Columbus CEO - November 2020 issue

Fighting eviction Impact Community Action is on overtime keeping clients safe.

Page 22

New voices

Best of Business

Diverse Leaders in Law: Five powerhouse attorneys.

Here’s who readers named the best of the best.

Page 64

Page 30

November 2020

Meet Janica Pierce Tucker, who’s blazing a trail for Black women attorneys in becoming the first to run a Columbus law firm.

Page 10

$4.99 November 2020 11 7

25274 77384

C1_CEOCover_Nov2020.indd 1

8

10/15/20 4:23 PM

Ric Dillon, CFA

Jenny Hubbard, CFA

Co-Founder, CEO, CIO & Portfolio Manager

Research Analyst & Portfolio Manager

Value.

We look for it in the stocks we choose.

And we provide it in the relationships we build.

We recognized long ago the importance of finding value in the stocks we choose. It’s a simple, yet powerful approach, that we believe has proven effective for our clients. And now, that approach is reflected in the stocks we selected to create our mutual fund offerings – The VELA Funds. To learn more about the funds, review a prospectus, or simply start a conversation, please contact us at your earliest convenience. You’ll see what’s possible when we bring our experience to the equation.

Julie R. McConnell 614.653.0974 vela-im.com engage@vela-im.com 220 Market St. Suite 208 New Albany, Ohio 43054

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the funds before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the funds, and it should be read carefully before investing.

Investors may obtain a copy of the prospectus by calling 1-833-399-1001.

The Funds are distributed by Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC. (Member FINRA)

11155526-UFD-10/5/2020

Vela CCEO FP 8x10 5 indd 1

C2-C4_CoverAds.indd 2

10/8/20 9:22 AM

10/15/20 9:46 AM

Contents

30

Departments 05 Editor’s Note • A new class of Future 50 has been convened.

• Recognizing a colleague or two.

• A crazy busy fall at CEO.

69 Leaderboards Central Ohio wealth management firms, accounting firms

72 Home Office Space: Lece Lohr, Highlights Refined decor in a Blacklick home—and plenty of dogs.

2020 Best of the Best of Business:

Top Vote-Getters Featuring the Top 10 companies by votes in the 2020 Best of Business readers’ poll. And the list of winners and runners-up.

November 2020 Cover photo by

Rob Hardin November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

001-003_Contents.indd 1

1

10/15/20 7:43 PM

26

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

ColumbusCEO.com

VOLUME 29 / NUMBER 11 Columbus Site Manager

Alan D. Miller

Publisher/General Manager

Ray Paprocki E ditorial

EDITOR

Katy Smith CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

09 Breakdown

T I

How Columbus compares for diversity among law firm leaders.

10 Profile: Barrier breaker Janica Pierce Tucker shatters the ‘concrete ceiling’ for Black women attorneys.

10

Janica Pierce Tucker

Haleema Shafeek

Jeff Bell, Rebecca Walters De s i g n & P roduct ion

PRODUCTION/DESIGN DIRECTOR

24 Spotlight: Innovation

Craig Rusnak ART DIRECTOR

MindForge builds an app to connect construction firms with their workers.

Yogesh Chaudhary Digital

EDITOR

26 Spotlight: Emerging Business

Julanne Hohbach ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITOR

Brittany Moseley

Sustainability is what it’s all about for Haleema Shafeek’s furniture and interior design firm.

Cu stom Cont ent

PROJECT MANAGER

Emma Frankart Henterly P h otogra p hy

28 CEO Corner

PHOTO EDITOR

Tim Johnson

Shawn Holt, Melanie Corn and Margie Pizzuti say some changes driven by Covid-19 may be here to stay.

Associate photo editor

Rob Hardin

Adv e rt ising

Vice President of Sales

Chris Pettograsso Sales Director

Holly Beardsley Senior Multimedia Sales Executives

Holly Gallucci, Susan Kendall Multimedia Sales Executives

Tia Hardman, Jackie Thiam CLASSIFIED SALES

Amy Vidrick

SALES ASSISTANTs

Veronica Hill, Lori Lester, Heather Smits Mark et ing

MARKETING MANAGER

Lauren Reinhard PRESS RELEASES

pressreleases@columbusceo.com ADVERTISING

advertise@columbusceo.com Columbus CEO (ISSN 1085-911X) is published monthly by Gannett. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2020, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials. Known address of publication is 62 E. Broad St., Columbus, Ohio 43215. Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Senzd address changes to Columbus CEO, 62 E. Broad St., P.O. Box 1289, Columbus, OH 43216.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

16 Tech Talk Level D&I taking off to change the face of tech.

18 Briefing Vorys’ free legal services for Blackowned businesses; human-centered design at nonprofits.

20 Spotlight: Small Business James Gullatte is the B.O.S.S. when it comes to building a fitness business.

22 Spotlight: Nonprofit

T

“F

In-Depth 60 IP breakthroughs Cannabis law, Amazon’s patent process and much-needed help for startups are hot-button topics.

64 Diverse Leaders in Law Bringing together a superstar group of women attorneys.

Advertising Section

Impact Community Action has come to the rescue of renters facing eviction during the pandemic.

(

Bo Chilton

Torch Awards 2020 (Inserted after page 55)

Toll Free: 877-688-8009

001-003_Contents.indd 2

G w

10/15/20 7:44 PM

THE SECRET IS OUT… Get into Friendship Village while you can.

Thank you for voting us the #1 Retirement Community in Columbus!

“Friendship Village” is an accurate description. People really are friendlier here—but why?

Maybe it’s the 23 acres of land surrounded by a dedicated nature habitat and trails in the middle of the city?

Maybe it’s the nine daily fitness classes, plus having arts and intellectual activities?

Maybe it’s the fresh, chef-created meals made daily and the commitment to delivering hotel-quality customer service?

Maybe it’s the peace of mind, knowing there’s a Life Care contract and a full continuum of care at the ready should you ever need it?

Find out more by visiting ExploreFriendshipVillage.org or calling (614) 304-3415 to reserve a personal tour or learn about upcoming webinars.

Friendship Village C O L U M B U S

5800 Forest Hills Blvd, Columbus, Ohio 43231

001-003_Contents.indd 3

10/15/20 7:13 PM

­

­

­ ­

004-005_EditorsNote.indd 4

­

­

­

­

­

­

­

10/15/20 6:35 PM

Editor’s Notes * ksmith@ColumbusCEO.com

A year when change is the status quo

H

ave you ever wanted to be inside COSI while it was closed?

I experienced that particular thrill as a 7-year-old. My Montrose Elementary Brownie Scout troop got to spend the night inside the old COSI on East Broad Street, sleeping on the floor of what I remember as a gymnasium somewhere in the recesses of the giant building. (No, we did not run amok through the museum during the night. What a missed opportunity.)

I happen to be one of the lucky people who gets to spend time inside an empty COSI again, this time at the new building on West Broad Street. Thanks to the generosity of the COSI team and inaugural Future 50 class member Stephen White, we’ll gather in late October for three days of socially distanced, appointmentonly photo shoots for the 2021 class of Future 50. I can’t help but feel a little bit of Halloweeny excitement anticipating it.

You can see the new class of Future 50 if you turn to the next page—and find out their names at columbusceo.com. They’re an

outstanding, inspiring group that includes multiple company founders, a Columbus police officer working for change, a member of Gov. Mike DeWine’s cabinet, medical profession superstars and more. I cannot wait to meet them.

••• It’s my privilege to recognize a colleague who’s made extraordinary contributions to this magazine.

Rheta Gallagher, the longtime associate publisher and advertising director for Columbus CEO, Columbus Monthly and our other titles, left the company in October after an extraordinary 27-year run.

A fierce champion of her team with a wicked sense of humor and a steely determination, Rheta skillfully navigated recessions, booming economies and ownership changes through her long career.

“Rheta has played a significant and vital role in the success of Dispatch Magazines through her tenacious, savvy and enthusiastic leadership of the advertising team,” says Ray Paprocki, Dispatch Magazines publisher. “She was a relent-

less advocate for her reps. That leadership resulted in the fuel to support our mission of producing award-winning journalism to inform our community. I am grateful for her partnership and her role in the magazine division’s many successes.”

I, too, am grateful to Rheta. Early in my tenure as editor of this magazine, one day I was visiting her in her office facing the Ohio Statehouse, and I found myself doing what so many women do in business: Apologizing.

She stopped me. “You are the editor of the city’s business magazine,” she says. “You set the agenda.”

Thank you, Rheta, for being the powerful influence you are—and for sharing your power with others.

Katy Smith, Editor

Coming up at Columbus CEO • It’s a super busy fall for the magazine. I must commend our marketing and audience development manager, Lauren Reinhard, for making major change look easy during this crazy year. With her signature savvy and cool-headed nature, she’s juggled many virtual events all at once during the past few months, doing a fantastic job making them engaging and professional. Thanks, Lauren. I don’t know what I’d do without you.

• Our annual Best of Business winners and runners-up, who are celebrated on pages 30-54, will be treated to a fun, over the top virtual party emceed by late-night show host James Corden—yes, really, that James Corden—Oct. 29. It’s an invite-only, pre-recorded event produced by our corporate shows group.

• By the time this magazine comes out, we’ll have hosted our Oct. 20 Build Buzz forum for Black business owners in concert with Belle Communication. A virtual panel including me and representatives from the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Monthly,

10TV, Belle and Gayle Saunders of the Saunders Company will share tips and best practices on pitching the media. The session will be recorded and available on our website.

• Look for the CEO of the Year awards in the December issue, when we’ll reveal four winners (unless there’s a tie, in which case there could be more) and eight or more finalists. They will be recognized during a special video celebration we’re creating with the help of our partner Mills James.

• Don’t miss our annual Survey of Economic Conditions, produced in conjunction with Bill LaFayette at Regionomics. We’re asking special questions this year related to the pandemic and the election. Those results and analysis will be published with the CEO of the Year package, as usual.

• And in January, readers can expect our second annual Future 50 special issue.

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

004-005_EditorsNote.indd 5

5

10/15/20 7:41 PM

 Â

006-007_Ads.indd 6

10/15/20 9:49 AM

006-007_Ads.indd 7

10/15/20 9:49 AM

008-009_Breakdown.indd 8

10/15/20 6:26 PM

Breakdown Compiled by katy smith + Infographic by Yogesh Chaudhary

Diversity in law Improvements have been made since tracking began in the 1990s, but women and people of color continue to be underrepresented in the American legal industry, according to the 2019 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms by the Washington, D.C.-based National Association for Law Placement.

Here is how Columbus compares nationally. Pie charts represent local percentages.

P a r t n e r s

a s s o c i a t e s

n Columbus 2019 n U.S. 2019

n Columbus 2019 n U.S. 2019

25.94%

24.17%

41.71%

46.77%

7.48%

9.55%

17.54%

25.44%

women

people of color

3.49%

women of color

women

people of color

3.45%

women of color

women

people of color

8.06%

women of color

women

people of color

14.48%

women of color

Source: 2019 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms by National Assocaiton for Law Placement

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

008-009_Breakdown.indd 9

9

10/15/20 6:26 PM

profile

By Steve Wartenberg + Photos by rob hardin

Janica Pierce Tucker Partner-in-charge, Columbus office

Taft Law Age: 43

In position since: With Taft since 2012, named partner-in-charge in January 2020 Previous: Chester Willcox & Saxbe LLP (200612), Frank A. Ray LPA (2002-06) Education: University of Tennessee (1999),

Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (2002)

Resides: Columbus Family: Husband Anthony Tucker; daughter, Brooklynn, 8; and Pierce Tucker is the stepmother to her husband’s four sons: Anthony II, 31; Khalil, 26; Antonio, 18; and Zanis, 16.

Breaking the concrete ceiling Janica Pierce Tucker is the first Black woman to lead a Columbus law firm, and one of very few women to do so.

A natural leader, she makes it look easy. But it’s not.

W

hen you’re a Black woman and an attorney, the odds of rising up the law firm ladder are stacked against you. There are currently only five people who fit this description who are partners at a major Columbus firm. And so, when you have an opportunity to connect with someone like you who has accomplished great things, this is what

Janica Pierce Tucker you do: “I said to myself, this may be the only time I’ll see this woman and I have to say something,” says Janica Pierce Tucker, 43, remembering the day in 2000 when she came across Janet Jackson at the office. No, not that Janet Jackson. This is the one who was the first African American woman judge in Franklin County history and then the first woman to serve as Columbus city attorney. A pioneer and role model.

At the time, Pierce Tucker was attending Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law and was a law clerk in the Columbus city attorney’s office led by Jackson. They’d never met. “I introduced myself and asked if I can have some time to meet, and she said yes,” says Pierce Tucker, who has an

outgoing personality and the ability to quickly connect with people. And make them laugh. “To this day, she is my mentor and friend. I was bold enough to ask, and the cool thing I’ve experienced in Columbus is there are people who are willing to invest in you, but sometimes you have to make that happen.”

Pierce Tucker has connected with several mentors over the years and has made a lot of good things happen.

In January, she was named partner-incharge of Taft Law’s Columbus office, becoming the first Black woman partner in charge of a large Columbus law firm, and one of very few women to hold such a position.

“It’s huge. Someone needed to break through what I call the con-

10 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 10

10/15/20 11:12 AM

I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams. I hear it, and I know it, and I’m reminded of it every day. crete ceiling, and she’s now become that role model, the person younger African American lawyers can look to and say, ‘She did it; I can do it,’ ” says Jackson, who retired a few years ago after leading the United Way of Central Ohio for 14 years. “And knowing her generous spirit, when younger attorneys reach out, I know Janica will pay it forward.”

Mississippi roots Pierce Tucker traces her family’s history back to Mississippi and slavery.

“My great, great grandparents were both born slaves,” she says. Racism, Jim Crow and segregation were prevalent in Mississippi. “And my grandmother, when my mother was 4 or 5, made the conscious decision that

she didn’t want to raise her children in that environment, and she moved to Dayton,” Pierce Tucker says.

From an early age, and for no apparent reason she can recall, Pierce Tucker, who was born in Dayton, decided on a law career. Indeed, it was to become her path. “When I graduated from law school, my grandmother gave me something I wrote in the first grade about what you wanted to be when you grew up,” Pierce Tucker says. “I wrote lawyer. I have no idea why I wrote that, but every time someone asked me that question, I would say lawyer.”

Several members of her family worked at the General Motors Moraine Assembly plant. They learned the lessons of hard work and were able to

make a decent living. Pierce Tucker attended the University of Tennessee on a scholarship funded by General Motors and awarded to the children of employees. She enjoyed her time there, becoming a Tennessee Volunteers football fan. But she also felt unsettled by things she saw.

“I’m a Vol through and through, but…” she says, trailing off. While driving near Knoxville, “there was a man on a hill on the side of the highway dressed in a KKK outfit. I will never forget that.”

Learning leadership One of the requirements of her GM scholarship was a commitment to work summers for the company. The November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 11

11

10/15/20 11:12 AM

Work safer with an AmeriCenters fully-furnished, fully-serviced workspace.

Ideal for small businesses, entrepenuers, remote-working professionals and enterprise organizations.

