2026 Columbus Smart 50: Celebrating leadership and impact in Central Ohio

Strong organizations aren’t defined by market conditions; they’re defined by how they respond to them. The leaders recognized in this year’s Smart 50 exemplify that principle. They have demonstrated vision, resilience and the ability to create meaningful impact for their employees, clients and communities.

On behalf of Hylant, I am honored to congratulate this year’s Smart 50 honorees. Your accomplishments reflect more than business success; they represent a commitment to innovation, responsible growth and stewardship. In an environment where change is constant, you have found ways to adapt, inspire and move your organizations forward.

What continues to make Smart 50 special is the caliber of leadership it celebrates. Behind every successful company is a leader willing to challenge convention, embrace opportunity and invest in people. The individuals recognized here share a common purpose: creating value that extends beyond their organizations and positively influences the communities where they live and work.

Having recently celebrated 90 years of serving clients, Hylant understands that enduring success is built on trust, expertise and meaningful relationships. We are proud to support organizations that are driving innovation, creating lasting impact and helping shape a stronger future for business and the communities they serve.

Congratulations to the 2026 Smart 50 honorees. Your leadership is helping define what success looks like today while creating a stronger future for tomorrow. ●

 

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Smart 50 honorees

(Honorees listed in alphabetical order by last name)

 

Jody Achatz began her career at Kenneth’s Salons + Spas in an entry-level role. Over more than three decades, she has advanced through the organization, gaining an understanding of every level, position and challenge within the company. That perspective has shaped how Achatz leads internally and how she has built respected relationships within the organization and across the industry.
Kenneth’s reputation for education and innovation has opened doors to meaningful partnerships with industry leaders, manufacturers and influencers. Through these relationships, Achatz has helped expand opportunities, strengthen the company’s network and position it for continued success. She leads by balancing data-driven decision-making with a genuine, people-first approach, bringing a level of awareness and connection that allows her to serve as both the glue of the organization and a model for growth.

 

 

Nicholas Adams is a transformational executive who has built his career around modernizing businesses, scaling organizations and creating sustainable long-term growth. Adams is recognized for his ability to identify market shifts early, align organizations around clear strategic priorities and execute meaningful change that delivers measurable results.
As President of Cardio Partners, Adams is leading the company’s transformation from a traditional AED distributor to a technology-enabled solutions provider focused on compliance management and long-term customer readiness. Cardio Partners is moving beyond transactional product sales toward a proactive service model, with a subscription-based offering designed to help organizations improve emergency preparedness and maintain rescue readiness.
Adams’ leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that “smart” organizations are those that continuously evolve, embrace innovation and create alignment across teams.

 

 

Wallick CEO Amy Albery continues to protect and preserve the company’s unique culture, tied to its mission and core values of care, character and collaboration. She reinforces a people-first ownership culture through her Ownership Appreciation Tour. Each month, she visits affordable housing communities, senior living communities and construction sites across the Midwest to recognize associates, hear challenges directly and stay connected to residents and frontline teams. She has rebranded the company’s annual learning event as the “Wallick Owners Meeting” and delivers quarterly business updates that give associates direct visibility into company goals and performance. Strategically, Albery has guided Wallick toward disciplined growth by expanding into markets where the company can meet clear housing needs and execute effectively. In 2024, Wallick opened communities in North Carolina and Michigan.

 

 

Formed in 1979 by President Jeffrey Asman, The Painting Company began with just one truck, a handful of brushes and the desire to provide general commercial contractors with a painting contractor they could depend on for reliable, timely delivery of a wide variety of exterior and interior painting and floor finishes. The company was incorporated in 1987, and Asman’s brothers, David and Terry, joined him in managing the company’s growing operations.
The Painting Company has built its business over the years through an impressive client list that values the company’s track record of completing routine and complex projects on time and under budget. Today, the company’s teams of painting professionals travel across the United States to help clients tackle the most challenging painting and coating projects.

 

 

The S-E-A Columbus office specializes in forensic engineering, fire investigation and visualization services, with a focus on failure analysis. CEO and President Jason Baker intentionally aligns people, innovation and long term value — demonstrating that disciplined growth and purpose-driven leadership can scale together.
With nearly three decades of experience across multiple roles, Baker brings a deep understanding of the forensic engineering, insurance and legal industries, which has guided S-E-A’s national and international expansion. His strategic decisions consistently prioritize long-term excellence over short-term gains, including protecting S-E-A’s industry-leading training programs even amid pricing pressure. This commitment ensures the firm continues to deliver high-quality work while developing the next generation of experts. Baker also fosters innovation by creating space for experimentation while remaining disciplined about the company’s mission.

