-writes and not answering phone calls without prior appointment are just a few of the head-scratchers i found. still, the hopelessly overwhelmed will surely find help inside Listful Thinking, and it could get new employees up to speed quicker. if you’re on top of your game and already know how to make lists, though, just cross this one off.

The Great Beanie Baby Bubble Zac Bissonnette Penguin Portfolio $26.95, 260 pages

our broker thinks your portfolio needs more diversification. Take a little out of metals, he says, put it into tech. Move money from here, put it there. You hope that’s sound advice, but you’ve noticed that he never mentioned stuffed animals. That’s a good thing, as you’ll see in The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette. At the end of 1998, the “richest man in the American toy industry” threw a party for his employees, at which he handed out lavish bonuses and palm-sized bears stuffed with synthetic beans. The man, Ty Warner, was the billionaire creator of Beanie Babies. The bears, in coming weeks, were worth more than $5,000 each. How did it happen that people lost their minds—and their children’s college funds—over stuffed animals? Bissonnette tries to find out. Warner got his start in toys when he got a job at Dakin, a premiere “plush” company; there,

Photo by daVid VanCe

Listful Thinking

Zac Bissonnette

he quickly became Dakin’s top salesman. When he was caught promoting his own line of plush on Dakin’s time, he lost his job; but by then he’d become obsessed with the animals he’d created. “Warner understood things about toy sales that others didn’t,” says Bissonnette, and he priced his Beanie Babies at low-cost. That they became a fad with a handful of women in Chicago was a bonus. Those women were fierce about Beanie Babies, and they called stores around the country, looking for hard-tofind animals and spreading the mania. Salesmen began re-

ferring to no-longerstocked animals as “retired,” raising the perception of rarity. People realized they could “flip [stuffed animals] for two to five times” the original price. Word spread and Warner became a billionaire. But as “people abandoned their senses” and the market became saturated by millions of plush on store shelves, the bubble burst. And, says author Bissonnette, that’s still not the end of the story. As someone who never bought one such toy, I found The Great Beanie Baby Bubble to be a fascinating study of the proverbial madness of crowds. But this well-researched story also serves as a cautionary tale: it’s happened before and it could happen again. Pop-culture fans will find this book delightful and for businesspeople and marketers, The Great Beanie Baby Bubble totally pops. July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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spotlight By JEb PhilliPs + photo by Tim JOhnsOn

small Business

MUsClE tRUCKs

powell entrepreneur taps into customers’ enthusiasm for first-generation Ford Broncos.

lassic Ford Broncos in Powell is perhaps the largest restorer of vintage Ford Broncos in the country. And it started with a fluke five years ago. Owner Bryan Rood was in Kentucky and spotted an old Bronco— “the perfect amount of beat-up,” he says—for sale on the side of a road. The price was $5,000. He decided to buy it on the spot. Rood has driven some nice cars in his time. Nothing, though, got the reaction that the Bronco did. “You take this Bronco out, this $5,000 rusted-out truck, and people would lose their minds over it,” he says. “Everywhere I went, somebody was asking me to buy it. It would draw a crowd.” Tired of all the offers to buy, he put what he thought was a ridiculous price on it: $12,000. The Bronco sold almost immediately. Rood has always had an entrepreneurial streak. As a student at Miami University, he helped start a student taxi service in Oxford. He also had some experience buying and selling old cars. But he’d never come close to doubling his

Classic Ford Broncos 434 Village park Drive, powell, 43065 classicfordbroncos.com

businEss: Restoring Ford Broncos, model years 1966-1977

OwnEr: Bryan Rood EmPlOyEEs: six 2014 rEvEnuE: $3 million

money on a single vehicle until the Bronco. So he went looking for more Broncos like that one – first generation, made from 1966 to 1977, when they were meant to be used as trucks and off-road vehicles instead of family cars. The kind of vehicle someone in their 30s, 40s or 50s would remember from their grandfather’s farm. (Not the kind someone would remember from the O.J. Simpson case, Rood says. That was a 1992 model.) He found that people wanted the look of the old Bronco with the reliability and amenities of a modern SUV. New engine, new transmission, new paint, new air conditioning, new interior. He found, too, that customers were willing to pay big money for that kind of work. A fully restored Bronco from

Classic Ford Broncos starts at $75,000 and tops out at about $125,000. Even at that price, there’s an 18-month wait for one. “The value is however you price it and whatever somebody is willing to pay,” he says. “There’s no book value on nostalgia.” At first, Rood would outsource the restoration. One shop would handle the body work, while another would handle the engine, and others would be brought in where needed. But he wanted more control over the finished product. He began hiring his own staff and now has five employees and a 5,000-square-foot facility where every part of the restoration is done. The facility itself is tucked into a Powell business park that people can’t find unless they are really looking for it. Rood once had a more visible spot,

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but says he had so many people coming in just to talk about cars that he was having a hard time getting work done. Classic Ford Broncos’ customers come almost entirely through the Internet or word of mouth. When a potential buyer gets in touch, Rood conducts a kind of interview. What are you going to be using the Bronco for? How much are you going to be using it? Rood makes some suggestions, and together they come up with a plan. Rood prefers for Classic Ford Broncos to own the vehicle first then sell it to the customer. He has performed restoration work on Broncos owned by someone else but says that often complicates the transaction. “I’d rather control the whole situation, own the car from start to finish,” he says. “When it’s done, if you don’t like it, or we run into a problem, it’s my car. If someone were to go through a whole build with me and they didn’t like the product, even if they have paid, I’ll give the money back.” With the waiting list he has, he’s confident that he can sell anything he restores—three or so Broncos per month right now, plus less expensive ones that get some cosmetic work but not the full bumper-to-bumper overhaul. Most finished vehicles go to the east and west coasts. He’s actually only sold two in Ohio. Being located here, though, gives him equal (and pretty easy) access to all parts of the country, he says. People with $100k or so to spend on a Bronco still find him. Like Brian Roberts. Roberts played 14 years in Major League Baseball, almost all of it at second base for the Baltimore Orioles. He thought so much of his truck that his testimonial is on the Classic Ford Broncos website. “I love it. It was the perfect choice for me. I can park it next to a Lamborghini, and people ignore the Lamborghini and want to take pictures of the Bronco. Everyone says, ‘They don’t make them like that anymore,’” he says now. With people so in love with the end product, Rood has an eye on expanding. “If I could build 100 trucks a month, I think I could sell 100 trucks a month,” he says. Jeb Phillips is a freelance writer. July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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SPoTLiGhT By KElli milligan stammEn + Photo by tim JOhnsOn

innovation

No REGRETS Physicians use laser technology to fade away tattoos when body art loses its luster.

ngel Pratt loves elephants. She has several assortments of elephant items, and when she was 18 years old she decided to add one seemingly permanent elephant tattoo on her ankle to her collection. The dark gray design detailed in pinks and reds, complete with a butterfly at the end of the elephant’s trunk, is about the size of a fist. At 18, the tattoo sounded like a great idea. Now she’s a professional woman in the social work industry and doesn’t think the elephant on her ankle is such a brilliant thought anymore. “I don’t like where it’s at,” she says. “It’s hard to cover up and I can’t with summer dresses or shorts or for work.” Enter Goodbye Dye, a physicianowned-and-operated clinic in Dublin that uses lasers to remove everything from unwanted body art as souvenir of a spring break whim to the ink of former gang members trying to turn their lives around. Dr. Theresa Luken started the tattoo removal practice four years ago when

Goodbye Dye 7243 Sawmill Rd. #105 goodbyedye.com BusinEss: Physician laser tattoo removal

medical service

OwnEr: Theresa Luken numBEr Of tOtal EmplOyEEs: Four 2014 rEvEnuE: $80,000

she was looking at branching out into cosmetic services. The business has been a success from day one. “There is a big need for this,” Luken says. “It has exploded.” As more and more people have gotten tattoos over the years, more and more have to get them removed, she says. The military is very strict about tattoos that are showing, as are several other industries where having a spider web creeping up one’s neck might not be the first thing a customer wants to see. Sharon DeLay, founder and president of BoldlyGO Career and HR Management, says whether or not her clients should have their ink removed

depends on the industry they are working in, and in some cases boils down to the personal preferences of a single hiring manager. “In a more conservative industry, such as banking or a sales position, having a tattoo (showing) may not be what the company wants to present to a customer in an ‘out-front’ positon,” DeLay says. “It’s subjective. Some people make snap judgments about someone before getting to know the person or whether the person might be the best qualified for the job, (but) we’re getting to the point where you don’t know someone without body art.” However, Luken says the profes-

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sional reasons for tattoo removal are generally secondary to the personal reasons people have to make body art disappear. “Eighty to 90 percent of it is tattoo regret,” Luken says. “Someone may have gotten a ‘tramp stamp’ when they were 18 and now they’re in the 30s and have kids and they are embarrassed, or they have a tattoo of their ex and want to have that removed.” She tells the story of one client who had a giant tattoo of his wife on his arm. They were going through a contentious divorce and he wanted the image deleted “right away.” Her partner in the clinic is her husband, Dr. Robert Miller. The idea to start Goodbye Dye came in 2011, and their state-of-the-art laser technology was added in 2012. Luken says the laser basically breaks down the ink over several treatments so it can safely be absorbed back into the skin. Different lasers are used for different tattoos with different types of ink, she says. While business is booming, Luken says, it does come at a price. Tattoo removal is an elective cosmetic procedure and not covered by insurance, she says. The cost of one session is $125, and most tattoos require five to 15 sessions for complete removal. “Even a small tattoo can cost $1,000 to remove, easy,” she says. How long it takes to remove a tattoo depends on the size, the color and what type of ink was used to create the body art in the first place. Plus, she says, it’s not painless. It can hurt about as much as getting the ink done in the first place, though Lukens tries to minimize the pain by using a “skin chiller” in conjunction with the short laser session that goes along with the removal process. It helps reduce pain and swelling, she says. In Ohio, physicians are the only professionals licensed to use the laser technology, according to Luken. Luken, who has a tattoo of her own, says she does her best to put her clients at ease and, for Pratt, she literally erased the elephant in the room. “They’ve been very flexible and willing to work with me,” says Pratt after about her tenth treatment. “They’ve made the experience fun and comfortable.” Kelli Milligan Stammen is a freelance writer.

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Success Depends on a Big Picture View

Taft's Real Estate practice includes a multi-disciplinary team of attorneys who advance our clients' projects from conception to completion. www.taftlaw.com 65 East State Street / Suite 1000 / Columbus, OH 43215 / (614) 221-2838 July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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AgendA

Connections

April 24, 2015 + photos by Dan TriTTschuh

L Brands corporate headquarters

Alvis house evening of light gala

2 3

the grote Family received the Family of the year Award for their embodiment of Alvis houseâ€™s mission. 5 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11

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rick and torri Carey darrell Anderson and lynda Anderson Chris and tara schumacher priscilla tyson and Arlene reitter Jean nemeti, Monica day, toi Vivo and rita Wolfe todd and natalina Fickell, Christina and James benseler Melissa and Adam boswell, tim and Jamie Farrel tracy ezell rencher, Katrice Wrightgillens and Amanda debo Mallory Mohler, nikki reiss, gretchen Marty and Amberle houghton Attendees gather in a lobby area. Ayako shoji, denise robinson and isao shoji James Clark and laurie tocash bishop donald Washington and shirl Washington.

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B U S I N E S S | L I T I G AT I O N | H E A LT H C A R E | E M P L OY M E N T

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AgendA

Connections

April 30, 2015 + photos by CharlOttE parsOns

COsI

top Workplaces For the third year, Columbus CEO and Wbns10tV recognized 60 top Workplaces in central ohio, as identified by Workplacedynamics llC.

1 sarah shepler and sheri stiers 2 leslie Khy and Jody Achatz 3 Keisha gainey, sandy Freer and June

stewart

4 Chrishonda smith, Johnni beckel and

stephen Markovich Jim Joyce and Kelsey hoffman Amy Mclain and tonya Mcdade dan dressel, Allyson and derek sharp rick ricart and shannon Marcum Kristen braden and tom Merritt nick liddil and todd Ufferman Mark Villilo and susan gunlock erik schmidt, Chris Forgy and Michelle hurley 13 rob brisk, Kenan le parc and Carrie Williams

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

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AgENDA

Events: July

Young Professionals of Worthington: Wet-YourWhistle Wednesday Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Location: To be decided. Subscribe to Chamber Connections e-newsletters for announcement of location information. Cost: Free Contact: (614) 888-3040 or worthingtonchamber.org Wet your whistle one Wednesday each month in an informal gathering with other young professionals from the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce who participate in the Young Professionals of Worthington (YPoW) subgroup (for members ages 21 to 39). Make business and social connections as you enjoy

Happy Hour and snacks from Chamber-member bars and restaurants. Registration is required.

Compiled by tristan EdEn

Co-Working at DEC

Lunch and Learn: HR Law Q&A “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know But Didn’t Know To Ask”

Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Location: Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, 565 Metro Pl. S. Dublin, 43017 Cost: Free Contact: (614) 653-8533 or decindublin.com

Time: noon-1:15 p.m. Location: Everal Barn, 60 N. Cleveland Ave. Westerville, 43081 Cost: $20 Contact: (614) 824-6200 or worleylawllc.com

The center hosts co-working for its sixth consecutive year. Professionals are invited to work in the innovative space on the second and third Thursday of the month. Bring a computer. The center offers Wi-Fi, parking and lunch. Visitors may network with the center’s small-business tenants.

An HR Lunch & Learn presented by Worley Law. Bring your work-related questions to this wideranging Q&A. Ask any HR- and employment law-related question and receive realistic and helpful answers. Space is limited. Please RSVP by calling (614) 824-6200.

09 &16

To submit a business or professional event, go to the online calendar at ColumbusCEO.com and add your listing. All qualifying events will be listed on the website; select events also will appear each month in the magazine.

Small Business Human Resources One-on-One Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Location: Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, 565 Metro Pl. S. Dublin, 43017 Cost: Free Contact: (614) 653-8533 or decindublin.com The DEC presents Sequent consultants Lisa Studer and Joe Cole in an in-depth HR review and analysis to help potential clients better understand Sequent services.

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Columbus shoots to own its share of the decentralizing film industry by Kitty McCOnnEll + photos by MEghan RalstOn

ollywood film production has been decentralizing for decades. To the dismay of the industry establishment in California, metro areas across the U.S. and Canada have been competing for the cultural clout and creative jobs that big-budget productions bring. With advances in filmmaking technology and the rise of streaming serial television, the competition between states and major metros is peaking. While some states are pulling back their financial incentives, Ohio’s sixyear-old Motion Picture Tax Credit still has the support of the legislature, municipal leaders and industry pros in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. Players in the Columbus film scene are leveraging that statewide support in the hope of making the city’s mark in the production industry. Their goals are threefold: To grow and retain filmmaking talent in Columbus, to build out the city’s production infrastructure and to put the Columbus region on the map as an industry destination. Their strategies — many of which have been in the works for years — are gelling this summer with several developments in the local film ecosystem.

“it’s going to put this part of the country, ohio, on the map to do this type of film editing and post-production. You don’t have to do it in Hollywood.” Jim KunK

board chair, Columbus College of art & Design

the Ohio Film group announces a new post-production studio at CCaD.

