Columbus CEO - Spring 2024 issue

AI Education

Colleges and universities ramp up their offerings.

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Housing Help

Legal Guide

Leah Evans and Homeport aim to ease the current crisis.

Our annual directory features 82 local firms.

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PAGE 23

Spring 2024

DHL Supply Chain North America

$4.99 7

85 employers who stand out from the crowd PAGE 25

Spring 2024

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THINK OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ® AS THE

CHECK SO YOU DON’T GET RIPPED OFF

BBB® Accredited Businesses are committed to operating with integrity, honoring promises, and telling the truth. Always look for the BBB Accredited Business Seal, it’s The Sign of a Better BusinessSM.

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BBB of Central Ohio’s Center for Character Ethics offers two prestigious award options for local organizations dedicated to ethical practices and community impact.

Which Award Fits You?

• Under 35 years of age OR in business for less than three years • Entrepreneur that ‘sparks’ trust from the inception of their business

• In business for over three years • Business that displays elevated commitment to ethics

Nominate or Apply at BBBCenterForCharacterEthics.org

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We teach like kindness is as important as knowledge.

Because it is.

It’s our job to make sure he’s ready. We empower him to ignite his curiosity and develop an appetite for learning as well as the confidence to live with intention.

It’s the difference between simply achieving and thriving.

We invite you to tour our world.

Ready to thrive.

James

Class of 2028

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Contents

Photo by Tim Johnson

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Departments

8 Editor’s Notes Employers that stand out

Special Supplement

76 Breakdown

MEET 85 HONOREES WHO WORK TO CULTIVATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE EMPLOYEES THRIVE.

Special Ad Section

Page 25

Air travel uptick

67 Meeting Planning Guide — Venues Captivating corporate event spaces that serve a variety of business needs

SPRING 2024 Cover photo by

TIM JOHNSON

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Subscribe to

Subscribe or renew your annual subscription to Columbus Monthly for $18.

Go to columbusmonthly.com or call (760) 237-8505.

Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO .

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CONDOMINIUM/HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION LAW KAMAN & CUSIMANO PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO THE BOARD. STRESSING COMMUNICATION, NOT LITIGATION, OUR ATTORNEYS WORK TO PROTECT PROPERTY VALUES AND PROMOTE HARMONY WITHIN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.

Photo by Tim Johnson

MAXIMIZING UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY

8101 North High Street, Suite 370 • Columbus, OH 43235 • 614.882.3100 ohiocondolaw.com • ohiohoalaw.com

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Insider

10 Profile How Leah Evans and Homeport are tackling the affordable housing crisis.

16 Tech Talk Myoptechs sets its sights on curbing nearsightedness.

In-Depth

17 Higher Education

Energy 800.255.6815 myenergycoop.com 6

Photo courtesy NeuroTech Institute

FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

Colleges and universities respond to demand for AI offerings.

23 Columbus Legal Guide Browse this year’s directory of 82 Central Ohio law firms.

74 Health Watch Ohio State University and Battelle aim to monetize neurological research to benefit patients.

ColumbusCEO l Spring 2024

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605 S. Front St., Suite 300 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Phone: 614-540-8900

ColumbusCEO.com

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Editor’s Notes * jhohbach@ColumbusCEO.com

Inspiring Notes From Our Top Workplaces

D

o you love your job?

For many employees of the 85 organizations featured in our Top Workplaces supplement, the answer is a resounding yes.

Columbus CEO is pleased once again to recognize some of the region’s employers of choice through our 2024 Top Workplaces awards.

This year’s honorees include for-profit, nonprofit and government organizations across the Columbus region, from one with more than 4,000 employees to five with just 50.

This is the 12th year CEO has partnered with Energage, an Exton, Pennsylvania-based workplace research firm, to present Top Workplaces. Since 2007, Energage has worked with more than 60 publications across the country to recognize top-performing employers, gathering feedback from 30 million employees.

Winners are determined and ranked by Energage based solely on results of employee surveys at organizations who nominate themselves for the program. The initiative is open to any employer with 50 or more local employees. (Learn more about the selection methodology on Page 2 of the supplement.)

Part of the excitement for those of us at CEO is that the program continues to grow. This year, we have 22 organizations that are first-time Top Workplaces honorees. On the flip side are the employers who perform well year after year as workplaces of choice. Special congratulations go to these three 12-time winners:

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cares about their concerns • 79.8 percent feel included at the company • 79.1 percent say their manager helps them learn and grow • 78.8 percent feel genuinely appreciated Conversely: • 64.8 percent believe senior managers understand what is really happening at the organization • 62.7 percent think meetings make good use of their time • 57 percent think their pay is fair for the work they do • 53.6 percent have not considered searching for a better job in the past month • 50.5 percent believe their benefits package is good compared to others in the industry

Discover, Kimball Midwest and Worthington Industries.

To make the grade as a Top Workplace, participating companies are evaluated on their employees’ responses to 24 survey questions, which cover issues such as pay and benefits, work-life flexibility, confidence in leadership, training opportunities and feeling included.

This year, the five top-scoring metrics were: • 83.8 percent of respondents say their organization operates by strong values • 82 percent say their manager

One exciting note for 2024: Of our 85 Columbus honorees, 30 also earned recognition as Top Workplaces USA winners because their positive employee survey feedback exceeded Energage’s national benchmarks.

Congratulations to all of our 2024 winners!

Thanks for reading.

Julanne Hohbach Managing Editor

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Stand together against racism, hate, violence, and antisemitism.

Stand up for celebrating our differences and creating a safe community for everyone.

It’s up to US.

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PROFILE

Helping Hands Homeport CEO Leah Evans wants to bring more people to the table to solve the Columbus region’s ongoing affordable housing crisis.

L

eah Evans grew up in the 1970s and 1980s in Cleveland Heights, an inner-ring suburb that sits just up the hill from University Circle. She lived near museums, colleges, world-renowned medical facilities, a bevy of amenities and a diverse variety of homes.

As a child, she marveled at the freedom she had to walk to different places—school, church, the mall, the grocery store and even Girl Scouts meetings. When she visited her grandmother in nearby Shaker Heights, her mode of transportation was her bicycle.

Evans had friends in different areas of the city, including the Hough neighborhood. When she visited there, she noticed a stark contrast.

The predominantly African American community had experienced historic disinvestment following the Hough Riots of 1966. As documented by Case Western Reserve University, observers believed the neighborhood was vulnerable to such an outbreak because of substandard and overcrowded housing, stores that charged inflated prices and instances of police harassment.

“That neighborhood was so different from mine,” Evans says.

“What did that mean and why was that so? That early exposure to different geographies led me to have

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an interest in the built environment.

Why can I walk to so many different places but my friends don’t walk anywhere in [their neighborhood]? Seeing the differences made me think, ‘Why are some places better than others? Why are some more valued?’”

Those questions led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in urban geography and a master’s in city and regional planning from Ohio State University. That education

would serve as the foundation for a long career in planning and economic development. In 2021, Evans was named president and CEO of Homeport, the largest affordable housing provider in Central Ohio and a resource for homebuyer education, financial fitness and down-payment assistance. She leads the nonprofit as it and others in the affordable housing space grapple with the fact that 54,000 low- and moderate-income

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Leah Evans

Homeport President and CEO Leah Evans at Easton Place Homes, one of the nonprofit’s affordable housing developments in the Easton area

President and CEO

Homeport Age: 47

Previous: Senior vice president of real estate development, Homeport; deputy director of planning and development and manager of economic development, city of Gahanna; business development representative and credit analyst, Ohio Department of Development Education: Bachelor of Arts in urban geography and master’s degree in city and regional planning, Ohio State University Community involvement: Serves on the Columbus Women’s Commission, the board of the Neighborhood Design Center and the NeighborWorks America Real Estate Advisory Committee Resides: Columbus

Photo by Tim Johnson

Family: Married with one daughter

households in Franklin County pay more than half of their income for housing, according to the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio.

On top of that, a February report from Bank of America revealed that Columbus leads the nation’s big cities in population growth with a 1.1 percent year-over-year gain in the third and fourth quarters of 2023. In other words, the affordable housing crisis time bomb is ticking.

Moving Into Urban Development

Evans, 47, began her career in 2002 as a business development representative at the Ohio Department of Development. She spent nearly six years there, including as a credit analyst, before joining the city of Gahanna in 2009 as its first economic development manager. There, she worked with Sadicka White, a Black woman who then was the director of planning and development. White had spoken to one

of Evans’ graduate classes and made a lasting impression.

“I wanted to emulate her and be a public servant out here working to have a positive impact on the community,” Evans says. “That exposure really helped boost my confidence walking into these types of jobs that didn’t always have diverse candidates.”

Evans was involved in several significant projects during her tenure with Gahanna, which included serving as deputy director of planning and development. These included the Hamilton Road corridor improvement plan, building a high school annex and office and retail space on a former Kroger site, and attracting tenants to the Creekside District. She felt connected to the “real-life impact” the projects had on residents and what it was like to deliver services they wanted.

In September 2013, she left Gahanna to join Homeport as its director of home ownership. “I wanted to get into more central city, urban development and see how housing can change and impact a neighborhood Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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on a block-by-block level,” she says.

“How can we advance an individual through housing?”

Evans spent five years in that role and was promoted to senior vice president of real estate development in 2018 before she was named to the top post. As Homeport’s CEO, she oversees 37 employees and an annual operating budget of $5.96 million.

Emmett Kelly, Homeport’s board chair and a board member since 2014, helped select Evans following a national search. Her real estate development experience, knowledge, passion and leadership skills made her the right person for the position.

“She’s a tremendously positive human being and has tremendous energy and passion for what she does,” says Kelly, a partner at the Frost Brown Todd law firm. “Her knowledge is beyond compare. She understands the financing, development and programs.

She has the full package with respect to that. I’ve always been impressed with her absolute grasp of what we do, the operations of the industry and the solutions needed. I really like Leah Evans. I’m a huge champion of hers. … When she steps into a room, she impresses people.”

The History of Homeport

Evans plans to use her experience in business development, project management, community building and data gathering “to set a larger table to get more people engaged in the housing conversation.”

“We need to make affordable housing urgent,” she says. “Let’s help more people know what’s happening with the market dynamics and get more people involved to course correct.

There’s an opportunity to bring more people into affordable housing. We can show why it matters and the positive impact it has on other community issues. We often hear about how we want people to have more access to transportation so they can access jobs. We want better schools, and we want better health outcomes. Housing is foundational to all of that.”

As Evans goes about her work, she has an organization behind her with a storied history in local real estate development circles. The seeds for Homeport were sown in the mid1980s when a study conducted by

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There’s an opportunity to bring more people into affordable housing.

We can show why it matters and the positive impact it has on other community issues.”

Leah Evans, president and CEO, Homeport Columbus City Council, the Franklin County commissioners and the mayor’s office recommended the creation of a special nonprofit to develop housing for low-income families.

The idea drew immediate interest from Central Ohio’s most prominent real estate players, notably Irving and Mel Schottenstein of M/I Homes, developers Donald W. Kelley and Bob Weiler, and commercial broker-developer Max Holzer.

How would this new nonprofit be structured? Kelley took a trip to Reston, Virginia, to find out. There, he met with James Rouse, an accomplished mortgage banking firm owner, developer and early proponent of urban renewal who created what’s now called Enterprise Community Partners Inc. with his wife, Patricia. Their goal: to make sure every American has a decent, affordable home.

Kelley noticed that Rouse tapped the expertise of his top retired mortgage professionals, product buyers, architects, lawyers and land planners so the foundation could bring projects to life in an affordable way. Rouse visited Columbus and, according to Homeport, was “attracted by the strong sense of community” and believed an affordable housing initiative could be supported.

Soon, a campaign was launched by developers, prominent philanthropic families and government officials to raise several million dollars to get the venture off the ground. With seed money raised by the city, the Columbus Foundation, the faith

community and business leaders, an organized shelter system (Community Shelter Board) and Columbus Neighborhood Partnership (later the Columbus Housing Partnership, then Homeport) were incorporated in 1986 and 1987, respectively.

At Homeport, Don Kelley says an initial board of 12 people got the work started. It included himself, Weiler and Holzer and other well-known real estate professionals including HER founder Harley Rouda Sr. and Dan Galbreath, then chairman and CEO of the Galbreath Co. They began by improving neighborhoods on a houseby-house basis on the city’s South Side, one of the poorer areas of town.

That’s where Kelley grew up during the Great Depression in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home that cost $6,500 to build.

“We realized, with the knowledge of the people we brought together, that if you have a house that’s a sore in the middle of a neighborhood, it makes all the other good properties near it sores, too. The bad tends to bring down the good,” says Kelley, who is now 94. “We bought some of those houses for $25,000 and fixed them up, and that improved the neighborhood and created an affordable home for someone to move into. That was the initial thrust. Homeport has done a terrific job of providing affordable housing ever since then.”

Maggie Parks and Michael Roebuck can attest to that.

In fall 2023, Parks celebrated five years of owning her home in MiloGrogan. She purchased it after completing Homeport’s Home Readiness course and receiving down-payment assistance. The 45-year-old had rented her whole life and wanted better living conditions for herself and her son, Bryan, who now attends Columbus State Community College.

The $460 monthly mortgage payment for her 1,500-square-foot home is less expensive than the $495 she paid to rent a 700-square-foot house. “As a parent, you want to be able to leave something and do something for your child,” she says. “To me, it means everything. Being a single parent, sometimes it’s hard to do all the things you want to do for your child, but this is something I can pass on to him and tell him, ‘This is your stake

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Photos clockwise from top left: courtesy Elford Inc., courtesy Homeport (2), Tim Johnson

in the world, son.’”

Roebuck, meanwhile, had a long career in Columbus radio starting in the 1980s but fell on hard times when the smooth jazz radio station where he did voice work went defunct in 2010. He lived in several mold-infested environments and lost his voice as a result.

In October 2020, Roebuck moved into Homeport’s Hamilton Crossing apartment community in Whitehall, which has 64 affordable units for seniors 55 and older.

Living in a mold-free, smokefree environment allowed his deep baritone to come back, and he has started emceeing events. “Within seven months of living here, my voice started coming back stronger and stronger. When I was away from the mold, my lungs healed,” Roebuck says. “For years it was a thin, raspy whisper. People would call to ask me to emcee or do commercials and when they heard me answer the phone they would say, ‘Oh, wow.’ That took a lot of money streams out of my pocket.”

Housing and Economic Development

Housing is considered affordable when the occupant pays no more than 30 percent of their gross income for housing costs, including utilities. Those who spend more are considered to be cost-burdened.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning

Commission’s Regional Housing Strategy report cites five core housing issues: • Increased market competition, driven by population growth, insufficient housing construction and continuing impacts from the Great Recession • Barriers such as disparities in lending practices, creditworthiness, housing instability and discrimination • A limited supply of homes priced for low-income households • Demand for homes that serve a range of ages, abilities and household sizes • Housing instability, shown in factors such as local rates for cost burden, evictions, homelessness and homes needing repair The top barriers to affordable housing, according to MORPC, are: not-inmy-backyard attitudes and negative impressions of density and affordability; lack of centralized information and varied local land use policies and standards; higher development costs; insufficient capacity to meet demand for help with rental assistance and repairs; and overreliance on LowIncome Housing Tax Credits due to a lack of gap financing.

The housing crisis is having a direct impact on Central Ohio’s economy and workforce availability, says

Clockwise from top left: Mulby Place on Cleveland Avenue in Linden; Kenlawn Place on Cleveland Avenue in Linden; Maple Meadows on Maple Canyon Avenue in Northland; Easton Place Homes off Morse Crossing near Easton Bill LaFayette, owner of economic consulting firm Regionomics, who shared insights from his 2024 economic outlook report at the Columbus Metropolitan Club’s annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast, held Jan. 3.

LaFayette predicts Central Ohio, for the third consecutive year, will fall well short of the national average for employment growth.

The Columbus metropolitan statistical area saw robust population growth between 2010 and 2020, but between 2020 and 2022, the region lost about 1,400 more people than it gained. “We can hope that the slowdown in population growth is a temporary impact of the pandemic,” LaFayette told the audience. “But our region’s shift from a big net importer of population from domestic origins to a net exporter to domestic destinations is really troubling. We don’t know anything about these folks and where they are moving to. But one very likely cause was the impact of the housing market.”

