I’m bullish on Ohio because I’ve seen it in every county, and I’ve been in all 88, multiple times over. I’ve walked factory floors, met founders and family-owned business operators, toured top secret research and innovation labs, and witnessed firsthand the grit and entrepreneurial spirit that defines this state.

All of this happens largely unnoticed because we are a hard-working but humble state.

Ohioans don’t boast. We build. We combine technical knowledge and advanced research with hands-on skill and tradesmanship. We take ideas and make them real. That combination of intellect and execution is rare, and Ohio has it. It’s a state with abundant resources and a 7th-largest U.S. GDP built across manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and finance, with rural, suburban, and urban communities where everyone can find a place to call home. In fact, Ohio now leads the Midwest in net migration. People are choosing us.

As a lifelong Ohioan, I’ve called a lot of different places home: Appalachian Ohio, small towns, suburbs, and now metro Columbus. I’ve lived this state from every angle. My economic development background has allowed me to see Ohio’s economy from the international CEO deciding to locate here to the small business owner building their business in rural Ohio.

I’ve supported and helped finance projects across the full supply chain and in every industry. I’ve helped structure and fund transformational projects in communities throughout the state, and I’ve had a front row seat to how one strategic investment can unlock a whole new industry, whether it’s in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, or technology taking root in places that weren’t on anyone’s radar.

Most importantly, I understand the connective tissue of this state. I’ve built relationships across every region. I know where capital can unlock opportunity because I’ve seen the gaps firsthand.

The O.H.I.O. Fund has the potential to change the trajectory of Ohio’s economic growth.

This is about building a durable capital flywheel. As returns are generated, capital can be reinvested into new Ohio opportunities, compounding both financial performance and statewide prosperity. That reinforcement loop strengthens our ecosystem and accelerates growth.

It’s about fundamentally accelerating Ohio’s economic momentum, ensuring that the companies, innovation, and wealth created here stay here and fuel the next generation of opportunity. The goal isn’t just financial returns. It’s broad-based growth that reaches every corner of the state. And that’s how we build enduring momentum.