Deep foCus on Job Creation Mayor Michael Coleman will host a Film Summit in Franklinton on June 9 to consider public and private methods of boosting production in the city. The involvement of Columbus’ political, creative and civic leaders in the film discussion puts a spotlight on the industry’s local economic potential, say key stakeholders. During the recent filming of I Am Wrath, Columbus was treated not only to sightings of actor John Travolta, but feedback from the movie’s producers. They made recommendations as to how the city can attract more big-bud-

get productions. “One of the things that one of the producers coming back for the Film Summit mentioned to us is, we really don’t have a strong crew base here in Columbus,” says mayoral spokesperson Tyneisha Harden. Wrath’s producers brought most of the crew in from Cleveland, Cincinnati and L.A. for the shoot. Harden says the mayor’s Film Summit is meant to foster a collaborative conversation on developing those industry jobs in Columbus. “Mayor Coleman has come on as a huge supporter and is quite confident we can continue to grow film production here,” says John Daugherty, the newly appointed executive director of Film Columbus. “If we can continue

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to raise that awareness, the business community and citizens will begin to recognize that we are actually on to something.” Film Columbus (formerly the Greater Columbus Film Commission) promotes the city and the state of Ohio as a production locale. Film Columbus works with film production staff to iron out the details of production: from state tax credit applications, local permits and accommodations, job-ready crew members and extras, and location scouting. The organization receives $90,000 annually from the city of Columbus and is co-located with the Greater Columbus Arts Council. The commission will introduce a Film Columbus Membership Program for individuals

and organizations at the Film Summit. “I want to treat the commission as an entrepreneurial venture where we try new things, new fundraising efforts, and new outreach programs,” Daugherty says. Film Columbus isn’t operating under any illusions that Columbus will be the “next Hollywood,” as burgeoning film towns tend to be trumpeted in the media. Rather, Daugherty’s work is grounded in building the city’s nascent production industry until it is strong and self-sustaining. “In looking at economic development at Film Columbus, we’re not only looking at film but we are looking at commercial production, TV production and online content development,” says Daugherty. A few film productions

per year paired with visiting television production and larger commercial production for Fortune 500 clients like L Brands or Nationwide would provide steady work for local film crews. “That’s what would attract crew to actually move to Columbus, and that’s what would keep talented people in Columbus that currently move to other states to pursue a career in film,” says Daugherty. Colleges and universities in Columbus have done a great job of training film-industry professionals. After graduation, however, there are little to no career opportunities, says Leonard Hartman, president and chief operating officer of the Ohio Film Group. A former Ohio State football player, graduJuly 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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furniture and fixtures; and $600,000 on equipment. The for-profit studio cofounded by Hartman and Cloyd started with four staff members. OFG has committed to creating 17 new full-time, permanent positions with an annual payroll of $1.39 million. The positions will range from entry-level service positions (with annual salaries at $24,960) to seniorlevel artistic, technical and executive positions (with a top annual salary of $120,000). “(We’re) hoping to ramp that up quickly,” says Hartman. “We’d love to grow it into a $30- to $40-million business in the next five years or so. We’re hoping to be $1 million in gross revenue hopefully in the first 18 months.” CCAD faculty will utilize the OFG facility to train students. Students will gain real-world production experience and, potentially, employment in the OFG studio. As part of the partnership, the Ohio Film Group is funding $25,000 in annual scholarships to CCAD students. “I completely think that this is an economic-development driver,” says Jim Kunk, CCAD board chair and president of the central Ohio region for Huntington. “It’s going to create jobs … (and) it’s going to put this part of the country, Ohio, on the map to do this type of film editing and postproduction. You don’t have to do it in Hollywood.” Besides the talent pool graduating from programs at CCAD and Ohio State’s Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design, the cost of opening the facility in Columbus was a significant draw for the Ohio Film Group. Hartman, who spent 15 years in Hollywood where he worked on HBO, Universal and Beacon Pictures produc-

File/Columbus alIve

ate of the American Film Institute, screenwriter and producer, Hartman and OFG CEO Gil Cloyd established the Ohio Film Group’s digital postproduction studio on the Columbus College of Art and Design campus in May. “What we’re trying to establish is something where a young person who wants to be in this industry can come here, be trained, and then find gainful employment right out of college,” says

Hartman. “That piece of it is a big part of why ... we established this relationship with CCAD and hope to establish both relationships with Ohio State and other regional colleges.” The 7,000-square-foot post-production, visual effects and animation studio will be built into the unused space abutting CCAD’s MindMarket studio at 380 E. Broad Street. OFG has committed to invest $500,000 in building improvements; $75,000 on computers,

“I want to treat the commission as an entrepreneurial venture where we try new things, new fundraising efforts, and new outreach programs.” John Daugherty (at left)

executive Director of Film Columbus

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File/COLUMBUS ALIVe

filM bootstrappers M ajor studio productions drive the movie business with their multi-milliondollar budgets and boxoffice revenues. But, as in all business, smaller independents bring their own substantial value to bear on the success of the motion picture industry. Independent films are the training ground for cast and crew. In decentralized production locales like Ohio, smaller budget productions and commercial work keep film staffers working in between the big-budget jobs. The challenge central Ohio has in attracting major studio productions is the limited infrastructure and crew. “We don’t have sound stages. We don’t have (the) all-union crew that could be used. Those things can’t get developed until the productions are here. And the productions that will build-out that infrastructure are independents,” says Jason Tostevin, filmmaker and founder of Hands Off Productions. Tostevin, who is VP of marketing and communications for the Gateway Film Center, is among the panelists for the Columbus Film Summit. Tostevin and co-producer, wife Christy Tostevin, fund the com-

pany’s short productions out-ofpocket. Tostevin pays everyone on his productions daily stipends, hires primarily local cast and crew and shoots in Columbus. “Depending on who you know, you find that people will really facilitate (filming). I’m very purposeful where I bring my meager investment when I shoot,” Tostevin says. He filmed his most recent short film in the Bottoms in Franklinton, and praises Jim Sweeney, executive director of the Franklinton Development Association, as a “great facilitator” for filmmakers. Support from organizations like the Franklinton Development Association and the non-profit Gateway Film Center create the

“Independent films are back to being predominantly funded outside the studios. Independent financiers are keeping that branch of filmmaking alive.” Sam JaEgEr

Actor, director & producer

conditions necessary for the crucial independent filmmaking network to thrive. From Jim Sweeney’s perspective, smallbudget filmmakers and their fellow artists are crucial to his neighborhood’s revitalization. “It wasn’t that long ago that many people were afraid to visit Franklinton,” says Sweeney. “As usual, local filmmakers and the greater creative community have found the beauty in our funky older places and have cast a new positive light on this proud neighborhood.” The film business attracts “hard-working, creative individuals,” says John Daugherty, executive director of Film Columbus. “If we can get those people to stay here, or move back here, that would do nothing but bolster cultural development in Columbus.” Actor/director Sam Jaeger (who most recently appeared in NBC’s Parenthood along with big-budget studio pictures American Sniper and Inherent Vice) returned to his native Ohio to make his film, Take Me Home, in 2011. With a budget below Ohio’s $300,000 threshold, Jaeger didn’t receive any financial incentives from the state. Roughly a third of the movie was filmed in Colum-

bus, in part, to utilize the support network he developed while studying theater at Otterbein University. “I know Jeni from Jeni’s Ice Creams. She was kind enough to drive scoops out for my crew one afternoon,” says Jaeger. His college employer, The Raisin Rack, “catered the entire thing, even driving lunch out to wherever we were on location.” Otterbein faculty lent their talents on Take Me Home, along with Jaeger’s costar and wife, Otterbein alumna Amber Jaeger. The Gateway Film Center hosted a release screening of the film during an Independent Film Showcase. “Independent films are back to being predominantly funded outside the studios,” says Jaeger. “Independent financiers are keeping that branch of filmmaking alive.” One of the resources available to local indie producers is the Film/Video Studio Program at the Wexner Center for the Arts. The post-production studio offers commercial-quality equipment and resources for filmmakers and video artists. Roughly 20-25 filmmakers work on their projects at the Wexner facility every year (300 since its founding in1989). Wexner F/VSP artists-in-residence have included Todd Haynes and Miranda July. F/VSP Curator Jennifer Lange is also among the Film Summit panelists.

Jason Tostevin at the gateway Film Center

Sam Jaeger on NBC’s Parenthood Photo credit: NBC/Mitchell Haaseth

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Making art in ColuMbus

ilmmakers are among the many artists and creative entrepreneurs who work from Columbus. The city’s creative economy springs from a network of individual artists and performance companies, studios and design firms, patrons and philanthropic foundations, museums and galleries, concert halls and theaters, nonprofits and publicly-supported councils, educators and employers. A new arts-marketing campaign will launch this month and continue for the coming 3-5 years. Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art will focus on driving traffic and selling tickets by increasing connections between residents, businesses and artists. The campaign’s annual funding goal is $400,000, plus in-kind sponsorships. The community-wide campaign is a collaborative effort made possible by: the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium, AEP, Cardinal Health, PNC and the Columbus Foundation with

Creative jobs (per 1,000 jobs) Portland:

17.2

Minneapolis:

16.3

Indianapolis:

11.7

Cleveland:

10.8

Charlotte:

10.7

Cincinnati:

10.4

Columbus:

10.1

support from Ologie, Paul Werth Associates, Fahlgren Mortine and WOSU. American Electric Power is sponsoring the new campaign because the arts “enhance the quality of life in our community,” says Dale Heydlauff, vice president of corporate communications for AEP. The latest Arts & Economic Prosperity study conducted by Americans for the Arts reports that Columbus’ arts and culture sector produces $226 million in annual economic activity, and supports upwards of 9,000 jobs (see BLS stats below). “A vibrant arts and culture sector helps any company recruit employees, retain employees and create a great quality of life. It’s a differentiator for Columbus,” says William Faust, managing partner of Ologie. The branding and design firm has done much work for Columbus arts organizations, and worked hard to win the RFP to work on the AMC/CMA campaign. A strong arts community is a “catalyst for economic growth,” says Greater Colum-

bus Arts Council President Tom Katzenmeyer. Events and exhibitions staged by the Columbus Museum of Art, CAPA, BalletMet, the Columbus Symphony, CATCO, the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Greater Columbus Arts Festival are a mainstream jumping-off point. Intrepid consumers of creative culture can spend countless hours attending local theater and dance productions, listening to live music on High Street or in Old Town East, exploring galleries in the Short North and Franklinton, or watching indie films at local festivals and the Gateway Film Center. “It is one of the reasons Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the country,” says Katzenmeyer. “Whether someone helps fund an organization through their business, attends an event or buys art from a local visual artist, they are helping to strengthen our community, support our artists and further our efforts toward collaboration and alignment behind a common purpose— making Columbus great.”

CREATIVE WORK IN COLUMBUS & PEER CITIES (AS OF 2011):

Creative seCtor eMployMent in City ARTS JOBS

2,280

DESIGN JOBS

3,210

MARKETING & STRATEGY JOBS

3,530

Source: BLS Occupational Employment Statistics presented in the Columbus Partnership “2013 Benchmarking Report”

tions, estimates the cost of opening the facility in Columbus to be half what it would be in L.A. “The cost of doing business in general and the aggressive Ohio film tax credit was another big interest to us,” Hartman says. “We have a tax credit here that’s fairly aggressive and helps us to provide, we hope, a high quality product and service at a fair price.” The city of Columbus has approved a 50 percent, five-year Downtown Office Incentive to assist in the launch of OFG’s corporate headquarters/production studio. The incentive is worth up to $86,880 over five years.

ECONOMIC FRAMING The Ohio Film Group will be working on productions with budgets beginning at $300,000 and above, which would be eligible for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit. “We’re looking to be in competition with Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, even New York and L.A. to a certain extent. We’re starting out more regional, but hope to expand and to grow into a position where we can compete for larger projects,” says Hartman. Hartman believes the state’s motion picture credit “absolutely creates an opportunity” to keep Ohio competitive in attracting big-budget productions. “One of the things we have seen (in) a couple of places where the tax credit comes and goes (is that) it really hurts the growth of the industry.” Government incentives will be a hot topic at the Columbus Film Summit, along with the ease of production and the role private businesses can play in supporting filmmakers. Experts from peer cities like Pittsburgh, Charlotte,

“We’re looking to be in competition with Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto, even New York and L.A...We’re starting out more regional but hope to expand.” LEONARD HARTMAN

President & COO of the Ohio Film Group

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Atlanta and New Orleans have been invited to attend the summit in Franklinton to “hopefully give some pointers and advice for how they got where they are,” says Harden. To the dismay of metros like Charlotte, some state legislatures are scaling back film tax credits. According to Film NC commission data, North Carolina allowed its 25% refundable film production tax credit to expire in 2015. The credit was replacecd with a $10 million Film and Entertainment Grant. In comparison, North Carolina issued $60.34 million in tax credits to productions in 2014. In the state where several seasons of HBO’s Homeland and The Hunger Games were filmed, the Charlotte Observer reports that the incentive cut has crew members looking to other cities for steady work. The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit equals 35% of resident cast and crew wages, and 25% of other eligible expenditures. The credit is capped at $5 million per production, with no more than $40 million issued per biennium (a figure which has increased from the $30 million allocated dur-

ing the credit’s first two fiscal years in 2010 and 2011). According to state Tax Expenditure Report estimates, the state is on track to issue $19.3 million in motion picture credits this year. “Producers have told us they won’t consider states unless they have a tax incentive,” says Katie Sabatino, communications manager for TourismOhio at the Ohio Development Services Agency. ODSA administers the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit and oversees the Ohio Film Office. “Film production brings dollars to Ohio: to hotels, restaurants and by hiring local cast and crew,” says Sabatino. “We are in contact with the local film commissions on a continual basis to help any way we can. But the state does not take a role in film recruiting.” Tracking the industry’s development in Ohio happens at the local level through film commissions. The most commonly cited data on the ROI of the tax credit comes from a 2012 study commissioned by the Cleveland Film Commission. The Analysis and Economic Impact of the Film Industry in Northeast Ohio and Ohio report evaluates 27 productions which received the

tax credit during its first three years. Those film projects (four of which were filmed in Columbus) spent a total of 2,493 production days in Ohio. They created 9,018 full-time, temporary Ohio jobs and had an estimated total payroll of $19.5 million (27% of all monies spent in Ohio by producers). According to the report, “the largest cost in producing a film is labor.” The report concludes that the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit yields a return of $1.20 for every dollar spent on production incentives. Factor in the local spending which visiting productions would deliver to Columbus businesses, says Daugherty, and “you have a large amount of money flowing through the city.” With the addition of OFG and the increased attention from local officials and a revamped Film Columbus commission, Daugherty is optimistic that “the business community and citizens will begin to recognize we’re actually on to something here. I’m confident we’ll gain the support we need from Columbus as a whole.” Kitty McConnell is assistant editor.

SM ®

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Where Innovation and Opportunity Meet. The Columbus Region is home to 2,000 science and technology establishments, including several of the worldâ€™s foremost research institutions. With the lowest effective tax rate for new R&D facilities and a ranking as the No. 3 city for tech jobs, the Columbus Region has earned its reputation as an emerging technology hot spot.

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Franklin Countyâ€™s largest suburb enjoys business and population growth while protecting the environment as a complete, livable community.

DisCover

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Grove city has been richly blessed, and we have used our considerable resources well. residents and businesses are discovering this is truly the complete, livable community.

ime in office has its advantages, and one of them is the opportunity to look back at how our city continues to grow and improve. From the vantage point of serving my fourth term as mayor, I can say without reservation that Grove City has become a more complete, livable community. This conviction is reinforced daily as I walk through town and talk with fourth- and fifth-generation residents. People whose families were born and raised in Grove City are choosing to continue to make this the place to raise their families as well. That is the most important endorsement any city can receive—that its residents are its best ambassadors. In this publication, Grove City is proud to share stories of why it is the largest suburb totally within the boundaries of Franklin County, and still growing. Thirty-five years ago the city had 16,816 residents. Today the number has more than doubled as nearly 40,000 people call Grove City home. And more will move here as exciting new residential options come with the continued redevelopment and revitalization of our Town Center. New dining and shopping venues will also join existing office and small business space— all in walking distance of a new library slated to be a central community space and a new front door to Town Center. Even with this growth, Grove City has been able to maintain the “small town” character that truly makes us unique. In a half-dozen business parks throughout the community, Grove City continues to grow our tax base by bringing more high-tech and well-paying jobs to the area. With an unemployment rate of 3.47 percent—below that of Franklin County and the state, as well as comparable suburbs—total employment in Grove City is now nearly 25,000. New employers include Mount Carmel Health System in new facilities on a 110-acre healthcare campus and Byers Chevrolet, Grove City’s first new car dealership in decades. And plans are underway for Mount Carmel’s freestanding emergency department and outpatient center to add a full-service inpatient hospital by 2018 as the health system invests another $355 million in the year-old campus. While it grows, Grove City continues to lead the way in demonstrating strong stewardship to sustain our environment. EcoFest 2015 on Aug. 22 at Henceroth Park will showcase earth-friendly practices in a fun event to show residents practical ways to live greener. A new 620-acre Metro Park under development at the southeast corner of the city will offer even more ongoing opportunities for recreation and healthy activities while also protecting our natural spaces. Grove City is committed to protecting the environment as a responsible way to grow and serve our residents. Grove City offers many advantages to current and future business operations, not the least of which is our incomparable access to major highways with three entry points from I-71 and one at I-270. That makes Grove City unique in central Ohio. Grove City has been richly blessed, and just as important, we have used our considerable resources well. It is not surprising that more and more residents and businesses are discovering that this is truly the complete, livable community.

Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage

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Mount carmel announced in March that it would spend $355 million to build a 210-bed inpatient hospital.

open for

Business Grove City’s accessibility, increasing population and business-friendly reputation appeal to a growing number of local business transplants. By Melissa Kossler Dutton

hen George Kauffman was searching for a location for a new Byers Chevrolet dealership, he kept coming back to a parcel of land along I-71 in Grove City. The more he learned about the plot of land, the more he liked it. The property was visible from the freeway. The location was easily reachable for potential customers.

The acreage was readily accessible to all of the city’s utility infrastructure. The city’s increasing population and median household income also were appealing. “The more research I did, the more convinced I became,” says Kauffman, vice president of Byers Auto Group. Earlier this year, the family-owned business joined a growing number of existing central Ohio companies setting up shop in the community. The Aladdin Shriners, who sold their Stelzer Road property to Easton

developers, also recently announced plans to make Grove City its home. Grove City’s reputation for being pro-business combined with the availability of land and the city’s growing population make it an attractive locale for businesses that previously were located elsewhere in central Ohio. The city also enjoys ongoing interest from two of the region’s health services organizations that led to significant investments and job growth. City leaders remain committed to bolstering the business community in order to maintain the quality of life they want to provide residents. Relationships are at the heart of Grove City’s business-friendly reputation, says Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage. He and other city officials are dedicated to making would-be investors feel welcome, he says. When companies express interest in the community, the city helps them find available land. During the construction process, city departments work hard to prioritize permitting and inspections so builders can adhere to their schedules. Interactions with city officials don’t end once a com-

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pany is up and running, Stage says. “We try to keep them as informed as possible,” he says. “We make regular visits to their place of business and make them feel welcome at City Hall.” Businesses are routinely invited to City Hall for a Mayor’s Breakfast. The events are designed to build a rapport between city officials and business leaders, he says. “It’s important to stay in touch with our business partners,” adds Chuck Boso, city administrator. “I’ve been here 37 years. I know these people—not merely in a casual way. I built relationships with them.” The city’s attentiveness leads to successes like the Merrill Corporation’s recent announcement that it planned to invest $800,000 in its Grove City facility and Tosoh SMD Inc., deciding to put a fifth addition on its building. Grove City also surveys the business community every three years. The surveys help the administration determine its effectiveness at meeting the needs of its businesses and allow the city to glean information about new projects or plans for expansion. “Our business survey is a vital tool for our business community to express opinions, ask questions and voice concerns,” Stage says. “The survey monitors how well we are doing at serving as a superior business-friendly community.” The city’s desire to work with businesses comes across loud and clear, Kauffman says. “Talk about a true partner,” he says. “There’s never a doubt in your mind that they want you there.” The Mid-Ohio Foodbank had a similar experience, says president and CEO Matt Habash. The nonprofit moved its headquarters into a remodeled former mattress factory near I-71 in 2009. “They’ve been great,” Habash says. “They’ve been nothing but a huge help.” The Shriners will have a similar opportunity to work with city officials as they implement an $8

million plan to transform the Grand Oaks Event & Business Center into the new Aladdin Shrine Center. Kauffman, who was submitting plans for the Chevrolet dealership that were in part dictated by General Motors, praised the city’s willingness to find solutions that worked for both sides. “They were extremely fair,” he says. “Their word was gold.” Like Byers Chevrolet, the Foodbank was drawn to Grove City because of its accessibility. Serving 20 counties, the Foodbank wanted a location that offered more freeway access than its former Mound Street location in Columbus. From its Grove City headquarters, the Foodbank distributed more than 58 million pounds of food to its partner organizations last year. “A big part of what we do is logistics,” Habash says. “From this location, it’s easy for us to get to 71 or 270.” Freeway access is definitely a selling point for Grove City, Boso says, noting that the city has four access points to interstate highways. The city is within a one-day drive of 50 percent of the U.S. population. Grove City also has large tracts of undeveloped land available for businesses looking to build. Decades ago the city identified areas that would be well-suited for commercial development and built the necessary infrastructure to attract businesses, Boso says. Over the years, those parcels have attracted a diverse group of businesses, he says. The city is home to small businesses, large manufacturers, nonprofits and mom-and-pop shops, adds Shawn Conrad, executive director of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have a real balance of companies,” she says. “Businesses find that appealing.” Now the city, along with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio, has begun to look for green companies interested in creating busi-

The more research i did, the more convinced i became.” George Kauffman vice president of Byers Auto Group

Merrill Corporation has announced that it plans to invest

$800,000

in its Grove City facility. the number of jobs in the City

Year 2010

Year 2014

Total Jobs

20,267

25,692

The city added

9,000 residents between 2000 and 2014

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“A big part of what we do is logistics. From this location, it’s easy for us to get to 71 or 270.” -Matt HabasH, CEO, Mid-Ohio Foodbank

nesses around diverting, processing or producing products from sanitary landfill waste. SWACO would encourage those companies to locate in or near its 900-acre campus— part of which is in the city limits, says SWACO Executive Director Ty Marsh. The landfill has the potential to create a lot of economic growth for the region, he adds. “There are changing opportunities to utilize this waste,” Marsh says. “It makes the landfill being here an added value. These opportunities will ultimately result in opportunities for Grove City.” The city is well poised to help shepherd in new businesses, he says. “Grove City has demonstrated its ability to not only help local and existing businesses but to attract new business and ensure growth and development in the community,” Marsh says. Grove City, Franklin County’s largest suburb, has been steadily attracting businesses and residents over the last decade. The city added 9,000 residents between 2000 and 2014. It led the county in new housing starts six of the last eight years. The number of jobs in the city increased from 20,267 in 2010 to 25,692 in 2014. Income tax receipts during that period rose from $17 million to $21.7 million. The average

household income increased 18 percent to $61,837 from 2000 to 2014. Grove City’s statistics played a huge role in Kauffman’s decision to bring his dealership there. “The wealth and population are growing,” he says. “Grove City’s a hidden gem around Columbus.” The numbers also have attracted the attention of Mount Carmel and OhioHealth. Mount Carmel announced in March that it would spend $355 million to build a 210bed inpatient hospital in Grove City, where it already operates a freestanding emergency department and several medical buildings. The hospital’s goal is to provide care close to patients’ homes, says Jason Koma, director of external affairs for Mount Carmel Health System. “If you look at where inpatient hospitals are located in central Ohio, there’s a definite need south of I-70,” he says. The existing emergency department and medical services have gotten a lot of use from the residents of Grove City and neighboring communities, adds Sean McKibben, president and COO of Mount Carmel West. “We’ve been extremely impressed with the response,” he says. “The numbers have significantly exceeded our expectations.” The new facility will bring 1,500

jobs to the community, which city officials say will generate about $2 million in income taxes. The city also anticipates that it will spur more development and job growth. “Mount Carmel’s commitment to our community is a tremendous benefit for Grove City in so many ways,” adds Mayor Stage. “In addition to the exciting healthcare enhancement to the community, their investment serves as an economic catalyst driving the expansion of services and employment opportunities.” OhioHealth purchased 20 acres on Stringtown Road and has a strong interest in the area. A steering committee is evaluating what to do with the property, says Jason Theadore, interim president, OhioHealth Neighborhood Care. “We’re still in the evaluation period, so we haven’t decided what new services OhioHealth would provide,” he says. “It’s a fast-growing community which means the demand for healthcare in the area will grow too. We’d like to be positioned to deliver that care in an even more convenient and comfortable way to all of those who’ve come to depend on us.” Medical facilities, new businesses and expanding companies add up to increasing employment and revenue in the city to provide the services that keep residents and corporate citizens happy, Boso says. The key to creating and maintaining a desirable community is to ensure a safe environment, quality education, robust parks and recreation programs, adequate infrastructure to support an increasing population and “most importantly, preserving the home town atmosphere we all desire,” he says. “Cities in Ohio thrive or decline by income tax,” he says. “If you don’t have employers and jobs, you can’t address quality of life issues that are crucial to a community’s vitality.” Melissa Kossler Dutton is a freelance writer.

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ecofest will showcase many of the city’s earth-friendly practices, educate attendees about living greener.

GoiNG for

The GreeN Grove City embraces an earth-friendly attitude and encourages residents and businesses to follow suit. By Melissa Kossler Dutton

rove City officials have long been committed to environmentally sound practices. They have planted rain gardens, performed energy audits of city buildings and employed a full-time environmental coordinator. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed by area officials and businesses moving into the community—many of whom have found ways to add eco-friendly features to their projects. When the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in 2009 converted a former mattress factory into its Grove City headquarters and distribution center, the project earned a gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Five years later, city officials partnered with Jackson Township to build a gold-certified fire station. The city also leveraged its proximity to the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill to increase awareness about recycling and waste management. Now the city wants to make sure that residents are aware of its efforts and what they can do to help keep the community green. Officials are holding the city’s first EcoFest celebration Aug. 22 at Henceroth Park. A celebration built around the environment was a natural replacement for Balloons and Tunes, says Mayor Richard L. “Ike” Stage. The city-sponsored event, that featured music and hot air balloons, was held for years at

Beulah Park. The city was forced to discontinue the event after the horse-racing track closed. “We have been very proactive in promoting environmental issues,” Stage says. “We thought, let’s highlight this positive aspect of the city.” The festival will showcase many of the city’s earth-friendly practices, educate attendees about living greener and offer plenty of family fun. It’s in keeping with the city’s efforts to provide a vibrant hometown for its residents, he said. “The whole day is designed to be fun and family-friendly but also have people learn what’s happening right here in this community,” says Kim Conrad, director of parks and recreation for the city. “There’s a commitment in this city to be a leader in sustainable practices. It’s a feather in our cap.” The city also has come to see the landfill, which at one time may have deterred business growth south of town, as a potential driver for economic development. The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio works hard to identify businesses and technologies that share its interest in reducing the waste stream entering the landfill. The organization recently announced that it had earned about $1 million from selling refined methane and carbon-dioxide gas generated at the landfill to be used in California. “That’s where the paradigm has shifted,” says Ty Marsh, SWACO’s executive director. “Waste is increasingly seen as an asset; before it was

a liability.” “Many of the efforts on behalf of the environment go hand-in-hand with increasing the quality of life opportunities the city offers,” Stage says. To Grove City officials, sustainability plays a key role in providing a welcoming community for residents and businesses. In order to offer

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residents more outdoor recreational opportunities, the city lobbied Metro Parks officials to build a park in the city and supported the efforts of local volunteers who want to build a “Dream Field” baseball facility for children with special needs. Grove City sponsors many recreational activities, has numerous community parks with earth-friendly

touches and a robust Keep Grove City Beautiful program. The city also is encouraging environmentally friendly features in its historic Town Center now undergoing a major revitalization. Henceroth Park was chosen as the site for EcoFest because of its environmental attributes, Conrad says. The park features solar lighting, mulch made from recycled tires, a butterfly garden and playground equipment constructed from recycled plastics. The festival will be divided into zones specializing in different learning opportunities, said Linda Rosine, the city’s environmental coordinator. “There will be fun and interactive areas where people can learn more about the environment and healthy practices,” she says. “There will be lots of hands-on activities.” The city is working with Clean Fuels Ohio to bring in environmentally friendly cars for attendees to test drive. The activity will be educational, fun and serve as a way to highlight the fact that the city has two electric car charging stations. Tesla has a charging station on Parkmead Drive and Nissan operates one on First Street. Other exhibits will focus on increasing the sustainability of your home and garden and improving your health and wellness. The city will offer information about rain barrels, rain gardens and recycling. The event also will include a 5K run and food trucks with healthy offerings. “We want to show our residents what environmentally sustainable practices are out there so they can learn what they can do to help,” Conrad says. Residents will be encouraged to bike or walk to the event via one of the city’s many paved trails. EcoFest visitors will also have the opportunity to learn more about Scioto Grove Metro Park, which the Metro Parks began constructing in May. The 620-acre site stretches along three miles of the Scioto River. The park will offer walking

That’s where the paradigm has shifted. Waste is increasingly seen as an asset; before it was a liability.” TY Marsh SWACO executive director

The city has agreed to share the cost of the

$500,000

Dream Field, with a special surface to accommodate children who use walkers or wheelchairs.

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The Metro Park site stretches along three miles of the Scioto River. Discover Grove City l ColumbusCEO 9

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trails, picnic areas and opportunities for fishing and canoeing. The park system anticipates spending about $3.7 million developing the site. The location is ideal because it provides the park district opportunities to protect the riverfront and serve a large number of Franklin County residents who previously did not have a park close to home, says Peg Hanley, spokeswoman for the Metro Parks. “Research shows that these natural park areas provide measurable health benefits; as people use parks for physical activity and social interaction, their stress levels are reduced,”

We want to encourage our residents to make sustainable choices in their daily lives and introduce them to ways that make it easier to be green.” Linda rosine Grove City environmental coordinator

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she says. The city jumpstarted the effort by donating nearly 200 acres of land for the park. “It’s another amenity for our residents,” Stage says. He and other officials were eager to see the land go to the Metro Parks because the organization has the know-how to preserve and manage public lands, he adds. “That’s their area of expertise,” he says. “It’s a partnership that benefits the entire central Ohio area.” The city continually seeks partnerships for recreational opportunities for residents, Conrad says. The parks and recreation department is currently working with the Little League® board members to build “The Grove City Dream Field,” a handicap-accessible baseball diamond. The city has agreed to share the cost of the $500,000 field, which will have a special surface that will accommodate children who use walkers or wheelchairs, said Jack Widner, Grove City Little League® board treasurer. Last summer, the city partnered with Grove City Church of the Nazarene and a Boy Scout troop to create the Grove City Community Disc Golf Course on the church’s campus. The parks and recreation department offers youth and adult sports ranging from corn hole to volleyball, organizes special events throughout the year and offers numerous community education classes. Its summer concert series brings in varied musical acts. The Little Theatre Off Broadway enjoys enthusiastic support from the city and its residents, says Lisa Napier-Garcia, president of the organization’s board of directors. The nonprofit focuses on providing a venue for children and adults to participate in live theatre. The organization puts on six shows a year and offers acting workshops for children. “We very much want to be viewed as a community theater,” she says. “Our goal is be a part of the community.” The organization operates out

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of a 100-year-old building in the city’s historic Town Center and incorporates green practices where it can, Napier-Garcia says. The board recycles play programs and considers the environment when upgrading its facility. The city encourages Town Center businesses to integrate green practices where they can. Rosine, the environmental coordinator, recently worked with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to add a blue roof and rain garden to the city safety building. The blue roof was installed on top of the existing roof. It filters and redirects rain water to limit how much of it goes into the city’s storm sewer system. The blue roof is a good example of a simple, cost-effective way of adapting an existing building to make a positive impact on the environment, Rosine says. Having the blue roof and a rain garden located in Town Center increases awareness about the city’s efforts to minimize its impact on the planet, she says. “Preserving the environment is a priority for the city. Installing a blue roof on a building in Town Center and organizing EcoFest demonstrate that,” Rosine says. “We want to encourage our residents to make sustainable choices in their daily lives and introduce them to ways that make it easier to be green.” Melissa Kossler Dutton is a freelance writer.

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Access to multiple fiber-optic networks provides businesses with superb high-speed data connectivity.

BusiNess

GATewAy multiple highway access points boost grove City’s popularity as a technology and logistics hub. Attentive civic leaders add to the city’s attractiveness for commercial development. By Dennis Read

ocation is everything, and that is especially apparent in assessing the advantages grove City offers a growing list of technology and logistics companies that are finding the strategically sited city a good place to do business.

grove City is home to a number of expanding companies providing technological services and highly specialized manufacturing. Well-planned technology infrastructure—including access to multiple fiber-optic networks providing businesses with superb high-speed data connectivity—is cited as one of the reasons. Here are just a few examples:

MerriLL corPorATioN merrill Corporation, a provider of technology-enabled services for corporate markets, began operations in its grove City facility in 1991. the company originated in st. paul, minn., in 1968. since then it has grown to have locations around the world with more than 5,000 employees. the technological pioneer offers highly secure content sharing platforms and deep industry domain expertise to help companies accelerate capital markets transactions, reduce the complexity and cost of regulatory filings and turn compliance communications into growth engines in regulated industries. the 200,000-square-foot facility in grove City employs 185 workers. last year merrill made an investment of $800,000 to improve the plant and replace its HvAC system. patrick Foley, merrill’s senior vice president of operations, says grove

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City “is a great place to grow our business.”