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s quarterly House Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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Maggie Parks and her son, Bryan, outside their Milo-Grogan home in 2023

Michael Roebuck in the kitchen of his Hamilton Crossing apartment in Whitehall

Photos courtesy Homeport (2)

Price Index for the Columbus metropolitan area, he said, prices nationwide are up 79 percent since 2016 compared with 93 percent locally. And since 2012, rents in Franklin County have increased 20 percent after inflation—5 percent higher than the national average.

In December, the median home listing in Columbus was $275,000, up 8.6 percent year-over-year, according to Realtor.com. Apartments. com shows average rent in the city at $1,068 per month. “It is quite possible that people have been leaving the area and others haven’t moved in because they can’t afford to live here,” LaFayette told the audience.

“The problem is one that has been discussed on this stage before: a lack of housing development.”

Like LaFayette, Amy Klaben sees a connection between housing and economic development. Klaben was the president and CEO of Homeport from 2000 to 2015, helped establish the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio and now is the president and CEO of Families Flourish (formerly known as Move to Prosper).

The nonprofit aims to help families through programming and support related to housing, education and wellness.

“As jobs are created, housing is needed at all price points to serve the needs of the labor pool. Our region must connect these two activities, and I believe that whenever incentives are provided to attract companies to our region, incentives need to be provided to build housing. This is part of our communities’ infrastructure,” Klaben says.

There are several recent developments that could help: • In November, the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County and 11 government and corporate investors unveiled a $60 million AHT Regional Impact Fund to create more housing units.

• In December, Columbus City Council voted to create a citywide Community Reinvestment Area in an effort to generate more affordable housing. Qualifying new residential developments get a 100

percent, 15-year tax break.

• A new $100 million, state-specific LIHTC is dedicated to the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.

• The CONVERGENCE Columbus initiative aims to increase Black and minority homeownership through a vast network of coalition members from government, banking, nonprofits and corporations.

Gauging Homeport’s Impact

Homeport’s mission is to “create strong

communities by developing quality, affordable homes on a cornerstone of dignity, security and opportunity.”

The nonprofit’s latest Impact Report shows it provided housing for 275 new residents in 2023 and had projects in the works to accommodate 650 more.

Throughout the year, 7,209 residents were served through food assistance, financial assistance, and homebuyer education and counseling programs.

“We’re going to stay laser-focused on residents, that’s not going to change, and meeting our mission of

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BY THE NUMBERS Homeport highlights from 2023

7,209

481

total residents served

children participating in out-of-school programs

275

255

$615,463

emergency assistance awarded

new residents housed

clients who became homeowners

650

223

residential capacity of in-progress developments

7.1 years

average resident’s stay

103,061

meal equivalents delivered to six communities

evictions prevented (impacting 651 residents)

Housing Advisory Services Demographics

0.9% Hispanic

15.2%

have a household income under $30,000

36.8% White

5.5% Other

56.8%

79.7%

African American

make less than the area median income

Source: Homeport 2023 Impact Report

closing the housing gap is not going to change,” board chair Emmett Kelly says. “Developing more properties is something we want to expand upon, and part of that is taking advantage of the state and federal [LIHTC] programs and looking at other alternatives in the marketplace, including partnering with market-rate folks and pursuing all avenues so we can develop more space to meet that mission of closing the gap.”

For example, Homeport recently partnered with developer CASTO to build the Killarney Woods apartment community in Blacklick.

Homeport isn’t tackling the crisis alone. The United Methodist Church’s Community Development for All People ministry works with an array of partners on affordable housing and other community issues. This includes a venture with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to rehabilitate and repair homes near the hospital’s main campus.

“The South Side has a history of valuing diversity across backgrounds, race and class; this is a multiclass, multiracial neighborhood,” says Katelin Hansen, CD4AP’s chief

financial officer. “People here value that legacy. A lot of what we have been trying to cultivate is the continuation of a diverse, mixed-income, opportunity-rich neighborhood where all people can belong and thrive. We see a collective value in radical hospitality for all people.”

Challenges persist. This includes making sure existing affordable housing stays that way, in part by ensuring landlords continue to accept Section 8 renters. Additionally, as homes are repaired, it reduces the number of blighted properties where homeless people seek refuge, so establishing more warming centers and smaller, place-based shelters is critical, Hansen says.

The Columbus Urban League has acted as a HUD-approved homebuyer-education and down-payment assistance provider for 13 years—efforts that have created 321 new homeowners and $38 million in mortgages, according to Stephanie Hightower, the organization’s president and CEO. She received Homeport’s highest honor last year—the Voice & Vision award—in recognition of her fierce advocacy for the housing and

economic needs of Central Ohioans, including championing fair housing and taking an active role to prevent housing discrimination.

“We know housing is foundational and essential for our families,” Hightower says. “It’s a factor for everyone who walks through our doors, whether they seek us out for financial literacy or career mobility. We can never underestimate the irreversible link between housing and security, stability and economic success.”

Hightower also points to numerous ongoing challenges, such as a surging number of people who are homeless and the eviction crisis that disproportionately affects communities of color, especially Black women.

Meanwhile, the Kelley and Weiler families have created the Columbus Housing Enterprise to preserve affordable housing through the philanthropic commitment of private sector leaders. The nonprofit organization is led by the Rev. John Edgar, who formerly led CD4AP, and Evans is a board member. CHE partners with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority to buy apartment complexes to keep them affordable. “The apartment business has been good to us, and we want to give something back to the community,” Kelley says. “It’s that simple.”

Evans and others who work in the affordable housing space stress the importance of a regional approach to solving the crisis. That’s why Homeport, with funding from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency, is redeveloping the Delaware County Engineer’s property. The 44 LIHTC units will include a mix of apartments for households earning between 30 percent and 70 percent of the area’s median income.

“I love the energy of our team, our board members and partners, and we’ll continue to seek out ways to stay relevant,” Evans says. “We’ll continue to ask, ‘What do we need to do to continue to serve the market in a robust fashion?’ That will include looking for more opportunities to serve housing needs as we continue to support the growth of the entire region.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

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Tech Talk

Vision for the Future Myoptechs aims to curb nearsightedness in children with specialty contact lenses.

BY CYNTHIA BENT FINDLAY

A

Columbus biotech startup is trying to revolutionize clear sight for young patients. Its contact lens technology shows promise in fighting myopia, which the World Health Organization has designated a global health epidemic.

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, has become increasingly prevalent since the 1970s, to the point that currently nearly 30 percent of the world is nearsighted.

But Paul Grimm, CEO of Myoptechs, says that number is on track to increase to 5 billion people, or nearly 50 percent of the world’s population, by 2050.

There are already parts of Asia where that number is 70 percent, Grimm says. According to Wired magazine, a 2012 study in Seoul found that 96.5 percent of 19-yearold men there were nearsighted.

Experts believe the spike is due to a complicated relationship between genetics and exposure to daylight and their combined effect on the shape of a child’s developing eye.

Myopia, caused by an irregularly shaped eye or cornea, doesn’t stop at blurry vision. “The elongated eye

and severe myopia puts that patient at a 14-times increased risk for glaucoma, compared to the average person walking around, 22 times for retinal detachment, and 41 times for myopic macular degeneration,” Grimm says.

Because the eye is finished developing by the late teens, medical solutions need to come early in life. There are several approaches to fight the occurrence of myopia.

Myoptechs is focusing on soft contact lenses that create myopic defocus in the eye, an already proven tactic to slow progression of myopia.

“It literally is a stop signal to the eye. It signals the eye to stop growing,” Grimm says. The company’s lenses defocus light in the peripheral retina while also providing the wearer with clearer vision.

Grimm says the prototype lenses that Myoptechs is developing provide three times more optical signal than earlier versions, so the hope is they are significantly more effective at slowing the eye elongation that causes myopia to progress.

Myoptechs’ team incorporated in 2022, licensed the intellectual property from the Ohio State Innovation

Foundation just under a year ago and then developed its unique faceted design with inventor Dr. Tom Raasch, an optometrist with a Ph.D. in physiological optics who is the company’s head of technology.

The company completed its first clinical trial testing the visual acuity of the lenses in early 2024. “The next step is a series of experiments throughout 2024, which will help us identify our two best prototypes,” Grimm says. Next year, Myoptechs will test the effectiveness of those designs.

The stakes are high. Soft contact lenses currently make up about 25 percent of the total optical market.

The company believes the market for soft contact lenses for myopia control will hit at least $5 billion in the next couple decades.

Grimm says the product’s time to the U.S. market will be a few years, given it will probably require a threeyear clinical trial, but he expects the company will have lenses on the market elsewhere as early as 2027.

“We’re aiming for as big a segment of that market as possible,” he says.

Myoptechs has already received funding grants from the state of Ohio and Rev1 Ventures.

“We are currently raising a seed round of funding and are in active conversations with multiple investors to help us fund the rest of our plan for the next couple of years,” Grimm says.

Cynthia Bent Findlay is a freelance writer.

Myoptechs myoptechs.com

BUSINESS: Ophthalmic medical devices FOUNDED: 2022 EMPLOYEES: 3 INVESTMENT TO DATE: Would not disclose

16

Dr. Tom Raasch

CEO Paul Grimm

Logo and photos courtesy Myoptechs

CEO: Paul Grimm

ColumbusCEO l Spring 2024

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Higher Education

Applying AI Central Ohio colleges and universities are responding to demand for continuing education and degree offerings in artificial intelligence.

BY TIM FERAN

Getty images

T

he widespread adoption of ChatGPT in the past year underscores how rapidly artificial intelligence is being integrated into our personal and professional lives.

For forward-thinking businesspeople, the question is no longer if AI will affect their companies, but how they can get a grasp on the technology— and how quickly they can do so.

Fortunately, Central Ohio is home to colleges and universities that are rushing to meet the demand for courses focusing on this increasingly omnipresent technology.

“There’s a panoply of things we’re offering now and have in development,” says Eric Fosler-Lussier, the John I. Makhoul Professor and associate chair for academic administration at Ohio State University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering. “The landscape at OSU is pretty interesting—and growing.

For those who have some grasp of the technology, OSU offers an AI Boot Camp. The course is “pretty intensive,” Fosler-Lussier says.

Presented online three nights a week over 24 weeks, the course uses instructors from the edX online education platform who have been vetted

by Ohio State. It teaches students everything from the simple question, “What is AI?” to machine learning optimization and brings them up to date on emerging topics and developments. Students typically have some or all of the $11,745 cost paid by their employers.

Ohio State also offers a master’s degree in Translational Data Analytics that has AI components.

“It’s a marriage of AI, big data and digital storytelling—it is a unique degree. It not only incorporates AI aspects and ‘how do I do big data,’ but also design,” Fosler-Lussier says.

Since it debuted several years ago, the degree has evolved from a five-semester sequence to five-, eight- and 10-semester pathways.

With a price tag of $40,000, “it is sort of a premium option,” Fosler-Lussier says. The online program, taught by OSU instructors, “helps you build the skillset, so there is a lot more personalized attention.”

Yet another offering is a master’s in Computer Science and Engineering with an AI concentration, at a cost of $27,000. “This is meant more for full-time students, although we have seen a number of professionals who do this part time,” he says.

And there’s more to come. “We’ve been thinking about how AI combines in other areas. There’s a real interest in blended programs. We’re intending to offer an online AI graduate certificate program, a stackable certificate that can create a master’s program,” Fosler-Lussier says.

“We’re going to continue to innovate in this area of how AI is impacting all these fields,” such as cybersecurity, health care and more.

Ohio State recently hired 15 new faculty in the department to keep up with demand. “It’s important to be on top of it, but not scared of it. It’s exciting times,” Fosler-Lussier says.

Franklin University, meanwhile, is seeing “huge interest” in AI, says Richard G. Sunderman, senior vice president of information services and chief information officer. “There’s been discussion of AI for a while, of course.

With ChatGPT, it’s just exploded.

We’re trying to make sure we have a broad range of educational solutions to meet individual learners’ needs.”

The FranklinWorks Marketplace— an online platform launched in 2021—has short-term courses in partnership with Coursera, the global online education service. “There are dozens of short-duration courses with AI and machine learning,” Sunderman says, “all at pretty good price points. I point people interested in AI to the Marketplace. It’s a good place to start.”

Among the offerings included in the $49 monthly subscription is the IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate, which helps students learn to design, build and deploy AIpowered apps.

“We’ve also started incorporating AI into our regular curriculum,” Spring 2024 l ColumbusCEO

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3/19/24 11:57 AM

Sunderman says. For instance, the “Business and AI” course explores the use of artificial intelligence and its potential benefits and limitations.

“We’ve transitioned from hype about it to more of the reality of AI,” he says.

“That’s driving us toward making it a minor.

“If you look back 10 years, how much did we talk about analytics?

Now we have a master’s and bachelor’s degree in multiple areas—data analytics, health analytics—it’s exploded. We’re seeing the same thing occur with AI, both the quantity and quality of information and demand for it.”

Last fall, Capital University and Columbus College of Art & Design launched the Institute for Creative Leadership at Work, a collaboration to provide custom training and nondegree certificate programs for businesses and individuals. “We will offer a wide variety of types of workshops,” says Melanie Corn, president of CCAD. “Some will be open enrollment. Others we are crafting specifically for corporate or community

If you look back 10 years, how much did we talk about analytics? … We’re seeing the same thing occur with AI. Richard G. Sunderman, senior VP of information services and CIO, Franklin University partners—bespoke training.”

That includes AI. “AI has been something of a hot topic over the past year, with more growth in generative AI,” Corn says, “and we thought AI was one of many topics in which we could provide some insight.”

The institute offered a fall workshop to 180 human resources professionals, charging $150 for the course, which focused on a variety of issues, including generative AI, practical applications for HR and ethical issues.

“We did it online, but we’ve talked about doing in person as well,” says

Jennifer L. Wondracek, director of the law library and a professor of legal research and writing at Capital University. “We went through their requirements for talent acquisition, automated content generation, enhancing employee experience, and also included an explanation of how the technology works.

“And I always talk about the ethical concerns,” Wondracek says. Future workshops will be scheduled soon.

“We can’t stick our heads in the sand,” Corn says. “The best creatives will still have great jobs and know how to use these tools.”

Unlock Success

Our Graduates Flourish with an Average Salary

Over $109,000.

Celebrating Over 60 Years

18

University of Dayton MBA Program Daniel J. Curran Place, Room M2500 300 College Park Dayton, Ohio 45469 937-229-3733 go.udayton.edu/mba mba@udayton.edu

ColumbusCEO ● Spring 2024

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Reach Your Full Potential Robbie Master’s Degree Graduate Director of Community Impact, Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)

Achieve Your Goals With a Degree from Franklin University Earn your degree at Ohio’s #1 adult-focused university and join the ranks of Franklin University alumni who put their expertise to work at leading organizations like Nationwide, Cardinal Health and OhioHealth.

Franklin’s faculty of in-field experts help you gain knowledge you can put to use right away, and our convenient course options enable you to balance your education with your life. For a list of partnerships and programs designed to help you maximize your education benefits, go to franklin.edu/partners.

MASTER’S + DOCTORAL PROGRAMS BUSINESS Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) MBA MBA-STEM M.S. in Accounting M.S. in Business Analytics M.S. in Business Psychology M.S. in Human Resource Management M.S. in Professional Sales Leadership EDUCATION + LEADERSHIP Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership Doctor of Professional Studies– Instructional Design Leadership M.Ed. in Educational Leadership M.S. in Instructional Design + Learning Technology HEALTHCARE Doctor of Healthcare Administration Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) MBA-Healthcare Master of Healthcare Administration M.S. in Health Informatics M.S. in Nursing (MSN) PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration Master of Public Administration

Best Continuing Education Offerings

Best MBA Program

www.franklin.edu

TECHNOLOGY M.S. in Computer Science M.S. in Cybersecurity M.S. in Data Analytics M.S. in Information Systems M.S. in Information Technology

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.

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Tim Feran is a freelance writer.

Getty images

While CCAD doesn’t currently have AI-specific courses, Corn says, “all of the faculty are taking it on themselves to educate students not only on the ways we want them not to use AI but also on what assignments to use AI.” Even professionals can be tripped up. Wondracek cites a New York legal case that made national headlines last year to illustrate the need for continuing AI education for lawyers.

