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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS.

​MAYOR MICHAEL B. COLEMAN,

COLUMBUS, OHIO

 

Keynote Address on June 9th at 12pm

 

Since taking office in 2000, Mayor Michael B. Coleman has built Columbus’ reputation as one of the most livable cities in the nation by building stronger, safer neighborhoods, creating jobs and maintaining a high quality of life. Mayor Coleman is the first African-American and longest-serving mayor in Columbus history, the 3rd longest serving Mayor in the country, and the longest-serving African-American mayor among major U.S. cities.

 

“Coleman seems to focus relentlessly on the kind of urban renewal that will make Columbus attractive to the next generation,” wrote Matt Bai in Yahoo! News in December of 2014. In November of 2014, Mayor Coleman was honored as a Powerbroker on the Ebony Power 100, Ebony Magazine’s list of the most influential and intriguing African Americans.

 

Prior to becoming mayor, Coleman served as President of Columbus City Council from January of 1997 to November of 1999, and as a council member from February of 1992 to December of 1999. Coleman graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1977 with a degree in Political Science and earned his law degree from the University of Dayton Law School in 1980. He holds honorary degrees from The Ohio State University, Capital University and Ohio Christian University, and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.

 

Columbus is the capital and largest city in the state of Ohio. It is the 15th largest city in the United States, with a population of more than 822,000. With roughly 8,000 City of Columbus employees, there are 16 departments within the Mayor’s cabinet, including: Building and Zoning Services, Civil Service Commission, Community Relations Commission, Department of Development, Department of Education, Equal Business Opportunity Commission, Fire Division, Finance and Management, Human Resources, Columbus Public Health, Public Safety, Public Service, Public Utilities, Recreation and Parks, Technology and the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC).

DIRECTOR DAVID GOODMAN,

OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY

 

Plenary Remarks on June 10th at 9am

 

David Goodman was appointed Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency by Governor John R. Kasich, effective March 18, 2013. Goodman joined Development Services from the Ohio Department of Commerce where he served as Director from 2011–2013.

 

Goodman is a dedicated public servant with a proven record of effective advocacy and leadership. In 2001, Goodman was seated in the Ohio Senate, where he served as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for Civil Justice, through which important tort and corporate governance reform initiatives were shepherded. Additionally, Goodman served on the Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee; the Environment Committee; and the Committee on Health, Human Services and Aging.

 

Born in Bexley, Ohio, Goodman began his career in public service as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Ohio. In 1995, Goodman ran for and was elected to Bexley City Council, where he played a key role in enacting legislation that increased competition among utility providers to lower rates for Bexley residents. In 1998, Goodman was appointed to serve the remainder of an unexpired term in the Ohio House of Representatives and was elected to a full term later that year.

 

Goodman is a graduate of Bexley High School, Miami University and the Case Western Reserve University College of Law.

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