Pat Tiberi, Baiju Shah, Gary Lindgren and Jason Hall,

Guest Columnists

Pat Tiberi is the president and CEO of Ohio Business Roundtable. Baiju Shah is the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Gary Lindgren is the president of the Cincinnati Business Committee. Jason Hall is the CEO of the Columbus Partnership.

Editor’s note:What do you think Ohio needs for a prosperous future for the entire state? Let us know in a letter to the editor of 200 words or less emailed to Letters@Dispatch.com. Include your full name, address and daytime phone number with your submission.

Ohio is experiencing an economic renaissance, creating new jobs and opportunities across the state.

In recent years, we have secured transformational investments — from Intel’s semiconductor manufacturing to the LG/Honda battery plant to Ford’s EV plant expansion, and from a surge in data centers built by Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft to major advancements in aerospace, defense and energy manufacturing with GE Aerospace, Joby Aviation, Anduril and Ultium Cells.

These wins, driven by Ohio’s business-friendly climate and strategic investments, have made our state a national leader in economic development.

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Yet, with this growth comes new challenges. To sustain this momentum and position Ohio for long-term success, we must act now to address pressing needs in energy, housing and workforce development.

As leaders of the Ohio CEO Leadership Alliance, representing Ohio’s four major CEO-led business groups — the Ohio Business Roundtable, Cincinnati Business Committee, Columbus Partnership and Greater Cleveland Partnership — we urge policymakers to take decisive action on key priorities in the current state budget process to ensure Ohio remains competitive for decades to come.

Energy must be reliable to support growth

After decades of stagnation, power demand in the U.S. is expected to surge, including a 50% increase in Ohio’s peak demand by 2034. With electricity demand rising, Ohio faces potential power shortages within two years — threatening future investments and economic stability.

The Ohio Business Roundtable’s Energy Competitiveness Study outlines an all-of-the-above strategy to strengthen the state’s energy infrastructure. Policymakers must accelerate new power generation using both renewables and Ohio’s abundant natural gas, ease regulations to allow major users to develop on-site energy solutions and lead on new energy and grid technologies.

Housing shortage must be addressed to support workforce growth

A severe housing shortage is making it harder for workers — especially middle-class families — to live near their jobs. To meet demand, we support expanding the state’s low-income housing tax credit, responsibly reducing zoning barriers and accelerating the conversion of existing buildings into housing. These steps will ensure Ohio’s workforce can grow alongside its economy.

Our education system must build talent for the future

Ohio’s competitiveness depends on a skilled workforce prepared for high-tech industries. Through Ohio Excels, we are working to improve K-12 literacy and math, expand career-connected learning, strengthen school choice, make post-secondary education accessible and invest in up-skilling workers with tech credentials. We urge state leaders to accelerate efforts that equip Ohioans for high-wage, high-growth careers, particularly in STEM and AI-driven fields.

Innovation must be used to drive the economy

Positioning Ohio as a leader in market-driven innovation is key to accelerating growth.

While R&D activity aligns with national averages, the state lags in translating innovation into economic impact. Strengthening financial investments in innovation hubs, public-private partnerships and commercialization programs will help scale startups, attract corporate R&D and drive breakthrough technologies.

The moment for action is now

Ohio’s economy is on the rise, but continued success is not guaranteed.

Our state has experienced decades of population stagnation and slow GDP growth, losing congressional representation every decade for 60 years. While recent economic gains are promising, we cannot afford complacency.

We stand at a pivotal moment — one where bold action can solidify Ohio’s status as a national leader in economic development and job growth. The policy priorities outlined above will ensure energy reliability, workforce readiness, housing availability and innovation-driven growth — securing long-term prosperity for all Ohioans.

The Ohio CEO Leadership Alliance is committed to working alongside Gov. Mike DeWine and state lawmakers to drive these efforts forward.

Now is the time to act.

Pat Tiberi is the president and CEO of Ohio Business Roundtable. Baiju Shah is the president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Gary Lindgren is the president of the Cincinnati Business Committee. Jason Hall is the CEO of the Columbus Partnership.

