On this special episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report, I’m joined—for the first time—by the two co-founders of The O.H.I.O. Fund, Mark Kvamme and Ray Leach, as well as the fund’s two founding partners, Jill Meyer and Mike Venerable, to share the inside story of how a bold idea became reality.

We explore the inspiration and origins behind a first-of-its-kind strategy designed to generate returns while accelerating prosperity and shaping Ohio’s future. We discuss how, in our first year, we closed on over $230 million in capital from investors and deployed more than $130 million into 19 sector-diverse investments across Ohio’s economy. We also cover what it has taken to build momentum, forge the most powerful network of investors, founders, and operators across the state, and why Ohio’s moment is now—along with the urgency this opportunity demands.

I’m Jeffrey Stern — Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund and host of today’s conversation— and I hope you enjoy this exclusive look behind the scenes at our first year as The O.H.I.O. Fund, our reflections on the journey thus far, and where we go from here!

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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00:00:00 - The Birth of the O.H.I.O Fund
00:03:05 - Ohio's Economic Landscape and Historical Context
00:06:02 - The Vision Behind the O.H.I.O Fund
00:08:56 - Building a Collaborative Network
00:12:07 - The Urgency of Now: Why Timing Matters
00:14:50 - Capitalizing on Opportunities in Ohio
00:18:14 - The Role of AI and Innovation
00:21:01 - Success Stories and Impact Investments
00:24:04 - Creating a Unified Ohio
00:26:46 - The Future of the O.H.I.O Fund
00:29:51 - Personal Motivations and Collective Ambition
00:34:07 - Reflecting on Progress and Future Aspirations
00:39:12 - Surprises and Insights from the O.H.I.O Fund's First Year
00:50:03 - Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Growth in Ohio
00:54:02 - Embracing Change and Building a New Future

Dale Wollschleger is the Founder and former CEO of Cleveland-based ExactCare Pharmacy and the developer of the ExactPack™—a patient-specific medication packaging system designed to simplify complex medication regimens.

This conversation with Jeffrey Stern (Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund) and Dale dives into the unlikely journey of a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur who started in the back of a small Cleveland pharmacy and built a billion-dollar organization serving patients across the country.

ExactCare’s meteoric growth—from inception to a multi-hundred-million-dollar (revenue) business in under a decade—has earned it repeated recognition as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company; Dale himself was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Ultimately, Dale’s remarkable journey stems from an observation he made as a pharmacist: that pharmacists have the opportunity to play a more integral role in clinical care—and that their responsibility doesn’t end when the patient leaves the store. Many patients could live healthier, more independent lives if only they took the right medications at the right times.

In our conversation, Dale shares how he navigated the many chapters of scaling a healthcare business: bringing in private equity and outside capital, evolving his leadership, and balancing high-growth expectations with a deep commitment to patient outcomes, company culture, family—and much more.

https://www.exactcarepharmacy.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wollschleger/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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Chapters
00:00 - The Journey of a Pharmacist Turned Entrepreneur
14:34 - Building ExactCare: Addressing Complex Patient Needs
24:18 - The Evolution and Vision of ExactCare
31:07 - Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pharmacy
38:59 - Understanding the Pharmacy Industry
43:24 - Pride in Building in Cleveland

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Remote Vans: Building The Best Adventure Vans in America With Tony Alexander & Daryn Hillhouse

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's second episode features Tony Alexander and Daryn Hillhouse, co-founders of Remote Vans — a Cincinnati-based company redefining the premium adventure van category by blending high-quality craftsmanship with the technology and design required for the modern lifestyle — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund. 

Their journey captures a classic entrepreneurial arc—from piecing together their first custom van in a brewery garage at the height of the pandemic to scaling operations at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Cincinnati, where Remote Vans is now producing meticulously designed, technologically advanced camper vans at scale, and is also where our conversation took place. 

Through it, we explore their entrepreneurial lessons, transitioning from custom builds to dealer-focused manufacturing at scale, the commitment to innovation and quality that permeates their brand, the power of community, the nuances of building an automotive company in Ohio and leading in an industry shaped by evolving consumer preferences, and the enduring appeal of adventure. 