In Mata v. Avianca, the plaintiffs’ attorneys filed motions citing court decisions that didn’t exist and had been made up by ChatGPT. The judge issued sanctions to the attorneys and fined them and their firm.

“We want to see Central Ohio attorneys stay on the right side of the law,” Wondracek says.

To that end, Capital University Law School’s annual Professionalism Week in April will focus on generative AI. “We are providing a CLE [Continuing Legal Education] on what generative AI is and how it can be used,” Wondracek says.

Banking with your best interest at heart.

Scan QR code or visit FirstMerchants.com/Switch

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ADVERTISEMENT

THOUGHT LEADER OF THE QUARTER

IT’S (NOT) ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW

I

t’s all about who you could know. As business leaders, we’ve all heard this common phrase more times than we can count. We’ve come to learn our network can define our careers: who we know, who they know and how we all share those contacts with each other. Business deals, recruiting efforts and industry insights are often exchanged and solidified over cocktails, not conference tables. But if our network isn’t strong, how do we get it there?

At Huber Equity Group, we’ve made it our mission to build networks instead of waiting for them to be offered to us. The result? Robust networks spanning the nation creating exclusive off-market acquisitions, outsized returns for our investors, and an award-winning team. We’re going to let you in on the secret—cold-calling—or as we call it, proactive outreach.

It’s never comfortable striking up these conversations, but with a few tricks that we employ at Huber Equity Group, you’ll be armed with tools to create a network that takes others decades to build.

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Define who you need to know including their specific characteristics. Are they industry professionals, geographically appropriate or technically proficient? Without a defined and targeted list, you can’t write your pitch or create an “in.” Our team makes over 100,000 calls every year to a defined target of individuals. Before we even begin a conversation, we know exactly who we’re calling, why and how we can add value to this individual’s life.

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According to a study conducted by the University of Kansas, it takes 40-60 hours to build a casual relationship (and nearly 200 to build a close friendship). Plan a course to get as close to “friendship” status

Joe Huber, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Huber Equity Group as you can. We work tirelessly to establish common ground upon our first conversation, making sure we take thorough notes for our next conversation. Keep a notepad, CRM, or find an app that helps you track your conversations.

3. Play the (consistent) long game.

Don’t expect these budding relationships to remember you the second, third or even fifth time you connect with them again.

Be consistent and considerate in your follow-up. We have a detailed cadence combining phone calls, snail-mail, and email that extends over two years—using calendars and CRMs for reminders.

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acquired over 1,000 multifamily apartments in the last five years, with $135 million in transaction volume. By identifying off-market acquisitions through proactive outreach, we grew our investor base from $0 to $40 million in five years and provided outsized returns for our investors. So, how about your organization? Where could you grow your company by utilizing proactive outreach?

We’d love to hear from you! Shoot us an email or give us a call (if we don’t beat you to it) info@huberequitygroup.com or (614) 559-9909.

Huber Equity Group 1830 E. Broad St., Columbus 614-559-9909 huberequitygroup.com Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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3/18/24 11:15 AM

Dedicated to protecting and preserving what’s important to you For over 55 years, Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP has provided legal excellence to businesses, families and individuals. Our team provides expert legal advice, practical options, and the utmost in attention and respect.

2024

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP is a 2024 Top Workplace!

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Central Ohio is home to a robust legal sector. Those seeking an attorney can choose from boutique practices, midsize offices or power players affiliated with national or international firms. If your business is shopping for legal counsel, you’re in the right place. Columbus CEO’s 2024 Legal Guide features 82 law firms, spanning a wide variety of sizes and practice areas.

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

To be added to the contact list for the 2025 Columbus Legal Guide, send an email to pressreleases@columbusceo.com.

2024

Columbus Legal Guide Our annual directory includes 82 Central Ohio law firms specializing in practice areas from bankruptcy to workers’ compensation.

Amundsen Davis LLC (formerly Crabbe, Brown & James LLP)

Arenstein & Andersen Co. LPA

arnlaw.com Partners: 8

6740 Avery Muirfield Drive, Suite B, Dublin 43017 614-602-6550 aacolpa.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 9

FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Practice areas:

Damion M. Clifford

500 S. Front St., Suite 1200, Columbus 43215 614-228-5511 amundsendavislaw. com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 9

Business; tax; estate planning

Practice areas:

Managing partner: G.

Business/ corporate law; insurance defense; employment law

Gregory Arenstein

Managing partner, Ohio operations:

115 W. Main St., Suite 400, Columbus 43215 614-460-1600

Larry James

Arnold & Clifford LLP

Corporate; directors and officers liability; estates and trusts Managing partner:

Business litigation; labor and employment; state and local taxation

Robert Dunn

Managing partner:

41 S. High St., Suite 3300, Columbus 43215 614-628-0096 btlaw.com Partners: 14 FTE attorneys: 25 Practice areas: Labor and employment; real estate; litigation

Bailey Cavalieri LLC 10 W. Broad St., Suite 2100, Columbus 43215 614-221-3155 baileycav.com Partners: 31 FTE attorneys: 31 Practice areas:

Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Managing partner:

William A. Nolan Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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Columbus Legal Guide Barr, Jones and Associates LLP

150 E. Mound St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215 614-702-2222 barrjoneslegal.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Family law; bankruptcy law; criminal law Managing partners:

Andrew Jones and Jason Barr

Barrett, Easterday, Cunningham & Eselgroth LLP

1759 Sawmill Road, Dublin 43016 614-210-1840 ohiocounsel.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 8

Managing partner:

Reynoldsburg 43068 614-866-5060 byattorneys.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 3

David C. Barrett

Practice areas:

Practice areas:

Business planning; estate planning; dispute resolution

The Behal Law Group LLC

501 S. High St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215 614-643-5050 behallaw.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 7 Practice areas:

Business law; family law; estate planning/probate

Probate; bankruptcy; domestic relations Managing partner:

Robert D. Bergman

Bluestone Law Group LLC

141 E. Town St., Columbus 43215 614-220-5900 bluestonelawgroup. com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 2

Managing partner:

Practice areas:

Bob Behal

Real property tax appeals; sale and purchase of real property; business law

Bergman & Yiangou

2020 Brice Road, Suite 125,

Managing attorney:

Charles L. Bluestone

Brian G. Miller Co. LPA

250 W. Old Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 270, Worthington 43085 614-221-4035 bgmillerlaw.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 2 Practice areas:

Personal injury; wage and hour employment labor law Managing partner:

Brian Miller

Bricker Graydon LLP

100 S. Third St., Columbus 43215 614-227-2300 brickergraydon.com Partners: 49

FTE attorneys: 80 Practice areas:

Litigation; public sector; health care Managing partner:

Jim Flynn

Brosius, Johnson & Griggs LLC

6797 N. High St., Suite 350, Worthington 43085 614-464-3563 bjglaw.net Partners: 4 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas: Real estate/construction; local government; condo/HOA/planned community Managing partner:

Calvin “Tom” Johnson Jr.

Burman & Robinson

A national powerhouse for legal excellence

580 S. High St., Suite 250, Columbus 43215 614-221-8900 burmanrobinson. com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 3 Practice areas:

Debtor/creditor; commercial litigation; family law Managing partner:

Randal D. Robinson

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

1200 Huntington Center, 41 S. High St., Columbus 43215 614-621-1500 calfee.com Partners: 10 FTE attorneys: 18 Practice areas: Continues on page 53

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Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. 191 W. Nationwide Boulevard, Suite 200 | Columbus, OH 43215 We are a national full-service law firm with offices coast to coast.

Attorney Advertising. © 2024. All Rights Reserved.

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ColumbusCEO ● Spring 2024

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EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYERS Our 2024 Top Workplaces winners feature organizations of all types and sizes, including for-profit, nonprofit and government. Learn who the 85 honorees are and how they work to cultivate environments where employees thrive.

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Oakwood is proud to be the largest multifamily property management company in Central Ohio, managing over 12,000 units. For more than 50 years, Oakwood’s apartments have featured unique layouts, spacious interiors, unbeatable amenities, immaculate grounds, and friendly staff.

Visit Us Online to Learn More:

Follow Us On Social:

Liveoakwood.com

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2 COMPANIES 1 PHILOSOPHY PEOPLE FIRST Thank you to our employees who voted our companies as Top Workplaces.

Our people carry on the Worthington Industries legacy as Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel.

Visit our websites to explore career opportunities.

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COVER: GETTY IMAGES

Methodology

H

ow do you judge the quality of a workplace? Ask the experts: the employees.

For the 12th year, employee survey firm Energage has partnered with Columbus CEO to determine the top places to work in Central Ohio. It’s not a popularity contest, and not everyone gets a blue ribbon. A select few are honored based on a scientific survey process.

Energage administers an employee survey that covers 24 factors and takes just a few minutes to complete. The survey asks employees to offer feedback about such things as pay and benefits, direction, leadership, meaningfulness and appreciation.

Energage crunches the feedback data and scores companies based on the responses.

There is no cost to participate in Top Workplaces and no obligation to purchase any product or service. For 2024, 2,570 organizations were invited to survey their

2

employees, and 148 agreed to do so.

Based on the survey feedback, 85 have earned recognition as Top Workplaces in the Columbus region.

“Being honored with a Top Workplaces award is a distinctive mark of excellence, setting companies apart in a recognizable way,” says Eric Rubino, Energage’s CEO. “Top Workplaces embody the highest standards, and this award, rooted in authentic employee feedback, is a point of immense pride for company leaders.”

The program is open to any employer with 50 or more employees in Central Ohio. Survey results are valid only if at least 35 percent of employees respond; employers with fewer than 85 employees have a higher response threshold, requiring responses from at least 30 employees.

Employers earn Top Workplaces recognition if their aggregated employee feedback score exceeds national benchmarks.

Employers are grouped into similar sizes to best compare similar employee experiences. Energage has established those benchmarks based on feedback from about 30 million employees over 18 years. Participants are ranked within those size groups based on the strength of the survey feedback.

There are a few reasons why you might not find a particular company on the list.

Perhaps the organization chose not to participate. Or, the employee survey feedback might not have been strong enough to merit recognition. It also might not have been large enough to meet participation standards, or not enough employees responded.

Energage runs tests on survey feedback and in some cases may choose to disqualify organizations, for example, if a high number of employees said they felt pressured into answering positively.

To participate in the 2025 Top Workplaces awards, or for more information about the program, go to the nomination page at columbusceo.com/nominate.

–Bob Helbig, Energage

ColumbusCEO • Top Workplaces 2024

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These 85 organizations are the 2024 Top Workplaces. They are listed by their rankings, which were determined by Columbus CEO research partner Energage, in three size categories based on the number of Columbus region employees.

Data is current as of employee surveys from late 2023.

LARGE ORGANIZATIONS (350 OR MORE EMPLOYEES) Rank

Company

Founded

Ownership

Sector

City

Employees

1

DHL Supply Chain North America

1969

Public

Logistics

Westerville

500

2

Worthington Industries*

1955

Public

Metal products

Worthington

1,800

3

Advocate RCM

1998

Private

Financial services and insurance

Dublin

363

4

Discover

1986

Public

Credit and finance

Riverwoods, IL

4,056

5

CGI

1976

Public

Consulting

Fairfax, VA

390

6

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

1996

Private

Restaurants

Plano, TX

1,155

7

Elford

1910

Private

Building construction

Columbus

375

8

Keller Williams Consultants Realty

2003

Private

Real estate

Dublin

402

9

Transportation Research Center Inc.

1974

Nonprofit

Research

East Liberty

453

10

Romanoff Group

1981

Private

Electrical

Gahanna

399

11

Fifth Third Bank

1858

Public

Banks

Cincinnati

588

12

Mid-City Electric

1960

Private

Electrical

Westerville

567

13

The Buckeye Ranch

1961

Nonprofit

Human and social services

Whitehall

540

14

Olentangy Local School District

1952

Public

Primary/secondary schools

Lewis Center

3,000

15

Kimball Midwest

1923

Private

Wholesale distribution

Columbus

529

16

Fairfield County, Ohio

1800

Government

Local government

Lancaster

967

17

Ohio State University Physicians

2002

Nonprofit

Outpatient test, treatment and surgery

Columbus

1,814

18

Ohio Department of Agriculture

1846

Government

State government

Reynoldsburg

478

*The company separated into Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel on Dec. 1, 2023, after the Top Workplaces survey process was complete.

MIDSIZE ORGANIZATIONS (125 TO 349 EMPLOYEES) Rank Company

Founded

Ownership

Sector

City

Private

Custom software development and consulting

St. Louis, MO

1

Daugherty Business Solutions

1985

Employees 126

2

Total Quality Logistics – TQL

1997

Private

Logistics

Cincinnati

168

3

BDO USA LLP

1910

Partnership

Certified Public Accountants and consultants

Chicago, IL

204

4

Syntero

1978

Nonprofit

Human and social services

Dublin

130

5

Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc.

1968

Private

Electronics/computers

Westerville

206

6

Northwestern Mutual – Columbus

1857

Co-op/mutual

Financial advisers

Milwaukee, WI

141

7

Revolution Mortgage

2018

Private

Mortgage lending

Westerville

165

8

Greif

1877

Public

Industrial packaging

Delaware

295

9

KEMBA Financial Credit Union

1933

Co-op/mutual

Credit union

Columbus

311

10

Beam Benefits

2012

Private

Health insurance

Columbus

334

11

The Richwood Banking Co.

1867

Public

Financial services and insurance

Gahanna

217

Top Workplaces 2024 • ColumbusCEO CEO_40915_03_29_2024_B_029_342308.indd 1

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MIDSIZE ORGANIZATIONS (125 TO 349 EMPLOYEES) Rank Company

Founded

Ownership

Sector

City

Employees

12

Bridgeway – Academy & Therapy Center

2005

Nonprofit

Education

Columbus

250

13

R.G. Barry Corp.

1947

Private

Clothing, footwear and accessories

Pickerington

140

14

The Wellington School

1982

Nonprofit

Primary/secondary schools

Columbus

147

15

KPMG LLP

1953

Private

Certified Public Accountants and consultants

New York, NY

271

16

Health Care Logistics

1978

Private

Vendor serving health care industry

Circleville

337

17

Thrive Companies

2018

Partnership

Integrated development, construction and management

Columbus

134

18

Panda Restaurant Group

1973

Private

Restaurants

Rosemead, CA

209

19

PITT OHIO

1979

Private

Distribution, logistics and freight

Pittsburgh, PA

181

20

Crawford Hoying

1994

Private

Development

Dublin

133

21

Groundworks

2016

Private

Construction

Virginia Beach, VA

137

22

RevLocal

2010

Private

Advertising and marketing

Granville

262

23

Citrin

2006

Private

Hospitality, entertainment, recreation and travel

Columbus

193

24

Kenneth’s Hair Salons and Day Spas

1977

Partnership

Personal care

Columbus

344

25

Summit Home Care

2006

Private

Home health care services

Columbus

299

26

Moody Nolan

1982

Private

Architecture

Columbus

174

27

Air Force One Inc.

1984

Private

HVAC and refrigeration

Dublin

249

28

Westerwood

1978

Nonprofit

Senior living

Columbus

237

Our Sincerest Thanks Your hard-work, determination, and dedication to Advocate RCM has allowed us to provide excellent service to our clients for over 25 years!

We are proud to be celebrating three straight years as a Columbus Top Workplace, and our first year named USA Today Top Workplace.

None of this would be possible without you.

5475 Rings Road, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 Phone: 614.210.1885 www.AdvocateRCM.com 4

ColumbusCEO • Top Workplaces 2024

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SMALL ORGANIZATIONS (124 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES) Rank Company 1

S-S Bendure & Hartwig

Founded

Ownership

Sector

City

2007

Public

Life insurance, annuities and retirement investments

Columbus

Employees 122

2

Arvo Tech

2014

Private

Credit and finance

Columbus

50

3

Renier Construction Corp.

1980

Private

Building construction

Columbus

63

4

Diley Medical Group

2008

Private

Physicians practice

Canal Winchester

54

5

Durable Slate Co.

1986

Private

Restoration

Columbus

55

6

Hamilton Capital

1997

Private

Financial advisers

Columbus

92

7

Leading EDJE

2007

Private

Custom software development and consulting

Dublin

82

8

Benesch

1938

Private

Law

Cleveland

65

9

Revolution Group

1995

Private

Managed services and outsourcing

Westerville

57

10

Manifest Solutions Corp.