Tour Our Convenient Location

AmeriCenter of Dublin 5650 Blazer Parkway Dublin, Ohio 43017 (800) 446-4444 www.americenters.com

Start your

COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY at columbusceo.com.

first summer, Pierce Tucker worked long, hard hours on the assembly line, installing windows in SUVs. The next summer, her job was in management. “Here I was, 18 or 19, and I’m telling people my parents’ and grandparents’ age what to do,” she says. “That was rough.”

These older employees weren’t exactly thrilled taking orders from a college student, and they weren’t bashful about challenging the new kid’s authority. “I had to decide who I was going be and what kind of leader I was going to be,” Pierce Tucker says.

She decided she would be respectful of everyone, because that’s the way she wanted to be treated. She also decided it’s OK to give employees some leeway—when possible. “There were times when I knew I was right, but I had to step back and say, this is this person’s livelihood. You’re going to leave and go back to school and they’ll still be working here.”

Learning the law While in law school, Pierce Tucker also clerked in the law offices of Frank Ray, a veteran—and white—trial lawyer, who quickly saw talent and became a mentor.

“Greg Kirstein (now senior vice president and general counsel for the Columbus Blue Jackets) came back from interviewing her and was just gushing about Janica, and I remember that because he never gushed about people,” Ray says. “Greg was right— we sure hired a winner. She did the highest quality of work and had the best work ethic and undertook complicated assignments that surprised us in

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP 65 E. State St., Columbus 43215 taftlaw.com Business: Columbus office of Midwestbased law firm, which has 11 offices and more than 600 attorneys nationally Partner-in-charge: Janica Pierce Tucker Employees: Approximately 70 attorneys

and staff in the Columbus office

2019 revenue: Would not disclose

terms of a second-year law student.”

Ray offered Pierce Tucker a fulltime job upon graduation, and she accepted. She worked primarily on personal injury and wrongful death claims resulting from vehicular collisions, workplace injuries and product liability. “You wouldn’t find too many white guys with excellent practices who would hire an African American law clerk like Frank did,” Jackson says.

Ray took great pride in being the only lawyer at the table with clients, while there were often three or four attorneys on the other side. This changed with Pierce Tucker, who often sat by his side as co-counsel, “because she was special and earned it. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and she embodies that.”

Ray mentored Pierce Tucker in and out of the courtroom, connecting his protege to some of the more prominent Black attorneys in the city, such as Alex Shumate and Yvette McGee Brown. Shumate is managing partner of the Columbus office of Squire Patton Boggs; McGee Brown was the first African American female justice on the Ohio Supreme Court.

She is currently the global partner in

12 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 12

10/15/20 11:12 AM

charge of diversity at Jones Day. “I’m Irish and heard about the prejudice my great-grandfather and grandfather and his brothers experienced being Irish,� Ray says. “Their stories were borderline frightening and left an indelible impression of man’s inhumanity to man, and the Irish never experienced anything close to what Black people brought here as slaves experienced.�

Who’s moving and shaking this Week?

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

Ray’s firm merged with Chester Willcox & Saxbe LLP in 2006, and he brought Pierce Tucker with him.

In turn, Chester Willcox & Saxbe merged with the larger Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in 2012 and Pierce Tucker again made the jump, joining the growing Columbus office. She had made the transition into employment law in 2008 and was named a Taft partner in 2015. “To make partner, you need a mentor and sponsor within the law firm to make sure you’re busy. That’s how you work your way up,� McGee Brown says. “Janica had Frank Ray, who saw how talented she is, and he invested in her. He recognized her skill and helped her grow that skill.�

Personality is important, and Pierce Tucker seems to have an abundance of this quality. “Janica is the person, when I’m having a bad day, I can call her and not only will she listen and have some advice, she’ll make me laugh in the process, and that really is her gift,� McGee Brown says. “She’s so kind, but don’t let that kindness fool you, she’s a ferocious lawyer,� Jackson adds.

Within employment law, Pierce Tucker specializes in executive agreements (hiring and firing), workforce reductions, and navigating the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

More diversity Diversity has always been a challenge for law firms. Women of all races made up 23.36 percent of partners in 2018, while only 1.83 percent of partners are African American. And only about a third of this total—0.68 percent—are women, according to a 2018 national survey by the National Association for Law Placement. The study also found that 3.63 percent of partners are Asian, with 1.38 percent

Â

Â? Â?

Learn more about Hakim’s story and other Columbus artists, performances, exhibitions, concerts, public art and more at ColumbusMakesArt.com.

Photography: Megan Leigh Barnard | Design: Formation Studio

Merging ahead

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 13

13

10/15/20 11:12 AM

Q&A

Janica Pierce Tucker is the type of leader who shows up for her team and with her team when things get tough.

The coronavirus pandemic is a case in point.

You were named partner-in-charge in January and then, two months later, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. What was that like?

Things got crazy. Everyone shifted to working in their houses and were sitting in their living rooms working 13- and 14-hour days. Everyone was at home for three weeks, and then we were deemed essential. As a leader, if I encouraged people to come back to the office, I needed to be there and to support everyone and implement safety procedures. I was hands-on, moving chairs and wiping down counters.

Soon after you were named partner in charge, the Black Lives Matters movement and demands for social justice came out in full force after the death of George Floyd. What can and should Black attorneys do?

There’s so much you can do, and it depends on what you want to do. It can be as simple as having conversations with people who want clarity and education. Or, you can represent folks who might need representation after the protest who may have been arrested. It’s recognizing that there’s systemic racism in housing and in so many other areas and how can you use your legal skills to assist. And with this election, you can help register people to vote, you can serve as a poll worker.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I am a very compassionate person, and that comes across in my leadership. I genuinely care about people and what that means is I make myself available to everybody, all the staff and all the attorneys, and I listen to them.

What do you do when you’re not working?

My mom and I, we love to decorate and do parties. We have such a fun time doing that together. And I love to travel, and to be with friends. Greece was next on our travel list, but that didn’t happen this year.

women; and 2.49 percent of partners are Hispanic, of whom 0.77 percent are women.

“The law firm model depends on partners mentoring and pushing associates forward,” McGee Brown says, adding it’s not that the white men who traditionally have been partners won’t mentor women or associates of color.

“It’s just human nature to spend time with people who are like us, and it takes effort to step outside that bubble and reach out to people who are different than you.”

Taft seems to be a bit ahead of the curve. It was named one of the 2020 “Best Law Firms for Women” by Working Mothers magazine. There are two Black women partners in the Columbus office, Pierce Tucker and Rita McNeil Danish. The three other African American women partners in the city, according to Pierce Tucker’s tabulations, are McGee Brown and Tiffany Lipscomb-Jackson at Jones Day and Lisa Kathumbi at Bricker & Eckler.

The five have formed a club of sorts.

They meet quarterly and mentor other young, Black women associates.

Generating clients and revenue is one of the keys to making partner at a law firm. And again, the longtime model has made it harder for women and attorneys of color to crack through. “It’s not that African American attorneys can’t build business,” Pierce Tucker says. “But what happens is that, let’s say a client has been working with a partner for years. That partner retires, and rather than work with an associate on the team, that cli-

Someone needed to break through what I call the concrete ceiling, and she’s now become that role model, the person younger African American lawyers can look to and say, ‘She did it; I can do it.’

Janet Jackson, former Columbus City Attorney

ent goes with another partner.”

Who is statistically much more likely to be white and a man.

But slowly, ever so slowly, the numbers are changing, and the charge is being led by large corporations, which are big-money clients for law firms.

“They’re saying I want more diversity on your team [of lawyers] working on my matters, and some clients want a report, they want to know who’s on your team, and they want more diversity,” Pierce Tucker says.

Partner in charge Pierce Tucker has several qualities that made her the logical choice for partner in charge, says Robert Hicks, Taft’s chairman and managing partner, who is based in Indianapolis. “She has a very balanced approach to issues, she understands people very well, and she has the courage to always do the right thing,” he says. “She also is able to manage all levels of people, ranging from staff persons to associate attorneys to partners.”

Hicks believes diversity is important because, “we reach far better decisions and deliver better service by having diverse viewpoints and perspectives represented.”

Pierce Tucker has done well as partner-in-charge, but there have been some challenges. “I do feel the pressure that I can’t fail,” she says.

“If I fail, does that mean I’ll block the opportunity for someone else? That’s a heavy burden, but it’s real. I have to approach this job as a practicing lawyer and provide the best service to my clients, and I also [have to] succeed as the partner-in-charge to grow this market. I’m accountable to all the people who work in this office and to Taft that this office does what it has to do in terms of the bottom line.”

When she’s really feeling the pressure, Pierce Tucker can look back several generations and think about the incredible adversity and suffering her ancestors faced. “I don’t think of the sadness of what they went through; I think of their survival, how they were able to survive,” she says. “That inspires me on those tough days, and I say, almost every day, the quote: ‘I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams.’ I hear it, and I know it, and I’m reminded of it every day.”

Steve Wartenberg is a freelance writer.

14 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 14

10/15/20 11:13 AM

E t i p

Encova Insurance can provide you with custom-tailored insurance to meet your unique needs. Our auto, home, life and business insurance, including workers’ compensation, ensure you are protected when you need it most.

BUSINESS • AUTO • HOME • LIFE

encova.com

010-015_Profile_Q&A_JanicaPierceTucker.indd 15

10/15/20 11:13 AM

Level D&I Solutions

Tech talk

By Cynthia Bent Findlay

Technology recruiting firm devoted to diversity Level D&I’s founders just launched their company, but already client interest is strong.

T

he technology industry long has been known as the realm of young white men. Even before the Black Lives Matter movement that rocked this summer, the industry has been examining itself, but that kind of introspection can take an outside perspective to help any company chart a new course.

A new Worthington-based firm, Level D&I Solutions, has a plan for that. Launched in 2019 by two tech recruiting veterans, Chelsea Akers and Kristine Snow, the company aims to help clients jump-start their recruiting, retention and culture training.

Snow and Akers worked together for years at Revel IT, a Columbusbased tech recruiting firm.

“We’d hear constantly, ‘We want to hire more women or other minorities, but they’re not out there,’ ” says

Snow. “That was so frustrating to hear. They’re not only there, but looking for opportunities. Chelsea and I started exploring how can we bridge that and why.”

Level D&I got a push up the startup hill from Revel IT. Both women still worked full-time at Revel through this spring. While Snow and Akers are majority owners of their company, Revel’s CEO Randy Dean invested incrementally to help get it started.

Level D&I aims squarely at filling the gaps in tech diversity and inclusion through both recruiting help and focused diversity and inclusion planning. Akers says there aren’t many competitors with a focus on both in the space.

“I think D&I as a concept is very abstract to lot of companies,” she

659 High St., Worthington 43085 leveldi.com Business: HR consultants to the tech industry Co-founders: Kristine Snow, CEO, and Chelsea Akers, COO Launch date: October 2019

says. “They know they want diverse employees, they want them to be happy here, but knowing where to start is a challenge.”

So Level D&I built a platform offering varying levels of service, from full-time consultancy through a new off-the-shelf kit to help companies with smaller budgets figure out where their greatest needs are.

The demand is high. Even before Akers and Snow were able to work full-time on the business, Level D&I established partnerships with 15 to 20 companies, mostly in 2020.

They say diversity is a priority for the Columbus tech scene, and they’re getting inquiries from far beyond the region, too. Level D&I has been working with Revel IT, Tech Elevator and Cardinal Health to offer scholarships to women and minority candidates through the Tech Elevator training program. The goal is to develop talent from the bottom levels up, and also to help recruit more diverse upper-level candidates.

The partners plan to make some 12 hires within the year. But, they say, the real goal for the company is to contribute to real change in the world.

“Our end goal is for a company like us to not have to exist,” says Snow.

Kristine Snow and Chelsea Akers Photo courtesy Level D&I

Cynthia Bent Findlay is a freelance writer.

Per Scholas, Nationwide join forces Speaking of diversity in tech, an innovative tech training firm, Per Scholas, has teamed up with Nationwide to feed Nationwide’s junior talent pipeline with a custom-trained cohort of nontraditional tech trainees.

Per Scholas Columbus worked with Nationwide and a slate of 14 students. After an interview

process at the end of the training, 13 were then offered sixmonth paid apprenticeships with Nationwide, with the expectation being full-time employment at the end of the apprenticeship.

Nonprofit Per Scholas recruits and trains diverse candidates in a unique, intense and free boot camp that includes tracks

such as software engineering, cybersecurity and IT support, plus career mentoring.

Toni Cunningham, Per Scholas Columbus’ managing director, says they’re in talks with a number of large local employers about similar programs.

“If you work with us, we have the connection to the talent

you may be looking for or didn’t know you were looking for, plus the ability to take our curriculum and customize it,” Cunningham says. “We can deliver the talent, you can support and mentor them through training, and they should be ready to come on board at the end of that process.”

16 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

016_TechTalk.indd 16

10/15/20 4:20 PM

Advertisement

Thought Leader of the month

Keeping Your Business and Personal Goals Aligned

Fifth Third helps business owners find balance and achieve their goals.

O

wning a business requires a constant balance of commitments, both personal and professional. That’s because you, your family and your business are intrinsically connected.

We partner with business owners like you to find the right balance by taking the time to understand your goals and objectives. This partnership allows us to design customized strategies to achieve your vision.

Preparing for the unexpected When you’re busy taking care of business demands, it’s easy to overlook your personal financial goals. Although

business and personal financial planning are different, it’s important for you to understand how and where they connect, so that you can better prepare for the future.

That preparation also includes managing uncertainty, which plays a key role in running a successful business, yet isn’t always easy to do.

Unexpected conflicts can arise at any time—that’s why we work together with you and your advisors to help you better navigate what may unfold.

By being proactive and preparing for life’s uncertainties, you can remain confident that your goals and your business continue moving in the direction you want them to.

We can help We will guide you through a tailored business and personal planning process and introduce additional resources as needed to fit your unique goals and circumstances.

Some of these may focus on: • I nvestments and retirement planning • Contingency planning • Estate and wealth transfer planning* •B usiness continuity/succession planning • Buy-sell planning* It all begins with a conversation Our Life360 process seeks a holistic understanding of your current situation, goals and aspirations before determining a course of action.

To start a conversation, our contact information is included and we are here to help in any way.

Jeremy Gutierrez, SVP, Commercial Bank Executive

jeremy.gutierrez@53.com

Stephanie Green, SVP, Wealth & Asset Management Executive

stephanie.green@53.com Jeremy Gutierrez

Stephanie Green

Fifth Third Bank

21 E. State St., Columbus, OH 43215 53.com

*Fifth Third does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please contact your tax advisor, accountant or attorney for advice pertinent to your personal situation. Fifth Third Private Bank is a division of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, offering banking, investment and insurance products and services. Fifth Third Bancorp provides access to investments and investment services through various subsidiaries, including Fifth Third Securities. Fifth Third Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and registered investment advisor. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investments, investment services and insurance: Offer No Bank Guarantee

Are Not FDIC Insured

May Lose Value

Are Not Insured by any Federal Government Agency

Are Not a Deposit

Life360 is controlled and operated by eMoney Advisor LLC for the use of Fifth Third and its subsidiaries, which have no affiliation with eMoney Advisor LLC. Insurance Products made available through Fifth Third Insurance Agency, Inc. Deposit and credit products offered

by Fifth Third Bank, National Association, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

017_ThoughtLeaders_5_3Bank.indd 17

10/15/20 12:16 PM

briefing

By Katy Smith and Laura Newpoff

Photo courtesy vorys sater seymour and pease

Leveling the playing field Vorys initiative aims to empower minority entrepreneurs.