LoGiTecH, inc. logitech inc., a manufacturer of custom-engineered, large-scale conveyer systems, is building a new facility more than twice its current size, 67,284 square feet, on a 12acre site. the seeds road building will be ready by the beginning of 2016. Owner Kirk Wallace says that logitech’s workforce of 42 will be expanded. “logitech is a highly specialized company, founded nearly 25 years ago in grove City, and we look forward to sharing in its success for the next 25,” says Chuck Boso, city administrator.

TiGerPoLY MANUFAcTUriNG, inc. A wholly owned subsidiary of tigers polymer Corporation of Osaka, Japan, tigerpoly manufacturing makes quality blow-molded, injection-molded and rubber parts for automobiles, vacuum cleaners, washing machines and copiers. the grove City facility was established in 1987 and currently employs a workforce of 350. A research and development center was opened in 2002 to support its automobile industry customers. Currently the enterprise parkway facility is breaking ground for a 70,000-square-foot addition to house its expanding manufacturing operations.

TosoH sMD, inc. tosoh smd inc. is a high-tech company that reaches back nearly 40 years to its inception. A manufacturer of film used extensively by the semiconductor industry, it began in grove City as specialty metals & Alloys, inc. in 1975 with two part-time employees. its founders used their materials expertise gained from experience at Battelle memorial institute to

become a major supplier to chipmanufacturing companies. the company has grown into a major employer in grove City, with hundreds of workers based in its gantz road facility of nearly 200,000 square feet. A recent addition of 67,000 square feet brought it to its current size. it was purchased in 1988 by tosoh Corp. of tokyo, adding smd to its name for the specialty metals division operation in grove City. today tosoh smd, inc. supplies its products to semiconductor, flatscreen panel and solar industries. in 2014, it won the preferred Quality supplier Award from intel Corporation. CeO marty Blazic is working with rev1 ventures (the venture capital agency formerly known as techColumbus) to support startup businesses in the grove City area. tom Walker, CeO of rev1, says his shop has been involved in helping to establish grove City as a hub for entrepreneurial activity, interacting with company leaders and grove City’s economic development team to encourage collaboration between high-tech companies.

You instantly get a feeling of the probusiness environment, lack of red tape and their ability to get things done in a timely manner.” Brian Marsh prologis

logistic sites include Wal-mart, gap, netflix, marzetti, Honeywell, ups, Fedex, and pier 1 imports, which recently added a

200,000-sq.-foot

building to house its second u.s. e-commerce center.

sMArT911 grove City is the first community in the state to implement an important improvement to the telephone emergency 9-1-1 service. the smart911 system contains information about residents that saves precious moments when an emergency call is placed. residents create an online safety profile at smart911.com that includes homes, businesses and mobile phone numbers, photographs of family members (vital in cases of missing children), allergies and other medical information, the number of residents in a household and the location of a home’s bedrooms (critical information to firefighters). the service is an example that grove City’s commitment to technology applies not just to businesses but also to its citizens.

tigerpoly manufacturing is breaking ground for a

70,000-sq.-foot

addition to house its expanding manufacturing operations. Discover Grove City l ColumbusCEO 15

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Freeway access is definitely a selling point for Grove city. The city has four access points to interstate highways. -Mayor riChard L. â€œiKeâ€? StaGe BUsiNess AND LoGisTics GATeWAY The list of companies operating logistics centers in the Grove City area is extensive. Among them are Gap Inc. Direct, Netflix Inc., T. Marzetti Company, FedEx Ground, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Pier 1 Imports Inc., which recently added a 200,000-square-foot building to house its second U.S. e-commerce center. The reason for this cluster of major businesses is simple: Grove City is the southern gateway to central Ohio. Six separate business parks are nestled near the four major highway entry points in the Grove City area. The north-south interstate, I-71, has interchanges with Stringtown Road, U.S. 62 and SR-665. The outerbelt, I-270, has an interchange with US-

62. Mayor Richard L. â€œIkeâ€? Stage says the four major interchanges â€œmake our community unique in central Ohio. Weâ€™re the only one.â€? The Southpark Industrial Park and Distribution Center is at the I-71/I-270 interchange. Gateway Business Park, Gateway West Business Park, and Grove City Industrial Park surround the I-71/SR-665 interchange. Capital Park South is located near the I-270/U.S. 62 interchange. Nearby rail and airfreight facilities make the total transportation effort more efficient and easier for logistics operations. â€œWe have everything except river transportation,â€? Stage says. A leading player in Grove City distribution centers is Prologis, Inc., a developer, owner and operator of high-quality logistics and distribution facilities. With buildings in Capital Park South and Southpark

totaling nearly 3.5-million square feet, Prologis, headquartered in San Francisco, is a prominent landlord of distribution centers. â€œPrologis has enjoyed a very positive long-term relationship with the city of Grove City. You instantly get a feeling of the pro-business environment, lack of red tape, and their ability to get things done in a timely manner,â€? says Brian Marsh of Prologis. Stage points to the continuity of Grove Cityâ€™s municipal government as a determining factor in attracting businesses. He says that a lack of turnover in government offices provides stability and an opportunity to build long-lasting relationships. Serving his fourth term as mayor, Stage says, â€œOur continuity plays in our favor when we work with people in business.â€? Dennis read is a freelance writer.

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GROVE CITY SHOWCASE Finally a Corporate Golf Membership that everyone can love...

The Corporate Limited Membership $2,500 • 50 Rounds of Golf, Cart & Range • Weekdays Anytime & Weekends after 12pm • Up to 4 Designees • Rounds may be used by designees and unaccompanied guests • Not valid during club events Hickory Hills Golf Club, established in 1979, is a private golf club located in Grove City a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. It is a privately owned Golf Club with a distinguished membership of local professional, business and government leaders. This Jack Kidwell designed masterpiece and its splendid natural beauty can easily be compared with the best in central Ohio. The golf course was carved out of 181 acres of magniﬁcent, aged woodland and open meadows. It has several meandering streams, ﬁve lakes, rolling terrain and located just minutes from downtown and west Columbus.

To Join Call 614.878.0576 Hickory Hills Golf Club 3344 Georgesville - Wrightsville Road - Grove City, Oh 43123 www.HickoryHills.com

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A n

A d v e r T i S i n G

S u P P L e M e n T

ciminello’s inc. proposes a mixed-use development for Beulah Park. By Dennis Read

DrAWN To The

ceNTer

Ongoing renovation continues to polish Grove City’s Town Center as the gemstone of the community, taking advantage of the opportunity to redevelop historic Beulah Park with residential, commercial and community space.

urals mounted on various buildings along Broadway depict past moments of this city of nearly 40,000. The murals describe a time when Grove City was a village of only a few thousand. While that is no longer the case, a warm hometown, family-friendly feeling still is evident along Broadway as you make your way through the historic Town Center. Small shops and local offices dot Broadway and adjoining streets. Well known among them are the Little Theatre Off Broadway and Plank’s on Broadway, a landmark established as a hotel and stage coach

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stop in the 1800s. “We had a rebirth of the town Center in the late ’80s and early ’90s,” says mayor richard l. “ike” stage. Following those decades a town Center Commercial revitalization grant program, created in 2001, has funded more than 150 projects benefitting the downtown area. “now,” stage says, “we are in the next leap forward.” He estimates this phase will continue for the next ten years. A number of projects are under way and more are in various stages of planning. What follows are the major ones.

BeULAH PArK When penn national gaming closed the Beulah park racetrack in may 2014, grove City officials were given a huge opportunity to create a new vision for the city. the 212-acre site awaited a viable development plan that would provide residential housing and commercial office space. the plan would also establish a link with neighborhoods west of demorest road and the town Center. that plan, submitted by Ciminello’s inc., includes construction of 275 single-family homes ranging in price from $225,000 to $400,000, 120 units for empty nesters, and 450 multi-family units for more than 1,400 new residents. the plan includes a 12-acre business center and a 60-acre park containing a fishing lake, gardens and a museum. the total cost of the redevelopment project, extending over the next three years, may reach $150 million. the preliminary development plan was approved by the grove City planning Commission and grove City Council. the next step in the process involves the development of private and public funding plans. Once the funding plans are proposed, additional approvals will be necessary. A museum has been proposed to honor the history of the Beulah park racetrack. its name comes from the

daughter of early resident Adam g. grant, who appended 80 acres to grove City in 1889 and named it Beulah’s Addition. At its west end was a community park christened Beulah park. in 1923, the racetrack opened, making it the first thoroughbred racetrack in Ohio. Over the ensuing years, thousands traveled on an interurban line from downtown Columbus to bet on horse races. Beulah park was a vital part of the grove City economy during its glory days, featuring boxing matches, baseball games, motorcycle races, rock concerts, and, during its last years, balloon festivals. According to the Beulah park preliminary development plan, submitted by Ciminello’s, the project “will create a walkable community for future residents, existing residents of the Beulah subdivision, and for the patrons of town Center businesses.” its tremendous scope and cost are admitted challenges, but the development plan asserts the project is doable. “the proposed redevelopment of Beulah park is ambitious,” it states, “but well within the capability of the community.”

resiDeNTiAL DeveLoPMeNT the pizzuti Companies is poised to build three complexes containing 120 one- and two-bedroom apartments on a 3.25-acre triangular site directly west of City Hall. threestory units ranging from 700 to 1,165 square feet are designed to appeal especially to young professionals and empty nesters, featuring a fitness facility, business center and community gathering places including a fire pit and pet wash station. groundbreaking for the $15 million project is anticipated late summer.

NeW LiBrArY Construction is underway for a new library at Broadway and grant Avenue in the town Center. A branch of the southwest public libraries,

We had a rebirth of the Town center in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Now, we are in the next leap forward.” Mayor richard L. “ike” stage

A branch of the southwest public libraries, the

$17 million

structure will be 46,000 square feet and will provide quiet study and reading spaces grove City’s pinnacle golf Club, contains

700 acres

and 1,600 housing units. Discover Grove City l ColumbusCEO 19

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community reinvestment Area grants, tax increment financing and Town center commercial revitalization grants are available to business owners. the $17-million structure will include 46,000 square feet and provide quiet study and reading spaces, meeting rooms, a business center, expanded technology services, and children’s programming areas. Construction is scheduled to be completed by late 2016. The two-story building, designed by Braun & Steidl Architects of Columbus and HBM Architects of Cleveland and to be built by Miles McClellan Construction Company of Columbus, melds historic character with contemporary library services. The plan features a terraced urban plaza where library patrons and the community in general can congregate. The entry plaza continues a rhythm of existing pocket parks that line the street, providing a physical connector to the existing urban fabric. The new library replaces the

Grove ciTy TowN ceNTer

GrANT HoMesTeAD On Haughn Road, a few blocks from Grove City’s Town Center, is the Grant Homestead, built in the 1840s by A.G. Grant, the grandson of Grove City’s founders, Hugh and Catherine Grant. Hugh Grant came from Pittsburgh in 1803 and purchased land in the area. In 2014, Grove City purchased the Grant Homestead from Grant family descendent Ruth Sawyer Jividen. Plans are under way to restore the home, built with bricks made from clay found on the property, and use it as a history museum. As Grove City continues to grow, its leaders remain protective of its

southpark industrial Park & Distribution center

270

capital Park south

Future Library Little Thearte off Broadway city Hall

32,000-square-foot library built in 1954. The city of Grove City purchased it for $2.5 million and several plans for the site are under review.

welcome center & Museum

town Center

Gateway to the city

southwest Public Library

ohio Health Urgent care

Grant Homestead

Grove Proposed Trails

City

Future Home of ohio Health

yMcA/osU sports Medicine & rehabilitation center Pinncale Gold club

existing Trails

Mount Carmel Grove City Medical Center

Fryer Park

Gateway west Business Park Batelle Darby creek Metro Park

Gateway Business Park

scioto Grove Metro Park

Mount carmel Urgent care Grove city industrial Park 71

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warm, caring, family-oriented community spirit. “The people of Grove City do everything they can to help each other out,” says Laura Lanese, a city council member, local historian and resident since 1999. She notes, “So many kids come back after they graduate from college. The family network is strong.” Grove City leaders are hopeful that these projects will induce other businesses and organizations to establish themselves in its Town Center. Such incentives as tax abatements through Community Reinvestment Area grants, tax increment financing, and Town Center Commercial Revitalization grants, are available to business owners. “Every day I walk through town,” Mayor Stage says, “I’m reminded of the rich history of this great city. It’s not uncommon to have a chat with

a fourth- or fifth-generation Grove City resident. People who were raised in the community choose to stay and raise their families here. This speaks volumes about the character, safety and comforts of our city.” Shawn Conrad, executive director of the Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce, says she is striving to achieve a balance among shops, restaurants, offices and residences in order to “maintain a quaint hometown feeling.” She points out that of the 1,250 businesses in Grove City, most are run by “the small guy or a mom and pop,” with a staff of one to eight employees. The goal for all concerned is to make the Town Center a walkable vibrant place with a civic flavor, where people live, work, shop and play. Dennis read is a freelance writer.

People who were raised in the community choose to stay and raise their families here. This speaks volumes about the character, safety and comforts of our city.” richard “ike” stage Grove City mayor

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A n

A d v e r t i s i n g

s u p p l e m e n t

Grove city is committed to protecting the environment and providing outdoor recreation community-wide.

Grove city

fast stats in addition to the new metro park (below), grove City boasts: 1. electric and water connection for park facilities

2. Nature lab/outdoor learning area

3. restored meadow environs

3 5

6 2

7. Potential river access locations

4 3

8. Park maintenance complex

11 5

8 3

5. Potential shelter facilities 6. Lower natural trails along the river/urban backpack trail

4. Potential river overlook locations

7 4

20+

Passive green space

260 acres Bike trails

40 miles electric car charging stations

9. Potential outdoor challenge/adventure area, fishing

10. regional bikeway entry/ connection to Metro Park

off-leash dog park

11. Potential restroom facility/ park structure locations 12. access/parking for quarry

22 acres

Ball diamonds

4 12 9

Area parks

Concerts and festivals

20 Grant run

Skate park

18-hole disc golf course

talbott Park

New planned development

$589 million Hotels

15 22 ColumbusCEO l Discover Grove City

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Paying to Play

On any given summer Monday, one or more central Ohio golf courses hosts a golf outing to raise money for a good cause. This big business survived the recession and is coming back strong. By StEph GrEEGOr + Photos by tim JOhnSOn and Dan trittSChuh + Photo illustration mEGhan ralStOn July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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ric Friedman lost both his parents to cancer: first his father in 1990 and then his mother in 2005. “It sucked, it did,” says Friedman, senior vice president for Scioto Wealth Advisors. “When someone is affected by cancer, everybody is affected. Especially the families.” In the spring of 2006, just after his mother’s death, Friedman met Pat Puhl, also of Columbus, who had lost his father-in-law to cancer. Puhl had already established a friendly golf tournament with his college fraternity brothers every year called the Double Bogey Invitational. “Pat and I met for coffee and in a half hour we decided to link up and raise money for charity,” says Friedman. By 2009, the two had created Families for A Cure, a nonprofit hosting multiple fundraisers, including the Double Bogey, to raise money for cancer research, patient care, and advocacy programs. “In nine years we went from raising a few thousand dollars (through the Double Bogey) to setting a goal to raise $65,000 this year,” says Friedman. The Double Bogey is a two-flight outing with a morning and afternoon shotgun start. The 12th annual invitational is set for Aug. 15 at the Golf Club of Dublin. The $65,000 goal is double the national average of $30,000 for what a golf scramble typically raises, says Phil Immordino, founder and chairman of the Golf Tournament Association of America. He says the average net from a scramble is typically between $5,000 and $8,000. Friedman says that, to date, the grassroots golf tournament has raised nearly $440,000 for Families for A Cure. “Our goal is to donate a total of $1 million by 2021,” says Friedman. Amazingly, the Double Bogey Invitational, in its fundraising infancy when the Great Recession hit in 2008, survived and continued to raise funds while the country saw the loss of over 8.4 million jobs. Central Ohio saw the loss of several golf clubs in the years following, including the private Shamrock Golf Club and Columbus’ Walnut Hill Golf Course. “The people who put on good tournaments with good ingredients are do-

ing well,” says Immordino. “The others are falling by the wayside.”