1994

Private

Managed services and outsourcing

Columbus

84 118

11

BTTS Holdings

1998

Private

Special events and catering

Westerville

12

Slalom

2001

Private

Custom software development and consulting

Seattle, WA

70

13

Boss Gal Beauty Bar

2019

Partnership

Personal care

Columbus

60

14

Star Seven Six

2022

Private

Information technology

Columbus

74

15

Continental Building Co.

1984

Private

Building construction

Columbus

75

16

Setterlin Building Co.

1935

Private

Building construction

Columbus

99

17

Dawson

1946

Private

Staffing

Columbus

50

18

ProScape Lawn & Landscape Services

1998

Private

Construction

Marion

50

19

King Memory

2008

Private

Electronics/computers

Columbus

55

20

Orangetheory Fitness

2010

Private

Marketing and branding

Dublin

90

21

Construction One Inc.

1980

Private

Building construction

Columbus

55

Top Workplaces 2024 • ColumbusCEO

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3/21/24 10:39 AM

SMALL ORGANIZATIONS (124 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES) Rank Company

6

Founded

Ownership

Sector

City

Employees

22

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana

1983

Nonprofit

Nonprofit

Columbus

72

23

Yard Solutions

1990

Private

Landscaping and lawn care

Groveport

64

24

Northwoods

2003

Private

Custom software development and consulting

Dublin

84

25

United Schools Network

2008

Nonprofit

Primary/secondary schools

Columbus

113

26

Columbus Early Learning Centers

1887

Nonprofit

Education

Columbus

60

27

Hondros College

1981

Private

Education

Westerville

83

28

NFM Lending

1998

Private

Mortgage lending

Linthicum, MD

110

29

Distinctive Kitchen

1994

Private

Building construction

Columbus

120

30

Steiner + Associates

1993

Private

Development

Columbus

112

31

Duracorp LLC DBA SOLUT!

2005

Private

Paper and paper products

Lewis Center

99

32

Peoples Bank

1902

Public

Banks

Marietta

50

33

Expedient

2001

Private

Managed services and outsourcing

Pittsburgh, PA

52

34

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

1967

Partnership

Law

Columbus

67

35

Reminger Co. LPA

1958

Private

Law

Cleveland

64

36

PERFICIENT

1997

Public

Information technology

St. Louis, MO

50

37

Tech Elevator

2015

Parent company

Education

Cleveland

86

38

Planes Companies

1921

Private

Logistics

West Chester

81

39

Payliance

2007

Private

Credit and finance

Columbus

81

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Start your

Special Awards

COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION TODAY

16 Winners Earn Special Awards The recipients of these 14 Special Awards were chosen based on standout scores for employee responses to specific survey statements. Employees rate these statements on a seven-point scale, from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

LEADERSHIP I have confidence in the leader of this company.

CLUED-IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.

Large

Mike Fitzpatrick Elford

Daugherty Business Solutions

Midsize

Julie Erwin Rinaldi Syntero

Small

Kathy Keeney Boss Gal Beauty Bar

DIRECTION I believe this company is going in the right direction.

DHL Supply Chain North America MANAGERS My manager helps me learn and grow.

My manager cares about my concerns.

Total Quality Logistics – TQL NEW IDEAS New ideas are encouraged at this company.

Arvo Tech DOERS At this company, we do things efficiently and well.

S-S Bendure & Hartwig MEANINGFULNESS My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful.

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana VALUES This company operates by strong values.

at columbusceo.com

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

Leading EDJE APPRECIATION I feel genuinely appreciated at this company.

Worthington Industries WORK/LIFE FLEXIBILITY I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life.

Transportation Research Center Inc. TRAINING I get the formal training I want for my career.

Keller Williams Consultants Realty BENEFITS My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry.

PITT OHIO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD New to Columbus CEO’s Top Workplaces for 2024, this award recognizes the positive impact an organization has on the community at large: My employer is socially responsible in the community.

Dawson

Renier Construction Corp.

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COURTESY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER INC.

Engaged Employees How four of this year’s Top Workplaces winners—including a 12-timer and a newcomer— strive to create cultures that support workers and customers.

By KATY SMITH

8

ABOVE: Employees work on a sound test at Transportation Research Center Inc. LEFT: Renier Construction Corp. employees check work performed on a job site.

BELOW: Worthington employees volunteering at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens..

COURTESY WORTHINGTON ENTERPRISES AND WORTHINGTON STEEL

COURTESY RENIER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

B

rian Reynolds, trained as an architect, worked as a consultant with Renier Construction Corp. for years. He loved doing business with the design-build company serving many auto dealerships. Projects were carried out fairly and on time, and he found the people positive and helpful.

So when Renier founder and chairman Bill Heifner asked Reynolds to join the company as his successor, Reynolds jumped at the chance. He became Renier’s president and CEO a year later, in 2020.

He says the job is just what he’d hoped for: the chance to lead a team of people continually focused on doing the next right thing.

It seems a simple maxim that the best workplaces are positive ones. They foster employee engagement by sticking to a set of tried-and-true practices, such as uniting around a common mission, listening to team feedback and honoring employees’ needs outside work.

The best employers score high on 24 so-called “positivity” measures included in the annual Top Workplaces survey.

Employees share anonymous feedback, and themes emerge to paint a picture of life inside the organizations. This year, these three positivity measures showed the biggest gains over last year among participating companies: work-life balance, “clued-in employees” (a communication metric) and values.

Here’s a look at how some of this year’s Top Workplaces—Renier, Advocate RCM, Transportation Research Center Inc., and Worthington Steel and Worthington Enterprises (formerly Worthington

Industries)—drive outstanding culture by engaging employees.

Doing the Next Right Thing The Renier commitment to doing the right thing is evidenced by the 63-person staff’s responses to this year’s Top Workplaces survey. The company is a first-time winner and also received the Special Award for Values because so many team members responded positively to

the statement, “This company operates by strong values.”

The win is affirmation of Renier’s emphasis on four core values since its founding in 1980, Reynolds says. They are: integrity, relationships matter, help first and driven by excellence.

“Integrity is the bedrock of our identity,” Reynolds says. “Bill Heifner could tell you a great story about how he learned that concept from his dad, who owned

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COURTESY RENIER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

ABOVE: Team Renier at American Heart Association Field Day

a sporting goods store. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching—and even when doing the wrong thing is easier or cheaper.”

Long term, doing the right thing builds relationships, which is crucial to a company’s success, Reynolds says. Renier prizes its multigenerational relationships with family-owned auto dealerships. “A lot of these partners have become authentic friends, not just clients,” he says.

Renier sets itself apart by prioritizing transparency and making the process of building a dealership as clear and predictable as possible. “We are averse to change orders. Our whole process is designed to eliminate surprises and change orders.

That’s kind of unusual in the construction industry,” Reynolds says.

Before he joined Renier, Reynolds says the company’s help-first mentality made it a wonderful business partner to his architecture practice. “I could call anyone here, and they would answer the phone.

If I had a question or needed help with something, they would stop what they were doing, and they would help me.

That continues to be such a big part of the culture at Renier.”

Clearly Communicating Values When the board of 12-time Top Workplaces winner Worthington Industries decided to split the company

COURTESY RENIER CONSTRUCTION CORP.

RIGHT: Renier built the corporate headquarters for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in Zionsville, Indiana.

in two, there were a lot of questions— understandably. Its tenured workforce of more than 9,000 would become two workforces of roughly half that number each, with new management for half the business. The publicly traded company founded in 1955 by John H. McConnell, who also founded the Columbus Blue Jackets, transformed as of Dec. 1 into Worthington Steel and Worthington Enterprises, both publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Worthington Enterprises (NYSE: WOR) is a diversified metals designer and manufacturer with 5,000 employees, 1,120 of them in Central Ohio. Its leader is President and CEO Andy Rose, who was at the helm of Worthington Industries at the time of the split.

Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) makes its business in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and custom-welded solutions, with 4,600 employees, 670 of them in Central Ohio.

Its new President and CEO Geoff Gilmore is anything but new to the company—he worked at Worthington Industries for

25 years before being promoted to lead Worthington Steel.

The two companies recorded $4.9 billion in revenue in fiscal 2023 as Worthington Industries. They’re still very much together in a number of ways. They have headquarters next door to each another on West Old Wilson Bridge Road.

And their company values are identical.

“Mr. Mac [as John H. McConnell was called] put down on paper what we call our philosophy back in the 1960s,” Rose says. “We believe people are our most important asset, and we’re a Golden Rule company,” Rose says. “That doesn’t mean we don’t work hard and challenge people, but we do it in a nice way.”

The Worthington philosophy and culture are nonnegotiable for both companies, Gilmore says. A lot changed with the split. Employees who had worked alongside one another for decades ended up in different companies that each have their own marketing, finance and human resources divisions. Still, “we wanted to be crystal clear that our culture would live on after the separation. It speaks Top Workplaces 2024 • ColumbusCEO

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Flexibility to Have a Life Outside Work Like many businesses, the staff at Advocate RCM (which stands for Revenue Cycle Management) worked in the office full time for its entire 22-year existence.

That all changed in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the world.

Almost overnight, the medical billing and office support company that works primarily with radiology practices was able to shift its operations to a remote setup, thanks to the work of its dedicated technology team. “It was a heavy lift, obviously. But we were able to do it quickly,” says Advocate CEO Todd Walker. “The experience taught us there is a different way we can do business. We found it’s not as important to have people sitting within your four walls of bricks and mortar if RIGHT: Advocate RCM has donated more than 100 toys to Toys for Tots in the last two years for its annual holiday charity drive.

“I love that my job gives me the flexibility to work from home and make up any hours I missed without using PTO,” said another respondent.

While most of Advocate’s workforce is not based in the office, there are some jobs that require manual, paper-based processes and live physician signatures, necessitating a hybrid arrangement. And some employees prefer to work in the office most of the time. “Personally, I have always felt that we needed to make work as flexible as possible to meet our employees’ personal needs,” Walker says.

“Some people might have impediments to being able to work full time, and if we give them flexibility, maybe that opens the door for them.”

Advocate was acquired by Dallas-based Ventra Health, a larger company providing similar services, in early 2024.

COURTESY WORTHINGTON ENTERPRISES AND WORTHINGTON STEEL

BELOW: The CEOs of Worthington Enterprises and Worthington Steel shake hands on the first official business day for both companies. Pictured (from left): Andy Rose and Geoff Gilmore.

we give them the tools they need.” The company supports work-from-home employees with full computer kits and big screens for their home offices.

The switch has created a culture at Advocate where employees feel they can do their jobs and care for their families without having to sacrifice one for the other, Walker says.

Remote work has had other advantages: Advocate can hire people who live far from its Dublin headquarters. It now has 376 employees in 26 states, with 174 in Central Ohio.

Employees from across Advocate mentioned flexibility in their comments on the Top Workplaces survey for 2024. “I love my job because by having a flexible start and end time, I can more easily make time for appointments, family obligations and personal matters,” said one.

COURTESY ADVOCATE RCM

volumes that 99 percent of the new leadership team at Steel were Worthington Industries employees,” Gilmore says.

Internal employee engagement surveys before and after the separation bear witness to the cohesive culture, too: Scores did not drop during the process, Rose says. “We have a lot of trust with our employees,” he says. “We did a lot communicating to them about why we were doing this and that it would be beneficial for all of our employees.”

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East Liberty-based Transportation Research Center Inc. also received praise from employees regarding work-life balance—so much so that it won the Special Award for Work/Life Flexibility.

The independent mobility testing service provider for automotive companies, governments, trade associations and educational institutions makes its home on a 4,500-acre campus, and much of its work is hands-on. But the roughly 450 employees can take advantage of differing work styles according to their needs.

While people performing vehicle testing work in-person, research and administrative employees may work remotely.

No matter the arrangement, TRC has the same emphasis for all staff: their health and happiness. Evidence of that is the company’s recent expansion of its paid-leave offerings. “The decisions that are made on a daily basis are really focused on the health of our employees, mental and physical,” says Allison Kendor, chief people officer. “Work-life

balance has been a huge priority as long as I’ve been here.”

Founded in 1974 as a state of Ohio agency, TRC leases land owned by Honda and operates as an affiliated entity of Ohio State University. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit had revenue of $64.8 million in 2023 from a diverse, confidential client roster.

The culture that respects and honors staff members’ time and health also values their opinions. CEO Brett Roubinek routinely encourages the team to “bubble up” any thoughts, concerns or questions. “He is a very strong advocate of always asking questions, and each time we get together with employees, he’s always saying bubble it up, ask questions,” Kendor says. “He truly drives an open-door policy at TRC.” The organization’s culture is intentional, she says. A culture task force from departments and levels across TRC meets regularly, and one of its recent initiatives is creating an environment of psychological safety. “We want to make sure we’re really taking the time to check in and listen to and follow up on what employees are saying,” Kendor says.

COURTESY TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CENTER INC.

Leaders Who Actually Want to Field Questions

An employee tests a tire at Transportation Research Center Inc.

As an engineering and testing firm tasked with providing solutions, collaboration and creativity are TRC’s most powerful tools. With a foundation of psychological safety, great ideas can come forth without fear of being labeled as “crazy,” she says.

Katy Smith is a freelance writer.

PEBO.COM Peoples Bank (w/logo)® is a federally registered service mark of Peoples Bank.

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Large Employer

Investing in Employees DHL Supply Chain North America’s certification and leadership programs boost engagement and retention.

By KATY SMITH Photos by TIM JOHNSON

D

uring the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, DHL Supply Chain North America’s team faced big obstacles when distribution centers were shut down and global freight shipping came to a standstill. In the years that have followed, DHL has leveraged innovative team thinking to make supply chains more sustainable and more resilient even while processing historic increases in shipping volume as e-commerce ballooned.

“When COVID struck and the world went into lockdown in March of 2020, we went to work, supply chain kept going.

We were part of so many things that were necessary during that time, like the distribution of vaccine and other health care products, to consumer goods and basics

DHL Supply Chain North America dhl.com/us-en/home/supply-chain.html Business: Contract logistics Based: Westerville Founded: 1969 CEO: Scott Sureddin Total U.S. employees: 51,000+ Central Ohio employees: 4,500+ Annual revenue: Would not disclose

12

DHL employees (from left): Julian Giraldo, Tavaneli Chrismond, Andrea Dingess, Tom Fogerty, Rosanna Medina and Terrail Jackson at a DHL Supply Chain North America warehouse near Rickenbacker International Airport.

“You feel pretty good when you wake up knowing you shipped a medical device for someone’s surgery or diapers to a child in need.”

SCOTT SUREDDIN, CEO of DHL Supply Chain North America like groceries,” says Tom Fogerty, senior vice president of human resources for DHL Supply Chain North America.

Employees found the essential nature of the work rewarding, and “we’ve seen our applicant pipelines grow steadily because the awareness of supply chain is now driving people’s interest in us,” he says.

DHL Supply Chain North America landed a spot on the Top Workplaces list for the second time since 2021. It seems fitting that a logistics company also won the Special Award for Direction thanks to the high number of employees who responded positively to the statement, “I believe this company is going in the right direction.”

That’s partly the result of a deliberate corporate effort to help team members recognize how their daily work helps people and makes the world a better place. “You feel pretty good when you wake up knowing you shipped a medical device for someone’s surgery or diapers to a child in need,” says Scott Sureddin, the company’s CEO. With more than 51,000 employees— more than 4,500 of them in Central Ohio— DHL is the largest third-party logistics company in North America. It delivers goods for many other companies across nearly every part of the economy, whether it be consumer products, automotive, chemical, energy or technology. That diversity is the strength

of its business, Sureddin says.

DHL Supply Chain North America is part of the global DHL Group headquartered in Bonn, Germany.

Purposeful Engagement A few years ago, DHL created a program that culminates in certification as a supply chain specialist. The foundational course is taught to every associate, educating them on the importance of supply chain and the role they play. “When people understand their purpose in an organization, it drives so much greater engagement,” Fogerty says.

In essence, the company is establishing supply chain as a career destination, he says. “If you think back, it wasn’t that many years ago that when you talked about supply chain, a lot of times you would get a bit of a blank stare from people because they really didn’t understand the term,” he says. “The pandemic really opened people’s eyes to the importance of supply chain and the global economy. And that’s where our opportunity really began to shine.”

