Culture of Caring
Inside Kara Trott’s mission to demystify health insurance
PAGE 8
Growing the Region
Business leaders focus on building the local economy. PAGE 26
COLUMBUS PARTNERSHIP ISSUE INSPIRING WOMEN
Mount Carmel Dublin Central Ohio’s newest hospital by the numbers PAGE 48
Karen Morrison and seven other change-makers
PAGE 13
In 1998, Darla King was determined not to allow her future to be stifled. Working in an industry saturated with male leaders Darla found herself ready to lead in a new way that would break cultural norms, stand as model for other women, and inspire women to reach out for guidance along their own path. Early on Darla could be found serving on community boards as the only woman voice in the room, or her energy would be directed at engaging other women to advance their businesses all while managing and growing her own company from a startup of 5 people to a thriving organization of 72 employees. Our Inspiring Leader, Darla King, personifies what it means to honestly care, not only for her own organization but for the community in which she serves. We honor her courageous step in 1998, as it has given way to countless women to follow in finding their own success.
From the very first step I took in this business, my mother has been my mentor & and an inspiring leader I have looked up to. Her unwavering dedication, courage, and vision have not only shaped our company but have inspired countless others around her over the past 30 years. Today, as we honor her legacy, I am reminded that true leadership is not just about achieving success; it’s about lifting others as you climb. Thank you, Mom, for being my pillar of strength and inspiration.
— Chelsea King Deane, CEO King Business Interiors
Darla’s mentorship was a beacon of guidance and inspiration. She believed in me when I doubted myself, guided me with wisdom, and helped transform my dreams into a thriving reality. Your unwavering support and guidance have been the foundation of my success. Thank you for showing me the way!
— Lynsey Jordan, Founder Permit Solutions
As a champion for women, children, and families in Central Ohio Darla leveraged her Connecting the Dots program to meet our needs at the Childhood League Center. Her personal level of commitment to connect our needs with available resources speaks volumes about her generous, kind, and thoughtful character.
— Ginger Young, CEO The Childhood League Center
THE COLUMBUS PARTNERSHIP FOCUS
Photo by Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch
Editor’s Notes
* jhohbach@ColumbusCEO.com
Celebrating Women Who Make a Difference
The issue you’re holding in your hands is a very special one for us here at Columbus CEO and our sister publication Columbus Monthly , as we partner to celebrate inspirational women doing good works in our community.
This first-of-its-kind venture shines a spotlight on 23 women who make a difference and lift up the region through their actions as trailblazers, entrepreneurs, change agents, volunteers and more.
You’ll find eight of them in CEO, and another 15 in Columbus Monthly’s May issue. In these pages, from bankers to a salon owner, a public relations executive to four nonprofit leaders, they share why they do what they do and why it’s important to them to give back and lift up future generations.
We’ll celebrate all of these remarkable women at a joint event on tap June 18 at Vitria on the Square, 14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus. Look for ticket information on our website and social media pages.
The May issue also features our annual focus on The Columbus Partnership, the nonprofit civic organization that plays a key role in business development and policy in the region. Its 82-member roster includes representatives from public and private companies, nonprofits, and government and educational institutions. (Find the list on Page 38.)
The Partnership is under new leadership this year after Jason Hall joined the organization as president and CEO in January, but its mission remains the same. Learn how the group is partnering with other entities to help bring new economic development to the Columbus region, including Anduril Industries’ advanced drone manufacturing facility in Pickaway County that is expected to generate 4,000 direct jobs in the next 10 years and more than $2 billion in annual economic impact. But smaller wins are
important, too, as are efforts to improve local transportation, enhance quality of life through sports and arts, and support students who want to pursue higher education. Read the latest on the Partnership’s efforts starting on Page 26.
On a final note, I hope you’ll keep an eye on ColumbusCEO.com and our social media pages for the launch of our 18th Best of Business reader poll. The annual survey aims to find your favorite places, spaces and organizations to do business with. Voting runs May 8 to June 12, and results will appear in our September issue.
Thanks for reading.
Julanne Hohbach Editor
By TC BROWN
Culture of Caring
Motivated by patients’ frustration with health care, Kara Trott left a legal career and built a business to help them navigate the system.
Kara J. Trott considers herself an “accidental entrepreneur” who never dreamed that she would lead a billion-dollar company.
But when she noticed a disconnect in the health care system that left patients frustrated and confused, she wanted to help solve it, so she founded Quantum Health Inc. in 1999. The private company now allies itself with more than 550 self-insured employers and 3.1 million members, helping them slog their way through insurance issues, treatment and provider options, and more.
Investors have told Trott she is one of about 60 women to take a company from zero to over $1 billion in valuation. Former corporate executive Bruce Krysiak, Quantum’s first investor, says people trust Trott and instantly respond to her energy. “Behind all the big things, she’s got character and humility and judgment underneath,” he says. “She has built a culture within the company, and not many people can do that.”
It’s clear there’s a need for Quantum, which serves a variety of clients with its health care navigation and care coordination services. The cost of employee-sponsored health care coverage is expected to increase by 9 percent this year, surpassing $16,000 per employee, according to professional services firm Aon. Trott, who stepped down as
Quantum’s CEO in 2021 and now serves as board chair, started the company to fill a void in the market by helping employees navigate the challenges of health care. “People describe a journey in the system as like Dorothy dropping into Oz. It’s dark, scary and awful,” she says. “It’s a very long journey, and our job is to walk along beside them. We have what we call a warrior creed.”
Members want someone “cuddly” to help them, and they need to be loved and cared for, says Trott, who has always been driven by an innate
need to make an impact and leave the world a better place. But in addition to feeling heard, they also want someone who will stand up for them. “Some imagery the team created were bunnies with guns or Yoda, who was cute but could really do battle,” she says. “Members want us to kick people’s a---- and fight on their behalf because they can’t do it.”
From that, the front-line staff who partner with Quantum’s members became known as “Healthcare Warriors.” In early April, these Warriors and the company won a
Silver Stevie Award in the Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year category as part of the annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.