M

any white entrepreneurs can rely on friends and family members who run successful businesses and hold professional expertise— Think: My uncle’s an accountant, I’ll just ask him! To give minority business owners access to that same quality network, a new program is providing free legal services.

Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease has launched its Initiative for Business Empowerment to support businesses owned by people from minority racial and ethnic backgrounds. The firm is offering these companies free legal services, with the number of hours based on their size, needs and revenue. To apply, go to https://practices.vorys.com/vorys-initiative-forbusiness-empowerment.

The idea is to provide foundational

Janay Stevens legal services like help setting up an LLC, setting up operating agreements, trademark and copyright assistance, help determining if a worker is a contractor or employee, or how to set up an employee handbook, says Janay Stevens, a Vorys partner and the lawyer behind the project.

The program, which has 20 to 25 attorneys already engaged, is meant for businesses at all stages.

“One of the things that a number of businesses have pointed out is that even though they might have been in operation for a year, five years, 15 years, 20 years, in some cases, they don’t necessarily have contracts in place for the exchange of their services, whatever those

might be,” Stevens says. “They’re oftentimes emails, or handshaketype agreements. We see that as an opportunity to put pen to paper and help you protect your interests.”

Program participants are able to access Vorys’ suite of services offered to all clients, such as exclusive webinars.

The commitment to making social change has to go beyond platitudes, Stevens says.

“We have to make this more than just a moment in time,” she says. “To make true systemic change, we’ve got to get our hands dirty, we’ve got to do the work. At the end of the day, this has got to be bigger than 2020.”

–Katy Smith

Nonprofit leaders train in human-centered design

Donna Zuiderweg

Photo courtesy COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN LIBRARY

In early August, 40 leaders from Central Ohio’s nonprofit, philanthropy, government and social impact fields got together

virtually to do something that’s never been done before. For five days they participated in a human-centered design program that had never before left the d.school campus at Stanford University.

The workshops took place amid a global pandemic, economic uncertainty and racial unrest. The goal was stronger outcomes and equity for area residents. The leaders learned how to solve problems by going straight to the source to gain insight from the people they are trying to help. That means if a

nonprofit leader involved in helping the homeless wants to solve a challenge for that population, people who actually are homeless would have to have a say in and be a part of how the solution is created.

“Designing for Social Systems” was brought to the Central Ohio leaders by the Columbus Foundation. The workshops were well-received, and the foundation decided to keep the momentum going by running four of what it calls “design sprints” three weeks later that included the coaches from Stanford.

Donna Zuiderweg, chief community engagement officer at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, says while the library has always valued feedback from its members about the services it provides, the human-centered design process allows it to invite community members in to be a part of the co-design process.

“The foundation has created this community of leaders and professionals who have learned this process and understand the value of it,” Zuiderweg says.

“It’s such a great opportunity for Columbus.”

–Laura Newpoff

18 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

018-019_Briefings.indd 18

10/15/20 7:08 PM

018-019_Briefings.indd 19

10/15/20 7:08 PM

spotlight

By Virginia Brown + Photo by rob hardin

Small Business

Just call him boss B.O.S.S. Fitness owner James Gullatte harnessed his challenging past to build a thriving fitness business.

T

he first thing you notice about fitness trainer James Gullatte isn’t the size of his muscles—though his biceps burst through a bright-blue B.O.S.S. Fitness T-shirt. It’s his smile.

In 2004, after spending 10 years behind bars for a drug-related incident, Gullatte arrived in downtown Columbus with under $100 and a plan: to own a fitness company and help others get in shape.

“It was a part of saving my life and trying to give my grandkids an op-

“Everything was designed for me to overcome and be successful, it wasn’t designed to keep me down, I was on this path the whole time.”

James Gullatte, owner, B.O.S.S. Fitness

B.O.S.S. Fitness

333 E. Livingston Ave., Columbus 43215 boss-fitness.com Business: Personal training gym Owner: James Gullatte Employees: 5 (full-time and independent contractors) Revenue: $400,000 in 2019

James Gullatte portunity,” says Gullatte, 50.

Today, B.O.S.S. Fitness, a tworoom gym just southeast of downtown, has five employees and independent contractors. In his book, Results Do Matter: A Journey from Homeless to Million-Dollar Business Success, Gullatte says he has logged over 175,680 training hours with roughly 1,500 clients and has earned over $2 million.

He might be a millionaire, but it took a lot of heavy lifting to get there.

A rough start Gullatte grew up with a single mother on the west side of Dayton. “There were times when our lights were off,” he says. “We’d heat water up on these kerosene heaters to take baths.”

In the Westwood neighborhood, opportunities were slim. “You either did two things: worked at GM or ran the streets,” Gullatte says.

By age 11, he was stealing candy bars, selling two for a quarter at

20 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

020-021_Spotlight_SmallBusiness.indd 20

10/15/20 12:19 PM

school. “I remember the first time I got caught stealing,” he says. “Everybody came over, so it triggered in my mind that if you get in trouble, you get attention.”

Despite his potential as a center fielder—he played on all-star teams and made it to the Little League World Series—“No one ever came to the games,” he says. If baseball success couldn’t yield attention, something else would have to.

At 15, he walked off the baseball field and onto the gang-run streets.

“You gravitate towards this lifestyle because of the love you feel and the respect you feel,” he says. “You belong to something, and people fear it.”

Stealing candy led to stealing cars and selling cocaine, a drug Gullatte got hooked on—one that led to a lifechanging altercation that landed him in prison in Orient. He was 24.

All in on fitness Gullatte remembers a pivotal moment from when he was in prison. He had just finished a workout. “I was feeling good about what I was doing, and it

just hit me,” he says. “It stopped me.

Do you love yourself?

After pondering that question, he examined his life, and his path changed course. “From that point on, it was about how to love me.” He committed to health, gave up wine and weed, and focused on fitness.

One day, a fellow inmate let him borrow an issue of Flex. “I read that magazine from cover to cover, three straight times,” he says. He didn’t move except to eat. “I read the advertisements, everything. And that’s when I said, I’m going to be a personal trainer.” In the fitness business, he could make money, get girls and stay out of jail. “That’s what drove me at the beginning,” he says, his uninhibited laugh so infectious, you have to laugh, too. “But my quest for information didn’t stop.”

He began reading more, training inmates, gained a following and became known as The Fitness Guy. Inmates, most jeering, called him “Boss Fitness,” and the prison even adopted his training plan.

In 2005, out of prison and working at a Bexley gym, Gullatte began

training Sally Crane Cox. Over time, Gullatte shared his story and goals with her. “He’s not just training people because he wants to be buff,” she says.

“He’s there to change them.”

At the time, Crane Cox, who owns properties, was searching for a business owner to take a space on North High Street. That space became his first, and in 2012, he moved to East Livingston Avenue.

“James is very clear that his journey doesn’t belong to anyone else, and he completely owns his past and has this laser focus on owning his future,” Crane Cox says. “[He] repudiates the idea of victimization.”

Today, Gullatte is married and owns two other businesses, one in real estate and one in investments. With seven children from previous relationships, he now has 13 grandchildren, and he wants to help them enjoy the stability and attention he didn’t have.

“Everything was designed for me to overcome and be successful, it wasn’t designed to keep me down,” he says.

“I was on this path the whole time.”

Virginia Brown is a freelance writer.

© 2020 Medical Mutual of Ohio

The official health insurer of

trailblazers

We know your employees are your greatest asset. That’s why we offer high-quality health insurance plans that help keep your employees safe and healthy. Our plans include access to the top doctors and hospitals in the country. Plus, prescription drug coverage and personalized wellness programs. Bundle your health plan with our dental, vision or life plans for a fully integrated benefits package.

We are here for you, today and every day.

Call your broker | MedMutual.com/Trailblazers

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

020-021_Spotlight_SmallBusiness.indd 21

21

10/15/20 12:19 PM

spotlight

By Laura Newpoff + Photo by rob hardin

Nonprofit

Springing into action Impact Community Action is working overtime to help those facing eviction amid Covid-19.

O

ver the summer, as a patchwork of protections expired, space inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center was converted into an eviction court to accommodate a surge of hearings amid a pandemic. With the economy roiled because of Covid-19, research showed that thousands of renters across Ohio were at an unprecedented level of risk of losing their homes.

Count Spring Lawson among them.

Employed by a local health system’s call center at the time, her overtime had been eliminated and she had fallen behind on her $1,100 monthly rent. Late fees piled up and her landlord wouldn’t accept a partial payment. An eviction notice arrived in April to inform her of a June 10 court date. That gave Lawson plenty of time to sit with the anxiousness of losing her home and the

Impact Community Action 711 Southwood Ave., Columbus 43207 impactca.org Mission: Housing stability, workforce

development education and programming, energy efficiency services and utility payment assistance.

CEO: Bo Chilton Employees: 110 Annual revenue: $8 million

Bo Chilton impact that would have on her credit score. She worked with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus to understand her options and arrived at her hearing with $2,000, even though she owed more than $3,000.

Waiting for her was Impact Community Action. A caseworker explained she was eligible to receive money from the recently established Hope Fund designed to stabilize families during Covid-19 so area shelters wouldn’t become overwhelmed. The $12 million fund was made up from a federal CARES Act pass-along from the city of Columbus, federal funding for match donations, money from Franklin County and private donations from the Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, United Way,

Fifth Third Bank, PNC Bank, the Crane Group and others.

Lawson’s money combined with $1,800 from the fund allowed her to work out a deal so she could stay in her Reynoldsburg apartment.

“This helped with the late fees that had piled up,” Lawson says.

“I was able to make a fresh start.

I’m grateful for that, and now I stay ahead of the game.”

Lawson took a job at the nonprofit in July as a self-sufficiency coordinator. While the funding and job opening weren’t related, she says she’s able to use her experience to connect with the people she helps at the agency. “I know what it’s like to be on the other side,” she says.

“Covid-19 doesn’t discriminate. It’s affecting everybody.”

22 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

022-023_Spotlight_Nonprofit.indd 22

10/15/20 4:26 PM

Thousands need help In September, the Centers for Disease Control issued a temporary halt in evictions through Dec. 31. But evictions are still happening because there’s action needed by tenants to take advantage of those protections, says Bo Chilton, CEO of Impact Community Action. That includes “best efforts to obtain all available government assistance for rent or housing” and “best efforts to make timely partial payments that are as close to the full payment as the individual’s circumstances may permit.”

“If the tenant doesn’t take that proactive step, the landlord can file for eviction,” Chilton says. “There are a number of landlords rushing to evict

“I try to communicate to people who are growing disillusioned with the American dream that we’re all in this together.”

Bo Chilton, CEO, Impact Community Action

people they want out before they are clear about the protections that are out there.”

Impact Community Action can provide tenants with documentation that shows they are seeking assistance. The nonprofit has been working with several other agencies to prevent widespread evictions, which Chilton says will make the pandemic worse by crowding shelters and increasing the number of multigenerational households.

The funding Impact received this year from the government has to be spent by the end of the year, so the beginning of 2021 could present challenges anew to keep people from losing their homes, he says.

As of early October, Impact had distributed more than $3.5 million to 1,600 residents. It also had 3,000 applications that still needed to be processed.

A big new home Impact Community Action traces its roots to 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson’s Vision for A Great Soci-

ety ushered in civil rights reform, demanded economic opportunities for all citizens and began the war on poverty. It is one of 48 such agencies in Ohio and more than 1,100 nationally. The goal is to move people from crisis to stability, from stability to empowerment and from empowerment to self-sufficiency.

In June, the nonprofit moved from Olde Towne East to the old Techneglas plant at 711 Southwood Ave. It has 40,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of warehouse space, which has allowed it to continue educational training and implement social distancing.

Chilton, who serves on the city of Columbus’ Civilian Review Work Board Group engaged in communitypolice relations work, also has seen the impact of this year’s civil unrest, which he says has created more angst in the community.

“I try to communicate to people who are growing disillusioned with the American dream that we’re all in this together,” he says.

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

VIRTUAL AWARDS November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

022-023_Spotlight_Nonprofit.indd 23

23

10/15/20 4:27 PM

spotlight

By Cynthia Bent Findlay + Photo by ROB HARDIN

Innovation

Building confidence with an app Construction teams are better equipped to stay safe and work efficiently thanks to MindForge.

I

n construction, contractors and insurers struggle with risk management and quality control in an industry slow to adopt new technologies. The combination of inherent danger and a complex working environment with many players entering job sites daily for short stints has plagued the industry.

MindForge, a Columbus-based startup owned by the International Risk Management Institute, is innovating with a new app that connects the front office, supervisors and front-line craftspeople in a way the industry hasn’t seen before.

Stokes McIntyre, the son of the institute’s founder, says his father approached him with a white paper detailing the problems he wanted to tackle. One, information on safety and training wasn’t being efficiently pushed down to construction site workers. Two, contractors had spent

MindForge

22 E. Gay St., Columbus 43215 MindForge.live Business: Construction training platform Founders: Stokes McIntyre and Shahin Aftabizadeh Employees: 24 Investment to date: $5.5 million

Stokes McIntyre and Shahin Aftabizadeh

lots of time and money trying to solve that problem on their own.

McIntyre, who was running a media production firm, Hotbed LLC, had a background in training and team building. He found a partner in Shahin Aftabizadeh, a cultural anthropologist with software and project development experience.

Through a year of research and testing, McIntyre and Aftabizadeh built an app that gets pushed into the hands of everyone on a project, from the head office to every subcontractor’s workers.

MindForge offers onboarding and training regimens and daily backand-forth communications in a single hub. It also automates training compliance tracking.

Corporate offices, McIntyre says, were familiar with software solutions, but most people running companies doubted line workers would adopt an app.

“When we first go into our presentation, without a doubt, someone’s going to say, ‘Do they even carry smartphones?’ But all you need to do is walk up to a morning huddle and see all of the workers scrolling through their Facebook feeds waiting

for the day to start.”

Front-line workers have eagerly adopted MindForge.

“We found the more the craft workers received updates on what was happening around the job, something as simple as the porta potty moved or parking spots changed, that info flows through the system and became an incredible equalizer. They no longer had to ask a foreman or hope info leaked down,” says Aftabizadeh.

Berglund Construction, a national firm headquartered in Chicago, piloted MindForge starting in December on a tricky job doing specialty granite repairs on the Rhodes Tower in downtown Columbus.

“A lot of the repairs are unique to that building, and many tradespeople have never done this type of work before,” says Jeff Berglund, the company’s Rhodes project manager. “You can’t just walk up and see how their work is going, they might be hanging off of the 25th floor most of the day.”

Many tradespeople had never worked on skyscrapers. MindForge helped the company create training videos showing the actual steps of the process right on the side of the building.

24 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

024-025_Spotlight_Innovation.indd 24

10/15/20 12:22 PM

“We found the more the craft workers received updates on what was happening around the job… that info became an incredible equalizer. They no longer had to ask a foreman or hope info leaked down.”

columbusalive.com the Arts the Eats the Community and more

Stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter @columbusalive

Shahin Aftabizadeh, co-founder, MindForge “Prior to that capacity, really the only way a worker was going to get a mental image of what to do is by going up and doing it,” Berglund says.

