Numbers in parentheses are 2010 rankings.
1. Les Wexner
chairman and CEO, Limited Brands Inc. (1)
When only 420 people in the whole world are worth more than you financially, life can’t be too bad. According to Forbes, that is precisely where Wexner sits, with a net worth just shy of $3 billion. Limited Brands Inc. was coming off a challenging year as sales dipped for the third year in a row to $8.6 billion in 2009. But the company outperformed expectations in 2010, a sign that things could be turning around. Wexner remains chairman of the Ohio State University Board of Trustees and The Columbus Partnership. And as he told us in December, he’s always on the lookout for the next great idea. So stay tuned.
2. Michael Coleman
mayor, Columbus (3)
Despite the tidal wave of Republicans that washed over Columbus in November, Coleman, a Democrat, is still standing. Coleman plans to seek a fourth term this fall as mayor of Ohio’s largest city, and Republicans admit that he will be tough to beat. If he wins and completes his term, he would become the longest continuously serving mayor in Columbus history. One thing Coleman can proudly point to in his campaign is his ability to save money. His proposed budget for 2011 would increase the city’s rainy day fund balance to $33 million by the end of the next fiscal year. In these fiscally challenging times in Ohio, that’s an accomplishment.
3. John F. Wolfe
publisher, The Columbus Dispatch; chairman and CEO, The Dispatch Printing Co. (2)
Any fear that may exist about the future of print journalism wasn’t enough to stop The Columbus Dispatch from being named the best newspaper in Ohio for the second year in a row by the Associated Press Society of Ohio. The paper also won 35 awards in the annual contest, including 14 first-place awards — the most among Ohio’s largest newspapers.
4. E. Gordon Gee
president, The Ohio State University (4)
Gee made national headlines last fall when he suggested that the Boise States of the world don’t deserve a shot at eternal glory in college football because they don’t play a strong enough schedule. While the remarks drew much scorn in the sporting world, leading Gee to back off his position, the story reminded people about the power of Gee’s voice. Earlier in the year, Gee raised the idea of making changes in how tenure is awarded to college professors. Gee suggested that too much emphasis is placed on research and publishing prowess instead of teaching skill. We likely haven’t heard the last of this conversation.
5. Ron Pizzuti
chairman and CEO, The Pizzuti Cos. (5)
The times are tough in the real estate and construction industry, but The Pizzuti Cos. just keeps chugging along. The Columbus-based developer began work on a 700,000-square-foot warehouse in Marion for Whirlpool as well as a new office complex for the appliance manufacturer in Michigan. Pizzuti is also building a new center for the contract packager Accel Inc. in New Albany. And to cap it off, the developer was named Columbus’ best commercial real estate developer. Not a bad year.
6. Don M. Casto III
partner, Don M. Casto Organization (7)
Casto is another real estate company that is bucking the economic trend and making things happen in the construction business. The only catch is that most of these projects are either outside of Central Ohio or outside the state entirely. Here’s hoping 2011 finds more dirt flying in Columbus.
7. Steve Rasmussen
CEO, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. (10)
The company announced plans to move 1,400 suburban office jobs to vacant space in its downtown headquarters, a move that could help create even more jobs in Central Ohio. On the financial front, while 2010 revenue was off the pace from 2009 through three quarters, total net operating income was up substantially. It rose from $702 million in the first nine months of 2009 to $975 million for same period in 2010.
8. Tanny Crane
president and CEO, Crane Group (9)
Crane was named in August to the board of directors for Huntington Bancshares Inc. Her past experience as board chair for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland was cited as a key factor in the appointment. She comes aboard just as Huntington seems to be turning things around. As for Crane Group, the company remains a solid presence in Columbus.
9. Alex Shumate
managing partner, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP, Columbus office (6)
Shumate’s effort to help Gov. Ted Strickland craft a new school funding plan for Ohio won’t mean much now that Strickland is gone. But that doesn’t change the fact that Shumate has been and still is one of Columbus’ most respected lawyers. He continues to serve as global managing partner at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP. He is also a fellow of the Ohio State Bar Association and a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.
10. John Kasich
governor, Ohio (new)
Kasich steps into his new job leading the state of Ohio with a great deal of support but, perhaps, even more pressure. There is little patience on either side of the aisle these days, so Kasich will not get much of a honeymoon at the Statehouse. He’s talked about privatizing job creation, eliminating the Ohio Department of Development and phasing out the state income tax. But, first, he must find a way to balance the state’s budget by closing a hole that could approach $8 billion. So we say, good luck, Governor. You’re going to need it.
11. Steve Steinour
chairman and CEO, Huntington Bancshares Inc. (11)
Steinour was confident he could turn around the fortunes of Huntington, and through the first three quarters of 2010, he appears to be making strides toward doing just that. Steinour cited the growth in auto loans as a particular bright spot. Both Moody’s and S&P raised their ratings outlooks for Huntington during the second half of 2010. So the future appears to be looking up for Huntington.
12. David Blom
president and CEO, OhioHealth (12)
The health care system completed its transition in the fall to operate four urgent care centers in Dublin, Grove City, Lewis Center and New Albany. OhioHealth was also named a Top 10 health system for the second year in a row by Thomson Reuters. Finally, Blom who serves as secretary of the Central Ohio Hospital Council, was honored by TechColumbus as its Executive of the Year for companies with more than 50 employees.
