OEDA Legislative Conference Speakers

2025 Legislative Conference Sponsors

David R. Zak

President & CEO, OEDA

David Zak is the President & CEO of the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA), working to advance economic development in Ohio through professional development, advocacy, and collaboration. With nearly 30 years of experience, he started at the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), focusing on Foreign Direct Investment, and later served as Chief of the Business Services Division during the formation of JobsOhio.

David has led local economic development efforts in multiple Ohio counties, helping secure top rankings from Site Selection magazine 12 times. Over his career, he has been involved in creating 17,000 jobs and securing $1.8 billion in investment locally, as well as 40,000 jobs and $8 billion statewide. A dedicated educator, he teaches in the Basic Economic Development Course and has received three state and national awards for innovation.

Dana Saucier Jr.

Vice President, Head of Economic Development, JobsOhio

Dana Saucier is the vice president and head of economic development for JobsOhio, overseeing business strategy, industry sector teams, business development, research, talent acquisition services and project management. Prior to joining JobsOhio, he spent more than 25 years in the energy industry, including 10 years with Accent Energy, a retail energy company that he co-founded and grew to $350 million in revenues and over 150,000 customers. He is a graduate of the University of Maine and a recipient of the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Hon. Bill Reineke

President Pro Tempore, Ohio Senate

Bill Reineke represents the 26th District in the Ohio Senate, which includes Union, Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wyandot counties. He is currently serving his second term as State Senator and was elected by his colleagues as President Pro Tempore for the 136th General Assembly. His foremost priority is workforce development and job creation, which he pursues as a member on the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board.

Senator Reineke previously served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. He has worked closely with the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce, Tiffin Seneca Economic Partnership, Tiffin Tomorrow, and Tiffin Rotary Club as a business owner in Tiffin and now representing the district in Columbus.

Senator Reineke attended Morehead State University. He is a business partner in Reineke Family Dealerships, a three-generation family business that has grown to include 10 dealerships and over 400 full and part time employees. He is a 41-year resident of Tiffin and the proud father of two daughters and grandfather of William.

Alexandra Denney

Vice President of Government Relations & Communications, Ohio Business Roundtable

Alexandra K. Denney is the Vice President of Government Relations & Communications at the Ohio Business Roundtable (OBRT), where she leads communications and public affairs to enhance the organization’s influence. In her role, she collaborates with OBRT members—CEOs of Ohio’s top companies—to improve the state’s economic vitality by working with public leaders on policy issues.

Recently, Denney testified before the Ohio Senate Energy Committee in support of Senate Bill 2, aligning with OBRT’s Energy Competitiveness Study recommendations. Her efforts focus on fostering collaboration between business leaders and policymakers to drive economic development and ensure Ohio remains an ideal place to live and work.

Hon. Nick Santucci

Majority Whip, Ohio House of Representatives

State Representative Nick Santucci is serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 64th Ohio House District, which encompasses the portions of Trumbull County. Nick has quickly established himself as an impactful legislator, being named Vice Chairman of the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee as a freshman representative. He also currently serves as the Senior Consultant for Workforce and Community Engagement at VAZA Consulting.

Prior to joining VAZA Consulting, Nick was the Director of Government Affairs and Workforce Development at the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio. In this role, he was responsible for advocacy efforts and collaborating with various educational departments. He actively worked with state and federal governments to ensure the region’s educational voice was heard in Columbus. Before this, he served as the Director of Government and Public Affairs at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, where he oversaw the Chamber’s Government Affairs Council and implemented events like the Columbus Drive-In and Washington DC Fly-In, earning recognition with the Ohio Economic Development Association’s 2019 Marketing and Communication Award. 

Nick also served as the Chamber’s Director of Education and Workforce Development, helping businesses meet their talent needs through the JobsNow program. He supported the creation of business-education partnerships and hosted industry roundtables to address education and workforce concerns. He was instrumental in the creation of the Community Connectors program, which prepared students for the workforce and was recognized by the Ohio Department of Education. 