Golf a casualty of the recession In periods of austerity, charitable events like golf outings can be among the first casualties of corporate belttightening. Columbus organizations noticed such cutbacks during the recession. “Companies saw it as a luxury and didn’t look quite as fondly at a golf outing as some other fundraisers,” says Dee Anders, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. “It seemed a little more lavish than what they should spend their money on.” The Ohio State University Golf Club General Manager Marc Lucas says all golf courses felt the impact. “We lost a few outings because people weren’t spending discretionary income and it was hard to get people to donate,” says Lucas. Golf outings at OSU dropped during the recession to an average of 25 per year from 33. “We’re just now starting to see the growth again.” The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, a 25,000-member organization, is one of the regular scramble organizers that went on hiatus for two years as the slumping economy yielded poor attendance. “This is our first year back,” says Rob Hawley, membership director of the FOP of Ohio. Funds raised during the FOP of Ohio Foundation’s Golf Outing

on June 15 will support the Critical Incident Response Service for officers and their families. “A golf outing can make a good amount of money, especially if you’re thinking outside the box as far as sponsorships.” Hawley worked to bring back the new and improved four-man scramble by ramping up the food and entertainment and being more creative about how the event raised money. “I can tell you, pre-recession, raising money was not as challenging,” says Michelle Cramer, president and CEO of Cramer & Associates, a Dublin-based fundraising consulting firm. “Donors are starting to gain more confidence, but it’s still competitive.” Competition has been a good thing for the annual RMHC Joe Mortellaro Golf Classic. It’s the largest charity golf outing in central Ohio, with over 400 participants across five courses. Organizers anticipate raising nearly $375,000 this year and netting about $300,000. “The dollar amount of putting on a golf outing has come down over the past few years,” says Anders of green fees and other tourney incidentals such as food and golf cart rentals. “In the early days before the recession, golf courses took business for granted,” says Immordino. “Now they realize it’s not that easy. They’ve got to sell more, market more, to get that business.” The OSU Golf Club is getting creative with its revenue stream as well. The once-exclusive club for alumni, students and faculty only has recently opened up membership. “The biggest policy change we made

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is the availability of membership to non-OSU affiliates,” says Lucas of the $2,900 annual price tag for membership. “A non-affiliate can join the Buckeye Club for $100, which is the donor club of the athletic department, and then they have the option to join the golf club.” At price points like that, surviving a down economy comes down to one thing: Only the strong survive. “The really strong charities and the ones where the cause has a lot of meaning to people, that’s what keeps them going,” says Lucas.

Recession-proof scrambles have key ingredients “The cause is the key ingredient,” says Immordino. He says the courses, great gifts, networking potential, celebrity appearances and corporate sponsorships are other factors that have kept certain golf scrambles afloat during the downturn. Marshall Long, development director for the Boy Scouts of America Simon Kenton Council, couldn’t agree more. His organization benefited from the Sixth Annual Capital City Golf Tournament, held on May 4. “Folks come out (to) enjoy a firstclass golf course and experience, but also to support young people in the area, and more of the at-risk youth,” says Long. The outing raised $25,000 and netted $18,000 for urban scouting. “That’s why it’s attractive for folks to be involved with.” Organizers of the RMHC’s annual

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golf tourney make sure participants hear about the Ronald McDonald House and the families who benefit from its services. The 29th annual tourney will take place on July 13. “It gives people an opportunity to learn about the House in a really nonintrusive way,” says Anders. “We make sure our board members are involved and are able to go out and talk about the House.” Same goes for political golf fundraisers, though they’re not as prevalent. “It’s more like 80 percent (of golf scrambles) are charity causes,” says Immordino. “It might be 10 percent political and then 10 percent corporations.” Politicians and lobbyists must follow certain fundraising rules when it comes to golf scrambles. “Legislators are permitted to participate if there’s public disclosure of that participation,” says Tony Bledsoe, executive director of the Office of the Legislative Inspector General. “In the case of a charitable event, that source will be listed on the financial disclosures list.” Price limitations come into play with lobbyists. “If that person is a lobbyist, (the price of entry) can’t be more than $75,” says Bledsoe. “The value of the ticket is that portion which is not tax deductible.” Bill Anthony, chairman of the Frank-

lin County Democratic Party, says that in addition to fundraising limits, they also cannot take a check from a corporation for a golf scramble. “We try to keep the dollar amount (of the ticket low),” says Anthony. The Democratic Party’s annual golf outing is scheduled for June 19. One of several annual fundraisers, Anthony says the golf outing nets up to $10,000. The money is used to support the party. But, Immordino warns, if nonprofits only rely on the cause to attract people, they’ll only get so far. Golf outings that survive offer the best stuff in town— starting with the course.

Greens are gold The number one golf course in Ohio for 2015-16, as ranked by Golf Digest magazine, is Muirfield Village Golf Course. “If you can

“In nine years we went from raising a few thousand dollars (through the Double Bogey) to setting a goal to raise $65,000 this year.” Eric FriEdman, senior vice president for Scioto Wealth advisors

5/29/15 10:58 AM

get (your golf outing) in, it’s going to be quite expensive,” says Lucas. Since cost is a huge factor in any charity’s fundraising budget, organizers have to strike the balance between the golden green and the green that keeps them in the black. “It depends on the experience you want to give your group,” says Lucas. “(All golf courses) do outings, and they’re all at different levels. As you continue up the tier (from public to private courses), the higher the cost.” Lucas says OSU’s courses are middle- to high-end courses that are a mix of private and public use. Ranked No. 23 in Ohio on Golf Digest’s list, the Scarlett course, together with the Gray course, hosts about 33 charity scrambles annually. “Most of our outings are repeat customers—about 90 percent,” says Lucas. “They know Scarlett is a challenging golf course and it’s centrally located.” Location

is certainly a factor for golf scrambles, as are the days of the week during the spring through fall golfing season. “(Golf courses) will try to fill their slower times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays for golf tournaments,” says Lucas, who books scrambles on Mondays at OSU in order to accommodate his private members for the prime weekend slots. “If I booked an outing on a Friday afternoon, I think I’d be shot.”

The goodies must be seriously good A great course is followed up by what participants “get” on and off the greens, from food and drinks, to gifts, gift bags, and entertainment. “We did a few new things this year with the goal being to raise the profile of the event,” says Long of the Cap City outing. “If you played in the event, you got a new pair of Nike shoes included in the cost.” Unique experiences are also a draw, says Immordino. The Families for a Cure event brings in Watershed Distillery for a tasting and an online digital auction.

“We make sure our board members are involved and are able to go out and talk about the House.” Dee AnDers, executive director of ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio

057-061_CharityGolf.indd 60

Learn someone’s character and business intentions on the green One of the most important draws of a golf outing boils down to one word: “Time,” says Immordino. “I have 4-5 hours with a guy, I can build a relationship. I also get to learn about his temperament and character.” Time and close proximity with dealmakers has bolstered golf scrambles following the recession, says Anders. “We’re seeing them come back because you can build your business at a golf outing,” says Anders, who adds businesses often attend the outings with clients.

Bring on the famous faces Golf tourneys with famous faces also tend to survive down economies. “You can do a Pro-Am, which puts a golf pro in the foursome, or a CelebAm, which puts a celebrity in the foursome,” says Immordino. “It helps bring in more money.” Anders says having honorary cochairs Buckeye Basketball Coach Thad Matta and Buckeye Football Coach Urban Meyer is one of RMHC’s biggest draws. “For participants to be there and hear from the coaches about the upcoming season, they love that,” she says. The Cap City event featured former

5/29/15 10:59 AM

Photo courtesy of Families For a Cure

Buckeyes Eddie George and Clark Kellogg, as well as pro golfer Gerry Hammond. “Celebrities did add more to the tournament,” says Guy Reece II, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge and Cap City chairman, whose 17-team event at the Jefferson Golf Course cost $250 per person. The average national cost for entry is $150 per player, says Immordino. Other ways to raise money include securing sponsors for a longest-drive or closest-to-the-hole contest or selling mulligans—all common at most golf scrambles. There’s also usually a silent auction. But the real cash cow of any golf scramble is its sponsors.

Sponsors, please “Sponsorship is a big deal,” says Anders, who notes that Motorists Insurance is the presenting sponsor for the RMHC golf outing this year. “That’s where you make your gravy.” A dinner sponsorship for the RMHC outing costs $15,000, followed by a course sponsorship at $10,000, according to their website. Gift sponsorships, lunch sponsorships and hole sponsorships cost $3,500, $1,500 and $750 respectively. A foursome costs $1,800 and an individual can get in for $500. The Cap City golf outing listed $5,000 for the event sponsorship on its website, $2,500 for the lead sponsorship, $1,500 for the participating cart sponsorship, $500 for a cart sponsorship and $300 for a hole sponsorship. But sponsors are thinking twice when charities come knocking, says Cramer, noting that central Ohio is inundated with golf courses—more than 110 private and public greens. “There are so many golf outings that sponsors are becoming more selective about (which) they are going to support,” says Cramer. “These companies only have so much in their marketing dollars.” For OhioHealth, organizations which align with the healthcare system’s mission take priority. “We can’t support all of the very deserving causes in our community so we have to measure each opportunity carefully,” says Mark Hopkins, director

of media relations. “We may, for instance, support a local EMS golf outing because EMS are critical partners in our healthcare mission.” To get a sponsor’s attention, Cramer says a golf scramble needs three main things: A personal connection with the company, the ability to generate marketing impressions, and an understanding of where the money is going to go. “Post-recession, the changes we’ve seen are that corporations, businesses, and individuals want to know how their money is being used,” says Cramer. “They’re thoughtful about their decisions and where their money is going.” Larger corporations like OhioHealth and Nationwide don’t typically sponsor local scrambles. Nationwide, from a corporate perspective, tends to sponsor national events, while its agents are more likely to sponsor at the local level. Nationwide is the presenting sponsor for the Memorial Tournament, which is not considered a charity scramble—it is a PGA-sanctioned event with a charitable donation to Nationwide’s Children Hospital. “Nationwide and the Nationwide Foundation have supported Nationwide Children’s Hospital the last two years with an aggregate of $27 million in sports sponsorships and charitable donations,” says Terrance Williams, Nationwide’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “Separately, the Nationwide Foundation philanthropically supports (Children’s Hospital), as well as hundreds of other nonprofit organizations across central Ohio and the country, but the Foundation does not donate any funds to the Memorial Tournament.” OhioHealth also has limited corporate sponsorships, though the OhioHealth Foundation does organize an annual golf outing called the OhioHealth Invitational to benefit patients and families cared for at OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital. Last year’s event raised approximately $130,000. It’s another example of how golf scrambles continue to be a popular way to fund charitable causes in central Ohio. “This is about the charity,” says Friedman. “It’s fun. It’s for a good cause. And that’s really what it’s all about.” Steph Greegor is a freelance writer. July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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commercial real estate

taking off JET Task Force breathes new life into redevelopment of airport-adjacent acreage. By MikE MahOnEy + Photos by TiM JOhnsOn and TEssa bErg

ort Columbus International Airport boasts 1,200 businesses nearby with more than 19,000 employees—8,000 at the Defense Supply Center Columbus and 1,300 at NetJets. It’s a boon for Columbus, Gahanna and Whitehall with a billion-dollar payroll. The three cities—with the support of Franklin County and input from airport corridor employers—joined together in the Jobs Expansion and Transportation Task Force and released an agenda in February for strategic improvements in air service, surface transportation and economic development. The JET study area, which encompasses the airport and surrounding parts of Columbus, Gahanna, Whitehall and Mifflin Township, has the potential for 675 acres of new development, 5.9 million square feet of new commercial/ industrial space and nearly 24,000 additional jobs, the study concludes. Right up front, task force participants say they know the difference between studies in binders and successful implementation. Officials from the three cities and other close observers acknowledge that the JET report’s recommendations closely track a study completed in 2008. Few of those plans got off the ground during the nearcollapse of the national economy in 2007-2008. “In the coming weeks, while we have a sense of urgency and the at-

tention of all the stakeholders, we are addressing how we are going to take the recommendations of the Task Force and make them policy, and figure out the best way to put this together,” says Steve Campbell, director of regional growth initiatives for the City of Columbus. For commercial developers, the JET report holds new hope for redeveloping surrounding property. “We have a number of different jurisdictions with a common goal, so they can all benefit from a betterbranded and facilitated total improvement area instead of just each taking on its specific area,” says Robert White Jr. of Daimler, developer of the NetJets headquarters adjoining the airfield. “If job opportunities emerge, they’ll each want income tax from those, but they’ve got a broader approach to their pitch and a stronger brand.” The report stresses both strategic assets and liabilities. For example, the airport’s proximity to Downtown, less than 15 minutes away by taxi or car, is a plus, but it also means fewer large parcels of land are available for development in the dense airport-todowntown corridor. Airport properties have benefited from the attractive roadways of I-670 and more recent improvements to Tech Center Drive from Gahanna. But approaches to the airport via Fifth Avenue and other surface roads to the south and east have properties with a “general appearance and condition [that] detract from the development potential of the area,” the report concludes.

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Key JeT recommendaTions include: • Compete for new daily direct flights to the West Coast and Europe. Behind the scenes, members of the JET air service working group have already facilitated a public-private effort that provided Southwest Airlines with the financial guarantees it needed to offer daily service to Oakland, Calif. Now the JET team hopes to continue working with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority on spurring service to London and other European stops. • Develop new options for surface transportation. Today, passengers can take a rental car or taxi Downtown, but there are no shuttles, rapid transit systems or even buses to Downtown without a transfer. COTA now plans a direct Downtown-to-airport bus line for next year. But the JET report also calls for integrating the airport into any new light rail or commuter rail system, even perhaps high-efficiency passenger service to Chicago. • Expand public-private partnerships to spur economic development. If partnering helps expand air service, it should work for airport efforts in marketing, transportation and development, too. • Improve development standards, amenities and infrastructure to help attract more employers. Columbus is moving forward with a new building code enforcement effort, and Whitehall and Gahanna have led the way with major road projects, like the Tech Center Drive bridge over I-270. Mayor Michael Coleman named Daniel Rosenthal, president of Milestone Aviation to chair the JET Task Force in his 2014 State of the City message. The mayor welcomed its recommendations and asked William Murdock, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and Jean Carter Ryan, president of the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, to propose next steps. “We’d like to create some kind of development district, like the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, whose work has been so inspiring,” Ryan says. That could be an association or a special improvement district, or even a new role for an existing partnership. But marketing and managing airport development requires better

funding and overall leadership, task force members agree. It’s not completely clear what type of building programs will emerge. Air service-related businesses make obvious sense near the airfield, so businesses like NetJets, Flight Safety and the Republic Airways maintenance hangar all fit into the areas inside the airport fence line or at the borders of the airfield, Campbell says. NetJets has operated out of Port Columbus since the 1960s. It moved into its current operations center in 2000 and moved its corporate headquarters there from Easton in 2012, an important job retention move for a company that flirted with Charlotte, N.C. “We plan to stay where we are and continue to grow our business here in Columbus, adding on to our already long and rich history,” says Tom Hoyt, NetJets senior vice president for communications. But further away from the airfield, development targets need more study and support. “Our top recommendation was to develop a marketing plan,” Ryan says, noting that requires more funding than individual cities like Whitehall, Gahanna and Columbus now have in their marketing budgets. As one step forward, JET Task Force communities have assembled a comprehensive list of 13 ready-fordevelopment properties in the study area. Projects are already under way in several of the areas, including: Daimler’s Airside Business Park, a $22 million space near the $113 million Flight Safety headquarters and NetJet’s operation and headquarters center. Daimler’s White says more small-scale projects like the new Homage headquarters near NetJets should

“We’re five minutes from the airport, and our golf center and restaurant have a terrific view of Downtown from the highest elevation in the county.” Barry FrOmm

Value Recovery Chairman and CEO July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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Jur Mi Sta Owner: M Land Area Applicable Port Colum Partnershi Clinton-Mi Recomme Mixed Use ’07; Light I Related an

preparing for

Takeoff off Development Opportunity Site Port Columbus Study Area Township Boundary City of Columbus Boundary Jurisdiction: Columbus and Mifflin Township Status: Undeveloped Owner: Columbus Regional Airport Authority Land Area: 56.9 Acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Patnership ’08; Northeast Area Plan ’07; Clinton-Mifflin Land Use Plan ’09 Recommended Land Use: Commercial ’08; Airport Related Services ’07; Light Industrial and Office: Airport Related and Stream Buffer ’09

Note: Map “J” does not exist

d. nR w sto hn Jo

M L

270

670

Jurisdiction: Columbus Status: Undeveloped Owner: Plaza Properties Land Area: 13.3 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08; East Columbus Area Plan ’12 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial ‘08/’12

N Cassady Ave.