A large part of Quantum’s work is centered around compassion, an integral part of Trott’s personality, according to those who know her. Shannon Skaggs, Quantum’s chief AI officer, says the early loss of her father, noted Columbus architect Richard W. Trott, contributed to Trott’s sensitivity and empathy. “It probably would have been easier for her to be a killer lawyer, but she chose to make an
impact on the world,” Skaggs says.
Quantum Health was a distinctive concept when Trott started the company, which turned 26 years old on April 1. No other organization in the country did this work, but now Quantum has two competitors, San Francisco-based Included Health and Accolade, which was acquired in early April by Transcarent.
Trott did not have a traditional health care background when she started Quantum. The Ohio Wesleyan University graduate started her career in 1984 leading consumer research
Kara J. Trott Founder and board chair Quantum Health Inc.
Previous: CEO, Quantum Health; partner, HealthServe LLC; associate, Bricker & Eckler; senior consultant, Retail Planning Associates Worldwide
Education: Bachelor’s degree in politics and philosophy, Ohio Wesleyan University; law degree, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Involvement: Member, The Columbus Partnership, Ohio State University board of trustees, Ohio Wesleyan University board of trustees, National Council for Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana governing board
studies for Retail Planning Associates Worldwide. The job required her to study consumers’ journeys when buying products in stores, shopping for cars and obtaining banking services. “We helped clients do a better job of addressing where opportunities existed and things disconnected with people and it didn’t make sense for them,” she says. “When stores redesigned to fit consumers’ natural behavior patterns, you’d see a 10- to 20-percent in-store sales increase.”
After earning a degree in 1991 from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Trott practiced corporate law for six years at Bricker & Eckler. Midway through her tenure there, the firm moved her to transactional health care work between nonprofits, hospital systems and providers. She was also asked to create strategies for provider organizations. “My first real introduction to health care was the business of health care,” Trott says. “A lot of that was in strategy sessions with physicians and hospital administrators.”
That’s when Trott began hearing about the challenges facing patients. “I asked a lot of questions, like, ‘Who is helping these people?’ and ‘Isn’t someone connecting the dots for these people?’ ” she says.
Then the aha moment struck.
Photo by Tim Johnson
“There was no clear way for a person to get through a health care journey, and people were bewildered, didn’t know what was happening to them and couldn’t make good decisions,” Trott says. “It was a crazy world out there.”
The situation was reminiscent of her retail research efforts—what things don’t work, where do people get stuck, and what’s their state of mind going through it? She began to understand the waste and inefficiency in health care, why the experience was bad for most people, and how no one was available to guide them.
“If you could understand this like we understood with retail goods and services, you could create a pathway for them and could be there at precise times to assist and support and find a solution for them,” she says. “And if we did it right, we could reduce the cost of health care and dramatically improve the experience and improve health care outcomes.”
After leaving Bricker & Eckler in 1996, Trott undertook a study of people’s journeys as they traversed the health care quagmire, searching for critical connection points and disconnects where intervention could help. That two-year study of 3,200 patients and nearly 300 doctors convinced her to launch Quantum Health.
The company started small with a few test clients but now employs 2,400 workers, with 60 percent to 70
percent of the workforce in Columbus. And it continues to expand. More than 550 self-insured companies work with Quantum, which gained 90 new clients in 2024 alone.
“We become the face of the plan,” Trott says. “We work with patients and providers both at the same time at the earliest points of their health care journey, where you can impact choices and challenges that they encounter.”
While it started slowly, the business has since snowballed. “It took us 20 years to get to a million members, two years to get to 2 million and one year to get to 3 million,” she says. “We are on that kind of a pace now because the product works and produces a great result.”
On average, clients see a 5 percent to 6 percent reduction in costs the first year, and the majority of employees’ heath care outcomes improve, Trott says.
Those who know Trott trace her success to one of her main attributes: focus. Leadership consultant Todd Gross, CEO of NgenioUSA, calls her “wicked smart” and says her ability to zero in on everything is uncommon. Also she instinctively understood her business had to be culture-focused to be successful.
“Many entrepreneurs I know have what I call the shining-object syndrome; they’re always looking for what’s next or how can they change what they are doing,” he says. “Quantum was in the business of being caring and compassionate, and she had an intense focus on creating and maintaining that culture.”
Additionally, Trott is a deep thinker
who has command of the business and can adjust her style as needed. And employees, especially front-line workers, are recognized for their efforts, says Steven Knight, Quantum’s chief operating officer. “She always prioritized not being the face of things, but letting the employees receive the recognition,” he says. “If you see Quantum Health, there’s a good chance you won’t see leadership.”
Trott has been recognized with multiple national awards, including Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women Leaders and Female Entrepreneur of the Year by the Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The company has been recognized locally and nationally as a top-tier employer, including by Columbus CEO’s Top Workplaces awards, Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care and the Great Place to Work Best Small and Medium Workplaces list.
Trott’s first book, “No One Alone: Humanizing Health Care as an Outsider,” was published in April, and a documentary film, “Resonance: Journey to a Billion,” featuring Quantum Health and its culture, is in production for use as a business training resource.
Quantum Health’s founder is proud that the business still thrives by maintaining its compassionate culture to help those stuck within the health care maze.
“Health care is commonly a horrible experience, whether you are a truck driver or a Ph.D.,” Trott says. “We are here to take on the hard stuff for the members.”
TC Brown is a freelance writer.
Photo
Trott and other Quantum Health leaders participate in the ringing of the Nasdaq opening bell at the 41st annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in 2023.
Trott signs copies of her new book at Forbes on Fifth in New York City.
Women
Written by staff and contributors Photography by Tim Johnson
Meet 23 trailblazers making Columbus a better community for everyone.
Barb Smoot • Lisa Berger and Ilaria Rawlins • Lisa Hinson • Amy Klaben
Debbie Penzone • Angela Plummer Karen Morrison Dr. Amy Acton • Ukeme Awakessien
Jeter • Lourdes Barroso de Padilla • Jeni
• Michelle Brandt • Sophia Fifner
A joint effort with Columbus Monthly
Find profiles of the women listed in black at left in its May issue.
