Leadership

Bank Industry Uncertainty Raises Cybersecurity Risk

The current strains on the banking industry increase cybersecurity risks for all organizations. OMA Connections Partner CliftonLarsonAllen has published this guidance to help businesses counter the new threats. 3/22/2023

Ohio Tourism Resources for Spring 2023

TourismOhio has published this page of things to do in the Buckeye State during spring. From visiting one of 75 state parks, to trying out local food and beverages, to finding trails and birding locations, share this site with co-workers and employees. 3/21/2023

OMA Board Meets in Findlay

Findlay — Flag City USA — was the site of the Q1 2023 OMA board of directors meeting held March 14. Directors reviewed the association’s key performance indicators and were briefed by staff on current OMA initiatives in the areas of advocacy, workforce development, and communications.

OMA Chairman Dale Laws, vice president of manufacturing operations at Whirlpool Corp., arranged a tour of Whirlpool’s Findlay facility for directors and staff. One of five major Whirlpool operations in Ohio, the Findlay plant employs approximately 2,400 employees who manufacture dishwashers for multiple brands. The facility is the top employer in Hancock County. 3/14/2023

Glasper, Hernandez, Weaver Join OMA Board

The OMA board is currently comprised of 29 manufacturing leaders from businesses of all sizes, representing every area of the Buckeye State. Three new members were elected during the December board meeting. They are:

• Cedric Glasper, president/CEO of Mechanical Rubber, Strongsville;
• Javier Hernandez, plant manager at DuPont, Circleville; and
• Stephanie Weaver, plant manager at General Mills, Wellston.

Recently, Tom Lake, former senior vice president for strategic planning at Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, stepped down from the OMA board following his retirement. We thank Tom for his service to the OMA. 3/14/2023

Senators Remove Rural Highway Fund From Transportation Budget

The Senate Transportation Committee this week adopted a substitute version of the state’s two-year transportation spending plan (House Bill 23). Among the changes, the Senate version eliminated House language to establish a $1 billion rural highway fund.

More details are available in this story from Gongwer News Service.

Differences between the House and Senate versions will be negotiated following the full Senate’s approval of HB 23. You can find current ODOT projects by county here. 3/15/2023

On-Demand Webinar: Cybersecurity in Turbulent Times

OMA Connections Partner Verizon has made available this on-demand webinar titled, “Maintaining Strong Cybersecurity in Turbulent Economic Times.” This webinar — which explores how secure networks can safeguard interdependencies and enhance operations — can be viewed by visiting this page and scrolling to the webinar section. 3/15/2023

Householder Found Guilty in HB 6-Related Case

A federal jury has found former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges guilty of taking part in a bribery scheme linked to House Bill 6 — the OMA-opposed law that authorized customer-funded subsidies for nuclear generation, OVEC coal plants, and more. (See the related story in this Leadership Briefing.)

The two will be sentenced at a later date. Both face up to 20 years in prison for their roles in the $61 million pay-to-play scandal.

This story by The Plain Dealer provides an overview of the trial and verdict. Stay tuned for more updates on the story. 3/9/2023

OMA Members Meet With Speaker Jason Stephens

On March 8, the OMA Government Affairs Committee held its first meeting of 2023. Sponsored by OMA Connections Partners UPS and Verizon, the meeting was attended by more than 90 members either in person or online. Highlights included:

• House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) discussed priority legislation (HB 1) to lower Ohio’s income taxes and simplify its property tax structure, and provided an update on the state budget process;
• An briefing by OMA staff on state legislative activity; and
• A look at potential upcoming ballot issues, presented by OMA General Counsel Chris Slagle of Bricker & Eckler.

The GAC Committee will meet again June 7. Register here. 3/9/2023

Husted Kicks Off EV Workforce Strategy Initiative

On March 8, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted kicked off Ohio’s Electric Vehicle Workforce Strategy initiative. Participating in the event were Ohio automotive manufacturers and suppliers, along with education leaders, industry sector partnerships, and workforce development partners.

This industry-led initiative is in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the OMA to help ensure an adequate EV workforce throughout Ohio. The governor’s budget proposes funding to support the development of the EV workforce. 3/9/2023

Manufacturing’s Productivity Slump Raises Concerns

Chad Moutray, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, recently published this graph, illustrating labor productivity trends in U.S. manufacturing.

The non-partisan Information Technology and Innovation Foundation reports that U.S. manufacturing productivity performance has been “abysmal” since 2011. It’s calling on Congress to take seven steps to address manufacturing’s “productivity recession,” which it says could lead to fewer jobs, a larger trade deficit, and a weakened industrial base. 3/5/2023