2013 POWER 100: Central Ohio leaders who make things happen

By Mark Scott, Dennis Seeds, Gregory Jones, Laura Green, Erik Cassano and Pete Fehrenbach
(Numbers in parentheses are 2012 rankings.)
When you look over this year’s Power 100 list, there are 10 new faces, 90 familiar faces and a good bit of movement. That’s not to say that the Smart Business Columbus editors could only find 10 rising stars in the power landscape, but the stable of influential leaders of Central Ohio had a full year of ups and some downs, some wins and losses, and a general sense that economic conditions are improving.
As the years go on, perhaps most would rather forget they are aging, but not so with cities. Columbusmarked its 200th birthday in 2012. Ty Marsh headed the planning committee forColumbus’ party, which included exhibitions and educational programs honored the city’s founding as well as more than 40 events, including the “Red, White and Boom” fireworks celebration.
Eric Fingerhut, already well-known in Greater Cleveland as a legislator as well as chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, is now helping a train a new crop of science and technology leaders as vice president, education and STEM learning, for the Battelle Memorial Institute.
New addition Tom Lennox is the founder of theColumbus- based nonprofit organization that plans and promotes an annual bike tour of the same name, Pelatonia, which sends all of its proceeds to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
As for politicians new to the list, we add one — Andrew Ginther, president of Columbus City Council, who has worked closely with Mayor Michael Coleman to bolsterColumbus’ image with tourists and conventions. He’s chaired council’s finance and economic development committee and supports building safe and strong neighborhoods, too.
Many of the other influential leaders have also been busy in 2012 creating new jobs, growing their businesses and making positive contributions to Central Ohio. They’ve not been standing still. They’ll be in their roles until it is time for the changing of the guard. And that’s part of the evolving landscape the editors hope you will see as you look at the most influential business, civic and political leaders for 2013.
 

Wexner will mark an impressive milepost in 2013 — his 50^th year of running The Limited. From opening his first Limited store in 1963 in the Kingsdale Shopping Center in Upper Arlington with first-year sales of $160,000, to leading what today has become a $10 billion business, Wexner, 75, is enthusiastic as ever about growing his business and philanthropy efforts. In recognition of a $100 million pledge from his family and the Limited Brands Foundation, The Ohio State University renamed the Wexner Medical Center in his honor. This was the largest such single gift the university had ever received.
Wexner announced in June that he was stepping down as a trustee at OSU after serving 18 years, including several years as chairman of the board.
 

Wolfe was given a special recognition award in September from the Associated Press Society of Ohio for “exemplary service to print journalism.” Given to “those who surpass their peers in their dedication and accomplishments,” the honor adds to the Dispatch’s influence on delivering the news. The newspaper was named best newspaper among Ohio’s largest papers and Dispatch.com was named the best website. Dispatch staffers won 39 other awards in the annual AP competition honoring work done in 2011.
 

When a New York Times Magazine article in September detailed the economic recovery steps that Ohio has been taking, the author noted that Coleman had been mayor for 12 years and “can probably keep the job for life if he wants to.” But that’s just one reason why he tops our list this year.
Coleman continues his efforts to improve the economic strength of Central Ohio and played an important role in ending the gridlock that stalled the Hollywood Casino Columbus project.
He also created a new taxpayer-funded nonprofit development group, the Columbus Next Generation Development Corp., to encourage development in the city’s most needy areas. A similar group folded three years ago after being $4 million in debt. Not to be left out, the Columbus City Schools also received attention from Coleman. He announced an effort to assess and improve the schools and named former Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut to advise the city in the program.
 

From May to July, Ohio added more jobs than every state but California. In just two years in office, Kasich has helped create more than 120,000 new jobs in the state. It’s all part of a gradual turnaround fueled by several factors, including Kasich’s pro-business policies. Kasich gave Mark Kvamme and JobsOhio credit for the 120,000 jobs, but that claim has been clouded by questions of constitutionality that have held up JobsOhio’s deal with the state for liquor department profits as a dedicated source of spending money for the next 25 years. Kasich has actively pursued various revenue streams for the state, including leasing the Ohio Turnpike. He also supports the use of compressed natural gas in state vehicles to create a market for fuel that energy companies are starting to extract from Ohio’s Utica shale.
 