Women
three times more often than their male counterparts for a commercial loan.”
Rawlins pitched her former First Financial boss, Tony Stollings, who saw potential in the mission and his former colleague. “She’s smart. She knows retail banking inside and out and she’s learning quickly the other parts of banking,” he says. “She recognizes what she doesn’t know and works hard at gaining additional experience and knowledge.”
He quickly came to realize Berger, too, was a significant asset to the leadership team, and he agreed to sign on as the fourth founder. “It didn’t take me long to recognize Lisa as an entrepreneur—very smart, very driven. I’ve rarely seen a person that goes after something more than she does,” Stollings says.
It took three and a half years for Fortuna, named after the Roman goddess of fortune, to go from ideation to full FDIC approval, which it received in December. The founders began a capital raise after receiving conditional approval from the Ohio Division of Financial Institutions in August 2023.
Fortuna attracted 30 shareholders and raised $20.76 million, topping the $20 million required by regulators.
The founders set the minimum investment at $10,000 to allow more people to participate. About 75 percent of its investors are women. Two corporate partners, OhioHealth and Park National Bank, also joined the effort.
The community support, including from other local banks, has been overwhelming, Rawlins says. As of late March, Fortuna—whose primary focus is commercial customers—had about 10 clients, $36 million in total assets, $16 million in deposits and $3 million in loans. Their five-year goal is to reach $250 million in assets, which would align with other local de novo banks. Berger and Rawlins emphasize that while Fortuna is women-owned and its philanthropic mission focuses on women, everyone is welcome to bank there. “We’re really invested with our customers. We really want to hold their hands and help them grow,” Berger says.
Julanne Hohbach is the editor of Columbus CEO.
Patient + Co-Founder, Changing Parkinson’s
Founder and Host, Secret Life of Parkinson’s
Co-Founder and Co-Host, Patient Rx
Marketing Advisor for the Commercial Office of Envision Pharma Group and Two Labs
Thank you to Columbus CEO and Columbus Monthly for acknowledging what we’ve all known for years.
Jessica, you are not only one of the most inspiring women in Columbus; you are one of the most inspiring people in the world.
The work you’ve done – and the example you live – for people living with Parkinson’s Disease is simply incredible.
Two Labs greatly appreciates the work Jessica does around Parkinson’s Disease, as well as the key role she plays in growing our partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, helping them bring their vital products to market.
Jessica Krauser
COMMITTED TO CANCER RESEARCH
Lisa Hinson
The veteran public relations executive is just as dedicated to her community as she is her clients.
BY SHANNON SHELTON MILLER
Lisa Hinson was 12 when she lost her 52-year-old grandmother to cancer. Years later, her father-in-law died from the disease shortly after his retirement.
Hinson says they are the inspiration for her engagement in Pelotonia, a two-day bicycle ride that funds cancer research at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. She also rides for other friends and family who’ve benefitted from advancements in cancer care, treatment and detection.
“They’re living longer or are cancer free because of research, and because people devote funds to fuel the work brilliant minds put together in labs every day,” Hinson says. “Research is the answer. End of story.”
Cancer research and advocacy have been a key focus of Hinson’s impressive record of community engagement. She has served on the OSUCCC – James Foundation board since 2009, and for the past 16 years has been a rider in Pelotonia. She also co-founded Girls With Gears, a cycling group that has raised more than $2 million for cancer research through Pelotonia.
A native of Millville, near Cincinnati, Hinson came to Columbus to attend Ohio State University and quickly embraced the city as home. She turned an internship at Limited Brands into an 11-year career there, earning multiple promotions before becoming director of public relations. When she sought more flexibility and time to spend with her growing family, she started her own business, launching Hinson Ltd Public Relations in 1999.
From the start, Hinson was strategic in positioning her firm as a boutique agency with a select group of real estate and retail clients. Her skills in marketing, communications, public relations and event management gained the trust and confidence of the region’s top business leaders and organizations.
“Lisa Hinson has represented us since the very beginning in New Albany,” says Jack Kessler, co-founder and chairman of the New Albany Co. “I can’t imagine trusting anyone else with such an important role. She has always exhibited accuracy and professionalism and has been a perfect partner for the New Albany Co. Lisa is an outstanding individual.”
Her firm also connects clients to philanthropic endeavors and encouraged her personal involvement in making Columbus a great place to live and work. Hinson says education is an important aspect of her community engagement, from serving as a trustee for Otterbein University to
INVOLVEMENT: President and founder, Hinson Ltd Public Relations; trustee, Otterbein University; board member, the Ohio State University Foundation, the OSUCCC – James Foundation, Columbus Metropolitan Club; vice chair, the Hinson Family Trust Foundation; co-founder, Girls with Gears peloton
GREATEST WISH FOR 2025: “My greatest wish for 2025 is that we all remain engaged in our community and allow the ‘better angels of our nature’ to guide our actions, both individually and collectively.”
facilitating an internship program at Hinson Ltd that has helped students start their communications and public relations careers.
And she never hesitates to give back to the university that has her heart. Hinson has served on the Ohio State University Foundation board since 2016.
“In many ways, Ohio State set me up to be successful,” she says. “I had a really great experience at Ohio State, and I care deeply about the institution. I met my husband there. My grandfather played basketball there. … It was my gateway to Columbus.”
Shannon Shelton Miller is a freelance writer.
Karen Morrison
The OhioHealth Foundation president has taken a leading role in helping to reduce disparities and improve access to care.
BY SHANNON SHELTON MILLER
As the daughter of an OB-GYN and a medical researcher, Karen Morrison was all but destined for a career in health care. After 30 years with OhioHealth, it’s clear that Morrison has followed in her parents’ footsteps but charted a path all her own.
“I always saw myself behind the scenes figuring out how I could create a large impact in the community,” Morrison says. “When I learned about public health, it really aligned with my values.”
Morrison has been at the forefront of building healthier communities in Central Ohio as president of the OhioHealth Foundation and senior vice president of OhioHealth Corp. Leading the organization’s strategy for external affairs, Morrison has focused on increasing access to care and promoting health equity.
