Built in Ohio

In this episode of the Built in Ohio Podcast, we talk about the power and potential of artificial intelligence with Cal Al-Dhubaib of Pandata and Matt Schaefer of H2O.Cal is the Founder and CEO of Pandata, an award winning firm that empowers organizations to use Artificial Intelligence competitively. They are data science thought leaders and help organizations solve and simplify complex business challenges. And they pride themselves on delivering solutions that are approachable and ethical. Matt is a Sr. Strategic Account Executive with H2O.ai, the leading AI cloud company, on a mission to democratize AI for everyone. Customers use the H2O AI Hybrid Cloud platform to rapidly make, operate and innovate to solve complex business problems and accelerate the discovery of new ideas.To learn more about Pandata, please visit: https://pandata.co/Connect with Cal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhubaib/To learn more about H2O, please visit: https://h2o.ai/Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-schaefer-b785015/

Dr. Timothy J. Miller is CEO, President and Co-Founder of Forge Biologics, Inc., a VC-backed gene therapy development engine focused on accelerating access to potentially life-saving (AAV) gene therapies. In this podcast, we talk with Dr. Miller about building Ohio's biotech hub and Forge's work in manufacturing gene therapies for life.Dr. Miller was previously founding CEO & President of Abeona Therapeutics, a rare disease NASDAQ gene and cell therapy company. He's a proven biotech leader with experience in driving gene therapy pipeline development, regulatory strategy, investor relations, M&A activities, in-licensing, GMP manufacturing, clinical development and leading stakeholder and shareholder engagement. Dr. Miller has over 20+ years of business development, scientific research, product development and clinical operations expertise, with a focus on transitioning novel gene and cell therapies through pre-clinical and human clinical trials. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and Master of Science (M.S.) from John Carroll University. Dr. Miller is an avid patient-centric drug developer and entrepreneur.For more information on Forge Biologics, please visit: www.forgebiologics.comTo learn about career opportunities with Forge, please visit: www.forgebiologics.com/careers/And in 2021, Forge Biologics launched its Forge Ahead campaign to deliberately expand its impact by committing to raise awareness and support for people and families living with rare diseases. Learn more about this work (which includes pictures and video of the team climbing Mt. Adams!): https://insights.forgebiologics.com/forge-ahead-launches-with-support-for-be-the-match-and-hope-on-a-summit

Ryan Frederick is a Principal at AWH, a technology consulting firm that helps companies grow by leveraging technology. In this podcast, we talk with Ryan about how the Columbus tech community got built, what makes a strong tech ecosystem, and the hype and realities of new technologies.Ryan is a Founder and product person at heart. He's had the privilege of being part of starting and growing several software and service companies. Ryan has helped companies grow from inception, to viability, through to sustainability. During the evolution of these companies, Ryan has served on company boards and been instrumental in capitalization activities. He has also helped companies to expand to international markets. Combining a unique blend of business acumen and technical knowledge having originally been a developer who migrated to the business side, Ryan now helps companies build great software products and solve data challenges for competitive advantage as a Principal at the product and data consulting firm, AWH. He's an active angel investor, mentors and advises entrepreneurs and startups, as well as corporate innovation leaders. Ryan launched a non-profit workforce development program to train under-employed adults on digital skills called i.c.stars. He's authored a book on increasing the odds of success in creating products, being a Founder, and starting companies called The Founder's Manual: A Guidebook for Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur. Ryan speaks frequently about the product, Founder, and startup journeys.Learn more about AWH: www.awh.netConnect with Ryan on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryangfrederick

This week's Ohio Tech Report welcomes Nicole Paolozzi, Founder and CEO of OndeCare.Chris and Nicole are talking some of the biggest Ohio tech stories this week, including...1️⃣ Canton-based Society Brands raises $204 million2️⃣ Richfield company orthobrain closes $9 million Series A funding round3️⃣ The HOMAGE/OhioX "Silicon Heartland" shirts are out and looking great!The Ohio Tech Report is presented by Zendesk. Visit www.zendesk.com to learn more!Want to learn more about Nicole and OndeCare? Visit www.ondecare.com!

Dan Snyder is the co-founder and CEO of Lower, a multi-channel FinTech aimed at helping consumers build wealth through homeownership.  In this episode we talk with Dan about his journey starting Lower, raising the largest Series A round in Ohio history, and why doing it in his home state is special. Dan was named the #4 CEO in the country by Glassdoor in 2021 and his leadership style has led to multiple local and national Best Places to Work awards. Lower also recently joined Fast Company's prestigious annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2022. The FinTech landed third in the Personal Finance category. This designation comes as the company continues their innovation to help consumers reach their homebuying goals. Lower is the naming rights partner for the Columbus Crew's new stadium, Lower.com Field and they also hold the record for largest Series A investment in Ohio history. Dan loves helping his own people grow and uses a promote from within approach to the company.Learn more about Lower at www.lower.comFollow Dan on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/snyderdan

Liz Engel is a reporter at the Cincinnati Business Courier and leads editorial for its sister site, Cincy Inno, which covers tech and startup news in the region. In this episode, Liz gives us a run down of Cincinnati's tech ecosystem and insights to where the region is headed. She also shares about her day-to-day work as a journalist and how anyone can work with a reporter on a good story.Her past work has been featured at Forbes.com, WCPO and Cincy Magazine. She's a Cincinnati native who made her return to the Queen City in 2014 following stints in North Carolina and Tennessee.Read her work at www.cincyinno.comConnect with her on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/liz-engel-00430117/Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LizCinciBiz

Caesar Campbell serves as a North American Data Center Operations Manager at Meta.  In this episode we talk about the relationships that tech creates - both in person and virtually.Building, nurturing, and sustaining so that it brings joy, productivity and a fruitfulness to his every day.  He's a father of three and loves snowboarding, golf and mountain biking. And Caesar's hip-hop to his core. His professional career spans 17 years most of which has been in the infrastructure outsourcing space building teams globally and creating partnerships worldwide.  He absolutely loves the work he does at Meta but he loves the people he does it with even more.Connect with Caesar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caesarc/