E 5th Ave.

Defense Supply Center Columbus

Jurisdiction: Columbus Status: Partially developed Owner: Schottenstein Property Group Land Area: 14.6 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial/ Airport ‘08

Jurisdiction: Whitehall Status: Partially developed Owner: Marcus Adams Properties Land Area: 56.7 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial ’08

Jurisdiction: Gahanna Status: Mostly undeveloped Owner: Andre Buckles Land Area: 122.5 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08; Hamilton Road Corridor Plan ’13 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08/’13

t. E Broad S

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Jurisdiction: Columbus and Mifflin Township Status: Mostly undeveloped Owner: Multiple owners Land Area: 41.5 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08; Northeast Area Plan ’07; Clinton-Mifflin Land Use Plan ’09 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08; Office-Light Industrial ’07; Light Industrial and Office: Airport Related and Stream Buffer ’09

Jurisdiction: Mifflin Township Status: Mostly undeveloped Owner: Multiple owners Land Area: 27.3 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08; Northeast Area Plan ’07; Clinton-Mifflin Land Use Plan ’09 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08; Office-Light Industrial ’07; Light Industrial and Office: Airport Related and Stream Buffer ’09

N Hamilton Rd

Jurisdiction: Columbus and Mifflin Township Status: Developed Owner: Multiple owners Land Area: 67.9 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08

Jurisdiction: Whitehall Status: Developed Owner: WC Management Land Area: 32.6 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08

Jurisdiction: Columbus Status: Partially developed Owner: Multiple owners Land Area: 79.5 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial ’08

Jurisdiction: Whitehall Status: Partially developed Owner: Robinson Investments Land Area: 43.8 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial ’08

Jurisdiction: Gahanna Status: Mostly undeveloped Owner: Value Recovery Group Land Area: 190.2 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Mixed Use ’08

Jurisdiction: Gahanna Status: Mostly undeveloped Owner: Robert Freiheit; Geiger Excavating Land Area: 39.1 acres Applicable Plan(s): Port Columbus Area Development Partnership ’08 Recommended Land Use: Light Industrial July 2015 ’08 l ColumbusCEO 65

F E Big Walnut Creek

G H

h Ave.

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Port Columbus

No Hubbub Airport upgrades not helped or hindered by airline decisions.

ort Columbus International Airport today has more annual passengers than airports serving Cincinnati and Cleveland. Never a clear winner in the race for airline hubs, Columbus avoided devastating hub setbacks, too. Not so for the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky airport, which lost two-thirds of its annual passenger count after Delta pulled out most of its hub and commuter operations there in the last seven years. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport suffered substantial flight and passenger losses from the 2014 pullout of United hub operations after a merger with Continental. None of Ohio’s airports avoided setbacks completely. Columbus lost daily direct flights when Skybus abruptly closed in April 2008. Meanwhile, air carriers cut 100

million annual passenger seats and 1.4 million annual flights since their peak before the 2007 economic downturn. In 2014, about 6.3 million passengers took off from Port Columbus, getting closer to the 6.7 million annual passengers during the heyday of Skybus. Year-to-date passenger traffic is up 4 percent, says Elaine Roberts, President and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. Earlier this year, CRAA announced an $80 million investment in improving the mechanical systems of the airport. Separately, in late April, airport officials disclosed long-term plans for a $1.3 billion relocation and expansion of terminal and parking facilities between the north and south runways by the year 2030. In fact, Roberts says, the airport has planned some kind of terminal

relocation for years, and the most recent strategic plan puts off the expense by about 10 or 12 years from the date assumed in a 2005 long-term strategy. But parts of the existing terminal will be 70 years old by the time of the move, and needed improvements to the mechanical systems for HVAC, baggage and other maintenance can’t wait until then, she says. “We weathered the recession pretty well,” Roberts says, and the long-term plans of the airport seem completely compatible with the JET Task Force recommendations. Development within the airport property itself is possible, and the airport has property that could support new hangar space to the east. Roberts agrees with the JET report’s call for new ground transportation options, and she hopes the JET team — or its successors — will re-examine shuttle service and rail over time. “We’ve got to have more than cars and taxis,” she says. The task force has called for making Port Columbus a multimodal transit hub, with enhanced bus service, citywide rail passen-

ger service or even high efficiency rail connections to Chicago. COTA is already formulating plans for an airport-to-Downtown bus service for 2016. Today, those working or traveling to the airport via COTA would need a transfer. Thea Walsh, transportation systems and funding director for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, says task force members know we must offer more transit options. She supported MORPC Executive Director William Murdock, who chaired the Transportation Working Group for the JET Task Force. “We concluded we need some kind of multimodal transportation hub at or near the airport,” Walsh says. In an era where more consumers want to avoid driving and parking costs, some critics give Columbus poor marks for public transit. “We recognize that a transit line between the airport and Downtown will not be sustainable on its own,” Walsh says. “We believe you need to incorporate the airport as part of the transit system to make it stronger, but it can’t be the only spoke on the wheel.” –Mike Mahoney

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File/COLUMBUS DISPATCH

compete well for tenants. The T-shirt company has already relocated nearby. Rite Rug is relocating its new showroom and warehouse to the Airport South Commerce and Tech Park in Whitehall, a redevelopment of the former Kroger warehouse. Perhaps the most potential in the study area is in Gahanna, which has more than 300 acres straddling the east and west sides of I-270 at Tech Center Drive on the airport’s northeast side. Value Recovery Inc. manages and markets the property, and other owners have 39 more acres of partially developed land just southeast of Value Recovery’s Central Park recreation and commercial land. Value Recovery Chairman and CEO Barry Fromm expresses pride in the successful turnaround of the properties there from a brownfield construction waste landfill into Gahanna’s Central Park, a mixed-use development area with trees, workplaces, dining, golfing and connections to the city’s most successful corporate settings. Fromm wants to add more recreation facilities to this “Go-Do” entertainment district, still allowing for commercial/ industrial business, too. “We’d like to do something about some completely unfulfilled sports needs for central Ohio,” Fromm says, and a combined

craft brewery and beer garden could fit in nicely. “We’re five minutes from the airport, and our golf center and restaurant have a terrific view of Downtown from the highest elevation in the county.” The Gahanna sites are the largest parcels within the JET study area, and that land represents the vast majority of remaining commercial land eligible for development in Gahanna, says Anthony Jones, Gahanna’s director of planning and development. The opening of the Tech Center Drive bridge over I-270 led to construc-

“We’d like to create some kind of development district, like the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, whose work has been so inspiring.” JEan CartEr ryan

President of the Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority

tion of medical offices for the Central Ohio Urology Group, and it links the airport with a district that already includes headquarters for AEP Ohio, Donato’s, ABB Airport Solutions, Grote Co., Jane’s Dough Foods and Kahiki Foods Inc., Jones notes. The JET Task Force report expresses support for ongoing efforts to retain and expand employment and value for the Defense Supply Center Columbus, which houses at least 20 Department of Defense agencies, as well as an Ohio National Guard unit. It is by far the study area’s largest employment center and carries a special weight of both concern and opportunity. DSCC is almost completely in Whitehall, and it is a major focus of job retention efforts for Whitehall Director of Economic and Community Development Zach Woodruff, who embraced the work of the JET task force. Woodruff credits the proximity of the airport, the presence of DSCC and constant attention by the city of Whitehall for success in economic redevelopment: 1,000 new jobs, 100 new businesses and $35 million in new payroll since 2012. “Meanwhile, we’ve rebuilt all five of our public schools, invested in fiber optics and attracted Franklin County Children’s Services and Priority Design, a product design expert serving internationally known brands,” Woodruff says. DSCC provides space for about 7,500 of the 13,700 U.S. Department of Defense jobs in the Columbus area, says Steve Tugend, a partner at law firm Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter. Tugend facilitates efforts of the Central Ohio Defense Jobs Working Group, a coalition working to retain, expand and attract public and private defense jobs here. The group meets frequently and is in constant contact with Ohio congressional leaders to gain insight on new Pentagon initiatives and how they might affect the airport corridor’s largest employer. Tugend believes DSCC has only just begun to extend the synergies of highsecurity access to the installation, as it did when the Ohio National Guard relocated operations there. Closely related defense and technology firms may appreciate that shared service approach, too, he says. Mike Mahoney is a freelance writer. July 2015 l ColumbusCEO

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HealtH watCH

DiaBetes in tHe workPlaCe Combatting the disease to which employees are prone is in a company’s interest in more ways than one. By Kristin CampbEll + Photos by tim JOhnsOn Blindness, nerve damage, lingering wounds – any one of these could make a normal day at work nearly impossible. But for people with diabetes, these ailments often come together, along with kidney damage, increased risk of heart attack, and the need to take daily medication and injections simply to survive. According to the American Diabetes Association, if present trends continue, one in three Americans will have diabetes by 2050. That is not a cost the American employer will bear easily. Even now, diabetes costs $245 billion annually, including disability, missed workdays and premature death. Twenty percent of all healthcare dollars are spent treating people with diabetes. In hopes of curtailing this dangerous and costly trend, many employers

leslie Conner, Ohiohealth employee are looking to the future. They’re helping employees get healthier now, which will mean a more vibrant employee population and a steadier bottom line further down the road. OhioHealth is pioneering one such program. Lisa Meddock, director of benefits and wellness for OhioHealth,

“the diabetic population goes to the hospital more often, and health care expenses for diabetic patients are three times more than for non-diabetic patients.” lisa mEddOCK

director of benefits and wellness for ohioHealth

says the overall cost of diabetes is a difficult thing to measure. Statistics suggest that the disease is a budget killer when it comes to managing employee healthcare costs. “The diabetic population goes to the hospital more often, and health care expenses for diabetic patients are three times more than for non-diabetic patients,” she says. For a self-insured employer like OhioHealth, this means that the employee’s cost is capped but the costs never stop mounting for the employer. Dr. Richard Snow, vice president for clinical transformation and head of the OhioHealth Diabetes Prevention Program, says when individuals change their habits and adopt a diabetes-pre-

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“When individuals change their habits and adopt a diabetes-preventive lifestyle, they can reduce their risk of developing diabetes within three years by 58 percent.” Dr. riCharD SnOw

vice president for clinical transformation and head of the OhioHealth Diabetes Prevention Program

ventive lifestyle, they can reduce their risk of developing diabetes within three years by 58 percent, and within 10 years by 34 percent. “These people reduce their risk considerably and some of them will go back to being within normal range again,” he says. Of OhioHealth’s 20,000 employees, 1,700 have diabetes, and expenses related to those employees amounts to $28 million per year. That equates to 20 percent of total health care dollars spent by the company, Snow says. To move things in a more positive direction, OhioHealth officials are making a front-end investment in education and incentives to engage employees in healthier lifestyles. Through the OhioHealthy program, company leaders bring classes to employees on the company’s various campuses. Weight Watchers meetings are subsidized. Employees (and their spouses) can be paid up to $500 annually to maintain active lifestyles, monitoring progress by wearing pedometers and tracking dietary choices

on MyFitnessPal.com. OhioHealth employees can join the company fitness center, and if they attend an average of two days or more per week, the cost is fully reimbursed. The company started its efforts in 2006, and Meddock says the company has paid out about $5 million in incentives so far to just over 12,000 participants. While it is difficult to tie specific numbers to diabetes in particular, company officials are secure in the belief that the program is working well. Meddock says that, while insurance premiums nationwide are skyrocketing, OhioHealth employees have had only one increase in the past seven years. The Diabetes Prevention Program is geared specifically toward people who are deemed pre-diabetic. It does more than just encourage physical health, although that is part of the effort. Participants undergo biometric testing to help them know their blood sugar numbers. They go through a series of 16 classes designed to help

them make healthy choices and understand the psychology of healthy living, especially how it relates to family relationships, social activities and stress management. Snow says 140 people are enrolled in the program and another 160 have expressed interest. Since the program began in November 2014, the group has lost 1,000-plus pounds collectively. A third program, Pathways, helps guide people who have already been diagnosed with diabetes. Participants meet quarterly with a pharmacist, and in exchange, OhioHealth reimburses the full cost of their diabetes medications. Again, while there is a financial outlook, the measures pay off big in terms of employee wellness and resilience. “If people can stay on top of the disease through prevention and monitoring, they can really improve their quality of life,” Snow says. OhioHealth employee Leslie Conner, after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes, became involved with the Diabetes Prevention Program. In her first six months, she has been a shining example of the impact that easy changes can make. She began working out at the McConnell Heart Health Center, dropped more than 40 pounds and brought her blood sugar back within normal range. She says her goal has been to prevent future illness, but the changes have helped her feel dynamic and energized right now. “I feel healthier and better about myself,” she says. Even with new responsibilities at work and some added stress, Conner is going strong. “This has given me a feeling of accomplishment that has carried over into other areas of my life, including work.” The lessons OhioHealth is learning can be applied across all industries. Corporate involvement in employee wellness improves not only the profit margins, but also relationships within the company. “Our associates know we are engaged and they know we care,” Snow says. Such relationships may also lead to career longevity, which benefits both associates and companies as a whole. “Our associates stay with us for a long time,” Meddock says. “They’re here for the long run, and we want to keep them healthy.” Kristin Campbell is a freelance writer.

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Personal Finance

CLEANING HOU$E Financial planners help clear out financial clutter to reduce risks, alleviate stress and maximize value of investments. By TC BrOwn

ood intentions gone bad. That thought might pop into your head when you open a closet, enter the basement or park in the garage and confront heaps of “stuff” accumulated over time. You know you should tackle this tangle, but it’s daunting and much easier to put off. So you do. For many, there’s another less visible, more consequential clutter problem that begs for procrastination—putting a messy financial house in order. Financial clutter is not unlike the disarray found in particular areas of your house. But instead of old clothes, tools, unused appliances and boxes, you’ve accumulated multiple bank accounts, numerous credit cards, antiques and collectibles and dated 401Ks, IRAs, CDs, bonds and stock holdings. Over time, people build up their net worth and financial independence and may be quietly successful, but from the outside it’s difficult to see,

@2015 THINKsTOCK.COm

says Paul Gydosh, managing director of Kensington Wealth Partners Ltd. As a financial adviser, Gydosh helps people sort out and consolidate their stockpiled fiscal holdings to gain a clearer economic picture and to avoid unneeded risks. “They’ve done it by accumulating stuff,” Gydosh says. “When we meet with them we congratulate them on their accumulated stuff, but part of our role is to say this is where you are and here is where you want to be.” While the literal costs of financial clutter can be difficult to pin down, the toll certainly exists on a personal level and can lead to problems like identity theft, misplaced and unpaid bills, duplicate spending, lost accounts, inability to borrow, confusion and stress. For those reasons, financial organi-

“We’ve had instances where people fell in love with individual stocks and mutual funds and won’t let go of them. Or it could be a gift from grandma, but we have to call a spade a spade. To me it is just dollars, and if you want to be most efficient with the money, we have to clean some of this up.” Paul GydOsh

managing director of Kensington Wealth Partners Ltd.

zation is important. “If you have a simple, clear understanding of where you are, it’s a lot easier to get where you want to go,” Gydosh says. “If you are out of balance, there is too much risk for the level of return.” Gydosh likens his financial investigative work to the reality series “American Pickers,” which follows Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz across the country in search of antiques and collectibles. “They go see people who have accumulated stuff; it doesn’t mean it is all bad stuff,” he says. Financial advisers help clients by auditing their holdings, though Gydosh shies away from using that ominous-sounding term. The key is to make the money a person has today mesh with the goals they have for themselves and family, he says. “Like the first step in any trip or adventure or for the next phase of life, we have them take a step back to see what they have,” Gydosh says. “You may hold losses and we need to capture and realize it. It can help down the line to sell something to free up something else.” Consolidation and elimination are often the tools of choice to clean up the clutter. But emotional attachments can interfere with the process. “We’ve had instances where people fell in love with individual stocks

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and mutual funds and wonâ€™t let go of them,â€? Gydosh says. â€œOr it could be a gift from grandma, but we have to call a spade a spade. To me it is just dollars, and if you want to be most efficient with the money, we have to clean some of this up.â€? Financial clutter and the need to take action can be a nebulous concept for some, but everyone and every business is a candidate for this problem, says Stephan C. Smith, a principal at Holbrook & Manter CPAs. â€œItâ€™s in the eyes of a beholder as to what it means. Everyone has their own interpretation,â€? Smith says. â€œI look at it in the highest senseâ€”if it gets in the way and doesnâ€™t add value but takes time and energy, it needs to be evaluated.â€? For many, a fresh set of eyes can be beneficial in tidying up the financial house. â€œWhen someone looks at it in a different way, they can peel out what is relevant and see what are the drivers,â€? Smith says. Advisers search for the KPIâ€”key performance indicatorsâ€”which can be four to eight items, Smith says.