Decreasing infant mortality is a key priority, and OhioHealth’s Wellness on Wheels program brings mobile units to targeted neighborhoods to provide care and support for pregnant and postpartum women and their infants. Other programs offer resources such as weight reduction
support, nutrition, exercise, and diabetes screenings to help patients manage or avoid chronic health conditions. Morrison says she hopes that her work can inspire
INVOLVEMENT: President of the OhioHealth Foundation and senior vice president of OhioHealth Corp.; board of directors, Park National Corp., Greif Inc., Palmer-Donavin, Columbus Regional Airport Authority; founding director, Adelphi Bank; member, Executive Leadership Council, The Links Inc., National Association of Corporate Directors, Women Corporate Directors, Deloitte’s Board Ready Women.
GREATEST WISH FOR 2025: “I want to move through this year with a heart that chooses hope. I want to be guided by hope, healing and light to understand people’s needs so we can better help and advocate for them.”
Women
younger women to recognize they have numerous options to develop themselves in healthy ways and lead their best lives.
“I believe that what really drives Karen’s leadership, both at work and in our community, is the idea that while personal efforts can lead to quick wins, real progress and lasting change come from working together,” says Donna James, secretary of the OhioHealth board of directors, who also is president and CEO of Lardon & Associates and chairs the board of Victoria’s Secret & Co. “She builds connections with government, businesses, community groups and individuals for the greater good.”
Morrison credits her parents’ influence as the catalyst for her interest in public service and community health. She remembers how her father, an OB-GYN at Grant Hospital, always encouraged his patients to stay vigilant about their health, and how her mother set a standard by preparing healthy meals and participating in sports and exercise.
Morrison became a hospital candy striper in high school and continued to participate in volunteer efforts while attending Vanderbilt University. After getting a bachelor’s degree in biology and returning to Columbus, she earned a graduate degree in preventive medicine at Ohio State University and started her career in 1988 as an epidemiologist at Riverside Methodist Hospital.
It wasn’t long before hospital leaders recognized her passion for public health and invited her to participate in community relations, government relations and advocacy efforts. To enhance her skills in those areas, she earned a law degree from Capital University.
“It didn’t feel linear at the time, but as I look back, it all came together nicely,” Morrison says. “I’m very fortunate to be here at OhioHealth and lead initiatives that encourage and enhance community service among our associates and colleagues, and develop programs to impact and improve health and decrease health disparities.”
Shannon Shelton Miller is a freelance writer.
Vision. Dedication. Everyday Impact.
HELPING WOMEN EMBRACE THEIR TRUE BEAUTY
Debbie Penzone
The salon president and CEO is leading the business into the future with a yoga studio and a new community and event space.
BY LAURA NEWPOFF
Debbie Penzone grew up in Springfield as part of a big family that loved art, fashion and beauty. As a junior in high school in the 1980s, she gave one of her five brothers a perm so he could feather his hair to fit in with the times.
Penzone had eczema and didn’t always fit in with the popular crowd. A girl named Ellen didn’t care about the rash on her face, showing Penzone the value of true friendship and that beauty is about more than a person’s outer shell.
This set her on a path to help others see their true beauty. After high school, she attended the Ohio State School of Cosmetology. Before she graduated in 1986, an instructor asked students to name their dream salon to start their career. Penzone, who at the time was Debbie Miller, raised her hand and said, “Charles Penzone.”
“Oh, no, no, no. You’re a small-town girl. I don’t think you could get hired at Penzone anyway,” the instructor replied.
INVOLVEMENT: President and CEO of Penzone, which includes Penzone Salons + Spas, Royal Rhino Club Barbershop & Lounge, LIT Life + Yoga, and Base One; member, State Board of Cosmetology and Intercoiffure; volunteer, Komen Columbus (over 20 years) and Girls on the Run
GREATEST WISH FOR 2025: “My wish is to continue to share the transformative practices of meditation, mindfulness and sound healing with the community, as I have through all our brands. By helping others foster self-care and well-being, I believe I’m living out my life’s purpose, to help improve lives from the outside in and from the inside out.”
Women
Penzone took the advice and instead got a job at Tangle on Bethel Road. She met her first mentor, Marilyn DePalma, who let her help with shampoos. DePalma had worked at Penzone before getting married and moving away. After DePalma was rehired at Penzone when a chair opened up, she got her mentee an interview. Penzone began her career at Charles Penzone Grand Salon in 1987 as a hair assistant in the training program and climbed the ladder to creative director through multiple promotions. She and Charles Penzone married in 1994, and she was named president of the business in 2008.
Penzone now oversees six salons, each of which was rebranded as a Penzone Salon + Spa in 2018. She recently refreshed the original Grand Salon in Dublin by turning it into Base One. The multipurpose space includes a training salon and spa that offers services at a “base” price. There’s also an event space, spa suite rentals, co-working spaces, a creative studio and LIT Life + Yoga, whose motto is “Learn Inspire Teach.”
Base One is for the community, Penzone says. “It’s a space for connection—to yourself as an individual and as a member of a group. Our offerings and activations give people the tools to ground down and level up, both in their careers and their lives.”
The original LIT yoga studio, Penzone’s personal dream concept, opened on North Fourth Street in Italian Village in 2017. The company also owns Royal Rhino Club Barbershop & Lounge, located in the same Italian Village plaza.
Sarah Irvin, founder and president of Irvin Public Relations, is a friend of Penzone and has worked with her since the 2018 brand refresh. The way Penzone went about it was unconventional for a beauty brand, Irvin says, because she used real people in promotional materials and avoided Photoshop.
“Debbie is a visionary. She really wanted the team and guests to embrace their true selves. She continues to emphasize that beauty starts from the inside out.”
Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.
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LEADING WITH COMPASSION
Angela Plummer
The executive director of CRIS helps refugees and immigrants navigate the legal system and make a new life in Columbus.
BY LAURA NEWPOFF
When Angela Plummer graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in international studies in 1989, she had a grand vision of working for the United Nations to help save the world. It wasn’t practical, so she went to law school.
