Columbus CEO – March 2025

WHEN FINANCIAL ADVISORS ARE CROOKED,

Most financial advisors are honest. Some are not. At Meyer Wilson, we’ve been successfully representing individual investors against dishonest advisors for 25 years. We’ve done it locally. We’ve done it nationally. And we’ve built our reputation on our success. So if you know of a financial advisor who is crooked, negligent, or just plain not smart enough to do the right thing, contact us. We can help.

Columbus Cleveland Los Angeles Bloomfield Hills New Orleans

Give your child the world.

by

TOP WORKPLACES

Cover photo by TIM JOHNSON

Photo

Rob Hardin

Cover: KEMBA team members (from left): Mark Decello, president and CEO; Shernette Henry, chief human resources officer; Derrick Manley, director of learning and development; and Josalynn Stephens, senior human resources manager

Worthington Steel President and CEO Geoff Gilmore (third from left) with (from left) Brian Thomas, Donnie Seymour and Tivon Favret at the company’s plant

10 Profile

Laura Hagan takes the helm at Columbus Metropolitan Library.

14 Tech Talk

Vironexis Biotherapeutics harnesses immunotherapy advances.

42 Honoring Everyday Kindness Heroes

Four breast cancer survivors provide care and inspiration to new patients.

44 Serving Adult Learners

Colleges and universities are adapting their offerings to provide flexible, industry-aligned options.

47 Columbus Legal Guide

Browse the directory of 89 local law firms.

64 Treating Cancer

Health systems are pushing the envelope with proton therapy, consolidated clinics and more.

Correction: The CEO of the Year story from the January 2025 issue featuring Kirt Walker misquoted Nationwide’s mission statement, “To protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care.”

Photo by Tim Johnson

Photo by Getty Images

PREMIUM VIEWS

PAVILION ON 18 HOSPITALITY

Provide an exclusive experience for your valued clients and guests with access to the Pavilion on 18. Daily tickets to this premium venue offer spectacular views of the iconic 18th green at Muirfield Village Golf Club, a best-in-class experience with specialty gifting, exquisite cuisine and designated parking. Limited access available. Visit mthospitality.com/pavilion for more information. MAY 26–JUNE 1

605 S. Front St., Suite 300 Columbus, Ohio 43215

Phone: 614-540-8900

ColumbusCEO.com

VOLUME 34 / NUMBER 2

GENERAL MANAGER

DISPATCH MAGAZINES

Katy Smith

EDITORIAL

EDITOR

Julanne Hohbach

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Linda Lee Baird, Lucy Clark

CONTRIBUTORS

Cynthia Bent Findlay, Tim Feran, Kathy Lynn Gray, Chuck Nelson, Laura Newpoff, Shannon Shelton Miller, Peter Tonguette

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

PAGE DESIGNERS

Kathryn Biek, Kelly Hignite, Hannah Patton

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO EDITOR

Tim Johnson

ADVERTISING

MULTIMEDIA SALES MANAGERS

Heather Kritter, Adam Trabitz

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Rebecca Zimmer

MARKETING

MARKETING MANAGER

Lauren Reinhard

PRESS RELEASES

pressreleases@columbusceo.com

ADVERTISING advertise@columbusceo.com

Columbus CEO (ISSN 1085-911X) is published six times a year by Gannett. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2025, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials. Known address of publication is 605 S. Front St., Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Columbus CEO, P.O. Box 460160, Escondido, CA 92046

SUBSCRIPTIONS 760-237-8505 columbusceo@pcspublink.com

Editor’s Notes

Celebrating Lucky 13

While many people shun the number 13 as being unlucky, here at Columbus CEO we are delighted to celebrate the 13th anniversary of our Top Workplaces awards.

This annual recognition program honors Central Ohio organizations for standing out as employers of choice. But the best—and most validating— aspect is that companies are judged by their own workers according to a set of benchmarks established by our research partner, Energage, based in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Our 2025 winners, who represent for-profit, nonprofit and government organizations across the Columbus region, are selected by Energage. Since 2007, they have worked with more than 60 media outlets across the country to recognize top-performing employers, collecting survey feedback from 30 million employees.

Winners are chosen and ranked by Energage based solely on results of employee surveys at organizations who nominate themselves for the program. The initiative is open to any employer with 50 or more local employees. (Learn more about the methodology on Page 16.)

To be named a Top Workplace, participating companies are evaluated on their employees’ responses to 25 survey questions, which cover issues such as pay and benefits, work-life flexibility, appreciation, leadership and other measures.

This year, the five top-scoring metrics were:

• 82.6 percent of respondents said their manager cares about their concerns

• 82.5 percent said their company operates by strong values

• 80.1 percent feel included

• 79.6 percent believe their manager helps them learn and grow

• 78 percent said they feel genuinely appreciated

On t he other hand, there are always some areas where workers would like to see improvement:

• 65.8 percent feel well-informed about important decisions at their company

• 62.2 percent feel that meetings make good use of their time

• 56.9 percent believe their pay is fair for the work they do

• 53.7 percent haven’t considered searching for a better job in the past month

• 47.9 percent think the benefits package is good compared to others in the industry

One final note: 28 of this year’s Columbus honorees also earned recognition as USA TODAY Top Workplaces winners because their positive employee survey feedback exceeded national benchmarks set by Energage.

Congratulations to all of our 2025 winners!

Thanks for reading.

Julanne Hohbach Editor

YOUR BUSINESS CAN HELP

PATIENTS CROSS THE FINISH LINE

by sponsoring Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon!

YOUR TEAM CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Partnering with us is an incredible opportunity to support lifesaving work, while showcasing your brand. Sponsorships begin at just $1000, with each level offering impactful marketing benefits reaching millions of people in the community, and more than 100,000 runners, spectators, volunteers, and fundraisers on race weekend.

Scan the QR code or go to NationwideChildrens.org/Marathon to learn more

BY LAURA NEWPOFF

The Next Chapter

Lauren Hagan is leveraging her accounting background and leadership skills as the new CEO overseeing Columbus Metropolitan Library.

Lauren Hagan applied to Loyola University Chicago in 2003 intending to pursue a career in nursing. Four of her aunts and her grandmother were nurses, and it gave her a sense of familiarity with the profession. The summer before school started, she volunteered at a hospital in Naperville, Illinois, where she communicated with families in the surgical waiting room. The experience took an emotional toll, and she decided working in patient care might not be a good fit for her.

That same summer, to earn credits before her first fall semester, she took an accounting course at a community college in the Chicago suburbs. She liked the precise rules that were associated with the subject, and it clicked with her immediately. She changed her major at Loyola to business and decided to pursue accounting as a profession. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she took a fulltime job at global firm KPMG in 2007 and spent several years there and at Andersen. By 2010, she felt ready for an opportunity outside of public accounting. Professor Brian Stanko, whom she worked closely with as

a graduate assistant for Loyola’s accounting department, connected her with university Chief Financial Officer Bill Laird about a senior financial analyst position.

“I was excited to go back,” Hagan says. “I always had a deep fondness for my education there and really valued the Jesuit approach to education. I felt a connection to the mission. I often say an accounting background and public experience give you the opportunity to explore a lot of industries. There’s always an accounting department or a finance department, and there’s an opportunity to use those skills in a variety of ways.”

Laird took Hagan under his wing, and she worked on the university’s capital budget during a transformative time. Work was ongoing for a $300 million 2000 to 2015 master space plan that built or upgraded residence halls and facilities for the business school, the sciences, health care and research, recreation, conferences and events, and the library.

“The work I was doing was exciting—how to allocate resources, issue debt and fundraising,” she says. “To see those major investments [after] having been a student at one of the country’s most beautiful campuses had an impact on me.”

Lauren Hagan in the atrium at Main Library in Downtown Columbus

In 2011, the school finalized the sale of Loyola University Health System, Loyola University Medical Center and Gottlieb Memorial Hospital to Trinity Health—the parent of Columbus’ Mount Carmel Health System. Hagan played a key role as the university and Trinity developed an academic affiliation agreement and shared services as a teaching hospital.

“[Laird] had confidence in what I could do,” Hagan says. “I said ‘yes’ not knowing what I was getting into. It was a pivotal point: recognizing what I was capable of even in situations I didn’t have previous experience to lean on. I was able to

learn in the process.”

During this time, she worked as CFO for Loyola’s Health Sciences Center, which was led by Steve Bergfeld. In 2016, he left to take a job at Ohio State University as vice president for development. A few years later, he learned that Columbus Metropolitan Library CEO Patrick Losinski needed to fill a CFO position. Because he knew Hagan—then Loyola’s senior associate vice president and controller—grew up in Hilliard and had family in Central Ohio, he recommended her for the job.

“She’s really one of the brightest people I’ve ever worked with,” says Bergfeld, now president of UNITS

Lauren Hagan

CEO

Columbus Metropolitan Library

Age: 40

Previous: Chief financial officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library; senior associate vice president and controller, Loyola University Chicago

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting, Loyola University Chicago; Certified Public Accountant license

Community involvement: Board chair, Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County; 2023 participant in the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School

Resides: Hilliard

Family: Husband, Jim Venetucci, and two children

Portable Storage of Columbus. “She always wanted to understand all the inner workings of the business. I appreciated that she was not afraid to get her hands dirty and she wanted to continue to grow her skills to help the organization get better. The only way she knew to do that was to understand everything about it.”

This included complex issues such as physician compensation. “She would just dive deeply into it and get to know every little piece of the agreements and packages, and then she was able to stand in a room in front of 100 physicians and answer any question they might have about their compensation package. She was fearless about it. I appreciated it. She was a really good thought partner.”

From CFO to CEO Hagan joined CML, which now has about 900 employees, as its CFO in 2018. In that role, she oversaw a $120 million budget and led the system’s finance, information technology and capital planning functions—including a building program to update or replace 11 library branches funded

Photo by

Tim Johnson

in part by the issuance of $40 million in public debt. During her tenure, CML’s debt rating was upgraded to Aa1, and she oversaw the fall 2023 ballot issue that resulted in the passage of a 1.5-mill continuing property tax levy to fund library operations.

Eighty percent of the nonprofit library’s revenue comes from property tax levies—the one passed in 2023 and a permanent 2.8-mill levy that Franklin County voters approved in 2010. Seventeen percent comes from funds CML receives from the state Public Library Fund, and the remaining 3 percent is from other sources, such as fees for copying and printing, parking and lost books.

In April 2024, Losinski announced his retirement after 22 years leading CML. After the board of trustees conducted a national search, Hagan was chosen as the new CEO in September. She credits Losinski’s “thoughtful succession planning” that allowed her to develop skills by leading those various departments and initiatives so she would be a competitive candidate

for the job when he stepped down.

“My experience at the library has been so fulfilling,” she says. “I believe deeply in the library’s purpose and the vital role we play in our community. Libraries are more important than ever because, through our work, we empower people to enhance and change their lives. I recognize the library needs to continue its long history of evolving to meet the needs of the community, and I wanted to be involved in that process. We have a talented and dedicated staff who are deeply committed to our work, and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with them in a different capacity and build upon the success we have achieved under Pat’s leadership.”

Trustees President Tom Katzenmeyer says Hagan is part of “a new generation of nonprofit leaders” in Central Ohio. In addition to her deep knowledge of the library and how it works financially, he says she also has the right personality for the job. “She’ll just say it like it is. She is very affable and friendly, and I’ve

seen her in all kinds of settings in my role as board chair,” Katzenmeyer says. “She warms up to people and people are drawn to her. For these kinds of jobs, you have to have good relationship skills so you can talk in front of any kind of audience—staff, the corporate community, public officials and those you ask for a donation. She’s doing great so far. She’s off to a strong start.”

Since taking the helm Oct. 1, Hagan has embarked on a listening tour at library branches to learn from staff about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Hearing about what excites them has been the most rewarding part of the job so far. She’s also meeting with donors and supporters, elected officials and community leaders to build relationships. Short-term goals include finishing four branches that now are under construction and overseeing construction next year of CML’s 24th branch on Case Road on the city’s northwest side. The strategic plan, which is more than a decade old, will

Photo courtesy Columbus Metropolitan Library

Hagan speaks at the groundbreaking for CML’s Marion-Franklin Branch on July 29, 2024.

be refreshed this year to set a vision and priorities for the next five to 10 years.

Hagan also hopes the Columbus Book Festival will continue to grow. The third annual event at Main Library in Downtown Columbus will feature more than 200 national and local authors along with book sellers, community exhibitors, entertainment, a food court, the popular Indie Author Alley pavilion and the Friends of the Library Big Book Sale tent. Look for it July 12-13.

Losinski says Hagan’s work at the library system aligns with her personal values in terms of doing work that was purposeful, meaningful and contributes to society. “That’s important in her role,” he says. “She has the highest ethical standards, and she takes her responsibility as a public steward of the public dollars and public trust seriously. That’s really important to her. Integrity really matters, and she models that for so many people.

“She’s very smart,” he says. “She’s very strategic but balanced with being really empathetic. She not only cares about customers; she is also a champion for staff.” He says CML was one of the first libraries in the country to implement a strong parental leave policy because of her leadership. “She is high IQ and high EQ. She has all the things that make you qualified for the job: approachable, respectful, kind, and she has a great sense of humor. That makes hard work go a lot easier.”

A Commitment to Advance Affordable Housing

Hagan’s community involvement includes serving as board chair of the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County, a nonprofit lender working to create housing inventory for low- and moderate-income families. The importance of such work was presented to her at a young age. Her father, Joe Hagan, co-founded the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing in Columbus, which raises funds and works with developers to support affordable housing initiatives. He later was CEO of the National Equity Fund in Chicago, a nonprofit syndicator of low-income housing tax credits.