Jamie Timm is the Chief Delivery Officer at WillowTree where she and the team help the world's most admired brands on their path to digital leadership—from product to process.In this episode, we talk to Jamie about her path to tech, building a growing company in Columbus, and WillowTree's work with iconic brands.Jamie has over a decade of experience leading software delivery teams at digital agencies. She brings deep expertise in aligning people and business strategies to client engagements, as well as exemplary servant leadership to both the internal teams she manages and her external stakeholders.Jamie is particularly passionate about the opportunities for digital products to improve customer experiences in both highly-regulated mature and hyper-growth industries.Jamie holds a degree in Communications & Public Relations from Ohio Northern University and has previously held leadership roles in communications at the Columbus Chamber and Columbus Region Economic Development Group. Founded in 2008 as a pioneering mobile app development company, WillowTree has grown into a full-service digital product consultancy, helping their clients anywhere humans and technology intersect. Their teams provide end-to-end, full-stack development, strategy, design, and growth marketing services. Select clients include Domino's, HBO, FOX, National Geographic, Synchrony Financial, PepsiCo and ABInBev.Visit www.willowtreeapps.com for more information.Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamietimm

In this episode, we talk with Nicole Ponstingle McCaffrey and Crystal M. Franklin about inspiring girls to consider STEM careers. The conversation is centered around the American Heart Associations' STEM Goes Red for Girls event.This episode was recorded in August as the original date of STEM Goes Red for Girls was the fall. Due to Covid-19, the event was rescheduled for March 11th.For more information on STEM Goes Red and the event, please visit: https://ahacleveland.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/20212022ClevelandSTEMGoesRed/tabid/1241618/Default.aspxAbout Nicole Ponstingle McCaffreyNicole is a 20+ year marketing and business development veteran with a career that spans local and global brands. As the COO of Pandata, Nicole crafts and stewards the brand and provides the strategy for the marketing blueprint. By extension, she is Pandata's resident AI Translator, bringing approachability to AI. She also shapes and champions company culture, team growth, and talent pipeline.She fulfills her avocation in tech and diversity-focused workforce development by serving as an OhioX Workforce Development committee member and the 2021 chair for the American Heart Association's STEM Goes Red for Girls event. About Crystal M. FranklinBorn and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I have a first-hand. understanding for the students that attend schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, and issues surrounding access to equitable education. As aresult, I have developed a passion for working with students and families to break through barriers and factors that lead to marginalization. Prior to my position as a Director of CSforCLE, I taught high school science at an American School in Pinghu, China, and worked as a Teacher-Trainer for the Peace Corps Response, in New Amsterdam, Guyana. With a background in STEM, which includes a career in clinical and academic research, teaching, and program evaluation, it was only natural that I landed at Cleveland State and became a part of CSforCLE. My goal is to push our vision of Computer Science in every school, and that every student has an opportunity to engage in. 

Accomplished roboticist, entrepreneur and educator Dr. Ayanna Howard became dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering in March 2021. In this episode we talk with Dr. Howard about her work at Ohio State building the next generation of builders, the relationship between industry and academia in innovation, and creating tech opportunities for all students.Previously she was chair of Georgia Tech's School of Interactive Computing, as well as founder and director of the Human-Automation Systems Lab (HumAnS for short). Her career spans higher education, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the private sector. Dr. Howard is the founder of Zyrobotics, a Georgia Tech spin-off company that develops mobile therapy and educational products for children with special needs. Its products are based on Dr. Howard's research. Among many accolades, Forbes named Dr. Howard to its America's Top 50 Women In Tech list. In May 2021, the Association for Computing Machinery named her the ACM Athena Lecturer in recognition of fundamental contributions to the development of accessible human-robotic systems and artificial intelligence, along with forging new paths to broaden participation in computing.Connect with Dean Howard on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ayanna-howard/Learn more about Ohio State's College of Engineering: www.engineering.osu.edu

Warner Moore is a strategic executive leader and manager with a background in technology and information security. In this episode we talk with Warner about Columbus's tech growth, future opportunities for tech in Ohio, and the cybersecurity landscape.  He has focused his career in working with entrepreneurial growth organizations where technology is their business and product. Within these organizations, Warner has an accomplished record of building successful cybersecurity programs and high performing teams who embrace DevOps culture and practices.As an international speaker, Warner has been invited to present to university students, technology professionals, and business leaders in a classroom setting as well as at conferences such as Startup Week, CloudDevelop, Path to Agility, InfoSec Summit, CodeMash, Security BSides, DevOpsDays, and Abstractions.Warner is passionate about culture, innovation, and community. His commitment to these values is demonstrated though his work leading organizations such as Ohio LinuxFest, LOPSA, and Toastmasters. The culmination of this work is the founding of Tech Community Coalition in 2016, a non-profit organization whose mission is to enable the greater tech community.After building security and privacy capabilities for numerous organizations across industries at companies such as CoverMyMeds and Bold Penguin, Warner founded the cybersecurity strategy firm Gamma Force. Through Gamma Force, Warner serves as a virtual CISO for clients that include Deep Lens and Smart Columbus and advises startups to scale them through concept and growth phases.Learn more about Gamma Force: www.gammaforce.ioConnect with Warner on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/warnermoore

Alison Sathe is the Cincinnati-based Founder of not one but two companies in the MedTech space.Alison founded Regulatory Mark and ClearMark to provide best in class regulatory consulting and electronic QMS solutions for medical devices to her domestic and international partners.In this episode, we talk with Alison about Ohio's MedTech and BioTech opportunity, the path that led her to building two companies, and more. As a biomedical engineer, Alison began her career working in medical device startups and has specialized in regulatory and quality affairs for over 15 years. Previously an executive team member overseeing Regulatory and Quality Affairs for companies with domestic and international registrations, Alison has managed teams and been regulatory lead for multiple product lines from concept and strategy through product release including early regulatory body interactions, regulatory submissions, and product clearance/approvals. Learn more about Regulatory Mark: www.regulatorymark.comLearn more about ClearMark: www.clearmarkqms.comConnect with Alison on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/alisonsathe