Nationwide spent much of 2012 recovering from the $582 million lost in 2011 on storm claims and investments, but it was able to make a major acquisition — Harleysville Mutual Insurance Co. and Harleysville Group Inc., an $834 million deal.
Rasmussen says the transaction sets Nationwide apart from the competition as a top independent agency partner in the United States while maintaining its strong commitment to agency partners. Rasmussen and his wife, Cindy, were named co-chairs for the 2012 United Way of Central Ohio campaign, which has a goal of raising $52.55 million.
 

A collection of contemporary art owned by Pizzuti is being housed in a new 20,000-square-foot building on North Park Street. But that’s not all Pizzuti, who was ranked by ARTnews magazine as among the world’s top 200 art collectors, has in mind for the Short North site. Construction has begun for a new public parking garage, Class A office building and boutique hotel, to be called The Joseph.
 

Called “Ohio’s best politician” by Gov. Kasich, Gee, finds himself involved in yet another effort — to develop a new funding formula for the state’s colleges and universities. Gee was also reappointed to the board of directors for JobsOhio, the Kasich administration’s economic development arm. But Gee, 68, came under fire as Ohio State has spent $64,000 since 2007 on bow ties, bow tie cookies and O-H and bow tie pins for Gee and others to distribute as was revealed in a Dayton Daily News story. In his defense, supporters said university presidents, such as Gee, should spend more time and energy fundraising to compensate for the decline in government support for higher education.
 

As one of the investors in improvements to LeVeque Tower, Casto received $4 million in July in property-tax breaks for the location to continue over the next 10 years, with an additional $2 million for streetscape improvements around the tower. This includes areas on Broad Street, Front Street and the adjacent alleys. The project also received $5 million worth of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits through the Ohio Department of Development. Casto also began work on Secur-It building in downtown’s RiverSouth district after several years of speculation on the former Adler Building’s future.
 

Crane, noted for her support and encouragement of the Columbus community, gave $1 million to the Southern Gateway neighborhood for revitalization and redevelopment. The contribution, in recognition of the plastic company’s 65^th anniversary, will help renovate the closed Reeb Elementary School into a neighborhood center, which will offer social programming and house the South Side Learning Center. Earlier in the fall, Crane sold one of its biggest companies, its TimberTech decking division, to Scranton, Pa.-based CPG International Inc.
 

Nationwide Children’s Hospital celebrated the opening of its new $430 million, 293-bed inpatient hospital, the center of its massive expansion project, with a black tie gala that raised $3.8 million for pediatric research, but that wasn’t the only news last year. Under the direction of Allen, the hospital was listed on U.S. News & World Report’s annual honor roll for the first time in its history, recognized as one of the nation’s best pediatric centers. The hospital ranked eighth on this prestigious list. Nationwide Children’s also made the magazine’s overall best hospitals list, marking the seventh year in a row on that list.
 

Steinour, a cheerleader for Central Ohio’s recent recovery from the recession, touted the region’s successes on CNBC and Bloomberg TV — and he didn’t have to look far for proof. Huntington racked up significant gains in 2012. Huntington is seeing its strategy to attract new customers and get them into several bank products at once pay off. The bank has committed $1 million over the next three years to help the Columbus Urban League energize economic growth and create jobs in Columbus’ urban core.
 

Blom’s $3.02 million in deferred compensation for 2012, along with base salary and benefits topped the $2.3 million earned by Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. OhioHealth noted the figure won’t be recurring, but it’s an example of Blom’s clout in the region and his ability to meet performance targets. In April, OhioHealth and the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine signed an agreement for OhioHealth to partner with Heritage College at a new Dublin extension campus.
 

James, fresh off his defense of OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor for NCAA violations, helped defend linebacker Storm Klein on misdemeanor domestic violence and assault charges. Klein pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct, was put on 18 months’ probation and was suspended for two games. The alleged victim recanted her story, and after Klein’s guilty plea, coach Urban Meyer reinstated him to the team. Larry and his wife, Donna, received the prestigious American Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award by Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. James was also selected by the King Arts Complex as one of the 24 Living Legends in Central Ohio.
 