The company’s certified curriculum also includes its Supervisory Academy, where front-line managers spend 18 months expanding their technical skills and participating in leadership training. These are the types of investments that help create an

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experienced, tenured workforce, Fogerty says. During a time of historically low unemployment rates, the company continues to see larger applicant pipelines and increased retention rates.

By necessity, the majority of DHL’s employees have in-person, hands-on jobs.

Because it functions as a critical link in the economy, operations run first, second and third shifts and on weekends and holidays.

Administrative workers report to offices, where they work on a hybrid basis, mostly on-site but with the ability to work from home when needed. Workers are not mandated to be in the office for a specified number of days a week, Fogerty says.

“We’ve been successful in creating a hybrid environment that is really managed by the individual and their manager. It’s more about, ‘Are we able to execute and get done the work that needs to be done? Are we there to support our folks in the field that are working day in and day out inside our facilities and traveling the roadways of our country?’ ” Belonging has become a focus for the company in recent years, too. Employee

Andrea Dingess inputs and sorts packages.

resource groups for veterans, LGBTQ+, people of color and women in supply chain give co-workers a venue to gather, support one another and educate the broader workforce about their experiences.

DHL also created a diversity and inclusion curriculum around unconscious bias and taking leadership to the next level in a diverse workspace.

Overcoming Challenges Ohio plays a significant role for DHL Supply Chain North America, with its strategic location within one day’s service to 60 percent of the United States. The

company has 6,200 employees in the state across 59 sites, including 800 at the company’s headquarters in Westerville. Overall, it has 523 operating sites in the U.S. and Canada and 161 million square feet of distribution center space.

In 2023, customer needs changed, leading to the closure of a Groveport warehouse and 264 layoffs. The company prioritized finding spots for workers who wanted to stay with DHL. Most of those employees landed jobs with other Central Ohio sites, including 23 of 25 managers.

Of the 240 hourly employees who worked in Groveport, about 80 percent continued with the company locally.

“We long ago recognized that people have a choice on where they spend their careers,” Sureddin says. “And so our emphasis has always been understanding that we are a people business first. Without a strong foundation of talent, we couldn’t be the provider of choice and the investment of choice for our customers. So it really begins and ends with our people.”

Katy Smith is a freelance writer.

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Midsize Employer

PHOTOS COURTESY DAUGHERTY BUSINESS SOLUTIONS (3)

Team-First Mentality Daugherty Business Solutions’ top-down focus on values and employees nurtures business results.

Daugherty Business Solutions’ summer picnic

By KATY SMITH

F

or Ron Daugherty, building a $330 million technology consulting business from scratch came down to one simple focus: people.

When he founded Daugherty Business Solutions nearly 40 years ago in St. Louis, he wasn’t sure where technology would go, and probably didn’t envision artificial intelligence or cloud computing. But he was sure of two things: He wanted to build the company around a set of core values, and he wanted to invest in people. “It’s really necessary to have a vision for what you’re building, and I believe that our teammates, our people, are the building blocks of our vision,” Daugherty says. “It’s so easy to get lost if you’re just chasing money. But if you have a set of core values and a strong culture that you’re committed to, that guides you through the good times and bad.”

Daugherty Business Solutions daugherty.com Business: Technology consulting and advisory services Based: St. Louis Founded: 1985 President and CEO: Ron Daugherty Total employees: 1,703

RON DAUGHERTY, president and CEO of Daugherty Business Solutions The strategy, apparently, has worked.

Without taking any outside investments, Daugherty has grown to about 1,700 employees, including 126 in Columbus. It has 75 Fortune 500 clients. And the team’s enthusiasm for their employer has earned Daugherty a spot on the Top Workplaces list two years in a row. This year, it also won a Special Award: Clued-in Senior Management.

It’s an honor Daugherty, who sings and plays harmonica in the company band, takes to heart. The president and CEO prioritizes staying approachable and accessible to staff with open office hours and in-person gatherings since the team is mostly remote. “Transparency, communication, listening and caring,” is how he describes his leadership style.

“I’ve never seen a CEO with open office hours on Fridays, where you can just call and ask him anything you want,” says John Reedy, the company’s senior product manager and Central Ohio leader.

Central Ohio employees: 126

Tone from the Top

Central Ohio leader: John Reedy

Daugherty hits all the points as an employer of choice with competitive pay and great benefits, Reedy says. But what

2023 revenue: $330 million

14

“If you have a set of core values and a strong culture that you’re committed to, that guides you through the good times and bad.”

sets the company apart is the supportive environment cultivated by its leadership team. “It really starts with our CEO, Ron, and him doing what he says he’s going to do and cascading his values throughout the organization,” Reedy says.

Leadership at all levels maintains an open-door policy. And when it’s necessary to communicate difficult news about company changes or layoffs, the leaders accept accountability, Reedy says. When the news is good, “they’re the first ones to pass out all the credit, and they take none of it for themselves.”

Career development is encouraged and mapped out for the team. “They make it very clear if you want to get promoted, here’s the checklist of things you need to do,” he says.

As a single dad, Reedy is grateful to have landed a consulting position where he doesn’t have to travel. Daugherty says that was an intentional choice on the part of management. “We stay regionally focused because we want our team to have a positive quality of life,” he says. “If you’re on the road constantly, that’s not good for most people.”

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Culture of Access Artificial intelligence, from generative AI and large language models to advanced analytics and machine learning, is the future of business, and Daugherty wants his company to be first in line to master the technologies. The business is working with a major airline, for example, to significantly decrease boarding times using generative AI. Being able to choose the technologies they work with, and sometimes even client assignments, is one of the big pluses of being on the Daugherty team, Reedy says. Options to learn and advance are plentiful, he adds.

That philosophy extends to people who aren’t yet on the team. Daugherty created Daugherty University to train individuals without formal experience in technology for careers with the company. “Ron always says, ‘We can teach you the tech and the trade or the role, but we can’t teach a great attitude or a solid work ethic,’ ” Reedy says.

Daugherty also founded Access Point, a nonprofit that pairs high

school students with mentors and tech apprenticeships.

Support System Employee resource groups at Daugherty foster belonging and inclusion, Reedy says. There are groups for LGBTQ Pride, veterans, the Black Consultant Network, mental health and health and wellness.

“Some of us sit at our desks all day alone, so we’ll turn on our cameras and do stretches together as a team,” Reedy says. “We support each other by talking about how many steps we can get in during the week.” Since joining the company, Reedy has lost 65 pounds.

“My mental health obviously has been through the roof,” he says.

The Daugherty team loves getting together in person. In Columbus, that includes Great Strides Walks for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, monthly happy hours, weekly virtual lunches, retirement celebrations and holiday parties. For the 2023 winter holiday party, the team went bowling and collected donations for Toys for Tots.

Daugherty says building such a culture

A holiday party for Daugherty Business Solutions

is his life’s work. And he doesn’t want it to end with him. He has ambitions to triple revenue to $1 billion a year by dramatically growing the sales organization. Then, he wants to transition the company to employee ownership.

“The team that got us here is going to own the business,” he says. “It’s not the most lucrative exit strategy, but it’s the most satisfying for me. It’s my great hope Daugherty Business Solutions will leave our key stakeholders—teammates, clients and the communities we touch— better because it was here.”

Katy Smith is a freelance writer.

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Small Employer

Arvo Tech employees (from left): co-founder Brent Johnson, Emily Osborne and President and co-founder Terracina Maxwell

Serving Small Business Arvo Tech helps companies leverage tax incentive programs.

By LAURA NEWPOFF Photos by TIM JOHNSON

I

n 2012, Brent Johnson hired Terracina Maxwell to lead a tax credit incentives program for Columbus-based accounting firm Clarus Partners, where he served as managing partner. Her hire made his management team more effective and differentiated the firm from its competitors.

After two years, the new incentive program was going so well the duo decided to spin it out into its own company, founded as Clarus Solutions and known today as Arvo Tech. At its core, the company is dedicated to helping businesses claim employment tax credits. (Arvo means “value” or “worth” in Finnish.)

Since its founding, Arvo Tech has grown into a 48-employee business and has worked with employers in all 50 states.

Altogether, Arvo’s clients hire more than 300,000 people each year. The firm has

Arvo Tech Business: Assists clients with employment tax credit programs Based: Columbus Founded: 2014 Top executives: Terracina Maxwell, co-founder and president; Brent Johnson,co-founder Total employees: 48 Central Ohio employees: 41 Annual revenue: Would not disclose

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helped them claim more than $575 million in tax credits through two programs: the COVID-era Employee Retention Tax Credit and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

“We saw an opportunity to help small businesses be able to take advantage of tax credits that large businesses were taking advantage of,” says Maxwell, who serves as Arvo’s president. “These smaller firms are under-resourced and, once you show them how this process improves their cash flow, they are such grateful clients.”

Arvo Tech is a first-time Top Workplaces winner and also won the Special Award for New Ideas.

Integrating Technology Johnson and Maxwell both have large accounting firm experience, having worked at Deloitte and Ernst & Young, respectively. Collectively, the team they’ve built has more than 150 years of tax experience, which they use to help customers improve the finances of their businesses.

The Arvo team, made up of tax attorneys, technology developers and client success specialists, helps transform companies’ cash flow through employment tax credit opportunities. Arvo leaders say

its tax credit platform syncs with existing payroll and applicant tracking systems to streamline the claims process. “A big part of this was to make the technology piece simple and build it in such a way small business owners can understand,” Maxwell says. “That takes away a barrier that would prevent someone from participating in these tax credit programs.”

Many clients use the money they receive to add employees, including a Michigan staffing business that launched an initiative to hire veterans.

One potential opportunity for Arvo Tech, Maxwell says, is to partner with companies that serve the small business market to introduce Arvo’s platform to more clients. The company also wants to build more features into its platform in order to bring business owners more peace of mind in the areas of tax planning and compliance.

A ‘Mission Bigger Than Just Us’ Arvo Tech’s founders crafted the business’s value statement around people, business and the community: “By putting people first, supporting local businesses, and giving back to our communities, we strive

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to create a positive impact by helping businesses utilize the monetary benefits of WOTC and ERTC.” When recruiting new employees, the company touts six core values it operates by: humility, resourceful, curious, collaborative, community and customer centric. It also encourages meaningful work and personal growth. That was important to Emily Osborne when she came to Arvo almost two years ago to build up the company’s sales and marketing department. Her team has worked closely with the technology and operations teams to hit company goals. The collaboration, she says, makes her job easier than if the departments operated in silos.

“It’s all about, ‘Hey, let’s meet and see what sales and marketing is hearing and let’s build it on the tech side.’ The tech folks are asking sales and marketing, ‘Can you bring this to market?’ [What we’re developing] is based on each group’s opinion and market research,” she says. “Because we’re collaborating with each other every day, many of us have become close friends.

That makes it fun to go into work.”

Arvo Tech employees (from left) Paul Meeker, Reed Costello and Isaac Bennett at the company’s office

For Maxwell, culture always will circle back to a mission of helping small business owners succeed.

“We try to keep that front and center: ‘Who is it we are serving?’ The small business owner, people trying to get jobs, people who want to contribute and help others in the businesses,” Maxwell says.

“There’s joy in that. The mission is bigger than just us.”

Laura Newpoff is a freelance writer.

“We saw an opportunity to help small businesses be able to take advantage of tax credits that large businesses were taking advantage of.”

TERRACINA MAXWELL, co-founder and president of Arvo Tech

Join Our Team in Raising Hope and Healing for Children, Youth, and Families Each day at The Buckeye Ranch, approximately 2,350 youth are in our

care, receiving services specifically designed to help them become more successful within their families, schools, and communities.

With six locations and over 500 dedicated team members, our programs across the state encompass four service areas: Child Welfare, Community and Education-Based Mental Health, Residential, and Integrated Care. Join The Buckeye Ranch’s team, a 2024 Columbus CEO Top Workplace, today to do life-changing work for youth and families in our community. Visit us at buckeyeranch.org/join-our-team or scan the QR code to learn more about the meaningful work we do and apply!

4653 E. Main Street, Whitehall, Ohio 43213 800.859.5665 | buckeyeranch.org

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Dawson

S P E C I A L AWA R D

dawsoncareers.com

Doing Good Dawson drives worker satisfaction by prioritizing wellness and giving back to the community.

Business: Job placement, human resources and community workforce programs Based: Columbus Founded: 1946 The DAWSCARS, an annual Oscars-themed awards ceremony

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Top executives: Jeff Miller, president; Chris DeCapua and David DeCapua, owners Total employees: 50 Central Ohio employees: 46 2023 revenue: $32 million

By PETER TONGUETTE orkforce solutions company Dawson takes pride in its own workforce. “They’re the fuel of what makes Dawson go, and they’re really our product,” says President Jeff Miller.

“Our product is people, and that couldn’t be more true of our staff. We are who we are because of them.”

Dawson, founded in 1946 as a job placement company for returning World War II soldiers, has long emphasized empowerment among its employees, which currently number about 50. “I strive to let the people that are doing the work make the decisions and make some common-sense decisions,” Miller says. “There have been very few times

PHOTOS COURTESY PORTRAITS BY LISA (4)

Dawson hosts an annual Field Day as a team-building event.

Breakfast with Santa for Dawson colleagues and their families

where there’s been an idea or a mission … and they’ve not understood why we’re doing it, because really they’ve been the ones that have been involved in the decision-making.”

Fostering a sense of wellness among workers is also a priority. The company has offset entry fees for staff members to participate in the OhioHealth Capital City Half and Quarter Marathon. Healthy choices are encouraged in the workplace thanks to complimentary breakfast items

in the company café and exercise opportunities throughout the day. “We want [employees] to be fueled up and have the power they need to get through these days,” Miller says.

Wellness isn’t just defined in physical terms, though: Dawson wants its workers to feel good about doing good.

Those efforts are paying dividends. The company won the new Special Award for Social Responsibility, which recognizes the positive impact an organization has on its community.

Employees are incentivized to give back through a volunteer time off, or VTO, program. For every 20 hours an employee volunteers, they earn a day off before a holiday. VTO does not affect an employee’s

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Our People Make Us Great.

And for 12 Years, We’ve Been a Top Workplace.

Dawson employees volunteer with Festa.

regular paid time off. “It’s really goodwill,” says brand ambassador Mary Noel Moore.

“It encourages people to volunteer. You’d be surprised at how much people volunteer just to get a day [off] before a holiday.”

That extra day may serve as motivation, but once the company’s employees begin volunteering, they find the experience is its own reward. Last year, Dawson employees logged about 2,000 volunteer hours. Group volunteer activities take place at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, Buckeye Ranch and elsewhere. Employees especially enjoy Dress for Success-Columbus events since its mission aligns with the company’s own area of expertise. “I could name dozens of other [volunteer opportunities] that people do on their own,” Moore says. “You don’t have to do it with a Dawson colleague to get credit.”

And, through its Community Workforce Program, Dawson also engages with area school districts, where students are coached on the job-seeking process. “We have a lot of recruiters that will volunteer their time and go and do résumé workshops, mock interviews with high school students and things like that,” Moore says.

“That’s putting out time that they could be recruiting to place people and make money, but they’re going to do this instead, because they want to give back.”

The process of doing good in the community also builds camaraderie in the workplace. “Sometimes people will bring their spouse, their significant other, their partner [or] their child,” Moore says. “We really get to know each other on a different level and to be exposed to some different things that we wouldn’t normally be exposed to.”

At Kimball Midwest, we take pride in our associates. They are the best in the business, providing exceptional customer service and supporting the best sales force in the industry. We thank our associates for helping us grow into one of the largest industrial distributors in the nation, and we continue to get bigger and better.

We’ve been named a Top Workplace for the 12th consecutive year. It’s all thanks to our incredible team and their passion and commitment to make us the best.

To learn more about Kimball Midwest career opportunities, visit us at kimballmidwest.com/careers.

Peter Tonguette is a freelance writer.

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PHOTOS COURTESY LEADING EDJE (3)

For its 15th anniversary party in May 2022, Leading EDJE flew out-of-town team members and their significant others to Columbus for its first event since moving to a remote-first work environment.

S P E C I A L AWA R D

Tech Support Leading EDJE fosters a culture of open communication and trust to deliver solutions for clients.