 

 

Bhakti Bania is the CEO and co-founder of BBCO, an award-winning architecture and design firm based in Columbus. Since founding the firm in 2009, Bania has led BBCO’s growth into a respected regional practice serving public and private sectors.
Bania has built BBCO into one of Central Ohio’s smartest and most impactful architecture and design firms by leading with creativity, strategic thinking and a people-first approach. She has guided the company’s growth from a small startup into an award-winning firm recognized for innovative public-sector, educational, civic and community-focused design. Bania has also created a collaborative and highly adaptive organization that prioritizes design excellence and operational efficiency, enabling BBCO to serve clients ranging from municipalities and school districts to federal agencies and nonprofit organizations throughout Ohio.

 

 

Nevin Bansal is president and CEO of Outreach Promos, and the founder and executive director of Small Biz Cares, a nonprofit that engages small businesses in philanthropy and community impact. Bansal has reinvented and grown his company to meet modern needs for branded merch and online store solutions, uniquely leveraging resources, creativity and energy to inspire his team and other small business leaders to make a meaningful, lasting impact in the community.
Bansal has leveraged his experience running a small business, serving on a chamber board, and his marketing and strategy expertise to create a one-of-a-kind organization. He has received numerous awards for community impact, including the BBB’s 2020 Torch Award for Ethics, the 2019 Community Engagement Award and the 2020 Reinvention Award from the Conway Center for Family Business.

 

 

Ohio ENT & Allergy Physicians (OENTA) is a nationally recognized, physician-led specialty practice committed to delivering exceptional, compassionate care for adult and pediatric patients throughout Central Ohio. For more than 60 years, OENTA has served generations of families with comprehensive care in ENT, allergy, oral pathology, neuro-ophthalmology, audiology and surgery.
Led by CEO Holly Bezold, OENTA treats thousands of patients each year while maintaining a personalized, community-centered approach. OENTA physicians improve patients’ health and quality of life by diagnosing and treating hearing loss; chronic sinus disease; allergies; sleep disorders; eye and orbital disease, oral abnormalities such as lesions, tumors and infections; and other complex ENT-related illnesses. With more than 40,000 five-star patient reviews, the organization has earned a reputation for clinical excellence, patient trust and outstanding outcomes.

 

 

Design Outreach is a Christian humanitarian engineering nonprofit co-founded in 2010 by Greg Bixler and Abe Wright.

Headquartered in Gahanna, the organization utilizes a global network of volunteer and staff engineers to design and scale life-sustaining technologies. Its primary mission is to alleviate physical, economic and spiritual suffering in vulnerable, low-income communities.
The Design Outreach LifePump disrupts the cycle of extreme poverty by removing the severe vulnerabilities caused by water insecurity. By reaching deep, reliable aquifers, it provides extensive physical and economic impact to impoverished communities. LifePump taps deep aquifers that stay clean and protected from pathogens. Access to reliable, flowing water dramatically lowers cases of cholera and dysentery, stabilizing community public health.

 

 

Robert Bobel is the founder and CEO of Cayosoft, an enterprise software company specializing in hybrid Microsoft Active Directory (AD) and Entra ID security, administration and disaster recovery. Under his leadership, the firm has introduced notable innovations to overcome the limitations of legacy IT administration tools.
Bobel’s vision focuses on bridging the gap between legacy on-premises infrastructure and cloud environments. Last year, Cayosoft secured a significant multi-year contract with the IRS to modernize its hybrid identity stack and meet strict federal recovery thresholds. In late 2025, the company launched Guardian Protector, the industry’s first free, always-on threat detection utility for AD. In Q2 2026, the company rolled out its comprehensive Guardian SaaS platform. Bobel also regularly contributes technical insights to the Forbes Technology Council on cybersecurity topics.

 

 

Gretchen Bonasera, founder of 80 East Bourbon & Cocktail Club, exemplifies smart leadership through her innovative approach to hospitality, strategic business development and community engagement. By transforming a historic 1904 home into a luxurious, members-only cocktail club, she has created a unique, high-end experience for discerning clientele.
80 East is a hub for community engagement and collaboration. By offering a curated, members-only environment, it redefines social drinking spaces. The club features a rotating selection of unique and rare libations, encouraging members to explore new tastes and connect with clients and business associates in an ‘out-of-office’ setting. Since opening its flagship location, 80 East has also helped raise over $40,000 for local charities. The opening of Plain City’s 114 West demonstrates Bonasera’s ability to replicate and adapt her successful model.