“We’ve gotten a lot of feedback—it gave them a higher level of confidence coming out to the project than if we’d taught them on the job.”

Berglund Construction has since ramped up its use of MindForge companywide.

The state of Illinois began requiring sexual harassment training for job site workers, and Berglund adopted MindForge as the delivery platform for that, too.

Though it’s been less than a year, Berglund and others are seeing returns in terms of safety and efficiency on the job sites. Berglund says he’s a big fan.

“At Rhodes over the last year, we have had our most successful year from a safety perspective in terms of any incidents, and that coincides with MindForge’s rollout on the project,” Berglund says.

Pankow Builders, another national industry player, cut time required for training on its MindForge-deployed job sites from eight to two hours, saving the company more than $12,600 on a single job site.

MindForge’s model is to charge on a subscription basis for training hours used, and communications functions come with the app. McIntyre believes the company can achieve profitability within two years.

He plans for MindForge to remain privately owned to allow for steady, focused expansion. He sees potential in many industries.

Cynthia Bent Findlay is a freelance writer.

Discovery Days

Columbus School for Girls Now enrolling students age 3 to grade 12

For prospective families.

Please join us!

Saturday November 14 Ages 3-6: 9-10:30am or

Grades 6-8: 11-12:30am Sunday November 15 Grades 1-5: 1-2:30pm or

Grades 9-12: 3-4:30pm

Voice and choice are at the center of a CSG education. Join us for CSG Discovery Days and discover what is different about this empowering learning environment.

Speak with teachers and administrators Learn the value of an all-girl education Get answers to your questions

space is limited. register today.

www.columbusschoolforgirls.org/discovery

admissions@columbusschoolforgirls.org - 614.252.0781 ext. 442

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

024-025_Spotlight_Innovation.indd 25

25

10/15/20 12:23 PM

spotlight

By Brittany Moseley + Photo by Rob hardin

Emerging Business

Choosing the target Green Office Furniture Solutions found focus in its owner’s military past and her research into building materials.

A

s a relationship manager for the Economic & Community Development Institute, Jesse Mark spends a lot of time out in the community promoting Capital for Construction.

The program provides technical assistance, financing and procurement

“I’ve always been the type of person that did not want to be wasteful, that always wanted to consider the impact on the environment for anything that I was doing personally in my life.”

Haleema shafeek, owner, GOFS

Green Office Furniture Solutions 2000 Dividend Drive, Suite 100 Columbus 43228 • gofsllc.com

Business: Sustainable commercial interior

design

Owner: Haleema Shafeek Employees: 5 Annual revenue: Generally in the high six figures; would not disclose exact number.

Haleema Shafeek opportunities for minority-owned subcontractors. Mark, who joined ECDI three years ago, says he knows he’s in the right place whenever he sees Haleema Shafeek.

“Haleema is a perfect example of somebody who comes to ECDI looking to start or grow their business, and they take advantage of resources and tools that we have available to them and they implement it,” Mark says of Shafeek, who owns Green Office Furniture Solutions. “Haleema is exemplary in her taking action steps, asking for the help, getting the right knowledge around her, the right brain trust and implementing her vision.”

Shafeek sums up her success in business this way: “I always tell my kids, try not to burn any bridges,” she says. “You don’t know when you’re going to need someone.”

Shafeek began taking steps toward her current career after leaving the military—she joined the Army in 1990, but was injured during training and was retired out. Shafeek always had an interest in interior design, spurred by her time studying architecture and drafting in vocational school. In 1996, she graduated from Sinclair Community College in Dayton with an associate degree in interior design. After working in the corporate world for several years—

including a stint at Huntington Bank as a project manager and some time off to have her first child—Shafeek launched Green Office Furniture Solutions in 2008. The company specializes in sustainable furniture and interior design for companies.

“I’ve always been the type of person that did not want to be wasteful, that always wanted to consider the impact on the environment for anything that I was doing personally in my life,” she says. When Shafeek and her family were building a new home, she and her son began having allergy issues. It led her to investigate the materials used in building projects. “That’s when I started to learn about the things we were using in corporate facilities and public spaces that could be harmful,” Shafeek says.

It was the push she needed to focus her new business on green building materials. She became a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and decided to focus on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects, an internationally recognized green building certification system. “It meant a lot to me—it meant a conscious decision to do something to positively impact the environment,” Shafeek says.

Once Shafeek knew what kind of business she wanted to run, she had

26 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

026-027_Spotlight_EmergingBusinesses.indd 26

10/15/20 12:17 PM

BUSINESS IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW

to figure out how to run a business.

For that, she used her past connections and immersed herself in research and training from the Small Business Administration. When she asked herself who her ideal clients were, the answer came quickly: the military. She wanted to support other veterans and be an asset to government agencies. In her company’s 12 years, it has landed contracts for the US. Department of Veteran Affairs, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Defense Supply Center Columbus and the U.S. Coast Guard Station Cleveland Harbor.

Green Office Furniture Solutions, which goes by GOFS, is now working on a project at the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

The coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges. Shafeek had to furlough one employee and navigate federal aid. But she sees her field of sustainable design as perfectly equipped to deal with the pandemic— keeping people safe in public spaces.

“Haleema has always been a hard worker and not afraid of a challenge,” says Kenneth Wallace, her longtime friend and the COO of NSi Network Solutions International. “I’ve seen her jump through hoops for clients.”

Brittany Moseley is assistant digital editor for Dispatch Magazines.

ECDI IS HERE TO HELP Immediate, flexible, low-interest loans up to $350,000 for start-ups and established small businesses in Central Ohio.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR COLUMBUS CEO READERS: Free access to Initiate Premium Online Training with any loan.

Call 614-559-0115 to learn more.

ECDI.org November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

026-027_Spotlight_EmergingBusinesses.indd 27

27

10/15/20 12:17 PM

Agenda

CEO Corner

Compiled by Katy Smith

UP TO THE CHALLENGE Companies are facing unprecedented change during the pandemic. What temporary changes have been made in your organization that may become permanent?

Melanie Corn President, Columbus College of Art & Design

Shawn Holt President and CEO, Maryhaven Our team, like first responders everywhere, has exemplified courage, tenacity and compassion in the face of Covid-19. We’ve worked diligently to follow every health and safety protocol. However, as an anchor behavioral health and addiction treatment center, our doors have remained opened because we must be there for those with addictions or severe mental health challenges.

That is why during these challenging times, we have implemented telehealth services to make it easier to connect with our provider staff.

Telehealth visits are open to new and existing patients. You can receive treatment services from a Maryhaven care provider remotely.

Instead of coming into the office for their appointments, patients can use their smartphone, tablet or computer. If there are issues accessing an internet connection or device with audio and video, patients may communicate with their provider using a landline telephone. These temporary changes made for Covid-19 are now becoming permanent treatment methods moving forward.

CCAD opted to focus on remote learning and working for the fall semester. Our creative faculty have risen to the challenges this generated for a studio-based arts education. The move online hastened our adoption of a number of collaborative work and educational tools that we will continue using. While we are eager to return to campus, some classes are working quite well online, and some staff positions can continue to effectively work remotely. Our future will be a hybrid one where we focus on preserving our on-campus space and face-toface interactions for when they can make the most impact.

Margie Pizzuti President and CEO, Goodwill Columbus

Goodwill is committed to transforming lives through the power of work. During the pandemic, our team mobilized, leveraging technology to support workforce development training, job coaching and service delivery.

Transportation is a major obstacle for many individuals we serve, so we’ve been committed to bringing our services to their neighborhoods.

Covid-19 required our team to pivot, taking our expertise online, offering virtual trainings and career development to help people find their next best job. We leveraged social media and other digital platforms, now offering multiple virtual learning opportunities on Facebook and YouTube. We see this new delivery model expanding as we move forward.

28 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

028-029_CEO Corner.indd 28

10/15/20 9:39 AM

holiday Special Advertising Section

PLANNING GUIDE Creating memorable holiday parties for any size group.

Contact us today to start planning.

310 S. High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 T +1 614.220.7042

Subscribe to Get one-year gift subscriptions for everyone on your list, t, only $10 each.

On the field. In the locker room.

On the recruiting trail.

Go to columbusmonthly.com/jollyy or call 877-688-8009.

Trademarks of The Ohio State University used with permission.

2020 028-029_CEO Corner.indd 29

10/15/20 2:39 PM

2020 Best of the Best of Business: Top Vote-Getters Here are the top 10 companies by votes in the 2020 Best of Business readers’ poll.

By Virginia Brown + Photos by rob hardin

Pathways President Greg Kidwell, CEO Mike Shafer and Board Chair Jack Radich

30 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 30

10/15/20 6:52 PM

Photo courtesy Hutta & Price

Dr. James Hutta and Dr. Jeffrey Price

Pathways Financial Credit Union CEO: Michael Shafer At 5:45 a.m. on a Tuesday in October, Michael Shafer laced up for a run. It was 36 degrees outside. “I’m not much for daily routines,” he says, “but I use this time to organize my day and plan out what I want to accomplish.

Running, walking—daily exercise— is one way the CEO of Pathways Financial Credit Union stays grounded so he can keep his company ahead of the competitive curve.

Shafer became CEO in 1999, back when the company had seven employees. Twenty-one years later, with over 120 employees, and roughly $500 million in assets, he says the thing that surprises him most is how competitive the financial landscape has gotten.

“Credit unions are smaller players in the banking space,” he says. “We offer a lot of the same services, but we are a non-for-profit cooperative, controlled by our members/owners.”

Through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the full-service financial institution now has 15 locations across the Columbus region and Dayton and 40,000 members/owners.

One reason for that growth, Shafer says, is the people.

“We demonstrate a culture that we do care about our employees,” he says.

“I take a lot of pride when members of the staff bring new ideas for better ways of doing things.”

Hutta & Price Orthodontics Dr. James Hutta Dr. James Hutta wants more people to smile.

Each morning, the orthodontist sets his alarm to play “Beautiful Day” by rock band U2. “I want every day to be better than the last day,” he says. “I’m always working to self improve.”

Hutta started his practice 28 years ago with one employee. Today, his staff of 21, along with fellow doctor Jeffrey Price, includes financial support services, lab

technicians, hygienists, and more.

Hutta’s two grown children also work for the practice.

As a freshman at Ohio State, he knew he wanted to pursue medicine, and eventually he landed on dentistry.

“I saw the changes it made in people’s smiles,” he says, “and with their confidence level, including myself.” He, too, wore braces and remembers what his teeth felt like when they came off.

“They felt like Chicklets!” he says. But it helped him gain confidence.

With the Covid-19 pandemic, his employees were out of work for six weeks. “I’m a strong believer in treating people the way you’d want to be treated,” he says. He and Price personally paid their employees’ wages.

Every patient also gets a Sonicare toothbrush (“Braces are not easy to brush around,” he says), and the practice is actively involved in several charities, from high school sports programs to breast cancer prevention, and providing “smile scholarships” for those in underserved communities.

“Especially given today’s stressors, smiling makes the world a happier place,” Hutta says. “What better thing than to smile at each other. I wish more people would smile.”

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 31

31

10/15/20 6:52 PM

Belle Communication CEO: Kate Finley “Punch today in the face.” That’s a saying on a card found on Belle Communication Founder and CEO Kate Finley’s desk. It’s from her chief growth officer, and it embodies some of Belle’s key tenets: to think big and bring enthusiasm to everything you do.

Belle Communication is a womanowned PR agency focused on creative communications solutions and strategies. Seven core “Belle-iefs” keep the staff united and focused on the same goals. “Above all, I try to stick to my values and do my best to honor people, allowing them the grace to be imperfect and do what’s best for them,” Finley says.

Due to the pandemic, Finley has spent most of the year in Puerto Rico, and she took a month off in September and October to focus on rest and family. She also points to

gratitude as a way to bring perspective. “As an entrepreneur, the tendency is to keep looking forward to the next big thing. It can be nonstop,” she says. “Gratitude allows me to be present, acknowledge achievements, lessons learned and to better connect with others.”

At Belle, the team works with clients in industries from automotive to waste management. “I’m constantly amazed at my team’s ability to come up with fresh thinking and creative solutions, regardless of how complex a client’s industry is.”

As for the client’s challenges due to Covid-19, “We’ve had clients tell us, especially this year, we help them be brave,” she says. “[They] tell us that they would not want to navigate the current environment without us.”

But working remotely is nothing new. Belle has been remote since inception, which is why, twice a year, the team gathers in person for several days to think big and spend quality time together. “We’re often mistaken for sisters or close friends,” Finley says. “I love that!”

M+A Architects Principal & President: Mark Daniels What will transform the look, feel, and requirements of our buildings in the future? At M+A Architects, that’s for Mark Bryan to figure out.

“On staff, we have a certified futurist,” says President Mark Daniels.

“His job is to research and understand the trends.”

For one, Covid-19 is affecting everything. “How a person sequences through a health care facility is changing,” Daniels says. “It’s impacting every sector, from senior housing to office buildings.”

The future aside, Daniels points to the culture as the main reason he joined M+A back in 1987. “The two people that started the firm; those people were awesome humans,” he says. “It starts with leadership, but you also have to have the right people who can bring integrity and humility to the work. We’ve made it a priority to find those right people.”

The Belle Communication team with founder and CEO Kate Finley in the center.

Photo courtesy Victoria Photos

32 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 32

10/15/20 6:53 PM

The M+A team with President Mark Daniels seated, in glasses and jacket, at center.

M+A’s portfolio includes awardwinning projects that range from community and municipal buildings to workplace, retail, higher education, and more. They not only offer architectural services, but interior design and sustainability, too.

To stay ahead of the curve takes a commitment to research and innovation. The firm’s M+Ake It Innovative podcasts dig into industry trends, spatial changes of the future, and even topics of concern to the company, like mental health.

In 2018, the firm developed the “Respite Room,” a space designed to support the central nervous system by decreasing hyperarousal and even helping with migraine relief and sensory overload. “This room is used every day and has been so helpful for many people,” says Daniels.

“Even a quick 15-minute break can do wonders for a person’s focus and mental health.”

sales from over 1,000 agents across 89 offices. This year, before the pandemic, agents hosted maskless open houses, offering trays full of cookies, and had dipped just a toe in the virtual waters.

The company hosted family nights at Columbus Clippers and Dayton Dragon baseball games, and they’d golf together and volunteer. “We have associates that have been here for forty-five plus years,” President Shawn Adams says.

But since then, daily operations look a little different. From spaced

out appointments to avoid unnecessary client interactions, to pumping hand sanitizer by the gallons, and wearing shoe coverings upon entry, showings may not look the same, but one fact remains: they’re still guiding home sellers and buyers through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

“Sellers want to know when is the right time to sell … it’s now, by the way … and buyers want to know if they are choosing the right home,” Adams says. “This is a lifestyle business and our agents know it.”

HER Realtors President: Shawn Adams In 1957, the year after Harley E. Rouda, Sr. founded HER Realtors, a flu pandemic hit the U.S. Nearly 65 years later, HER Realtors—whose signs are as omnipresent as Buckeye flags in yards throughout Central Ohio—is up against a similar landscape.