Gov. Kasich appointed Shumate in June to serve the remainder of the term of Les Wexner, who had resigned from the board of trustees at Ohio State. Shumate served previously on the board from 1989-1998 and from 2006-2012, including a term as chairman of the board from 1997-98 and as vice chairman from 2011-2012. Shumate has been consistently selected by his peers for the annual Best Lawyers in America listing and as an Ohio Super Lawyer.
 

Schottenstein, chairman of American Eagle Outfitters, took over as executive chairman of the company in 2012 to devote time to groom its new CEO, Robert Hanson. For his work with Hanson, he received an annual base salary of $500,000, performance incentives potentially worth up to $1 million and additional company stock. Schottenstein has been chairman since 1992 and had been CEO for 10 years. A Los Angeles real estate investor with ties to Columbus purchased a large piece of Schottenstein Property Group’s industrial portfolio in Central Ohio. Hackman Capital bought 12 flex office-warehouse properties and 32 warehouse and distribution centers.
 

Moody-Nolan clinched a big win when it secured a contract to design the expansion of CenturyLink’s headquarters in Monroe, La. The $60 million project will be designed at Moody-Nolan’s facilities in Columbus and calls for a technology center, parking garage and cafeteria. Among other recent additions to the firm’s portfolio are Columbus Commons, the Downtown Hilton and the 17-story cancer and critical-care tower that, once completed, will anchor Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center as the tallest building on campus.
 

The Center for Healthy Families, which James founded in 2007, marked its fifth year in operation. As a former teen parent herself, James became a Fortune 500 corporate executive, a director for five corporate boards and a leader in the Central Ohio community. She continues to chair the National Women’s Business Council to which President Obama appointed her.
 

Beavers specializes in counseling and representing governing boards and executives, and he wrote an article titled “A Chronology Showing the Penn State Board of Trustees Acted Appropriately,” a review of the steps taken by the school’s board following allegations of criminal sexual misconduct.
 

Loveland penned an article titled, “JOBS Act: New Law Facilitates Raising Capital,” a review of how the new law makes significant changes to how businesses can raise capital. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in the area of corporate law for more than 10 consecutive years and in Chambers USA in the area of corporate law/M&A.
 

In June, Wadsworth won the 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Materials and Society Award, which he will receive in March. Wadsworth has authored or co-authored nearly 300 scientific papers and one book, has been granted four U.S. patents and has received numerous awards.
 

As Wexner concludes her seven-year stint as chairwoman of the board of trustees at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, she can look back on a remarkable period of progress. Nationwide Children’s has appeared on U.S. News & World Report’s list of America’s Best Hospitals every year since 2006 and for 2012-13 was named among the top 50 in 10 different specialties. With the June opening of a new state-of-the-art, 12-story hospital, Wexner now will turn the reins over to Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership and a Nationwide Children’s board member since 2011.
 

Broadcasting & Cable named Fiorile the 2012 Broadcaster of the Year. He was also named to the 2012 governing committee for the Columbus Foundation
 

OSU Medical Center conducted research that showed the injection of a tiny capsule containing heat-generating cells into the abdomens of mice led those animals to burn abdominal fat and initially lose about 20 percent of belly fat after 80 days of treatment.
 

Limited Brands gifted $163.4 million to The Columbus Foundation in September. The donation is believed to be the largest financial gift to a 501(c)(3) in Ohio history. Giving to the foundation reached an all-time high in 2011, with more than $249 million donated to new and existing funds and supporting donations.
 

Marsh left his post in 2010 as CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to head the planning committee for Columbus’ bicentennial birthday bash. More than 40 events, exhibitions and educational programs honored the city’s founding. He’s also owner of Ty Marsh Associates, a consulting firm focused on economic development.
 