“Affordable housing is such a

The “topping out” ceremony for Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Barnett Branch, held Dec. 10, 2024

critical part of the growth of the community to make sure there’s adequate housing for all the people moving to Columbus,” she says. “It is such a component of economic development. My role with the library—there’s such an overlap with the community and the exciting things that happen with growth and development and the challenges it presents. I’ve enjoyed focusing on that important issue in my volunteer work.”

Sean Grant, one of Hagan’s AHT board colleagues, describes her as a thoughtful and inclusive chair. “Her approach to decision-making is characterized by active listening and thorough consultation,” says Grant, the CFO of The Columbus Partnership. “Rather than dictating outcomes, she seeks diverse perspectives from board members, leadership and staff before charting a course of action.” This collaborative style, he says, means “she’s not universally making decisions without feedback. She wants to represent all the views and make a solid decision based on information she’s found.”

This inclusive approach extends to significant organizational decisions. Hagan recently was involved in selecting attorney Ian Labitue as the new president and CEO of AHT. It exemplifies her commitment to leveraging collective expertise, Grant says. “By fostering an environment that values input and in-depth analysis, she aims to guide the organization forward with well-informed strategies, eschewing rubber-stamp governance in favor of meaningful engagement.”

Outside of work, Hagan keeps busy as the mom of two elementary-aged sons. They enjoy card and board

games, and she loves watching them play flag football, soccer and lacrosse. She, husband Jim Venetucci and the boys also watch Ohio State Buckeyes games together. “In good weather, I love to throw around a football or lacrosse ball,” she says. “In December, I was able to take my youngest to see his favorite NFL team—the Miami Dolphins—play the [Cleveland] Browns. We had a blast.” The family also enjoys camping on the beaches of Lake Michigan in Bridgman.

An important part of her day is her workout at Shred415, which helps her manage stress and be part of the community of people who exercise there. She enjoys reading and prefers physical books to e-books, but often finds herself reading one of each at the same time. She also listens to podcasts, especially those focused on leadership and personal development.

Hagan says she was fortunate to have several strong women who influenced her at a young age. In addition to her aunts and grandmother who worked in nursing, her mom, Kate Hagan, was a longtime professional who served as a CEO in nonprofit association management. “My parents instilled the value of hard work and what that can mean,” Hagan says. “They instilled in me and my brother the importance of using your talents for the greater good and to make a difference. My mom, my aunts and my grandmother were such important role models to me as I thought about what I wanted to become as a role model for others.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer. A version of this story also appears in the April issue of Columbus Monthly.

TECH TALK

BY CYNTHIA BENT FINDLAY

Therapy Advances

Vironexis

Biotherapeutics is breaking new ground in cancer treatment.

The ability to focus a patient’s own body to fight disease has been a topic of intense interest since ancient times. Recent advancements in cancer-targeting immunotherapies created by Vironexis Biotherapeutics have the potential to make huge gains for patients—and big waves in the biotech industry.

“I believe our own immune system is the most powerful drug in the world. It protects us from infections, it’s evolved over millennia,” says Dr. Timothy Cripe, co-founder of Vironexis and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “If you get a vaccine, you’re protected for life, often. It’s very complicated but powerful and potent. To be able to redirect the immune system is a powerful thing.”

Cripe’s lab at Nationwide Children’s is working on what could be a revolutionary breakthrough: a

vironexis.com

CEO: Samit Varma

set of treatments that help a patient’s immune system fight cancer.

Vironexis CEO Samit Varma says plug-and-play therapies for a wide variety of cancers could be a game changer for the company—and for millions of patients around the world.

Cripe says his gene therapy platform was inspired by other breakthroughs made at Nationwide Children’s for treating spinal muscle atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One resulted in a startup, Avexis, which was acquired by Novartis. The other has been licensed to Sarepta Therapeutics.

“I was watching, saying, wow, you could use a virus to deliver a gene that makes a protein and can express it for years at a constant level? That’s what we need in cancer,” Cripe says.

Until recently, immunotherapies to treat cancer have been tough to adopt because a patient’s immune system does not see its own cells, even if they’re malformed, as foreign invaders. Some biologic drugs can reveal those dangerous cells to the immune system, but they degrade after several hours and must be administered repeatedly. Cripe’s lab has found a genetically engineered virus that gives a patient’s immune system the ability to express the necessary protein constantly in just one treatment.

“We’re turning the body into a drug manufacturing plant,” he says. “It’s a

BUSINESS: Cancer-related gene therapies

FOUNDED: 2021

EMPLOYEES: 16

FUNDING: $26 million seed funding round led by Drive Capital and Future Ventures

paradigm shift in how we think about treating cancer. And it lasts years. It’s not intermittent. And it doesn’t give tumor cells a chance to grow back.”

In July 2024, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the therapy, dubbed VNX-101, to treat CD19+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Vironexis started enrolling patients in a phase 1/2 trial in late 2024 and also received fast track and rare pediatric disease designations.

Varma and Cripe say Columbus is the perfect proving ground for such medical research. They cite Nationwide Children’s deep bench of experience with spinoffs, as well as local companies such as Forge Biologics and Andelyn Biosciences that are critical to manufacturing the therapies.

In 2022, Vironexis raised $26 million in a seed financing round led by Ohio-based Drive Capital and Future Ventures of California. “That allowed us to progress the science and clinical programs, and we are now officially in the clinic,” Varma says.

As of mid-March, Vironexis was in discussions with several investors about a Series A funding round.

“What we are building is a platform, an oncology platform, similar to a drug like Keytruda, applicable across multiple different cancer types,” Varma says.

Cynthia Bent Findlay is a freelance writer.

Vironexis

Vironexis co-founder Dr. Timothy Cripe

Vironexis CEO Samit Varma

EMPLOYERS WHO EXCEL

Our 2025 Top Workplaces winners strive to provide engaging, supportive environments that empower employees to help the organization reach its goals. Find out who the 81 honorees are and how they are achieving success.

IHow the Top Workplaces Are Chosen

f you want to really know what’s happening at work, ask the people on the front lines. That’s the foundation of the Top Workplaces award. For the 13th year, employee survey company Energage has partnered with Columbus CEO to honor the best places to work in the Columbus region.

This award can’t be bought; it has to be earned, based on employee feedback. Winners are chosen through a scientific survey process. Positive employee feedback equals recognition. Workplaces that don’t have strong feedback are excluded from the winners list.

Energage crunches the data based on a 25-question survey that takes just a few minutes to complete. The survey asks employees for their feedback on such factors as pay and benefits, direction, leadership, meaningfulness and appreciation. Energage scores companies based on the responses.

Organizations do not pay any fees to survey employees or to earn a Top Workplaces designation. If they choose,

organizations can purchase the survey data. There is no obligation for winners to purchase any product or service.

For the 2025 winners list, 2,141 organizations were asked to survey their employees, and 120 agreed to do so. Based on the survey feedback, 81 have earned recognition as Columbus Top Workplaces.

“Top Workplaces awards are a celebration of good news,” says Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “They exemplify the significance of a people-first workplace experience, reminding us that employees are the heart of any thriving organization.”

The winners list is intended to reflect on the regional workforce. To qualify for Top Workplaces recognition, employers must have at least 50 workers in Central Ohio. Survey results are valid only if at least 35 percent of employees respond; organizations with fewer than 85 employees have a higher response threshold, requiring responses from at least 30 employees.

Employers earn Top Workplaces

recognition if their aggregated employee feedback score exceeds national benchmarks. Participants are grouped into size bands to best compare similar employee experiences. Energage has established those benchmarks based on feedback collected from about 30 million employees in the last 19 years. Employers are ranked within those groups based on the strength of the survey feedback.

Why might a particular employer not be on the list? Perhaps it chose not to participate, or perhaps it did and employee feedback scores were not strong enough. Energage also runs tests on survey feedback and in some cases may disqualify an organization if, for example, a high number of employees said they felt pressured to answer positively.

To participate in the 2026 Top Workplaces awards, or for more information about the program, go to the nomination page at columbusceo.com/nominate.

—Bob Helbig,

Energage

Looking to Make a Difference? Join The Buckeye Ranch’s Team Today!

Last year, The Buckeye Ranch provided more than 14,500 critical mental health, behavioral health, education, and child welfare support service encounters to more than 7,100 youth across Ohio. These services make a life-changing impact, designed to help youth become more successful within their families, schools, and communities. As a Top Workplace in Central Ohio two years in a row, we support over 600 team members across six locations in realizing our mission of raising hope and restoring healing for youth and families in our community each day.

OUR PEOPLE

drive our ability to deliver for patients.

Amgen is proud to be a Top Workplace in Columbus and remains committed to demonstrating excellence in its approach to maintaining a thriving and innovative workplace culture.

Thank you to our employees for your hard work and dedication to Our Mission: To Serve Patients.

Congratulations!

ORGANIZATIONS (350 OR MORE EMPLOYEES)

These 81 organizations are the 2025 Top Workplaces. They are listed by their rankings, which were determined by Columbus CEO research partner Energage, in three size categories. Categories are based on the number of Columbus region employees. Data is current as of employee surveys from late 2024.

Hats off to the people who make this a great place to work.

At Atlas Butler, we believe a great workplace isn’t about the walls–it’s about the people inside them. Thanks to our incredible team, we’ve been named a Top Workplace 2025 in Columbus. Your dedication, hard work, and passion are what make Atlas Butler more than a company—it’s a family. Thank you.

70 YEARS OF STRENGTH FUELED BY OUR PEOPLE

Our greatest asset isn’t the steel we process – it’s the people who make it happen, the customers who trust us and the communities we support. For 70 years, we’ve been strong for good, transforming steel while strengthening industries, partnerships and the places we call home. That strength starts within. For that, we say thank you to our employees for making us a 13-time Top Workplace!

WINNINGEST COMPANIES

13 YEARS

Discover Kimball Midwest

Worthington Enterprises (12 as Worthington Industries)

These are the 10 2025 Top Workplaces winners with the most honors throughout the program’s 13-year history.

12 YEARS

KPMG LLP

The Richwood Banking Co. S-S Bendure & Hartwig

Total Quality Logistics – TQL

11 YEARS

Fifth Third Bank

Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc.

Manifest Solutions Corp.

Special Awards

17 Winners Earn Extra Honors

The recipients of these 15 Special Awards were chosen based on standout scores for employee responses to specific survey statements. Employees rate these statements on a seven-point scale, from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Well-Being is a new award for 2025.

LEADERSHIP

I have confidence in the leadership team of this company.

Geoff Gilmore

Worthington Steel

Jonathan Moody

Moody Nolan

Stephanie McCormick

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana

DIRECTION

I believe this company is going in the right direction.

KEMBA Financial Credit Union

MANAGERS

My manager helps me learn and grow. My manager cares about my concerns.

Thrive Companies

NEW IDEAS

New ideas are encouraged at this company.

DHL Supply Chain North America

DOERS

At this company, we do things efficiently and well.

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

MEANINGFULNESS

My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.

Bridgeway – Academy & Therapy Center VALUES

This company operates by strong values.

Zink Foodservice

CLUED-IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT

Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.

Total Quality Logistics – TQL

COMMUNICATION

I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company.

Union Home Mortgage Corp.

APPRECIATION

I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.

ERPA

WORK/LIFE FLEXIBILITY

I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.

Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission

TRAINING

I get the formal training I want for my career.

Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling

WELL-BEING

This company does a great job of prioritizing employee well-being.

OCLC Inc.

BENEFITS

My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry.

Daugherty Business Solutions

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

My employer is socially responsible in the community.

BTTS Holdings

Stronger Together

Four winners explain how they drive results by focusing on values, empowering employees and supporting suppliers.

By CHUCK NELSON

When longtime friends Srikanth Gaddam and Kiran Beeravelli formed ERPA in 1999, they named it after values they admired: empathy, responsibility, passion and agility.

“We said, ‘If our values are important, why don’t we call it out?’ ” says Beeravelli, the information technology company’s chief innovation officer. “That is the fabric, the canvas on which everything else is painted.”

Based in Dublin, ERPA specializes in enterprise application management, cloud hosting and consultation services for Workday, PeopleSoft and Amazon Web Services users.

While its workers are largely remote, with 440 associates scattered throughout the U.S. and more overseas, ERPA tries to break down the distance between the screens by building communication online, as well as having large in-person gatherings. “When we actually meet in person, that’s

when you realize, ‘Oh, people are of different heights,’ ” Beeravelli says with a laugh.

It’s part of a conscious effort to make their shop as open as possible. And their employees value it: This is the company’s sixth time on the Top Workplaces list. ERPA also earned the Special Award this year for Appreciation, given for positive employee responses to the statement, “I feel genuinely

appreciated at this company.”

Anyone can contact anyone else in the organization to ask a question or express a concern or observation, Beeravelli says, making it easier to be seen and heard in “a relatively flat organizational structure.”

“If someone has an idea, it doesn’t have to be filtered through the layers,” he says. “I think that freedom is something that

ERPA team members at an off-site meeting in Dallas in April 2024

ERPA employees at the Higher Education User Group Alliance conference in Phoenix in March 2024

people actually cherish.”

Beeravelli says nurturing the company’s core values necessitates a hiring process that values a cultural fit “first and foremost.”

“Some of our best hiring decisions came from the referrals of our existing workforce,” says Sheila Ponder, vice president of human resources. “They understand the culture, and they want to bring on people who are going to emulate our values and embrace them. I think that’s pivotal.”

Manpower became an issue in 2024 as business growth drove expansion, Beeravelli says. “This time last year, it was all about possibilities,” Ponder says of a business deal ERPA proposed that expanded its partnerships with Workday and AWS. “All we could do was just explain our model. The fact that they moved so fast actually gave us confidence that our model was right.”

