Columbus CEO’s 2022 CEO of the Year Awards Recognize 15 Executives

Leading any organization is hard. Guiding one through a pandemic and remaining successful more than two years later takes an even stronger skillset.

For the 12th year, Columbus CEO is recognizing Central Ohio business leaders who have risen to the top of their field and earned the respect of their peers through the CEO of the Year awards.

Beyond the pandemic, this year’s honorees have also had to contend with fluctuating variables such as inflation, a volatile stock market, ongoing supply chain challenges, rising costs and staff shortages.

Our 2022 awards honor four winners and 11 finalists from both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. They work in a variety of fields, including banking, insurance, construction, the funeral industry, transportation, housing, the arts and more.

Honorees were chosen through our annual Survey of Economic Conditions, conducted in partnership with Bill LaFayette of Regionomics. It seeks to gain a better understanding of the local business climate by learning how executives feel about the economy, the challenges they face and why Central Ohio is a good place to do business.

Adapted from the SMU Cox CEO Sentiment Survey, the survey open to all C-suite and cabinet-level executives in the Columbus area. It includes questions on the local, national and global economies; hiring; challenges local organizations face; diversity, equity and inclusion efforts; and other business issues. Responses were gathered in October and November. (Find LaFayette’s analysis of the data on Page 29.)

Respondents also were asked to vote on the CEO of the Year awards. More than 40 nominees appeared on this year’s ballot in four categories: Large For-Profit (500 or more employees), Small For-Profit (fewer than 500 employees), Large Nonprofit ($5 million or more annual revenue/deposits) and Small Nonprofit (less than $5 million annual revenue/deposits). Nominees included past finalists, as well as suggestions from select local executives and our editorial staff. Past winners are not eligible.

Three of this year’s winners are no stranger to the program, having been previous finalists: Robert “Bo” Chilton (2021), Michael Corey (2021 and 2020) and Elizabeth Blount McCormick (2017).

Congratulations to all our 2022 CEO of the Year honorees. They are:

Elizabeth Blount McCormick, president and owner of Uniglobe Travel Designers

Robert “Bo” Chilton, CEO of IMPACT Community Action

Michael Corey, executive director of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

Francie Henry, regional president of Fifth Third Bank

More:2022 CEO of the Year: Find Out Which Executives Were Singled Out for Honors

More:2022 CEO of the Year: Affordable Housing Tops Business Leaders’ Wish List

This story is from the CEO of the Year feature package in the Winter 2023 issue of Columbus CEO.