Steve Lekas is the co-founder and CEO of Columbus-based Branch Insurance. In this episode we talk with Steve about the moment that led to going all-in with Branch, building an InsurTech in Columbus, and why he's excited to be doing it here in Ohio.Steve got his start in insurance at Allstate to put himself through school at Kent State. A decade later he went on to build the first-ever online home insurance business at Esurance. After 18 years in the industry, Steve became increasingly frustrated with how broken insurance had become with lengthy processes and rising costs. Chasing down his entrepreneurial calling, Steve set out to right the wrongs of the industry by creating insurance that's quick, easy, affordable, and built to do good. In August 2019, Branch Insurance launched the quickest way to bundle home and auto insurance online and is now expanding nationally. To learn more about Steve and Branch Insurance, head to OurBranch.com.

Dana Allender is a life-long resident of Northeast Ohio and the Founder of SUN he works with emerging technology startups and small businesses to build “revenue roadmaps” to create scalable, sustainable growth.  In this episode we talk to Dana about his passion for building Cleveland's tech ecosystem, the role AI and AI companies can play in this growth, and revenue journeys for tech companies. Active in a number of civic and nonprofit organizations, he has served on the Alumni Board of Trustees at Walsh University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business and is a Past President of the Kent State University (Stark Campus) Alumni Association.  He's a mentor in the startup community as well, working with JumpStart and previously with cohorts of the Bounce Innovation Hub and Fintech71.  Most importantly, he is a current member of OhioX, serving on the New Ventures and Technology Committee.  Connect with Dana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-allender-88aaba/Learn more about Dana's work at SUN: www.sungrowsyou.com

Melissa Cutcher is the Executive Director at Technology First, a trade association for IT professionals and technology companies in the Dayton region.  In this podcast, we talk with Melissa about leading during challenging times and get the lowdown on Dayton's tech ecosystem. Melissa has a Bachelor's degree in organization management and Master's degree in business administration with a focus on organization leadership.  Melissa is active in the Miami Valley and is a contributing member to many groups and organizations in the area.  Melissa is a learner and loves reading, building connections, boating, spending time with her daughter Ashley, husband Jeff, and dogs Bailey and Cooper.For more information on Technology First, please visit: www.technologyfirst.orgConnect with Melissa on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissacutcher

Tim Porter is a Manager within Pease & Associates Risk Advisory Services and in our latest podcast episode we talk security at startups and young companies.Tim has dedicated his entire career to Risk Advisory Services where he provides clients with auditory reports that focus on an organization's internal controls. Tim specializes in advising businesses on how to leverage their controls to generate efficiencies and maintain compliance with regulatory and audit requirements. As a Manager in the Risk Advisory Services Group, Tim focuses on providing tailored solutions and recommendations to service organizations.Tim has worked extensively with clients located around the world and ranging from pre revenue start-ups to over $5 billion in annual revenue. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Common Security Framework Practitioner (CCSFP), and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), he understands how to audit many types of systems and operations. Tim leverages his interest in technology and process automation to achieve this in the most efficient way possible. Tim has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a co-major in Business Analytics from Miami University.Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-porter-cpa-ccsfp-cisa-32360b7b/Learn more about the work at Pease CPAs: www.peasecpa.com

Steven Muszynski  is the Founder and CEO of Splash Financial, a Cleveland-based leading digital lending platform that helps borrowers easily shop and compare financial products from a Splash-powered network of credit union and bank partners. In this episode, we talk with Steven about building a FinTech company in Cleveland, business pivots, and scaling a company.Recently named among the top 250 private FinTech companies in the world by CB Insights, Splash's unique hybrid marketplace model and automated underwriting platform has helped the average person refinancing their student loans save thousands.For more information on Splash, please visit: www.splashfinancial.comTo see career opportunities at Splash, please visit: https://jobs.lever.co/splashfinancialConnect with Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-muszynski-16341b2b/

Tracy Ruberg is the Founder/President of T6 Group and Executive Director of The Circuit, a non-profit IT association in Southwest Ohio. In this episode, we talk with Tracy about aligning strategic business objectives with digital transformation initiatives, the tech ecosystem in Southwest Ohio, and creating tech education opportunities. Throughout her career, Tracy has had the opportunity to work for organizations including E&Y, HP, Dell, EMC, CBTS and others.  Tracy loves working with clients and uses her ability to “stand in the shoes” of the client's employees at all levels to deliver solid results. She believes in gaining clarity on the end result, and that project success hinges on continuous, strategic, and transparent company-wide communication.When she is not busy working, she can be found doing activities with her family, reading, or planning the next beach vacation.  Tracy has a Quantitative Business Analysis and Marketing degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Learn more about The Circuit: www.thecircuit.netLearn more about T6 Group: www.t6-group.comConnect with Tracy on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tracyruberg

Rob Moyer is the Co-Founder and President of Agility Partners, LLC an IT recruiting and consulting company headquartered in Columbus. In this episode, we talk with Rob about his path to tech, building a new business, and taking risk for greater upside.  Founded in 2017 in his spare bedroom, Rob (and his partner Alan) self-funded AP and immediately began to disrupt the industry by building a greenfield, referral-based technology platform called Connect. In 2020, Agility Partners formally stood up its automation consulting division, Impower.ai.  Over those four years, AP has grown to 100+ employees in several states and has been recognized by the community and the industry for their innovation, diversity, and culture.Rob lives in Grandview Heights, is a member of the Information Systems Advisory Board at Ohio University where he graduated, and is intimately involved in the tech community in Columbus and beyond.  In his free time, Rob invests, travels, acts like he golfs, and enjoys a stiff, smoked Old Fashioned at No Soliciting.Connect with Rob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmoyer/For more information on Agility Partners, please visit: https://agilitypartners.io/