 

 

Breck’s Paving has been family-owned since 1957, but its most recent chapter began in January 2023, when Michael Bryant acquired the company. Bryant’s connection to the business goes back much further — he started as a teenage laborer, learning the trade from the ground up. That perspective has shaped how he now leads the company.
Since taking over as CEO, Bryant has continued to grow Breck’s Paving in a highly competitive, seasonal field like asphalt paving. That growth reflects not only strong demand but also clear direction, disciplined execution and the ability to build a team that can keep pace with rapid expansion. A large part of that success stems from the culture Bryant has built. He has focused on making Breck’s a place where people want to stay.

 

 

 

RxBridge CEO Ron Carter has driven innovation by building an “intelligent” Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) tailored to challenge traditional “big-box” corporate models. Carter’s strategy addresses long-standing inefficiencies in workers’ compensation pharmacy management through proprietary, customizable technology.
RxBridge uses an agile, proprietary tech stack designed to instantly deploy automated pricing transparency and tailored logic-tree workflows for individual client accounts. The platform optimizes medication utilization and manages complex prescription drug supply chains. Carter implemented a flexible framework that balances advanced, tech-automated logic with a personalized, clinical human touch.
Over the past year, RxBridge has focused on expanding its specialized sports insurance partnerships, navigating regional regulatory requirements and updating its mobile ecosystem.

 

 

Sheri Chaney Jones’ visionary approach helps purpose-driven organizations collect and use the right data to drive action, improve outcomes and change lives. As founder and president of Measurement Resources Company (MRC), Chaney Jones leads a team that empowers nonprofits and government agencies to become more data-driven, enabling them to achieve meaningful outcomes and demonstrate their value to funders and stakeholders.
What sets Chaney Jones apart is her ability to integrate performance measurement with organizational change strategies, ensuring that data is collected and used to drive strategic decisions. Under her leadership, MRC operates with clarity, efficiency and purpose. She has cultivated a culture of innovation and accountability. MRC’s unique model for identifying the right measures for an organization to track has helped more than 300 nonprofit and government agencies improve outcomes.

 

 

Peter Coratola is founder and CEO of EASE Logistics, a multi-operational supply chain and transportation solutions provider. The impact of Coratola’s leadership is measurable across every dimension of the business, including operational performance, client outcomes, employee commitment and industry recognition.
The company’s proprietary AI platform, AMMI, automates supply chain tasks and provides a dashboard that connects real-time data on shipments, alerts and performance trends, helping bypass manual reporting and deliver at scale. Quote-to-confirmation time has dropped from six minutes to under 45 seconds. Suppliers trending toward disruption are identified and addressed before they become a client problem. Every shipment, across every customer, is tracked and monitored in real time. The result is a level of execution consistency that compounds over time.

 

 

Mark D’Aloisio serves as CEO of Orthopedic ONE, Ohio’s largest physician-owned orthopedic practice. He brings a distinctive dual perspective to his executive management style, blending hands-on clinical care with a decade of high-level health care operations management.
Under D’Aloisio’s leadership, Orthopedic ONE has driven innovation through strategic facility modernization, expansion of its physical footprint and improved patient access. Rather than relying solely on digital tools, the practice has focused on modernizing how and where patients receive musculoskeletal care. Orthopedic ONE purchased an 18,000-square-foot facility on North High Street to create its largest standalone physical therapy center, targeting rising demand for sport-specific prevention, performance and rehabilitation. These innovations have driven measurable operational growth, enhanced clinical capacity and elevated Orthopedic ONE’s market leadership.

 

 

As CEO and co-founder of COhatch, Matt Davis has reshaped how people work, connect and invest in their communities — creating outsized impact across Central Ohio and beyond. Under Davis’ leadership, COhatch has grown from a local coworking company into a nationally recognized lifestyle brand that blends work and event spaces with human connection and community development, revitalizing neighborhoods and fueling local economies.
Davis embraces adaptability and flexibility to meet the evolving needs of modern workforces, entrepreneurs and communities, creating exceptional spaces. He fosters collaboration and connection, empowers the next generation of leaders, and invests in systems that help individuals lead fuller, healthier and more balanced lives. Through this approach, Davis remains true to COhatch’s mission to create thriving ecosystems in suburban communities that members love.