Recent NFIB legislative victories in Ohio include the “Right to Cure” House Bill 275, legislation that allows a business to make an offer to a consumer who has filed a consumer sales practices act (CSPA) lawsuit against a business for a product or service that did not meet the expectation of the consumer, and also Senate Bill 202, the Trespasser Liability Act, which codifies Ohio’s long-existing common law protection afforded to private property owners.
 

With support from Safford, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman approved forming the Columbus Next Generation Development Corp., a nonprofit development group aimed at developing some of the poorest areas of the city.
 

The chamber is placing more emphasis on the services and expertise that it can provide to businesses, Dalby says. Under his leadership, the Columbus Chamber has transformed into a business development and advocacy organization focused on expanding and retaining existing businesses.
 

Chase, the region’s largest private-sector employer, plans to add 350 or more employees in Central Ohio during the next five years. To accommodate its employment growth, the firm will invest more than $18 million to refurbish leased office space at two Polaris Parkway locations. When this new wave of hiring is complete, Chase will have added more than 6,000 new jobs and a million square feet of real estate in Central Ohio since its 2004 merger of Bank One and JPMorgan Chase. Last year alone, Chase added about 2,500 jobs in Central Ohio.
 

Milenthal-DelGrosso was the local sponsor for American City Business Journals’ first annual Social Madness challenge, hosted locally by Columbus Business First and sponsorsed nationally by Capital One. The company took top honors in the eHealthcare Leadership Awards.
 

Taylor has been working to improve job creation in Ohio through her role leading CSI Ohio, the “Common Sense Initiative,” to reform Ohio’s regulatory policies. She is also serving as director of the Ohio Department of Insurance. The hope is that these two assignments provide an effective launching pad to make Ohio a friendly state for creating jobs and new business.
 

As a leader of the Columbus 2020 economic development initiative, Fischer has already helped the organization exceed its five-year, $30-million-fundraising goal to have $30.2 million pledged. The money will be used to fund economic development efforts and comes from partnership members and 125 new investors.
He was an integral part of a two-year plan to save the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets this year. In 2012, he succeeded Abigail Wexner as the chairman of the board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
 

Miller helped Fifth Third Bank present two $50,000 checks. One was to Janet Jackson, president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, to fund The Neighborhood Leadership Academy. The other was presented to Homeport Housing Advisory Center to help support Homeport’s community life programs.
 

Portman introduced a bipartisan bill with Sen. Sherrod Brown aimed at protecting the historic integrity of the village of Zoar in Tuscarawas County as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies ways to manage the village’s aging levee. Portman also actively supported the failed campaign of Mitt Romney throughout 2012.
 

The center has consistently been ranked one of America’s best hospitals. Ohio State’s College of Medicine ranked 14^th in the country on the 2013 U.S. News & World Report list of America’s Best Graduate Schools.
 

In April, Heasley delivered a lecture to students at the Savannah College of Art and Design as part of the college’s “SCAD Style” annual event.
 

Worthington Industries finished its fiscal year with flat profit and an increase in sales. Worthington reported profit of $115.6 million for the fiscal year that ended in May, up from $115.1 million, and sales of $2.5 billion, up from $2.4 billion. The Blue Jackets finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 29-46-7 record and their third consecutive last-place finish in the NHL’s Central Division.
 

Lancaster Colony reported $1.13 billion in net sales for fiscal 2012, a 4 percent increase over fiscal 2011.
 

In late 2011, Tunnell received the “Champion of Diversity Legal Award” from the National Diversity Council. As managing partner, Tunnell has played a key role in continuing the tradition of an organization that has a strong history of groundbreaking diversity.
 

Gertmenian, now in his fifth year as managing partner of the firm, was named to 2013 Best Lawyers in America list in corporate compliance law and corporate governance law.
 

Ingwersen has been a member of the Columbus Partnership since 2004. The Columbus Partnership is a nonprofit, membership-based CEO organization with the primary goal to improve the economic vitality of the Columbus region. She has served on community boards and organizations, including the YWCA of Columbus, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Franklin University, the OSU Health Plan board and the Capitol South Urban Redevelopment Corp. board.
 