â€œEverything else is clutter and fogs the overall picture,â€? he says. â€œOnce you focus on the right or main things, you get the best results and can go forward.â€? The causes of increased clutter can be many, but underlying much of it is human nature, Smith says. â€œItâ€™s not a criticism, but itâ€™s in human nature to do what youâ€™ve always done, but if you do it the same way you will get the same results,â€? he says. Itâ€™s also not uncommon to put off the inevitable, sometimes until it is too late, says Victor Ferguson, a partner in Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP who specializes in estate planning. When one spouse has died, their partner can be saddled not only with grief, but also a hodgepodge of financial disorder. â€œTypically one spouse may handle all of the finances,â€? Ferguson says. â€œIf they enjoyed that and it is cluttered and they die, the remaining spouse will be in a world of hurt.â€? When couples do plan for the future, Ferguson tries to convince them to work together to understand their financial situation.

â€œItâ€™s easier if one handles the finances to streamline and bring the other spouse into the loop to let them know what is out there in case something happens,â€? he says. â€œIf you streamline while you are alive, it makes it a whole lot easier for your family at death.â€? Becoming aware of a need to declutter finances often is a timing issue, Gydosh says. â€œIf you say this to a 27-year-old, it would be rare that it would resonate. They havenâ€™t accumulated as much and they should focus on growing and living,â€? he says. â€œIf someone has just retired, which is when we often meet with people, their full attention is on this.â€? No matter the age, in the long run, Gydosh says, cleaning the clutter can bring rewards, both financially and physically. â€œAfter you take action, in about three or four months you review where you are now to see what youâ€™ve done,â€? he says. â€œWithout exception, Iâ€™ve seen people physically relax and say, â€˜I feel so much better.â€™â€? TC Brown is a freelance writer.

74 ColumbusCEO l July 2015

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Pursuing lifeâ€™s goals starts with a plan

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SOLDIERING ON Military veterans get help in translating the job skills they learned in the armed services into desirable traits sought by savvy employers. By JEff BEll + Photos by Tim JOhnsOn

aunching a career and landing the right job can be a steep climb for military veterans, as former Air Force Sgt. Sean Poncinie can readily attest. For him, the journey began when he left the service in 2005 and ended seven years later when he was hired as a quality assurance analyst at IGS Energy in Dublin. In between, Poncinie, who had served as a security specialist in the Air Force, earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Otterbein

University while working his way through school as a bartender and server at a restaurant. The Westerville native graduated from Otterbein in 2009 in the depths of the recession and grew frustrated when he struggled to find a job with the sort of technology-centric career path he was seeking. Then Poncinie received a phone call in 2012 that was to change his life. It came from Halcyon Solutions Senior Director Alan Day, who had spotted Poncinie’s resume on a job site as he looked for candidates for the Dublin-based information technology consulting firm’s Veteran Workforce Development Program. The program, launched in 2011 by Halcyon CEO Mohan Viddam, provides free IT training to veterans and helps them find jobs after they complete a five-week course in software testing. “It seemed too good to be true that someone was actually calling me and that such a program for veterans even existed,” Poncinie remembers. “But I said, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ Other than marrying my wife and us having a child, that was the single greatest decision I ever made in my life. They took me under their wing and gave me the tools to be successful.”

“Other than marrying my wife and us having a child, that was the single greatest decision I ever made in my life. They took me under their wing and gave me the tools to be successful.” sEan POnCiniE, Former Air Force Sgt. on Halcyon Solutions’ Veteran Workforce Development Program IGS Energy hired Poncinie two weeks after he completed the Halcyon program. He has been promoted twice since joining the company and now works as a systems analyst. He calls the whole experience “a dream come true,” and that is exactly what Viddam had in mind when he created the Halcyon program. He sees it as an extension of his company’s other efforts to give back to the community, whether that’s helping the needy in his native India or adopted home in central Ohio. Since its creation four years ago, the Halcyon program has trained about 30 veterans

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Merry Korn with more than two-thirds of them landing IT jobs with average starting salaries of $55,000 a year. “I’ve lived in this country 35 years and am very proud to be a U.S. citizen,” Viddam says. “I want to help these veterans who have defended our country get training in IT and get jobs.” Such sentiment is common among employers in central Ohio and throughout the state as companies see the value in hiring veterans with skills that transfer well to the workplace, says Eileen Corson, communications director for the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. “We have a lot of employers that are real champions for veterans and work hard to hire them,” she says, pointing to Cardinal Health, Chase, American Electric Power, Nationwide Insurance and Scotts Miracle-Gro as local examples. Corson also says that ODVS encourages employers to register on the state’s Veterans Business Support Center at OhioMeansJobs.com and identify themselves as “veteran friendly.” The center can help employers find qualified veterans for job openings, post jobs, screen resumes, find demographic information about veterans in any area of Ohio and get information on tax credits and other workforce development programs available for companies hiring vets. The Business Support Center is one of a number of efforts by Gov. John Kasich and state legislators to help veter-

ans find jobs and improve their access to higher education, Corson says. Many were included in Ohio House Bill 488 that Kasich signed into law in June 2014. Among them were fast-tracking the process for qualified veterans to get professional licenses, ranging for ones for truck drivers to medical assistants, from state agencies; giving veterans college credit for their military training and experience, and encouraging public colleges and universities to help vets make the transition to college. In addition, veteran employment representatives with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services work with vets looking for jobs or to start a career. That includes helping them put their military training and experience into language that employers can understand. Translating those skills is one of the biggest challenges that veterans face when trying to find employment, says Merry Korn, founder and CEO of Columbus-based Pearl Interactive Network, which provides staffing and recruiting services nationally for call centers, administrative services, backoffice support and help desks. Her 11-year-old social enterprise company specializes in employing veterans, people with disabilities and those living in “geographically challenged areas” where jobs are scarce. In line with that mission, Pearl Interactive has been successful in placing disabled veterans in jobs, even working virtually from their homes. There are a lot of employers who don’t know where to look for veterans, Korn says, but numerous organizations stand ready to connect them. At the state level, they include ODVS, ODJFS and Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. Openings can also be posted on military job boards operated by Career Builder, Monster, Recruit Military and Vet Success. In addition, they can be posted with veteran’s organizations such as AmVets, Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart and Ohio National Guard. Korn says employers who are able to match their job requirements with the skills of the veterans they hire find the high quality of work and retention rates (especially with disabled veterans) are a “tremendous benefit” to them. She cites a long list of attributes that vets bring to the workplace such as

leadership, maturity, critical thinking, loyalty, resilience and perseverance as well as being goal- and team-oriented and performing under pressure. Employers should also be aware that officers coming out of the military are experienced in keeping projects on budget and on time, leading teams and focusing on metrics and outcomes, says Cliff Rich, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who works as manager of enterprise information technology at Cardinal Health in Dublin. The challenge for veterans looking for work, he says, is translating those skills and experiences in business terms such as return on investment and cost savings. Rich also feels that many people don’t understand the type of work done in the military because only about one percent of Americans have served in the armed forces. “The only reference that the vast amount of people have about what we do in the military comes from the Hollywood image of (soldiers) as action figures—door busters, trigger pullers and bomb droppers,” he says. “That’s generally not accurate. It’s a population with a lot of highly educated, strategicthinking experts who are peopleoriented.” That would describe Rich, who has a master’s degree in international relations and served as an intelligence officer, pilot, unit commander and diplomat during his 22 years in the Air Force. After retiring from the service, he focused on finding a corporate position in central Ohio where his wife, Natalie, had grown up. His research and networking efforts led him to Cardinal Health where he was hired as a program manager in human resources in November 2013. He advanced to his current position in April. Cardinal Health has made a commitment to hiring and retaining veterans on a number of fronts and is an example of what Rich calls a company that is “cracking the code” on the talent coming out of the military. “Veterans are a good investment,” he says. “While they think it’s great when people thank them for their service, they also appreciate it when (employers) take time to peel back the layers in their resume and connect the dots on the skills and leadership they developed in the military.” Jeff Bell is a freelance writer.

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Central OhiO it COnsulting Firms ranked by number of full-time local technology consultant employees Full-time lOCal teChnOlOgY COnsultants EmPLOyEE

Firm 1 TEK Systems 5115 Parkcenter ave., Suite 170 Dublin 43017 • (614) 789-6200 teksystems.com

2 Sogeti USA (Capgemini Group) 579 Executive Campus Drive Westerville 43082 • (614) 847-4477 us.sogeti.com

3 Fast Switch

4900 Blazer Parkway, Dublin 43017 (614) 336-1122 fastswitch.com

4 HMB

570 Polaris Parkway, Suite 125 Westerville 43082 • (614) 221-6831 hmbnet.com

5 ComResource Inc.

1159 Dublin Road, Suite 200 Columbus 43215 • (614) 221-6348 comresource.com

6 Cardinal Solutions

401 n. Front St., Suite 210 Columbus 43125 • (614) 545-3860 cardinalsolutions.com

7 Navigator

Management Partners

1400 Goodale Blvd., Suite 100 Columbus 43212 • (614) 796-0090 navmp.com

8 Dynamit

274 Marconi Boulevard, Suite 300 Columbus 43215 • (614) 538-0095 dynamit.com

9 Manifest Solutions Corp.

2035 riverside drive Upper Arlington 43221 • (614) 930-2800 manifest.com

10 Lightwell

565 metro Pl. S., Suite 220 Dublin 43017 • (614) 310-2700 lightwellinc.com

COnTraCT

649 61 260 35 252 67 177 20 153 16 108 na

2014 Central OhiO reVenue

2014 COmPanYWiDe reVenue

$80 m

$3 b

wnd $39.7 m $38 m wnd $11.6 m

$13 b $64.8 m $38 m wnd

areas OF sPeCialiZatiOn IT services, IT staffing, talent management digital transformation, testing, infrastructure, business intelligence and software development Web development, business intelligence, project management, infrastructure, application development Custom application development, managed services, business intelligence, mobile solutions and enterprise content management

$50 m

Cloud enablement, custom and mobile application development, data solutions, project services and UX

95 19

$21 m

$36 m

Program/project management, organizational change leadership, business intelligence, business process design

80 na

$5.8 m

Web/mobile application design and development, data science

$9.7 m

IT staffing, education and support services, including network, web application development and hosting

$31 m

Strategic IT staffing, business management systems, omni-channel solutions, B2B integration

66 18 65 24

$9.7 m $19 m

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

Darren Yeager na John schwab John schwab mark Pukita randy Dean tom harris na

IT project management, enterprise storage integration, middleware gary Potts integration solutions, infrastructure delivery and maintenance services, Keith Potts software development

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The October Leaderboards will feature Central Ohio accounting Firms, nursing Programs and Private Schools. The deadline for inclusion in those surveys is July 31. If you want your Central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at (614) 461-7603.

079_Leaderboard_ITConsulting.indd 79

lOCal tOP eXeCutiVe lOCal COnsulting eXeCutiVe

nick Peterson nick Peterson David schoettmer Kameron deVente matt Dopkiss Bobby Whitman nancy matijasich nancy matijasich michelle Kerr adam heeter

b = billion, m = million wnd = would not disclose, na = not applicable Source: Survey of IT Consulting Firms

Information compiled by TrISTan EdEn

July 2015 l ColumbusCeO

5/28/15 10:00 AM

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN THE LAW RIGHT IN YOUR BACKYARD As Columbus has grown in importance, so have we – and with it the influence of our lawyers. Underscoring the depth of talent and expertise we offer in this market, we now have five of the firm’s global practice group leaders in the office, along with more than 75 other outstanding lawyers. All supported by a global team of more than 1,500 lawyers operating from 44 offices in 21 countries on five continents – ready to provide you with unrivaled access to the expertise you need. Whether you want to go to the next level in Columbus, or expand your business around the world, we can provide you with the optimum solution to each new opportunity or challenge.

Local Connections. Global Influence. 44 Offices in 21 Countries squirepattonboggs.com

Columbus-based Squire Patton Boggs Global Practice Group Leaders Susan M. DiMickele Global Practice Group Leader: Labor & Employment T +1 614 365 2842 E susan.dimickele@squirepb.com John R. Gall Global Practice Group Leader: Litigation T +1 614 365 2806 E john.gall@squirepb.com Peter A. Pavarini Global Practice Group Leader: Healthcare T +1 614 365 2712 E peter.pavarini@squirepb.com Michael D. Saad Global Practice Group Leader: Real Estate – Tax Credit Finance T +1 614 365 2735 E mike.saad@squirepb.com Karen A. Winters Global Practice Group Leader: Environmental, Safety & Health T +1 614 365 2750 E karen.winters@squirepb.com

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com

Central OhiO law Firms

ranked by number of full-time attorneys in central Ohio and number of partners in central Ohio, respectively

Firm 1 Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease

52 E. Gay St., Columbus 43215 (614) 464-6400 • vorys.com

Full-time attOrneys

Full-time emplOyees

Central Ohio

Firmwide

103

187 367

nOtewOrthy Clients in Central OhiO

managing partner in Central OhiO

primary areas OF praCtiCe

216 302

L Brands, Inc., abercrombie & Fitch Co., Honda of america Mfg., Inc.

russell Gertmenian

Corporate, labor/ employment, litigation/trial practice

132 203

117 171

aEP, Crane Group, dSW, Huntington national Bank, rocky Brands Inc.

robert Trafford

Corporate, labor/ employment, litigation/trial practice

109 129

129 135

nationwide, OhioHealth, City of Columbus, Ohio attorney General, Ohio Manufacturers’ association

Kurtis Tunnell

real property/ construction, litigation/trial practice

75 83

70 75

donatos, Commercial Vehicle Group, Piada Group, Cardinal Health, resource/ammirati

Michael Zatezalo

Corporate, litigation/ trial practice, government relations

72 898

48 883

Big Lots, Cardinal Health, netJets, OhioHealth, State auto Insurance

ronald Linville

Labor and employment, litigation/trial practice

72 1,525

40 1,401

advanced drainage Systems, nationwide Insurance, JP Morgan Chase, L Brands, new albany development Corp.

alex Shumate

Corporate, health care, litigation/trial practice

67 575

42 498

Charles Ticknor

Corporate, health care, real property/ construction

63 285

57 276

richard Barnhart

Corporate, labor/ employment, litigation/trial practice

62 2,400

34 2,051

Big Lots, Huntington national Bank, Battelle Memorial Institute, Mount Carmel Health System abercrombie & Fitch Co., Cardinal Health, Ohio Presbyterian retirement Services, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Elizabeth Kessler

Corporate, health care, litigation/trial practice

52 52

45 45

roosters restaurants, Commercial Works, Bob Evans Farms, Jegs automotive Inc., Cameron Mitchell restaurants

Mike Close, Steve Teetor

Corporate, litigation/ trial practice, real estate

partners in Central OhiO

2 Porter Wright Morris and Arthur

41 S. High St., Suite 2800-3200 Columbus 43215 • (614) 227-2000 porterwright.com

3 Bricker & Eckler

100 S. Third St., Columbus 43215 (614) 227-2300 bricker.com

4 Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter 65 E. State St., Suite 1800 Columbus 43215 • (614) 462-5400 keglerbrown.com