By PETER TONGUETTE

L

ast year was a rough one for many businesses, and women-owned IT consulting and software development company Leading EDJE was no different.

The difference was that the Dublinbased firm leveled with its 89 employees, who are located both in Central Ohio and throughout the nation. “Last calendar year, our industry went through a really difficult time,” says President and CEO Joelle Brock. “As a result, our clients were just not putting their money

20

towards the IT spend like they’d been used to doing.”

But, instead of sweeping those realities under the rug, the company faced them head-on. “We spoke openly and honestly with everyone,” Brock says. “We don’t hide anything, and that’s part of being an entrepreneurial-based business. Every single person on our team has my mobile number.”

Chief Operating Officer Erica Krumlauf feels that candor made all the difference for the employees. “The team just appreciated that we weren’t giving them some sort of corporate messaging—that we were honest, we were emotional, they could see how hard it was for us,” Krumlauf says.

“We’re going to tell you when we’re not perfect, and we’re going to be honest with you and transparent.”

That approach is a hallmark of Leading EDJE, whose moniker utilizes the first initials of its founders, Erica Krumlauf, David Michels and Joelle Brock. It won the Special Award this year for Communication.

The company opened its present Bridge Park location in February 2020, just before the pandemic. Shifting gears, it went to a remote-first workplace, which it has maintained since. “Our team is not required to go inside of their clients’ [offices]; our team is not required to come into our office space,” Krumlauf says. “If you work best in

your basement or your [home] office, do it. If you work best coming into the office two days a week so that you have that collaboration and teamwork, and you’re able to because you’re located here in Central

Leading EDJE leadingedje.com Business: IT consulting and custom software development Based: Dublin Founded: 2007 President and CEO: Joelle Brock Total employees: 89 Central Ohio employees: Two-thirds of workforce 2023 revenue: $16.4 million

The Menu of Hope event for Children’s Hunger Alliance, of which Leading EDJE was a sponsor

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Leading EDJE’s annual Geek Cup Golf Outing

Ohio, do it.”

That last part is key: A good chunk of the staff now lives far from Central Ohio.

“When the pandemic occurred … we said, ‘We have clients across the country; we can have great team members across the country in this virtual environment,’ ” Brock says, noting that employees are now spread across 17 states.

For the company’s leaders, a successful remote workplace environment is predicated on trust. “Even pre-COVID, our team was out with their clients, so we didn’t see them a lot,” Krumlauf says. “We’ve got high expectations, but we know you’re able to meet those expectations.”

That doesn’t mean that collaboration and engagement are things of the past. “We use virtual water coolers,” Krumlauf says.

“We don’t use it just for work. We use it for play and fun.”

Some of the company’s Slack channels relate to employees’ pets—there’s one for puppies and another for cats—and the dialogue helps build relationships. Team events still take place. Quarterly business reviews pull together the whole team virtually and in person, for those able to attend locally. And when conversations do take place, they must be purposeful. “It’s not as easy as it used to be, where you could just walk over to somebody’s desk and say, ‘Hey, let’s chat about that,’ ” Krumlauf says.

“It’s just all about intent, making sure that you’re really intentional in every single conversation and touch-base that you have with the team.”

That communication philosophy has carried Leading EDJE this far, and executives believe it will continue to do so into the year ahead.

“We’re feeling great about 2024,” Krumlauf says. “What’s helped us get through this tough time is our team.”

Peter Tonguette is a freelance writer.

To our amazing employees who helped Construction One be a Top Workplace for the 3rd year running

Thank you

www.constructionone.com

614.235.0057

SUMMIT HOME CARE & HOSPICE

www.summit-ortho.com Top Workplaces 2024 • ColumbusCEO

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PHOTOS COURTESY MAKE-A-WISH OHIO, KENTUCKY & INDIANA (3)

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana’s annual retreat at Flying Horse Farms in November 2023

PHOTO COURTESY TIFFANY DETZEL PHOTOGRAPHY

S P E C I A L AWA R D

Dream Weavers Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana provides meaningful experiences for children, as well as its employees.

By PETER TONGUETTE

W

hen Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana grants critically ill children a wish, the fruits of that wish are spread far and wide. First and foremost, the child gets to make a dream come true. But the impact goes well beyond that trip, meet-and-greet or activity.

Make-A-Wish America recently did a study on the impact of wishes. The results were revealing: Nine out of 10 children report that the wish alleviated traumatic stress stemming from their diagnosis. But the impact went beyond the child.

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Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana Central Ohio Advisory Board Chair Brian Hodges (left) with Wish kid Donte and a family member. Donte’s wish for a shopping spree was granted at the 2023 Central Ohio Wish Gala.

“Here’s the kicker for me: Nine out of 10 medical providers say a wish increased the compliance with their treatment, which led to a better outcome,” says Stephanie McCormick, president and CEO of the nonprofit’s Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana chapter. “A wish is not just, ‘I wish to go meet Mickey Mouse.’ … We create these magical experiences for the entire family, not just the child, but also their siblings, their parents and … the community.”

Part of that larger community is the 73 employees of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana, 33 of whom work in Central Ohio. “We deliver hope, strength and joy to children and families in crisis,” says Wendy Marroni, vice president of human resources.

The three-state chapter—which granted 1,205 wishes last fiscal year, the most ever by a Make-A-Wish chapter—attracts employees seeking emotionally rewarding

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana wish.org/oki Business: Grants wishes for children with critical illnesses Based: Columbus Founded: 1983 President and CEO: Stephanie McCormick Total employees: 73 Central Ohio employees: 33 2023 revenue: $15.7 million work. This year, the organization won the Top Workplaces Special Award for Meaningfulness, where employees rate whether their job makes them feel they’re part of something important.

Making Magic Happen Once a wish has been approved and the fulfillment process starts to unfold, socalled “mission delivery” employees work with the child and their family. But the organization aims for every employee to have a tangible sense of what their work does and who it serves. “Our advancement team [and] our fundraising team have to go out and get those donors, so they are our storytellers,” McCormick says. “They tell these beautiful stories about these wishes and the wish children.”

All staff members are invited to participate in volunteer days and activities that underscore the organization’s mission.

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Well-wishers gather to celebrate 5-year-old Mya’s wish to meet and ride a unicorn.

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana granted its 20,000th wish in May 2023 to 5-year-old Mya. Mya, who was born with a nervous system disorder, wished to meet and ride a unicorn.

Make-A-Wish also makes an effort to remind workers of the pride they should feel in what they do. “One of the things that we’ve tried to do more intentionally is to acknowledge the fact that there is a lot of work to do, and then, on the other side, to celebrate how much works gets done,” Marroni says. “We don’t want to spend so much time [being] so busy that we don’t celebrate all of the wonderful things that we’ve done over the year.”

A staff-led Culture Lead Committee consists of seven teams that tackle internal issues such as safety and wellness, and diversity, equity and inclusion. The goal is to assure that everyone feels invested in the organization. “All of the goal-setting is done by the staff casting a vision for the coming fiscal year,” Marroni says.

“While most of senior leadership are participating in one of those Culture Lead Committees, we are not the leaders. We are participants.”

It’s all part of the service-oriented nature of the organization. There’s a feeling of empowerment, McCormick says, when a wish comes through that an employee knows the organization can grant.

“They know that they can create something no one else can do,” McCormick says. “That’s the essence of meaningful and fulfilling work.”

Proud To Be A Top Workplace in Columbus

RG BARRY IS PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A 2024 TOP WORKPLACE IN CENTRAL OHIO! Across all of our brands, our Team Members aim to change the standards for comfort and sustainability. Together, we've created a truly special culture and a great place to work.

Peter Tonguette is a freelance writer.

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National Awards

Our Campus, Your Canvas 5800 Forest Hills Blvd.

Columbus, OH 43231 LiveAtWesterwood.org

The following 30 employers have earned recognition as Top Workplaces USA winners. They are either based in the Columbus area or have operations in Central Ohio.

Each has more than 150 employees in the United States. Their positive employee survey feedback exceeded national benchmarks established by employee survey firm Energage.

614-245-3931

WINNERS

You’ve never been the retiring type.

Why start now?

At Westerwood, feeling younger never gets old, starting with the biggest backyard in Columbus, our 23-acre campus with our own wildlife refuge. We also offer the only bona fide Life Care Community near Westerville. Come see all that Westerwood has to offer by attending one of our exciting events.

Westerwood has been nominated for the 9th year in a row as a top work place.

CD

Proud of Our Team!

Protecting Farmers and Consumers Since 1846

WHO’S MOVING AND SHAKING THIS WEEK? Find out when you become a Columbus CEO Insider

Sign-up today at ColumbusCEO.com

24

Advocate RCM Beam Benefits Benesch The Buckeye Ranch CGI Citrin Daugherty Business Solutions Discover Elford Expedient Fairfield County, Ohio Fifth Third Bank Groundworks KEMBA Financial Credit Union Lake Shore Cryotronics Inc. Mid-City Electric NFM Lending Ohio State University Physicians Panda Restaurant Group Peoples Bank PERFICIENT Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Reminger Co. LPA Revolution Mortgage The Richwood Banking Co. Romanoff Group Summit Home Care Tech Elevator Total Quality Logistics - TQL Transportation Research Center Inc.

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Excellence thrives here!

Thanks to OUR TEAM for making us a Central Ohio EMPLOYER OF CHOICE!

HCL® is a veteran-owned, industry leader in the distribution and manufacture of medical supplies. Since 1978, we’ve been dedicated to helping customers solve problems, meet goals and provide a higher standard of patient care. This is the driving force behind our success and our strong employee workforce provides the power to make it possible.

Together, our dedicated personnel bring a variety of talents to the table and help us meet our goal of delivering superior customer service around the globe.

WE OFFER ATTRACTIVE BENEFITS WITH HIGHLIGHTS THAT INCLUDE: • Medical and dental insurance • Company-matched 401(k) • A rainy day savings fund • Company-paid life, short-term and long-term insurance • Paid vacations and personal days Because we understand the importance of work-life balance, our employees also enjoy work-free weekends and holidays.

rewarding generous balance fun

relaxed

casual family friendly clean

growth

upbeat

giving

pleasant

customer-centric

CURRENT OPENINGS

GoHCL.com 1.800.848.1633

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Celebrating our new space!

1349 W Lane Ave Suite 1200 Upper Arlington

New Address.

Same Top Workplace.

We’re celebrating the move to our new address as the largest anchor tenant in the new Arlington Gateway development. Our 36,000 square feet of office space has been specifically-designed to accommodate our continually-growing team of financial professionals, support one of the Top Internship programs in the country, and serve our clients even better.

Just like a sound financial plan, success is built with great people and great relationships.

We sincerely thank our dedicated team of financial professionals and staff for their relentless commitment in serving our clients—and for making us one of the Top Workplaces for the 8th consecutive year.

Learn more about rewarding career opportunities and our great company culture.

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3/21/24 12:07 PM

Columbus Legal Guide Continued from page 24

Corporate and finance; intellectual property; litigation Partner-in-charge:

Leah Pappas Porner

Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP

950 Goodale Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus 43212 614-228-6135 cpmlaw.com Partners: 16 FTE attorneys: 26

cruglaw.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 7 Practice areas: Motor

vehicle accidents; insurance coverage; general liability Managing partner:

Management committee

Connor, Kimmet & Hafenstein LLP

Managing partner:

2000 W. Henderson Road, Suite 460, Columbus 43220 614-779-0675 cehlaw.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 7

Jane Higgins Marx

Practice areas:

Practice areas:

Business law; estate planning; litigation

Carpenter Lipps LLP

280 N. High St., Suite 1300, Columbus 43215 614-365-4100 carpenterlipps.com Partners: 20 FTE attorneys: 37 Practice areas:

Litigation; energy; public policy Managing partner:

Michael H. Carpenter

Chappano Wood PLL 1625 Goodale Blvd., Columbus 43212 614-496-3423 cwpll.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas:

Business; international; intellectual property Managing partner:

Perry M. Chappano

Collins, Roche, Utley & Garner

655 Metro Place S., Suite 200, Dublin 43017 614-901-9600

Workers’ compensation; police and fire disability; personal injury Managing partner:

Kenneth S. Hafenstein

Dagger Law

144 E. Main St., Lancaster 43130 740-653-6464 daggerlaw.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 10 Practice areas:

Family law; business/banking; estate planning Managing partner:

Nick Grilli

Decker Vonau & Carr LLC

620 E. Broad St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215 614-744-4100 deckervonau.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 3 Practice areas:

Estate planning and probate; small business formation and representation;

All Nine Dublin-based Attorneys Named to

Columbus CEO's TOP LAWYERS

Nicholas Andersen - Health Care Law | Mergers & Acquisitions Law G. Gregory Arenstein - Real Estate Law | Trusts and Estates Ryan DeYoung - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law | Litigation, Commercial Ashley Garrison - Family Law Eric McLoughlin Litigation, Trusts and Estates | Trusts and Estates James Park - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Robert Putman - Trusts and Estates Erin Sanford - Family Law | Trusts and Estates Jessica Sohner - Family Law | Litigation, Commercial

www.aacolpa.com | (614) 602-6550 6740 Avery Muirfield Dr., Suite B, Dublin, OH 43017

Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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Columbus Legal Guide construction law disputes Managing partner:

James M. Vonau

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote 10 W. Broad St., Suite 1950, Columbus 43215 614-258-6000 dmclaw.com Partners: 4 FTE attorneys: 11 Practice areas:

Medical malpractice; insurance defense; tort defense Managing partner:

Joseph J. Golian

Dickinson Wright PLLC Getty Images

180 E. Broad St., Suite 3400, Columbus 43215 614-744-2570

dickinsonwright. com Partners: 18 FTE attorneys: 35 Practice areas:

Corporate and private equity; real estate; cannabis Managing partners:

Scot Crow and J. Troy Terakedis

Dreher Tomkies LLP 41 S. High St., Columbus 43215 614-628-8000 dltlaw.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Consumer finance; business finance; banking Managing partner:

Darrell L. Dreher

Eastman & Smith Ltd. 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 280, Columbus 43215 614-564-1445 eastmansmith.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Environmental; labor and employment; white collar crime and investigations Managing partner:

Mark A. Shaw

Einstein & Gibson LLC

615 Copeland Mill Road, Suite 1H, Westerville 43081 614-734-0000 einsteinlawoffice. com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 4

FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE, FAMILY LAW AND OTHER LEGAL NEEDS josephandjoseph.com (614) 449-8282 155 W. Main Street Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43215

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ColumbusCEO ● Spring 2024

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Practice areas:

Family and employment law Managing partner:

Dianne Einstein

Fishel Downey Albrecht & Riepenhoff LLC

7775 Walton Parkway, Suite 200, New Albany 43054 614-221-1216 fisheldowney.com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 12 Practice areas:

Litigation; labor and employment; workers’ compensation Managing partner:

Daniel T. Downey

Fisher Phillips LLP

250 West St., Suite 400, Columbus 43215 614-221-1425 fisherphillips.com Partners: 6 FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Employment litigation; employee defections and trade secrets; workplace safety Regional managing partner: Steven M.

Loewengart

Flannery | Georgalis LLC

175 S. Third St., Suite 1060, Columbus 43220 380-444-6096 flannerygeorgalis. com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas:

Criminal defense; civil litigation; internal investigations Partner-in-charge:

Matthew Jalandoni

Friedman & Mirman Co. LPA

1320 Dublin Road, Suite 101, Columbus 43215 614-221-0090 friedmanmirman. com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 9 Practice areas:

Family law Managing partner:

Denise Mirman

The Friedmann Firm

3740 Ridge Mill Drive, Hilliard 43026 614-610-9755 tfflegal.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Employment law; employment litigation Managing partner:

Peter Friedmann

Gallagher, Gams, Tallan, Barnes & Littrell LLP

471 E. Broad St., 19th Floor, Columbus 43215 614-228-5151 ggtbl.com Partners: 8 FTE attorneys: 9 Practice areas: Civil defense; insurance defense; personal injury Managing partner:

Belinda S. Barnes and M. Jason Founds

Golden & Meizlish Co. LPA 923 E. Broad St., Columbus 43205 614-258-1983 golmeizlaw.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 2

The Law Offices of William L. Geary Co., LPA The Law Offices of William L. Geary is a Central Ohio law firm concentrating in family law matters. We are dedicated to the representation of those who are involved in divorce, dissolution, child custody, child support, spousal support, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial matters.