Senior Business Management student Chelsea Woodall recently interviewed Jason Woodard, the newest member of the University of Dayton’s Business Advisory Council. A 1997 UD graduate with a degree in Accounting and a former Flyer baseball player, Woodard now serves as Founder and CEO of Woodard Development, a full-service commercial real estate firm based in Dayton, OH. Among Woodard Development’s recent projects is the Premier Health Medical Facility on Brown Street, completed in 2023, which has become a significant asset to the UD community.

In her interview, Chelsea was struck by Woodard’s eagerness to keep learning—both as a member of the Business Advisory Council and as a leader in his field—a sentiment that emerged as a key takeaway from their conversation. Woodard shared valuable insights on navigating the transition from college to the professional world, emphasizing the importance of listening to others and the critical role of defining a clear organizational vision. As a long-time resident of Dayton, Woodard is eager to bring his local perspective to the Council and looks forward to contributing to the University’s ongoing growth and development.

Through her questions, Woodall gained a deeper understanding of Woodard’s career journey, his motivations, and his enthusiasm for joining the Business Advisory Council.

Interview:

Chelsea: How did you end up choosing UD for college?

Jason Woodard: I grew up in the Dayton area and knew the admissions director as I went to high school with his daughter. I also had the opportunity to play baseball for the University, so those two factors made it a pretty easy choice to land at UD. I decided on Accounting once I got there. It actually took me a little while to find that path. Management Information Systems was a hot major, and I explored that a little bit, but I ultimately settled on Accounting. I had a great experience with the Accounting program and all the folks who were part of that program.

Chelsea: How did your experiences at UD prepare you for your current role?

Jason Woodard: I have always told people that I thought it was a great blend of challenging academics and a great social atmosphere. You had to learn how to communicate with people but also have a little bit of fun while you’re working hard. That’s kind of a lot of what our business is centered around. It’s trying to solve tough problems in a cordial manner and help people find solutions to their problems in real estate or construction. I think the blend of the social life as well as the challenging academics prepared me well for what I’m doing today.

Chelsea: What do you wish you had known when you were in my position

Jason Woodard: It’s rare to end up doing what you think you’re going to do. I think I wish I would’ve had a little bit more of an open mind to what I was going to do. Obviously there’s kind of a logical career path coming out of certain majors, but I wish I would’ve been a bit more open-minded to what’s actually out there in the business world beyond just the prescribed career path. Ultimately, I found that out, but it took me a few years.

Chelsea: What influenced your decision to choose a career in real estate development?

Jason Woodard: I started in accounting. I worked in public accounting for only a couple of years and realized that wasn’t going to be rewarding for me personally. When I thought about what excited me from a professional standpoint, it was something tangible in nature. I guess, ultimately I was fortunate enough to land a spot with a local real estate development company. And as I say, you can’t get much more tangible than the buildings that exist in the community. Ultimately, the end product is pretty rewarding too, you can see what you did for a long time, good or bad.”

Chelsea: What motivates you and keeps you passionate about your work?

Jason Woodard: Most of what we do is just the ultimate exercise and problem solving because it’s identifying where there’s a gap that we can fill and then trying to figure out all the pieces that have to come together to make that happen. I think it’s that cross-discipline part of my day that I’m buried in a spreadsheet, and then I’m meeting with government leaders, potential partners, or clients, as well as trying to convey a vision or an opportunity to get people rallied around that. It’s pretty easy to get excited. The variety suits me well. I think I’m just very blessed to have landed here because it certainly was not intentional. But once I got a taste of it, I knew this is what I wanted to do and it’s pretty easy to stay motivated.

Chelsea: What motivated you to join the Business Advisory Council?

Jason Woodard: I guess being an alumni, I want to see anybody that goes through the school have a good experience. I think getting a wide range of viewpoints contributing to how the programs are formulated and hearing different areas of emphasis on what was important to me, which would be different than someone else that’s in the group. I’m just excited to be able to share my experience. We’re local, so I can at least bring some of that local flavor. It’s just nice to be able to participate and give back in some way because the University has been good to me.

Chelsea: What are you most excited about in your new role as a BAC member?

Jason Woodard: I’m just anxious to learn. I guess you could equate it to starting freshman year. I’m excited to learn what the current direction is and where there’s areas of opportunity to try different things. And for me, it is more curiosity. I envision I’ll spend the first couple of years doing a lot more listening than speaking. I am looking forward to playing a very small role in shaping what the future of the business program looks like.