The Grote family made a $1 million contribution to seed the rehabilitation initiative of the Southern Gateway neighborhood’s Reeb Elementary School, which will offer social programming and house the South Side Learning Center.
 

In a 4-3 vote, the Ohio Supreme Court voted to throw out the murder conviction of Toneisha Gunnell of Columbus, on the basis that she was unconstitutionally subjected to double jeopardy due to an improperly declared mistrial.
 

The grassroots organization was founded in 2008 with the objective of funding cancer research. It sponsors a three-day bicycle riding “experience” that in its first four years has raised more than $42 million. All the proceeds go to The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
 

Port Columbus partnered with Arconas to create power units that have been retrofitted into airport seating. Additionally, more than 40 recently installed workstations provide convenient electrical and electronic connections for passengers. Port Columbus became one of the first airports in the U.S. to install PowerMats, which are wireless charging docks for electronic devices.
 

Ginther is working closely with Mayor Michael Coleman to bolster Columbus’ image with tourists and conventions. He’s been able to bring different groups to the table to talk about solutions that can help the city.
 

Ruscilli associates participated in the 2012 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure in downtown Columbus raising $1,000 for cancer research. Three bowling teams from the company raised more than $5,000 for the 2012 Bowl for Kids’ Sake event, which is the largest and most important annual fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio.
 

Smith will serve as a member of the NCAA Division I Administration Cabinet through July 1, 2014. The group oversees and recommends membership to NCAA committees. Smith is active in the Columbus community and is a member of the board of the YMCA of Central Ohio and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Columbus and the governing board of trustees of the Lincoln Theater Association. He also is active with the Bell Center for African-American males on Ohio State’s campus, where he sponsors a mentoring program called Team Smith. On the athletic front, the hiring of Urban Meyer paved the way to a perfect 12-0 season for the football team, a great season even without a bowl berth.
 

The trade publication Advertising Age named Kramer one of the 100 most influential women in advertising.
 

PNC announced in December that the bank would contribute another $1 million to help boost the arts in Central Ohio. Grant proposals for $20,000 or more were accepted from qualified arts organizations with the next round of grants set to be announced in June.
 

Oxford was named to the Inc. 5,000 list of fastest-growing companies in 2012. And the Columbus Chapter of the National Association for Women Business Owners recognized Kerr as a finalist for the prestigious 2012 Visionary Awards.
 

Ingram and his wife, Marci, recently announced a $10 million pledge to Ohio State and Nationwide Children’s Hospital to establish the Marci and Bill Ingram Comprehensive Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Ingram-White Castle Foundation has also contributed $1.25 million in each of the last four years to other charitable causes in the region. On the business front, the hamburger chain announced plans to build a new frozen-food facility creating 100 permanent jobs in Vandalia.
 

In addition to his work keeping the public informed about what’s happening at OSU, Katzenmeyer serves as chair of the city’s funding review advisory committee. He’s been another key player in the effort to drive growth throughout Columbus and is also a vice chair for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
 

A 2012 Junior Achievement Laureate, his company recently bought Square One Technology Solutions. Square One provides managed services, virtualization and information security services for organizations in the private and public sectors throughout Central Ohio.
 

The company has dramatically transformed its world headquarters and restaurant support center. After construction on a $17 million project is completed in early 2013, the Dublin campus will house more than 600 employees. The company also renovated the largest office building on campus and is constructing a new 75,000-square-foot office building and conference center, named for Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas. Wendy’s is also in the midst of a comprehensive transformation to contemporize the brand and dramatically improve the customer experience. Consumers are responding, as evidenced by five consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales.
 

The college now has an enrollment of more than 1,300 students from 40 states and 35 foreign countries and a 12-1 student to faculty ratio.
Griffith has also maintained a vigorous commitment to his work as an artist. His work has been included in more than 90 group and solo exhibitions domestically and abroad. He’s part of the collections at such public institutions as The Butler Institute of American Art, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the China Academy of Art.
 

In September, Nationwide announced it would construct a new office building near Nationwide Arena, which will house 1,000 employees whom the company plans to relocate downtown.
 

Harbrecht continues to add to her extensive community involvement resume, which includes a position on the dean’s advisory council for the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State.
 