Alex Frommeyer is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Beam Dental. In this episode we talk with Fro about disrupting the dental insurance industry, the golden age for building tech in the midwest, and why Ohio became home. Beam Dental is a digital-first dental benefits provider that incorporates dental hygiene behavior into policy pricing, combining an easy-to-use online insurance platform, AI-powered underwriting, and the connected Beam Toothbrush for better overall wellness. Beam has raised over $160 million in venture capital funding and is the only digital-first company within the $75 billion dental insurance industry. Beam also offers vision insurance and group term life coverage for employers of all sizes. Beam is available in 41 states around the U.S. and is accepted at over 400,000 access points nationwide.  Fro has done an amazing job driving Beam's continued success and expansion, and has also led the organization through multiple capital raises, most recently a Series E of $80M.Follow Fro on Twitter: @AlexFrommeyerLearn more about Beam Dental: www.beam.dental

Cal Al-Dhubaib is the CEO of Pandata and in this episode we talk with Cal about ethical AI and how we can grow Ohio's data science industry. Pandata designs and develops human-centered AI and ML solutions. Their deep expertise in human behavior is why they shine at working with innovative teams, including navigating the complexities of regulated and protected data sources to mitigate risk and protect the most priceless asset they own – their reputation.Cal is a data scientist, entrepreneur, and professional speaker on AI. He founded Pandata on the core values of "Approachability and Ethics". Empowering organizations to design and develop AI solutions that grow their bottom line, Pandata has overseen 80+ transformative projects with leading global brands including Parker Hannifin, the Cleveland Museum of Art, FirstEnergy, and Penn State University.Cal is especially passionate about the ethics of AI and how organizations can orchestrate the right talent to support AI initiatives. Cal has been recognized as a Notable Immigrant Entrepreneur, Crain's Cleveland 20 in their 20s, and two-time Cleveland Smart 50 recipient. In addition to becoming the first data science graduate from Case Western Reserve University, Cal is also known for his role in advocating for careers and educational pathways in Data Science through workforce development initiatives.Connect with Cal on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dhubaibLearn more about Pandata: www.pandata.co

Max Brickman is the Managing Director of Heartland Ventures, a venture capital firm that connects high-growth startups with new customers in the Midwest. In this episode we talk with Max about why he brought his Venture firm to Ohio, the opportunities that come from connecting Midwest industries and leading tech companies, and scaling businesses.  Max is a forward-thinking venture capitalist with a passion for expanding technological innovation into smaller, underrepresented Heartland communities. In line with this passion and commitment, Max founded Heartland Ventures to enhance Silicon Valley startups' access to this market. With offices in San Francisco, Ohio, and Indiana, Heartland Ventures connects coastal startups to their largest customers within the recently flourishing and often overlooked Heartland market.  Max serves on several regional boards designed to increase per capita income and entrepreneurial activity.Learn more about Heartland Ventures: www.heartlandvc.com

Chris Berry is the CEO and Founder of Echelle Resources, Inc., and a board member of Per Scholas. In this podcast, we talk with Chris about growing businesses while keeping mission focus, how a napkin led to a new company, and breaking down the digital divide.Chris has spent the last two years growing Echelle Resources into a competitive information technology company with automotive and telemedicine lines of business. Before founding Echelle Resources, Chris spent time in central Ohio as a Solution Architect. He resides in the central Ohio area with his family.Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisberryFor more information on Echelle Resources, Inc., please visit: www.echelleresources.com

Shawn Leitner is Vice President and Senior Product Manager at KeyBank, and Chief Technology Officer at Sway Mobility. In this podcast, we talk with Shawn about the growing role of product management and how he built a community of product managers in Northeast Ohio.Shawn has spent two decades building products, being innovative, and solving problems using technology, working in various tech roles in both the public sector and private sector. He is also an avid networker, creating the Cleveland Product networking group in 2017 to support Cleveland's Product community.Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/shawnleitnerLearn more about Sway Mobility: www.swaymobility.com

Jeffrey Stern is a co-founder and product manager at Axuall, a venture-backed company in Cleveland, and is also the host of the Lay of The Land Podcast which tells the stories of entrepreneurship in Cleveland. In this podcast, we talk with Jeffrey about his decision to move to Cleveland in order to start a tech career and the catalyst for launching his podcast. At Axuall, Jeffrey and his team are focused on streamlining the sharing of verified digital credentials between clinicians and healthcare organizations to eliminate onboarding delays while empowering clinicians with ownership of their own data. Prior to Axuall, Jeffrey was the first employee at Votem, working to restore and bolster trust, access, and transparency in elections with a core focus on developing secure and verifiable voting systems. Jeffrey is also an alumni of Venture for America. Connect with Jeffrey on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypsternLearn about Axuall: www.axuall.comMore on Lay of the Land: https://upside.fm/shows/lay-of-the-land/

Dr. Joseph Shields is Vice President for Research and Creative Activity, Dean of the Graduate College, and Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio University.  In this episode, we speak with Dr. Shields about the potential, power and payoff of University-Industry collaborations across Ohio.Among his many duties, Dr. Shields oversees technology transfer and economic development activities supported by the Innovation Center, an award-winning on-campus business incubator for technology startup companies. He also led implementation of a successful multi-million-dollar internal program of tiered funding to incentivize and grow interdisciplinary partnerships around a broad theme of innovation.We also discuss the Ohio Innovation Exchange. The OIEx connects businesses and industry with professors, equipment and facilities available at Ohio research universities. By providing access to thousands of faculty and resources from campuses and laboratories across the state, OIEx fosters economic development and intellectual advancement across Ohio and the globe.OIEx is an initiative of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, developed in collaboration with Ohio universities with industry support from the Ohio Manufacturing Institute.For more information on Dr. Shields, and his work at Ohio University, visit: https://www.ohio.edu/research/people/shieldj1For more information on the Ohio University Innovation Center, visit: https://www.ohio.edu/research/innovationFor more information on the Ohio Innovation Exchange, visit: https://www.ohioinnovationexchange.org/