 

 

At 48 — an age when most executives are settling into corporate seniority — Patrick Dial walked away from more than 25 years in sales and marketing technology to bet on a contrarian thesis: that the smartest entrepreneurial path in America today is not to be the one to found the next tech startup, but instead to buy, modernize and professionalize the legacy small businesses that have been left behind by the “Silver Tsunami” of baby boomers reaching retirement age.
From his home in Powell, Dial founded Midwest Investments and, within 18 months, acquired three Central Ohio operating companies that touch nearly every homeowner, contractor and developer in the region: Bruck Construction, 1st Impressions Landscape and Garden Center, and Painter1 of Columbus. Dial is proving that the next generation of regional business value in Central Ohio is being created by acquiring and modernizing overlooked legacy companies.

 

 

Timothy Farber leads Farber Corporation with a rare combination of entrepreneurial vision, operational excellence and strategic thinking. As president of the family-founded company established in 1969, Farber has successfully evolved Farber Corporation into one of Central Ohio’s largest and most respected full-service mechanical contracting and HVACR companies while maintaining the integrity, culture and people-first values that built the business.
Farber did not simply inherit the company — he purchased Farber Corporation from his father at fair market value, demonstrating his commitment to its future. Farber Corporation has grown substantially. The company expanded into HVACR services in 2006 and, in 2012, further evolved by offering direct integrations and services for digital temperature control systems. The company has also doubled its staff, significantly increased revenue and continued to expand its geographic reach.

 

 

John Farhat is a serial technology innovator, community leader and first-generation builder of resilient, forward-looking enterprises. As the head of a family office that oversees a diversified portfolio of technology businesses, Farhat exemplifies innovation, sustained impact and organizational sustainability.
As president and CEO, Farhat leads Farhat Family of Businesses, a family owned holding company overseeing multiple technology ventures spanning managed services, communications infrastructure, cybersecurity risk mitigation, fintech and artificial intelligence governance. Three of his four children are actively involved in the businesses, reflecting Farhat’s commitment to intentional succession planning, governance and multigenerational sustainability — a hallmark of enduring family enterprises.

 

 

 

As the founder and CEO of Buckeye Innovation, Brad Griffith has built more than a successful software and web development company; he has cultivated a mission-driven organization rooted in entrepreneurship, innovation and community impact. Based in New Albany, Buckeye Innovation is a leading example of how technology can serve both business goals and the broader social good.
Griffith’s leadership combines bold experimentation with deep integrity, making Buckeye Innovation a trusted partner for clients ranging from local governments and nonprofits to entrepreneurs and startups. Buckeye Innovation has a fully remote team, an innovative four-day workweek policy and a client-focused approach grounded in transparency and empowerment. Griffith is a community-centered technologist, a mentor to emerging entrepreneurs and a role model for values-driven leadership.

 

 

John Havens is president, a general partner and one of the core founding family members of The Waterworks, a prominent commercial and residential plumbing, drain cleaning and HVAC company based in Columbus. The business traces its roots to 1935. In the late 1980s, the Havens family (initially led by Tom Havens) purchased Electra-Bore Industrial Inc. and officially renamed it The Waterworks.
The Waterworks distinguishes itself from traditional HVAC providers by operating as Ohio’s largest fully integrated plumbing, drain and HVAC company. Unlike boutique heating and cooling contractors, it leverages a massive municipal-grade infrastructure to service residential, commercial and industrial clients simultaneously.
With a fleet exceeding 80 vehicles, the company uses advanced regional routing software to track technician locations, skill sets and truck inventories.

 

 

Under the leadership of Managing Partner Jane Higgins Marx, Carlile Patchen & Murphy has continued to build on more than 55 years of service to families, individuals, financial institutions and nonprofit organizations across Central Ohio.
Higgins Marx has helped guide the firm through a period of rapid change in the legal industry, including shifts in client expectations, technology, talent recruitment and succession planning. CPM has taken a thoughtful, strategic approach to strengthening the firm for the future.
Higgins Marx leads with collaboration and a long-term vision. She understands that a law firm’s success depends not only on the quality of its legal work, but also on the strength of its people, the trust of its clients, the efficiency of its systems and the depth of its community relationships.

 

 

Joe Huber built a real estate engine from a Vespa and a cold-call list. What began as a one-man operation fueled by grit and intuition has grown into a nationally recognized model for a scalable, sustainable business. Huber’s entrepreneurial journey began at a Columbus garage sale, where he negotiated his first property deal. Without funding or formal training, he hit the streets on a battered scooter, knocking on doors, flipping homes and managing rentals.
By age 30, Huber had flipped more than 50 properties, bootstrapped with capital from friends and family. As founder and CEO of Huber Equity Group and founder of Verti Commercial Real Estate, he operates on the belief that smart business is simple: build systems that scale, teams that grow and value that lasts.