After graduating from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1992, she wanted to join the Peace Corps. She also had student loans to pay, so she first took a job with a law firm and then with the state of Ohio working in policy development. It made her family back in Dayton proud.
“My mother sent a Christmas newsletter to our family that said I worked for the department of human services doing contract administration, which was wrong on both counts,” Plummer recalls. “I found myself unfulfilled and casting about. What can I do to fill my need so I know I’m giving back?”
In 1998, she saw an article about Community Refugee & Immigration Services, which was founded by Jane McGrew in 1995 to help individuals from other countries settle into the Central Ohio community. Plummer, who studied abroad in college, didn’t know anything about immigration law but wanted to volunteer.
INVOLVEMENT: Executive Director, Community Refugee & Immigration Services
GREATEST WISH FOR 2025: “People are treated with dignity and compassion regardless of their place of birth.”
EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION
Barb Smoot
The president and CEO of WELD is helping women build and embrace their leadership potential.
BY LAURA NEWPOFF
In the mid-1980s, Barb Smoot taught high school math and physics in West Hartford, Connecticut. Working in the “Insurance Capital of the World” prompted her to take actuarial exams and give the industry a try. She applied to Nationwide and was accepted into their actuarial rotation program.
She excelled there over a 21-year career and was handpicked to play a key role in a new business unit handling retirement assets of baby boomers. The position resonated with her. “Most of the time, it’s women who outlive men, and making sure they had adequate retirement income was important to me,” Smoot says.
She retired from Nationwide in 2007 to focus on family and community but stayed involved with Women for Economic and Leadership Development, having joined its board that same year as vice president of membership. WELD works to advance women’s leadership through programming and a support network with the ultimate goal of financially strengthening local communities.
The organization’s mission is close to Smoot’s heart. She grew up as one of seven children with a mom who worked two jobs and a dad who worked three. “When I was young, my mother wouldn’t eat dinner until all of her children were fed and many times, she didn’t get a chance to eat,” says Smoot, who learned about her sacrifice years later.
In 2010, she was hired as WELD’s part-time executive director. At the time, the 7-year-old nonprofit had only the Columbus chapter, which was stagnant and run by volunteers. Smoot grew the organization through a comprehensive approach involving strategic planning, finances, branding, community outreach and more. She had designs on taking the organization national, and she took the first step by launching a Tulsa chapter in fall 2013.
Smoot became WELD’s first-ever president and CEO in 2015. Today, the organization has nine chapters with members in 16 states and program attendees from across the country, as well as South America, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
“My passion is getting the next generation of leaders ready,” Smoot says. “But for the people who have invested in me, but for those who have been mentors and sponsors, I wouldn’t have the opportunity I have today. I want to pay it forward so other women have the opportunity to achieve their aspirations and build businesses. It’s mission critical.”
Smoot is proud of the growth of the organization’s signature events: the WELD Columbus Keynote Event and the WELD National Corporate Board Conference.
that
She became a WELD volunteer, instructor, board member and National Advisory Council member. She served as co-chair of the keynote event in 2014 that featured media entrepreneur Susan Packard. After that event, Smoot told Comer to make the most of her newfound exposure. Comer pitched herself to a regional bank executive, who became a mentor, and she launched The Promise Box LLC in 2014.
Through WELD, Comer says, Smoot provides a supportive space for growth. “She creates space for women to raise their hand, to pour time into themselves, invest in their development and take a leap of faith to say ‘yes’ and create an opportunity.”
Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.
INVOLVEMENT: President and CEO, Women for Economic and Leadership Development; board member, Ohio Bar Liability Insurance Co.; advisory board chair, Western Governors University
GREATEST WISH FOR 2025: “That the courage ‘to make good trouble’ hits our water supply.”
It was at the 2010 keynote event
Kaydian Comer met Smoot.
and so on, and had a skilled workforce,” Mears says.
The company also needed a location that could easily accommodate a 5-million-square-foot plant.
“Those factors alone limited the pool,” Mears says. “The funnel narrowed down to a handful of states, and sites. For a project of our size and the pace that it needs to be developed, we needed to identify state and local partners who understood and could move as quickly as we were.”
Ultimately, Central Ohio won—even over other areas in the state—by being closer to the workforce and to Rickenbacker, while also near drone-testing facilities in Springfield, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton area and other government sites. It didn’t hurt that numerous entities, including the state, multiple economic development organizations, Pickaway County and others, all worked together to help land the deal.
Central Ohio public and private entities “really do cooperate … to target opportunities for continued growth,” Mears says. “It really does differ from other states.” The cooperation among JobsOhio, One Columbus and the Partnership “is incredibly strong.”
The fact that the region had successfully wooed a project as big as Intel “certainly did not hurt” in making the decision, Mears says. “It
did give us confidence that Ohio has a pedigree and experience in large projects.”
“This is one of the great strengths of Columbus,” says Doug Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation and a longtime member of the Partnership.
“This is a community in pursuit of achievement, not looking to fall back on past glory days,” Kridler says. “The wins are the stuff of headlines, but the actual doing is just about bringing people around the table. I know in a lot of cases in other cities, this kind of effort isn’t happening. It’s everyone for themselves. In some other places, they say, ‘Who put you in charge?’ rather than, ‘Let’s get around the table.’ ”
FIGHTING FOR FEDERAL FUNDING
Several years ago, Kridler, along with the leaders of the Partnership and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, saw other opportunities “to enhance our ability to win as a region.”
In an effort to win more federal grant money, they created the “War Room,” a coordinated campaign with a team of stakeholders who share grant opportunities and match them with area projects that would be good candidates.
“We hired Ann Aquillo as director
of federal funding investment for the Columbus Partnership in January 2023,” Kridler says. “Our first meeting was February of that year. We have over 100 leaders who are engaged in some capacity in this work, with 30 to 40 participants hopping on the War Room Zoom calls each month.”
The idea originated after conversations with colleagues in Rhode Island about their approach to federal funding on a trip to Washington, D.C., that Kridler took with One Columbus President and CEO Kenny McDonald and Jeff Polesovsky, senior vice president of government affairs at the Partnership.