Nick has served on the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee, interacting with the Ohio General Assembly and the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation on important policy issues. He has also been involved with the Howland Alumni Association, the Eastern Ohio Education Partnership Board, and the United Way of the Mahoning Valley’s Success After Six Board. In 2019, he was appointed to the Valley STEM+ME2 Academy Governing Board. 

Nick received his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from John Carroll University, where he participated in programs like “We, The People,” teaching fifth-grade history in inner-city Cleveland schools. He has completed internships with U.S. representatives and senators, served on a U.S. presidential campaign, and worked in the Trumbull County Commissioners’ Office before joining the Chamber. 

He currently resides in Niles with his wife Alexis and daughter Ella.

Kristina Clouse

Senior Managing Director, Talent, JobsOhio

​Kristina Clouse serves as the Senior Managing Director of Talent at JobsOhio, where she leads the organization’s talent acquisition and development strategies to bolster Ohio’s workforce. In her role, Kristina collaborates with businesses across the state to identify and address talent challenges, ensuring sustainable growth and a robust talent pipeline.​

Under her leadership, JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition Services (TAS) program has been instrumental in assisting companies like General Dynamics to enhance their recruitment and training processes, leading to significant improvements in certification rates and applicant quality. Kristina’s efforts have been recognized by Columbus Business First, naming her to their Power 100 list, highlighting her influence in shaping Ohio’s economic landscape. ​

With a background in international development and a decade-long career advising governments and implementing large-scale programs, Kristina brings a wealth of experience to her role at JobsOhio. Her competitive spirit and dedication to economic development continue to drive her commitment to making Ohio a prime destination for business growth and talent development.

Tracy Green

Vice President for Strategic and Institutional Development, Lorain County Community College

Tracy A. Green is the Vice President for Strategic and Institutional Development at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), where she leads initiatives to strengthen community partnerships, drive economic and workforce development, and expand opportunities for students. She also serves as Vice President of the LCCC Foundation, advancing strategic initiatives that position LCCC as a key player in regional economic growth.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit leadership, Tracy has a proven track record in strategic visioning, workforce program development, community engagement, legislative advocacy, and board development. Her efforts have helped align education and workforce strategies to transform communities and create pathways to prosperity.

Tracy has dedicated nearly 30 years to LCCC, previously serving as Director and, earlier in her career, as Coordinator at the Educational Service Center of Lorain County. She holds a B.S. in Business from Thomas Edison State University and remains committed to fostering collaboration between education, industry, and government to drive innovation and long-term economic impact.

Mike Jacoby

Director of Economic Development, Bricker Graydon

Mike Jacoby is a seasoned economic development professional with over 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked at the state, local, and regional levels. His understanding of both private business and public sector economics, and his sensitivity to the interests of entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies, places him in a position to manage resources necessary to retain and help grow existing businesses, attract new businesses to the area, and coordinate private and public economic development programs of mutual benefit.

At Mike’s previous role he led the Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) team in supporting companies in a 25-county region of over 1 million in population. Under Mike’s leadership, the team successfully undertook expansion and attraction projects that created over 5,800 jobs. Additionally, he worked closely with JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation, as the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern and eastern Ohio. He actively engaged with business, government, and economic development leaders across the region and the state, representing southeastern Ohio and leading site development, workforce, and planning initiatives.

Mike specializes in creative problem-solving to get deals done, grant writing, communications, marketing, real estate development, incentives, and team building. His ability to build consensus while balancing the interests of multiple constituencies has proven his prowess as a first-class leader in his field.

Matt Koppitch

Partner, Bricker Graydon

Matt Koppitch uses extensive experience, spanning all levels and branches of government, to deliver results for clients who cover multiple industries and sectors. Touching on policy areas from economic development, energy, health care, taxation, and more. Matt routinely counsels and advises clients, candidates, and ballot campaigns on outreach, policy development, coalition building, communications, and political strategy, as well as compliance and ethics.