 

 

 

 

Highlights for Children was founded in 1946 by Dr. Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers, leaders in child development. Their magazine was built on the belief that children are the world’s most important people, and that belief has guided the Myers family’s mission through every generation.
CEO Kent Johnson, the great-grandson of the founders, leads Highlights today. A passionate advocate for children, Johnson brings the same core conviction that his great-grandparents brought to the first magazine. That belief shapes how Highlights thinks about its future. The brand has always been for children and always will be. Today, the brand is for everyone who cares about children, too. Highlights believes that when the adults around children feel seen, supported and successful in their role, everyone benefits.

 

 

 

Dustin Keith, CEO of Hi-Way Paving, is an exceptional leader who has grown alongside the business, enabling the company to make a meaningful and measurable impact on its people, customers and the communities it serves.
During his tenure, Keith has led Hi-Way through increasingly complex, high-stakes projects, including the construction of two runways at major international airports in the Southeast, while maintaining operational discipline, strengthening the team and delivering consistent financial performance. Construction often carries a stigma: slow to adopt technology, reliant on legacy practices and resistant to modern leadership approaches. Keith’s leadership has challenged and redefined those assumptions. He has guided Hi-Way into an organization that consistently increases earnings while maintaining operational capacity and leadership depth.

 

 

 

Owner and CEO Kaci King guides West Ohio Tool Co. with clarity, discipline and a forward looking mindset that balances innovation with operational excellence. She has helped transform the company into a modern, data-informed manufacturing organization while preserving the craftsmanship, accountability and people-centric values that define its success.
King has been instrumental in cultivating a culture where innovation is practical, employee driven and directly tied to business outcomes. She encourages cross functional collaboration to identify inefficiencies, improve tooling designs and develop solutions that reduce lead times and increase reliability. Under her guidance, West Ohio Tool has embraced advanced manufacturing and operational technologies — including automation, CNC optimization, digital reporting, standardized workflows and multimodal training systems.

 

 

President and CEO Megan Koester leads A Kid Again with a rare combination of strategic vision, operational discipline and mission-driven innovation. Under her leadership, the organization has evolved from a beloved nonprofit into a scalable, data-informed, growth-oriented organization focused on long-term sustainability and measurable family impact. What makes Koester’s leadership especially “smart” is her ability to balance heart and strategy.
A Kid Again’s mission centers on creating ongoing outings called Adventures for families raising children with life-threatening conditions. Koester has implemented systems and strategies to ensure these experiences are delivered intentionally. She has led the organization through a comprehensive strategic planning process focused on growth, organizational excellence and long-term sustainability.

 

 

Founded in 1997 by Marc and Andrea Konkus, Konkus Marble & Granite Inc. (KMG) has steadily grown into one of the largest commercial and residential fabricators and installers of stone countertops and finishes in Central Ohio. In 2017, the company acquired a 99,000-square-foot warehouse and converted it into a state-of-the-art fabrication, showroom and warehouse facility. Customers and designers are welcome to tour the warehouse to browse remnants for smaller projects and to view the impressive fabrication process, which uses precision CNC laser cutting and finishing machines.
The company has achieved impressive growth and success through its commitment to delivering superior materials and installation services at fair prices. It has an outstanding reputation for timely delivery and installation, and was named a People’s Choice winner by the Columbus Dispatch in 2025.

 

 

 

Happy Chicken Farms was founded in 1953 by Lee and Marjorie Lackey, who processed and sold eggs from the family garage in Grandview Heights. In 2023, the company celebrated its 70th anniversary, marking a period of rapid growth. From 2022 to 2024, Happy Chicken Farms achieved record sales and hiring. This year, the company will break ground on a significant expansion.
CEO Bruce Lackey understands the need to stay ahead of the competition by leveraging vendor networks to introduce new product lines, which energizes the sales team and drivers. As a smaller company, Happy Chicken Farms responds almost immediately to shifts in customer or market trends. With over 1,400 products, Lackey continues his family’s commitment to grow a financially sustainable and operationally manageable company without outside capital or investments.

 

 

Josh Lau has guided Nymbl Systems from a non-coded startup concept to a national health care IT platform. As CEO, his impact centers on product architecture, venture capital and market expansion. Lau designed the initial user interface and workflow. He prioritized a single cloud solution to replace legacy systems that forced clinics to buy software from separate vendors. He also shifted software development from offshore/onshore agencies to an in-house engineering team, stabilizing the platform, and recruited elite SaaS leadership.
Lau transitioned Nymbl from a narrow focus on orthotics and prosthetics to adjacent markets such as home medical equipment and complex rehab technology. Under his leadership, the business grew from its first paying customer to serving more than 700 clinical locations nationwide and internationally.

