Rust Belt Rundown

On this episode of the Rundown, we are joined by Shannon Lee, Executive Director of Leadership Columbus. Leadership Columbus provides state-of-the-art education and training for emerging and existing leaders. 

In this episode, Paul and Shannon discuss what it means to be a leader, the nuances of leadership, and the resources that are available to prioritize learning how to be a successful leader. They also discuss the process Shannon underwent to write her book, Servant Leader Mindset. This book is designed to help people adopt the mindsets that create great organizations and teams that solve community problems and heal broken systems - all without sacrificing themselves. 

Shannon’s go-to food spots in Columbus are Kitchen Social, Jeff Ruby, East Market, and Budd Dairy Food Hall. 

Connect with Shannon Lee on LinkedIn to stay in the know on all things leadership in Central Ohio!

Our guest this week is Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President of EMH&T. EMH&T is a civil engineering firm based in New Albany, Ohio that offers a variety of services such as landscape architecture, infrastructure evaluation, urban design, and more.

In this episode, we learn about Sandy’s extensive career with EMH&T and how their service offerings have evolved. Paul and Sandy also discuss some key regional problems and opportunities that Central Ohio is facing such as affordable housing and rail service.

Sandy is also a member of numerous boards and organizations and she shares how her passion for community work led her to establish her own group known as ‘The Edge Sisters’.

Sandy’s favorite food spot in Columbus is True Food Kitchen.

Connect with Sandy Doyle-Ahern on LinkedIn.

On this episode we are joined by Sheri Chaney Jones, the CEO & Co-Founder of SureImpact. SureImpact is a software that enables day to day case management and data collection, while also enabling organizations to manage, measure, and communicate their unique social impact in the nonprofit sector.

In this episode, Sheri shares her lessons in entrepreneurship and her insights on how social change impact is modernizing. She also discusses her inspiration for starting SureImpact as well as her other ventures as a professor and an author. 

Sheri resides in Columbus and cites The Rusty Bucket as her go to spot. 
Connect with Sheri Chaney Jones on LinkedIn or visit sureimpact.com to learn more!

We have an exciting episode this week on the Rundown! Taylor Evans (Founder & Owner, Rust Belt Recruiting) takes over as host this week to help our listeners get to know his close friend and our host, Paul O’Connor.

This is a great episode to learn more about the host you hear each week. Listen in to learn about why they chose Episode 57 for this conversation, how Paul and Taylor became friends at OU and more about Paul’s background in podcasts and his career outside of podcasting. This conversation also includes Paul’s favorite parts about hosting the Rundown, discussions about Cleveland’s unique identity and lessons in entrepreneurship. 

Paul resides in Columbus so his local recommendations include Jackie O’s on Fourth (of course), Paulie Gee’s for the best pizza in Columbus and Stav’s Diner for your classic greasy spoon spot.
Connect with Paul O’Connor on LinkedIn.

This week we are joined by Kyle Triplett, Director of Aluminum at Olympic Steel!

In this episode Paul and Kyle discuss their experiences at Ohio University and how their student involvement influenced and enhanced their careers. Kyle tells us about his extensive career with Olympic Steel and how his role and the company has expanded over the years. Paul and Kyle also discuss the benefits of careers in the manufacturing industry and how many different opportunities there are as the workforce continues to evolve. 

For Kyle’s favorite food shoutouts, he mentions Brenen’s Coffee Cafe as an Athens favorite and Prosperity Social Club as a Cleveland favorite. 

Connect with Kyle Triplett on LinkedIn.

Our guest this week is Dr. Ethan Karp, President and CEO of MAGNET: The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network. 

In this episode we learn about Ethan’s educational background and what led him to ultimately pursue the impact that business and manufacturing can make. He shares with us the vision of MAGNET and how they aim to grow the local economy through collaboration. 

He offers us his insight on how the workforce is evolving and how automation and technology play into that as well as the workplace flexibility that is emerging in manufacturing. Read Ethan’s Forbes article on employee flexibility here. 

He also shares with us the importance of providing an experience to showcase careers in manufacturing and how it becomes a powerful marketing tool because of the social proof that it creates. MAGNET offers these experiences at their new headquarters in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood.
Ethan’s top pick for food in Cleveland is Li Wah in Asiatown. Connect with Ethan Karp on LinkedIn and check out makeitbetterohio.org to learn more about MAGNET’s impact.

On this episode of the Rundown, we are joined by Elad Granot, the Dean of John Caroll University’s Boler College of Business. 

Elad shares with us how his career evolved beyond venture capital and marketing strategy into higher education in his current role. He offers his perspective on the landscape shifts in higher education, specifically in Midwest business schools. He tells us about Boler’s Jesuit take on serving others through business skills and knowledge to positively impact the ecosystem they operate in. 

Elad is also a founding board member of OhioX, a statewide nonprofit on a mission to build Ohio into a tech hub so Elad and Paul discuss emerging tech trends such as AI in relation to higher education.  

When asked his favorite restaurant in the Cleveland area, his pick for breakfast is The Original Pancake House on Chagrin Boulevard and Hyde Park in Beachwood for dinner and drinks!
Connect with Elad Granot on LinkedIn to keep a pulse on emerging tech and education trends in Ohio.

On this episode we are joined by Megan Kim! Megan is the Senior Vice President of Membership Development and Marketing at Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), our region’s leading economic development organization. She is also the Executive Director of COSE, (The Council of Smaller Enterprises) a non-profit designed to help small businesses succeed. 

Megan details her career, starting with her interest in public relations and her desire to make an impact by telling the stories of businesses. Wanting to do work that mattered is what drew her to GCP where she has held many roles within the organization over the years.She tells us how she balances her two roles within the organization and how GCP, and COSE specifically, help small businesses. She offers us insight on how recent changes in regional leadership are accelerating economic development in our region and what makes Cleveland such a great place to live and work. 

A self-proclaimed ambassador for Cleveland, she knows all the good craft beer spots! Her top picks in the Cleveland area include Saucy Brew Works, The Brew Kettle, Southern Tier and Brew Garden. 

Connect with Megan Kim on LinkedIn to stay in the know on all things happening with economic development in our region! 

Our guest this week is Connie King, Workforce Development Director for the Precision Metalforming Association!

In this episode Connie offers us her expert take on workforce trends and the importance of investing in and upskilling workers. We also learn more about what resources PMA provides their members such as METALFORM EDU. Paul and Connie also discuss AI and automation in relation to how the workforce evolution.

Connie’s food recommendation is Kelly’s Cafe in Brunswick for breakfast! 

Connect with Connie King on LinkedIn and follow the Precision Metalforming Association.