Aim Hire
2023
Ohio Excels and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation have come together again this fall to host the Aim Hire Workforce and Education Conference, which is designed to strengthen relationships between businesses and educators at all levels. Ohio business, education, political, and community leaders will discuss the state of education and workforce in Ohio and key issues and solutions to better prepare Ohioans for success.
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Hear from the President of Ohio Excels and state education leaders Randy Gardner and J. Cristopher Woolard as we kickoff the 2023 Aim Hire conference!
Speaker Biographies:
Lisa Gray
President, Ohio Excels
Lisa Gray’s career has been dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of ALL of Ohio’s students. Prior to leading Ohio Excels, Gray had her own consulting practice specializing in public policy development, government relations, advocacy, strategic planning, and project management with an emphasis on public education. Her clients included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve, Inc., Philanthropy Ohio, Battelle for Kids, Ohio Business Roundtable, Teach for America, Jobs for the Future and the Office of Governor Taft, among others. Prior to starting her consulting practice, Gray was the Director of Policy and Communications at Battelle for Kids from 2001-2005. In 2000, Gray served as the Project Director of the Governor’s Commission for Student Success. The bi-partisan commission, appointed by Governor Taft, developed recommendations for improving Ohio’s K-12 public education system. Gray also served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka. Prior to joining the Mayor’s office, Gray served in a number of positions at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Gray graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with a BS in Elementary Education. At the start of her career, she served as an elementary school teacher. She and her husband have four wonderful sons, all of whom have been educated in Ohio’s public schools.
Randy Gardner
Chancellor, Ohio Department of Education
Chancellor Randy Gardner was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019 to serve in the Governor’s cabinet after 33 years of service in the General Assembly, including 19 years in House and Senate elected leadership positions. During his time in the House and Senate, Gardner achieved a 100% voting record, totaling 10,433 consecutive votes. He earned the title “Cal Ripken of the state legislature” for his historic voting record.
Chancellor Gardner oversees the state’s higher education system, including public and independent universities, community colleges and adult career centers. He and his wife of 40 years, Sandy, continue to reside in Bowling Green and are the parents of three children and three grandchildren.
J. Christopher Woolard, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction
The State Board of Education of Ohio selected J. Christopher Woolard, Ph.D., to lead the Ohio Department of Education as the interim state superintendent of public instruction. For nearly two decades serving the State of Ohio, Dr. Woolard has focused on improving student achievement through the effective use of school and district data to inform decision-making. With a focus on academic growth, accountability and strengthening statewide education partnerships, Dr. Woolard champions best practices and collaborative strategies to advance opportunities for all students.
Previously serving as the Department’s chief program officer, Dr. Woolard worked closely with agency program centers and units to oversee all initiatives related to continuous improvement, student supports, advancing professional supports, performance and impact, and teaching, leading and learning. He continues to lead work focused on the Future Forward Ohio state priorities to support pandemic recovery, literacy achievement and reading success, workforce readiness, student wellness and educational options.
Dr. Woolard began working at the Department in 2003. Prior to serving as chief program officer, he served as the senior executive director of the Center for Performance and Impact where he led work focused on state assessments, development of Ohio School Report Cards, implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the creation of data tools for educators and state-level policy research.
Dr. Woolard received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Political Science from Muskingum College and a Master’s Degree and Doctorate in Political Science from Miami University. He completed a prestigious fellowship with the Harvard Strategic Data Project and has previously received the Data Quality Campaign’s State Data Leader Award for promoting data use to improve student learning and achievement.
As a father of three, Dr. Woolard understands the importance of education and is committed to ensuring all Ohio students receive the tools necessary to build successful futures. In his spare time, Dr. Woolard enjoys staying active through running and biking, and watching his children play soccer.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence & Disruptive Technology
In this highly-anticipated opening plenary session we bring together leading experts at the forefront of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and disruptive technology innovation. Join us as we discuss strategic insights into how AI is reshaping industries, businesses, and education. We will delve into the economic and workforce implications of these advancements. This session promises to be a dynamic exploration of the transformative power of AI and disruptive technology.
Speaker Biographies:
Duwain Pinder
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Duwain serves higher education institutions on strategy and operational topics, helping them respond to a rapidly evolving landscape through bold, inclusive workforce development strategies and significant performance transformations. His expertise includes higher education strategy, racial equity, and the future of work. He also leads McKinsey’s research and client service on the topic of racial equity through the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility. Prior to joining McKinsey, he worked for Teach For America as the Director of Growth, Development and Partnerships where he helped launch two Teach For America offices (one in Cleveland, one in Cincinnati).
Paul Roetzer
Founder & CEO, Marketing AI Institute
Paul Roetzer is founder and CEO of Marketing AI Institute; co-author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence: AI, Marketing and the Future of Business; host of The Marketing AI Show podcast; and creator of the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). As a speaker, Roetzer is focused on making AI approachable and actionable for marketers and business leaders. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Roetzer has consulted for hundreds of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Previously he was founder and CEO of PR 20/20, a digital marketing agency that he sold in 2021.
Paul is also a co-author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence: AI, Marketing and the Future of Business; host of The Marketing AI Show podcast; and creator of the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). As a speaker, Roetzer is focused on making AI approachable and actionable for marketers and business leaders. A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Roetzer has consulted for hundreds of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Previously he was founder and CEO of PR 20/20, a digital marketing agency that he sold in 2021.