Jack Thompson is an 18 year old senior in high school at Toledo School for the Arts and President of StartHuddle, a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower and promote young entrepreneurs in the Greater Toledo region. In this episode we speak with Jack about his experience building businesses as a student and how we can encourage more young entrepreneurs.Jack has been involved in Toledo's startup scene since he was a child. He and his family started CoderDojo Toledo, a local branch of an international nonprofit that helps kids ages 7-17 learn how to code. In the fall, Jack will be studying computer science at an undecided university and plans to build StartHuddle throughout his undergraduate experience.For more information on StartHuddle: www.starthuddle.comConnect with Jack on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jakkuthompson

Catherine Allshouse is the Global CIO and Head of Cloud Operations at Veeva Systems. In our latest episode of The Future Lab we talk with Catherine about scaling technology, why Veeva recently became a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), and why more businesses should consider following. Catherine is an industry-leading technology executive with extensive experience in roles spanning the commercial and industrial software business, from strategy through delivery. Her experience includes large and small enterprises in both the commercial and non-profit sectors, and she has led both technology and business operations. She has additional expertise in contract and intellectual property law and has served as liaison with counsel in several leadership positions.Veeva Systems is a fast-growing enterprise cloud software provider headquartered in Silicon Valley with 2,800 employees and offices around the world (NYSE:VEEV). Catherine also serves as the site leader of Veeva's second U.S. corporate hub office in Columbus.Catherine's early career was spent in Silicon Valley at PeopleSoft, Inc., where she spent 12 years in various executive roles including as a Vice President in the Tools & Technology products organization. She was responsible for product development teams, maintenance development, the global support center, security, and maintaining executive level relationships with PeopleSoft's C-level customer base.Catherine is a Level 1 Sommelier and a concert pianist that performs regularly with high school instrumentalists.Connect with Catherine on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/catherineallshouseFor more information on Veeva becoming a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC): www.veeva.com/pbc***This epsiode of The Future Lab is brought to you by Ashland University's MBA Program.The world's greatest leaders utilize their business acumen to quickly adapt to ever changing market conditions. Start solving tomorrow's business problems today and create opportunities for all with an MBA degree from Ashland University's 1 Year Online program. OhioX members, their spouse, and dependent(s) receive a 10% tuition discount. Learn more at mba.ashland.edu.

Stephen White is the Vice President of External Affairs, Strategic Initiatives, and Business Development, and serves as In-House Counsel at the Center for Science and Industry (COSI). In this episode of The Future Lab, we talk with Stephen on Innovative Strategies to bridge the COVID canyon in our STEM educational landscape.During the COVID-19 pandemic, he founded and is the executive lead of the COSI Learning Lunchbox® initiative, a new model of distance learning through community partnerships to provide learning and to bridge the digital divide for underserved youth, in partnership with NASA, U.S. Department of Energy and more.Stephen is the recipient of several awards, including 40 Under 40, Columbus CEO Future 50, and the John Glenn Young Alumni Achievement Award. He previously served in the U.S. Senate and serves on the International Space Station Subcommittee on Education, State of Ohio STEM Committee, and more.Find him on Twitter at @StephenWhiteOH.Connect with him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmauricewhite***This episode of The Future Lab is sponsored by Ashland University's MBA Program.At Ashland, you can gain international business experience and quickly earn your MBA degree, without leaving your home. Ashland's 1 Year International MBA program is offering a transformational virtual study tour of Estonia and Finland, where students will participate in a consulting project, expand their global network, and experience a new culture. OhioX members, their spouse, and dependent(s) receive a 10% tuition discount. Learn more at mba.ashland.edu.

Steven Hong is the CEO and Co-Founder of Oculii, a radar software company enabling the next generation of autonomous systems. In this episode we talk with Steven about why he returned home to Ohio from Silicon Valley in order to build his startup and the lessons he learned from his time at Stanford and one of the world's best known Venture Capital firms.Using aperture imaging software that dynamically learns and adapts to the environment, Oculii's proprietary virtual aperture imaging software increases the resolution of any radar hardware by up to 100x. Prior to his experience at Oculii, Steven was a partner at Kleiner Perkins where he was a member of the hardtech investing team. Before KP, Steven co-founded Kumu Networks where he was responsible for product management, fundraising, IP strategy, business development, and marketing. Steven started his career as a management/strategy consultant at McKinsey and Uber, where he specialized in M&A diligence and expansion strategy.Steven holds a PhD and MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University where he won several best paper awards for his research and graduated at age 23, completing both degrees in 3 years. For more information on Oculii: www.oculii.comConnect with Steven on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/hongsteven***This episode of the Future Lab is brought to you by Ashland University's MBA Program.Amid a digital transformation, employers are seeking to hire professionals with strong technical and analytical skills.Better analyze, understand, and interpret data with Ashland University's Business Analytics MBA. Apply for the March 2021 entry point to begin advancing your career. All OhioX members, their spouse, and dependents receive a 10% tuition discount. Visit mba.ashland.edu to learn more.

In this episode we talk with Media Shower's Sir John Hargrave and Evan Karnoupakis on Blockchain Success Stories: Case studies from the leading edge of business. John and Evan are the co-authors of a book of the same name where they share the real-life stories of the visionaries who are rewiring the world through the new technology called blockchain. Through deep research and firsthand interviews, John and Evan take you on a page-turning journey with these dreamers as they disrupt the world.Sir John Hargrave is the CEO of Media Shower, the leading blockchain media company. His company publishes the blockchain investor website Bitcoin Market Journal, which reaches 100,000 investors monthly. He's the author of Blockchain for Everyone (Simon & Schuster) a frequent speaker and lecturer, and a leader of the blockchain revolution. He holds an MBA from Babson College.Evan Karnoupakis is a blockchain consultant who works with the banking, direct marketing, education, energy, government, financial services, legal services, media, and transportation industries. Evan frequently writes about blockchain industry disruption and governance and advises on blockchain strategy with governments and companies worldwide. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School.***This episode is sponsored by Ashland University's MBA Program.You can improve your job security, even during unprecedented times! Ashland University's MBA Programs prepare students for the changes of tomorrow and teach in-demand business skills.Ashland University offers a variety of flexible, accelerated, online or part time MBA degree options for every working professional. Apply for the March 2021 start date and Ashland University will waive your application fee & GMAT or GRE test scores. Plus, OhioX members, their spouse, and dependent(s) receive a 10% tuition discount for all Ashland MBA programs. Visit mba.ashland.edu to learn more.