Last year, HER saw $2.6 billion in

The HER Team November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 33

33

10/15/20 7:30 PM

Photo courtesy HUCKLEBERRY HOUSE

The Huckleberry House team

Huckleberry House

Revolution Group

Executive Director: Sonya Thesing

CEO: Rick Snide

Every year in the Columbus region, 3,000 youths, ages 12 to 24, are homeless. “These are youths who belong to all of us, if we are truly going to be a community,” says Sonya Thesing, executive director of Huckleberry House, a nonprofit that provides homeless teens and young adults with critical housing and support.

Couple that harrowing statistic with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and you’ve got one busy nonprofit. “Stay-at-home orders have been challenging, to say the least, for the average among us,” Thesing says. “But when ‘home’ is a car, or an overpass over the railroad tracks, or an alley—that’s not a place to be in a Covid lockdown.”

Through its crisis center, transitional living, counseling center, and other outreach programs, “Huck House” has provided solutions to homelessness since 1970. “Homelessness isn’t always income-driven,” Thesing explains. “The underlying commonality is a breakdown in relationships,” she says.

For Thesing, there’s a social justice element to the work done at Huckleberry House. “This work matters so much because, somewhere down the line, [these youths] didn’t get something that they needed, that other people did get,” Thesing says. “Our work is not nearly done.”

In 1995, when Rick Snide and Polly Clavijo dreamt up their tech company, only 36 percent of households had a computer. Today, the company celebrates 25 years, which in tech years, might as well be billions.

Revolution Software, as it was called then, grew over time from a modest team in a small Clintonville

space, to Revolution Group, with over 80 employees providing tech support solutions for professional service companies nationwide.

In some ways, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the company hard. “Overnight, our support calls doubled for March, April and May,” says Snide, CEO. But in other ways, like working from home, not much changed for the company, which got its start as an IBM consulting partner working from home offices. “We’ve always had remote workers,” Snide says.

With Snide and Clavijo, senior leadership at Revolution has been together roughly 15 years—stability and consistency that adds to the company’s success. “We spend a lot of energy caring about keeping and finding the right people,” says Snide. “I think it would surprise people how authentic we are, and how good we are to each other.”

What else does he spend energy thinking about? The future. According to Snide, the future of technology is speed. Considering the dial-up sludge that defined his early career days, it’s hard to think that today’s Zoom calls are slow or glitchy, but, “Imagine being able to have a virtual reality meeting with your team—in Aspen,” he says. “I think we’re going to see unlimited bandwidth that allows that kind of connectivity.”

Photo courtesy REVOLUTION GROUP

The Revolution Group team with CEO Rick Snide, front left, and Marketing Director Cindy Snide, second row, second seat.

34 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 34

10/15/20 7:18 PM

Diamonds Direct

The Kemba team

Vice President: Tery Vari

Kemba Financial Credit Union President and CEO: Mark Decello Prior to Covid-19, when Mark Decello, the CEO of Kemba credit union, visited branches and shook dozens of hands, he would wash his hands immediately after. “It became a joke in the branches,” he says. “I’m just a little OCD, so elbow bumping is a blessing to me.”

Decello has been with Kemba for 11 years, and as CEO for the last year and a half. “The one thing I’ve learned is the weight of making decisions that impact 265 associates and 115,000 members—and the gravity of that,” he says.

“Kemba was founded during the Great Depression, and then and now there was a need for reliable and inclusive financial services,” Decello says.

“The pandemic has renewed our belief that the credit union movement is critical in the communities we serve.”

The company started inside the Kroger bakery downtown in 1933.

Today Kemba has 10 branches across Central Ohio, more than 50,000 ATMs, and roughly $1 billion in assets.

“I think people think we’re this sleepy organization, but we offer every product and service that a bank does,”

he says. “And because we’re not for profit, any profit we make, we return back to members through lower loan rates and fewer fees.”

One of the most pressing issues of today? Through guest lecturers and other partnerships, Kemba is making strides in diversity and inclusion, too.

“I’m proud of our inclusive nature; we could and should do more,” he says. “We’re looking at how we can help with this social—and financial injustice—and make sure we walk that walk.”

Most customers who walk into Diamonds Direct are in a good mood.

“They’re going to get engaged, or they got a big promotion at work—they’ve got an anniversary coming up, a birthday,” says Vice President Tery Vari.

“We get to share in that.”

After a long stay in Diamonds Direct’s Apex, North Carolina, store, Vari returned to Columbus in 2018 to open the local branch. “The empowerment that I have, and that I’m able to give everyone,” he says, “it’s more of an entrepreneurial environment.”

Originally from Youngstown,Vari, 55, has been in the jewelry industry for 30 years, since graduating from Ohio State University. “I got my start working at Northland Mall, part-time,” he says. Eventually, while working 40 hours a week at a bank, his side hustle became his full-time gig. “I just kind of fell into jewelry,” he says.

From Top Golf outings to holiday parties, Vari puts effort into keeping

The Diamonds Direct team Photos courtesy Diamonds Direct

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 35

35

10/15/20 6:53 PM

2020

The Frazier Heiby team with CEO Lauren Parker, right the staff close. “I’m Italian. I talk fast; I move fast—and I’m big on family,” Vari says. “I try to keep everything fun and family oriented.”

Covid-19 certainly has introduced challenges for the Diamonds Direct sales associates. For one thing, everyone now wears masks. “That right there is another barrier that the sales person has with the customer that you have to get beyond,” Vari says. “You can’t shake hands, and it’s harder to build rapport.”

But the seven diamond experts (16 employees total) are pros, he says.

That, plus additional perks—free jewelry maintenance, cleaning, sizing, and appraisal on all purchases—keeps customers coming back. “We do bring luxury and elegance, but we are a direct diamond importer,” meaning prices are more competitive without a middleman markup.

At the end of the day, most purchases surround a celebration.

“Everybody’s just buzzing around here having fun,” Vari says. “It’s not just a job—they really love what they do.”

FrazierHeiby President & CEO: Lauren Parker Lauren Parker believes in taking calculated risks.

Not only does the 34-year-old president and CEO of FrazierHeiby give her 5-year-old twins free reign over crafting pies for her family’s Sunday pizza night, but she encourages her staff to try edgy new things. “From a total slam dunk to a miss, I love the experi-

Photos courtesy Frazier Heiby

BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES Ad Agency

Fahlgren Mortine SBC Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 RevLocal 3 Futurety

Architectural Firm

M+A Architects Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Moody Nolan 3 WSA

ence of watching my team practice curiosity,” she says.

Along with senior partners Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville, and a total of 15 full-time team members, Parker, now in her first year as CEO, is poised to reinvent the 40-yearold agency for the digital age. “It’s an iterative and collaborative process, but we do take calculated risks based on research insights.”

FrazierHeiby provides creative strategic communications solutions for industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to higher education and manufacturing.

With deep experience at top Manhattan agencies, Parker came to the CEO position through a succession plan in 2018, eventually replacing then-CEO Bryan Haviland. “I didn’t set out to be entrepreneurial,” Parker says, “but I was so drawn to the foundation at our agency.”

That steady foundation is key during hard times. “I expected that this would be an incredibly difficult year,” Parker says, given the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the agency didn’t lose a single client. “Especially in these tumultuous times,” she says, “to be able to communicate well is an asset.”

Automotive Services

Safelite Autoglass Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Roush 3 Ricart

Commercial Data Center

Expedient Based in Pittsburgh Runners-up:

2 WeConnect 3 RackSquared

Energy Company

AEP Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 IGS Energy 3 Columbia Gas of Ohio

Engineering Firm

Moody Engineering Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 EMH&T Engineers 3 Burgess & Niple

36 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 36

10/15/20 6:53 PM

Thank you, Columbus for choosing

as your

#1 PR Firm

for the second year in a row

Find out why at

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 37

10/15/20 6:53 PM

2020 Graphic Design/ Branding Agency

Insurance Brokerage

ZoCo Design

Bazemore-Abner Insurance Group

Based in Columbus

Based in Gahanna

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Fahlgren Mortine 3 Tenfold

HR Services

2 Overmyer Hall 3 Hylant

Photo courtesy SPECTRUM

Logistics Provider

Insurance Company

GO-HR

Nationwide Insurance

UPS

Based in Columbus

Based in Columbus

Based in Atlanta

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Willis Towers Watson 3 Insperity

Information Technology

2 State Farm 3 Grange Insurance

Internet Service Provider

Revolution Group

Spectrum

Based in Westerville

Based in Stamford, Connecticut

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Fusion Alliance 3 Leading Edje

2 WOW 3 AT&T

2 USPS 3 FedEx

Manufacturing Company

Worthington Industries Based in Worthington Runners-up:

2 Honda of America

Manufacturing

3 T. Marzetti Co.

38 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 38

10/15/20 6:55 PM

—undeterred.

Starting at age three, Columbus Academy students in our Lower School run, play, think and grow, exploring every inch of our 231-acre campus. Spacious classrooms — indoors and out — and daily health protocols provide a safe and energetic learning environment.

  � – Sarah B, Kindergarten parent, Fall 2020

Visit us in person or online and see how we teach to the individual child, from our 3-year-olds to our seniors in high school, across all the dimensions of their personalities and learning styles. admissions@columbusacademy.org 614-509-2220 Or complete an inquiry form at: columbusacademy.org/inquire

Columbus Academy, 4300 Cherry Bottom Road, Gahanna, Ohio • Age 3–Grade 12, coeducational, independent

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 39

10/15/20 6:55 PM

Accounting Firm (20-plus CPAs)

GBQ Based in Columbus

2020 File/Columbus Dispatch/DORAL CHENOWETH

Mobile Phone Service Provider

OSU Fisher College of Business

Verizon

Runners-up:

2 Rea & Associates 3 Clark Schaefer Hackett

Business Lender

Based in New York City Runners-up:

Kemba Financial Credit Union

2 AT&T 3 Sprint/Boost Mobile

Based in Gahanna Runners-up:

Office Furniture

2 Huntington National Bank 3 Heartland Bank

King Business Interiors Based in Columbus

Commercial Mortgage Lender

Runners-up:

2 Continental Office 3 Dupler Office

Kemba Financial Credit Union Based in Gahanna

Printing Company

Education

Watkins Printing

Continuing Education Offerings

Based in Columbus

Franklin University

Runners-up:

2 Key Blue Prints 3 West Camp Press

Runners-up:

2 Pathways Financial Credit

Union

3 Heartland Bank

Credit Union

Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Ohio State University 3 Columbus State Community

Public Relations Firm

Belle Communication

College

Based in Columbus 2 FrazierHeiby 3 Fahlgren Mortine

Franklin University Based in Columbus Runners-up:

Signage Company

2 OSU Fisher College of

Atchley Graphics

Business 3 Otterbein University

Based in Columbus Runners-up:

Private Schools (K-12)

2 Columbus Sign Co. 3 FastSigns

Based in Columbus Runners-up:

MBA Program

Runners-up:

Pathways Financial Credit Union

2 Kemba Financial Credit Union 3 BMI Federal Credit Union

Private Wealth Management

Kemba Financial Credit Union Based in Gahanna Runners-up:

2 Budros, Ruhlin & Roe 3 Libertas Wealth Management

Group

Columbus Academy Based in Gahanna Runners-up:

2 Columbus School for Girls 3 Wellington School

40 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

Accounting Firm (Up to 20 CPAs)

HW & Co. Based in Cleveland Runners-up:

2 Wolf Financial Group 3 Lillie & Co.

Heartland Bank’s Scott McComb

File/ROB HARDIN/CEO

Belle Communication

Photo courtesy BELLE COMMUNICATION

FINANCIAL

COULD WE REALLY HAVE BEEN NAMED

BEST SUBURB TO DO BUSINESS? (YEP, 10 YEARS IN A ROW.)

EVERY THING GROWS HERE.

Named “Best Suburb to do Business” for 10 consecutive years by Columbus CEO

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 41

10/15/20 6:55 PM

File/Columbus Dispatch/BROOKE LAVALLEY

2020 Outdoor Dining

Lindey’s Based in Columbus

Condado Tacos

FOOD & BEVERAGE Happy Hour

Photo courtesy Condado Tacos

Runners-up:

2 Milestone 229 3 The Barn

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar

Power Lunch

Place to entertain a client

Lindey’s

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar

Based in Columbus

Based in Columbus

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse 3 Mitchell’s Ocean Club

2 Northstar Café

3 Hot Chicken Takeover

Restaurant

Power Breakfast

Condado Tacos

First Watch

Cap City Fine Diner and Bar

Based in Columbus

Based in University Park, Florida

Based in Columbus

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Lindey’s 3 Pins Mechanical Co.

2 Fox in the Snow 3 Northstar Café

BE B

2 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Lindey’s

Ho to cu in fle

S 1

R f

F t

42 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 42

10/15/20 6:56 PM

BEING THE BEST REQUIRES BETTER BROADBAND

Horizon understands that in order to be the best, you have to have the best technology. Horizon designs and builds custom fiber network solutions to provide you piece of mind in security, redundancy and reliability. Horizon’s innovation and flexibility continues to help businesses do what they do, better.

Symmetrical speeds up to 100 Gbps

Get connected to over a dozen data centers

Redundant & diverse paths for a fail safe connection

Local Network Operations Center monitoring your network 24/7/365 right from our Columbus office

Fiber broadband scaled for tomorrow’s needs

Horizon Hosted Voice Cloud-based solutions that work from anywhere.

Congratulations to all the Best in Business winners!

horizonconnects.com | 866.418.8126 |

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 43

10/15/20 6:56 PM

File/Dispatch/BARBARA PERENIC

2020 Dermatology and Skin Care

OSU Dermatology

Health care

Based in Columbus 2 Central Ohio Skin & Cancer 3 Westerville Dermatology

Cardiac Practice

OhioHealth Heart & Vascular Physicians

Family Medical Practice

Based in Columbus

Central Ohio Primary Care

Runners-up:

Based in Columbus

2 Ohio State Heart and Vascular

2 OhioHealth Primary Care

Physicians 3 OSU (all locations)

Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Dental Reflections Dublin 3 Dugas Dental

File/Dispatch/ADAM CAIRNS

Dental Practice

OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Nationwide Children’s

Hospital

3 OSU Wexner Medical Center

Runners-up:

Center 3 Mount Carmel Columbus

Cardiology Consultants

Hutta & Price Orthodontics

Hospital/Medical Center

Runners-up:

Oncology Medical Practice

OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center, James Cancer Hospital Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 OhioHealth Bing Cancer

Center

3 Zangmeister Center

Einstein Law has been voted Best of Business by Columbus CEO readers in Family Law and Col Employment Law for two years in a row E Why choose Einstein Law? Dianne Einstein and Mary Lewis Turner, the experienced attorneys at Einstein Law, are unique in the following ways: • They provide practical advice and try to resolve your problems quickly and cost efficiently

615 Copeland Mill Road, Suite 1H Westerville, OH 43081

• They listen to you and are compassionate, understanding, caring and non-judgmental • They practice in Central Ohio courts

(614) 734-0000

einsteinlawoffice.com

• They have extensive training in mediation and collaborative processes so that clients control their outcomes • They have Paw Clerks

44 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 44

10/15/20 6:56 PM

We create spaces that enhance culture and empower your people to love where they work!