Tony and Daryn give an awesome account and reflection of Remote Vans and provide a compelling example of Ohio’s entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing might, and the adventure lifestyle.

https://remotevans.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-alexander-676785118/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynhillhouse/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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Chapters
00:00:00 – Remote Vans
00:00:58 – Episode Intro & Remote Vans Origin Story
00:03:18 – The Classic Startup Journey
00:04:48 – How Tony & Daryn Met
00:08:07 – Pandemic Pivot to Van Building
00:11:43 – Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:14:07 – Evolving the Business Model
00:16:28 – Defining the North Star
00:18:22 – The Adventure Van Market
00:22:10 – Remote Vans’ Brand & Lifestyle
00:25:28 – Scaling Craftsmanship
00:30:38 – Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned
00:34:41 – Future Chapters
00:40:30 – Measuring Success
00:41:39 – Building Industry in Ohio
00:46:51 – Ambitious Manufacturing
00:47:10 – Ohio Adventures: Hidden Gems
00:48:31 – Closing & How to Connect

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TJ Dembinski, Eagle Electronics: Onshoring America's Critical Technologies

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's first episode features TJ Dembinski, co-founder and CEO of Eagle Electronics — dedicated to on-shoring America’s critical technology supply chain, starting with the IoT and automotive-grade cellular modules — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund.

This conversation traces a fascinating arc — one that begins with the macro and geopolitical forces shaping global commerce and lands in a Northeast Ohio advanced micro-electronic manufacturing floor where Eagle Electronics is domestically building one of the most critical pieces of our digital infrastructure: the cellular module.

TJ's story, and the founding of Eagle, is deeply embedded in these broader structural shifts — from the decoupling of U.S. global supply chains to the bipartisan momentum around domestic manufacturing and reindustrialization, to the evolving national security concerns that now govern the production of connected technologies.

Before founding Eagle, TJ was a Partner at Drive Capital, where he spent over five years exploring and investing at the frontiers of emerging technologies — from AI to cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing. In our conversation, we explore how his vantage point as an investor informed his transition to becoming a founder, and how Eagle emerged from an intersection of powerful global tailwinds and one very specific customer need.

We also talk about the nuances of reshoring, what onshoring looks like in practice, what cellular modules are, and why Ohio — of all places — is emerging as the epicenter of America’s next industrial chapter. From partnerships to cutting-edge automation, from regulatory and security considerations to hard-earned insights about what it actually takes to build something physical at scale — TJ brings an insightful clarity to one of the most exciting, complex, and important entrepreneurial movements underway today and how Eagle Electronics is positioned to lead within it.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/
https://www.eagleelectronics.com/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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[00:00:00] Eagle Electronics
[00:01:17] Introducing TJ Dembinski  
[00:02:57] The Macro Trends Shaping Eagle Electronics
[00:06:03] Transition from Investing to Entrepreneurship
[00:07:54] Eagle's Origin Story  
[00:08:51] Advanced Manufacturing and Onshoring  
[00:11:23] Political Drivers of Reindustrialization  
[00:12:21] Defining Critical Technologies 
[00:13:42] Why Ohio?
[00:16:02] What is Eagle Electronics?  
[00:17:00] What is a Cellular Module?  
[00:17:46] Setting Up U.S. Manufacturing  
[00:18:59] Regulatory Environment
[00:21:22] Addressing Real vs. Perceived Risk  
[00:23:11] Startup Life Cycle
[00:23:47] Eagle's Market Strategy and Vision  
[00:26:25] Workforce & Talent for Manufacturing  
[00:28:13] Market Timing and Competition  
[00:30:01] Learnings as Investor and Founder  
[00:32:00] Capital and Funding in Ohio  
[00:34:34] Enabling Ohio's Manufacturing Ecosystem  
[00:37:15] Building in Hardware vs. Software  
[00:41:26] Fostering Nuance and International Collaboration  
[00:42:30] Earned Wisdom and Entrepreneurial Journey  
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