Dr. Elad Granot is the co-founder and managing member of an early stage technology Venture Capital fund and the Dean of Ashland University's Business School. In this episode, we talk with Elad about some of the world's best tech ecosystems and lessons from companies that failed to innovate.Elad is passionate about the role of Higher Ed in its ecosystem, and he actively builds, cultivates, and promotes social and economic connections through active citizenship in the community, while serving as a key strategic influencer for students to move up the academic and economic ladders.Dr. Granot is an accomplished practitioner and noted scholar who is a sought- after speaker, and frequently appears in multiple media as a business expert and publishes in leading academic journals.Active in his community, Elad has served on a variety of boards and is an enthusiastic booster of the Ohio ecosystem.Connect with Elad on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/higheredokr***This episode is sponsored by Ashland University's MBA Program.Want to excel your career to the next level, but feel as though it's impossible due to the demands of work, family, and other obligations? Made with working professionals in mind, Ashland University's MBA programs provide flexibility in terms of curriculum, learning style, time, location of classes, and pace throughout the program.Apply for the March 2021 start date and Ashland University will waive yourapplication fee & GMAT or GRE test scores. Plus, OhioX members, their spouse, and dependent(s) receive a 10% tuition discount for all Ashland MBA programs. Visit mba.ashland.edu to learn more.

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., is the Standard Products—Dr. James S. Reid Chair in Management at John Carroll University. In this episode, we talk about the start of a new series Scott and John Carroll University are launching, Thinking Big - Digital. The series is a look inside leading technology-focused companies and how emerging technologies are shaping the future. Throughout Spring 2021, Scott will host conversations with business leaders from companies like Tesla, Microsoft, Walmart, and more. Scott is an associate professor and teaches courses in leadership, management skills, and executive communication. He's received the Wasmer Outstanding Teaching Award for his work in the classroom.In addition to writing and speaking, Scott consults, facilitates workshops, and leads retreats across industries. He is a faculty member of the Institute for Management Studies, and recent engagements include: Lubrizol, Key Bank, EY, Siegfried Group, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Sherwin Williams, Progressive, NASA-Glenn, FedEx Custom Critical, Thompson Hine LLP, Cleveland Clinic, Leadership Cleveland, and Cleveland Bridge Builders. Scott is also the chair and co-founder of Captovation, a services firm dedicated to “Presentation Coaching for the Digital Age.”For more information on the Thinking Big - Digital series, visit www.ohiox.org/events For more information on Captovation, visit www.captovation.aiConnect with Scott on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/scott-j-allen/

Deneisha Franklin is a diversity and inclusion champion and tech enthusiast. In this episode, we talk with Deneisha about creating opportunities in technology and building a community with Black Tech Columbus.She is passionate about planning, creating, and executing solutions aimed toward disrupting the status quo and incorporating sustainable, systemic change - especially within corporate environments.Deneisha is a founding member and Secretary of the Columbus non-profit organization, #BlackTech614, and is a Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Program Manager at HubSpot. In 2019, she was named as a ComSpark Central Ohio Tech Power Player in the Rising Star category and has been recognized by The Wendy's Company as a Community Ambassador.Connect with Deneisha on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/deneishafranklinFor more information on #BlackTech614: www.blacktechcolumbus.com

Kevin Gadd is the State Director of Ohio for Apprenti, a national nonprofit that helps veterans, people of color and women get into technology careers through registered apprenticeship. In this episode we talk with Kevin about how he's helping workers find new careers and his passion in helping underrepresented groups get into tech.He is a retired Air Force Chief with 23 years of service.  He served in Air Force communications and technology roles and capped his career as the state diversity officer for the Ohio Air National Guard and Director, ANG Mission Driven Mentoring Program. Kevin has cofounded, funded, and mentored several technology based companies and taught entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University and Dar Al-Hekma in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chiefgaddLearn more about Apprenti: www.apprenticareers.org

Nicole Paolozzi is the Founder and CEO of OndeCare, a technology platform that finds pre-vetted, Professional Care Providers that can be at your home in as little as two hours. In this episode we talk with Nicole about how experiences as a working mother led to her building OndeCare and her journey from BigCo to startup.Nicole is an entrepreneur because over the past two decades she repeatedly ran into the same need for safe, reliable, on demand family care and just couldn't let it go. She has more than 25 years' experience developing and leading high-end service organizations. The foundation for Nicole's career was with American Express Corporate Card and Corporate Travel Services, where she started out in middle-market sales in Indianapolis, was promoted to large-market account management in Chicago, led their internal Knowledge Management team which built Wikipedia-like databases (before Wikipedia), and ultimately recruited to be a Six Sigma Black Belt in the first Six Sigma cohort to apply the defect reduction methodology to service processes and organizations. Nicole's forte in process design and leading service organizations has shaped OndeCare's technology driven solution; addressing the accelerated caregiving crisis currently in Cleveland and Akron with a plan to deploy as a voluntary benefit and an employee perk to small and midsized businesses nationwide.Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-paolozziLearn more about OndeCare: www.ondecare.com

Jessica Cohen currently leads Verizon's philanthropy and community engagement efforts in Northern Ohio.  In this episode we talk to Jessica about the power of 5G, how the it's building Ohio's cities, and why she loves working for a leading tech company.Before joining Verizon, she worked in the nonprofit and public sectors, serving on the staff of U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and later in institutional advancement and government advocacy roles for Cleveland-based nonprofits.  During her time at Jewish Federation of Cleveland, Jessica became a recognized leader in external affairs and community relations.  She also chairs the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission.  Jessica was chosen as one of the 2015 Crain's Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 and a 2019 Cleveland Jewish News Difference Maker.  She received her undergraduate degree in Government from Harvard University, her Master's in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University, and is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor at Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Jessica and her husband Eric, a public school teacher, live in Cleveland Heights with their four adorable children. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jessicacohen18/

