Everyone has heard the saying, “It’s not always what you know, but who you know.” This is true in business, in life, and in Columbus. With this in mind, we have compiled our second annual list of young professionals who you should know. This year’s group ranges in age from 22 to 45 and represents a variety of wonderful people, ideas, and organizations. They are well respected in their fields and, much like you, are looking to make their mark.
Our vision for this year’s list is to tell the Columbus story through 12 specific themes that best represent Columbus’ population of young professionals, including: Food, Fashion, Music, Networking, Community, Education, Politics, Marketing, Multi-tasking, Athletics, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. By focusing our interviews on the interests, industries, and inspirations of each of our featured young professionals, we gained a better understanding of the role that each play in the grand scheme of life in the Columbus region. We have also included their Twitter handle – if they have one – so you can directly connect with each one.
We are proud to present our Young Professionals to Know in Columbus for 2015:
Heather Aker, 29
Downtown
Program Director of Behavioral Measurement Shared Resource Company, OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center
John Algie, 33
Delaware
President & General Manager, Ohio Machine
@algiejohn
Steve Baldzicki, 40
New Albany
Owner & Founder of Big Fish Networking, Networking Leaders Alliance, & Monarch Title Services
Olivera Bratich, 34
Clintonville
Owner, Wholly Craft!
@whollycraft
Elizabeth Brown, 30
Short North
Downtown Development Manager, City of Columbus
@lizclarkebrown
Hali Buck, 27
University District
Student Involvement Coordinator in the Office of Student Life, The Ohio State University
@hali_buck
Erin Corrigan, 35
Downtown
Graphic Designer, JP Morgan Chase; Marketer, Event Organizer; President, Columbus Rotary
@Erin1213
Nate DeMars, 31
Grandview
Owner, Pursuit
@natedemars
Denis de Verteuil, 27
Franklinton
Vice President, Compton Construction
Johnny DiLoretto, 43
Upper Arlington
Director of Communications, Gateway Film Center
@johnnydiloretto
Matt Dopkiss, 29
Old Worthington
CEO, Dynamit
@dopkiss
Charles Erickson, 36
Clintonville
Freelance, Event Marketing & Consumer Engagement Specialist
@CharlesEri
Chad Paul Frye, 33
Victorian Village
Associate Publisher, Director of Marketing and Business Development
Company, Outlook Media; Publisher, Outlook, and High Street Neighborhoods
@cpfrye
Currecia Gamble, 30
Gahanna
Executive Assistant, COWIC OhioMeansJobs
@Radiance02
Tracey Gardner, 41
New Albany
Creator & Founder, Tracey Gardner Method
@tgmhotworkout
Amanda Hamman, 27
Grove City
Blogger, Girl About Columbus; Speech-Language Pathologist, RehabCare
@girlaboutcbus
Frankie Hejduk, 39
Westerville
Brand Ambassador, Columbus Crew
@frankiehekduk2
Dan Hurst, 40
Upper Arlington
Executive Director, Community Computer Alliance
Kareem Jackson, 31
Merion Village
Co- Owner, Milk Bar Boutique
@dckareem
Níel M. Jurist, 41
Olde Towne East
Public Information Manager, City of Gahanna
@NielJurist
Stacie Klein, 25
Clintonville
Atid Columbus Director, Jewish Federation of Columbus
@AtidColumbus
Brady Konya, 40
Short North
Owner & Co-Founder, Middle West Spirits, Tavern Vinegar & Workshop Co
@bradykonya
April Kulcsar, 32
Victorian Village
Manager of Music, Art, & Entertainment, Brothers Drake Meadery
@cbusapril
Andrew Lallathin, 33
Short North/Victorian Village
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Peak Property Group
@ALallathin
Ryan Lang, 35
Clintonville
Co-Founder/Head Distiller
Middle West Spirits
Adam Lehman, 28 and Allison Lehman, 26
Grandview
Owners, The Wonder Jam
@adamlehman
@alliepal
Greg Lehman, 36
Upper Arlington
Co-Owner & Distiller, Watershed Distillery
@Watershed_Ohio
Patrick Locy, 28
Grandview Heights
Director of Marketing, Gateway Film Center; Director of University Radio, Capital University
Liz Martin, 32
North East Area Community
Executive Director, Columbus SOUP; Owner & Treat Baker, Jackpot Treats; Office Manager, Chaurshong Chen D.O., Inc.
@lizlizlizm
Thomas McClure, 37
Merion Village
Founder & Executive Director, CMH Fashion Week
@tommyTime
Sara Mitchell, 26
Grandview
Communications & Engagement Manager, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
@sarainOhio
Reese Neader, 31
Olde Towne East
Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Forge Columbus
@forgecolumbus
Tina H. Nguyen, 28
Dennison Place
Department of Education, City of Columbus Mayor’s Office
@THNguyen28
Chris Olsen, 35
Bexley
Co-founder & Partner, Drive Capital
@chrisolsencmh
Alexis A. Perrone, 33
Clintonville
Lifestyle Manager, Edwards Urban
@AlexisAPerrone
Hannah D. Powell, 33
Executive Director, KIPP Columbus
@hannahdpowell
Varun Ramanujam, 23
Franklin Park
Marketing & Communications Specialist, Columbus Metropolitan Library
@varun_rama
Taylor Ray Orsbon, 24
Powell
Account Manager, Geben Communication
@taylorRayOrsbon
Dave Rigo, 35
Grandview
Co-Owner, Watershed Distillery
@watershed_ohio
Patrick Roehrenbeck, 45
Harrison West
Executive Director, Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
Stephanie Rond, 40
Clintonville
Freelance Street Artist; Gallery Owner, S. Rond Creative; Arts Advocate
Nick Seguin, 29
Victorian Village
Partner, Dynamit
@nickseguin
Nicci Sprouse, 39
Upper Arlington
President & Co-founder, The Single Life
@Asknicci
Jacob Taylor, 22
Downtown/Discovery District
Owner & Director of Client Experience, CivitasNow
@JacobTaylor0
Geoff Towne, 36
Grandview Heights
Brewer & President, Zauber Brewing Company
@ZauberBrewing
Sheila Trautner, 34
New Albany
President & Owner, Taste Hospitality
Bryce Ungerott, 33
Short North
Owner & Partner, Late Night Slice, Xcelerate Media, & Oddfellows Liquor Bar
@LateNightSlice
Josh Weiker, 29
Washington Beach / Old North Columbus
Creator, Director, & Writer, Columbus Avenue; Co-Creator & Host, Damn Girl Danceparty; Hip-Hop Buyer, Magnolia Thunderpussy; Server, Dirty Franks
@spaghettiMambo
Brooke Wojdynski, 24
Short North
Executive Director, Democratic Voices
@brookewojo
Bethia Woolf, 39
Victorian Village
Co-Owner, Columbus Food Adventures & Columbus Brew Adventures
@cbusadventures
Aiko Yonamine, 43
Clintonville
Instructional Design Specialist, OSU College of Medicine; Fellow Organizer, Pecha Kucha Columbus
@aispeak
Jason Yun, 36
Hilliard
Owner, Improvement Warrior Fitness, & Yun Strength & Fitness Systems LLC
@YunTraining