Attorney William Geary, the firm’s founder, has been practicing since 1979 with 45 years of litigation experience and is admitted to the Ohio State Bar, the Bar for the United States Federal Court for the Southern District of Ohio and also the Supreme Court of the United States.

Attorney Haley Holmberg began practicing in 2018 and focuses on domestic and juvenile law. She is admitted to practice in Ohio and is proud to serve as a Guardian ad Litem in both domestic and juvenile cases in Franklin and Delaware counties.

Attorney Stacey Gilbert was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 2001 and to the United States Federal Court for the Southern District of Ohio in 2002. During her career, she has worked as a Staff Attorney to two different judges. She began practicing family law in 2003 and now also serves as a Guardian ad litem in custody cases in Knox County. Attorney Gilbert was certified as an Ohio State Bar Association Family Law Specialist in 2012.

155 W Main St STE 101, Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 289-1227 https://www.columbusfamilylawyer.com/

Practice areas:

General practice; estate planning; Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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3/19/24 9:04 AM

Columbus Legal Guide Fisher Phillips is proud to have provided practical business solutions for workplace legal problems to Columbus employers for more than 10 years.

Steven Loewengart Regional Managing Partner Columbus sloewengart@fisherphillips.com fisherphillips.com

WOLINETZ | HORVATH | BROWN COLUMBUS / WESTERVILLE

transactional documentation Managing partner:

Keith E. Golden

Grossman Law Offices

32 W. Hoster St., Suite 100, Columbus 43215 614-221-7711 grossmanlaw offices.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 11 Practice areas:

Family law Managing partner:

Andrew S. Grossman

Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP

65 E. State St., Suite 2500, Columbus 43215 614-221-5909 hahnlaw.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Complex commercial litigation; corporate law; construction/ real estate law

GUIDING YOU TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 600, Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-328-9159 670 Meridian Way, Suite 259, Westerville, OH 43082

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Corporate transactions; litigation; real estate Managing partner:

Catherine Strauss

Isaac Wiles & Burkholder LLC

2 Miranova Place, Suite 700, Columbus 43215 614-221-2121 isaacwiles.com Partners: 16 FTE attorneys: 40 Practice areas:

Litigation; business; estate planning and probate Managing partner:

Brian Zets

Jeffrey M. Lewis Co. LPA

495 S. High St., Suite 400, Columbus 43215 614-384-2075 lawyerlewis.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 3

Managing partner:

Practice areas:

Stanley R. Gorom III

Litigation; business consultation; real estate

Hrabcak & Company LPA

L-R: Eric M. Brown*, Melinda K. Small**, Barry H. Wolinetz*, Heather B. Sobel**, Dennis E. Horvath*, Allison Zaleski** *Selected to Super Lawyers **Selected to Rising Stars

Partners: 36 FTE attorneys: 72 Practice areas:

Managing partner:

67 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 100, Worthington 43085 614-781-1400 hrabcaklaw.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas: Real estate; business; litigation/trial practice

Jeffrey M. Lewis

Managing partner:

Practice areas:

Michael Hrabcak

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

Ice Miller

250 West St., Columbus 43215 614-462-2700 icemiller.com

Jones Day

325 John H. McConnell Blvd., Suite 600, Columbus 43215 614-469-3939 jonesday.com Partners: 20 FTE attorneys: 55

Partner-in-charge:

Elizabeth Kessler

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155 W. Main St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215 614-449-8282 josephandjoseph. com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 3 Practice areas:

Domestic relations; real estate Managing partner:

Courtney Hanna

Community

Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter 65 E. State St., Suite 1800, Columbus 43215 614-462-5400 keglerbrown.com Partners: 42 FTE attorneys: 58 Practice areas:

8101 N. High St., Suite 370, Columbus 43235 614-882-3100 ohiocondolaw.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Columbus office chair: Jeffrey Kaman

Corporate; litigation; government affairs Managing director:

Chris Weber

Kemp, Schaeffer & Rowe Co. LPA

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Kaman & Cusimano LLC

association law; condominium law; homeowners’ association law

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Columbus Legal Guide ksrlegal.com Partners: 5

relations

FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Brian Kooperman

Family law; civil litigation; probate and estates Managing partner:

Julia L. Leveridge

KJK

NEWSLETTER You

tage pass to the Arc r backs h

10 W. Broad St., One Columbus Center, Suite 2500, Columbus 43215 614-427-5731 kjk.com Partners: 4 FTE attorneys: 6 Practice areas:

City

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Litigation and arbitration; estate, wealth and succession planning; corporate and securities Partner-in-charge, Columbus: Samir

Dahman

Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt 1801 Watermark Drive, Suite 350, Columbus 43215 614-884-1100 koffellaw.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 4

Kremblas & Foster

7632 Slate Ridge Blvd., Reynoldsburg 43068 614-575-2100 ohiopatent.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 2 Practice areas:

Patent, trademark and copyright law Managing partner:

Jason H. Foster

Law Office of Dmitriy Borshchak

1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 100, Columbus 43204 614-334-6851 dlbcounsel.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas:

Family law Managing partner:

Dmitriy Borshchak

Law Offices of William L. Geary Co. LPA

Brad Koffel

155 W. Main St., Suite 101, Columbus 43215 614-228-1968 columbusfamily lawyer.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 3

Kooperman Mentel Ferguson Yaross Ltd.

Family law; juvenile law; guardianship of children

Practice areas:

Criminal defense; criminal appeals; Title IX hearings Managing partner:

250 E. Town St., Suite 200, Columbus 43215 614-344-4800 kmfylaw.com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 13 Practice areas:

Business and finance; litigation; government

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Managing partner:

Practice areas:

Managing partner:

William L. Geary

Lawrence Law Office

57 E. Wilson Bridge Road, Columbus 43085 614-228-3664 ohio-family-law.com Partners: 2

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FTE attorneys: 6 Practice areas:

Divorce, dissolution and custody; estate planning; business formation

Columbus 43215 614-221-5212 ohioliquorlaw.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 2 Practice areas:

Linda Lawrence

Alcoholic beverage law

Littler

David A. Raber

Managing partner:

Managing partner:

41 S. High St., Suite 3250, Columbus 43215 614-463-4201 littler.com Partners: 11 FTE attorneys: 19

Luper Neidenthal & Logan 1160 Dublin Road, Suite 400, Columbus 43215 614-221-7663 lnlattorneys.com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 18

Managing partner:

Practice areas:

Lisa Kathumbi

Real estate; litigation; business

Lumpe, Raber & Evans 37 W. Broad St., Suite 1140,

Managing partners:

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Practice areas:

Employment and labor law

Christian Donovan and Matthew Anderson

Providing Central Ohio with Professional Legal Advice for more than 60 years

A.C. STRIP JOHN WM. HOPPERS PAUL W. LEITHART, II TIMOTHY J. MCGRATH MYRON N. TERLECKY NELSON E. GENSHAFT KENNETH R. GOLDBERG JOEL R. CAMPBELL AARON C. FIRSTENBERGER JOHN W. KENNEDY CHAD A. FOISSET GARY PAUL PRICE LONI R. SAMMONS

BANKRUPTCY & INSOLVENCY BUSINESS REPRESENTATION CIVIL LITIGATION PROBATE • REAL ESTATE ESTATE PLANNING • FAMILY LAW 575 South Third Street | Columbus, Ohio 43215 48 South High Street | Dublin, Ohio 43017

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Columbus Legal Guide

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6525 W. Campus Oval, Suite 210, New Albany 43054 614-939-9955 mslawgroup.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 11 Practice areas:

Consumer law; privacy and data security; marketing and advertising Managing partner:

Michele Shuster

Madison & Rosan LLP 39 E. Whittier St., Columbus 43206 614-228-5600 madisonrosan.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 4 Practice areas: Real

estate; business; litigation Managing partner:

Kristin E. Rosan

Malek & Malek Law Firm

1227 S. High St., Columbus 43206 614-444-7440 maleklawfirm.com Partners: 4 FTE attorneys: 6 Practice areas:

Personal injury; workers’ compensation; truck accidents Founding partner: Ed Malek

Marshall Forman and Schlein LLC 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 480, Columbus 43215

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Mac Murray & Shuster LLP

With more than 1,800 labor and employment attorneys around the world, Littler provides workplace With more than 1,800 labor and employment attorneys around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking With more that than prepares 1,800 laboremployers and employment innovation for what’s attorneys around Littler happening today, the andworld, what’s likely to happen provides workplace solutions that are local,

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Columbus Legal Guide 614-463-9790 marshallforman.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas: Civil rights; employment

Columbus 43215 614-716-0500 ondalabuhn.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 13

Managing partner:

Probate; estate; litigation President: Robert Onda

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The Nigh Law Group

300 S. Second St., Columbus 43215 614-379-6444 nighlawgroup.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Family law Managing partner:

Joseph Nigh

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Onda LaBuhn Ernsberger & Boggs Co. LPA 35 N. Fourth St., Suite 100,

Practice areas:

Peterson Conners LLP

545 Metro Place S., Suite 435, Dublin 43017 614-365-7000 petersonconners. com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Business law; litigation; criminal defense Managing partner:

N/A

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When a divorce or lawsuit arises, you need lawyers with knowledge of how your business or profession operates and the expertise to protect your most important assets and resources. The lawyers of The Behal Law Group LLC have successfully handled cases for some of Central Ohio’s top executives, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, professionals and business owners, allowing them to maintain their productivity and company strength. Whether your case involves business valuation, complex investments, premarital assets, alimony issues or complicated prenuptial agreements, our lawyers will treat your business like it’s our own.

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Petroff, Smitherman & Associates LLC 140 E. Town St., Suite 1070, Columbus 43215 614-222-4288 psalaws.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 5 Practice areas:

Family law; divorce; child custody Managing partner:

Ronald R. Petroff

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP 41 S. High St., Suites 2800-3200, Columbus 43215 614-227-2000 porterwright.com Partners: 57 FTE attorneys: 84 Practice areas:

Labor; corporate; litigation Managing partner:

Robert Tannous

Reminger Co. LPA 200 Civic Center Drive, Suite 800, Columbus 43215 614-228-1311 reminger.com Partners: 18 FTE attorneys: 7 Practice areas:

Workers’ compensation defense; medical malpractice defense; insurance defense Managing partner:

Ronald Fresco

Resch, Root, Philipps & Graham LLC

5115 Parkcenter Ave., Suite 275, Dublin 43017 614-760-1801 rrpg-law.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 4

Practice areas:

Special needs planning; estate planning; business planning Managing partners:

William K. Root, Logan K. Philipps and Derek L. Graham

Rich & Gillis Law Group LLC

5747 Perimeter Drive, Suite 150, Dublin 43017 614-228-5822 richgillislawgroup. com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 6 Practice areas: Real property taxation; administrative law; school law Managing partner:

Mark Gillis

Roetzel & Andress

41 S. High St., 21st Floor, Columbus 43215 614-463-9770 ralaw.com Partners: 13 FTE attorneys: 23 Practice areas:

Litigation; probate, estates, trusts; corporate/ transactional Shareholder-incharge: Erika L.

Haupt

Rohrbacher Trimble & Zimmerman Co. LPA

470 Olde Worthington Road, Suite 430, Westerville 43082 614-726-3080 rtz-law.com Partners: 1 FTE attorneys: 2 Practice areas: Civil litigation; insurance defense; Special

(614) 360-3103 PO Box 1438, Westerville, OH 43086 • www.tsibouris.com Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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Columbus Legal Guide Investigations Unit/ fraud investigation Managing partner:

Todd Zimmerman

Shumaker

41 S. High St., Suite 2400, Columbus 43215 614-463-9441 shumaker.com Partners: 5 FTE attorneys: 9 Practice areas:

Litigation; environmental; government affairs Managing partner:

Michael J. O’Callaghan

Sladoje & Simpkins Co. LPA 5131 Post Road, Suite 100, Dublin 43017 614-230-0670 5131law.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 2 Practice areas:

COMPLETE BUCKEYE COVERAGE

Business; real estate; estate planning Managing partner:

Douglas Sladoje

Standley Law Group LLP

6300 Riverside Drive, Dublin 43017 614-792-5555 standleyllp.com Partners: 6 FTE attorneys: 8 Practice areas:

Patents; trademarks; copyrights Managing partner:

Jeffrey S. Standley

Steptoe & Johnson PLLC

Trademarks of The Ohio State University used with permission.

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

Partners: 16 FTE attorneys: 20 Practice areas:

Litigation; labor and employment; corporate/mergers and acquisitions Office managing member: J. Kevin

West

Strip Hoppers Leithart McGrath & Terlecky

575 S. Third St., Columbus 43017 614-228-6345 columbuslawyer.net Partners: 8 FTE attorneys: 13 Practice areas:

Bankruptcy and insolvency; business representation; family law Managing partner:

Ken Goldberg

Teetor Westfall LLC

200 E. Campus View Blvd., Suite 200, Columbus 43235 614-412-4000 teetorwestfall.com Partners: 7 FTE attorneys: 9 Practice areas:

Litigation; business and commercial; general practice Managing partner:

Management committee

Thompson Hine LLP 41 S. High St., Suite 1700, Columbus 43215 614-469-3200 thompsonhine. com/locations/ columbus_ohio Partners: 18 FTE attorneys: 36 Practice areas:

Business litigation; corporate transactions

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614-464-6400 vorys.com Partners: 105

Partner-in-charge:

FTE attorneys: 177 Practice areas:

Michael V. Wible

and real estate default

Litigation; corporate; real estate

UB Greensfelder LLP

Managing partner:

65 E. State St., Suite 1100, Columbus 43215 614-229-0000 ubglaw.com Partners: 6 FTE attorneys: 14

Michael Martz

Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co. LPA

Managing partner:

5000 Bradenton Ave., Suite 100, Dublin 43017 614-801-2600 weltman.com Partners: 3 FTE attorneys: 4

Rex A. Littrell

Practice areas:

Practice areas:

Business litigation; intellectual property; product liability

52 E. Gay St., Columbus 43215

Weston Hurd LLP

Domestic relations

Office managing attorney: James

Practice areas:

101 E. Town St., Suite 500, Columbus 43215 614-280-0200 westonhurd.com Partners: 13 FTE attorneys: 16

Managing partner:

Barry Wolinetz

Wrightsel & Wrightsel

3300 Riverside Drive, Suite 100, Upper Arlington 43221 614-255-3388 wrightsellaw.com Partners: 2 FTE attorneys: 2

Practice areas:

Insurance; litigation/ trial practice; real property/ construction Partner-in-charge, Columbus office:

Commercial collections and litigation; consumer collections and litigation; bankruptcy, probate

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Kozelek

Columbus 43215 614-341-7775 wolinetzlaw.com Partners: 4 FTE attorneys: 6

Practice areas:

Steven G. Carlino

Estate planning; trust and estate administration; real estate

Wolinetz, Horvath & Brown LLC 250 Civic Center Drive, Suite 600,

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and securities; investment management

Managing partner:

Bradley B. Wrightsel

YEARS

CELEBRATING

OF EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL SERVICE IN COLUMBUS We stand upon a proud legacy as we help our clients meet the challenges and opportunities of the decades ahead.

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PAID ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

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New proton therapy center expands high tech cancer care at Ohio State

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR KEITH JONES NAMED EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR AT MULTIFAMILY INNOVATION SUMMIT Oakwood is thrilled to announce the recognition of our President and CEO, Keith Jones, as the Executive of the Year at the Multifamily Innovation Summit. This prestigious award honors leaders driving transformative change in the multifamily treatment. With the opening of this facility, it industry. is thrilling to get a glimpse into what is now possible in the realm of cancer treatment for

children, and we look forward to continuing Keith took the reins of Oakwood in early our work to improve the quality of life for all our patients.”

