Conquering Columbus Podcast

Summary: Judy Mobley is the CEO of Children’s Hunger Alliance, a local non-profit with the mission of ensuring that children without access receive healthy food, education, and physical activity. In Ohio, 1 in 5 children are unsure of where their next meal will come from. However, because every region faces its own unique barriers for …

Summary: Ed Porter is the former Chief Revenue Officer at Smart Harbor, as well as a Sales Leader in the Columbus Community. He’s also the Chapter President of the AA-ISP, a global inside sales organization dedicated to the advancement of the inside sales profession. Finally, Ed is launching his own consulting firm in July and …

Summary: Krista Powell is the Brand Manager for Aileron, as well as a leadership coach and a co-founder of Christopher and Mae Design Company – Aileron is a consulting firm with the mission of helping small business leaders unleash the potential of private business through professional management. In her role as Brand Manager, Krista is …

Summary: Michelle Murcia is the Founder and CEO of book+street — Specializing in private, venture-backed and pre-IPO companies, Book+Street provides comprehensive finance and administration services that make it easy for start-ups to start off right, right from the start. Book+Street is your outsourced finance and administration team, with fractional CFO, controllership, bookkeeping, talent acquisition and …

Summary: Mark Sellers is the founder and CEO of Breakthrough Sales Performance, LLC – a sales consulting firm headquartered here in Columbus, OH. Mark has helped over 120 sales teams around the world implement his proprietary “buying journey,” sales funnel model, the BuyCycle Funnel. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:44) Small Biz Cares (00:01:19) The SunDown …

Summary: Brittany Dixon is the Founder and Director of Operations at Brittany and Co., a consulting firm with a focus on systems, efficiency, and automation for startups and entrepreneurs. She helps them free up their time so that they can focus on big goals and sustain long term growth. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:43) Small …

Summary: The School Performance Institute (SPI) launched as the learning and improvement arm of the Columbus non-profit United Schools Network (USN) on July 1, 2017, with start-up grant funding support from the W.G. and Patricia M. Jurgensen Fund of The Columbus Foundation, The Columbus Foundation, and the AEP Foundation. SPI’s core purpose is to seek …

Summary: Brooke Yoakam is an Upper Arlington High School junior, actively involved in student council, Spanish honors society, and is the captain of her school’s soccer team. Brooke is also the CEO and Founder of GiftPocket, a mobile app designed to help teens easily store, manage, use, and exchange all of their gift cards. When …

Summary: Angela Rucci is the CEO and a Co-founder of Tego, a personal safety application that allows someone to send updates to their friends when walking by yourself. Angela thought of the idea after being assaulted while shopping at a local grocery store, and she pitched the idea at the OSU Hack-a-Thon in 2018, where …

Summary: Jack Tzagournis, President of Fortress Real Estate Companies, has over 23 years of experience in the real estate industry as Vice President of Development for Continental Real Estate Companies and Vice President of Sales at Dietz Commercial, prior to starting Fortress. He was responsible for site selection and development activities for Giant Eagle’s entry …

Summary: Jeff Terwin is the Associate Head of School and Head of the Upper School at the Wellington School. The Wellington School is private Pre K-12 school here in Columbus, with a mission of discovering and cultivating the unique potential in every student. Before Wellington, Jeff spent time working at several other private schools, and …

Summary: The Ohio State University’s Business Builders Club (BBC) is a group of passionate students who collaborate with the Columbus Community and organizations around the world to foster entrepreneurship. The BBC recruits, educates, and funds talented students at Ohio State, and their members are excited by the challenges and opportunities provided by entrepreneurship. Milestones: (00:00:00) …

Summary: Andrew is the Founder & CEO of United Schools Network, which started with just 57 students and one school. The organization has now grown to over 850 students, and their goal is to provide an excellent education to students that normally lack these opportunities so that they can be prepared for college and life …

Summary: Marc Hawk is the CEO/Co-Founder of RevLocal, a digital marketing company with a focus on revolutionizing the local digital marketing industry. Since the company’s inception in 2010, RevLocal has grown quickly – they were on INC 500’s list of fastest growing companies multiple years in a row, and they have been named to numerous, …

Summary: Rita Soronen is the President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; a national, non-profit public charity dedicated exclusively to finding permanent homes and loving families for the nearly 155,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Created by Wendy’s® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements evidence-based, results-driven …

Summary: Kenny is the President and CEO of Columbus 2020, which is the economic development organization for the 11 county Columbus region. They work in partnership with state and local entities to generate opportunity and build capacity for economic growth. Prior to Columbus 2020, Kenny accumulated over 20 years of regional economic development and management …

Summary: Dwayne Steward is the Director of Prevention at Equitas Health. Established in 1984, Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio), is a regional not-for-profit community-based healthcare system and federally qualified community health center look-alike. Its expanded mission has made it one of the nation’s largest HIV/AIDS, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) healthcare …

Summary: Ruth Milligan is the founder and Managing Director of Articulation. Ruth founded Articulation after producing the first TEDxColumbus event in 2009 – She was looking for speaking and presentation coaches to help train the next group of speakers, and after coming up dry, she decided to create Articulation. She and her team run seminars …

