About the Speakers
Featured Speaker
Gene Smith
Athletic Director, The Ohio State University
Gene Smith is in his third year as director of athletics at The Ohio State University. He was named to his current position on March 5, 2005. He is the eighth person to hold the position at Ohio State and the first African-American to do so. Gene previously served as director of athletics at Arizona State, Iowa State, and Eastern Michigan Universities, and is entering his 23rd year in the role.
Smith is active in the Columbus community and is a member of the boards of the YMCA of Central Ohio and the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus. Gene and his wife, Sheila, have four children: Matt, Nicole, Lindsey and Summer, and two grandchildren: Marshall and Steele. Sheila, a 1976 Canadian Olympian in basketball, holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and is an Associate Vice President for Development at Ohio State.
Moderator
Chester R. Jourdan, Jr.
Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Whether it’s been transportation planning, improving the environment, or hurricane recovery and rebuilding, there’s no shortage of strategic, regional efforts that Chester R. Jourdan, Jr. has led during his professional career. Chester brought his successful leadership skills, diverse experience and passion for regionalism to central Ohio in December 2006 when he was appointed as executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
Prior to joining MORPC Chester served as executive director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission. There he led an effective multi-level, far-reaching organization that addressed initiatives by promoting collaboration and cooperation, conducting comprehensive regional planning, being an advocate, developing new programs, building community and business alliances, and providing a forum for the discussion and study of area issues.
He also served with the United States Department of Transportation in many different capacities in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas. Chester earned his Masters in Urban and Regional Affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington and has completed doctoral course work in organizational management, urban economics, planning, public policy and public administration. He received a Bachelor of Science in political science at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Panelists
Paul Otte
Executive Director, Franklin University Leadership Center
President Emeritus, Franklin University
In 1986, Dr. Paul Otte began serving Franklin University as President, the largest independent institution of higher learning in central Ohio, serving nearly 10,000 students annually.
Paul now serves as Executive Director of Franklin’s Leadership Center and President Emeritus. The Leadership Center was created in 2004 to serve as a resource for leadership development in business, government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.
In addition to his duties at Franklin, Paul currently serves as a Board Member of State Auto Mutual Insurance Company, Cooper State Bank, and Oakstone Academy. He is also an Advisory Board Member for R.C. Olmstead, and has served on several community and educational boards. He holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Wayne State University, a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University, and an Honorary Associate Degree from Macomb Community College.
Linda Shetina Logan
Executive Director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission
Linda Shetina Logan has been executive director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission since its inception in June 2002. Prior to the GCSC, she was the director of sports marketing for the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau for five years.
Before joining the GCCVB, Logan was the director of sales and services at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. An Ohio native, Logan spent the previous ten years in Kansas City, Missouri working for the Kansas City Convention Center, the Big Eight Conference, the Kemper Arena and the Kansas City Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League. She also worked for the Milwaukee Does of the Women’s Basketball League and the Cleveland Nets of the World Team Tennis.
Logan is a graduate of Ohio University and on the advisory board of the Sports Administration and Facility Management Program. She also is the past national chair of the board of the National Association of Sports Commissions.
Kristi Robins
Executive Director, Leadership Westerville
Senior Consultant, Leadership Development Group
Kristine Robbins is a Senior Consultant with the Leadership Development Group. With more than twenty years of experience working in senior level human resource management positions, Ms. Robbins has worked in both public and private sectors. Her experience covers a variety of industries including manufacturing, health care, community mental health, education, information services, and state government.
In addition to her work with the Leadership Development Group, Kristi is Executive Director of Leadership Westerville, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community leadership development organization. In 2005, Ms. Robbins was elected to serve a four-year term as a member of the Westerville Schools Board of Education. She currently serves as Vice-President of the Board.
Kristi received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in International Studies and International Business. In 1998, Ms. Robbins achieved certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Kristi is very active in the Westerville community having served as a board member of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, Westerville Education Foundation, Concord Counseling Services, and Uptown Review Board for the City of Westerville. She is also a member of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club. Kristi resides in Westerville with her husband of 20 years, Eric, and their children Eric (18), Brooke (15), and Brad (9).
Larry Jenkins
Vice President, Westerville Sunrise Rotary
Owner, Human Resources Services
Board Member, Leadership Westerville
Tom Holton
Executive Director, Leadership Dublin
Owner, Holton Consulting
Tom’s work experience includes support of production and administrative employees, professionals in fields including science, medical, engineering, finance, project management fields. I have worked in partnership with managers, directors and vice-presidents to achieve their goals. In my role as a human resources generalist or as a trainer and as a group facilitator I help gain consensus, reach decisions and solve problems. I have experience in training development and delivery, in management coaching, and employee relations as well as other HR functions.