Matt combines policy with the political, helping serve the client’s needs, including negotiating legislation and administrative rules, legislative and regulatory drafting, and providing legislative analysis and tracking. His wide-ranging campaign experience includes gubernatorial and congressional campaigns and both local and statewide ballot issues.

Matt’s political acumen also serves clients in other areas of law. As a consensus builder, he has represented businesses, developers, and political subdivisions in zoning, land use, and other land development issues. He uses his extensive network of relationships to assist clients in resolving complex situations, helping clients navigate bureaucracy, and troubleshoot regulatory issues.

Matt previously served as District Director for United States Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, advising on matters of policy, including financial services, banking, insurance, labor and employment, health care, and more. Additionally, Matt’s past experience also includes the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199; the Ohio Department of Commerce; the Ohio Lottery Commission; and the Ohio Governor’s Office.

Molly R. Gwin

Of Counsel, Ice Miller

Molly Gwin serves as Of Counsel in Ice Miller’s Real Estate practice group, where she represents builders and developers with their real estate needs, including contract drafting and review, drafts of easements and related documents, zoning, land use and entitlements, tax increment financing and tax abatements, and negotiation of development agreements.  She has successfully handled arbitration and real estate litigation as well.

Molly also has experience in Labor & Employment law, where she has successfully defended employers in Title VII, ADA, FMLA, and related state law litigation and has experience drafting employee handbooks and defending Ohio Civil Rights Commission charges.

Carlie J. Boos

Executive Director, Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio

Carlie J. Boos, Esq. is the Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio. In her role, she provides leadership and strategic direction to members, stakeholders, and the local community to expand affordable housing resources.

Previously, Carlie served as Community & Economic Development counsel at the Legal Aid Society of Columbus. While there, she provided comprehensive legal, logistical, and financial advice to organizations that make an impact in Columbus neighborhoods. She also has extensive experience in policy and program development, having worked at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. At OHFA, she developed the Qualified Allocation Plan, oversaw the Ohio and National Housing Trust Fund allocation plans, led issue-specific initiatives like youth housing and assisted living finance, and created the FHAct50 Building Opportunity Fund. She also directed housing and economic recovery programming, including the Neighborhood Initiative Program and Save the Dream Ohio.

Carlie began her career as a consumer rights and housing attorney and consulted for The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law’s faculty on consumer rights issues. She holds bachelors’ degrees in Women’s Studies and Political Science from the Ohio State University and a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

She is on the board of the Franklinton Urban Empowerment Lab and volunteers for the Legal Aid Society of Columbus. Carlie unwinds at night by baking cakes, listening to her husband Leland play guitar, and chasing around their wonderful son, EZ.

Sarah Kelly

Director, planning NEXT

Sarah Kelly, AICP, is the Director at Planning NEXT, bringing over two decades of experience in urban planning, historic preservation, and project management. She has played a key role in shaping community-driven planning efforts across the country, guiding municipalities and organizations in visioning, strategic planning, and public engagement.

Sarah has been with Planning NEXT for more than ten years, serving as Senior Project Manager before becoming Director. Previously, she led initiatives in Boston, including as Executive Director of the Boston Preservation Alliance and Senior Associate at Fort Point Associates. She also worked with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and The Boston Harbor Association, where she advanced planning strategies focused on urban design, waterfront development, and preservation. Additionally, she has shared her expertise as a Lecturer at The Ohio State University’s Knowlton School of Architecture.

Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a BA in Government from Dartmouth College. A certified planner (AICP), she has contributed to the field through research and publications, including work on campus heritage planning.

Joe Retoff

Co-Founder, RT Advisors

Joe Rettof is the Co-Founder of RT Advisors, a full-service campaign firm specializing in strategic messaging, paid media, digital outreach, design, mail, fundraising, and budgeting. With over 22 years of experience in political campaigns and nonprofit advocacy, he has played a key role in shaping electoral strategies across the Midwest.