The trick then became scaling up the workforce—but with the right people. “It always felt we needed more talent all the time. We needed more capacity,” Beeravelli says.

“The rapid growth in our customer base has demanded a lot of hiring to maintain a high standard of service to the customers,” says Jeffrey Miller, director of marketing. “We expect that growth to continue this year.”

Collaborating on a Common Mission

Nonprofit Experience Columbus and its Greater Columbus Sports Commission offshoot make a first appearance on the list this year.

The organization, started in 1941 as the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, works from offices in the Arena District to entice out-of-towners to spend time in Central Ohio. The sports commission followed in 2002 as a “successful spinoff,” as GCSC President and CEO Linda Logan puts it.

“What’s important to me and I think our

team is, to be an employer of choice means we’re representing our community outside this building in a very authentic and genuine way,” says Brian Ross, Experience Columbus’ President and CEO. “We touch almost every corner of the community. We’re very fortunate and don’t take these responsibilities lightly.

“What helps us guide our culture is that we have individuals that are very welcoming, inclusive, diverse and innovative, and we continue to collaborate on a lot of different things.”

That team approach translated to 51 million visits to Central Ohio in 2023, with $8.2 billion spent in Franklin County, Ross says. Those are new dollars in the community arriving via vacations, conferences and sporting events.

About 70 employees are split between the two visitor and tourism entities, which also share certain resources, Ross says. Based on survey feedback, Experience Columbus and GCSC won the Top Workplaces Special Award this year for Work/Life Flexibility.

Employees helped craft the organ-

izations’ core values, says Chief People Officer Jennifer McCallum, noting that everyone is empowered to make decisions and “champion our community where they can.”

“It’s great to showcase Columbus as a destination,” she says. That mission doesn’t stop at bringing more visitors for a conference. “It could end up bringing more people to live here, maybe go to school here.”

“We want to hire the right teammates, the most talented teammates,” Ross says. “We want to train and educate them. We want to provide the resources for them to be successful. We want to empower them. And then we want to make sure we’re removing any barriers for them to succeed.”

“One of the common themes with both organizations is the passion our employees have for the work that they do,” says Logan. “They just love representing this amazing city. We’re here to support the efforts and help tell that Columbus story.

“People would be surprised to know how many years in the making some of these events are,” Logan says. The NHL

Experience Columbus and GCSC employees participate in jiujitsu at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum during staff development day.

Experience Columbus team members at the 2024 Community Cup

ROMA M NOFF

The success of our company is a testament to tea n.

Stadium Series event held March 1 in Ohio Stadium has been in the works for a dozen years, she says. And it took 10 years to bring the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four here; the tourney will return

But it’s gratifying to see the city now included in the pool for big events, Logan says. “We’ve become a national destination.”

That recognition was also reflected in Columbus’ inclusion last year in Conde Nast Traveler’s top 10 Best Big Cities in the U.S.

Food and Philanthropy

California-based Panda Restaurant Group Inc. marks its sixth straight appearance on the Top Workplaces list in 2025. The family-owned, fast-casual Asian restaurant chain—the parent of Panda Express and two other brands— utilizes an organizational structure that emphasizes education and leadership opportunities for its associates.

Thank y e that em ation, and tea m member's talent dedicatio ou for an inclusive cultur phasizes communication, collabor mwork.

The success of our company is a testament to each team member's talent and dedication. Thank you for fostering an inclusive culture that emphasizes communication, collaboration, and teamwork.

“We have a culture of putting people first, and we are aiming to create a safe, empowering, conversational environment” where employees listen, appreciate and challenge each other, says Mingtao Chi, regional director of operations for Ohio. There’s also an emphasis on worklife balance, he adds.

“Our company has been very successfully expanding in different markets including Ohio and Columbus,” Chi says, with the majority of its leadership promoted from within the ranks of its 56,000 employees.

That includes Chi, who joined the company as a crew member 11 years ago after completing an MBA. He advanced with promotions to store manager, trainer,

A Panda Restaurant Group Inc. regional meeting

area coach and now regional manager.

“When people join us, they are not only looking for a paycheck, they want to grow with the company,” he says.

Part of that growth is facilitated through training opportunities at workshops featuring industry and business leaders such as authors John Maxwell and Jim Collins. Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” is a big

part of the program, Chi says.

“It all starts with our founders,” Chi says of Andrew and Peggy Cherng, who opened the first Panda Express in 1999.

“That’s what they demonstrate, what they role model for us.”

He expects the company’s growth to continue with four new Ohio locations (including three in Columbus) this year.

“The competition is very intense in Ohio,”

he says. “We are confident that we are going to continue creating this organization for our company. We also want to make sure we contribute to our community and our people.”

To that end, the company’s Panda Cares program raises money for worthy causes and operates Panda Cares Centers of Hope with partners that include the Children’s Miracle Hospital Network and

LEADING THE WAY

BY ELEVATING SPACES AND EXPERIENCES

Thank you to our employees for voting Worthington as a top workplace for 13 consecutive years. For us, it always has been and always will be about the people.

Pictured: Nick Richards

A ribbon cutting at the new Panda Express restaurant in Delaware in February 2024

NEWSLETTER

the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Four Centers of Hope in Central Ohio help underserved youth with health and educational needs.

Prioritizing People

Kimball Midwest is no stranger to the Top Workplaces awards. The family-owned company has made the list for 13 consecutive years—every year of the Columbus-area recognition program.

“If I was at a party somewhere, I’d say we sell nuts and bolts,” President Patrick McCurdy says of the wholesale distribution business, which focuses on supplies used in industrial-level maintenance and repair.

McCurdy credits the organization’s success to maintaining strong supplier relationships, building a people-first culture and investing in employee development.

Kimball Midwest leaders (from left) COO Dave McCurdy, CEO Pat McCurdy and President Patrick McCurdy III

PHOTO COURTESY KIMBALL MIDWEST

Kimball Midwest’s Columbus distribution center

Based in Columbus and established in 1923, the 2,400-employee company now includes operations in Dallas; Reno, Nevada; Newtown, Connecticut; and Savannah, Georgia.

“We try to live our purpose,” says McCurdy. “We want to empower those we work with to thrive.” That includes customers, suppliers and the communities they serve, as well as employees, he says.

That commitment is seen in the company’s efforts to work with historically underrepresented businesses, including those owned by women, minorities and veterans. “Those supplier relationships matter,” McCurdy says. “And as we’ve grown, we’ve tried to make sure we stay with the people that helped us get here when that’s possible.”

It’s also seen in the company’s commitments to its employees through attention to health and wellness issues, flexible scheduling and improvements to compensation and benefits packages—some of which were a direct result of employee feedback from Top Workplaces surveys, he says.

“Some adjustments, like paid parental leave, came out of the survey the last couple of years,” he says. “We made changes to our 401(k) plan because of feedback from the survey.

“No one likes the job every day. But when they like the direction the work is going, then they see that ability to bring the best version of themselves to the office.”

The employee feedback received through Top Workplaces is “a good reflection of how well people are feeling aligned and engaged,” McCurdy says. “It’s been a great tool for us.”

Chuck Nelson is a freelance writer.

Find out when you become a Columbus CEO Insider

Stay up-to-date with Columbus CEO’s mobile-friendly newsletter. Delivered straight to your inbox every other week, Columbus CEO Insider has the latest Central Ohio business news, executive profiles and happenings.

A Year of Firsts

Worthington Steel prioritizes culture and performance after spinning off on its own.

By LAURA NEWPOFF

Last year was a year of firsts for Worthington Steel. After being spun out from Worthington Industries Inc. in December 2023, the metals processor began to focus on strategic priorities to create, in its own words, “superior longterm shareholder value.” That included a first earnings report, a first board meeting and a first investor call.

Plenty of change comes with a separation of this magnitude involving a publicly traded company (NYSE: WS) with 4,500 employees and 31 facilities in seven states and five countries. A new leadership team had to be assembled, and the information technology system had to be separated from the legacy company so it could stand on its own.

What didn’t change as the transition occurred was the culture established by Worthington Industries founder John H. McConnell through his “Golden Rule” philosophy: “We treat our customers, employees, investors and suppliers as we would like to be treated.” This was a key mandate of Worthington Steel President

“2024 was an exciting time announcing some of these acquisitions and having organic growth.”

GEOFF GILMORE, president and CEO of Worthington Steel

and CEO Geoff Gilmore.

“It’s embedded in everything we do. It’s the bedrock of our culture,” Gilmore says. “So much so that still, to this very day, [new employees] are given a philosophy card and a copy of his book, “Our Golden Rule.” That education starts on day No. 1.”

Gilmore previously served as Worthington Industries’ executive vice president and chief operating officer. As he built up his new team, he brought with him several employees with deep experience at the legacy company, which became Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) after the split. That, too, allowed the Golden Rule culture to be easily adopted at the steel business and gave these professionals a chance to take on increased responsibilities and grow their careers.

Their experience was critical as Worthington Steel hit the ground running with its growth plans. In March 2024, it announced an agreement that allowed its joint venture, TWB Company Inc., to expand its hot-formed tailored blanking capabilities in North America. Tailor welded blanks are a key component of automotive manufacturing. In December, Worthington Steel acquired a controlling equity stake in Italy-based Sitem Group as part of its plans to grow its electrical steel lamination business and expand customer reach.

“2024 was an exciting time announcing

some of these acquisitions and having organic growth,” Gilmore says. “You’ll continue to hear that throughout this year and next. We’ll continue to have a great opportunity in front of us, and we’ll continue to invest in the business, [whether that’s] electrical steel laminations or various other businesses we’re involved with. We’re also going to celebrate the heck out of our 70th anniversary. That’s another example of our culture and philosophy. We like to celebrate milestones, whether that’s a one-year anniversary or No. 70. We like to call those things out and celebrate with our employees. That’s been a huge part of the success of the company.”

Worthington Steel made its Top Workplaces debut this year as a new company, after Worthington Industries had

Nikki Ballinger, vice president of human resources

PHOTOS BY ROB HARDIN (2)

Worthington Steel President and CEO Geoff Gilmore (third from left) with (from left) Brian Thomas, Donnie Seymour and Tivon Favret at the company’s plant

made the list for 12 straight years—back to the debut of the recognition program. Gilmore received the Special Award for Leadership this year in the Large Organizations category, with employees expressing confidence in the CEO, his enthusiasm, and willingness to talk and listen, while noting his leadership is motivational and trustworthy.

To create this positive work environment, Gilmore says he aims to be approachable and transparent. “I utilize any opportunity I can to get in front of employees,” he says. “If I know they’re in town for an employee council or leadership training, I try to make sure I’m on the agenda and able to talk about what the company is doing.” He wants associates to hear from him what the vision is and the strategy to bring that vision to life.

“I want employees to know how they fit in,” he says. “That is critical.” Often, leaders will talk about the company vision, but employees may wonder what their place is. “What does that mean to them or their families?” he says. “I spend a lot of time focused on that vision and strategy and how our employees fit into that.”

The company’s culture also involves

encouraging volunteerism in the community, robust benefits including two comprehensive medical plan options with health savings accounts, an employee assistance program and financial wellness programs. Employees who want to become managers can take part in an “Aspiring Leaders” program, and there are various professional development opportunities, including financial assistance for MBA and EMBA programs. There also are on-site barber shops and intramural sports leagues.

An annual awards party that recognizes associates’ years of service features bands and food trucks, and the company also hosts other gatherings and celebrations during the year. A recent Pelotonia fundraiser gave employees a chance to drop company leaders in a dunk tank.

Nikki Ballinger, vice president of human resources, has been with the organization for 13 years and says fun events contribute to team building and a family atmosphere. During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, the company hosted a “soup-erbowl” where employees shared and enjoyed their favorite recipes.

“Sometimes it’s something simple, like just bringing in doughnuts or ice cream or

having fun little celebrations or gathering for book clubs,” she says. “I love coming here. The people are amazing, and they are like family. You get to know so many different people, from different ethnicities and beliefs and you’re just accepted. I really love that. I’ve interviewed a lot of people over the years, and I’m sure I’m overly enthusiastic about our culture. They may think, ‘Are you for real, is that true?’ It absolutely is true—and once you’re in, you’re in.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

Rolls of steel

PHOTO BY ROB HARDIN

Caring for Customers

By LAURA NEWPOFF

On Presidents Day, employees of KEMBA Financial Credit Union gathered at the Hilton Columbus at Easton for the company’s biggest event of the year. The first of two annual all-associate meetings allow people to connect, learn and have their accomplishments recognized.

It’s part of the “associate centric” approach President and CEO Mark Decello has embraced since he joined KEMBA in 2009 and became the top executive in 2018. Because the credit union is owned by its members, he wants them to be treated like the owners they are. “That starts with how our associates feel,” he says. “You don’t want to lose sight that your people are your brand and [are the ones] serving your members.”

Both employees and customers are key to KEMBA’s mission statement: “We exist to enrich the financial lives of our members and associates and will do so with passion, empathy and integrity.”

The associate-centric approach and mission are working. During Decello’s

“You don’t want to lose sight that your people are your brand.” MARK DECELLO, president and CEO of KEMBA Financial Credit Union

16-year-tenure, KEMBA’s asset growth has more than quadrupled and membership growth has more than doubled, to more than $2.3 billion and 133,000, respectively. Part of the business strategy is to survey associates, just as it does members, for feedback about how to serve them well.

Through those surveys, KEMBA leaders realized that employee recognition could be improved. They created the Associate Recognition Platform that awards workers monthly points, which they use to recognize others. Leaders get additional points for each member of their team to commend them for demonstrating core values. Points also are awarded for milestone anniversaries, birthdays, volunteering, completing challenges or professional development training, delivering exceptional member care—and sometimes just for fun.