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 45

10/15/20 6:56 PM

2020

Orthopedic One Based in Columbus with nine offices in Central Ohio Runners-up:

2 OrthoNeuro 3 Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center

Physical Therapy Practice

Orthopedic One Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 OrthoNeuro 3 OSU Sports Medicine

Law Firm (Up to 50 attorneys)

Grossman Law Offices Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Carlile Patchen & Murphy 3 Koffel Law Firm

Law Firm (50-plus attorneys)

Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Porter Wright

Litigation Firm

Photo courtesy Vorys

Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease

Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease

Legal Business Law Firm

Based in Westerville Runners-up:

2 Grossman Law Offices 3 Carlile Patchen & Murphy

Labor & Employment Law Firm

Einstein Law Based in Westerville Runners-up:

2 Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease

3 Bricker & Eckler

Based in Upper Arlington Runners-up:

2 Muirfield Village Golf Club 3 New Albany Country Club

Meeting Space (Conference Center) Based in Columbus

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Ice Miller

Meetings & events Attraction for Visitors

Runners-up:

Einstein Law

Scioto Country Club

Runners-up:

Based in Columbus

Family Law Firm

Country Club

Sparkspace

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium

2 Bricker & Eckler 3 Porter Wright

Scioto Country Club

Based in Columbus

Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease Runners-up:

Photo courtesy SCIOTO COUNTRY CLUB

Orthopedic Practice & Sports Medicine

Based in Columbus 2 Franklin Park Conservatory 3 Columbus Blue Jackets games

Audiovisual Production

Runners-up:

2 3

Exchange at Bridge Park

Greater Columbus Convention

Center

Private Golf Course

Muirfield Village Golf Club Based in Dublin Runners-up:

2 Scioto Country Club 3 New Albany Country Club 3 Pinnacle Golf Club

Promotional Products Company

Mills James Productions

Artina Promotional Products

Based in Columbus

Based in Columbus

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Brainstorm Media 3 Live Technologies

Caterer

Freedom a la Cart Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Cameron Mitchell Premier

Events

3 City BBQ Catering

2 Leaderpromos 3 Outreach Promotional

Solutions

Public Golf Course

Golf Club of Dublin Based in Dublin Runners-up:

2 Safari Golf Club

3 Blacklick Woods Golf Course

46 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 46

B a

10/15/20 6:57 PM

D a

p

THANK

YO U Columbus!

We are proud to be voted the city’s

best local credit union

by Columbus CEO Best of Business

But we’re even more honored to offer financial services and solutions that lead our members to financial success: » Loans for all your dreams and needs, big or small » Low, competitive rates » Swipe2Save checking that makes saving easy by rounding up your purchases. » Local, personalized service » A full line of personal and business banking solutions » And so much more!

Discover why we’re Columbus’ best local credit union. Follow the path and join the fastest-growing credit union in Ohio over the last ten years! pathwayscu.com | 614-416-7588

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 47

10/15/20 6:57 PM

2020 Fitness Facility

Planet Fitness Based in Hampton, N.H. Runners-up:

PERSONAL PERKS

2 YMCA 3 Orange Theory

Auto Dealer

Florist

File/Columbus Dispatch/JONATHAN QUILTER

Th

fo U o

NetJets

Private Flight Service

NetJets

Roush Auto Group

Connells Maple Lee

Based in Columbus

Based in Westerville

Based in Columbus

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Ricart Automotive Group 3 Byers Auto

2 Oberers 3 North Market Blooms

Executive Transportation

Jeweler

2 Lane Aviation 3 Wheels Up

Spa & Salon

Penzone Salons + Spas

NetJets

Diamonds Direct

Based in Columbus

Based in Columbus

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Lane Aviation 3 Cardinal Transportation

2 Kenneth’s Hair Salons and

2 Diamond Cellar 3 Worthington Jewelers

Day Spas

3 Salon Lofts

As ye ho

BUILT WITH CONFIDENCE

48 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 48

10/15/20 7:38 PM

Thank you, Columbus CEO readers,

for recognizing Franklin University in the 2020 Best of Business poll.

Best MBA Program

Best Continuing Education Offerings

As a part of the central Ohio community for nearly 120 years and Ohio’s #1 adult-focused university, we are honored to be among this year’s winners.

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

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

State rank data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics Integrated Postsecondary Education Database.

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 49

10/15/20 6:58 PM

2020

REAL ESTATE

M+A Architects

Commercial Developer

Based in Columbus

Crawford Hoying

Runners-up:

Based in Dublin

2 Moody Nolan 3 KP Designs & Associates

Runners-up:

2 Pizzuti Companies 3 Kaufman Development

Commercial Roofing Company

Photo courtesy CRAWFORD HOYING

Corna Kokosing

General Contractor

Feazel

Corna Kokosing

Based in Westerville

Based in Westerville

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 Able Roofing 3 Phinney Industrial

Brent Crawford and Bob Hoying

Photo courtesy Corna Kokosing

Commercial Interior Design Firm

Custom Home Builder

2 Continental Building Company 3 Ruscilli

HVAC Company

Bob Webb Group

Custom Air

Based in Columbus

Based in Columbus

Runners-up:

Runners-up:

2 3 Pillar Homes 3 Romanelli & Hughes Building Co.

We’re honored to be recognized

by Columbus CEO magazine for the 9th year in a row.

2 Atlas Butler 3 Columbus Worthington Air

To learn more, visit netjets.com or call a Private Aviation Concierge at 1-866-JET-0965.

NetJets Inc. is a Berkshire Hathaway company. Aircraft are managed and operated by NetJets Aviation, Inc. NetJets is a registered service mark. Š2020 NetJets IP, LLC. All rights reserved.

50 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 50

10/15/20 7:38 PM

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

230 West Street Suite 700 Columbus, OH 43215

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 51

Tax Accounting Consulting

www.gbq.com

10/15/20 6:59 PM

Building a Community of Trust ÂŽ

In a world saturated with businesses making lofty claims, knowing who you can trust can be more difficult than ever. BBB continues to be a community-based resource where consumers can find trusted, local businesses that deliver on their promises.

2020 Landscaper/Nursery

Oakland Nurseries Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Strader’s Nursery 3 Hidden Creek Landscaping

bbb.org/centralohio

Real Estate Agency (Commercial)

HER Realtors Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Crawford Hoying 3 CBRE

Real Estate Agency (Residential) C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S 2 0 2 0 B E S T O F B U S I N E S S R E C I P I E N T S !

HER Realtors Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Keller Williams Greater

Columbus Realty

3 Coldwell Banker King

Thompson

Residential (Multifamily Developer)

Kaufman Development Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 M/I Homes 3 Epcon Communities

A special thanks to Central Ohio for recognizing and honoring us as the Best Promotional Products Company!

And thank you to our team for providing the best service in town!

Friendship Village Columbus Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Kensington 3 Friendship Village of Dublin

File/Dispatch/KYLE ROBERTSON

Thank YOU!

Retirement Community

Friendship Village Columbus

52 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 52

10/15/20 7:00 PM

McGohan Brabender

Photo courtesy McGohan Brabender

Thank you for voting us #1 Landscaper & Nursery!

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

Visit www.oaklandnursery.com for locations and store hours

WORKFORCE Employee Benefit Firm

McGohan Brabender Based in Dublin Runners-up:

2 Quantum Health 3 ClearPath Benefit Advisors

Employer (up to 500 employees)

Kemba Financial Credit Union Based in Gahanna Runners-up:

2 Fahlgren Mortine 3 Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Employer (500-plus employees)

Ohio State University Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 OhioHealth 3 Orthopedic One

Executive Coach Firm

Gallagher Consulting Group Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Innovative Leadership

Institute

3 Renogize Professional

Coaching

Temporary Employment Agency

Dawson Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Acloche 3 Portfolio Creative

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 53

53

10/15/20 7:00 PM

Photo courtesy HUCKLEBERRY HOUSE

2020

Huckleberry House

Best of the rest Large Nonprofit (annual revenue over $7 million)

Bridgeway Academy Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 Ronald McDonald House

Charities of Central Ohio

3 Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Holidays on High

Small Nonprofit (annual revenue under $7 million)

Huckleberry House Based in Columbus Runners-up:

2 A Kid Again 3 Freedom a la Cart

Startup

Do Gooder

‘Tis the season to celebrate local and support

Based in Columbus

small businesses in the Short North Arts District.

Runners-up:

• Safely Visit In-Person

• Shop Online

• Make A Private Appointment

• Order Carry-Out

Learn more at ShortNorth.org/GiveLocal

2 Autmow Robotic Mowing 3 Root Insurance

Suburb to Do Business

City of Dublin Based in Dublin Runners-up:

2 Westerville 3 Gahanna

54 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 54

10/15/20 7:01 PM

POWER OF MAGAZINES

What % of US adults say they read magazine media in the last 6 months?

When more than 1,400 US advertisers were asked which medium offers the highest ROI, which was on top?

90%

MAGAZINES

This even includes 93% of those under 35 and 95% of those under 25.

With a $3.94 return for every $1 spent, A full 50% higher than the $2.63 average ROI from digital display and more than double the $1.52 from digital video.

(GFK MRI)

(Nielsen Catalina Solutions, 2015)

THE HIGHEST OF ALL TIME.

SEARCH POP UPS

25%

M I N U T E S

(Digital First Content Marketing: the Return of Print - CMO by Adobe, 2016)

Brand Purchase Intent

(Marketing Sherpa, 2017)

Brand favorability

Print Ad Awareness

12.2

OUTDOOR

7.3

RADIO

20-25

17.6

CATALOGUES

TIME SPENT READING A MAGAZINE

8.3

TV

82% 80% 76% 71% 69% 61%

1-2 exposures 5+ exposures

16.9

PRINT

What is the average

Print lift with increased exposure

9.5

PRINT.

The average time spent on a website is 2 minutes

18.4

TRUST THE MOST ?

INCREASED EXPOSURE TO PRINT ADS

10

Of all media, which do US internet users say they

Brand Awareness

(The Association of Magazine Media, citing a study by Millwood Brown Digital, 2007-2015)

PRINT IS MEMORABLE.

Print creates an emotional connection.

Print builds relationships.

Physical material is more “real” to the brain, involves more emotional processing, is better connected to memory, with greater internalization of ads-all important for brand associations.

(FORBES)

For advertising information call Columbus CEO at 614-540-8900 or email skendall@columbusceo.com.

For your complimentary subscription to Columbus CEO visit columbusceo.com.

030-055_BestofBusiness2020.indd 55

10/15/20 7:01 PM

Special Advertising Section

Torch Awards Continues to Shine in 2020

Like all of us, BBB was faced with many new challenges and necessary pivots this year, including transitioning our teams to remote work, inventing new solutions to support our valued Accredited Businesses, finding new ways to direct consumers to resources and businesses they need, and determining the best way to celebrate excellence in business ethics through our 2020 Torch Awards.

For more than 25 years, we have celebrated the Torch Awards with a banquet in the fall. After considering many options to showcase our businesses this year, we are happy to announce that we will honor our Torch Award

finalists and winners during a televised broadcast airing on NBC4 on Nov. 18.

Although this year’s format is different than in years past, we are excited that we will be able to reach a larger audience as we showcase businesses in our community who are excellinag in intentional efforts to uphold integrity in business. What better time to hear the stories of businesses that are succeeding through trying times and still holding true to their best practices surrounding strong values, integrity and ethics?

BBB’s Torch Awards are based on the four tenets of Character, Culture, Community and Customers. Winners of our Torch Awards excel with intentional efforts and best practices in one or more of these tenets. They serve as a positive example to other businesses, a trusted

Character Culture Community Customers 056-059_BBB.indd 56

organization to work with for the consumer and a partner in advancing trust in our community. To us, trust is the glue that holds communities together; it’s the principle BBB was founded on, and it’s what continues to motivate us today.

Each of our 2020 Torch Awards finalists, selected from more than 60 nominations, are profiled here. In this section, you will also see our 2020 Students of Integrity Scholarship Winners—high school students who have demonstrated high character through leadership—as well as our 2020

Torch Awards Award Program: Torch Awards for Ethics Started In: 1994 About: Recognizes local businesses who exemplify trust in our community Average Audience Size: 400 Program Type: Annual luncheon with Keynote and Recognition Program Event Website: bbbtorchaward.com BBB believes in the power of trust, and our mission is to advance trust in business.

Through evaluation, accreditation, education and celebration, BBB builds a community of like-minded businesses that have the opportunity to impact people and communities positively.

Spark Award recipients, members of the entrepreneurial community who were recognized earlier this year.

There has never been a more important time to focus on trust, so BBB is honored to support our business community, and we are excited to share stories of companies who are committed to character, culture, community and customers. We hope that you will join us in this Celebration of Trust on Nov. 18!

Kip Morse, President/CEO of BBB Serving Central Ohio

BBB has distilled our intentional focus on trust and ethics into four Cs—Character, Culture, Customers and Community— which are the basis for the Torch Awards entry process. Through selfreflection, companies who apply evaluate the character of their organization’s leadership; how an authentic culture is being fostered; how the company prioritizes its relationship with customers; and the impact the organization is making in their community.

The Torch Awards publicly recognizes local companies that excel at the four Cs and have practices in place that elevate their commitment to ethical business. It is designed to not only promote the importance of building trust, but also the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to help contribute to an honorable business community.

10/15/20 5:15 PM

Special Advertising Section

Congratulations 2020 Torch Award Finalists

123 Exteriors aligns and empowers their staff to ensure they can adhere to their core values.

Branch’s mission is to restore insurance to its original intent: a force for communal good. Branch and its nonprofit entity SafetyNest are harnessing the power of community, with the goal of bringing the financially excluded into the security insurance provides.

When owners purchased groceries for their employees during the shutdown, Evolved lived their commitment to their clients, community and especially their coworkers.

Starting as a community-first organization, Multivarious is a leading gaming and creative technology company that is proud to have cultivated one of the Midwest’s largest communities of creativity, collaboration and entrepreneurship, not only in the gaming space, but in technology.

Though JerkyPro has a worldwide customer base, they are committed to supporting their local community by intentionally giving back to local athletic programs, high schools, and the men and women of our armed forces.

By empowering its employees to collaborate on and contribute to the organizational culture, Outreach Promotional Solutions is able to reinvest in the local community through their nonprofit organization.

FCBank is built on a set of Core Values that promote integrity, character and community. This is further defined by nine “Cardinal Rules,” which are guiding principles for leaders and employees of FCBank.

Lubrication Specialties operates under a family business model that encourages employees to share their individual career goals and creates a roadmap so their leaders can help them achieve these goals.

Reliant Capital Solutions’ formula for success is simple: listening, applying and resolving. This philosophy guides their interactions with both employees and customers.

Richwood Bank works to be a strong community partner by enthusiastically supporting the people and needs in their local neighborhoods.

Founded on the belief that giving back in any capacity they are able is an important part of business, Saxton Real Estate continues the legacy through service to their local community.

Solomon’s Garage shows their commitment to character by empowering their staff to treat their customers like family.

Stay Dry Waterproofing knows that their employees will ensure their clients’ needs are met and exceeded because of the culture that they’ve established.

As a company that works to protect and maintain residential, religious and historic buildings, The Durable Slate Co. knows that establishing a culture of integrity is vital to their success.

The Window Man of Ohio communicates intentionally with their customers to make sure that the products they are providing are directly in line with the needs of their clients.

The Z Promotions team engages the community to live out their values. Serving various organizations allows them all to grow and make a positive impact in their local and global environments.

