This plenary discussion brings together leaders from various regions across the state to address Ohio’s unique regional talent challenges. Delve into insightful conversations on workforce development, education, and innovative solutions, shaping a collaborative roadmap for empowering Ohio’s workforce, and driving regional growth.

Glenda Bumgarner, PhD.
President and CEO, Appalachian Partnership, Inc.

Glenda serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Appalachian Partnership, Inc., a private non-profit organization dedicated to building economic prosperity through synergistic economic development strategies across Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties. She also serves as the chief executive officer for the company’s two subsidiaries, the Appalachian Growth Capital, a CDFI dedicated to providing loan capital and technical assistance to the Region’s businesses, and Ohio Southeast, a regional JobsOhio partner dedicated to advancing economic development. Glenda is committed to building the private-sector business economy and mobilizing an effective voice to address and improve the issues affecting our Appalachian region, and improve the prosperity of the citizens in the region through employment opportunities. Prior to joining the API, Glenda served in several senior-level public and private positions. On the talent front, she served as the Governor’s Executive Director of the Workforce Policy Board, and managed $40M in workforce training programs for the Ohio Department of Development. Glenda led the economic development and governmental affairs teams for Nisource/Columbia Gas, and IBM Corporation. She also led the Clark County Community Improvement Corporation. In the various capacities, Glenda focused on economic development and notably the capital requirements and assistance that businesses require to stabilize and grow. Glenda has managed public and private funding and programs in aggregate that exceed $1 billion. Dr. Bumgarner holds a doctorate in management from Walden University with her research and dissertation anchored in transformational leadership, a master’s degree in public administration, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Capital University.

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Gary Lindgren
President, Cincinnati Business Committee and Board Member, Ohio Excels

Gary Z. Lindgren has served as the President of the Cincinnati Business Committee since August 2007. The CBC is a private organization comprised of the region’s top CEO’s whose mission is to improve economic development and education. In late 2012, the CBC helped launch the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee which includes CEO’s from nearly 100 mid-size Cincinnati companies. Lindgren serves in a similar capacity for CRBC. In his role, Lindgren is responsible for organizing business leadership from CBC and CRBC to address critical issues facing the city and the region. During his tenure, the CBC has spearheaded efforts to accelerate an innovation economy in the Cincinnati region. The CBC’s Regional Innovation Task Force launched Cintrifuse – an organization charged with scaling the innovation ecosystem while increasing risk capital and the number of venture-worthy companies in the region.

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Kenny McDonald
President and CEO, Columbus Partnership and Board Member, Ohio Excels

Kenny McDonald serves as the third president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a civic organization of Columbus’ top business leaders. The Partnership was founded in 2002 to improve the economic and cultural base of Central Ohio. McDonald is responsible for leading strategies focused on diversity and equity, growth and development, and business and civic innovation, in order for the Columbus Region to achieve its vision to become the most prosperous metropolitan area in the United States. He brings more than 25 years of experience working with metropolitan economies in Savannah, Georgia;, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Charlotte, North Carolina. He also spent seven years as a global site location advisor for Fluor Corporation. McDonald has been named one of the Top 50 economic developers by Economix and is a frequent speaker and national thought leader on regional economic development. He was also named Small Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Columbus CEO magazine.

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Baiju Shah
President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Partnership and Board Member, Ohio Excels

Baiju R. Shah is the President & CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s leading economic development organization and with over 12,000 members, the largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation. Guided by a board of corporate and entrepreneurial CEOs, the organization focuses on accelerating growth and inclusive prosperity through strategic initiatives, business services, real estate, and advocacy. Prior to GCP, Shah served as the Senior Fellow for Innovation at The Cleveland Foundation, the world’s first community foundation with assets of $2.8 billion. His work centered on catalyzing growth initiatives for the region including leading the Cleveland Innovation Project. Shah remains a member of the Impact Investing Board Committee which directs a $150 million portfolio allocation of the foundation. Previously, Shah was the CEO of BioMotiv and co-leader of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, a national drug development initiative. During his tenure, the company established strategic partnerships with Takeda, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson. Prior to that, he was CEO and co-founder of BioEnterprise, an accelerator and industry growth initiative formed with Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Shah is a Director of Invacare (NYSE: IVC) and Athersys (NASDAQ: ATHX) and is also a Senior Advisor to FasterCures, a center of the Milken Institute. He also serves as a Trustee of Destination Cleveland and Global Cleveland. Shah began his business career as a consultant with McKinsey & Company. Shah has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognized as one of Cleveland’s most influential leaders. He received a JD from Harvard Law School and a BA from Yale University.