
2026 Hall of Fame Laureates
Coming Soon
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about the central ohio business hall of fame
Since 1987 Junior Achievement of Central Ohio (JA) has celebrated community and business leaders in our region by inducting them into the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame laureates embody business excellence, courageous thinking and action, vision and innovation, inspirational leadership, and community support. JA honors Hall of Fame Laureates for their contributions to our region’s economic development and their commitment to business excellence. Laureates are role models for their peers, and ultimately for Central Ohio’s K-12 students that JA serves.
SAVE THE DATE.
38th Annual central ohio business hall of fame.
November 2026
Location: Junior Achievement of Central Ohio
68 E 2nd Ave, Columbus, OH, 43201
Time: TBD
central ohio business hall of fame Laureates
2025
Corrine Burger
JP Morgan Chase
Kenny McDonald
One Columbus
2024
Lisa Ingram
White Castle System, Inc.
Matt Scantland
AndHealth
2022
Michael B. Coleman
Ice Miller Law
Jeffrey W. Edwards
Installed Building Products
2021
Pat Losinski
Columbus Metropolitan Library
Guy Worley
Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
2020
Sandy Doyle-Ahern
EMH&T
Dr. David Harrison
Columbus State Community College
2019
Nicholas K. Akins
American Electric Power
James T. Merkel
Rockbridge
2018
Jordan A. Miller Jr.
Fifth Third Bank
Jane Grote Abell
Donatos
2017
Steve Steinour
Huntington Bancshares
Mark Corna
Corna Kokosing Construction
2016
Steve Allen MD
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Alex Fischer
Columbus Partnership
2015
Curtis Jewell
Excel Management Systems
Bill Ingram
White Castle
2014
Yvette McGee Brown
Jones Day
Douglas F. Kridler
The Columbus Foundation
2013
Robert H. Schottenstein
M/I Homes, Inc.
2012
Dwight E. Smith
Sophisticated Systems, Inc.
Charles J. Kegler
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter
2011
Sue Doody
Lindey’s Restaurant & Bar
George McCloy
McCloy Financial Services
Robert C. White Sr.
The Daimler Group
James L. Budros
Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc.
John P. McConnell
Worthington Industries, Inc.
2010
David Bianconi
Progressive Medical
Larry Abbott
Abbott Foods
Sandra Harbrecht Ratchford
Paul Werth Associates
William Lhota
Central Ohio Transit Authority
2009
David Blom
OhioHealth
Nancy Kramer
Resource Interactive
William Heifner
Renier Construction
2009
David Schoedinger
Schoedinger Funeral & Cremation Service
2008
Phil Urban
Grange Insurance
Tanny Crane
Crane Group
Donna James
Nationwide Strategic Investments & Lardon & Associates, LLC
Cameron Mitchell
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
2007
Larry Hilsheimer
SCS North Central Region, Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
Jack Kessler
The New Albany Co. & John W. Kessler Company
Jay Schottenstein
Schottenstein Stores Corp. Retail Ventures, Inc., American Eagle Outfitters, DSW, Filenes Basement & American Signature, Inc.
Charles Penzone
Charles Penzone, Inc.
2006
Jack Hanna
The Columbus Zoo
Bobby Rahal
Rahal Letterman Racing
2005
Don M. Casto III
Casto
Walden O’Dell
Diebold, Inc.
Cheryl Krueger
Cheryl & Co.
Mark Swepston
Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling
2004
Ed Overmyer
Hilb Rogal & Hobbs
William Blaine
Judson Lumber
Jim Hopkins
Hopkins Printing
2003
Jim Grote
Donatos Pizzeria
Howard LeFevre
Freight Service, Inc. & United Carriers Corp.
David Milenthal
Ten United
2002
Dr. Roger Blackwell PhD
Blackwell Associates, Inc.
Paula Inniss
Ohio Full Court Press, LLC
Curt Moody
Moody·Nolan, Inc.
2001
Florence Zacks Melton
R.G. Barry Corporation
Douglas E. Olesen PhD
Battelle
Alex Shumate
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey
Robert J. Weiler
The Robert Weiler Company
2000
Friedrich K.M. Bohm
NBBJ
Donald A. Borror
Dominion Homes
Raymond E. Mason Jr.
Columbus Truck & Equipment Company, Inc.
Ronald A. Pizzuti
The Pizzuti Companies
1999
Daniel E. Evans
Bob Evans Farms Inc.
J.F. Jeff Keeler
The Fishel Companies
Dimon R. McFerson
Nationwide
Benjamin L. Zox
Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn
1998
David R. Meuse
Banc One Holding Corp.
Fred D. Pfening Jr.
The Fred D. Pfening Co.
1998
L. Jack Ruscilli
The Ruscilli Companies
1997
James W. Near
Wendys, Inc.
Peter H. Edwards
The Edwards Company
Thekla R. Shackelford
School Selection Consulting
1996
John F. Schoedinger
Schoedinger Funeral Service
Pauline Chambers-Yost
Tech International
George J. Igel Jr.
George J. Igel & Co., Inc.
1995
Ralph H. Anderson
Anderson Concrete Corp.
Tadd C. Seitz
The Scotts Company
John C. Elam
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease
1994
Katherine LeVeque
LeVeque Enterprises
Dave Longaberger
The Longaberger Company
John Fisher
Nationwide
1993
Jack Gorman
Thomas W. Ruff & Company
Clayton Jones
Fiesta Hair Salons
Paula Spence
Hameroff/Milenthal/Spence
1992
Leonard Immke Jr.
Immke Dealerships
Harley E. Rouda Sr.
HER Realtors
Eldon W. Ward
E. E. Ward Moving & Storage Company
1991
Richard M. Ross
Ross Laboratories
Jerome M. Schottenstein
Schottenstein Stores Corp.
1990
John B. Gerlach
Lancaster Colony Corporation
Murray D. Lincoln
Nationwide
Arthur Kobacker
The Kobacker Company
Harry P. & Robert F. Wolfe
The Columbus Dispatch
1989
Everett Reese
Park National Bank
Don M. Casto Sr.
The Casto Organization
Lewis R. Smoot Sr.
The Smoot Corporation
Dr. Arthur Cullman
The Ohio State University
1988
R. David Thomas
Wendys, Inc.
James R. Trueman
Red Roof Inns
Leslie H. Wexner
The Limited, Inc.
John G. McCoy
Banc One Corporation
1987
John W. Galbreath
John W. Galbreath Company
E.W. Billy Ingram
White Castle System, Inc.
Robert L. Bob Evans
Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Fred L. Lazarus Jr.
Federated Department Stores
John H. McConnell
Worthington Industries
Ralph C. Liebert
Liebert Corporation