 

 

Rachel Lustig has positioned Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio (LSS) for long-term sustainability amid growing community needs and mounting pressure on nonprofit resources. As president and CEO, Lustig’s leadership is defined by a willingness to make difficult, transformational decisions not merely to preserve the organization as it exists today, but to ensure LSS can continue serving the community effectively for generations to come. Lustig understands that sustainability requires strategic focus, financial stewardship and the courage to evolve in ways that strengthen both the organization and the communities it serves.
Lustig’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond LSS. She has prioritized collaboration over competition to strengthen the broader human services network throughout Central Ohio. Her leadership has helped secure long-term support for the local Shelter Providers Network.

 

 

 

Maria Mercurio exemplifies what it means to run a “smart” organization. As CFO of the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority (FCCFA) for nearly 30 years, she has provided strategic, forward-thinking financial leadership that has fueled Columbus’ rise as a premier destination city.
Under Mercurio’s guidance, FCCFA has employed innovative debt strategies, including bond issuances and restructuring, to fund large-scale capital projects such as the $100+ million Convention Center improvement and the planned $400 million Nationwide Arena renovation, all without raising the tax burden on residents. In the past year, Mercurio unlocked $36 million through financial restructuring to reinvest in critical infrastructure. Her leadership has directly supported Columbus’ tourism growth, with 51.2 million visitors generating $8.2 billion in economic impact in 2023 and supporting more than 82,500 jobs in Franklin County.

 

 

 

When Janis Mitchell founded Precise Resource in 2004, she set out to fundamentally improve how organizations identify, evaluate and retain talent. As both a technology entrepreneur and an employer, she had experienced firsthand the inefficiencies and disconnects in traditional recruiting. Rather than accept them, she built a model that blends data, human insight and technology to create a more intelligent approach to hiring.
Mitchell has long been at the forefront of innovation. Before launching Precise Resource, she founded, built and successfully led a technology company, helping bring enterprise-grade security solutions, including SAML-based single sign-on, to market. That experience gives her a rare perspective — she understands both the technical complexity of modern organizations and the critical importance of hiring the right people to scale them.

 

 

Jonathan Modlich is the fourth-generation president of Modlich Monument Company, a Central Ohio institution founded 90 years ago by German immigrant Linus Modlich, who brought Old World stonecutting techniques to the region. Under Modlich’s leadership, the single-family shop, originally Franklin Monument Company, has grown into an organization comprising four deeply rooted memorial companies throughout Central Ohio.
Modlich’s impact on the communities he serves, in the industry he now helps lead, and with the families he has supported during the most poignant moments of their lives, is profound. His credibility with his customers and empathy for his team are rare in any industry. Modlich’s community impact is tangible and ongoing. Under his leadership, the company has completed dozens of veterans’ memorials across Central Ohio and nationwide.

 

 

Five Star Home Services is more than an HVAC and plumbing company — it is an organization built on the belief that

business can be a powerful force for good. Through a strong commitment to people development and second chances, Five Star has made a meaningful impact on its workforce and the surrounding community.
For the past 50 years, the Morris family has managed operations at Five Star. Founded in 1972 by Howard Morris Sr. in Pickerington, the company was later acquired by brothers Kip and Brett Morris. Under their leadership, Five Star has grown to more than 200 employees and has a presence in three major metropolitan areas in Ohio. Rather than simply offering jobs, Five Star invests deeply in training, mentorship and personal development.

 

 

Lee Mosbacker is the CRO of Dataroomed.com, an AI-powered fintech and venture capital platform launched to transform early-stage investing. It replaces traditional “blind bets” and hype-based pitch processes with an approach akin to peer-reviewed journals. The platform utilizes a specialized global network of human domain experts combined with AI models to objectively score a startup’s technical feasibility and investment readiness.
Startups are assigned a forward-looking predictive score. High-scoring founders gain direct access to rapid capital, while accredited investors are provided with vetted, high-fidelity deal flow. Unlike typical VC timelines that lock capital away for up to 15 years, Dataroomed.com offers flexible private-market swaps, structural liquidity options, low investment minimums and zero fees to give early investors and family offices greater agility.