Associates can use their points for swag, gift cards, paid time off, a pizza party or to donate to charity. More-senior employees often donate their points to others.

Meanwhile, a Bright Ideas program allows KEMBA to leverage its most powerful resource: the minds of its associates. Twice a year, employees submit their ideas about how to improve processes or enhance systems. The associate with the winning idea receives a $500 bonus. A recent winner

was a new youth-focused savings product. Bright Ideas creates an opportunity for employees to raise their voice within the organization, says Josalynn Stephens, senior human resources manager. “They may not have a role that allows them a lot of opportunity to share in decision-making meetings, but we want to give them that voice and opportunity to positively impact the broader organization.”

KEMBA also has a “DE+I” committee dedicated to driving people, partnerships and philanthropy as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as an associate council and a newsletter that employees contribute to.

Learning and professional development is another focus area for KEMBA. It’s not just about compliance training, Stephens says, but also centers on managing a person’s personal brand, honing in on their strengths and driving their career forward. This includes partnering with outside entities that teach professional leadership development and emotional intelligence. “Associates appreciate we help them grow up in the organization,” she says.

KEMBA also offers a robust benefits package, provides four weeks of vacation to new employees and celebrates 12 holidays each year, one of which is the associate’s birthday.

KEMBA team members (from left): Mark Decello, president and CEO; Shernette Henry, chief human resources officer; Derrick Manley, director of learning and development; and Josalynn Stephens, senior human resources manager, photographed at the company’s Feb. 17 all-associate meeting

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

The all-associate meeting is another way to recognize accomplishments. Employees get awards and trophies for the prior year in areas such as learning and development, member care, sales performance and operational excellence. President’s Club Awards are given for demonstrating KEMBA’s core values: integrity, respect and results.

“We even have some fun superlative awards, like ‘most likely to start a dance party,’ ” Stephens says. “The meeting always includes a fun, branded KEMBA swag item for everyone and is bookended by a nice breakfast and lunch. It’s really just a great day to get together and celebrate with your team.”

The October meeting includes business updates, wellness topics and a feature on charitable giving/community involvement, after which associates head out to volunteer in the community with their team. Town halls, holiday parties and summer team-building activities also are held during the year.

KEMBA experienced year-over-year employee growth of 7 percent in 2024 and now has 340 associates. It plans to open a branch in Delaware in the fourth quarter and two new banking kiosks that Decello refers to as “ATMs on steroids.” He says

the credit union still believes in brick and mortar but also focuses on digital delivery and fulfillment as member behaviors change. Attracting younger members will allow the business to stay vibrant and allow those customers to bank when, where and how they want.

Because KEMBA is a community cooperative, founded in 1933 as the Kroger Employee Mutual Benefits Association, one of the principles it operates by is concern for the community, Decello says. Through locally developed policies, social outreach, financial literacy and associate volunteerism, the credit union strives for the betterment of the communities it serves through

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

its KEMBACares initiative.

The credit union also participates in the Ohio Homebuyer Plus program that creates specialized, tax-advantaged savings accounts to assist members on their home-buying journey.

KEMBA marks its fifth consecutive appearance on the Top Workplaces list in 2025. It also received the Special Award for Direction, which signifies employees’ beliefs that the company is moving in the right direction.

Employees know where the company is heading because Decello shares a “state of the credit union” address at the February all-associate meeting along with the profit-sharing percentage. Associates want and appreciate that communication, says Decello, who previously worked for larger financial companies.

“I share the strategic plan with them every year—that doesn’t always happen [in other organizations],” he says. “I worked for some large institutions in the past and didn’t know the strategic direction. I’m so pleased that I found credit unions, even though I found [KEMBA] later in my career.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

Family Values

As an employeeowned business, Zink Foodservice gives everyone a stake in its success.

By SHANNON SHELTON

MILLER

Jim Zink learned a lot from his father, Skip, about running a business. What Jim remembers most, however, was Skip’s advice that a company’s culture was its ultimate competitive advantage—even more than strategy or quality products.

“Culture will stand the test of time—that stuck with me from the beginning,” Jim Zink says. “I’ve always tried to keep that in the forefront of everything we do.”

Skip Zink founded Zink Foodservice in 1977 as a manufacturers’ representative agency focused on the commercial food service, retail and hospitality sectors. With the company operating as the salesforce for multiple manufacturers, its ability to build strong relationships with customers, clients and employees was always integral to the company’s growth.

When Jim Zink and Mike McGuire, Skip’s son-in-law, purchased the company in 2001, they built on that foundation of treating employees as the company’s most important asset. Today, they serve as

“If we take care of our employees, our employees will take care of the customers, and our customers will take care of our business.” JIM ZINK, managing partner of Zink Foodservice

managing partners for a corporation that represents close to 90 brands, providing sales and marketing; service and installation of equipment; engineered products; and distribution services in the food service, lodging, health care and education sectors. Zink Foodservice is one of seven companies under the Zink Corp. umbrella.

Founded: 1977 Managing partners: Jim Zink and Mike McGuire

In 2017, Zink and McGuire transformed the business from a family-owned operation to an employee stock ownership plan, giving all associates a share in its success. Zink says the company experienced significant growth after the shift. “I always say to our team, if we take care of our employees, our employees will take care of the customers, and our customers will take care of

our business,” Zink says.

This year, Zink Foodservice makes its Top Workplaces debut and also received the Special Award for Values.

“Like a Family"

The ESOP was a natural outgrowth of Zink’s five core values: caring for one another, for customers and the community; striving for excellence in all they do; taking a positive attitude toward work and life with an eye on balance; putting the customer first; and constantly being forward focused and results driven.

When McGuire started in 1988, Zink employed just nine people. He says the small-company atmosphere hasn’t

Managing partners Jim Zink (left) and Mike McGuire of Zink Foodservice at the company’s Columbus headquarters

PHOTO BY TIM JOHNSON

changed, even with 154 employees now working across five offices and nine culinary centers in eight states. One is his daughter, Erin, who works in the Chicago office representing furniture brands. “It’s still a small company, and we treat it like an even smaller company,” McGuire says. “It’s really like a family.”

McGuire says the company often plans in-office and out-of-office activities for employees and their families, who in turn become part of the larger Zink family. Events include family night at the office complete with activities for kids, football tailgates and more.

“We’ve always had an open-book policy. We tell everyone where the company stands, how we’re doing and how everyone contributes to that. I think they see where they fit in the company, and they all feel they’re a big part of our success. We’re happy to give them the appreciation they deserve.”

Company leaders also credit its entrepreneurial operating system management platform for helping facilitate communication, connection and goal setting. Through the system, the company can host town hall meetings and regular check-ins to cover company information and facilitate

informal catch-up sessions with associates.

All employees work in person at one of Zink’s physical locations, a practice Zink and McGuire say is vital to interaction and helping the company’s culture flourish. Hybrid options are available, and Zink notes the importance of balancing one’s work and home life. “We try to be a very conscientious company when it comes to employees having a life outside of work, and we try to be as flexible as we can so people can meet the needs of their family before they can meet the needs of the Zink family,” he says.

Brighter Days Ahead

Zink Foodservice wasn’t immune from the economic sluggishness the industry experienced in 2024. Inflation and higher interest rates put a damper on new construction across the retail, food service and hospitality sectors, and some vestiges remained of the COVID-19 pandemic, which threatened the company’s livelihood as people couldn’t go out to eat or travel.

Those economic headwinds confronted Zink’s long-term expansion plans, which came to fruition last year. The corporation opened a new office in Indianapolis and a new facility in

Cincinnati and also undertook its biggest endeavor, a new headquarters on the east side of Columbus.

There are questions for 2025 about the effect of potential tariffs on the business, since Zink receives products from around the world. The company also hopes for a stronger labor market, given that restaurant operators need a consistent workforce to operate effectively.

The new building, however, already has company leaders looking forward to a bright future. In February, four Zink companies moved into the facility, which includes a showroom, test kitchen and warehouse. Zink and McGuire say they’re eager to build even stronger connections among employees by bringing more of them together in the same location for the first time.

“There’s never an ideal time to do some of these things,” Zink says about the building projects in 2024. “I’m just proud of the way we fought through it with a positive attitude, and I’m super excited for where that brings us today. I look at 2025 as a year for us to regroup, get our legs under us and have more fun.”

Shannon Shelton Miller is a freelance writer.

Winning Workforces

These repeat honorees aim to help employees succeed by promoting communication, work-life balance and flexibility.

By PETER TONGUETTE

Many companies take pride in being customer-focused, but one of the Top Workplaces in Central Ohio believes that helping its customers succeed is possible only with the success of its own employees.

“We often start off major meetings with, ‘OK, how will this impact our people?’ ” says Kevin Zeppernick, CEO of mixed-use real estate developer Thrive Companies. The business concentrates on multifamily developments but its portfolio also includes office, retail and hotels. “Our long-range goal is to continue doing really large-scale projects that integrate essentially all things that you need to live, work and play,” Zeppernick says.

But those plans can only be realized if Thrive’s roster of 177 employees feel supported, valued and, above all, part of a team. “It’s really back to being people-centric and making sure we’re taking care of our people at all costs,” says Zeppernick,

who hires with those principles in mind.

“If you don’t come with … the right attitude and the right kindness, the right team-centric kind of orientation, then, regardless of your skill and of your experience, you probably won’t be a fit here,” he says. “We [want to] stick to that core tenet of finding really good humans that love to work, and work really hard with others and support their communities and have great passions.”

Thrive Companies makes its second straight appearance on the Top Workplaces list, vaulting from No. 17 to No. 2 in the Midsize Organizations category. It also won the Special Award for Managers, given for positive employee responses to statements that their manager cares about their concerns and helps them learn and grow.

Thrive has become an employer of choice for the ways it puts its values into practice, including an emphasis on employee interaction. Zeppernick is not a fan of remote work. Even during the pandemic, he says, the workforce “never really dispersed.”

Thrive Companies employees at an all-hands retreat in West Virginia in 2023.

The Thrive Companies Brand Team volunteers at Great Southern Metro Park during 2024 Philanthropy Day.

“We got ultra-careful in keeping our people safe, but we still required an in-work, in-person environment,” he says. “The connectivity is still so paramount to our success.” But the company remains flexible. “If [an employee] needs to duck out at Tuesday at 10 o’clock in the morning because they have a kindergartner in a kindergarten Christmas play, we tell them, ‘Never miss out on those life events.’ ” Employees happy in their home lives will become stronger contributors at work, he says.

Thrive makes an effort to bring workers together for “philanthropic days” in which community service is followed by a good meal among colleagues. When major meetings are on tap, operations throughout the company shut down so all can assemble. “We’ll put all 177 people in one room so that they all can hear the direction of the company, hear the things that we’re winning at [and] hear our challenges,” Zeppernick says. “We pull our cleaners in from our multifamily side, and the amount of appreciation they have for just being in the room goes a long way to keeping them aligned with what our organization is.”

Employees are also engaged by the nature of the work done at Thrive, which frequently tackles former brownfields for redevelopment. “We’re taking back forgotten land that EPA designated as contaminated,” Zeppernick says. “I think we’re not only creating a happy work environment, but we’re also giving very meaningful work for our people.”

Fresh Approach to Attaining Work-Life Balance

Achieving the appropriate work-life balance is a challenge for employees at many companies, but it is a particular hurdle at law firms. “Our profession is very demanding,” says Ronald Fresco, partner-in-charge of the Columbus office of Reminger Co. LPA, which is based in Cleveland.

To help its lawyers and staff attain the right balance, the firm has instituted a “99 percent” hybrid model. “There are some positions, just by their mere definition, that cannot work on a remote or a hybrid basis,” says Fresco, pointing to the need for workers who answer the phone and open mail. Otherwise, the firm prides itself on flexibility.

For its paraprofessional staff, such as legal assistants and paralegals, Reminger aims to accommodate. On Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day, for example, the firm has “summer hours” during which employees are asked to start work a bit early but can leave at 1 p.m.

Diverse by Design

Understanding the unpredictable workload of cases, the firm encourages its lawyers to evaluate their work-life balance over an extended period of time, such as over months or quarters, rather than any given week. “There are time demands and calendar demands that are going to make some days and weeks worse than others,” Fresco says. “But, by the same token, there are going to be events that happen in the course of cases that will free up large blocks of time that will give those lawyers the chance to take a step back, take a breather, do the things they want to do outside of work.”

While the firm has established work policies, leaders also recognize that there are times when they should afford grace to workers who might need help with a personal situation or a change in work shifts, Fresco says. “We’ve got to figure out ways to creatively work together to solve a problem,” he says. “We don’t manage our people by a recipe or menu. We handle them on an individual basis.”

Reminger seems to be doing right by its employees, given the firm’s fifth appearance as a Top Workplace and its move this year from No. 35 to No. 11 in the Small Organizations category—the biggest jump among this year’s repeat winners. “Maybe the proof is in the pudding. … This is the fifth year that we’ve been honored to receive this award,” Fresco says. “We’re hopeful that it’s reflective of the fact that the way we run our office in Columbus is paying dividends.”

Columbus-based Moody Nolan is wellregarded for both its work and its status as the nation’s largest African American owned architecture firm, but it also strives to embody diversity in its workforce and its approach to projects, says CEO Jonathan Moody.

“My dad always talked about being diverse by design,” says Moody, whose father, firm founder Curt Moody, died in October at age 73. “That means a lot of different things. We’re very welcoming to people from all different backgrounds and all different places; we do a lot of different projects, in a lot of different communities, around the country. It helps to have a lot of different perspectives.”

