Columbus CEO’s Winter 2024 Issue Highlights CEO of the Year Honorees

One of the best parts about publishing a community-focused business magazine is the opportunity to tell compelling stories—whether it’s a feature on a large public company, a new biotech startup, a community advocate who makes an impact through a nonprofit, or one of countless other tales that illustrate why Central Ohio is such a vibrant place to live, work and grow a company.

Our annual CEO of the Year issue, now in its 13th year, gives us the unique chance to shine the spotlight on local executives who are doing good work and have earned the admiration of their peers. Some do so in very public roles, while others lead smaller organizations that quietly make an impact out of the limelight.

This year, we have the privilege to honor four winners and 12 finalists working in for-profit and nonprofit organizations across the Columbus region. Our winners include the local market leader of a global bank, a two-time health care entrepreneur, a CEO whose nonprofit helps formerly incarcerated individuals start a new life, and the founder of a co-working and community space for women of color. All of them have inspiring stories on how they climbed the ladder to the top, found a spark to start a new organization, or view their role as leaders and mentors to their employees.

Just as compelling is our economic analysis and forecast for 2024, compiled from C-suite executives’ responses to our annual Survey of Economic Conditions. We’re grateful to partner again with economist Bill LaFayette of Regionomics, who works to compile the survey, crunch numbers and analyze the results in a way that all business professionals can understand and learn from.

Also in the Spring issue is a feature on a couple whose charitable endeavors are truly life-changing. If you haven’t heard of local philanthropists Barbara and Al Siemer, unfortunately you’re not alone. The New Albany couple has spent the last 20 years doing life-changing work under the radar, helping schoolchildren by helping their families find stable housing. Between 2011-2022, they impacted nearly 250,000 children nationwide through their nonprofit, the Siemer Institute, in which the couple invested more than $35 million between 2018 and 2022. Their work and their reasons for taking up the cause are truly inspiring.

Read these and many other stories in our Spring issue. Find a copy on newsstands, or check out the digital edition online.

Thanks for reading,

This story is from the Winter 2024 issue of Columbus CEO.