Nicholas Lee-Romagnolo - Principal, Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Economic and Workforce Development
Nicholas Lee-Romagnolo
Principal, Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Economic and Workforce Development
Nicholas is a Principal for AWS Economic and Workforce Development team. In his current role, he works with the workforce development apparatus in AWS infrastructure communities, especially community colleges and vocational schools, to build, improve and expand pathways into high-demand roles related to the infrastructure of the internet. Previously, he worked with AWS to collaborate with Higher Education institutions to build flexible, stackable pathways in the teaching and learning of cloud computing competencies across states in the US. He comes to this work by way of public education, first as a 4th grade, middle school, and high school teacher, then as the founder of a Charter High School in East Palo Alto, CA. After his work in the Bay Area, he helped to build an online teacher professional development and media company called Teaching Channel and built curriculum and implementation resources for Agile Mind at the University of Texas at Austin. From 2014-2018 he was the Director of Mathematics, then Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Newark Public Schools in Newark, New Jersey. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Biology from Stanford University and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from San Francisco State University.
Session Materials:
Learning Sessions – Round 1
Participants will have the opportunity to attend one of the following six learning sessions found on Floor 3 of the conference center:
- Building Critical Career Pathways
- Exploring Flexible Work-Based Learning Models
- Al in Education: What Educators Need to Know
- Virtual Reality in Education and Training
- Economic Return on Postsecondary Education
- Experience Virtual Reality Technology
Please click the button below for more details on each learning session, including location, speakers, and session materials.
Learning Sessions – Round 2
Participants will have the opportunity to attend one of the following six learning sessions found on Floor 3 of the conference center:
- Career Pathways: Electric Vehicles (EV) and Advanced Manufacturing
- Career Pathways: Broadband and 5G Infrastructure
- Career Pathways: Construction
- Career Pathways: IT/Healthcare
- Career Pathways: Agriculture
- Experience Virtual Reality Technology
Please click the button below for more details on each learning session, including location, speakers, and session materials.
Lunch & Business Education Partnerships
Hear from Ohio’s Lt. Governor Jon Husted and celebrate successful Business-Education Partnerships through recognizing Ohio’s 4-star Business Advisory Councils!
Speaker Biography:
Jon Husted
Lieutenant Governor, Ohio
Jon Husted is the 66th and current Lt. Governor of Ohio, a position he has held since his inauguration in January of 2019. As Lt. Governor, Husted leads the Office of Workforce Transformation, which works to identify the needs of Ohio businesses and align workers’ skills with those needs to close the skills gap and get more people into rewarding careers.
In addition to the Office of Workforce Transformation, the Lt. Governor oversees the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), which helps ease regulatory burdens on businesses in Ohio by working to eliminate burdensome regulations that hinder economic growth and job creation. Husted also leads InnovateOhio, an effort to modernize state government, improve customer service, and save tax dollars.
Of all his responsibilities, Lt. Governor Husted considers his most important role as that of husband to his wife, Tina, and father to Alex, Katie, and Kylie.
Ohio’s Regional Talent Challenges: Plenary Discussion
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.
Speaker Biographies:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lisa Gray
President, Ohio Excels
Lisa Gray’s career has been dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of ALL of Ohio’s students. Prior to leading Ohio Excels, Gray had her own consulting practice specializing in public policy development, government relations, advocacy, strategic planning, and project management with an emphasis on public education. Her clients included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Achieve, Inc., Philanthropy Ohio, Battelle for Kids, Ohio Business Roundtable, Teach for America, Jobs for the Future and the Office of Governor Taft, among others. Prior to starting her consulting practice, Gray was the Director of Policy and Communications at Battelle for Kids from 2001-2005. In 2000, Gray served as the Project Director of the Governor’s Commission for Student Success. The bi-partisan commission, appointed by Governor Taft, developed recommendations for improving Ohio’s K-12 public education system. Gray also served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka. Prior to joining the Mayor’s office, Gray served in a number of positions at the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. Gray graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, with a BS in Elementary Education. At the start of her career, she served as an elementary school teacher. She and her husband have four wonderful sons, all of whom have been educated in Ohio’s public schools.
Addressing Regional Talent Needs: Strategy Workshops
Explore targeted solutions to Ohio’s regional talent needs in your region through our interactive strategy workshop: Addressing Regional Talent Needs. Join regional staff, industry leaders, educators, and advocates from your community in collaborative sessions designed to identify actionable strategies to bridging workforce gaps, thus fueling economic growth in your region and across the state.
Central Ohio Region
Aminah Robinson Ballroom – Floor 5 (Stay in the Ballroom After Plenary Sessions)
Margaret Camma, Central Ohio Regional Liaison for the Lt. Governor
Southwest Ohio Region
Pheoris West A – Floor 3
Derek Chancellor, Southwest Ohio Regional Liaison for the Lt. Governor
Southeast Ohio Region
Pheoris West C – Floor 3
Bryn Stepp, Southeast Ohio Regional Liaison for the Lt. Governor
Northwest Ohio Region
Roman Johnson – Floor 3
Luanne Cooke, Northwest Ohio Regional Liaison for the Lt. Governor
Northeast Ohio Region
Pheoris West B – Floor 3
Mary Kate Hastings, Northeast Ohio Regional Liaison for the Lt. Governor
Session Materials:
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