Architecture itself encourages its practitioners to think outside the box, Moody says. “From day one, usually in architecture

school, you say to an architecture professor, ‘I want to draw a door,’ and they’re like, ‘Well, why did you draw the door that way?’” says Moody, who encourages architects with divergent experience to cross-pollinate projects. For example, architects with experience in hospitality can have input on a health care design, he says.

At the same time, architecture is a profession that has too often been seen as “exclusive” and not easily accessible, Moody says. Moody Nolan works to break that cycle. “I think one of the things that does draw people [to the firm] is saying, ‘We do want people from a lot of different places. … We want to be inclusive.’”

Since the firm’s architects often work on teams that are spread across offices in different states, hybrid work is essential. “The fact that we’re all in different locations kind of necessitates the ability to bend and

Moody Nolan CEO Jonathan Moody (left) with the firm’s partners

A 2024 family holiday party at Reminger’s Cleveland office Reminger Co. LPA managing partner Brian Gannon (left), firm founder Dick Reminger (center) and former managing partner

Stephen Walters

flex,” says Moody, pointing to instances when colleagues might be in different time zones, or might need to work from home or in a different location than usual. “You meet people where they are, but work toward the ultimate goal of producing the best work.”

Moody Nolan was named a Top Workplaces winner for the third straight year, and Moody won the Special Award for Leadership in the Midsize Organizations category.

The CEO encourages all business leaders to listen to employees’ concerns and elicit their ideas. “Asking people what they want, or asking people how they feel about something, or asking for ideas, can be kind of scary,” Moody says. “What if they say this, or what if they say that? But that doesn’t mean you have to do it. That just means you have to ask them what their ideas are.”

Moody, who has held the top spot in his firm since 2020, doesn’t have a particular leadership philosophy, but he leans on a pastor’s account of the story of David and Goliath. “At the end, David was able to slay giants with the tools he had,” Moody says. “That’s kind of how I operate. … I don’t know what I don’t know, but I just use what I’ve got and show up every day.” And he still thinks of his father’s approach to leading the firm. “His confidence gave you confidence,” Moody says. “It’s OK to fail, and I’m not afraid to fail.”

Room for Growth

S-S Bendure & Hartwig—part of the Globe Life American Income Division—is a 12-time Top Workplaces winner. But even with that success, the Columbus company, which provides life insurance and supplemental benefits to members of unions and associations, has reinvented how it

We really believe that you have to take care of yourself, your own well-being and your family’s, first and foremost.”

Sierra Hartwig, managing director of S-S Bendure & Hartwig

manages its employees in recent years.

“Pre-COVID, we didn’t have the opportunity to work remote,” says managing director Sierra Hartwig. But since the pandemic, workers have been given the freedom to work from home at their own pace. “A lot of that was dictated based on how well the company has performed,” she says. “We’ve had double-digit growth almost every single

month since April of 2020.”

For example, if employees want to stack meetings back-to-back in the morning and use the extra time with family, they are welcome to do so, Hartwig says. “We put a huge focus on that,” she says. “We really believe that you have to take care of yourself, your own well-being and your family’s, first and foremost.”

Development sessions coach workers on topics such as leadership and mindset to improve skills and well-being. “I can work a full workday and feel like I’ve been here 10 minutes,” Hartwig says.

The company maintains a competitive atmosphere—Hartwig likens her colleagues to athletes—but does so by supporting its workers. “In our line of work, we have to bring our very best,” Hartwig says. “If we’re not our best self, [members] are not going to get the best presentation of what options are available to them.”

Career advancement is prioritized, and unlike at many firms, it is not based on tenure or a set time frame. “It’s based on criteria like, ‘What goals have you met? How quickly have you advanced and picked up material?’ ” Hartwig says. “There are so many people I’ve seen that have gotten promoted to the first level of leadership in their first month.”

For employers that want to seek and retain top-flight talent, Hartwig has a simple piece of advice: Get to know those who work for you. “Find out what they want and why they want it, and what they’re willing to do for it,” she says. “Coach them toward that. At the end of the day, everybody will say they want something, but what are they willing to do for it?”

Peter Tonguette is a freelance writer.

PHOTO COURTESY NORMAN AI

Moody Nolan employees collaborate on designs.

S-S Bendure & Hartwig team members accept an award for being named the No. 1 agency in their division for Globe Life at the 2024 annual convention.

RG BARRY IS PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A 2025 TOP WORKPLACE!

At RG Barry, our team members are the driving force behind comfort, innovation, and sustainability. In 2025, weʼre setting a new standard—embracing better ways of working, bolder ideas, faster innovation, and fresher designs. With an unwavering commitment to our culture and community, weʼre redefining whatʼs possible across all our brands.

National Awards

These 28 employers have earned recognition as 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winners. They are either based in the Columbus area or have operations in Central Ohio. Each has more than 150 employees in the United States. Their positive employee survey feedback exceeded national benchmarks established by employee survey firm Energage.

WINNERS

Bridgeway – Academy & Therapy Center

The Buckeye Ranch CGI Daugherty Business Solutions Discover DNV Elford ERPA Fairfield County, Ohio Feazel Fifth Third Bank Groundworks Health Care Logistics

KEMBA Financial Credit Union

Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc. Licking Memorial Health Systems Lower NFM Lending Ohio State University Physicians

Panda Restaurant Group Inc.

PENN Entertainment Peoples Bank

Planes Companies

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

The Richwood Banking Co.

Romanoff Group

Total Quality Logistics – TQL

Union Home Mortgage Corp.

Hope for Healing

Four breast cancer survivors provide care and inspiration to patients facing their own diagnoses.

By SOPHIA VENEZIANO

+ Photo by TIM JOHNSON

Ten years ago in March, Dr. Deepa Halaharvi was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The diagnosis came eight months after she began her medical career as a breast cancer surgeon. The young osteopathic doctor had a dream that her father, who had recently passed away, was telling her to get a mammogram.

She would be diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.

The best stories of heroism often come from a personal struggle or a place of having overcome. For Halaharvi and three other women working to fight breast cancer at OhioHealth—Tara Ernske-Squire,

Katie Foster and Pauline Russ—this story is one they walk every day.

For each woman, the call to work in breast cancer treatment was rooted or reaffirmed through her personal battle with the disease.

INSPIRING HOPE

When Foster was just 31 years old and pregnant with her second son, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Through a “really scary” process of understanding her diagnosis, especially with a 1-year-old at home, she quickly connected with Halaharvi at OhioHealth Physician Group Breast Surgery. Two weeks later, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy and then began chemotherapy two weeks following the birth of her son.

Foster now works as a physician assistant in breast surgery under Halaharvi—in the same practice that treated her. “I’m so very grateful for Dr. Halaharvi and everything she’s done for me. She got me, and she took care of me. She saved my life,” Foster says. “Now I get to work alongside her every day. I can only hope to be half the woman she is some day.”

Having undergone her own breast cancer journey, and with it various complications and stages of grief, Halaharvi says she can relate to and care for patients “in more meaningful and profound ways.”

“I always say, ‘Who’s better to get breast cancer than a breast cancer surgeon?’ When I finished my training and after my dad passed away, my prayer was, ‘How could I be the best

Breast cancer survivors and OhioHealth employees (from left) Katie Foster, Pauline Russ, Tara Ernske-Squire and Dr. Deepa Halaharvi

breast cancer surgeon?’ Of course, it came from the diagnosis,” Halaharvi says.

Like Foster, Russ battled cancer while pregnant in her early 30s. However, she underwent chemotherapy treatment while still pregnant.

A physical therapist turned health administrator, Russ says she went from a mindset of shunning breast cancer care to becoming OhioHealth’s oncology service line director. In this role, she oversees the breast health program and the practice administrator for OhioHealth Physician Group Breast Surgery, who happens to be Ernske-Squire.

“You get more and more comfortable into your survivorship, and now I look for opportunities to help people because my role is very much administrative,” Russ explains. “If she [Halaharvi] has a person who’s either pregnant or has just had a baby and gets diagnosed, she sends me a note, ‘Hey, here’s a patient. Would you mind calling them?’ It takes me back to where I was 15 years ago.”

It was 10 years ago that Ernske-

You get more and more comfortable into your survivorship, and now I look for opportunities to help people.”

Pauline

Russ

Squire was navigating her own cancer diagnosis. She says it was the journey itself that inspired her to work in breast cancer care, so the former journalist changed career paths once more, leaving nursing to pursue health care leadership.

She says Russ encouraged her in the process of finding her own way to give back through health care administration after beating breast cancer.

“I feel like the times that give me the most joy are when I’m able to share my story,” Ernske-Squire says. “Their facial expressions change. It just completely makes it worth it for me.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Foster, too, finds fulfillment helping other women facing the fear of a cancer diagnosis while pregnant. Amid the unknowns of her cancer treatment, she underwent cold cap therapy to help reduce hair loss during chemotherapy. She is now passionate about increasing access to this treatment for other women.

“You can just see their face light up and they’re like, ‘Well, you have hair. ... Your baby is fine, right? You’re so young, but you’re OK,’ ” Foster says.

“I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Everything’s good,’ and you can just see it go across their faces: the worry and the fear to almost hope.”

This article was made possible by support from the Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation, which has partnered with Columbus CEO to profile those  making our community a better place. Help us inspire kindness by suggesting people, initiatives, or organizations for Reporter Sophia Veneziano to profile. She can be reached at sveneziano @dispatch.com. Learn more at columbusceo.com/kindness.

LinkedIn Best Practices: What to Do (and What to Avoid)

DO THIS

Personalize Your Connection Requests

When sending a connection request, add a personal note explaining why you want to connect.

Example: “Hi [Name], I saw your post about [topic] and found it very insightful. I’d love to connect and learn more about your experience in [industry].”

Engage Thoughtfully with Content

Like, comment, or share posts that resonate with you, adding your own insights or questions.

Example: Commenting with “Great point, [Name]! I’ve also noticed that [additional insight]. How do you see this trend evolving?”

Share Valuable Content

Post articles, updates, or original content that provides value to your network.

Example: Share a link to a recent article you wrote or an insightful industry report with your analysis.

For more LinkedIn and business social media tips and strategies, please contact Jackie Murphy, Founder & Owner of Queen Bee Jackie Creative, a Columbus-based, boutique marketing agency focused on organic and personal connections.

NOT THAT

Like Without Engaging

Don’t just like posts without adding any value or commentary.

Example: Clicking “Like” on a post but not following up with a comment or share.

Post Self-Promotional Content Only

Avoid posting solely about your own achievements or products without providing value to others.

Example: “Check out my new product! Buy it now at [link].”

Ignore Messages or Delay Responses

Don’t leave messages unread or take too long to reply, giving the impression you’re unengaged or uninterested.

Example: Not responding to a message for several days or more.

Leave Your Profile Outdated

Don’t neglect to update your position, company, or accomplishments. An outdated profile can give the impression that you’re inactive or unengaged in your career.

Example: Keeping an old job title listed or not including recent achievements, making it harder for recruiters or connections to understand your current role.

614-266-2439 | queenbeepaper@gmail.com | queenbeejackie.com

Serving Adult Learners Higher Education

Local colleges and universities are adapting their offerings to provide flexible, industry-aligned options that benefit students and employers.

By TIM FERAN

Demographics can be destiny, especially in the case of higher education.

A generation ago, universities and colleges were awash in qualified applicants, and one of the big struggles was having enough space for an expanding student body of young adults fresh out of high school.

But today? “Most students enrolled in college are adults,” says John L. Comerford, president of Otterbein University. “It shifted a few years ago.”

Those adult students don’t live on campus, and since many of them have jobs and families, they aren’t able to attend class at the same times or places with conventional students.

“People think of higher education as a leafy green campus with 18- to 22-year-olds living in dorms—and that’s still part of what we do,” Comerford says. “But the demographics have been changing. If you look at the trend lines, there just aren’t going to be enough 18- to 22-year-olds to go around for all the colleges and universities in Ohio.

“States like Ohio are overbuilt for higher education,” he said. “As some colleges get desperate for students, it becomes like having too many airlines with too many empty seats. As private colleges get desperate for students, they get closer to giving away seats. For a private university, that’s a tough thing.”

Educational institutions in Central

Ohio are responding to the changing student body—and the evolving needs of these new, adult student learners— through a variety of offerings.

Some are continuations or expansions of past courses, while others are groundbreaking efforts. They range from flexible, industry-aligned options and certificate offerings to master’s degree programs that cater to adult lifestyles.

At Otterbein, the Coalition for the Common Good is “still in the pilot stage,” Comerford says of the school’s 3-year-old partnership with Antioch University to create a system of affiliated, independent, not-forprofit higher education institutions.

“We have brought a number of Antioch University grad school programs to Central Ohio in clinical mental health, MBA and others. But, again, it’s dozens, not hundreds, of students so far.”

Some programs are entirely in person while others are online only. On weekends and in the summer, Otterbein’s buildings are open, allowing for plenty of in-person classes. “So, we’re doing it without adding overhead,” Comerford says. “We’re [offering classes] through the existing teachers at Otterbein and Antioch.”

Otterbein and Antioch have signed at least a half-dozen deals with

corporations to create workforce development programs combining customized job training with higher education accreditation.

In one of those deals, HR staffing and solutions organization InnoSource designed a two-week program called InnoSkilling in partnership with the Coalition for the Common Good and Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.

“This program is foundational to InnoSource and what we do,” InnoSource CEO Chad Delligatti said last year when the program launched.

It’s been successful in the early stage: The first class of students all still work at ADS, and their productivity is up 40 percent.

CLASSROOM AND REAL-WORLD LEARNING

At Columbus State Community College, executive in residence Scot McLemore spent a large portion of his career with American Honda Motor Co. anticipating where the industry was going and developing relevant training. “Back around 2014, while I was with Honda,” McLemore says, “we realized that we were not going to be able to offset the talent loss we were going to experience.”