In his current position with Leadership Dublin, he manages the daily operations of this non-profit leadership training program for business professionals. Outside of that part-time role he also consults in areas of human resources and performance improvement.
Dr. Ted Sun
Board Member, Leadership Worthington
Chief Dream Maker, Executive Balance
A chief dream maker is a master at developing people and organizations. As early as high school, Dr. Sun coached other runners on the track team and achieved great success. In college, he refined his leadership skills to coach a dance team toward their first-ever, national finals qualification. As an executive development expert, he’s taught many leaders the basic principles that reshaped life as they knew it. Today, Dr. Sun is the owner of multiple businesses, a renowned consultant and a well-respected educator and researcher around the world.
Currently, Dr. Sun has appointments at 7 different universities that stretch across the U.S. from Southern New Hampshire University in the east to Argosy University in the west and of course right here in Columbus with The Ohio State University and the University of Phoenix. Professionally, he educates world leaders on leadership and organizational learning systems. Dr. Sun leads and designs leadership development programs with many organizations such as Leadership Worthington. Recently, he was honored with an invite to teach leadership in China with many fortune 500 Chinese executives and he’ll be presenting at the 14th Annual National Conference on Diversity Race and Learning at the Ohio State University in May, 2008. As you get to know Dr. Sun, you’ll personally experience the passion that he has for helping people live their dreams.
Toni Teague
Former Executive Director, Ohio Leadership
Owner, Phoenix Consulting Company, LLC
A young and dynamic leader and entrepreneur, Toni Teague is the founder and owner of Phoenix Consulting Company, LLC, a Performance Consulting firm that designs and facilitates learning seminars and symposia via short-term and long-term agreements for Executive and Front-Line Employee Development on the topics of Leadership Theory and Practice, Customer Relations/Brand Insistence, Effective Performance Appraisal Systems, and Developing Relevant and Reliable Strategic Plans. In her eight years of business Toni has developed an impressive client list that includes Kraft Foods, Colgate Palmolive, Honda of America, Ohio Secretary of State, Proctor & Gamble, Newark City Schools, Columbus Urban League, Ariel, Emerson Network Power, State of Michigan/Michigan Works!, Time Warner Cable, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Toni is also the CEO of Tapestry Presentations, a motivational speaking bureau that has her speaking to corporations and organizations throughout the country.
Toni’s leadership and networking prowess allowed her to serve as Executive Director for Leadership Ohio from 2005-2008. Toni is the youngest person and first African-American to serve as Executive Director for a statewide leadership program of its kind in the country. Leadership Ohio is a statewide leadership program founded to identify current and emerging leaders throughout Ohio, enhance their leadership skills, and deepen their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio.
Steve Stivers
Senator, Ohio 16th District
Senator Stivers serves as the vice-chairman of the powerful Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee and as the Chairman of the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Judiciary Civil Justice; Judiciary Criminal Justice; and the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committees in the Ohio Senate. He also serves on the Legislative Service Commission. Before his service in public office, Senator Stivers maintained a professional career including seven years with Bank One, three years at the Ohio Company and five years as a staff member in the Ohio Senate. Senator Stivers is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard. He has more than 23 years of service and served the nation oversees for nearly a year in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti. During his service in the Army National Guard he has held positions as Radio-Teletype Operator, Chemical Officer, Company Commander, Logistics Officer, Executive Officer and Battalion Commander. Senator Stivers holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University (1996) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Relations from The Ohio State University (1989). Stivers lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Karen.
Scott Melody
Board Member, Dublin, Ohio Board of Education
Scott Melody and his wife, Scottie, have lived in Central Ohio for 18 years and moved their family to Dublin 7 years ago for the superb school district. Having two daughters attending Dublin City Schools, Scott is active in education and enhancing the community. He served as Board member and President of the Muirfield Village Civic Association, and completed the Leadership Dublin program in 2005.
Scott learned about community service and leadership as a teenager, while obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio State University, with over fifteen years of business management experience. Professionally Scott works as an IT Service Delivery Manager with IBM.
In 2007, Scott was endorsed by the Dublin Educators Association and elected to the Board of Education for the Dublin City Schools. In his Board capacity, he acts as Technical liaison and Athletic Council liaison for the district. Scott also serves on the Board of the Dublin Foundation.
Scott looks forward to serving the community to ensure the future integrity of the Dublin City Schools, and enable all students to achieve their full academic potential.