Bob Fenner is currently a sales leader in the Midwest for Arista Networks, a publicly traded Silicon Valley based networking and security company.  In this episode we talk with Bob about helping customers solve problems and what it's like working for a Silicon Valley-based company in Ohio.Bob joined Arista in 2016 and has since grown regional revenue 10x including building out an extended team of 20+ team members. Prior to joining Arista Networks, Bob spent the last 10+ years working for various technology startups and a Fortune 500 company in Silicon Valley, Denver, Cleveland, and Columbus. Bob is a graduate of Ohio University and The Schey Sales Centre. He currently serves on the board of The Schey Sales Centre at Ohio University and the Ohio Networking User Group (OH)NUG. Originally a Cleveland, Ohio native, Bob resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife and two kids.Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bfenner/Learn more about Arista: www.arista.com

Jacob Glenn is the Founder and President of M Genio. In this episode, we talk with Jacob about the path which led him to starting his own firm eight years ago and how his company brings innovation solutions to the intersection of business and technology.M Genio is a Cleveland-based boutique firm of smart technologists specializing in Mobile Solutions, Internet of Things, and Cloud Automation. From strategy to software development to ongoing support.Prior to founding M Genio, Jacob worked at a number of leading technology companies. Today, he's an advisory board member at two investment firms and his alma mater, Case Western Reserve University where he received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees.For more information on M Genio, please visit: www.mgenio.comConnect with Jacob on LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/jacobglenn

Molly Reams Thompson is the Co-Founder of Perrysburg Energy Solutions. In this episode we talk with Molly about her passion for educational entrepreneurship and how a career in tech and startups across America led her home to Toledo. From the moment her feet hit the floor in the morning, Molly is constantly thinking about how to implement big ideas, challenge the status quo, and inspire others. Molly's DNA is made up of equal parts entrepreneurship, strategy and service.Molly has founded/co-founded seven companies; invested in three start-ups; and served on numerous boards. She has raised nearly $3 million and successfully rebuilt previously struggling programs. She has mentored dozens of food, tech, and arts-related startups and created a curriculum for entrepreneurship in urban agriculture at a local college.Currently, Molly is co-founder of Perrysburg Energy Solutions, a full-service LED lighting company she and her husband started in 2016. Her most successful “startup”? Avery and Jack, 16-year old twins, co-founded with her husband, Scott.Connect with Molly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heymollydolly/For more information on Perrysburg Energy Solutions: www.perrysburgenergy.com

Naveed H. Iqbal, PhD is the co-founder and CEO at Dolr. In this episode we talk with Naveed about solving the big issue of student loan debt, his path to founding Dolr, and why Columbus was the perfect place to start his company.Founded with a mission to lower financial barriers to education, Dolr is a student loan repayment platform accelerating its members to $0 student debt with their money, their employer's money, and money from the apps they use.  Before founding Dolr Naveed worked in consumer risk and product at one of the largest consumer banks in the USA. He earned his PhD in Applied Math at the Florida Institute of Technology.Connect with Naveed on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/naveed-h-iqbalFollow Dolr on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/dolrFor more information on Dolr: www.getdolr.com

Craig Borkowski is the CEO of Terra Sound Technology, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), headquartered in Columbus. Terra Sound was founded on a passion for creating thoughtful solutions for their Customers, delivered through Terra Sound's Software and Fiber Optic Cable. Their Mission is to solve your Security, Smart City, and Pipeline problems.Craig graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Over the past 25-years, he has worked extensively in the electronic materials field in a variety of positions. Craig started out in Operations and has held roles in Engineering, Technical Service, R&D, Marketing, Business Development and as General Manager at a variety of global multinationals. Before Terra Sound, his most recent role was as Chief Strategy Officer of Momentive, a $3Bn silicones manufacturer with approximately 5,000 employees.Craig is a seasoned leader with a strong leadership style. His ability to think through a grand strategy, focusing on core competencies and growth opportunities for the company will enable Terra Sound Technology to continue our rapid growth that has been happening over the past year.• Connect with Craig on LinkedIn.• Learn more about Terra Sound: www.terrasound.us

Pete Blackshaw is the CEO of Cintrifuse, a syndicated venture fund and startup catalyst organization dedicated to making Greater Cincinnati the #1 startup hub in the Midwest and a top innovation center in the nation. In this episode we talk with Pete about his work across the globe and the opportunity for Cincinnati and cities like it across the country.Pete joined Cintrifuse from Nestlé, S.A. in Switzerland, where he was Vice President of Digital. Pete earlier served as CMO of NM Incite, a joint venture between Nielsen and McKinsey. He is the author of “Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000” (Doubleday). Pete is a passionate entrepreneur who founded PlanetFeedback.com, one of the web's first consumer-feedback portals, which he sold to Nielsen. He also co-founded the Word-of-Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) and served as Chairman of the Board of the National Council of Better Business Bureaus. In 2019, he served as an innovation juror at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Pete is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the University of California, Santa Cruz.• Connect with Pete on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/consumergeneratedmedia/• Follow Pete on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pblackshaw• For more information on Cintrifuse, please visit: www.cintrifuse.com