“This led to buy-in for bringing on a consultant [Ann] to focus on this work,” Kridler says, “given the historic federal investments in things like infrastructure, energy, etc.”
The War Room has had some major victories. In one case, the Central Ohio Transit Authority was awarded more than $40 million through a U.S. Department of Transportation program. The grant will help connect communities along West Broad Street with safe and affordable transportation access.
There have been disappointments, too, including an unrealized effort to win a large “Tech Hub” grant through the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
The Columbus Crew celebrate with the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy after defeating the Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup championship game held Dec. 9, 2023, at Lower.com Field.
Photo by Adam Cairns/The
Federal funding has been “a very high stakes game—and you are competing against other ‘teams’ for those dollars,” Kridler says. With current uncertainty in the federal government over all funding, the War Room has become even more important to local efforts. “There’s a sign above the office door that says, ‘We can all win here,’ ” Kridler says. “That’s not present in every community, not even in every business association. It sounds trite, but when executives come to Columbus they really say, ‘What? You’re really working together?’”
RALLYING TO SAVE THE CREW
Working together to achieve a goal that will benefit the whole community is exemplified by the successful effort to keep the Columbus Crew, says Dan Snyder, co-founder and CEO of Lower.
“Most people don’t even know who the Columbus Partnership is, which is fine,” Snyder says. “But when there was talk that the Crew was going to be leaving Columbus, the Partnership was like, ‘No, no, no. It’s not happening.’ I wasn’t even part of the Partnership at the time. But they had all the influence, money, creativity and strategy to keep the Crew and pave the way for the best soccer stadium in the country.”
In 2021, Snyder’s company gained naming rights to the stadium before it opened in July.
“They were reaching out to various companies, and I was like, ‘No way we’re even going to be in the running, even close,’ ” Snyder says. “I tell my family we’re the largest company in Columbus no one’s ever heard of.
“But that all changed with Lower. com Field,” Snyder says. “It’s really cool. One of the main reasons why I was so eager to plant our flag with the naming rights is when you look at what it means to be in a city where you really want to live and work, having a team like the Crew is important. It’s like the Browns are pretty important in Cleveland—even if they don’t win, they still fill the stadium.
“We’re happy to be partners with the Crew, and it’s a perfect example of the power the Partnership has and their mission of public/private cooperation in making the community better in a meaningful way.”
A model drone on display at Anduril Industries’ Jan. 16 event announcing its investment in Pickaway County
Photos by Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch (2)
Palmer Luckey (right), founder of Anduril Industries, talks with attendees at the company’s Jan. 16 announcement.
a community in pursuit of achievement, not looking to fall back on past glory days.”
Doug Kridler, president and CEO of The Columbus Foundation
ARTS ADVOCACY
While Anduril’s decision to invest in Central Ohio “certainly comes down to nuts and bolts,” Mears says, other factors made the region attractive, as well.
“Our workforce is younger and urban, and having a set of cultural offerings accessible to that community will only add to our ability to attract the right kind of talent,” he says.
“One of the things that has been striking to me is how much [Columbus] has changed since 2016,” Mears says, with Downtown developments and rapidly growing entertainment offerings. “We definitely want to play the long game here, not just as good neighbors but investing in the community.”
The Partnership has long backed cultural and artistic ventures, including advocating for the proposed new $275 million concert hall for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Supporting the visual arts is particularly important to some of its members.
One of the city’s newer pieces of public art is a mural adorning the Astor Park garage along Columbus Crew Way. “Inter-Play,” by Ohio State University fine arts graduate Odili Donald Odita, was funded by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the city of Columbus, Haslam Sports Group, the Edwards family and the Pizzuti Cos.
“To get the kinds of people we want to attract, and the kind we want to retain, it’s really important to have a great quality of life,” says Joel Pizzuti, president and CEO of the Pizzuti Cos.
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“People want to be proud of the city they live in. It’s crucial for the city to have not just physical art, but also performing art and live music—especially for young people.”
The mural, part of a curated art collection at Astor Park, is just the latest example of the art and design that the developer incorporates in all of its
projects, inspired by the influence of founder and noted art collector Ron Pizzuti, Joel’s father.
In fact, the company has “an original piece of art in every office in our headquarters,” Pizzuti says. “We want people who walk in to be inspired. Living with art is important in all of our buildings. When people are
around art, they appreciate it.”
“It’s fun stuff,” Pizzuti says, “and it all adds value to our projects, and to our city. You know, every great city— whether big or small—has a focus on the arts. It’s an important part of daily life.”
Tim Feran is a freelance writer.
Odili Donald Odita’s “Inter-Play” mural on the Astor Park garage
Photo by Robin Oatts
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Maintaining Momentum
Business leaders are focusing on initiatives such as education, transportation, digital connectivity and housing to ensure Columbus remains an attractive, affordable city.
BY PETER TONGUETTE
As Columbus Partnership
President and CEO Jason Hall sees it, the region has many reasons to be proud of its achievements. Business is booming, the population is growing and important industries, including technology-related sectors, continue to congregate here.
“The star has risen, or, as I would say, the dog caught the car,” says Hall, who joined the Partnership in January. He contrasts the capital city’s success with the decline of other major metropolitan areas that had previously eclipsed Columbus in both business and population growth.
“There’s going to be a new pecking order of cities that gets established,” Hall says. “Look at San Francisco—losing population, kind of a mess, we all know that. … So enter Columbus. The census data just came out. We added another 30,000 residents last year into Columbus, one of the
fastest-growing metros in the United States and certainly the fastest in the Midwest.”
Hall attributes Columbus’ rise to a culture where private sector leaders work collaboratively and productively with government leaders—a spirit of cooperation widely touted as “The Columbus Way.” This gives the city advantages that compensate for what it might be perceived as lacking because of its location, he says. “It’s not mountains. It’s not beaches. It’s not even a lake,” Hall says. “Now that I’m here … I see why Columbus has been so successful. The reality is even better than what I expected.”