056-059_BBB.indd 57

10/15/20 5:15 PM

Special Advertising Section

Students of Integrity Award Program: Students of Integrity Scholarship Awards Started In: 2002 About: Recognizes outstanding 12th grade students who contribute to their community through leadership, community service, academics and overall excellence.

Average Audience Size: 400 Program Type: Annual luncheon with keynote and recognition Event Website: bbbstudentsofintegrity.com

Each year, BBB of Central Ohio celebrates 10 high school seniors from its

21-county service area who personify high character through leadership, community service, overall personal integrity and academic accomplishments.

Generously underwritten by Columbia Gas/NiSource, student honorees are selected by a panel of judges from the business community to each receive a $1,000 scholarship paid to the college or university of their choice.

Congratulations 2020 Students of Integrity Winners: • Mackenzie Collet, Rutherford B. Hayes High School • Jessica Fown, Ridgedale High School • Shala Graham, Licking Valley High School • Joseph Hilliard, Sheridan High School • Ella Kiener, Buckeye Valley High School • Sophia Meiser, Coshocton High School • Joshua Merva, Bishop Rosecrans High School • Karoline Pees, Teays Valley High School • Jacob Pittman, Bloom Carroll High School • Elizabeth Saur, Grove City High School

Spark Awards Award Program: Spark Awards Started in: 2016 About: Recognizes local businesses whose owners are 35 and under or businesses who have been operating for 3 years or less.

Average Audience Size: 150 Program Type: Annual Evening Recognition Event Website: bbbsparkaward.com

The Spark Award recognizes business

owners 35 and under or business owners of any age operating for less than three years who demonstrate a high level of character, generate a culture that is authentic about its mission, and connect with the community.

Congratulations to the 2020 BBB Spark Recipients: Cova Cowork, Fortuity

056-059_BBB.indd 58

and The Milk Mission.

Cova Cowork is a coworking space in the heart of Columbus with on-site, professional childcare. They reimagine the work experience by bringing diverse people together in one space and giving them the tools needed to connect, create and thrive.

Fortuity provides high quality, state-of-the-art outsourced customer service, sales support and business

outsourcing services to Central Ohio companies, and employs under-utilized inner-city workers who want a better work environment and a better career advancement path.

The Milk Mission believes it is their social responsibility to provide the most accurate, up-to-date and culturally competent breastfeeding education to African American women and to make this knowledge accessible to women from all socioeconomic backgrounds with the goal of combating the epidemic of Infant Mortality in Central Ohio.

2020 BBB Spark Class

Flavvr, Quiet Deviants, Fortuity, Pour House, Grove City Nutrition, Cova Cowork, Car Pro Auto Body, SureImpact, The Milk Mission, Stopwatch Creative, Optimize Chiropractic, Just Fur the Weekend

10/15/20 5:12 PM

Special Advertising Section

Thank you to our 2020 Torch Awards for Ethics Sponsors

W A SH TC O HT W H O E N AW N O AR V 18 DS !

2019 TORCH AWARDS

ÂŽ

Torch Awards for Ethics Wednesday, November 18 12:30 - 1:00PM | NBC4 And Streaming Live on nbc4i.com/live Join us as BBB celebrates this year’s finalists and announces the 2020 Torch Award winners on a televised broadcast. Hear about local companies who are upholding business ethics as we recognize and showcase their best practices.

For more information visit bbbtorchaward.com

056-059_BBB.indd 59

10/15/20 5:15 PM

Intellectual Property

Photo istock.com/José Antonio Luque Olmedo

What’s hot in IP law Changing perceptions about cannabis, Amazon’s patent move and a startup godsend.

By Laura Newpoff

C

annabis is an industry that’s growing like gangbusters with demand for products that range from skin care treatments to anxiety-reducing dog treats. While the industry was projected to reach $35 billion this year, there are several obstacles entrepreneurs in the space are trying to overcome. Among them is intellectual property protection.

Cannabis is legal in a variety of forms in 33 states, yet its consumption and production remain illegal under federal law. Trademarks—the brand names and logos for products and services—are approved by the

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), presenting a conflict between what’s legal in a state and what’s illegal at the federal level.

Enter attorneys who are trying to help clients protect intellectual property to foster innovation and investment.

Greg Krabacher, a partner at Bricker & Eckler, says there have been positive developments that are easing barriers for trademark protection in the cannabis industry.

Recent U.S. Supreme Court litigation unrelated to the cannabis industry, but related to the First Amendment, has reduced the odds of trademarks not being approved on the basis of “immoral, deceptive or scandalous matter.” And the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 legalized products derived from hemp where the concentration of the psychoactive compound THC is less than 0.3 percent by dry weight.

Krabacher says several obstacles remain under the current USPTO guidelines for the examination of trademarks in the cannabis business.

“It’s important to remember what the Farm Bill did and did not do,” he says. “A lot of companies rushed to the federal trademark office after the

Farm Bill, believing that it completely legalized their products and services. The reality is that the federal law is still catching up with the state law, and it may take more time before cannabis businesses have the same rights to protect their brands that other industries do.”

Hurdles remain He noted two issues. First, if a product is derived from marijuana, as opposed to hemp, or has more than 0.3 percent THC, it continues to violate the federal Controlled Substances Act, and applicants will be rejected for federal trademark protection.

Second, the Farm Bill expressly preserved the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. In the absence of FDA approval of such products, the trademark office’s position has been to continue to reject marks for foods, beverages, dietary supplements or pet treats containing CBD as unlawful under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Cannabis businesses can protect their trademarks by registering them at the state level. Krabacher says this

60 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

060-063_SS_IntellectualProperty.indd 60

10/15/20 4:16 PM

is an option many are pursuing. To avoid pitfalls, he recommends paying close attention to particular state laws and any special registration procedures for products or services related to the cannabis industry.

According to IPWatchdog, unlike trademarks, a patent doesn’t require an applicant to show that the product is lawfully used in interstate commerce. As a result, it reports that the USPTO is issuing an increasing number of cannabis-related patents.

Alex Brown, partner at Dickinson Wright, believes the conflicts that now exist between federal and state law will be resolved over time, which will open up the industry to major players who, so far, have sat on the sidelines. Most banks, for example, are federally regulated and have been skittish about cannabis.

“For the entrepreneurial folks, this is a great opportunity to get a foothold and build a business,” Brown says.

“Once the cannabis industry is no longer illegal (on the federal level), you’ll see big players like pharmaceutical companies snapping up cannabis

Patents - Trademarks - Copyrights - Litigation - Trade Secrets Non-Disclosure Agreements - Licensing and Royalty Agreements Software and Computer Law - Intellectual Property Valuations Unfair Competition and False Advertising

6300 Riverside Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017 - 614-792-5555 - www.standleyllp.com

newsletter ackstage pass to the Arch Ci b r u o ty Y “The reality is that the federal law is still catching up with the state law, and it may take more time before cannabis businesses have the same rights to protect their brands that other industries do.”

Visit ColumbusMonthly.com and sign up for our weekly newsletter that includes special events, important conversations, exclusive giveaways and more.

Greg Krabacher, partner, Bricker & Eckler November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

060-063_SS_IntellectualProperty.indd 61

61

10/15/20 4:16 PM

businesses. That will create a lot of wealthy exits.”

Amazon takes IP in-house Tyler Dunham, founder of Dunham IP Law, has seen an uptick in clients who need representation now that Amazon.com has taken its utility patent infringement process in-house.

The ecommerce giant uses third-party patent attorneys to review complaints and make initial determinations of infringement. Amazon then can remove abusers from the platform without going to court.

The change, which Amazon made last year, is beneficial to smaller businesses that rely on the platform to sell their wares. Federal patent litigation could cost into the six figures and take years to resolve. This new process may cost $10,000 or less and can be settled in a few months, Dunham says.

Children’s toys, exercise equipment, tools and home improvement products are the most commonly disputed.

“Utility patents have very specific language and numbered sentences that claim the invention,” Dunham says.

“Interpreting that language is difficult and takes a lot of time to work through in court. Amazon has streamlined this—they want only one claim from the patent to be included, so you have to be very careful about which claim you pick. Still, my hat is off to Amazon for making this faster and easier because so much commerce is being moved to their platform.”

Product development Kate Ball, who focuses her practice on startups and growth-stage businesses at Gillespie Law Group, is intrigued by a new “Discovery Assist” program created by venture capital company First Round, which has offices in San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia. By deploying artificial intelligence, the firm is helping pre- and early product founders hone their startup ideas through introductions to the companies that would be their likely customers. By tapping into First Round’s deep network of startup builders and Fortune 1000 operators, the firm is helping the startups skip months of asking for favors, opt-ins,

failed introductions and “sorry for the delay” replies.

“I think this is the biggest barrier to entry for entrepreneurs, especially under-represented entrepreneurs who lack access to capital, but also lack access to casual conversations with early customers,” Ball says. “The program received a ton of attention in just the first 24 hours.”

Connections to potential customers to vet and help improve products is one of the most important steps of a startup’s journey ahead of establishing its IP, Ball says, and should happen even before capital is raised. They can help validate the idea, identify problems before lots of money is spent and suggest changes in course.

“It’s hard to find potential customers to sit down and give feedback,” Ball says. “This allows a startup to connect with the customers who feel the pain point most acutely and then have them be willing to go on the journey with you. It would be really interesting to explore whether similar programs could exist in the Midwest.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

FOR A L.A Catering is a proud division of LifeCare Alliance, with all proceeds going directly to the Agency’s nutrition programs. Let your next small group gathering or event help your central Ohio neighbors by choosing L.A. Catering! Please call us to today to book you next catering! #InThisTogetherOhio

62 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

060-063_SS_IntellectualProperty.indd 62

10/15/20 4:16 PM

060-063_SS_IntellectualProperty.indd 63

10/15/20 4:16 PM

Diverse Leaders in Law

New voices, new leadership Columbus CEO’s inaugural quarterly forum centered on how firms can do better at retaining and advancing women and lawyers of color.

Liza Kessler

By Laura Newpoff + Photos from zoom

A

cross the region, many law firms are being intentional about addressing a persistent issue: Law remains one of the least diverse professions.

Whether it’s the new Gender Equity in the Legal Industry collaboration among local firms, the Columbus Bar Association’s Managing Partners’ Diversity Initiative or internal efforts within firms to increase opportunities for diverse lawyers, the industry is showing a willingness to change.

In Central Ohio, several large firms now are led by women, where in the past there were just one or two.

Columbus CEO’s first Diverse Leaders in Law forum brought together five high-ranking women attorneys to talk about the strides that have been made in increasing diversity among the ranks of law firm leadership and the work that still needs to be done.

The participants of that Oct. 6 virtual conversation were: • Liza Kessler, partner-incharge, Columbus office, Jones Day • Janica Pierce Tucker, partner-in-charge, Columbus, Taft Stettinius & Hollister • Traci Martinez, deputy managing partner, Columbus, Squire Patton Boggs • Victoria Beckman, chair of the Latin America desk, Frost Brown Todd • Holly Heer, lead, commu-

Janica Pierce Tucker

Traci Martinez Victoria Beckman

64 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

064-067_SS_DiverseLeaders.indd 64

10/15/20 7:35 PM

nity development tax finance group, Barnes & Thornburg Here are excerpts from the forum, which have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Their career journeys Liza Kessler describes herself as a Jones Day “lifer.” She started at the firm as a summer associate while she was studying law at Ohio State University in the early 1990s. After joining the firm, she took the traditional track to partnership and was appointed by the firm’s global managing partner to oversee the Columbus office in 2008. Her practice involves complex litigation covering matters involving scientific, technological and medical issues with claims in consumer fraud, breach of contract and medical monitoring.

Janica Pierce Tucker has worked for small, medium-sized and now a large law firm. She started her career at a plaintiff’s law firm where she was a litigator. She later joined Chester Willcox & Saxbe, which later merged with Taft. Working at firms of all sizes and practicing on both the plaintiff and defendant sides of the courtroom gave her valuable experience that helped her rise to her current position leading the Columbus office of Taft. Her practice focuses on representing clients in all aspects of employment and labor law. She, too, received her law degree from Ohio State University.

Traci Martinez has spent most of this year transitioning to succeed one of the city’s most well-known and respected attorneys—Alex Shumate, who has held the role as managing partner at the Columbus office of Squire Patton Boggs for 30 years.

Prior to law school, Martinez was an elementary school teacher for seven years. Martinez is an experienced civil litigator and labor and employment lawyer. She also received her law

“There were issues with social justice. How does your firm react to that?

Do you feel like you’re being supported?”

Victoria Beckman, chair of the Latin America desk, Frost Brown Todd November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

064-067_SS_DiverseLeaders.indd 65

65

10/15/20 6:30 PM

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 USC 3685)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Holly Heer

Publication Title: Columbus CEO Publication Number: 1085-911 Filing Date: October 1, 2020 Issue Frequency: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 Annual Subscription Price: None Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio 43216.

Contact Person: Ray Paprocki.

Telephone: (614) 461-5000.

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

Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Publisher - Ray Paprocki, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43216; Editor – Katy Smith, 62 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43216; Owner: Gannett Co., Inc., 7950 Jones Branch Drive; McLean, VA 22107 Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or holding 1 percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: Apollo Global Management, Inc. 9 West 57th Street, 37th Floor New York, New York 10019.

Tax Status (For completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at non-profit rates). Does not apply.

Publication Title: Columbus CEO Issue Date for Circulation Data below: September 2020

Extent and Nature of Circulation

Noel Shepard

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

a. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 22,935 23,002 b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 5,951 6,006 (2) In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 16,055 16,060 (3) Sales Through Dealers and Carriers; Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside the U.S.P.S. ® 116 97 (4) Requested Copies Distributed

by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS 0 0 c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3) & (4)) 22,122 22,163 d. Nonrequested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail) (1) Outside County Nonrequested Copies stated on PS Form 3541 0 0 (2) In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 0 0 (3) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by other Classes of Mail 0 0 (4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail 75 75 e. Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)) 75 75 f. Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e) 22,198 22,238 g. Copies not Distributed 737 764 h. Total (Sum of 15f and g) 22, 935 23,002 i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by f times 100) 99.66% 99.66% Circulation on PS Form 3526-X Worksheet. N/A 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requestor Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2020 issue of this publication.

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

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

degree from Ohio State University.

Victoria Beckman, a native of Colombia, originally went to college to become an engineer, which led her to the United States to work in the technology and automotive sectors. She later graduated from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and spent

“Our biggest question was, ‘How are we going to actually measure what outcome is coming from all the different things that we are doing—sponsorships and different things like that?’ ” Traci Martinez, deputy managing partner, Squire Patton Boggs

years as a public defender in Arizona, where she was assigned to capital habeas appeals and major felony cases.

Over the past eight years, she’s honed her experience as the co-chair of Frost Brown Todd’s privacy and data security team and as chair of the Latin America desk.

Holly Heer spent the first 11 years of her legal career working part-time.

She joined Barnes and Thornburg six years ago and leads the firm’s community development tax finance group, where she helps clients with entity formation, negotiations, lending, asset management and workouts with a particular emphasis on transactions involving the low-income housing tax credit, historic tax credit and new markets tax credit. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.