Summary: Chris & Becca Apfelstadt are husband and wife entrepreneurs with two kids. Becca is the Co-Founder and CEO at treetree, The Agency of Special Projects, and Chris is the owner of Light Up Columbus, a company dedicated to installing, maintaining, removing, and storing holiday lighting and decorations for home owners, business owners, and municipalities. …

Summary: Jill Raderstorf is a Partner at Ohio Innovation Fund, which provides venture capital and expertise to enable early-stage Ohio companies to grow and prosper. They’re committed to retaining the best and brightest in Ohio and supporting the creation of the next generation of groundbreaking technologies, companies, and industries. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:40) Facilities …

Summary: Will is the Founding Partner and CEO of Nikola Labs, Inc, a wireless power company with an advantaged far-field technology that converts radio frequency (RF) energy into usable direct current (DC) power. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:39) Facilities Management eXpress (FMX) (00:01:09) The SunDown Group (00:01:32) SmallBiz Cares (00:02:09) The Conquering Columbus Startup Package …

Summary: Michelle Reese is the VP, Chief Talent Innovator and Nathan Vega is the Chief Commercial Executive at the Columbus Collaboratory. The Columbus Collaboratory is an analytics and cyber innovation center, funded by seven of the Columbus’ largest firms (AEP, Battelle, Nationwide, OhioHealth, Cardinal Health, Limited Brands, and Huntington Bank). Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:36) …

Summary: The AFCPE, short for Association for Finanical Counseling and Planning Education) is the nationally recognized leader in financial counseling, coaching, and education. They support professionals by providing career advancement and professional development opportunities, including exceptional financial education trainings, the Journal for Financial Counseling & Planning and the Annual AFCPE Research & Training Symposium. Rebecca …

Summary: Linda is the Co-Founder of Pyramid Community Development Corporation (CDC). Pyramid CDC is a non-profit organization created with the goal of lifting individuals out of poverty by providing advanced technology training, workforce development courses, financial literacy, virtual banking, self-development courses, STEM, robotics, and technology programming for youth; along with connecting these residents to self-employment, …

Summary: Kyle O’Keefe is the Director of Innovation and Programs for the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO). Kyle’s role at SWACO focuses on creating community supported waste reduction and diversion programs that help to build stronger and more resilient communities in central Ohio through environmental, social, and economic stewardship. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks …

Summary: Lindsay and Alex Remley are the owners of Edgework Creative, a millwork, metalwork and design shop located here in the heart of Columbus. They got their start in 2012 creating furniture from reclaimed lumber, and have since expanded their materials and capabilities to millwork and metalwork involving virgin lumber, live edge slabs, reclaimed lumber, …

Summary: Oyauma is the President and CEO at A Kid Again, which for 20+ years has helped restore a sense of normal for families that are caring for a child with a life-threatening illness. A Kid Again hosts year round events to support these families and provide them with memories that will last a lifetime. …

Summary: Rich is the Managing Partner at NCT Ventures, as well as a seasoned entrepreneur and investor. In 1986, Rich founded Digital Storage, Inc. (DSI), while attending The Ohio State University. Since that time he has founded, co-founded, acquired or invested in several more companies under the umbrella of NCT Ventures. Through his capacity as …

Summary: Bill Baumel is the Managing Director of the Ohio Innovation Fund. Bill has spent his career investing in venture capital-backed emerging growth companies, he has more than twenty years of experience, and close ties with a significant network of key Silicon Valley leaders. He was awarded Venture 100 status as one of the top …

Summary: Jim is the President and CEO of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. Before joining the Alumni Association, Jim spent 25-years in the sports and entertainment industry. Some of his roles in that industry included VP & CMO of the Atlanta Falcons, President and General Manager for the Columbus Crew, Associate Athletic Director for …

Summary: Falon Donohue is a community organizer, veteran and the Chief Executive Officer of VentureOhio, a for-impact organization created to facilitate a collaborative statewide entrepreneurial ecosystem and increase access to angel and venture capital for Ohio entrepreneurs. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:32) Facilities Management eXpress (FMX) (00:01:00) The SunDown Group (00:01:25) SHARE (00:01:47) The Conquering …

Summary: Stephanie Domas is a driven leader and respected industry authority in healthcare and device cybersecurity. Her passion for cybersecurity, secure product design, and healthcare has earned her industry recognition and presentations at dozens of cybersecurity and healthcare conferences. In her current role, as Vice President of Research & Development at MedSec she leads business …

Summary: Ira is the CEO at Continental Office. Established in 1939, Continental Office is dedicated to improving the quality of life at the workplace. They work with companies to design a workspace from the ground up to fit with company culture and objectives. Ira has been with Continental for 13 years now, and before that …

Summary: John is the General Manager at Willow Works, a family investment fund that focuses on startups. Their team provides investment, consulting, and links startups to their advisor network, which includes previous Conquering Columbus guest, Pamela Springer, as well as several other leaders in the Columbus area. Before Willow Works, John spent time in a …

