Leadership

As Ohio’s data center boom drives tougher questions about energy demand, grid strain and who gets stuck with the bill, the Columbus Metropolitan Club will host a forum on one of the state’s most consequential policy fights.

Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA), will join a panel for “Ohio’s Data Center Debate” alongside leaders from The Ohio State University, Columbus City Council and the Statehouse News Bureau. The public discussion will examine how rapid digital infrastructure growth is driving tougher questions about energy demand, grid planning, customer costs and the policies shaping who bears the risk.

“This is the debate Ohio cannot afford to get wrong,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “Big claims are driving big decisions, and the public deserves to know whether the numbers behind them are real.”

The forum will take place Wednesday, April 22, from noon to 1 p.m. at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St., Columbus. Register now to attend this important discussion. 4/10/2026

Mark Lamoncha, Ohio Manufacturers’ Assocation (OMA) board member and president and CEO of Humtown Products, has been named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Ohio Small Business Person of the Year, an honor that reflects the strength of Ohio manufacturing leadership.

Lamoncha helped grow Humtown from a Columbiana pattern shop into North America’s leading producer of 3D sand cores and molds. The SBA cited his innovation and long-term vision in announcing the award.

“Mark Lamoncha represents the best of Ohio manufacturing,” OMA President Ryan Augsburger said. “He is an innovator, a builder and a relentless advocate for what is possible when Ohio companies lead with vision, grit and ingenuity. This recognition is well deserved, and Ohio is stronger because of leaders like Mark.”

Lamoncha said the award reflects the work of Humtown’s team and the support of its partners and community. He now advances to national competition, with the national winner to be announced May 4 in Washington. 4/7/2026

U.S. manufacturing delivered an encouraging jolt in March, adding 15,000 jobs after revised February figures showed a smaller-than-initially-reported loss of 6,000. The first February estimate had shown a decline of 12,000 jobs, making March’s gain look even more like a rebound. The latest numbers also mark a sharp year-over-year turnaround. In March 2025, manufacturers lost 5,000 jobs, meaning this year’s March result represents a 400% swing in the right direction, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data. Transportation equipment and fabricated metal products helped drive the gains, while the broader U.S. labor market also added jobs in March.

“This is the kind of report that puts real wind at manufacturers’ backs,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “It shows this industry is still building, still hiring and still creating opportunity. That is great news for workers, great news for communities and a strong reminder that manufacturing remains one of the brightest spots in the American economy.” 4/6/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Board of Directors met earlier this week to set direction for the year ahead, reviewing association priorities, receiving updates on advocacy, workforce services, legal and operational matters, and adopting the proposed 2026 budget. Prior to the meeting, board members toured Textron Systems, where they had the opportunity to see advanced manufacturing and defense production up close.

The conversation reflected both the demands facing manufacturers and the work OMA is doing to respond. Board members pointed to the importance of a competitive tax and regulatory environment, reliable and affordable energy, a strong pipeline of skilled workers and an association strategy grounded in the real needs of manufacturers across the state. The meeting reinforced OMA’s focus on pairing strong advocacy with practical services that help manufacturers solve problems, strengthen their workforce and stay competitive.

“Ohio manufacturers are not standing still,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “They are adapting, leading and pushing forward, and OMA is committed to backing them with strong advocacy and practical support where it matters most.”

Augsburger said the board’s visit to Textron Systems underscored that message, offering a close-up look at the innovation, precision and industrial strength driving American manufacturing.

“We are grateful to Textron Systems for welcoming our board and giving us a firsthand look at the kind of advanced manufacturing and innovation that continues to strengthen American industry,” Augsburger said. 3/31/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Vertiv is expanding in Ohio, with plans to add 500 jobs at its Ironton manufacturing plant by 2029 as the company grows domestic production of power and cooling equipment. The broader effort includes an approximately $50 million investment across Ironton and Vertiv’s Westerville headquarters campus, with up to 730 jobs planned statewide through 2029. Vertiv said the investment will strengthen U.S. production capacity for technologies used in digital infrastructure and advanced computing environments, with the Ironton project expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2027.

“Vertiv’s expansion is another strong signal that Ohio remains a place where advanced manufacturing, skilled talent and long-term investment come together,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the OMA. 3/31/2026

A Summit County jury on Tuesday failed to reach a verdict in the corruption trial of former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling, prolonging one of Ohio’s biggest public corruption cases. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the state will retry the case, calling the outcome a setback but not the end of the pursuit of justice. Prosecutors alleged the executives helped arrange a $4.3 million payment to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo as part of the wider House Bill 6 bribery scandal. Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger said the association welcomes Yost’s decision to retry the case.

“We are encouraged Attorney General Dave Yost has made clear this case will be retried,” Augsburger said. “A case of this magnitude cannot simply be left unresolved. The public deserves answers.” 3/31/2026

U.S. manufacturing added momentum in March, with stronger output and healthier order books pointing to a firmer start to spring. S&P Global’s final U.S. Manufacturing PMI climbed to 52.3, up from 51.6 in February, extending the current expansion streak to eight months. The survey found output growth accelerated and new orders rose at the fastest pace since October, suggesting manufacturers carried more traction into the spring than they had earlier in the year.