13. Jay Schottenstein
chairman, Schottenstein Management, American Eagle Outfitters, Retail Ventures Inc., SB Capital Group, DSW (8)
It was an up-and-down year for Schottenstein. Sales at both American Eagle and DSW were up over 2009 through the third quarter of 2010. Schottenstein also bought 500,000 shares in American Eagle for $6.79 million in September. On the downside, however, news leaked that Schottenstein has been dealing with a family legal squabble that could have ramifications on his family’s vast holdings.
14. Larry James
partner, Crabbe, Brown & James LLP (13)
James continues to be near the heart of what’s happening in Columbus. He served as chair of the Columbus City Council Charter Review Committee and the Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Advisor Panel in 2010. He also continues his civic involvement as president of the board of trustees for the King Arts Complex, president of the Lincoln Theater Association and co-founder of the African-American Leadership Academy. In addition, James was named general counsel to the USA Track & Field board of directors.
15. John Beavers
partner, Bricker & Eckler LLP (14)
Beavers established and directs the Business First Advisory Board Exchange that finds, trains and places experienced advisers on advisory boards of business organizations. He was named Columbus Corporate Lawyer of the Year in the 2010 edition of “Best Lawyers.” He continues to be a respected voice in Columbus when the conversation turns to governance.
16. Donna James
managing director, Lardon & Associates LLC (15)
James was appointed by President Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council responsible for providing recommendations for growing women-owned small businesses. She also serves on numerous boards and is the founder and chair of the Center for Healthy Families, a nonprofit focused on transforming the lives of pregnant and parenting teens and their children.
17. Curtis A. Loveland
partner, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP (16)
Loveland was once again ranked as one of the top lawyers in his area of practice for his work with corporate clients, mergers and acquisitions. Loveland also serves as board secretary for footwear retailer Rocky Brands Inc., where sales through three quarters of 2010 were up over the same period for 2009.
18. Dr. Steve Allen
CEO, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (18)
June 18, 2010, will go down in the books as a pretty good day for Allen. It was a day in which he welcomed both Gov. Ted Strickland and President Obama to his nationally renowned hospital. Obama’s visit was to discuss a road expansion project that Nationwide Children’s is spearheading for a neighboring pediatric hospital scheduled to open in 2012. Strickland arrived later to sign an important bill to help the effort to end childhood obesity.
19. Melissa Ingwersen
district president, Central Ohio, KeyBank (19)
It was announced in late December that Ingwersen would be leaving JPMorgan Chase, where she has been in charge of Central Ohio bank operations, to take on a very similar role with Cleveland-based KeyBank. Ingwersen began her new position in Columbus in January.
20. Ty Marsh
chairman, Columbus Bicentennial 2012 Organizing Committee (17)
Marsh resigned his post last summer as president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He said he had accomplished the goals he had established when he took the position and felt it was time to move on to new challenges. He didn’t stay out of the public eye for long, however, as Marsh is now a key player in the plans to celebrate Columbus’ 200th birthday.
21. Bea Wolper
co-founder and partner, Emens & Wolper Law Firm Co. LPA (21)
Wolper’s law firm is up and running and focused on providing legal services for family-owned businesses and closely held firms. Wolper is a frequent author and lecturer on estate planning, wealth transfer, family-owned business issues and acquisitions. She also teaches courses on entrepreneurship and succession planning at Ohio Dominican University and for the Ohio State Bar Association.
22. Michael Fiorile
president and COO, The Dispatch Printing Co. (23)
Fiorile has moved on from being chairman of the NBC Affiliate Board to chairman emeritus. Fiorile played a key role in the movement of NBC affiliates to make a change with “The Jay Leno Show” when it’s 10 p.m. slot began to erode ratings for their late local news broadcasts. Fiorile was hailed for the strong leadership he demonstrated in this situation and overall.
23. Matthew G. Kallner
attorney, Law Offices of Matthew G. Kallner (22)
Kallner’s quiet hand continues to be as strong as ever, particularly with Republicans back in control of the state government. In the area of economic development, Kallner is involved with the efforts of CODA Automotive and the relocation of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. headquarters.
24. Dr. Steven G. Gabbe
CEO, OSU Medical Center (new)
Gabbe continues to steer a $1 billion medical center expansion. The largest construction project in OSU history has accounted for 10,000 jobs, with 6,000 permanent jobs at the medical center and 4,000 other positions that can indirectly be attributed to the project.
Gabbe has also agreed, at the request of OSU President Gordon Gee, to extend his leadership as senior vice president and chief executive officer of the OSU Medical Center beyond his initial contract.
25. Curtis Moody
president and CEO, Moody-Nolan Inc. (29)
It’s been another good year for Curtis Moody. In March, he was the speaker for Ohio State’s winter commencement. He spoke in the Jerome Schottenstein Center, one of several buildings on the OSU campus that he personally designed as principal architect. Less than a month later, Moody watched proudly as the new $118 million student union building opened on the campus, giving OSU’s 55,000 students a place to enjoy, grow and thrive.
