It's no secret that Ohio is a fierce—and successful—economic competitor. But the state now faces pressing questions about its ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing national and global landscape.

With slowing population growth, workforce shortages, trade and tariff uncertainty, and the added strain of constricted international immigration, Ohio's economic trajectory is at a crossroads.

We'll unpack the powerful forces shaping the state's economic future—from talent pipelines and demographic shifts to infrastructure demands and the race to secure high‑growth industries—as we take on a trillion‑dollar question: can Ohio stay ahead of the economic pack?

Featuring:

J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO, JobsOhio

Steve Stivers, President and CEO, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Your host is Angela An, News Anchor and "Boomtown" Series Host, WBNS 10TV.

The presenting sponsor of this forum was Huntington Bank.

This forum was also sponsored by JPMorganChase, KeyBank, Public Sector Consulting, and Roetzel & Andress.

The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.

This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Abundance" by Ezra Klein (2025).