26. Bob Milbourne
CEO, The Columbus Partnership (17)
Milbourne is still involving himself in Columbus’
growth, serving on the levy committee for
Columbus Schools.
27. Rich Langdale
Founder, NCT Ventures (32)
Langdale’s been busy growing his DoMedia online
advertising Web site through acquisitions. He remains actively involved with OSU’s Center for
Entrepreneurship, which he founded, and as a
board member for the Chamber of Commerce and
Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
28. Russell Gertmenian
Managing partner, Vorys, Sater,
Seymour and Pease LLP (28)
Gertmenian resigned from the AirNet Systems
board last fall to focus on his firm, recognized as a
Go-To Law Firm for Leading Technology
Companies in 2008 by American Lawyer Media. He
still serves as a director of Abercrombie & Fitch
and vice president of the board for Desco.
29. Ted Strickland
Governor, state of Ohio (29)
Rumors circulated about Strickland’s potential as a
Democratic vice presidential candidate. His position in the party is strong after speaking at the
Democratic National Convention. He continues to
move his energy initiatives to create jobs and make
Ohio an energy leader.
30. Curtis Moody
President and CEO, Moody•Nolan Inc. (31)
Moody’s firm continues to grow throughout
Columbus and beyond. Locally, the firm will be
renovating the Central Ohio Transit Authority’s operations headquarters. The firm is also growing in
its national markets as it plans projects like the
Music City Center convention facility in Nashville
and the expansion of the fitness facility at Purdue
University.
31. Linda Heasley
Chairman and CEO,
The Limited Stores Inc. (new)
A healthy split from Limited Brands has boosted
Heasley and The Limited Stores. With Sun Capital
injecting money, the company was able to shed itself of failing apparel businesses and is back to focusing growth on new product lines.
32. Kurt Tunnell
Partner, Bricker & Eckler LLP (35)
Tunnell chairs the firm’s manufacturing and transportation and logistics groups, but he is also involved in government relations, serving as legislative and legal counsel to the Ohio Alliance for Civil
Justice. The firm joined with The Ohio State
University this year to create a leadership course.
33. Sally Boyer
President and general manager,
Tween Brands’ Justice Stores (new)
Given her position with Justice and the store’s success, Boyer needed to hop on the list. The operation has grown from five stores in 2003 to 260 in
2007, and comparable store sales increased 21 percent in 2007. Watch how she and the stores do
this year during tougher economic times.
34. Lewis Smoot Sr.
President and CEO, The Smoot Corp. (34)
Smoot continues to head several high-profile projects across the Midwest, currently working on
Lucas Oil Stadium, which will be home to the NFL’s
Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Casino and several
buildings at OSU. He’s also a member of the
Downtown Development Corp.
35. Roger Geiger
Ohio executive director, National
Federation of Independent Business (36)
Geiger manages the public policy, political, member activism and communication programs in the
state. He also represents NFIB with national policy
organizations. Media outlets regularly turn to him
as the voice on issues affecting small firms.
36. Boyce Safford III
Director, Columbus Department
of Development (27)
Safford tried several routes to raise money for city
development in the past year. Despite the passing
of bond packages on the November ballot, the financial crunch prompted the department to eliminate city funding for the Columbus Urban Growth
Corp.
37. John P. McConnell
Chairman and CEO,
Worthington Industries (38)
McConnell had to make the tough decision to cut
300 jobs. Despite having to displace employees,
McConnell has found a way to strengthen the company financially and improve profitability.
38. Doug Kridler
President and CEO,
The Columbus Foundation (41)
The foundation set new records in 2007: Grants up
53 percent to $110.8 million and gifts passing
$119 million. Donors created 136 new funds to
support causes.
39. John B. Gerlach Jr.
Chairman, president and CEO,
Lancaster Colony Corp. (40)
Gerlach remains involved throughout the community as a member of the board of directors for
Huntington Bancshares Inc., The Columbus
Foundation, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the
Dean’s Advisory Council for Fisher College of
Business at The Ohio State University.
40. Jack Ruscilli
CEO, Ruscilli Construction Co. Inc. (39)
Ruscilli’s company continues to leave its imprint
with several high-profile projects. Last summer,
the company was selected to renovate Nestle’s
R&D facility and several schools.
41. Larry Hilsheimer
Executive vice president and CFO, Nationwide
Mutual Insurance Co. (30)
Nationwide reached an agreement last August to
purchase the remaining shares of its spin-off,
Nationwide Financial Services. But like many companies in the industry, Nationwide has felt the effects of the economic crisis. Hilsheimer still finds
time to devote to several boards, including Battelle
for Kids.
42. David Milenthal
CEO, The Milenthal Group (42)
Milenthal continues to the lead the company he
started with his wife, Bonnie. The marketing, public affairs, public relations and community relations
firm’s client list includes Limited Brands and
OhioHealth.
43. M. Valeriana Moeller
President, Columbus State
Community College (44)
Moeller proposed a scholarship to bring working
adults back to school, which was approved by
trustees. $3 million of a $14 million surplus was allocated to the Think Again Scholarship and will
give $1,000 to 1,000 students, just one of the reasons Moeller moved up the list.
44. Jeffrey Wadsworth
President and CEO, Battelle (new)
Wadsworth wins the award for newest to his power
position, as he just took the president and CEO
reins at Battelle on Jan. 1, after six years with the
organization. He succeeds Carl Kohrt, and the
board has confidence that Wadsworth will be able
to continue the organization’s global growth while
also recruiting new talent.
45. Curt Steiner
Vice president for government affairs, The Ohio
State University (37)
Steiner drops on the list after OSU split his former
position of senior vice president for university relations. He moved into his current role when a higher-paying position of senior VP of university communications was created. He now focuses on lobbying.
46. Chester R. Jourdan Jr.
Executive director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning
Commission (56)
Jourdan continues to be active in helping the region’s transportation and economic dilemmas. He
recently teamed up with Mayor Coleman’s effort to
find funding for streetcars in the Mid-Ohio Region.
The streetcars would connect three central regions in Columbus — while also offering a green
mode of transportation.
47. Dwight Smith
Founder and CEO,
Sophisticated Systems (47)
Seeing the value in his employees, Smith has decided to sell 40 percent of his company to his employees through stock options. Looking well into
the future, this move will allow Smith to offer 9
percent to the executive that precedes him, leaving
Smith with 51 percent.
48. Bob Weiler Sr.
Chairman, The Robert Weiler Co. (48)
His company invested $10 million in OSU student
housing, showing continued commitment to the
community. Weiler’s company also turned 70 recently, celebrating its longtime local roots.
49. Jordan Miller
President,
Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio (49)
Miller is now president of Fifth Third Bank,
Central Ohio, using his prior 20 years in
the financial arena as well as his previous
experience as a brokerage manager to
guide the region through tough times.
50. Abigail Wexner
Founder and chair, Columbus Coalition
Against Family Violence (50)
Wexner continues to lead and be active in
the foundation, which over the past 11
years has raised more than $15 million in
an effort to break the cycle of violence.
She has also done numerous projects for
the community.