Kallner still serves on the board for the Center for Healthy Families. He also serves on the board of directors for the Jeannie B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts in New Albany.
 

The former state senator from Greater Cleveland is making a concerted effort to improve education policy in Columbus. He served four years as head of the Ohio Board of Regents and is now working to inspire and train the next generation of science and technology leaders.
 

Weiler is serving a three-year term on the board of trustees for the Central Ohio Transit Authority until 2014. He remains on the board of Ohio Capital Corp. for Housing as its secretary
 

Akins became the sixth CEO in the company’s history in November 2011, replacing the retired Michael Morris. He serves on a number of industry-related boards, as well as boards for the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Wexner Center for the Arts.
 

The executive search firm changed its name this year from SC Search Consultants to BeecherHill. Hilsheimer is very involved in Pelotonia and also serves as a member of the board for the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
 

The former Columbus city councilman presides over a network of more than 550 member agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Mid-Ohio Foodbank handles more than 40 million pounds of food each year and provides more than 100,000 meals every day to the hungry in Central Ohio.
 

In October, Cameron Mitchell Catering partnered with the Memorial Tournament to serve as the exclusive on-course hospitality caterer for the prestigious tournament hosted by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus.
 

A 1.4 million-square-foot business park recently opened in New Albany, and The Pizzuti Cos. built three of the park’s seven buildings. The company also announced a $59 million Pizzuti project in the Short North that includes an 11-story, 135-room boutique hotel.
 

Delta Energy ranked first in the Top 100 Woman-Owned Businesses in America, Top 100 Diversity Owned Businesses in Ohio and Top 100 Privately-held Businesses in Ohio by DiversityBusiness.com. She was also recently named to the 2012 class of the Enterprising Women of the Year by Enterprising Women magazine.
 

Wolper serves as the Ohio president for the International Women’s Forum and serves as a director of TB Investment Properties and Insight Bank. She is on the legal advisory board of the Columbus Foundation and a member of Central Ohio Planned Giving.
 

She has been featured as one of the 12 Women You Should Know in Columbus and provides visible leadership in the effort to end homelessness. She serves on local, state and national boards for human services, diversity, homelessness and community research and is a key strategist in the effort to improve life in Central Ohio.
 

After several years of solid growth, the Columbus Dispatch reported that enrollment at Columbus State Community College had dropped by 16 percent last fall. Officials are blaming the enrollment decrease on the switch to semesters. More students are taking fewer credit hours, a factor that, combined with the drop in enrollment, could result in as much as a $15 million budget shortfall.
 

The United Way of Central Ohio plans to reduce funding for education programs, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Education programs make up the biggest share of its grantees, but funding would be reduced by 10 percent next year as the agency aims to stabilize allocations and make more money available for broader community work.
 

Worley has been named to a new 24-member Town and Gown Advisory Committee for the Arts. He’s also playing a key role in reshaping downtown Columbus through a number of projects that are in the works going into 2013.
 

McDonald spoke last summer about some of the progress that has been made creating jobs in Central Ohio. Columbus 2020 has a goal of adding 150,000 net new jobs by 2020, along with increasing personal per capita income by 30 percent and adding $8 billion of capital investment.
 

In September, Battelle unveiled a new lab that allows researchers to observe and evaluate how real-life patients and clinicians both use and interact with medical devices. The User Research Lab (uLab) is located at Battelle’s Columbus headquarters, next to its medical device development building. The uLab allows researchers to conduct usability studies, an activity that has become increasingly critical to medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers as they launch new products.
 

For the second year in a row, Bulldog Reporter, a national news source for the public relations and communications industry, named Fahlgren Mortine its gold agency of the year. The agency won in the midsize category, a step up from the small agency category in which it competed last year.
 

Eversole continues to serve as a board member of Advanced Drainage Systems, as well as Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He was also a 2012 judge for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
 

Alutto will step down from his post as OSU’s exec VP and provost and become a special adviser to OSU President E. Gordon Gee on June 30. As Gee’s special adviser, Alutto will work on distance education and university advancement initiatives. He will also return to the faculty.
 