Such success, though, has created a new set of challenges that are in some ways unique to cities that have grown as Columbus has. “It’s like a college that breaks into the Top 25 national rankings,” Hall says, leaning on a sports metaphor. “Once you get into that, it gets real hard to move up
within it. You’re dealing with a lot of incumbent players that have some other built-in advantages, and here, we’ve come out of nowhere to take this on.”
First and foremost, how does Columbus’ economic growth translate into opportunities for its ever-expanding population? How can leaders assure that the citizens who stand to benefit are not left behind?
“We’ve got to keep growing the pie, and we’re going to keep doubling down on that,” Hall says. “I do think we have to start putting even more effort behind how we remain an affordable, accessible city, where that growth starts to be within reach of every resident—no matter [the] zip code or neighborhood they were born into.”
Here’s a look at several initiatives the Partnership and business community are focusing on to help effect change for the Columbus Region.
The Scioto River winds its way through Downtown Columbus
Photo by Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch
THE PROMISE OF EDUCATION
Among the most impactful initiatives to enable more Central Ohioans to share in the city’s prosperity is the Columbus Promise, a program launched in 2021 that allows students who graduate from Columbus City Schools to enroll at Columbus State Community College without paying tuition or fees for up to six semesters. Family income is not factored into eligibility for the program, nor are a student’s grades.
“If you’re coming from some of the most challenged public schools in the city, we need to work to reduce barriers,” Hall says. “That’s our workforce, and it’s the right thing to do in America.”
About 700 students take advantage of the program upon graduation each year, says Megan Noble, executive director of career and workforce readiness for Columbus City Schools. That group includes some who might not otherwise have pursued higher education.
“There also are students [where] Promise has elevated the options of what a community college can offer,” Noble says. “In the past, maybe they would have overlooked Columbus State. Just the visibility and the opportunity has made it enticing to go and explore what they do have to offer.”
Noble says that at both the high school and community-college levels, educators are modifying coursework
Columbus State Community College
President David Harrison speaks during a Feb. 3 press conference for a $25 million fundraising campaign for the Columbus Promise program.
to meet workforce needs. “Our own programs are shifting so that we’re making sure that we’re being responsive to the region’s growth,” she says. “We’re expanding our career exploration, we’re expanding our programs, so that students are ready when they enter Columbus State or any postsecondary institution.”
“If our young people are given a chance to potentially spend a couple of years at Columbus State and come out of there with a skill or a trade … that sure helps in trying to be inclusively prosperous,” says Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of Installed Building Products and the Edwards Cos., which in February committed $3 million to the $25 million campaign to fund an
extension of the Columbus Promise.
Edwards says the program also benefits the many companies coming to the region. “We can’t continue to bring jobs and grow the economy and land businesses if we don’t have a capable and educated workforce that’s available in order for them to hire.”
Hall describes the Columbus Promise as “a massive intervention.” “There’s probably more work that needs to be done,” he says. “We’ve got to continue to make sure people have access to a quality education.”
LINKING WORKERS TO JOBS
The $8 billion LinkUS mobility initiative, funded by a half-percent sales tax increase passed by voters in Franklin County and surrounding communities in November, aims to help more workers physically access employment. When fully implemented, LinkUS will provide additional COTA service, as well as carve out bus rapid transit lanes in several corridors around the city. In the nearer term, plans are underway to enhance pedestrian and cyclist access to transit locations.
“How many times have you seen people walking down a street where there’s no sidewalk? They can’t get to these transit locations very easily,” says Sandy Doyle-Ahern, president of civil engineering firm EMH&T.
Doyle-Ahern cautions patience as the projects get up and running, but promises that changes are coming.
“[The transit] corridors have been in design and are in design still to proceed here in the next few years,” she says. “On the sidewalk and bike path
by
Students from Columbus City Schools visit Columbus State Community College during spring visit days for the Columbus Promise program last year.
Photo
Photo
Kyle Robertson/The Columbus Dispatch
Some 80,000 households in Franklin County today are unable to access the internet, says Jordan Davis, executive director of Smart Columbus.
“This issue became highly exposed during the pandemic,” Davis says. “We collected a lot of anecdotal, qualitative research from residents about the experience of being disconnected. The moral of the story is: Being connected to the internet is a basic need.”
Local leaders came to recognize the problem went beyond remote learning. “It’s presenting barriers for people on a daily basis, whether it’s accessing health care, applying for a job [or] homework help,” Davis says.
In addition to those who are not online at all, other households pay for internet access while sacrificing daily needs. “Some people are paying more than they can afford for basic access to the internet in lieu of other things,” Davis says. “They might pay less for food that month in order to keep their internet. That’s true across all populations, [from] seniors living on their own to families with multiple kids in the home.”
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Members of the Columbus Partnership Who’s
who in the nonprofit civic organization
The Columbus Partnership had 82 members in its ranks as of early April 2025, representing many of the region’s most notable businesses and organizations. The organization was founded in 2002.
Jane Grote Abell Executive Chairwoman and Chief Purpose Officer, Donatos Pizzeria LLC
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. President, Ohio State University
Dee B. Haslam Owner-Operator, Columbus Crew
Mary E. Auch Regional President, Central Ohio, PNC Bank
Donald S. Barbour President and CEO, Advanced Drainage Systems Inc.
Giordano Albertazzi CEO, Vertiv
Lori Gillett CEO, CK Construction Group
Becky Griffin Columbus Location Leader, JPMorganChase
Frances B. Henry
Joe Hayek President and CEO, Worthington Enterprises
John Ammendola President and CEO, Grange Insurance Co.
Jason Hollar CEO, Cardinal Health Inc.
Ralph J. Andretta President and CEO, Bread Financial
Heather E. Brilliant President and CEO, Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc.
Brad L. Campbell President and CEO, The Dispatch Printing Co.
Renee K. Cacchillo President and CEO, Safelite Group
Christopher J. Calamari Senior Vice President U.S. Nutrition, Abbott
Melanie E. Corn President, Columbus College of Art & Design
Jeffrey Edwards Chairman, President and CEO, Installed Building Products and Edwards Cos.