Chelsea: Do you think about certain things that you do today, are you thinking back to when you were learning it at Dayton?

Jason Woodard: There were certainly a number of professors that had an influence. I’ll say one thing that’s kind of hard to quantify is just the credibility of being a Flyer grad. If you start with that, then a lot of conversations can happen. I think just maybe the kind of comradery or family feeling in the University. It’s just that much more powerful to be part of that Alumni Association and be able to make a small mark there. So I owe an awful lot of that to UD for sure.

Chelsea: Do you have any advice about the transition from being a college student to being in the “real world”?

Jason Woodard: I think the transition is hard because the accountability steps up. The big adjustment is trying to manage what you can do and how much you can take on, but also still do everything you want. I always had a tendency to take on too much and probably still do, but to me, it’s all about making sure that you are putting in the effort that you’re proud of, whether it’s work- or social-related. As soon as you start cheating, it’s not rewarding for anybody. So I think trying to figure out what that capacity is, is probably one of the biggest transitions, and I think that evolves over time. The number of things outside of direct work you take on, and for some people they can take on more early because the demands at work aren’t that intense, but as you advance, there’s kind of that up and down of how demanding the professional side of things are vs. the opportunity to do things outside of the professional

The sports industry benefits significantly from advancements in technology. In fact, technology in sports is rapidly changing the game for athletes, sports professionals and fans.

Sports professionals have been finding ways to use technological innovations for decades, using data to enhance recruitment, employing innovative technology to enhance the viewer experience at home and incorporating training tools that track progress. Advancements in sports technology offer new and exciting ways to train and support athletes, build successful teams, engage the audience and analyze performance.

What is Sports Technology?

Sports technology refers to technologies developed to enhance the sports viewing experience and athletic performance. Sports tech includes wearable technologies meant to optimize and track athletic performance, sports management databases, tools to prevent injury, technology that improves infrastructure on athletic fields, and new ways to engage fans.

No matter the application, sports tech allows the industry to push the limits of athletic performance and entertainment.

Who Uses Sports Technology?

Advanced technology in sports influences every aspect of sports, including training and events. A look at those who might benefit from sports technology includes:

Athletes

Trainers

Statisticians

Marketers

Fans

MobiDev, a business and technology consulting firm, has witnessed the impact of advancements in sports technology on the industry. In an article about trends in sports technology, they stated that they are seeing rapid change in the sports industry due to machine learning, augmented reality, smart wearables and more. They believe these new technologies are changing how organizations approach athlete preparation, manage their teams and analyze on-field and off-field activities.1

Professional sports leagues like the NBA and MLB, as well as some college athletic programs, already use sports analytics and technology to analyze player performance, train athletes effectively and scout and recruit more successfully using data. Sports technology is not limited to professional and college sports, though. Some youth and high school sports teams purchase equipment and train their administrators to implement technology, ranging from heart rate monitors to video analysis. As sports technology becomes more affordable, amateur and youth sports teams will incorporate it.

Even those who participate in athletics in their free time can benefit from sports technology. Most amateur athletes benefit from a fitness watch or tracking application on their phones.

Sports technology has a significant impact on sports fans. For example, Apple announced the integration of Apple Vision Pro, a wearable display device, into the broadcasting experience, allowing viewers to watch multiple games simultaneously. The NBA, MLB and PGA all launched apps to support the technology.2

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Types of New Technology in Sports

The way athletes and administrators can harness the power of advancements in sports technology, alongside brand-new technology, for better overall experiences has the potential to transform how our society interacts with sports.

Technology for Athletes

Many advanced technologies affect how athletes train, track progress and protect themselves. Below are just a few examples of the way athletes use sports technology.

Wearable Technology

Wearable technology in sports is incredibly helpful for communication, goals and monitoring. A couple of popular wearable technologies include:

Fitness Watches: Most people are familiar with wearable technology thanks to fitness watches. Fitness watches can measure heart rate, calories burned, steps, distance and pace, allowing athletes to track their progress based on their personal goals.

Most people are familiar with wearable technology thanks to fitness watches. Fitness watches can measure heart rate, calories burned, steps, distance and pace, allowing athletes to track their progress based on their personal goals. Communication Helmets: Thanks to advanced sports technology, helmets can include built-in headsets that help athletes communicate with teammates and coaches.