 

 

 

Stirling Ultracold has a history of technical ingenuity, beginning in 1995 as Global Cooling, a company founded to license Stirling engine IP and technology. In 2007, the company shifted from licensing to manufacturing, launching the first portable –86°C ultra-low-temperature cooler. That legacy laid the foundation for the organization that CEO Clayton Newman would later be tasked with saving.
Newman joined the company in 2022 as a consultant amid operational and financial strain following rapid pandemic-driven growth. Stirling Ultracold has become more adaptive, resilient and future-focused. Newman is expanding the product lineup from three offerings to 14, broadening the temperature range from +8°C to –165°C and introducing the company’s first new product in seven years. The company now targets 20 percent annual sales growth over the next three years.

 

 

Monty Ragland has integrated strategic growth, servant leadership, operational discipline, innovation and community impact into a business model that prioritizes both performance and people. As president and CEO of Proteam Solutions (PSI), an IT staff augmentation and solution delivery company founded in 1992, Ragland has helped transform a respected regional business into a thriving, modern organization serving clients in approximately 12 states and capable of supporting clients nationwide.
Ragland’s leadership journey with PSI is unique and speaks volumes about the trust he has earned. After more than a decade of helping to grow and strengthen the organization, founder Keith Stevens approached Ragland in 2020 to discuss succession and the company’s future. Ragland led a thoughtful transition, ultimately acquiring PSI in the summer of 2022 alongside business partner Monica Dominic.

 

 

When Phil Fankhauser and Ed Bacome, co-founders of Epcon Communities, decided to step back from the business, they knew they didn’t need to look outside the organization for its next leader. They chose Joel Rhoades, who had been with Epcon since 1992, when he joined as a part-time law clerk. With more than three decades at the company, Rhoades understood Epcon’s mission, culture and long-standing commitment to the customer experience. He also had the knowledge, discipline and strategic thinking needed to scale a complex, multi-regional business.
Promoted to CEO in January 2023, Rhoades assumed leadership at a pivotal moment, guiding the then 37-year-old organization through expansion while preserving its legacy. Today, Joel runs a “smart” organization by combining disciplined business strategy, operational excellence, people-focused leadership and long-term vision.

 

 

MESH Works operates as a smart organization by combining AI, supply chain expertise and global manufacturing connectivity into a single platform designed to modernize industrial sourcing and supplier collaboration. The company’s mission is to help connect buyers with small and midsize manufacturers worldwide while equipping those manufacturers with the digital tools and visibility needed to compete globally. Today, MESH supports more than 5,000 suppliers across 40+ countries.
Under the guidance of CEO and Co-founder Sahil Shah, MESH Works has evolved from a single-office startup into a multi-location enterprise, now operating across three offices. Shah has successfully scaled the team, attracting top talent across engineering, product and customer success functions. His leadership has driven consistent year-over-year growth in both revenue and customer acquisition.

 

 

President and CEO Kyle Shen is leading Nexceris through one of the most pivotal chapters in the company’s history. Following the 2025 sale of a significant portion of its business to Honeywell, Shen made a deliberate and courageous decision: rather than scale back, he chose to reinvent. Under his leadership, Nexceris is remaking itself around a focused, high-value platform — Lab to Launch — purpose-built to solve one of the most persistent problems in the advanced materials and electrochemical industries.
That reinvention requires real organizational intelligence. Shen has rebuilt Nexceris around a clear thesis: the greatest unmet need in the electrochemical and catalyst space is not more laboratory discovery — it is reliable, expert-guided translation of lab-scale innovation into commercial reality. He has aligned the company’s talent, infrastructure and go-to-market strategy with that single insight.

 

 

Terry Slaybaugh has transformed Ohio’s approach to economic growth by building one of the nation’s most proactive, data-driven site development and infrastructure strategies. As senior vice president of sites and infrastructure at JobsOhio, Slaybaugh has led programs that expanded Ohio’s inventory of development-ready sites, accelerated aviation innovation, restored commercial air service and positioned the state to compete for high-growth industries and transformative investments.
As a member of the leadership team reporting to JobsOhio president and CEO J.P. Nauseef, Slaybaugh manages JobsOhio’s site selection and infrastructure programs. He established the Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) to identify properties in Ohio that weren’t being developed by the market but still had proven demand and economic benefit. Under his leadership, OSIP has provided grants and low-interest loans to speculative, high-impact and job-ready development projects.