Featured Speaker
Gene Smith
Athletic Director, The Ohio State University
Gene Smith is in his third year as director of athletics at The Ohio State University. He was named to his current position on March 5, 2005. He is the eighth person to hold the position at Ohio State and the first African-American to do so. Gene previously served as director of athletics at Arizona State, Iowa State, and Eastern Michigan Universities, and is entering his 23rd year in the role.
Smith is active in the Columbus community and is a member of the boards of the YMCA of Central Ohio and the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus. Gene and his wife, Sheila, have four children: Matt, Nicole, Lindsey and Summer, and two grandchildren: Marshall and Steele. Sheila, a 1976 Canadian Olympian in basketball, holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration and is an Associate Vice President for Development at Ohio State.
Moderator
Chester R. Jourdan, Jr.
Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Whether it’s been transportation planning, improving the environment, or hurricane recovery and rebuilding, there’s no shortage of strategic, regional efforts that Chester R. Jourdan, Jr. has led during his professional career. Chester brought his successful leadership skills, diverse experience and passion for regionalism to central Ohio in December 2006 when he was appointed as executive director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC).
Prior to joining MORPC Chester served as executive director of the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission. There he led an effective multi-level, far-reaching organization that addressed initiatives by promoting collaboration and cooperation, conducting comprehensive regional planning, being an advocate, developing new programs, building community and business alliances, and providing a forum for the discussion and study of area issues.
He also served with the United States Department of Transportation in many different capacities in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Georgia and Fort Worth, Texas. Chester earned his Masters in Urban and Regional Affairs from the University of Texas at Arlington and has completed doctoral course work in organizational management, urban economics, planning, public policy and public administration. He received a Bachelor of Science in political science at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Panelists
Paul Otte
Executive Director, Franklin University Leadership Center
President Emeritus, Franklin University
In 1986, Dr. Paul Otte began serving Franklin University as President, the largest independent institution of higher learning in central Ohio, serving nearly 10,000 students annually.
Paul now serves as Executive Director of Franklin’s Leadership Center and President Emeritus. The Leadership Center was created in 2004 to serve as a resource for leadership development in business, government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.
In addition to his duties at Franklin, Paul currently serves as a Board Member of State Auto Mutual Insurance Company, Cooper State Bank, and Oakstone Academy. He is also an Advisory Board Member for R.C. Olmstead, and has served on several community and educational boards. He holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from Wayne State University, a doctorate in educational leadership from Western Michigan University, and an Honorary Associate Degree from Macomb Community College.
Linda Shetina Logan
Executive Director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission
Linda Shetina Logan has been executive director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission since its inception in June 2002. Prior to the GCSC, she was the director of sports marketing for the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau for five years.
Before joining the GCCVB, Logan was the director of sales and services at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. An Ohio native, Logan spent the previous ten years in Kansas City, Missouri working for the Kansas City Convention Center, the Big Eight Conference, the Kemper Arena and the Kansas City Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League. She also worked for the Milwaukee Does of the Women’s Basketball League and the Cleveland Nets of the World Team Tennis.
Logan is a graduate of Ohio University and on the advisory board of the Sports Administration and Facility Management Program. She also is the past national chair of the board of the National Association of Sports Commissions.
Kristi Robins
Executive Director, Leadership Westerville
Senior Consultant, Leadership Development Group
Kristine Robbins is a Senior Consultant with the Leadership Development Group. With more than twenty years of experience working in senior level human resource management positions, Ms. Robbins has worked in both public and private sectors. Her experience covers a variety of industries including manufacturing, health care, community mental health, education, information services, and state government.
In addition to her work with the Leadership Development Group, Kristi is Executive Director of Leadership Westerville, a 501(c)(3) non-profit community leadership development organization. In 2005, Ms. Robbins was elected to serve a four-year term as a member of the Westerville Schools Board of Education. She currently serves as Vice-President of the Board.
Kristi received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in International Studies and International Business. In 1998, Ms. Robbins achieved certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Kristi is very active in the Westerville community having served as a board member of the Westerville Area Chamber of Commerce, Westerville Education Foundation, Concord Counseling Services, and Uptown Review Board for the City of Westerville. She is also a member of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club. Kristi resides in Westerville with her husband of 20 years, Eric, and their children Eric (18), Brooke (15), and Brad (9).
Larry Jenkins
Vice President, Westerville Sunrise Rotary
Owner, Human Resources Services
Board Member, Leadership Westerville
Tom Holton
Executive Director, Leadership Dublin
Owner, Holton Consulting
Tom’s work experience includes support of production and administrative employees, professionals in fields including science, medical, engineering, finance, project management fields. I have worked in partnership with managers, directors and vice-presidents to achieve their goals. In my role as a human resources generalist or as a trainer and as a group facilitator I help gain consensus, reach decisions and solve problems. I have experience in training development and delivery, in management coaching, and employee relations as well as other HR functions.