Summary: Greg Bixler, Ph.D., P.E., is the Co-Founder and CEO of Design Outreach. D.O. focuses on innovative products that improve the lives of the poor and provide better health, education, and employment opportunities. D.O.’s current flagship project, the LifePump, is helping to solve the global water crisis and bring the many benefits of reliable water …

Summary: Dan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ethex.market, a cypto-exchange centered around DApp, one of the first Web3 decentralized applications for trading cryptocurrencies. The Ethex team is also planning the eventual ICO of their own coin, ETX. Milestones: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:36) Facilities Management eXpress (FMX) (00:01:06) The SunDown Group (00:01:28) SHARE (00:01:50) The …

Summary: Alex is the former Director of Marketing at SEEN Digital Media, and he’s now the Marketing Director at ICX Media. SEEN was recently acquired by ICX Media, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is revolutionizing the digital media market by enabling data-inspired storytelling; transforming the way video is created, distributed, and monetized. Milestones: …

Summary: Artie Isaac leads peer groups with Vistage Worldwide, the world’s leading chief executive organization. Artie also leads corporate brainstorming and idea generation programs to develop new products and expand productivity. He holds a Professional Coach Certification from the International Coach Federation and certifications from EQ-i, Predictive Index and Myers-Briggs. His continuing education includes the …

Summary: Tim is a Nurse, Entrepreneur, and the Chief Innovation Officer at the OSU College of Nursing. During his time in the healthcare industry, he’s researched a variety of fields including neurosurgical research on Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome and improving patient throughput in ​the pediatric hematology/oncology ambulatory settings. He’s also an entrepreneur and an innovator, …

Summary: A founding family member of Donatos Pizza, Jane Grote Abell currently holds the title of Chairwoman of the Board. Throughout her many leadership positions, she helped steer the company’s business strategy. In 2003, Jane was a major catalyst behind the decision to purchase Donatos back from McDonald’s. Following the buy back, in December of …

Summary: Bridgeway Academy is a non-profit organization with a mission to inspire the potential and celebrate the ability of every child. Founded by speech-language pathologist Abby David and music therapist Erin Nealy in 2005 as Helping Hands Center for Special Needs, the organization’s goal is to help each child reach his or her highest potential. …

Summary: Rick Malir is President and Co-Founder at City Barbeque. We welcome him back for the second time, this round to focus on community impact and City Barbeque’s goal to shape every community that they’re involved with. Also, Rick buys a goat. Milemarkers: (00:00:00) Opening remarks (00:00:36) Facilities Management eXpress (FMX) (00:01:05) The SunDown Group …

Summary: The Gryphon is a legendary mythical creature that is half lion and half eagle, entrusted with the duty to guard and protect treasure and priceless possessions. That is the mission of the Gryphon Financial team as well — to safeguard their clients’ family, business and wealth. They’re committed to consulting and guiding their clients …

Summary: SafeChain believes that property transactions should be seamless and completed within a matter of seconds. The groundbreaking application of blockchain technology within the software behind SafeChain will prevent fraud in real estate transactions. SafeChain has the ability to disrupt the age-old methods of how property transactions have been completed traditionally. They provide services for …

Summary: Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, having launched over 45 new products and companies. Previously he was the President & Founder of ContentVia and the Co-Founder of Pangaea Services, and currently he is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Smart Columbus and the Co-Founder/CEO at SHARE. SHARE is a new ride-share service that helps you plan …

Summary: Tanny is the President and CEO at the Crane Group, which got its start as Crane Plastics in 1947 by her grandfather. Tanny joined the company in 1987, and since then she’s worked along side an amazing team to build a network of local, regional, and global firms in an ecosystem centered around helping …

Summary: Matt Wald is a lifelong information technology enthusiast specializing in business growth and in placing collaboration at the center of innovation, leadership, and accelerated learning. Currently President & CEO of the Columbus Collaboratory, a unique advanced analytics and cybersecurity solutions company, he works with large businesses to harness the power of collaboration to drive …

Summary: Two weeks ago, Brooke Sousa claimed the title World’s Strongest Woman in Norway, competing against 21 other professionals from around the world across 6 different events. Brooke has only been training for Strongwoman competitions for four years, and she’s a mom to two daughters, and a full-time personal trainer! Milemarkers: (00:00:00) The Conquering Columbus …

Summary: Gavin and his co-founder, Tim Ward, met while completing their MBA’s at the Fisher College of Business. They recognized an opportunity to bring a new kind of brewery to Columbus: one that focuses on the EXPERIENCE of brewing. So, in 2011, North High Brewing was born as Columbus’ first and only Brew-on-Premise establishment, where …

Summary: Mark is the President of Cup o’ Joe/Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, a very successful chain of coffee shops in Columbus, Ohio. Milemarkers: (00:00:00) The Conquering Columbus Startup Package (00:00:40) Like, subscribe, and share Conquering Columbus! (00:01:00) The SunDown Group (00:01:22) Voice Metrics (00:02:24) Facilities Management eXpress (FMX) (00:02:55) Do you want to sponsor Conquering Columbus? …