Data Tracking Tools

Data tracking collects personalized data about an athlete and uses that data to help them reach goals. Some data tracking tools used in sports include:

Global Positioning Systems (GPS): GPS can track location, pace and other metrics when athletes are running or cycling, among other things.

GPS can track location, pace and other metrics when athletes are running or cycling, among other things. Sleep Tracking Devices: Sleep goals are vital to athletic performance. Sensors in sleep trackers can indicate whether individuals are getting proper sleep.

Sports Injury Prevention Tech

Performance is important but athletes must also prevent devastating injuries. Luckily, sports tech is ready to help. Some technology used to prevent injuries includes:

Diagnostic Programs: Using biometric data, these programs can help athletes prevent potential injuries.

Using biometric data, these programs can help athletes prevent potential injuries. High-Tech Mouthguards: Mouthguards with sensors can notify athletes when they need to rest or hydrate and can signify the intensity of hits.

Mouthguards with sensors can notify athletes when they need to rest or hydrate and can signify the intensity of hits. High-Tech Helmets: Helmets can protect athletes from injury even more with technology that releases air to reduce whiplash and prevent trauma.

Virtual Reality

Thanks to virtual reality, athletes can prepare for games more effectively than ever, putting themselves in game-like scenarios during practice. Virtual reality training can help athletes feel prepared to perform at their best and remain safe on the field or court.

Technology for Administrators and Fans

Of course, athletes aren’t the only ones seeing the benefits of technology in sports. Here are a few tools used by sports leadership and spectators:

Data-Driven Recruiting

Scouting new talent for sports teams is a lengthy process. Now, player performance metrics can be evaluated more efficiently using advancements in sports analytics. Recent technologies can help recruiters visualize how players will perform against each other or with teammates, allowing incredible insight for recruiters.

Event Scheduling Tools

From little league to professional sports, technology can help planners organize a season economically and manage registration, payment and performance statistics. These tools can also track loyalty programs and payments for tickets.

Goal-Line Technology

Goal-line technology helps determine if a goal has been scored using electronic assistance. Primarily used in soccer, goal-line technology has already been implemented in major events, assisting officials who make the calls and helping create a more objective environment for players.

These are just a few incredible tools that athletes, administrators, trainers and fans can use to enjoy sports entertainment and excel in their athletic life.

What are the Benefits of Technology in Sports?

The benefits of sports technology depend on the type of tech being used. Significant benefits are:

Enhanced training capabilities

Injury reduction and prevention

Enhanced sports viewing experiences

Data-driven athlete recruitment

Streamlined event scheduling

These advantages affect everyone participating in sports, from administrators to athletes to fans.

Even those not in the sporting world can take note of how sports professionals use technology. The lessons learned from sports use of data analysis, enhanced training and better connections with clients can be applied in other fields.

Michael Ede, entrepreneur and sports agent, wrote in Forbes, “By embracing these lessons and looking into new technologies, I believe you can drive success in your organization, whether it’s regarding athletes or other employees reaching their full potential.”3

Use Sports Tech as a Sports Administrator

The successful use of sports technology requires a firm educational background. Ohio University is the birthplace of sports business education. With Ohio University’s Online Master of Sports Administration (OMSA) degree, you can score the credentials you need to strengthen your skills and build a successful career.

Students in the program develop a firm mastery of concepts essential to sports leadership, including sports law, analytics, business, revenue strategy, and more. For those interested in sports technology, our Introduction to Sports Analytics course provides learners with the fundamental concepts and tools to understand the emerging role of analytics in sports, on and off the field.

Related Resources

Sources

Top 7 Sports Technology Trends and Innovations to Adopt in Sports Apps in 2024. MobiDev. Published August 15, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://mobidev.biz/blog/sports-technology-trends-innovations-to-adopt-in-sports. NBA, MLB and PGA roll out apps for Apple Vision Pro. NBC News. Published February 12, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/apple/nfl-mlb-pga-roll-apps-apple-vision-rcna138067. Eade, Michael. How Business Leaders Can Benefit from the Impact of Technology in the Sporting World. Forbes, Small Business. Published May 3, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2024, from https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/05/03/how-business-leaders-can-benefit-from-the-impact-of-technology-in-the-sporting-world/.