Glimcher Realty made a couple of acquisitions during 2012. The company bought a lumberyard in Malibu, Calif., and a retail center in Leawood, Kan. It was also named one of the best places to work in Ohio by the Ohio Society for Human Resource Management.
 

Dublin Methodist was named one of the nation’s best hospitals by Thomson Reuters. The honor was announced in May as Dublin was recognized in the small community hospitals category.
 

Morgan continues to practice law on a full-time basis, but he has taken on a new venture working for the Mt. Vernon Barn Co., making furniture from reclaimed wood found in barns and log houses. He continues to serve on the boards of Consider Biking, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Columbus Club. He was a founding board member of TechColumbus.
 

Barrett’s company ranks No. 21 on the Fortune 500, and Barrett himself is involved with numerous boards across Central Ohio, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Ohio Business Roundtable and the Columbus Partnership. Barrett was also named a co-chair on the mayor’s education commission to help “reimagine” the Columbus City Schools.
 

Bianconi has been busy with his restaurant in Westerville, which promises patrons a “casual-luxury dining” experience. The restaurant has received very positive reviews for its Italian-American cuisine and the picturesque views of the Hoover Reservoir.
 

Mount Carmel is the 11^th-largest employer in Central Ohio with nearly 8,000 employees, more than 1,500 physicians and 1,000 volunteers. The hospital system broke ground on a $58 million project for expansion of health services in Grove City, starting with a freestanding emergency care center.
 

Marshall continues as a member of the boards of directors for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio and the United Way of Central Ohio. He is also a member of the business council for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
 

Meuse sits on the governing committee of The Columbus Foundation and several other boards including Central Benefits Mutual Insurance Co., ORIX USA Corp. and The Columbus Partnership.
 

Petrecca is the board chair for the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts and continues to serve on the boards of the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau/TechColumbus.
 

In May, Donatos was listed as the leader of the fast-casual sector for pizza restaurants with an estimated $166 million in 2011 sales. The pizza chain also hired a new vice president of marketing, filling a position that had been open for a couple of years.
 

The firm launched its new website and was honored with a national health care marketing award.
 

Brown became the first African-American female justice on the Ohio Supreme Court when she took office Jan. 1, 2011. While she lost in the November election, she is expected to remain active in the Columbus community through the many boards she serves on, and she will continue to serve as a role model for her pioneering spirit.
 

Top leaders have switched roles as part of the company’s plan to develop executive talent. Hilsheimer will retain oversight of Nationwide Bank while Anne Arvia will lead Nationwide Direct, Affinity and Growth Solutions, which includes Nationwide’s property- and casualty-insurance sales operations.
 

Emens continues to work with his team at Conway Center for Family Business to build programs that help family-run businesses succeed.
 

A big jump in sales helped M/I Homes report its first quarterly profit since 2009 and only its second since the beginning of 2007.
 

White continues to be a devoted supporter of Flying Horse Farms, a no-fee camp for children with serious illnesses that The Daimler Group helped build in Mount Gilead.
 

Deloitte is a major supporter of the Ohio State Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition, which provides a forum for faculty, students and entrepreneurs to win approximately $130,000 in cash and pro bono services to use as start-up funds to transform an idea into a thriving business.
 

Partridge continues to be actively involved in the effort to conserve energy in new construction that takes place in the Central Ohio region.
 

Penzone was active in the community in 2012 speaking to women about the importance of discovering their “true beauty from the inside out” and what they need to do to gain the tools to succeed in their professional careers.
 

Smith serves as the partner champion for KPMG Columbus’s Green Initiative. Under his leadership, the firm has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 25 percent in the past four years.
 

Zazon was announced as a speaker at the 2013 Leadership Summit hosted by The Ohio State University Institute of Industrial Engineers. The event is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2013.
 

The Hand Center project at Polaris took the top honors in the Best Office/Medical Project category in the annual awards presented by the Central Ohio chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.
 

Trafford had another solid year as his firm welcomed two new partners in 2012 and a number of attorneys were honored for their continued stellar performance in the courtroom.