Advancing diversity During the forum, Martinez described efforts to move the needle at Squire

66 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

064-067_SS_DiverseLeaders.indd 66

10/15/20 6:30 PM

Patton Boggs. “Prior to the last couple years, it was just putting some money on a table and getting people to sponsor different events, without any real focus on how are these things are really advancing the needle,” Martinez says. “And so a few years ago, I and a group of other leaders in our office really tried to tackle this problem. Our biggest question was, ‘How are we going to actually measure what outcome is coming from all the different things that we are doing—sponsorships and different things like that?’ ” The firm engaged with outside consultants to develop a task force to track and identify what is and isn’t working in terms of gender, racial and LGBTQ+ diversity, including one-onone training to help lawyers advance their careers.

As a firm with a huge policy practice, Squire Patton and Boggs also has connections to legislation.

The firm has been active supporting hate crime bills in Georgia, police reform, being part of an anti-racism alliance and doing pro bono work for LeBron James’ More Than a Vote program that is fighting against Black voter suppression.

Kessler says while women hold prominent roles across Jones Day’s offices, improvement is needed when it comes to lawyers of color. Yvette McGee Brown, the first Black female justice to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, is spearheading those efforts as the firm’s global partner-in-charge of diversity, inclusion and advancement.

“We get a front row seat to the work that she is doing leading the firm on that in terms of where we’re going and lawyers of color,” Kessler says.

“It really is pipeline. And so we’re trying to encourage talented young people to choose the law and to choose Columbus.”

One of those efforts is the SEO Law Fellowship. It’s billed as “the only program of its kind to offer talented incoming law school students of color the opportunity to work at a top firm before law school.”

At Taft, 50 percent of the seats on the firm’s executive committee are held by women and attorneys of color, Tucker says. “To me that’s how you make changes because you bring more diverse voices to the table,” she says.

The firm also believes diversity and inclusion can benefit from a focus

on retaining diverse attorneys. “Part of our efforts have been to not just invest in some of the programs, but to invest in people individually,” she says. “When you realize that I may have a passion to get people out to vote, other people may have a passion to go feed the homeless. How do we bring that together and make sure that the firm supports you in your community outreach?”

She believes that support will motivate employees to work hard and be successful at the firm.

Heer, with Barnes & Thornburg, often finds herself wondering why so many attorneys leave law firms after year three. Firms can improve the ranks of diverse employees by understanding what their needs are and supporting them, such as extended maternity leave. The firm also is focusing on how it can support its employees who are working in the social justice space after ongoing civil unrest tied to the murders of unarmed Black men. “We’ve got a social justice fund that our management committee seeded a significant amount of money to, and I know they’re trying to get 100 percent participation across the firm.”

A major challenge for women in the industry is that childcare often is their primary responsibility. Amid Covid-19, many female lawyers have found themselves having to juggle work with the extra responsibility of having to educate their children from home. Law firms that have traditionally “been a little bit of old school” can support parents by understanding they may need to juggle their work hours because of their childcare responsibilities these days,” Beckman says.

As with childcare flexibility, firms also can also increase the odds of attracting and retaining diverse workers by understanding their unique needs and showing compassion and support around those issues, Beckman says. “There were issues with social justice. How does your firm react to that? Do you feel like you’re being supported—like they’re reaching out to you and saying, ‘How is this affecting you?’ ” Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

Hear the conversation: Visit columbusceo.com/law

JANUARY 2021 Estate Planning and Retirement Labor & Employment Law MILESTONES: Trending Topics

(Full page advertorial highlighting your company’s role as a bedrock part of the Central Ohio business community)

CEO Leaderboard MBA Programs

Space Closing: November 27

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

Future 50:

Fifty innovators making a difference with creativity and altruism Space Closing: November 20

For advertising information, call 614-540-8900 today or email advertise@columbusceo.com November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

064-067_SS_DiverseLeaders.indd 67

67

10/15/20 6:30 PM

1

2

3

4

5

THE FACES OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT

6

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

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

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

Chornyak manages over $1.2 Billion in assets for over 1,000 individuals and businesses nationwide. The Columbus firm grew its business through referrals from satisfied clients who recommended its customized, comprehensive financial planning to friends and colleagues.

8

9

10

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

068-069_Leaderboard_WealthManagement.indd 68

7

10/15/20 9:37 AM

m.

ne

Wealth Management Firms

Ranked by total assets under local management, and for ties, by Columbus region clients TOTAL ASSETS

Firm 1

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

2 Meeder Investment Management

6125 Memorial Drive, Dublin 43017 614-766-7000 meederinvestment.com

3 Lifetime Financial Growth 8425 Pulsar Place, Columbus 43240 614-785-5100 lifetimefinancialgrowth.com

4 Hamilton Capital 5025 Arlington Centre Blvd., Suite 300, Columbus 43220 • 614-273-1000 hamiltoncapital.com

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

6 Edwards Group

4449 Easton Parkway, Suite 300 Columbus 43219 • 614-473-2401 advisor.morganstanley.com/ the-edwards-group

7 Summit Financial Strategies

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

8 Fifth Third

21 E. State St., Columbus 43215 614-744-7557 53.com

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

10 Johnson Investment Counsel

50 W. Broad St., Suite 1130 Columbus 43215 • 614-365-9103 johnsoninv.com

Under management as of Dec. 31, 2019

Number of CENTRAL OHIO CLIENTS

Number of CENTRAL OHIO CFAs

Number of Offices

TAX-DEFERRED ASSETS

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

OTHER mgmt. STAFF

Firmwide

$23.4 b $3.3 b

169 13

46 35

$17.9 b $188.3 m

20,000+ 6

$5.3 b $1 b**

Central Ohio

COMPENSATION

SENIOR INVESTMENT OFFICER

1 1

2000

Heather Brilliant

Fee only

Austin Hawley

6 12

1 3

1974

Bob Meeder

67,053 9

na 41

1 13

2014 Fee and commission

Thomas Wyatt

$2.8 b $403 m

2,134 4

3 3

1 2

1997

Matthew Hamilton

Fee only

Antonio Caxide

$2.7 b $1.5 b

800 25

3 3

1 1

1979

Scott Rister

Fee only

Dan Roe

$1.4 b $200 m

1,700 6

na 5

4 1,200

1989 Fee and commission

Brian Edwards

$1.4 b na

823 14

2 14

1 1

1995

Samantha Macchia

Fee only

Liam Hurley

$1.4 b na

800 3

2 16

51 1,123

1985

Francie Henry

Fee only

Jonathan Reynolds

$1.2 b $60 m

1,000+ 3

0 8

1 1

1976

Joseph Chornyak

Fee and commission

Joseph Chornyak Jr Robert Mauk

$1.2 b $13 m

216 4

3 2

1 6

1987

Daniel Gusty

Fee only

Daniel Gusty

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The February Leaderboard will feature Central Ohio general contractors. The deadline for inclusion in that survey is Dec. 7. If you want your Central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at rwalters@columbusCEO.com.

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

068-069_Leaderboard_WealthManagement.indd 69

YEAR FOUNDED

CENTRAL OHIO TOP OFFICER

Fee only

Abe Sheikh and Dale Smith

**Estimated na = not applicable

Source: Survey of wealth management firms Information compiled by Rebecca walters

November 2020 l ColumbusCEO

69

10/15/20 6:10 PM

Accounting Firms

Ranked by number of Columbus region professionals

Firm

1 Deloitte

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

2 Ernst & Young

800 Yard St., Suite 200 Grandview Heights 43212 614-224-5678 • ey.com

3 KPMG

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

Columbus Region Professionals

382

CPAs

111

Consultants

70

Accountants

Major Services Offered

Local Top Officer

431

Public sector, retail, real estate, power and utility, health care and life sciences

Mark Johnson Daniel Valerio

Total Employees

201

352

135

42

175

364

Assurance, consulting, tax, transaction advisory services, HR and IT services

278

88

74

116

278

Audit, tax, M&A, IT, business valuation

4 PricewaterhouseCoopers

41 S. High St., Suite 2500 Columbus 43215 • 614-225-8700 pwc.com 155 W. Nationwide Blvd., Suite 500 Columbus 43215 614-460-0001 crowe.com

6 Plante Moran

250 S. High St., Columbus 43215 614-849-3000 plantemoran.com

7 BDO USA

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

8 GBQ Partners

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

9 Schneider Downs

65 E. State St., Suite 2000 Columbus 43215 • 614-586-4060 schneiderdowns.com

10 Kaiser Consulting

34 Grace Drive, Powell 43065 614-300-1088 kaiserconsulting.com

office managing partner

Matt Kramer

office managing partner

C R E

Michael Petrecca

N (6 ne

238

94

120

24

266

143

62

60

21

156

Audit, tax advisory services, consulting, applied technology

Chris Barrett

Keith Martinez

Columbus managing partner

office managing partner

135

66

36

33

143

Audit, tax, wealth management, health care consulting, IT consulting

128

39

80

9

148

Assurance, advisory, tax, transaction

133

Assurance, tax, valuaDarci tion, forensic and dispute advisory, informa- Congrove tion risk management managing director and cybersecurity

110 96 79

74 41 43

23 42 27

13 13 9

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

office managing partner

Mike Voinovich

office managing partner

Michael Renzelman/ Kathy Petrucci

96

Audit, tax, risk advisory, wealth management and technology services

82

Outsourced and Interim accounting, controller Lori Kaiser and business analyst functions, compliance, CEO internal control review

The CEO Leaderboard features selected topics each month. The February Leaderboard will feature Central Ohio general contractors. The deadline for inclusion in that survey is Dec. 7. If you want your Central Ohio company to be considered for an upcoming CEO Leaderboard, contact Columbus CEO at rwalters@columbusCEO.com.

M&A = mergers and acquisitions na = not applicable Source: Survey of accounting firms Information compiled by rebecca walters

70 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

070-071_Leaderboard_Accounting.indd 70

Le A (9 w

managing partner

Audit, tax, estate planning, merger and acquisition, business valuation

5 Crowe

M S C

10/15/20 9:39 AM

R P C

K S (6 k c

F R G

JP (6 JP re

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

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

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

VIP REALTY

p

MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY

n

Leslie Emery & Aaron Corr (941) 400-9710 www.beach2barn.com

Greg Skinner (614) 537-1994 Greg@soldby gregskinner.com

g

naging

amer

4688 ST ANDREWS DR IN PINNACLE - Stunning Bayhill floorplan w/ all upgrades. Great room w/ corner fireplace, open volume ceilings that soar up to 20 ft. Spacious chefs dream granite kitchen w/ seated bar, SS appls, glass backsplash & lg pantry. Screened porch, paver patio. Private Master Suite on 1st floor w/ luxe bath, and walk in closet.

From sand to sunsets and live oaks to acreage, Florida is calling to you.

Team Beach2Barn is your Buckeye connection to your new Florida dream home and lifestyle! Our passion for hands-on service provides you a knowledgeable and trustworthy experience, before and after closing. For new construction or re-sale, we look forward to working with you.

naging

CUTLER REAL ESTATE

CUTLER REAL ESTATE

l a

Neil Mathias (614) 580-1662 neil@themathiasteam.com

Neil Mathias (614) 580-1662 neil@themathiasteam.com

s mantner

arrett

8945 TARTAN FIELDS - Nothing but beautiful architectural details w/high-end finishes in this home. Grand staircase that wraps around the entry and travertine floors flow throughout this home. Large 1st-floor master w/luxurious ensuite w/ marble counters, Jacuzzi tub, walk-in shower, & 2 lg walk-in closets. Outside views pour in the many windows in each room, catching your eye at every turn. $1,095,000

naging

ez

naging

ch

naging

RE/MAX PREMIER CHOICE

RE/MAX PREMIER CHOICE

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

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

ve

10 EDGE OF WOODS - Stunning Bob Webb built home designed by John Reagan on exclusive Gated Community w/views of the 9th Hole. 4BR, 4 Full, 2 Half BA, 2-Story Great Rm w/Wall of Windows, 1st & 2nd Flr Master Stes, beautiful Open Flr Plan w/high Ceilings & many Built-ins, Gourmet Kit w/Marble & Granite, Formal Liv & Din Rms, huge LL w/FP. $1,495,000.

g

l man/

i

ser

DEER RUN - A limited number of building lots available in this exclusive private gated community. Deer Run is a secluded, private lush wilderness in the heart of Dublin. Bring your own builder and design your dream home in one of the last centrally located communities in the city of Dublin. Acreage from 2-3+ Acres and Pricing starting at $825,000/lot. www.deerrunoh.com

STUNNING TUSCAN STYLE HOME - Custom Built 5 BR w/Full Walkout Lower Level, 5 Full BA, 2 Half BA & 4 Car Courtyard fin Garages. Etched Oak Flrs, 3 Kitchens & Laundry Rm on each level, Owner’s Ste w/His & Her Closets & Walk-in Shower, Mother-in-Law Ste, Theatre Rm. Extensive Landscaping, Built-in Grill Island, Outdoor Kitchen w/FP. $1,299,000

FAULKNER REALTY GROUP

FAULKNER REALTY GROUP

JP Faulkner (614) 419-5757 JP@faulkner realty.com

JP Faulkner (614) 419-5757 JP@faulkner realty.com

BROOKS AND CODINGTON - Bauhaus Usonian commissioned in 1958, completed in 1961. This 5000+ sq ft residence sits on 1.5 pastoral acres and offers vaulted ceilings, walls of glass, clerestory windows, Quonset Four-season room in a Koi pond, stunning modern kitchen with rolling island, cocktail bar, palatial owner’s suite, media room, 4 car garage and the list goes on!

070-071_Leaderboard_Accounting.indd 71

BROOKS AND CODINGTON - Bauhaus Usonian commissioned in 1958, completed in 1961. This 5000+ sq ft residence sits on 1.5 pastoral acres and offers vaulted ceilings, walls of glass, clerestory windows, Quonset Four-season room in a Koi pond, stunning modern kitchen with rolling island, cocktail bar, palatial owner’s suite, media room, 4 car garage and the list goes on!

10/15/20 9:38 AM

Office Space WFH edition By laura newpoff + Photos by Rob Hardin

Lece Lohr Blacklick highlights.com

The president of Highlights’ consumer business has created a refined retreat to work from home.

‘A warm and inviting space’

Lohr turned a family room into an office that includes a Highlights library and paintings of her dogs. She even has a mouse pad featuring Guido, her 11-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever.

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

72 ColumbusCEO l November 2020

072_OfficeSpace.indd 72

10/15/20 7:42 PM

THE BEST CONTENT, INSIGHTS, PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE. ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.

Welcome to Spectrum Reach.

Let us show you around the neighborhood.

go2.SpectrumReach.com/RebuildColumbus

C2-C4_CoverAds.indd 3

10/15/20 9:46 AM

Our job, above all else, is to put you at ease.

So you’ll feel comfortable sharing your world with us, confident in the plan we create together, and assured that you have a partner who’s looking out for you long-term.

At Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, we’re here to listen, understand the needs of your family and your hopes for the future, and answer any questions you have. Whether it’s navigating your tax burden or preparing your business for its next owner.

Then and only then will we design a wealth management strategy that truly fits you.

Discover the assurance of working with Budros, Ruhlin & Roe. W E A LT H M A N AG E M E N T

•

I N V E S T M E N T M A N AG E M E N T

RETIREMENT PLAN SERVICES

B - R - R .C O M

C2-C4_CoverAds.indd 4

•

•

GROW WITH BRR

6 1 4 -4 8 1 - 69 0 0

10/15/20 9:46 AM