Sandra C. Doyle-Ahern President, EMH&T
Tanny Crane President and CEO, Crane Group
Brent D. Crawford Principal and Founder, Crawford Hoying
Chad M. Delligatti CEO, InnoSource
Guzman President, CAS
David T. Harrison President, Columbus State Community College
Chrissy Hand Chief Product and Commercial Officer, CoverMyMeds
Paul Judge President, Axium Packaging Inc.
Elizabeth P. Kessler Partner-in-Charge, Jones Day
Mark S. Johnson Managing Partner, Deloitte LLP
John W. Kessler Co-Founder and Chairman, The New Albany Co.
Nancy J. Kramer Chief Evangelist, IBM iX
Adam Johnson Chairman and CEO, NetJets
Donna James Chair of the Board, Victoria’s Secret & Co.
Douglas F. Kridler President and CEO, The Columbus Foundation
Nate Baxter President and COO, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.
Mark Kunar CFO, Chief Strategy Officer, DHL Supply Chain
David Ciesinski President & CEO, Lancaster Colony Corp.; President & CEO, T. Marzetti Co.
Lara DeLeone Central Ohio market president, KeyBank
Bill Fehrman President and CEO, American Electric Power Company Inc.
Gina R. Boswell CEO, Bath & Body Works
Molly Kocour Boyle President, AT&T Ohio
Richard S. Langdale Managing Partner, NCT Ventures LLC
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.
Michael
Jonathan
Jimmy T. Merkel Co-Founder and CEO, Rockbridge
Cameron Mitchell
Joel S. Pizzuti
Jackets
Robert D. Nelson
Jack W. Nicklaus Jack W. Nicklaus II
Timothy C. Robinson CEO, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Dan Snyder CEO,
Ole Rosgaard President and CEO, Greif Inc.
Robert H. Schottenstein Chairman, President & CEO, M/I Homes Inc.
Kara Trott Founder and Board Chair, Quantum Health Matt Scantland
Tauana McDonald
Arthur
Tom Schmid President and CEO, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Lewis Smoot Jr.
Jeffrey Smith Office Managing Partner, EY Stephen
Daniel
Douglas E. Ulman Vice Chair and Senior Adviser to the CEO, Pelotonia Lloyd Yates
Leslie H. Wexner
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.
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In Real Estate, Relationships Remain the Key
The personal touch is as important as ever for Realtors, even in a social media world.
By TIM FERAN
TIM JOHNSON
The No. 1 rule in real estate long has been location, location, location. And panelists at a Top Realtors presentation recently made a persuasive case that there’s another top rule:
Relationships, relationships, relationships.
Columbus Monthly and The Brokerage House presented the panel discussion, “Showing Your Worth in a Changing Market,” on April 9 at Vitria on the Square near the Ohio State University campus.
“We're always talking about ever-changing markets,” moderator Stefphanie Harper-Galloway of Coldwell Banker Metro Office remarked to panelists. With shifting industry practices and a roller coaster economy, “what are the most important skills Realtors need to have?”
“Storytelling is huge,” said Jake Bluvstein of RE/MAX Connection.
“When you buy a house, there's emotion involved. You’re not just buying four walls. You’re buying a home that
you can make memories in.”
For Jeff Mahler of The Brokerage House, when it comes to buyer clients, the financial picture is critical. Sometimes, he counsels them to sit on the sidelines and grow their savings with investments in anticipation of needing more cash to close a deal. “The first thing I do is get a clear picture of what their financials are before we even start the conversation,” he said.
Mandy Mancini of Keller Williams Consultants echoed the value of a financial adviser in real estate transactions. “If you don't have a financial adviser, get one. From now on it's going to get interesting,” she said. To fellow real estate agents, she stressed the need to stay on top of national economic news and be able to explain it to clients. “Know how to make people understand why now is the time to buy or just sideline and be smart,” she said. The agent’s value will become apparent, “because you didn't just sit them on the bench. You gave them a plan.”
Other relationships—there's that word again—can be just as important.
Panelist Jeff Laumann, who partners with his wife, Margot, as a Realtor with Street Sotheby's International, offered a revealing anecdote about the importance of relationships.
During the recent deluge of rain, Laumann got a call from a client who was getting moisture in the basement. Laumann knew what to do. “I've got a great gutter guy,” Laumann said. He was able to have his client call the gutter pro directly instead of calling the company’s office line, because they were booked solid for several weeks. “That doesn't happen unless you have those relationships.”
For the Laumanns, maintaining a personal connection means hosting an annual backyard circus party, complete with bounce houses and farm animals, for friends, clients and neighbors.
For Harper-Galloway, maintaining a personal connection with clients can take the form of bringing them coffee from a trip to Cuba. “We love our social media and our reels,” she said. “But that personal touch is just as important today as years ago.”
+ Photo by
Panelists from left: Margot and Jeff Laumann, Jeff Mahler, Jake Bluvstein and Mandy Mancini with moderator Stefphanie HarperGalloway at the April 9 Top Realtors event.
Katie Spence, Aaron Barone, Amy Davis Ireton, Margot Laumann, Emily Yoko and Jeff Laumann
Top Realtors
About 75 real estate agents attended the April 9 event, “Showing Your Worth in a Changing Market,” hosted by Columbus Monthly and The Brokerage House and co-sponsored by Guaranteed Rate, Title House and Safe Pro Home Warranty with event partners Queen Bee Jackie and Vitria on the Square.
THE 2025 JOHN GLENN INSPIRATION AWARD RECIPIENT
CEO OF NATIONWIDE
The John Glenn Inspiration Award, which recognizes a person who serves as a contemporary representation of Senator Glenn’s life’s work and commitment to positive change, will be presented at COSI’s Celebration of Inspiration, Catalyst.
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025 | 5:00 PM
PAST LAUREATES
Tanny Crane · Jack Kessler · Steve Steinour · Lou Von Thaer
AWARD SPONSOR: Award Ceremony and Reception at COSI
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Photos by Tim Johnson
Sam Moeller and Jamie Spryn
Nikki Sturgis and Courtney Davis
Paula Gilmour, Kurt Stuckenbrock and Elisabeth Pipes
Moderator Stefphanie HarperGalloway and Katy Smith
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