Since founding RT Advisors in 2014, Joe has served as a general consultant, campaign manager, fundraiser, and strategist for candidates, ballot initiatives, and nonprofit organizations. He has advised the Ohio Senate Democrats since 2017 and previously managed the Columbus City Council Coordinated Campaign. His background includes fundraising roles with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, We Are Ohio, and the Ohio Democratic Party, where he served as Finance Director.

Joe holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through his expertise in grassroots organizing, coalition-building, and strategic communications, he continues to drive successful campaigns and advocacy efforts.

Ryan Stubenrauch

Consultant, Communications Counsel, Inc.

Ryan Stubenrauch has more than 16 years of experience working as an attorney, communications strategist, and government affairs advisor to a wide range of clients.

Mr. Stubenrauch has worked with both government and private sector clients in 13 different states. He’s helped a wide variety of private sector clients—from small businesses to billion-dollar companies—deal with communications during a crisis. Stubenrauch has also worked with government—from local officials to statewide executives and members of Congress—on critical legal, political, and media relations issues.

Mr. Stubenrauch has been interviewed by many local, national, and international news outlets. He’s served as spokesperson and crisis communications advisor for many organizations during a difficult time. Earlier in his career, he served as an assistant attorney general for several years prosecuting complex criminal cases and organized crime. Mr. Stubenrauch also served as Mike DeWine’s Senior Policy Advisor. 

He’s a noted speaker and instructor on Ohio public records laws, media relations, and crisis communications issues.  He graduated from The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School. Mr. Stubenrauch and his wife Josie live in Lewis Center, Ohio, where they are the proud parents of three children. 

Adam Greenslade

Founder, North Coast Strategy Group

Adam Greenslade is the Founding Partner of North Coast Strategy Group, a firm specializing in government affairs, public relations, and grant writing. With more than 25 years of experience in government relations and public affairs, he has worked extensively at both the state and federal levels, advocating for economic development, infrastructure, and policy initiatives.

Prior to founding North Coast Strategy Group in 2008, Adam served as Director of Government Affairs, Marketing & Communications at the Ohio Turnpike & Infrastructure Commission, where he worked closely with state legislators and local communities across the 13 counties the Turnpike traverses. His career also includes leadership roles as Director of Clydescope Economic Development Corporation and Northwest Ohio Director for LNE Group, as well as positions within both chambers of the Ohio Legislature.

A graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Geography – Urban and Regional Systems, Adam is a dedicated advocate for strategic public policy and economic growth initiatives in Ohio.

Lydia Mihalik

Director, Ohio Department of Development

Lydia Mihalik is the Director of the Ohio Department of Development, a state agency committed to empowering communities to succeed by investing in the people, places, and businesses of Ohio.

Prior to her appointment by Governor Mike DeWine in 2019, Director Mihalik served as the 55th Mayor of the City of Findlay in northwest Ohio. Her vision and leadership led to the revitalization of the city’s downtown, attracting new job creators from around the world, and Findlay being recognized by Site Selector Magazine as the top micropolitan in the nation for economic development and job creation every year since 2013.

Director Mihalik is putting that experience to work for Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted to make Ohio the best place to live, learn, work, and visit. Under her leadership, Development is bringing public- and private-sector partners together to accomplish the Administration’s priorities to build a thriving economy, invest in small, minority, and disadvantaged businesses, prepare communities for the future, improve broadband access, and expand the skills of our workforce.

Under the leadership of Governor DeWine and Lt. Governor Husted, Ohio’s economy has seen significant growth. That record of success has secured some of the biggest economic development projects in Ohio’s history. Not only are automotive giants like Honda, GM and Ford investing billions of dollars to produce electric vehicles in Ohio, but Intel selected the Buckeye State as the site of what could be the largest semiconductor facility on the planet.

Director Mihalik earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Findlay and received an honorary doctorate in public service from the University of Rio Grande. She serves as chair of both the Ohio Tax Credit Authority and Third Frontier Commission, as well as co-chair of the Governor’s Expo 2050 Task Force. She is also a member of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board, Ohio Exposition Commission, Broadband Expansion Authority, Ohio Economic Development Association Board of Directors, and SMART Columbus Board of Directors.