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CLEVELAND — Cleveland and Northeast Ohio are entering an exciting new world. Our economy, our jobs and nearly every other aspect of our lives are being swiftly transformed by new technologies such as self-driving cars, drones, robots, artificial intelligence and machine learning. For those unprepared for change, these exciting times can be scary as well.

It would be easy to sit and wait to see just what tomorrow has in store. But as every business leader knows – whether in a small business or a major industry – we must start preparing today for the challenges lying ahead. Focusing not only on tomorrow, but on the days far after as well, we can keep Ohio ahead of the curve by preparing our young people for these new technologies and for the changing career opportunities the future will bring.

Joseph D. Roman leads the Greater Cleveland Partnership. (2014 file)

Helping make this happen is a key priority for Ohio’s business community and a driving force for our new partnership launched on March 11, Ohio Excels. Funded by Ohio businesses and state and national foundations, Ohio Excels is a coalition of business leaders from Northeast Ohio and around the state who are committed to seeing that all Ohio students have access to excellent early childhood, K‑12 and post-secondary education experiences.

Based in Columbus, where so many education policy decisions are made, Ohio Excels will maintain a statewide focus, aimed at ensuring all of Ohio’s young men and women can succeed after high school in whatever career or college paths they choose. Achieving that goal will also help Ohio businesses grow and innovate – giving our state a competitive advantage in the world marketplace.

Our first priority, because policymakers are discussing changes at this very time, is to ensure that state requirements for high school graduation ensure that more students are prepared. To weaken these expectations, as has occurred for the classes of 2018, 2019 and 2020, only diminishes the value of an Ohio diploma and leaves too many students unprepared for the job markets of tomorrow. On this and other issues, Ohio Excels will be working closely with the governor, Ohio House and Senate leaders, regional and statewide business organizations, and the Department of Education at the state and local level who are committed to advancing Ohio’s education policies to better prepare students for success.

Randall McShepard is vice president of public affairs and chief talent officer for RPM International Inc. (File, 2015)

Ohio Excels is already working to develop core principles that will guide our conversations with policymakers. These principles include:

Expect Academic Excellence – All students deserve the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

A Student-Centered Focus – Too often conversations are focused on how policies will impact adults in our schools. Instead we need to put students at the center of all policy and practice decisions.

A Data-Driven Approach – Education decisions must be informed by data that honestly illuminate student performance.

Better Implementation – Our leaders must support teachers in our classrooms as they work to implement new policies to ensure student success.

Maximize Investments – The state of Ohio should better coordinate all its investments in education to serve students’ comprehensive needs.

Quality Choices – Families and students deserve the right to choose the school that best meets their unique needs and have funding required for that choice.

Build on Success – Highlight examples of success in our classrooms and share these best practices with other educators so students across the state have access to proven strategies.

Some of these goals will require new or reallocated spending, and we will be making recommendations for the new state budget in those circumstances. But much can be achieved by driving a fresh, new focus; better coordination; redirection of existing funds; and a full embrace of the tools new technologies are bringing us.

By creating Ohio Excels, business community partners here in Northeast Ohio and throughout the state recognize the important role we can and must play in addressing Ohio’s education and workforce challenges. We will be using our collective voice and influence to identify and support policy solutions that will make Ohio’s education system stronger. We want to ensure that all students can be helped to achieve at high levels and have opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that will enable them to be successful in this new economy.

Every day, exciting headlines and breaking news reports make it clear that technology is changing our world with increasing speed and impact. Northeast Ohio business leaders are excited for what’s to come and we are eager to be partners through Ohio Excels with policymakers and educators statewide, driving the changes needed to prepare Ohioans to prosper in the exciting years ahead.

In a fast-changing world, Ohio can and must excel – but education and workforce preparation are the keys. Ohio Excels is determined to help make it so. Besides Ohio Excels board chair Joseph D. Roman and board member Randell McShepard, Northeast Ohio is represented on the Ohio Excels board by Margie Wright-McGowan, senior vice president for human resources, diversity and inclusion at the Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank.

Joseph D. Roman is president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership and chairman of the board for Ohio Excels. Randell McShepard is vice president of public affairs & chief talent officer at RPM International Inc. and a member of the Ohio Excels board.

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