A large cohort of workers approaching retirement, as well as a declining interest among potential

by Getty Images

Photo

Achieve Your Goals with a Degree from Franklin University

Earn your degree at Ohio’s #1 adult-focused university and join the ranks of Franklin University alumni who put their expertise to work at leading organizations like Nationwide, Cardinal Health and OhioHealth. Franklin’s faculty of in-field experts help you gain knowledge you can put to use right away, and our flexible online programs enable you to balance your education with your life. For a list of partnerships and programs designed to help you maximize your education benefits, go to franklin.edu/partners.

Franklin Makes It

Best MBA Program

• Accredited + 100% online

• In-demand specializations

Earn a FlexFIT MBA in as Few as 12 Months

Build Specialized Skills or Build On What You Know with Continuing Education Options

• Industry-recognized microcredentials + certificates

• Credit toward degrees for professional training and licenses

employees in working as a technician or engineer, were raising alarms. So, McLemore helped Honda lead the way in partnering with Columbus State to develop the Earn and Learn program. The initiative aimed to provide students with an opportunity to have paid work experience while completing their academic program.

Since the program launched, “things have definitely gotten more interesting,” McLemore says. Today, the Modern Manufacturing WorkStudy Program at Columbus State combines classroom and lab learning with a paid apprenticeship at a local industry partner. “One of the great things about the intent behind the Modern Manufacturing Work-Study was not to just satisfy Honda, but to satisfy the industry need for a multicraft workforce,” he says. “Looking back now, it was a great approach, knowing that this demand was only going to increase.”

While the Modern Manufacturing Work-Study program is similar to earlier efforts, “it’s at a much larger scale. Biotech, pharma, EV and others weren’t here in 2015. So, Columbus State is paying close attention to our industry partners, and to what will enable a student at Columbus State to be most successful.”

MEETING INDUSTRY NEEDS

Around the same time that Columbus State was first partnering with Honda, Franklin University recognized demand was increasing for shorter courses serving industry needs.

As an institution that serves a predominantly adult student body, Franklin University has “always had shorter offerings,” President David Decker says, although some of those did not earn students college credits. “We started integration of it into our curricula about eight years ago.”

The basic idea is simple: While the needs of corporations have always been filled by degree programs, some short-term needs can be addressed by a smaller set of academic programs.

“But validation of those is very important,” Decker says, both for industry—which must be assured that a worker is skilled—and for employees, who may want to apply those credentials to a future degree on their way up the corporate ladder.

“The content and material in

demand in these types of offerings is not a big mystery—IT, cybersecurity, AI, health care informatics and others—but what makes the programs really useful for corporations and for students is having configured them to meet both requirements,” Decker says.

Franklin has a multitude of offerings to serve those needs, as well as a huge number of corporate partners. “Franklin is always looking to see what the next move is,” he says. “AI is coursing through everything, of course. Franklin Works is our internal unit that arranges and implements agreements with corporations. We have about 100 corporate partners— Huntington, OhioHealth, Nationwide Children’s, among them—many, many of the biggest corporations in town.”

next five years to double our online student population.”

Students can earn online associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as undergraduate and graduate certificates, in areas ranging from cybersecurity and data analytics to environmental science, social work and more.

As with other educational institutions, Ohio State has “pretty significant engagement with local employers,” Lemon says. “They are coming to us and saying, ‘We’ve been here in Central Ohio for 10 years and have observed trends in our own employee population. We don’t want them to leave us, so can you help us create a bridge for our highest potential folks, and allow us to move them forward in their careers?’ ”

It’s a given that the marketplace is constantly evolving, so why would we think education is static?”

Jason Lemon, vice provost and dean for online learning at Ohio State University

DOUBLING DOWN ON ONLINE

Meanwhile, the biggest university in town has moved aggressively into serving the needs of adult students. A year and a half ago, Ohio State University hired Jason Lemon as vice provost and dean for online learning.

When he was in a similar role at the University of Cincinnati, Lemon saw the school’s 14 online programs, then serving 1,800 students, grow to 115 programs with nearly 8,000 students.

“It’s a significant effort and will have significant impact,” Lemon says. “OSU is engaged in not only being the state’s flagship in quality and research, but in creating a dynamic impact for people of all 88 counties.”

Lemon has hit the ground running. “We are experiencing double-digit growth in online degree program enrollment year over year,” he says. “There are more than 50,000 enrolled in noncredit professional development courses. That’s significant engagement. And we’re on track over the

While OSU will always offer the traditional undergraduate “rite of passage,” Lemon says his job is to make sure everyone realizes that the school has something to offer them. “We often talk about lifelong learning—it’s almost cliché—but really for the rest of your life, there’s a continuous learning process that plays out in every industry.

“So, as a university, we’re looking at short- , mid- and long-term needs of the community and employers, because we do have the ability to do online and nontraditional courses, and that makes us more flexible.

“It’s a given that the marketplace is constantly evolving, so why would we think education is static? The job I have today did not exist when I graduated. Now it’s a fundamental component of education that every institution has to engage.

“One of the things that’s really happening in the university environment is recognizing that either we need to be responsive to the inquiries and demands of learners and the people who employ them, or the learners will go elsewhere.

“It’s not the easiest path. People have professional responsibilities, home responsibilities, and maybe community responsibilities. So, when people get to a certain point in their lives, as a university do we say, ‘Does that disqualify them?’ or do we say, ‘Why not imagine ways to support their growth?’ ”

Tim Feran is a freelance writer.

2025 Columbus Legal Guide

Our annual directory of firms features 89 Central Ohio practices ranging in size from two to 182 attorneys.

Photo by Getty Images

In today’s increasingly complex business world, it’s imperative to have legal counsel you can trust. If your organization is looking for a new attorney, Columbus CEO can help narrow the search. Our 2025 Legal Guide features 89 law firms that specialize in a wide variety of practice areas, ranging in size from two-person offices to those with 50 or more lawyers.

Information in the directory was submitted by firms that responded to CEO’s annual survey of multiple-attorney practices. Listings include the number of partners and full-time attorneys (including partners) in the Columbus area, up to three areas of practice and the office’s managing partner.

To be added to the contact list for the 2026 Columbus Legal Guide, send an email to pressreleases@columbusceo.com.

Allen Stovall Neuman & Ashton LLP

10 W. Broad St., Suite 2400, Columbus 43215

614-221-8500

asnalaw.com

Partners: 7

FTE attorneys: 10 Practice areas: Bankruptcy; commercial litigation

Managing partner: None

Amundsen Davis

500 S. Front St., Suite 1200, Columbus 43215 614-228-5511 amundsendavislaw. com

Partners: 7

FTE attorneys: 11

Practice areas: Labor and employment; business litigation; general liability Managing partner of Columbus operations: Larry James

Amy M. Levine & Associates Attorneys at Law LLC

3 S. High St., New Albany 43054 614-224-5291 ohiowvlaw.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Family law; personal injury

Managing member: Amy Levine

Arenstein & Andersen Co. LPA

655 Metro Place S., Suite 900, Dublin 43017

614-602-6550

aacolpa.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 11

Practice areas: Business; estate planning; litigation

Managing partner: G. Gregory Arenstein

Arnold & Clifford LLP

115 W. Main St., Suite 400, Columbus 43004

614-460-1600

arnlaw.com

Partners: 7

FTE attorneys: 8

Managing partners: Damion M. Clifford and James E. Arnold

Artz, Dewhirst and Wheeler LLP

560 E. Town St., Columbus 43212 614-221-0944

adwllp.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas:

Estate planning; probate; family law

Managing partner: Terrence Wheeler

Bailey

Cavalieri LLC

Practice areas: Taxes; business litigation; labor and employment

10 W. Broad St., Suite 2100, Columbus 43215 614-221-3155

Photos by Getty Images

baileycav.com

Partners: 30

FTE attorneys: 51

Practice areas: Directors and officers liability; corporate; estate planning and tax Managing partner: Bob Dunn

BakerHostetler

200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 1200, Columbus 43215

614-228-1541

bakerlaw.com

Partners: 32

FTE attorneys: 70 Practice areas: Labor and employment; litigation; business Managing partner: Mark Hatcher

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

41 S. High St., Suite 3300, Columbus 43215

614-628-1405

btlaw.com

Partners: 14

FTE attorneys: 24

Practice areas: Litigation; transactional; government services and finance Managing partner: Pat Cornelius

Barr, Jones and Associates LLP

150 E. Mound St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-702-2222 barrjoneslegal.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 5

Practice areas: Family law; bankruptcy; criminal Managing partners: Andrew Jones/Jason Barr

Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & Eselgroth LLP

7259 Sawmill Road, Dublin 43016

614-210-1840 ohiocounsel.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 7 Practice areas:

Business planning; estate planning; dispute resolution Managing partner: David C. Barrett

Behal Duvall Law Group LLC

501 S. High St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-643-5050

behallaw.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas: Business law; family law; estate planning/probate

Managing partners: Bob Behal and DeAnna Duvall

Benesch

41 S. High St., Suite 2600, Columbus 43215 614-223-9300

beneschlaw.com

Partners: 17

FTE attorneys: 38

Practice areas: Health care; energy; litigation

Columbus office partner-in-charge: Frank Carsonie

Bergman & Yiangou 3099 Sullivant Ave., Columbus 43204 614-279-8276

byattorneys.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Estates; bankruptcy; family law

Managing partner: Robert D. Bergman

Bluestone Law Group LLC

141 E. Town St., Columbus 43215

614-220-5900

bluestonelawgroup. com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Real property valuation/ tax appeals; real estate transactions; eminent domain proceedings

Managing partner: Charles L. Bluestone

Borshchak Law Group 1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 380, Columbus 43204

614-334-6851

dlbcounsel.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas: Family law

Managing partner: Dmitriy Borshchak

Brian G. Miller Co. LLC

250 W. Old Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 270, Worthington 43085

614-221-4035

bgmillerlaw.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Personal injury (auto and workplace accidents); employment law (wage and hour violations)

Managing partner: Brian G. Miller

Bricker Graydon LLP

100 S. Third St., Columbus 43215

614-227-2300

brickergraydon.com

Partners: 48

FTE attorneys: 80

Practice areas: Litigation; public sector; health care

Managing partner: Jim Flynn

Buck & Fish Ltd. 3380 Tremont Road, Suite 110, Columbus 43221

614-538-2901

centralohio attorneys.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Family law including

divorce, dissolution & custody; collaborative law; adoptions

Managing partner: Elaine S. Buck

Burman & Robinson

580 S. High St., Suite 250, Columbus 43215

614-221-8900

burmanrobinson. com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas:

Creditors’ rights; commercial litigation; family law

Managing partner: Randal D. Robinson

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

1200 Huntington Center, 41 S. High St., Columbus 43215

614-621-1500

calfee.com

Partners: 9

FTE attorneys: 18

Practice areas: Corporate and finance; government relations and legislation; intellectual property Columbus office partner-in-charge: Leah Pappas Porner

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

950 Goodale Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus 43212

614-228-6135

cpmlaw.com

Partners: 14

FTE attorneys: 24 Practice areas: Estate planning; business law; litigation

Managing partner: Jane Higgins Marx

Carpenter Lipps LLP

280 N. High St., Suite 1300, Columbus 43215

614-365-4100

carpenterlipps.com

Partners: 21

FTE attorneys: 36 Practice areas: Litigation; energy; public policy

Managing partner: Michael H. Carpenter

Collins, Roche, Utley & Garner

655 Metro Place S., Suite 200, Dublin 43017

614-901-9600

cruglaw.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 6

Practice areas: Insurance defense; civil litigation; personal injury

Managing partner: Management committee

Dagger Law

144 E. Main St., Lancaster 43130

740-653-6464

daggerlaw.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 12

Practice areas:

Our business begins with you

At UB Greensfelder, our clients are the focal point of everything we do. With nationally recognized practices led by strong, strategic, and effective attorneys, we solve the most complex and demanding legal and business challenges for global clients. Let us put our winning business and litigation strategies to work for you.

Domestic relations; banking; estate planning and probate

Managing partners: Jeff Spangler, Nicholas Grilli and Alyssa Parrott

Dickie McCamey 10 W. Broad St., Suite 1950, Columbus 43215

614-258-6000

dmclaw.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 14

Practice areas:

Insurance defense; tort defense; transportation law

Managing partner: Joseph J. Golian

Dickinson Wright PLLC

180 E. Broad St., Suite 3400, Columbus 43215

614-744-2570

dickinsonwright. com

Partners: 24

FTE attorneys: 35

Practice areas:

Corporate and private equity; real estate; cannabis

Managing partners: Scot Crow and J. Troy Terakedis

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

191 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-628-6880 dinsmore.com

Partners: 39

FTE attorneys: 94

Practice areas: Health care; corporate; construction Managing partner: Stacey Borowicz

Donahey Law Firm

471 E. Broad St., Suite 1520, Columbus 43215

614-224-8166

donaheylaw.com

Partners: 4

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas: Medical negligence; trucking; nursing home neglect

Managing partner: Gordon D. Evans II

Eastman & Smith Ltd.