Rick Pollack is the founder and owner of MakerGear LLC. MakerGear engineers and manufactures desktop and benchtop 3d printers. In this episode we talk with Rick about the career pivot that led to MarkerGear and the importance of high tech manufacturing. Rick started MakerGear in his garage in Shaker Heights in 2009 and MakerGear moved to their current location in Beachwood in 2012. MakerGear was one of the first companies in desktop 3d printing and helped to bring 3d printers to the masses.Prior to MakerGear, Rick worked as a software developer for many years and for a variety of companies. He was a principal in eCCS a very early online CRM startup for the automobile industry and that company was acquired by Dayton based Reynolds and Reynolds in 2000. Rick has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Cincinnati. You can often find Rick hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.For more information on MakerGear: www.makergear.comConnect with Rick on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rickpollackAnd for information on MakerGear's virtual Toy Drive: https://www.makergear.com/blogs/stories/join-the-makergear-virtual-toy-drive***This podcast is sponsored by Ashland University's world-class MBA Program.Start solving tomorrow's business problems and apply today. All OhioX members, employees, their spouse, and dependents receive a 10% tuition discount.***

Don Wright is the Founder and CEO of Clarigent Health. Clarigent Health uses artificial intelligence to detect biomarkers in speech that can detect potential mental health risks.  In this episode we talk with Don about his work in tackling the important issue of mental health, what the future of this space holds, and how technology plays a role. Prior to Clarigent Health, Don led Assurex Health which provides genetic testing for almost one million people with mental health conditions. Assurex Health grew to over 500 employees and was acquired in 2016 by Myriad Genetics. Since then Don has used his 25 years of experience to advise hyper-growth companies and to build Clarigent Health. Clarigent Health is now launching a new product this month, called Clairity.For more information on Clarigent Health please visit: www.clarigenthealth.comConnect with Don on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwright/

Forlefac Fontem is the Co-Founder and Technical Lead at Bingo Insurance and a 4th year undergraduate student studying Computer Science at The Ohio State University. In this episode, we talk with Forlefac about his passion for technology, co-founding a company while still in school, and creating opportunities for all. While at Ohio State, Forlefac has completed two Software Engineering Internships at J.P Morgan Chase & Co and Lyft. Currently, Forlefac co-founded Bingo Insurance, an insurance company that focuses on providing intelligent dog insurance for smart pet owners. While he isn't working and spending time with friends and family, he creates opportunities for others by volunteers as a Technology Coordinator for Project V.E.R.B, a non-profit organization that provides low-income students with developmental skills and career opportunities.Connect with Forlefac on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/forlefacfontem/Learn more about Bingo Insurance: www.joinbingo.co

Ann Marie Fisher is the Director of Strategic Alliances for Jitterbit. In this episode, we talk with Ann Marie about working remotely for Silicon Valley based companies and selling to Midwest and Canadian businesses, nonprofits and governments. Jitterbit is the API transformation company that accelerates innovation by combining the power of APIs and integration. Prior to her role as Director of Strategic Alliances, Ann Marie was an Account Executive and sales leader.In addition to her work at Jitterbit, we talk to Ann Marie about what big problem she'd solve with technology if money was no object and how what companies and leaders can learn from pre-Covid distributed workforces. Connect with Ann Marie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akozlowski1/

Faris El-Khider, MD, says he is 60% doctor, 40% data nerd. In addition to being a Cleveland Clinic trained gastroenterologist, Faris is also Co-Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Hyr Medical.Hyr Medical is building a web-based marketplace to tackle a major healthcare problem: By 2025, the United States will have a shortage of over 100,000 Physicians and 1,000,000 Nurses. Faris has been in health care industry in 3 different continents since the mid 2000's. He completed his internal medicine training at Detroit Medical Center / Wayne State University, where he also served as Chief Resident, then Associate Program Director and Assistant Professor. During that time, he obtained a Master of Science (MS) focused in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis from University of Michigan, then joined Cleveland Clinic as a gastroenterology and research fellow under a grant from National Institutes for Health (NIH).He met his current Co-Founder after moving to Cleveland and showing up at a Hack-a-thon. And since then they've been building Hyr Medical, an online platform that connects doctors and hospitals for freelance work.In this episode, we talk with Faris about his career in medicine, why he showed up at a hack-a-thon, and how technology can solve some of medicines biggest problems.Connect with Faris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felkhider/More information on Hyr Medical: https://www.hyrmed.com/

Mike J. Walker is an accomplished architect with a vast amount of experience as a leader, innovator and technology expert. Currently, Mike is Senior Director, Applied Innovation and Digital Transformation at Microsoft and previously has worked at leading technology companies such as Gartner, Hewlett-Packer, and Dell. And his career has taken him across Ohio, Seattle and Austin.In this episode we talk with Mike about his career working for some of the most innovative companies in the world, the incredible ecosystems of these tech companies and their cities, and how Ohio can play a leading role in the future.Mike is internationally known as an expert in innovation, strategy development, and enterprise architecture. His insights are sought-after as a speaker at major events worldwide. Additionally, he has delivered keynote speeches for conferences and events on five continents.Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejwalker/

Ann Toews is an Operations Manager at Upstart, the leading AI lending platform partnering with banks to expand access to affordable credit. Based in Columbus, Ann graduated from Stanford University before beginning her career as an officer in the U.S. Army. After her Army service concluded, Ann received her Master's Degree from Princeton University and then joined the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Presidential Management Fellow. Ann began her career in Tech when she joined Upstart's Columbus office in 2019.In this episode, we talk with Ann about her passion to serve in the Army, how her military service prepared her for the shift to tech, and how others can make similar career transitions. Connect with Ann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anntoews/To learn more about Upstart, please visit: https://www.upstart.com/

Jason Gintert is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of WAN Dynamics, a technology company founded to help organizations find their way in the nascent "NetDevOps" technology space.In this episode, we talk with Jason about how he got his start in technology (when he was seven years old), the path to founding his own company and how he's building a statewide network of networkers. Jason learned how to program in BASIC on a Commodore VIC20 when he was 7 years old and he's been enthralled with making technology do cool things since. He entered the technology field via the late 1990s ISP boom and survived to tell the tale. Jason loves networking so not only is it a profession, but something of a personal pursuit as well.Jason is also the Co-Founder and President of the Ohio Networking Users Group (OH)NUG, a statewide professional organization that brings together industry experts, engaging topics and a lot of beer.Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongintert/For more information on WAN Dynamics: http://www.wandynamics.com/For more information on (OH)NUG: http://ohnug.org/en/