2022. His industry experience, integrity, and results-driven leadership have set a Proton new therapy is an advanced type of radiation The Ohio State University Comprehensive treatment that uses protons (positively charged standard for excellence, showcasingparticles) instead of X-rays to destroy cancer Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research cells. It minimizes the damage to surrounding Oakwood's to innovation andcells, a common side effect of Institute (OSUCCC commitment – James) and Nationwide healthy Children’s Hospital recently celebrated the traditional radiation like X-rays. The therapy resident-forward living. Under Keith’s opening of a $100 million, 55,000 square foot can be used alone or in combination with other proton therapy center, the first treatment therapies to treat brain cancer, lymphoma, leadership, Oakwood has grown significantly, facility in central Ohio offering this highly retinoblastomas and sarcomas in children, adding a record newforcommunities the localized cancers, including targeted form of radiation10 therapy andtoseveral treatment of complex tumors that cannot be prostate, brain, head and neck, lung, spine and portfolio an expected 10 more gastrointestinal removed throughwith surgery. in adults. communities opening in 2024.

The award “Proton therapy is the perfect example of Scientists will be able to conduct important personalized care inOakwood's cancer. You can target research on a high-dose proton therapy celebrates dedication to shaping the proton beam in a highly specific way known as FLASH that can target treatment that results in virtuallyfuture no damage to the to a pinpoint and deliver it in a tenth of a a sustainable in multifamily living. surrounding healthy tissues,” says Arnab second. Ohio State is one of just a handful of Chakravarti, MD, directorto of the proton institutions Congratulations Keith Jones on this well- in the world poised to conduct therapy center and chair of the Department of translational research in this form of proton Radiation Oncology at the OSUCCC James. therapy. deserved recognition.

As –Oakwood “This technology has the potential to literally Preclinical data suggests this proton therapy continues boundaries, improve the healthbreaking and well-being of millions we remain could reduce what would normally be 30 days of people across Ohio and beyond.”

of treatment to a single dose, delivered in less than a second. It is estimated that this form of proton therapy is still five to 10 years from approved use in patients, making the research investigating FLASH protons so important.

“If we can shorten that treatment course from what would have been six to eight weeks to a single day, care becomes far more accessible, especially for underserved populations,” Chakravarti says. “Bringing this important technology to central Ohio demonstrates our institution’s commitment to creating a cancerfree world.”

Proton therapy is considered a game-changer in pediatric cancer care, adds Cripe, who treats children with cancer at Nationwide Children’s.

The size and physiology of pediatric patients can make traditional radiation more difficult to administer without damaging surrounding tissues, which can lead to long-term side effects.

“Proton therapy is a promising cancer treatment for kids and critical for many of our patients,” he says. “Imagine a child’s cancer is eliminated with proton therapy, and they can go on to live 70 more healthy, normal years without most of the radiation-related long-term side effects of cancer treatment in childhood.”

The proton therapy center is staffed by a team of physicians, medical physicists, engineers, IT specialists, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning experts, radiation biologists and cancer biologists who are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.

It is equipped with the Varian ProBeam 360 treatment system. This is the first treatment center in the United States specifically built with a dual-capability system that can deliver both conventional proton therapy and research-level FLASH to both adults and children.

“The story of proton therapy is still being written, and we are writing it here in central Ohio,” said Chakravarti.

The center’s first proton therapy treatment was delivered to an adult woman with a skull-based chondrosarcoma in mid-December 2023.

steadfast in our commitment to excellence,

Located on Ohio State’s west campus at 2121 innovation, andtherapy quality of living Kenny Road, the proton center offers for ourTo learn more, visit cancer.osu.edu/protontherapy comprehensive radiation oncology treatment residents. options for both adult and pediatric patients For patient scheduling at the OSUCCC – James, call at a single location.

800-293-5066; for Nationwide Children’s, call 614-722-8860.

“This is a significant day, especially for our patients and their families,” says"I Timothy AM TRULY HONORED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S Cripe, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of AMarrow TESTAMENT TO THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND Hematology, Oncology and Bone Transplantation at Nationwide Children’s.

COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT OF THE ENTIRE OAKWOOD TEAM. TOGETHER, “Having this resource right here in Columbus makes vital treatment more accessible for REDEFINED INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND PRIORITIZED WE'VE those who need it and allows families to stay CREATING A RESIDENT-CENTRIC LIVING EXPERIENCE" - KEITH JONES here in Columbus throughout their entire

Scan the QR code

to read more stories about cancer research and care at the OSUCCC – James.

.

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MEETING PLANNING GUIDE - VENUES Learn about three captivating and unique corporate event spaces in Central Ohio that serve a variety of business needs.

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CANOPY BY HILTON COLUMBUS DOWNTOWN

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elcome to Canopy by Hilton Columbus Downtown Short North, where comfort and convenience combine to create an unforgettable experience. Our location on Nationwide Blvd, opposite the Greater Columbus Convention Center, places you at the heart of all the action. Whether you're catching a Columbus Blue Jackets game or a live concert at Nationwide Arena, exploring the vibrant Short North Arts District or seeing the MLS Cup Champions, the Columbus Crew at Lower.com, you’ll be just a stone’s throw away.

Are you ready to elevate your event to the next level and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime? Our team specializes in crafting personalized experiences that are as unique as your occasion. Whether you’re looking for an upscale rooftop dining affair or a lively private event on one of our patios, we offer a diverse range of options that will exceed your expectations.

At Canopy, we've got you covered.

Our Just-Right Rooms have a positively local vibe with Uptown-inspired artwork and residential comforts like free Wi-Fi, a 55-inch TV, built-in refrigerator drawer, Nespresso Coffee and beds designed exclusively for Canopy.

Choose a suite for a separate living area, large enough for entertaining or a small meeting. Every floor has a filtered spring water station so you can refresh and feel great going forward.

Start the day with breakfast in Central Market House and take in Downtown Columbus while chilling out on our outdoor patio with a fireplace on Nationwide Blvd. Work out in the rooftop state-of-the-art fitness center, offering the latest in equipment complemented by wonderful city views.

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77 E Nationwide Blvd, Columbus 614-223-1400

Located on the 12th floor of Canopy, Goodale Station showcases stunning views of Downtown Columbus.

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating areas, a cozy private dining space, and a menu filled with delicious food and handcrafted cocktails. We understand that the ambiance and atmosphere of a restaurant are just as important as the meal itself, so we have designed a space that exudes sophistication, warmth and charm.

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or are just looking for a night out with friends and family, the impeccable service, delectable cuisine and breathtaking views at Goodale Station will leave you impressed.

With endless possibilities at your fingertips, our team will work with you to create a truly unique and unforgettable event that exceeds your wildest

dreams. Our award-winning Food and Beverage program offers the perfect blend of flavor and creativity, with customized packages tailored to your every preference. From start to finish, you can trust us to deliver exceptional hospitality and one-of-a-kind experiences that will leave your guests raving. Don't settle for an ordinary event when you can choose Canopy and make it extraordinary!

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77 E Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215 jennifer.grytza2@hilton.com CEO_40915_03_29_2024_B_069_342652 (1).indd 1

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VITRIA ON THE SQUARE

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itria on the square is Columbus’ newest sophisticated event venue to host your upcoming celebration. Vitria is located at the storied intersection of 15th & High within steps of the iconic Ohio State University Oval as well as Mirror Lake. The venue is proud to feature elevated dining with a beverage-forward approach that will leave your guests impressed and stand out from their typical event experience.

The culinary team prides themselves on curating menus specific to the event they are hosting and suggests special touches to enhance the experience for all attendees. The beverage team enjoys customizing cocktails with fresh-pressed juices and signature garnishes unique to an event that adds a custom touch.

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

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

14 E. 15th Ave., Columbus 614-540-3436 vitriaonthesquare.com

its own private balcony also looking out to University Square. The space can accommodate 100 guests seated in round tables or 150 guests seated in theater style seating. This space can split into two separate sections that could both accommodate 50 guests seated in round tables. The Terrace Ballroom also features two built-in monitors that guests can utilize as they would like.

The Terrace Ballroom is just on the opposite side of the Gallery and is surrounded by windows and features

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Columbus’ New Premier Event Space VITRIAONTHESQUARE.COM

LOCATED WITHIN STEPS OF THE ICONIC OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY OVAL & MIRROR LAKE

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WHITE WILLOW MEADOWS

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n the bustling heart of Ohio, a mere stone's throw from the vibrant city of Columbus, lies White Willow Meadows, a venue that seamlessly marries the charm of nature with the sophistication required for high-impact corporate events and retreats.

A Sanctuary for Strategic Thought Nestled amidst lush oak trees and enveloped by the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle, White Willow Meadows offers an escape from the office's confines, presenting an idyllic setting where creativity and strategic thinking flourish. The serene ambiance is not just a backdrop, but a participant in fostering open communication and innovative thought among teams.

Facilities Tailored for Corporate Excellence The venue's flagship, The Main Barn, accommodates up to 350 guests, making it an ideal locale for conferences, seminars and grand corporate galas.

Equipped with a built-in AV system, luxury suites and a large catering prep kitchen, it ensures every event is executed with precision and grace. The Dairy Barn and Willow—A Floral Design Co., complement these offerings, providing versatile spaces for workshops, team-building exercises and breakout sessions, further underscoring the venue's commitment to facilitating multifaceted corporate events.

Packages that Promise Perfection White Willow Meadows goes beyond standard event hosting with its all-encompassing packages that promise a turnkey solution for event planners.

From seating arrangements and decor to advanced technological needs and catering flexibility, the venue guarantees a bespoke experience. The inclusion of luxury bridal suites repurposed for executive use speaks volumes of the venue's adaptability, ensuring privacy and comfort for high-profile attendees.

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10260 Ballah Rd Orient, OH 43146 513-507-0005

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ColumbusCEO ● Spring 2024

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Health Watch

Lin Du is a researcher with the NeuroTech Institute, a partnership between Ohio State University and Battelle.

Advancing Brain Science A partnership between Ohio State University and Battelle aims to monetize neurological research to benefit patients.

Photo courtesy NeuroTech Institute (2)

BY KATHY LYNN GRAY

N

eurosurgeon Tim Lucas was frustrated. He was sure technology could improve his patients’ quality of life, especially those whose paralysis prevented them from performing the simplest of hygienic tasks. But advances were painfully slow, stalled by a lack of funding and money-making potential, as well as a culture of scientific competitiveness that often kept collaborators at arm’s length.

“Our patients were being left behind,” says Lucas, whose passion for his work comes in part from a younger sister whose massive brain tumor left her with multiple mobility and sensory challenges two decades ago.

Now, Lucas is leading the charge to speed up technological advances for patients as founder and CEO of the NeuroTech Institute, a partnership between Ohio State University and Battelle that launched in October 2022. The nonprofit, housed on the OSU campus, is a biotechnology accelerator where scientists, clinicians and engineers develop inventions to improve patients’ lives and then spin off for-profit businesses to manufacture the inventions.

“Here, we have patients as our core,” Lucas says.

That core includes a team of patient ambassadors across the country who live with neurological disorders. They help the institute’s

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staff understand patients’ physical limitations so researchers can try to fashion solutions.

Research is focused in three areas: “cyber physical,” which includes spinal cord disorders and neuropathy; “cell modulation,” which includes Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases; and what Lucas calls “the network of the mind,” which includes autism, epilepsy and depression.

Lucas, who came to Columbus from the University of Pennsylvania, hopes to have 60 full-time institute employees within five years; so far, four have been hired and six more may be added by the end of 2024.

In addition, faculty from OSU and staff at Battelle also collaborate at NeuroTech.

One full-time hire is Lin Du, a principal investigator and electrical systems engineer working on an implantable tactile system to restore mobility for those with paralysis. As part of the system, sensors would be implanted in a patient’s fingertips or the palm of a hand to allow a patient

to grasp an object through signals wirelessly transmitted to a watch and then the brain. “The institute gives me a unique opportunity to collaborate with physicians and patients, which is critical for this technology,” Du says. “We have a very ambitious goal, and we need experts in a lot of different backgrounds to accomplish it.”

Du joined the institute in October and has a joint appointment with Ohio State as an assistant professor in the colleges of medicine and engineering. The next step for the implantable tactile system is Food and Drug Administration approval for clinical trials in humans.

Another project under the institute’s wing is enhancements to the NeuroLife Sleeve, developed at Battelle. The sleeve, worn on the forearm of a person with paralysis, may restore some hand movement but requires complex surgery.

Researchers are reconfiguring the sleeve with a goal of stimulating a paralyzed limb without surgery.

ColumbusCEO ● Spring 2024

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Five to 10 spinoffs a year is our goal. Most of them will fail, but even if two or three survive, that supports our whole mission.”

Tim Lucas, NeuroTech Institute founder and CEO

David Friedenberg, Battelle data scientist and principal investigator, says trials for the reconfigured sleeve are ongoing through NeuroTech and Battelle. “NeuroTech provides an avenue to take the intellectual property we’ve developed and have it accelerated,” Friedenberg says. “We are expecting to commercialize it, and this collaboration brings together all the pieces we need.”

The institute is funded by Ohio State and Battelle, as well as investors, grants and donations. Lucas hopes that eventually the institute will receive support from the companies it spins off.

“Five to 10 spinoffs a year is our goal,” Lucas says. “Most of them will fail, but even if two or three survive, that supports our whole mission. And they’ll hopefully get gobbled up by bigger companies.”

The model for the institute is the 20-year-old Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a nonprofit research organization in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that focuses on genomic science.

Meet with us.

Multidisciplinary staff from the Broad Institute collaborate on technology that improves people’s health, and those discoveries are spun off into private entities. “I wanted to do that in the neuro space,” Lucas says, “to have an open, flat organization where we work team-science together.”

Lucas says the collaborative spirit is the “secret sauce” of the Broad Institute that he wanted to copy. “The Broad says everyone is equal,” he says. “So, I put together a business plan for NeuroTech to do that, to put us in an open fishbowl where we all sink or swim together.”

The institute also is nimble, allowing deals to be made quickly to advance science and ultimately help patients. “One, I hope we can develop a sense of urgency, and two, we want to inspire people, to get people behind us,” Lucas says. “The point is these patients need technologies now.”

Kathy Lynn Gray is a freelance writer.

This story also appears in the April issue of Columbus Monthly.

The Conference Center at OCLC offers easy access to first-rate meeting accommodations in a secluded, private setting on the OCLC campus.

• More than 20,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space

• Comprehensive in-house catering

• Convenient Central Ohio location off I-270 near historic downtown Dublin

• Exceptional audio-visual services

(614) 761-5077 www.conference-center.oclc.org

Spring 2024 ● ColumbusCEO

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3/19/24 8:48 AM

BY JULANNE HOHBACH

Photo courtesy Columbus Regional Airport Authority

Breakdown

John Glenn Columbus International Airport

Airport Passenger Traffic Takes Off Air travel in Columbus continues to rebound after the pandemic, posting the second-highest year on record in 2023, with a gain of more than 924,000 passengers.

According to year-end numbers from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport and the Rickenbacker Passenger Terminal saw a combined 8,672,440 travelers in 2023.

That’s up 12 percent—924,409 passengers—from 2022.

Columbus’ highest passenger travel totals came in 2019, when 8,945,888 travelers flew through both airports.

Worth noting: Thanks to new service, the region had 53 nonstop destinations at the end of 2023—the most ever, according to CRAA.

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By the Numbers

11

8,672,440

23%

renovated retail and food-and-beverage locations

passengers flying through John Glenn Columbus International Airport and the Rickenbacker Passenger Terminal in 2023

increase in charging outlets available for CMH passengers

7,748,031

2

7,800+

passengers flying through both airports in 2022

CRAA employees certified as drone pilots to inspect airfield conditions

live animals exported from Rickenbacker’s U.S. Department of Agriculture certified inspection facility—a site record

Source: Columbus Regional Airport Authority

ColumbusCEO l Spring 2024

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7th Annual Columbus Chamber Foundation Golf & Tennis Invitational Presented by

Monday, June 17, 2024 The Medallion Club 5000 Club Drive, Westerville, OH 43082 The Columbus Chamber of Commerce Foundation has a mission to remove barriers to prosperity and growth in the Columbus Region business community through ancillary funds, programming, and scholarships and certifications. The themes of our work are Bookend Talent Pipeline Support and Economic Inclusion. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)3.

Presenting Partners

with media support from:

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WORK-FROM-ANYWHERE STARTS HERE With more than 120 daily departures to 50+ nonstop destinations, let’s redefine what it looks like to work remotely during an Ohio winter.

With ezPark and valet parking options, you can get from your car to the gate smoothly — and get back online without missing a deadline. That’s just one more reason why we are the start of it all.

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