She and her husband, Drew, live in Findlay with their three children, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Delaney.

Mike Duffey

Chancellor, Ohio Department of Higher Education

Mike Duffey was appointed the 11th Chancellor of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) in January 2024. In this role, he oversees the state’s two-year and four-year colleges and universities and Ohio Technical Centers. In addition, the Chancellor provides policy guidance to the Governor and the Ohio General Assembly and carries out state higher education policy.

Prior to becoming Chancellor, he served ODHE for five years as Senior Vice Chancellor. He worked on important policies for the administration, including transcript release, student debt release, FAFSA completion, short-term credentials, Ohio’s College Comeback initiative, and support for innovation and technology commercialization.

Before joining the department, he served eight years in the Ohio House of Representatives, where he chaired the Higher Education and Workforce committee, vice-chaired the legislature’s Joint Committee on College Affordability, and co-chaired the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority.

During his time at ODHE, Chancellor Duffey has served as the Governor’s designee on the Midwestern Higher Education Compact. From November 2021 to August 2022, he chaired the State Committee on Computer Science. And from 2019 to 2021, he also served on loan as Deputy Director of InnovateOhio, an initiative led by Lt. Governor Jon Husted in support of innovation and entrepreneurialism.

As State Representative, Mike Duffey sponsored legislation that established the Chancellor’s authority to review special fees and the state auditor’s authority to conduct performance audits of Ohio’s public colleges, and he led efforts to provide voting rights to student trustees. His most well-known legislative act was sponsoring the legislation that created JobsOhio.

Toward the end of his service in the legislature, he became known for initiating the legal theory and evidentiary basis for the state lawsuit that saved the Columbus Crew soccer franchise. For this work, he received the Spirit of Columbus award from The Columbus Foundation. 

Chancellor Duffey has a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Lindsay, a public school teacher and librarian, live in Worthington. They have two children, Jack and Annie, and two goldendoodles, Comet and Clover. 

Stephen D. Dackin

Director, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Preparing students for success means understanding the connections between the classroom, real-world experiences, and the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed for a bright future. With more than 40 years working in multiple educational settings, Stephen D. Dackin has amassed extensive experience in state education policy, instructional leadership, postsecondary education, and workforce readiness.

Director Dackin’s career has been guided by a personal focus to work in service to children and families. Prior to being appointed as director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Director Dackin served in roles ranging from a classroom educator, school and district leader, and at the former Ohio Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and in higher education.

At the local level, Director Dackin worked in central Ohio school districts to advance achievement opportunities for all students. During his time in Reynoldsburg City Schools, he worked as a high school principal, assistant superintendent, and the district superintendent. Under his leadership, the district markedly improved student performance, including performance among minority and economically disadvantaged students, while reducing spending. During his tenure, the district developed one of the nation’s largest science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, which served more than a third of the district’s students. He led a districtwide transformation of Reynoldsburg’s large, comprehensive high school into four, grades 9-14 college and career academies, each aligned to clusters of careers that are important to Ohio’s economic development plans.

Director Dackin understands the challenges and opportunities our young people and their parents and guardians face in effectively navigating the educational and workforce systems for their children. He brought this expertise to his position as superintendent of school and community partnerships for Columbus State Community College. He bolstered initiatives to grow a number of Columbus State Community College partnerships and programs originating from the Central Ohio Compact, a regional strategy initiative focused on a goal that 60% of central Ohio adults hold postsecondary degrees or credentials by 2025.

He continues to elevate the role partnerships play in achieving statewide goals, and is a member of several education, community, and workforce boards.

Education is part of the fabric of the Dackin family. Director Dackin’s wife, Susan, is a retired educator and they are the proud parents of two daughters, one of whom is an educator and the other an attorney, both in Central Ohio. Director Dackin enjoys golfing, cycling, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.