250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 280, Columbus 43215

614-564-1445

eastmansmith.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas:

Environmental; labor and employment; white-collar crime and investigations

Managing partner: Mark A. Shaw

Einstein & Gibson LLC

615 Copeland Mill Road, Suite 1H, Westerville 43081

614-734-0000

einsteinlawoffice. com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas: Family law; employment law; mediation

Managing partner: Dianne D. Einstein

Epstein Becker Green 250 West St., Suite 3, Columbus 43215

614-872-2500

ebglaw.com

Partners: 14

FTE attorneys: 22

Practice areas:

Employment; health care; litigation

Managing partner: Jennifer M. Nelson Carney

Fishel Downey

Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLC

7775 Walton Parkway, Suite 200, New Albany 43054 614-221-1216

fisheldowney.com

Partners: 6

FTE attorneys: 11

Practice areas: Labor and employment; insurance defense and litigation; discrimination law

Managing partner: Daniel T. Downey

Fisher & Phillips LLP

250 West St., Suite 400, Columbus 43215

614-221-1425

fisherphillips.com

Partners: 7

FTE attorneys: 10

Practice areas: Employment litigation; employee defection and trade secrets; workplace safety

Regional managing partner: Steven M. Loewengart

Flannery

Georgalis LLC

175 S. Third St., Suite 1060, Columbus 43220

380-444-6096

flannerygeorgalis. com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas: Criminal defense; civil

litigation; internal investigations

Partner-in-charge: Matthew Jalandoni

Friedman & Mirman

1320 Dublin Road, Suite 101, Columbus 43215

614-221-0090

friedmanmirman. com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 7

Practice areas: Family law; arbitration; mediation

Managing partner: Denise Mirman

The Friedmann Firm

3740 Ridge Mill Drive, Hilliard 43026

614-610-9755

tfflegal.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 5

Practice areas:

Employment law

Managing partner: Peter Friedmann

Golden & Meizlish Co. LPA

923 E. Broad St., Columbus 43205

614-258-1983

golmeizlaw.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas:

General; estates; transactional practice

Managing partner:

Keith E. Golden

Grossman Law Offices

32 W. Hoster St., Suite 100, Columbus 43215

614-221-7711

grossman lawoffices.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 12

Practice areas: Family law

Managing partner: Andrew S. Grossman

Haynes Kessler Myers Postalakis Inc.

300 W. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 100, Columbus 43085

614-892-9909

ohiolawyersgroup. com

Partners: 4

FTE attorneys: 11

Practice areas:

Domestic and family law; business law;

employment and labor law

Managing partners: S. Scott Haynes, David Kessler, Marc Myers and Stephen Postalakis

Hrabcak & Company LPA

67 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 100, Worthington 43085

614-781-1400

hrabcaklaw.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas: Real estate; business; litigation/trial practice

Managing partner: Michael Hrabcak

Isaac Wiles

Burkholder & Miller LLC

2 Miranova Place, Suite 700, Columbus 43215

614-221-2121

isaacwiles.com

Partners: 16

FTE attorneys: 30

Practice areas: Business/real estate; estate planning/probate; litigation

Managing partner: Brian M. Zets

Jeffrey M. Lewis Co. LPA

495 S. High St., #400, Columbus 43215 614-384-2075

lawyerlewis.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Litigation of all types; criminal; business

WOLINETZ | HORVATH | BROWN

consultation

Managing partner: Jeffrey M. Lewis

Johrendt & Holford

250 E. Broad St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-464-0082

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Commercial litigation; estate and tax; business Managing partner: N/A

Jones Day

325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 600, Columbus 43215

614-469-3939

jonesday.com

Partners: 24

FTE attorneys: 55

Practice areas:

Business and tort litigation; corporate; health care and life sciences

Partner-in-charge: Elizabeth P. Kessler

Joseph & Joseph & Hanna

155 W. Main St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-449-8282

josephandjoseph. com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Family law; real

estate law; corporate law

Managing partner: Courtney Hanna JRW Esquire Ltd. 1733 W. Lane Ave., Columbus 43221

380-239-8500

jrw.esq

Partners: N/A

FTE attorneys: 3 Practice areas: Corporate, commercial; mergers and acquisitions

Owner: Jeff Wahl

Kaman & Cusimano LLC

8101 N. High St., Suite 370, Columbus 43235

With more than 1,900 labor and employment attorneys around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow.

41 South High Street

Suite 3250

Columbus, OH 43215

littler.com LOCAL EVERYWHERE

614-882-3100

community associations.law

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas:

Community association law; condo law; HOA law

Columbus office

chair: Jeffrey Kaman

Katz, Pryor & DiCuccio LLP

503 S. High St., Suite 100, Columbus 43215

614-363-3500

kpdfirm.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Real

estate law; contract law; litigation

Managing partner: Steven M. Katz

Kegler Brown

Hill + Ritter

65 E. State St., Suite 1800, Columbus 43215

614-462-5400

keglerbrown.com

Partners: 41

FTE attorneys: 56

Practice areas:

Business law; government relations; litigation

Managing director: Steve Barsotti

Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe Co. LPA

88 W. Mound St., Columbus 43215

614-224-2678

ksrlegal.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas:

Family law; estates and probate; civil litigation

Managing partner: Julia L. Leveridge

Kincaid, Randall & Craine

2201 Riverside Drive, Suite 1, Columbus 43221

614-224-7193

krc-law.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Estate planning; estate administration; guardianships

Managing partner: S. Brewster Randall II

KJK

10 W. Broad St., Suite 2500, Columbus 43215

614-427-5731

kjk.com

Partners: 6

FTE attorneys: 9

Practice areas:

Corporate and securities; litigation and arbitration; estate, wealth and succession planning Partner-in-charge, Columbus: David Campbell Jr.

Kravitz Brown & Dortch LLC

65 E. State St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-464-2000

kravitzllc.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Civil litigation; criminal litigation; energy law

Managing partner: Michael Dortch

Kremblas & Foster

7632 Slate Ridge

Blvd., Reynoldsburg 43068

614-575-2100

ohiopatent.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Patent, trademark and copyright law

Managing partner: Jason Foster

The Law Firm of Shihab & Associates Co. LPA 5925 Wilcox Place, Dublin 43016

614-255-4872

shihablawyers.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas:

Immigration law

Managing partner: Gus Shihab

Law Offices of William L. Geary Co. LPA

155 W. Main St., Suite 101, Columbus 43215

614-228-1968

columbusfamily lawyer.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

ARNOLD & CLIFFORD

BEHAL DUVALL LAW GROUP

Practice areas: Divorce; custody; support (family law)

Managing partner: William L. Geary

Lawrence Law Office

57 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 100, Columbus 43085

614-228-3664

ohio-family-law.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 7

Practice areas: Divorce, dissolution and custody; estate planning; business law

Managing partner: Linda Lawrence Littler

41 S. High St. Suite 3250, Columbus 43215

614-463-4201

littler.com

Partners: 11

FTE attorneys: 20.7

Practice areas:

Employment and labor law

Office managing

shareholder: Lisa Kathumbi

Lumpe, Raber & Evans

1700 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus 43204

614-221-5212

ohioliquorlaw.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Ohio liquor licensing/ alcoholic beverage law

Managing partner: David A. Raber

Luper Neidenthal & Logan

1160 Dublin Road, Suite 400, Columbus 43215

614-221-7663

lnlattorneys.com

Partners: 8

FTE attorneys: 19

Practice areas: Creditor rights; litigation; real estate

Co-directors: Christian Donovan and Matthew Anderson

Mac Murray & Shuster LLP

6525 W. Campus Oval, Suite 210, New Albany 43054 614-939-9955

mslawgroup.com

Partners: 6

FTE attorneys: 10

Practice areas: Consumer law; privacy and data security; class action and regulatory enforcement defense

Managing partner: Michele Shuster Meyer Wilson 305 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus 43215 614-224-6000

meyerwilson.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas: Investment fraud and consumer class actions

Managing partner: David P. Meyer

Mowery Youell & Galeano Ltd.

485 Metro Place S., Suite 220, Dublin 43017

614-764-1444

myglaw.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 5

Practice areas: Litigation; employment law; family law

Managing partner: Judith E. Galeano

The Nigh Law Group

300 S. Second St., Columbus 43215

614-379-6444

nighlawgroup.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 6

Practice areas: Family law

Managing partner: Joseph Nigh

Onda LaBuhn

Ernsberger & Boggs Co. LPA

35 N. Fourth St., Suite 100, Columbus 43215

614-716-0500 ondalabuhn.com

Partners: 5

FTE attorneys: 10 Practice areas: Commercial real estate; tax; business litigation

Managing partner: Robert J. Onda

Peterson Law LLP

545 Metro Place S., Suite 435, Dublin 43017

614-365-7000

peterson-llp.com

Partners: 6

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas:

Corporate; litigation; criminal defense

Managing partner: N/A

Philipps & Graham LLC

5115 Parkcenter Ave., Suite 275, Dublin 43017

614-760-1801

pglawohio.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Special needs planning; estate planning; business planning

Managing partner: Logan Philipps and Derek Graham

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

41 S. High St., Suites 2800-3200, Columbus 43215

614-227-2000

porterwright.com

Partners: 56

FTE attorneys: 91

Practice areas: Corporate; labor; litigation

Managing partner: Robert Tannous

Reminger Co. LPA

200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 800, Columbus 43215

614-228-1311

reminger.com

Partners: 18

FTE attorneys: 25

Practice areas: Workers’ compensation; medical malpractice defense; insurance coverage/bad faith

Managing partner: Ronald Fresco

David W. Pryor, Esq.

To David W. Pryor, inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN), an honor reserved for the nation’s most experienced and trusted mediators and arbitrators.

David Pryor started his own law practice and a separate mediation practice following 34 years as a civil litigator and practitioner. His practice still includes litigation, insurance claims, personal injury, real estate, business and agricultural law. David served as an adjunct professor at Capital University from 1987 to 2006. He also served as the chairman of the agricultural law committees for the American Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association and Columbus Bar Association. David was a co-managing partner at the firm of Gallagher Gams Pryor Tallan and Littrell from 1996-2018. In January 2019 David left his group of 35 years to focus on his mediation practice. Pryor Mediation Services LLC purchased and renovated a beautiful building in the historical area of downtown to accommodate the mediation practice. For the last five years David has averaged almost 200 mediations annually and has maintained a 96.5% success rate. David Pryor has recently been named “A Top Lawyer for Alternative Dispute Resolution 2024 by Columbus CEO and inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) in 2025.

Roetzel & Andress

41 S. High St., 21st Floor, Columbus 43215

614-463-9770

ralaw.com

Partners: 14

FTE attorneys: 24

Practice areas: Litigation; probate, estates, trusts; corporate/ transactional

Managing partner: Erika L. Haupt

Rohrbacher

Trimble & Zimmerman Co. LPA

470 Olde

Worthington Road, Suite 430, Westerville Ohio 614-726-3080

rtz-law.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Civil litigation; insurance defense; special investigations unit/ fraud investigation Managing partner: Todd Zimmerman

Ronald R. Petroff

140 E. Town St., Suite 1070, Columbus 43215

614-222-4288

psalaws.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 5

Practice areas: Family law; adoption; prenuptial agreements

Managing partner: Ronald R. Petroff

Shumaker

41 S. High St., Suite 2400,

Columbus 43215

614-463-9441

shumaker.com

Partners: 4

FTE attorneys: 11

Practice areas: Litigation; environmental; government affairs Managing partner: Michael J. O’Callaghan

Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP

2000 Huntington Center, 41 S. High St., Columbus 43215 614-365-2700

squirepattonboggs. com

Partners: 22

FTE attorneys: 66

Practice areas: Litigation; corporate; labor and employment

Managing partner: Traci Martinez

Standley Law Group LLP 6300 Riverside Drive, Dublin 43017 614-792-5555

standleyllp.com

Partners: 6

FTE attorneys: 8

Practice areas: Patents; trademarks; copyrights

Managing partner: Jeffrey S. Standley

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Huntington Center, 41 S. High St., Suite 2200, Columbus 43215 614-221-5100

steptoe-johnson. com

Partners: 9

FTE attorneys: 9.4

Practice areas:

Litigation; labor and employment; corporate/mergers and acquisitions

Office managing member: J. Kevin West

Strip Hoppers

Leithart McGrath & Terlecky LPA

575 S. Third St., Columbus 43215

614-228-6345

columbuslawyer.net

Partners: 7

FTE attorneys: 13

Practice areas:

Bankruptcy and insolvency; business representation/ litigation; family law

Managing partner: Ken Goldberg

Taft

41 S. High St., Suite 1800, Columbus 43215

614-221-2838

taftlaw.com

Partners: 26

FTE attorneys: 44.71

Practice areas: Commercial litigation; employment and labor relations; construction Columbus partnerin-charge: Janica Pierce Tucker

Teetor Westfall LLC

200 E. Campus View Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus 43235

614-412-4000 teetorwestfall.com

Partners: 8

FTE attorneys: 9

Practice areas: Litigation; business and commercial; general practice

Managing partner: Management committee

Thomas Law Group 5148 Blazer

Parkway, Suite A, Dublin 43017 614-761-7701 thomaslawgroup. com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 3

Practice areas: Estate planning; family law; business matters

Managing partners: Chad P. Hanke and Cheryl H. DeVore

Thompson Hine

41 S. High St., Suite 1700, Columbus 43215

614-469-3200 thompsonhine.com

Partners: 18 FTE attorneys: 35.25

Practice areas:

Business litigation; construction/ site selection; investment management Office partner-incharge: Michael V. Wible

UB Greensfelder LLP

65 E. State St., Suite 1100, Columbus 43215

614-229-0000 ubglaw.com Partners: 6

2201 RIVERSIDE DRIVE • COLUMBUS,

FTE attorneys: 14

Practice areas: Business litigation; intellectual property; product liability

Managing partner: Rex A. Littrell

Vorys

52 E. Gay St., Columbus 43215

614-545-6400

vorys.com

Partners: 105

FTE attorneys: 182

Practice areas: Litigation; corporate; real estate

Managing partner: Michael Martz

Walter Haverfield

250 E. Town St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215

614-246-2150

walterhav.com

Partners: 2

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Business services/ succession; real estate finance/ development/ leasing; hospitality and liquor control Columbus partnerin-charge: Alicia Zambelli

Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA

and litigation; bankruptcy, probate and real estate default

Managing partner: James Kozelek

Weston Hurd LLP 101 E. Town St., Suite 500, Columbus 43215

614-280-0200

westonhurd.com

Partners: 12

FTE attorneys: 13

Practice areas: Insurance; litigation/ trial practice; real property/ construction Columbus office partner-in-charge: Steven G. Carlino

Wolinetz, Horvath & Brown LLC

250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 600, Columbus 43215 614-341-7775

wolinetzlaw.com

Partners: 4

FTE attorneys: 6

Practice areas: Domestic relations

Managing partner: Barry Wolinetz

Wrightsel Law Group

5475 Rings Road, Suite 200, Dublin 43017 614-801-2600

weltman.com

Partners: 3

FTE attorneys: 7

Practice areas: Consumer and commercial collections

2935 Kenny Road, Columbus 43221 614-255-3388

wrightsellaw.com

Partners: 1

FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas: Estate planning; trust and estate administration; real estate development

Managing partner: Bradley B. Wrightsel

8th Annual Columbus Chamber Foundation Golf & Tennis Invitational

Presented by

Monday, June 16, 2025

The Medallion Club 5000 Club Drive, Westerville, OH 43082

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s goal is to remove barriers to prosperity and growth in the Columbus Region business community through strong relationships and purposeful inclusion. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)3.

