Director David Goodman Names Business Services Leadership Team

Todd Walker
Ohio Development Services Agency

The Ohio Development Services Agency supports business and economic development in the state. Recent promotions within the Business Services Division will provide increased service to our business customers while providing opportunities for advancement for members of the team providing exemplary service.

Padmini Roy-Dixon has been promoted to Chief of the Business Services Division. She will oversee Ohio’s economic, small business, and technology-based development efforts, ensuring quality customer service and accountability. Prior to serving as Chief, Roy-Dixon served as Deputy Chief for Strategic Initiatives, managing agency-wide, high-priority projects. Additionally, she supervised the Export Assistance office, and managed the Reporting and Quality Assurance team that ensures grantees are held accountable when public incentives are issued. Roy-Dixon has a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Delhi in India and a master’s degree in Finance from Boston College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University.

“Padmini, John, and Craig are assets to our leadership team. I know they will keep the Agency moving forward, looking for new ways to improve our service to Ohio businesses and entrepreneurs,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.

John Werkman has been promoted to Assistant Chief of the Business Services Division. Werkman will oversee the agency’s tax incentive, grant and loan programs. Prior to joining Development in 2014 as Tax Incentives Manager, he was an Appeals Attorney with the Ohio Department of Taxation. Werkman graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. He received his law degree from the University of Toledo.<span “>

Craig Chambers has been named Executive Director of Ohio Third Frontier in addition to his role as Deputy Chief, Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Prior to joining Development, Chambers was the Senior Advisor for Commercialization in the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following more than 25 years as a technology sector executive. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and has masters’ degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School.

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