5 BakerHostetler

65 E. State St., Suite 2100 Columbus 43215 • (614) 228-1541 bakerlaw.com

6 Squire Patton Boggs

2000 Huntington Center, 41 S. High St. Columbus 43215 • (614) 365-2700 squiresanders.com

7 Dinsmore & Shohl

191 W. nationwide Blvd., Suite 300 Columbus 43215 • (614) 628-6880 dinsmore.com

8 Ice Miller

250 West St., Suite 700 Columbus 43215 • (614) 462-2700 icemiller.com

9 Jones Day

325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 600 Columbus 43215 • (614) 463-3939 jonesday.com

10 Isaac Wiles Burkholder & Teetor

2 Miranova Place, Suite 700 Columbus 43215 • (614) 221-2121 isaacwiles.com

wnd

na = not applicable wnd = would not disclose Source: Survey of Law Firms

Information compiled by TrISTan EdEn

July 2015 l ColumbusCeO

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CEntral OhiO law Firms

ranked by number of full-time attorneys in central Ohio and number of partners in central Ohio, respectively

Firm 11 Thompson Hine

41 S. High St., Suite 1700 Columbus 43215 • (614) 469-3200 thompsonhine.com

12 Carpenter Lipps & Leland 280 n. High St., Suite 1300 Columbus 43215 • (614) 365-4100 carpenterlipps.com

13 Carlile Patchen & Murphy 366 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215 (614) 228-6135 cpmlaw.com

14 Taft Stettinius & Hollister 65 E. State St., Suite 1000 Columbus 43215 • (614) 221-2838 taftlaw.com

15 Crabbe, Brown & James 500 S. Front St., Suite 1200 Columbus 43215 • (614) 228-5511 cbjlawyers.com

16 Benesch

41 S. High St., Suite 2600 Columbus 43215 • (614) 223-9300 beneschlaw.com

17 Lane Alton

2 Miranova Place, Suite 500 Columbus 43215 • (614) 228-6885 lanealton.com

18 Reminger Co.

65 E. State St., Suite 400 Columbus 43215 • (614) 228-1311 reminger.com

19 Steptoe & Johnson

41 S. High St., Suite 2200 Columbus 43215 • (614) 221-5100 steptoe-johnson.com

20 Maguire & Schneider

1650 Lake Shore drive, Suite 150 Columbus 43204 • (614) 224-1222 ms-lawfirm.com

na = not applicable wnd = would not disclose Source: Survey of Law Firms

Information compiled by TrISTan EdEn

Full-timE attOrnEys

Full-timE EmplOyEEs

Central Ohio

Firmwide

37 390

25 366

36 42

20 23

35 35

30 30

32 403

36 360

26 28

21 22

24 145

17 145

23 23

11 11

22 129

26 174

22 320

10 510

22 22

24 24

partnErs in CEntral OhiO

nOtEwOrthy CliEnts in CEntral OhiO

managing partnEr in CEntral OhiO

primary arEas OF praCtiCE

Columbus Zoo and Zoombezi Bay, Huntington national Bank, Worthington Industries, JPMorgan Chase

Michael Wible

Corporate, litigation/ trial practice, securities

Michael Carpenter

Litigation/trial practice

H. ritchey Hollenbaugh

General practice, litigation/trial practice

david Butler

Corporate, health care, litigation/trial practice

Jeffrey Brown

Corporate, litigation/ trial practice

OdW Logistics Inc., Premier Skilled nursing, nextech Materials, alvin House

John Stock

Litigation/trial practice, health care, copyright/trademark/ patent

Cincinnati Insurance Group, Medical Protective Company, 7-Eleven, CNA, Skanska USa Building

Gregory rankin

administrative, litigation/trial practice, real property/ construction

J. Kevin West

Medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, oil/ natural gas/energy

Erika Haupt

banking/finance, energy/utilities, litigation/trial practice

Patrick Maguire

Litigation/trial practice, personal injury, probate/ estates/trust

Fifth-Third, General Motors, nationwide Insurance

wnd

american Municipal Power, IGS, Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, Mount Carmel Health System, OSU Physicians

wnd

82 ColumbusCEO l July 2015

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energy Your Source for a Bright Future Utilities face an ever-changing landscape of regulatory hurdles. Ice Miller possesses the knowledge to help utilities define and implement pathways to success in the regulatory environments in which they operate. This guide provides insights on a variety of topics potentially impacting utility service providers. Visit www.icemiller.com/build-energy to download our guide â€œBuild Energy: Pathways to Success for Utilities in 2015 and Beyondâ€? icemiller.com

080-083_Leaderboard_LawFirms.indd 83

Chicago Cleveland Columbus DuPage County, Ill. Indianapolis Washington, D.C.

Ice on Fire

5/27/15 10:30 AM

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! Have them call Anthony Kramer at (614) 583-5796 or e-mail at akramer@dispatch.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

COLDW BANK THOM

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

Virgi Neil (614 (614

MUIRFIELD TOURNAMENT SHOWPLACE! - Impeccable 7500SF estate home w/ one of best locations on tourney course, great views, likenew, stunning décor, cooks kit, 1st flr master, in-law apt , entertainer’s dream. $1,100,000. www.5387LochLevenCt.com

POWELL SURPRISE! - Walk to historic downtown Powell from this wonderfully updated 1st floor master plan on a private wooded almost-1 acre lot! High ceilings and open views, the nicest and largest kitchen you will find in all of Columbus! $835,000. www.103CharterhouseCt.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

COLDW BANK THOM

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

Virgi Neil (614 (614

UNIQUE TARTAN FIELDS LUXURY - Don’t miss this one! Stately gem,big private lot, dramatic entry, luxe master suite, wow LL with Irish pub & secret wine room, theater & more, unique rear with huge patio, putting green. $1,220,000. www.9220MaxwellWay.com

DUBLIN DEEP WATER RIVER ESTATE! - Completely updated, exquisite finishes, huge fin walkout, 1.1-ac, 4-car gar, pool, dock/lift, opulent master, monstrous cook’s kitchen, entertainers dream home. Private location but convenient. Unique! $1.55M. www.5500DublinRd.com.

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

COLDW BANK THOM

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

Virgi Neil (614 (614

UNIQUE SECLUDED CITY RETREAT! - No need to go to the country for your privacy! Stunning estate in Dublin , 8000SF of highest quality finishes, opulent 1st floor master, gorgeous finished walkout, serene wooded rear! $1,795,000. 10845WinchcombeDr.com

STELLAR WEDGEWOOD HILLS - Best Dublin value! 5 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, huge fin LL, rich custom finishes, 5000+SF, large deck patio, deluxe master, lush lot. Hurry! $564,900. www.8218ChippenhamDr.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

COLDW BANK THOM

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

Virgi Neil (614 (614

MUIRFIELD TOURNEY SHOWPLACE! - Unique opportunity to enjoy a spectacular estate home on one of the best locations on Jacks course! Entertainers dream home! Quality abounds, updated thruout! $2,395,000. www.5932WhittinghamDr.com.

084-087_ExLiv.indd 84

COUNTRY LIFESTYLE NEAR CITY - Enjoy the privacy on 3.8 ac wooded lot, stream, pond for fishing/skating,custom built luxury 4BR 3 1/2-Bath with finished walkout LL, 5 minutes to everything, Dublin schools! $785,000. www.7836CookRd.com

5/27/15 1:18 PM

? Ask utive

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

500SF , likeainer’s

S OF POWELL RD-BRICK GEORGIAN - Custom built by Busch builders, no detail was overlooked from the handmade full brick exterior to the 10’+ ceiling heights. Inside you will immediately appreciate all the details in the open & sophisticated 6,789 sqft floor plan /5 bedrooms 4 full & 2 half baths. $1,250,000. www.2078WoodlandsPl.com

UNIQUE RIVER FOREST SETTING! - Olde world charm and quality accent this updated prize on 1.9-serene, private wooded acres! Updated granite SS kit, big fin walkout, high ceilings, quality hardwoods and trims, few homes compare! $795,900. www.5486RiverForestRd.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

OVERLOOKING THE SCIOTO RIVER! - Classic architecture & charm w/open modern floor plan. Deluxe kitchen, spacious master suite addition, 5 bed, 5.5 bath, 2.2-acres (with additional 4 acres available), scenic views, your personal retreat, total privacy! $900,000. www.5548RiversideDr.com

tately h Irish patio,

PRIVATE TARTAN WEST LUXURY! - Custom-designed on private treed 1Ac lot on cul-de-sac. Nothing missed in this gem! Entertainers dream, cooks kitchen, huge finished walkout w/ wine room & theater, opulent master, huge patios. $1,250,000. www.7025BordeauxCt.com.

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

ms, 5 patio, r.com

CRAFTSMANSHIP IN TARTAN FIELDS - High quality finishes in this 7300SF gem, priced to sell! Gourmet kitchen, fin 2500SF LL w/Media & wine rooms, 10ft ceilings, 5 BR, 4.5 BA, custom office, big bedrooms, garden pond, it’s all here! $950,000. 10340MackenzieWay.com

SCENIC OLENTANGY RIVER VALLEY - Enjoy the short drive with great proximity to everything! Over 4000SF updated luxury on big lot, shows like a model, finished walkout, 5BR, 4 1/2-baths, deluxe kitchen, special features throughout. $645,000. www.1226BerkeleyCt.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

TARTAN FIELDS STUNNER! - Incredible golf course offering! All the goodies! Custom quality finishes, outdoor amenities, deluxe master w/ balcony, pool, fin walkout, rich study, covered porch, unique. $1,490,000. www.9098TartanFieldsDr.com

3.8 ac y 4BR Dublin

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ELEGANT STONE GEORGIAN REPLICA! - Casual elegance! Tartan upscale gem. rich library, 4 fireplaces, deluxe master, special kids playroom/retreat, walkout w/ theater, billiards, tavern, wine cellar, wraparound porch & patio! $1,095,000. www.9123TartanFieldsDr.com

5/27/15 1:18 PM

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

EUROPE IN TARTAN FIELDS - Impressive European-style manor, 5 BR 5 1/2-Baths, 5250SF, quality finishes, hardwood, deluxe moldings, 3-car gar, library/den, updated granite kitchen, deluxe master, finished walkout w/BR, bath, kitchen, media rooms; private rear w/ deck, $800’s, www.7528RossAve.com

TOURNAMENT COURSE BIG LOT - Spectacular and unique 1.8acre lot on Muirfield Tourney course. Approx 7500SF upscale soft contemporary ranch, entertainers dream, gourmet kitchen, 5 bedrooms, 3+-car garage, home office, high windows w/great views, indoor pool, on private street@ $1,150,000. www.6000WhittinghamDr.com

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Virgil & Neil Mathias (614) 526-5633 (614) 889-0808

RIVER FOREST GEM ON 2.9 ACRES - Ranch-like custom-built 4070SF 4-BR loaded with custom features, upscale finishes. Finished LL, huge workshop, deluxe kitchen, 4-car garage, nothing was missed with this one. Country setting! $775,000. www.5489RiverForestRd.com

TARTAN FIELDS DREAM HOME - Wonderful estate home on 2nd Fairway, 4-car gar, 3 fireplaces, 7500SF, big scr porch, deluxe master, extra special LL with 2 game rooms, theater, bar/kitchen, large wine cellar; 3-patios, circ drive, 10 & 12-ft ceilings. $1,275,000. www.10542MackenzieWay.com

JOHN M. RANFT & CO.

PIZZUTI MANAGEMENT LLC

Susan E. Enneking (614) 209-4473 Posetha@ aol.com

Pat Himes (614) 280-4137 (614) 390-9697 phimes@ pizzuti.com

LARGEST DOWNTOWN CONDO - 5,437 SF on the 19th floor of North Bank w/3 balconies allow for a marvelous panoramic view of Columbus. Gourmet kit w/butler’s pantry. Amazing space for entertaining! Impressive bar, 5 BR, 4.5 BA, 24/7 concierge.

MARBLE CLIFF - Fabulous move-in ready condo in prestigious Prescott Place. Quality finishes throughout! Over 3,300 SF of luxurious living space. Features a 1st flr Owner’s suite, island kitchen, breakfast room, finished lower level, 3 BDRM, 4.5 BA, bonus room, den, loft, private patio and a 2-car garage. $549,900.

FAULKNER REALTY GROUP

COLDWELL BANKER KING THOMPSON

Courtney Chapman (614) 805-5700 cc@ faulknerrealty.com

Mary Linda Landauer (614) 402-5962 marylinda. landauer@king thompson.com

SPECTACULAR HOME ON SCHILLER PARK - Executive home w/ views of Schiller Park, gourmet SS kit, 6 working FB, sep sound systems for 1st flr and owner’s ste, multiple outdoor living areas. This home blends original architectural details with exquisite modern amenities.

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RIVERS GATE RESIDENCE - Beautifully appointed, custom designed home in private, gated enclave, just steps from Duranceau Park by the banks of the Scioto River. Three finished levels of living space. Spectacular vaulted great room & 1st floor owner’s suite, unique kitchen, plus a fabulous finished lower level.

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614-583-5760 LANDSCAPING

CABINETRY FINE CUSTOM CABINETRY & FURNITURE THE TH E

Zang COMPANY COMP CO MPAN MP ANY AN Y

EST. 1991

614-870-8301 zangco@gmail.com

ROOFING

OFFICE BUILDING/LEASE 570 N STATE ST, STE 100, WESTERVILLE 43082 Great location corner of State St. & Commerce Park. First floor space available for lease. Suite 100 is approximately 2500 sq. ft. of rentable executive office space. Features: 8 private offices, large conference room, reception area, corridor area for filing cabinets and common kitchen area. Ample parking and great proximity to major roadways. Beautifully maintained exterior and common access corridor. Great Exposure â€“ Business Name on Marquee facing State Street!

Please contact Jeff Gongwer 614 - 891-1661 or 614 - 406-5603

Autos Sale or Lease

Furniture Repair

Home Improvement

Flooring

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Office Space By juliE franCE + Photos by Tim jOhnsOn

Huntington Park Take a peek at the Park’s office aesthetic that hits a home run when it comes to team spirit.

sEEing grEEn

Located on the roof at the far end of the outfield, the “cheap seats” pay off with the perfect mix of socializing and sports coverage.

prEp palaCE

Players enjoy a locker room fit for kings. Those with lockerenvy can take a ballpark tour for an inside look.

undEr COnTrOl

The video control room ensures that fans get to see every detail of the game, no matter how far. Not to mention, the cameras capture energetic fans.

fOunTain Of yOuTh

Parents can use bathroom lockers to store dry clothes while kids cool off in Center Field Fountain.

lEvEl playing fiEld

All players pick up balls in the batting cages despite rank.

hOTTEsT sElECTiOns

The locker room has enough hot sauces for all tastes. Visit columbusCEO.com for more Office Space features.

88 ColumbusCEO l July 2015

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5/28/15 5:48 PM

SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES SEIZE NEW OPPORTUNITIES That is what executives do. Or it should be. Beyond their day-to-day responsibilities, executives need to identify new opportunities for the company, align people behind their vision, marshal the resources, and capture and sustain the results. The Fisher Executive MBA teaches you how to view your business holistically, and how to impact it in ways that are meaningful and measurable. We help you go beyond the fundamental knowledge and skills required of todayâ€™s executives â€” to see and seize a new world of opportunities. Ready to have more impact? Talk to Mara McKee. 614-688-5840 mckee.136@osu.edu go.osu.edu/execMBA

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First Financial took the time to understand the unique processes of our business and industry. Their dedication and understanding helped make it possible for us to partner together to create a financing structure that was right for our business, including a TIF loan and construction financing.

Matt McClimon, CFO Wagenbrenner Development www.wagdev.com

Putting your business success first. Headquartered in Columbus, Wagenbrenner Development is a leader of the cityâ€™s inspiring transformation through the revitalization of underutilized areas to redevelop them into community assets. First Financialâ€™s ability to provide custom loan solutions* helps Wagenbrenner continue its mission to renew these areas. First Financial is proud to partner with Wagenbrenner for the growth and success of Columbus.

For more than 150 years, First Financial has helped drive the success of businesses with local decision-making, flexible terms and custom financing solutions. To learn how we can help your business take another step on the path to success, visit bankatfirst.com/business or contact:

Larry Miller Relationship Manager

614.310.7694 Larry.Miller@bankatfirst.com

-T BankatFirst.com/Business

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5/27/15 10:20 AM