In his current position with Leadership Dublin, he manages the daily operations of this non-profit leadership training program for business professionals. Outside of that part-time role he also consults in areas of human resources and performance improvement.
Dr. Ted Sun
Board Member, Leadership Worthington
Chief Dream Maker, Executive Balance
A chief dream maker is a master at developing people and organizations. As early as high school, Dr. Sun coached other runners on the track team and achieved great success. In college, he refined his leadership skills to coach a dance team toward their first-ever, national finals qualification. As an executive development expert, he’s taught many leaders the basic principles that reshaped life as they knew it. Today, Dr. Sun is the owner of multiple businesses, a renowned consultant and a well-respected educator and researcher around the world.
Currently, Dr. Sun has appointments at 7 different universities that stretch across the U.S. from Southern New Hampshire University in the east to Argosy University in the west and of course right here in Columbus with The Ohio State University and the University of Phoenix. Professionally, he educates world leaders on leadership and organizational learning systems. Dr. Sun leads and designs leadership development programs with many organizations such as Leadership Worthington. Recently, he was honored with an invite to teach leadership in China with many fortune 500 Chinese executives and he’ll be presenting at the 14th Annual National Conference on Diversity Race and Learning at the Ohio State University in May, 2008. As you get to know Dr. Sun, you’ll personally experience the passion that he has for helping people live their dreams.
Toni Teague
Former Executive Director, Ohio Leadership
Owner, Phoenix Consulting Company, LLC
A young and dynamic leader and entrepreneur, Toni Teague is the founder and owner of Phoenix Consulting Company, LLC, a Performance Consulting firm that designs and facilitates learning seminars and symposia via short-term and long-term agreements for Executive and Front-Line Employee Development on the topics of Leadership Theory and Practice, Customer Relations/Brand Insistence, Effective Performance Appraisal Systems, and Developing Relevant and Reliable Strategic Plans. In her eight years of business Toni has developed an impressive client list that includes Kraft Foods, Colgate Palmolive, Honda of America, Ohio Secretary of State, Proctor & Gamble, Newark City Schools, Columbus Urban League, Ariel, Emerson Network Power, State of Michigan/Michigan Works!, Time Warner Cable, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Toni is also the CEO of Tapestry Presentations, a motivational speaking bureau that has her speaking to corporations and organizations throughout the country.
Toni’s leadership and networking prowess allowed her to serve as Executive Director for Leadership Ohio from 2005-2008. Toni is the youngest person and first African-American to serve as Executive Director for a statewide leadership program of its kind in the country. Leadership Ohio is a statewide leadership program founded to identify current and emerging leaders throughout Ohio, enhance their leadership skills, and deepen their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio.
Steve Stivers
Senator, Ohio 16th District
Senator Stivers serves as the vice-chairman of the powerful Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee and as the Chairman of the Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Judiciary Civil Justice; Judiciary Criminal Justice; and the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committees in the Ohio Senate. He also serves on the Legislative Service Commission. Before his service in public office, Senator Stivers maintained a professional career including seven years with Bank One, three years at the Ohio Company and five years as a staff member in the Ohio Senate. Senator Stivers is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Ohio Army National Guard. He has more than 23 years of service and served the nation oversees for nearly a year in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti. During his service in the Army National Guard he has held positions as Radio-Teletype Operator, Chemical Officer, Company Commander, Logistics Officer, Executive Officer and Battalion Commander. Senator Stivers holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University (1996) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and International Relations from The Ohio State University (1989). Stivers lives in Columbus, Ohio with his wife Karen.
Scott Melody
Board Member, Dublin, Ohio Board of Education
Scott Melody and his wife, Scottie, have lived in Central Ohio for 18 years and moved their family to Dublin 7 years ago for the superb school district. Having two daughters attending Dublin City Schools, Scott is active in education and enhancing the community. He served as Board member and President of the Muirfield Village Civic Association, and completed the Leadership Dublin program in 2005.
Scott learned about community service and leadership as a teenager, while obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio State University, with over fifteen years of business management experience. Professionally Scott works as an IT Service Delivery Manager with IBM.
In 2007, Scott was endorsed by the Dublin Educators Association and elected to the Board of Education for the Dublin City Schools. In his Board capacity, he acts as Technical liaison and Athletic Council liaison for the district. Scott also serves on the Board of the Dublin Foundation.
Scott looks forward to serving the community to ensure the future integrity of the Dublin City Schools, and enable all students to achieve their full academic potential.