Presenting Partners

with media support from:

Investments in Caring

Health systems in Columbus are pushing the envelope on cancer treatment, from proton therapy to consolidated clinics.

By Kathy Lynn Gray

Cancer treatments are evolving daily, and Central Ohioans are fortunate to have access to world-class doctors and treatment centers. Here are a few of the newest innovations and future improvements for cancer care available locally.

PROTON THERAPY MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE

Children’s cancer treatments can come with dangerous side effects that may not show up for decades. So, when proton therapy treatment became available in Columbus in late 2023, cancer specialists at Nationwide Children’s Hospital knew it was a game changer.

“It’s especially vital for children,” says Dr. Timothy Cripe, chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology/Blood and Marrow Transplant at Nationwide Children’s. While radiation for cancer passes through tissues above and below a tumor, proton beams deposit all their energy into the tumor and stop, so fewer noncancerous cells are damaged, Cripe explains. That’s important when treating brain cancer and inoperable tumors, but also for cancers where radiation treatments

could stunt a child’s growth or cause a deformity, he says.

Nationwide Children’s partnered with the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center –Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute to create the $100 million proton center, which is located on Ohio State’s west campus and also used by adult cancer patients. Three people can be treated at once with the 90-ton unit, which allowed nearly 3,000 treatments to be dispensed in the first year, Cripe says.

“The machine we put in is the most advanced in the world as far as precision and the speed at which the beam can deliver the energy,” he says. Future clinical trials will determine if proton therapy can give a patient six weeks’ worth of therapy in one dose, which Cripe says would be a “huge game changer.”

PLANS GEL FOR OUTPATIENT CENTER

With an eye toward making the cancer journey easier, OhioHealth is planning a new $225 million outpatient cancer center that will consolidate medical services in one location.

The 199,000-square-foot center will be an expansion of OhioHealth’s administrative campus at Olentangy River Road and West North Broadway,

about a half-mile east of Riverside Methodist Hospital.

“The patient will have access to all their providers, all in one place, which will ease the process and the burden on them,” says Dr. Praveen Dubey, OhioHealth vice president, cancer care. A breast cancer patient, for example, could have advanced imaging and a biopsy there, as well as labs, genetic counseling, radiation therapy and surgeon appointments.

Columbus Oncology & Hematology also will be part of the center, leasing 30,000 square feet for a medical clinic, an infusion space and a pharmacy. The clinic and center will be independent but will partner for patient care, Dubey says.

The new center won’t replace OhioHealth’s cancer centers in Dublin and Westerville, but will have some services those centers don’t provide. It will, however, replace the five-story Bing Cancer Center that opened in 2012 on Riverside’s campus, Dubey says. “We’ve outgrown the Bing,” he says. “We want to bring in new services to enhance the patient experience, and we intend to build out orthopedic oncology and our outpatient palliative clinic.”

Construction on the new center is expected to begin in spring 2026 and be completed by 2029. It will include renovations to the current structure and a new parking garage.

WHEN TREATMENT HURTS, THIS CLINIC HELPS

Immunotherapy cancer treatments have been a miracle for many patients, but side effects are common. To help,

OhioHealth’s planned outpatient cancer clinic

the OSUCCC – James set up the James Immunotherapy Management Clinic, aimed at managing side effects and improving patients’ quality of life.

Rheumatologist Dr. Alexa Meara heads the clinic, helping patients manage symptoms when their revved-up immune system attacks healthy cells, as well as cancerous ones. Immunotherapy side effects can include a skin rash, inflammatory arthritis and destruction of the thyroid, she says.

“People can develop immune reactions, and we have no way to predict the severity,” says Meara, an associate professor in OSU’s oncology division in the internal medicine department. “It’s a whole different way to look at cancer, a more wholistic way, to keep it at bay and do our best to monitor the toxicity. What treatment, what drugs can I give to improve the side effects so patients can stay on whatever cancer drug they’re on?”

Meara says she’s been surprised by the response from clinic patients. “I’ve had them say: ‘I was alive, but you helped me live,’ ” she says.

The clinic began operating more

than two years ago, and Meara sees patients two days a week. She also does research, sets up clinical trials and talks to officials at other hospitals about establishing similar clinics. Recently, she launched a nonprofit to help patients and medical professionals learn how to manage immunotherapy side effects. “This is going to fundamentally change medicine,” she says. “It will be wholepatient interdisciplinary care.”

NO MORE RADIATION TATTOOS

Mount Carmel Health System has become the first in Central Ohio to move toward markless radiation therapy for cancer patients.

“Usually, we place tattoos on a patient’s skin to make sure the radiation is aligned appropriately,” says Dr. Malolan Rajagopalan, co-medical director of Mount Carmel’s oncology service line and a radiologist. Now, he says, Mount Carmel radiologists use Surface Guidance Radiation Treatment, which scans and maps a patient’s body and uses the millions of spots on the skin to precisely target where to aim the radiation beam.

“It’s quicker, more accurate and more patient friendly,” Rajagopalan says. “A lot of patients don’t want a visual reminder of their treatment, and patients are really happy when we tell them they don’t have to have a tattoo.”

Another advantage to surface guidance is that the radiation beam automatically stops if the patient moves during the treatment. “If someone coughs, it will hold the radiation beam and then we can quickly resume the treatment,” Rajagopalan says.

Mount Carmel started using surface guidance on breast cancer patients and has expanded its use to all cancers treated with radiation, Rajagopalan says. The technology has been available for a few years, and Mount Carmel began using it in 2024.

“A lot of the change was driven by listening to our patients,” Rajagopalan says. “We took that feedback and made the treatments entirely markless.”

Kathy Lynn Gray is a freelance writer. This story also appears in the March 2025 issue of Columbus Monthly. The Conference Center at OCLC offers easy access to first-rate meeting accommodations in a secluded, private setting on the OCLC campus.

• Exceptional audio-visual services

MEETING PLANNING GUIDE VENUES

These unique corporate event spaces in Columbus boast facilities and staffs that can accommodate a variety of business needs.

CAMERON MITCHELL PREMIER EVENTS

The right partner makes all the difference when hosting a corporate event that leaves a lasting impression. Cameron Mitchell Premier Events (CMPE) has been a leading caterer in Central Ohio since 2001, offering unparalleled expertise in event planning, exceptional cuisine, and a commitment to genuine hospitality. Whether you’re organizing a conference, networking reception, or company celebration, their team is ready to bring your vision to life.

An unforgettable event starts with a unique venue to set the stage. CMPE offers three exclusive venues: The Exchange at Bridge Park, a modern, versatile space located in Dublin, Ohio, ideal for conferences, galas, and large corporate gatherings; The Terrace, a stunning space that provides breathtaking skyline views from the wraparound balcony in the heart of the Short North, perfect for cocktail receptions, client appreciation events, and team-building activities; and The Stack at Municipal Light Plant, the newest CMPE location, a historic, industrial-style venue in the Arena District, providing a one-of-a-kind atmosphere for galas, product launches, and more. Beyond their exclusive venues, they are celebrated for their strong relationships with numerous venues across Central Ohio. The perfect backdrop for every event theme can be found with CMPE.

CMPE builds on each event theme with their great food that brings people together. Culinary excellence is at the heart of what they do. As a chef-driven company, they create menus that perfectly pair with every event’s vision, whether the host desires sophisticated hors d’oeuvres, interactive food stations, or a multicourse plated dinner. They craft crave-worthy food to enhance each guest’s experience and

7619 Huntington Park Drive, Columbus 614-848-4700

cameronmitchellpremierevents.com

showcase the delectable flavors of the cuisine. From bold global cuisine to timeless classics with a modern twist, the chef team designs menus that are both delicious and memorable.

With over two decades of experience, CMPE has earned a reputation for impeccable service and cutting-edge events. The dedicated team partners with each host throughout the process, ensuring no detail is overlooked. They handle the 1,001 details from venue coordination to custom menu planning, allowing hosts to feel like VIPs at their events.

Whether you’re hosting an intimate executive meeting or a companywide award celebration, CMPE is ready to

deliver an extraordinary event experience. Let them help create an event that reflects a company’s values, celebrates achievements, and leaves a lasting impression.

Whether hosting a distinguished gala at one of our exclusive venues or bringing an elevated dining experience to your space in central Ohio, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events ensures seamless execution, impeccable service, and a menu designed to impress. From boardrooms to ballrooms, we make every event exceptional.

MEETING PLANNIN G GUIDE - VENUES

VITRIA ON THE SQUARE

Vitria on the Square is Columbus’ newest sophisticated event venue to host your upcoming celebration. Vitria is located at the storied intersection of 15th & High within steps of the iconic Ohio State University Oval, as well as Mirror Lake. The venue is proud to feature elevated dining with a beverage-forward approach that will leave your guests impressed and stand out from their typical event experience. The culinary team prides themselves on curating menus specific to the event they are hosting and suggests special touches to enhance the experience for all attendees. The beverage team enjoys customizing cocktails with freshpressed juices and signature garnishes unique to an event that add a custom touch.

The Grand Ballroom at Vitria on the Square features 25-foot, floor-toceiling windows that overlook several of the iconic landmarks of The Ohio State University. This space features built-in, state-of-the-art monitors that can showcase logos, a slideshow or custom artwork during an event. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 320 guests seated at round tables with a stage or dance floor, or 500 seated theater style.

The Gallery is just outside of the Grand Ballroom and is ideal for a cocktail reception or seating area. This space has natural lighting and features its own private balcony overlooking University Square, which is available for guests to enjoy. The Gallery features soft seating and artwork throughout the space and offers a built-in monitor to display a logo, slideshow, or custom artwork, as well.

14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus

614-540-3436

vitriaonthesquare.com

The Terrace Ballroom, which is just on the opposite side of the Gallery, is surrounded by windows and features its own private balcony also looking out to University Square. The space can accommodate 100 guests seated at round tables or 150 guests in theater-style seating. This space can split into two separate sections that could both accommodate 50 guests seated at round tables. The Terrace Ballroom also features two built-in monitors that guests can utilize as they would like.

Breakdown

BY KATY SMITH

Invested in Linden

JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon dropped by the bank’s Northern Lights Community Center at 3233 Cleveland Ave. on Feb. 12 to celebrate with the Linden branch’s staff and local leaders. Surrounded by photographers and local media personalities, Dimon’s message to the Linden community was one of support: “Chase is not a fair-weather friend,” he told reporters.

The Chase community branch model, which started in Harlem and has grown to 19 with the Linden center, invests in low-income neighborhoods, hiring community managers to support local businesses and residents with resources, education—and a friendly face. The idea is to help people who may be hesitant to set foot inside a bank branch feel more comfortable accessing services there once they begin building trust with a community manager. In the case of the Linden center, that person is Marlon Platt, who joined Chase following years of community engagement on behalf of the African

American Male Wellness Walk.

Platt leads free financial workshops on budgeting, credit and homeownership at the center, which is meant to serve as a gathering place. He was joined Feb. 12 by Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus Urban League President Stephanie Hightower, among other community leaders, in praising the bank’s continuing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and its partnership to underserved communities.

Dimon also talked about Chase’s decision to bring workers back to the office full time, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration for innovation and decision-making. Dimon also decried the negative economic consequences of remote work on local communities.

The leader of the nation’s largest bank—and the fifth-largest bank in the world, according to the April 2024 S&P Global Market Intelligence report—also warned about persistent inflation and the impact of tariffs on the economy.

$1.5 MILLION investment in the Northern Lights Community Center, which was contracted to local women-owned firm Wesney Construction

$33.7 MILLION local philanthropic contributions from 2019 to 2024, supporting minority-owned business growth, workforce training, affordable housing and more

65+ local branches

18,600 local employees

61,000 small business clients

Photo by

Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch

CHASE BY THE NUMBERS

Brittany Vinson of We Are Linden takes a picture of (from left) JP Morgan Chase & Co. Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Ginther’s chief of staff, Elon Simms, at the Northern Lights Community Center.

EverydayKindness Heroes

Sometimes the beneficiary is a stranger. Sometimes it’s a friend, acquaintance or colleague. We look to honor those who perform extraordinary selfless acts to improve, heal and unite our community.

Consider lifting up the volunteer quietly aiding their neighbors or the community member tirelessly advocating for change. We need your help to recognize the kind, selfless heroes among us.

NONSTOP FLIGHTS TO LAX START HERE

Trade airport layovers for boardroom takeovers with daily nonstop flights to Los Angeles on American.