 

 

 

Jason Thomas grew up working at Capital City Ice under the tutelage of Donald Dick. When Dick passed away in 2020, Thomas was offered the opportunity to purchase the dry ice equipment. He reached out to two lifelong friends, and Dry Ice Columbus was born — with Thomas serving as president.
Dry Ice Columbus provides fresh, high-quality dry ice solutions to local customers and across the Midwest. The company is the only in-house manufacturer in Columbus using state-of-the-art equipment to produce dry ice to the highest quality standards. Its facility manufactures pellets and block ice in several sizes for a wide range of end users, from local customers for recreational use to large industry clients, including grocery stores, food manufacturers, colleges and universities, and pharmaceutical companies.

 

 

Founded in 2012 by President Bruce Thornsberry, Synergy Electrical has grown from humble beginnings into one of the fastest-growing electrical contractors in Central Ohio. What started in a 10 by 12 garage with 15 employees has since expanded to multiple buildings in New Albany and a team of more than 100.
Synergy does more than electrical construction. The company has a controls division and is a UL508A control panel builder. Built on lifelong relationships, strong values and a commitment to quality, Synergy continues to deliver exceptional service while preserving the close-knit, family-owned and operated culture that has defined it since its founding. With a focus on powering the future, Thornsberry combines innovation, craftsmanship and community connection to support projects across Central Ohio and beyond.

 

 

Femergy Associate Executive Director Christina Vera has built an organization operating at the intersection of workforce development, community impact and systems-level innovation. Since 2014, Femergy has evolved from a grassroots initiative into a growing regional nonprofit that annually serves more than 3,300 girls, young women and families across Central Ohio through leadership development, wellness programming, workforce readiness, mentoring and community engagement initiatives.
Vera leads Femergy with a strategic, forward-thinking approach rooted in long-term sustainability, measurable impact and talent development. The organization has expanded beyond traditional youth programming to create scalable workforce and economic mobility pathways for young women ages 18-26 through the launch of GHRO Forward, a workforce pipeline initiative designed to prepare participants for careers in manufacturing, infrastructure and health care.

 

 

Luke Walker, owner of Luke’s Auto, exemplifies the spirit of a Smart 50 leader through his innovative, data-driven approach and unwavering commitment to excellence. He has cultivated a dynamic work environment where technology and analytics are strategically leveraged to boost performance, enhance customer satisfaction and drive continuous improvement. Relentlessly pursuing and implementing best practices, Walker positions his team and organization for sustained success.
Beyond his operational leadership, Walker is deeply committed to workforce development. As the founder of Equip Skills, a technical and vocational training center, he champions hands-on education and is leading the launch of an adult training program to prepare the next generation of skilled technicians. His forward-thinking vision, people-first leadership and smart use of technology make him a standout example of sustainable, impactful leadership.

 

 

Philip Washburn’s community impact centers on expanding the capacity of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio to provide furniture to families in crisis. He recently led the organization to a milestone of serving over 85,000 local families. Since taking over as president and CEO in 2021, his strategic approach has combined business efficiency with nonprofit compassion to scale the organization’s community footprint.
Washburn’s impact on the Central Ohio community has been driven by several key initiatives. Under his leadership, the Furniture Bank coordinates a massive volunteer network that logs weekly shifts to build needed items. Because essential pieces like dressers and dining tables are rarely donated in good condition, he established an in-house manufacturing program. Volunteers use donated raw materials to build sturdy, brand-new furniture for families.

 

 

 

Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC) is North America’s most advanced service provider, fulfilling the complex engineering, research, validation, evaluation and testing needs of the world’s leading smart mobility and transportation stakeholders. For over 50 years, industry and governmental agencies have relied on TRC to conduct research into automation, connectivity, alternative fuels (including electrification and hydrogen), safety, efficiency, durability, simulation and performance across all types of vehicles.
As Executive Director of Services, Taylor Weideling oversees TRC’s Advanced Mobility, Road Performance Evaluation, Business Development and Technical Services divisions. What makes Weideling’s leadership especially important is that she is not simply managing established lines of business. She is helping TRC meet the rapidly changing demands of an industry where innovation must be matched with rigor, safety and real-world validation.

 

 

Founded in Columbus nearly 50 years ago, Miles-McClellan Construction Company has grown steadily into nine commercial divisions and has earned a reputation for technical excellence and reliable partnership. CFO Owen Wyss has distinguished himself as a leader who balances disciplined financial management with a deep commitment to the people who make the company extraordinary.
Since joining Miles-McClellan in 2022, Wyss has played a pivotal role in guiding the company through one of its most transformative initiatives — the transition to employee ownership. When he arrived, the leadership team had a vision for employee ownership but needed a leader to translate that vision into a structured, achievable plan. Wyss became the architect of the Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP), ensuring the company had a full-year runway to complete the transition without operational disruption. ●