“That is the kind of report manufacturers like to see with their morning coffee,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “More output, more orders and more momentum is always welcome.” 4/1/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) President Ryan Augsburger is warning that Ohio should not let speculative data center demand and utility profit incentives drive billion-dollar energy decisions. In a guest column for The Columbus Dispatch, Augsburger argues that utilities have every reason to exaggerate demand because they profit on how much they spend to build, not on how much electricity ultimately moves through the wires.

The column points to an AEP earnings-call admission that should stop lawmakers in their tracks. During the company’s second-quarter 2025 call, an executive told investors that under AEP’s commercial-load protections, “it doesn’t really matter to us financially whether that load is actually coming online or not.”

“That is the whole scam in one sentence,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “If the utility gets paid either way, customers are the ones carrying the risk. Ohio should not be forced to bankroll massive grid buildouts based on speculative load, inflated forecasts and a business model that rewards overbuilding.” 3/24/2026

PJM Executive Vice President Asim Haque came to the Senate Energy Committee on Tuesday warning of “historic load growth” and pushing lawmakers toward more market intervention, more infrastructure spending and, ultimately, higher costs for customers.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) said the issue is not whether some new load is coming. It is whether grid insiders are turning speculation into system planning and handing customers the bill.

PJM’s own presentation made the point. The grid operator said it now plans to require demonstrated financial commitment for near-term large loads, identify duplicative requests, add third-party review and give state regulators a chance to weigh in before those projections are folded into the forecast. That is not a sign the old process was sound. It is an admission it was not.

OMA’s February analysis showed why that matters. The report found AEP Ohio’s data center tariff could inflate PJM large-load forecasts by more than 40% per data center, helping turn speculation into system planning. It also cited PJM’s Independent Market Monitor, which found forecasts of unbuilt data centers drove $21.3 billion in capacity costs over three years, compared with just $1.8 billion tied to built data centers.

“Ohio manufacturers have heard this script before: big claims, big urgency and then a bigger bill,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of OMA. “If Asim Haque wants lawmakers to treat this as a historic crisis, he ought to welcome historic scrutiny. Forecasts are not demand, and Ohio customers should not be forced to finance billion-dollar grid buildouts based on speculative, inflated or duplicate load projections.” 3/24/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) 2026 Election Guide will be published at the end of summer, giving advertisers a strong opportunity to reach Ohio’s manufacturing leaders and decision-makers as attention turns to the races, districts and political dynamics that will shape the state’s next General Assembly and congressional delegation.

The guide will feature profiles of candidates for state legislative and congressional seats, demographic and economic snapshots of every Ohio legislative district, updated political indices and commentary from House and Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses. It also will include profiles of candidates for the Supreme Court of Ohio and Ohio’s Courts of Appeals, making it a practical resource for readers tracking the people and issues driving Ohio politics.

Advertisers should reserve space by April 17, with ad files due by May 15. Reach out to Nate Mays, director of member services for OMA, for more information.

“The Election Guide is where Ohio politics stops being noise and starts becoming useful,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of OMA. “It is smart, practical and built for people who would rather see the map than listen to the spin.” 3/27/2026

SSP is marking its 100th anniversary year, celebrating a century of American-made manufacturing in Twinsburg. The family-owned company, an Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member since 1989, has built a reputation for quality, safety and long-term investment, with all products made in one U.S. facility and a public centennial celebration planned for September. “SSP’s 100th anniversary is a testament to the kind of excellence, discipline and staying power that define Ohio manufacturing,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. 3/27/2026

Ohio manufacturers got an early warning Thursday as the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) Government Affairs Committee examined the political and policy fights already driving the rest of 2026.

Members heard updates from OMA’s public policy team and counsel, along with remarks from Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke and veteran pollster Robert Blizzard (right), who offered insight into the election cycle, Statehouse dynamics and the issues most likely to drive action in the months ahead.

The conversation centered on protecting Ohio’s competitive energy markets, the growing threat posed by a ballot initiative to abolish property taxes and the legislative risks and opportunities that could affect manufacturers’ costs, investment decisions and long-term competitiveness. The meeting underscored a broader point for members: in an election year, political movement can turn into policy consequences fast.

“Statehouse fights have a way of starting as smoke and turning into fire fast,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for OMA. “OMA’s job is to spot the heat early and make sure manufacturers are ready.” 3/19/2026

AEP can spin this however it wants, but the bottom line is simple: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) staff found the company’s load forecasts were significantly overstated, and AEP accepted corrected numbers. That is a major validation of what the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has been warning for months as utilities push new policies and rate structures tied to projected data center growth.

In reviewing AEP Ohio’s proposed Basic Transmission Cost Rider rates, PUCO staff found the utility overstated load growth across several general service classes and counted projected data center demand more than once, including in classes where hyperscale data centers do not belong. OMA said the findings show why utility forecasts cannot be treated as gospel when they can trigger real costs for other customers.

“AEP can spin this however it wants, but the bottom line is simple: staff found the forecasts were significantly overstated and AEP accepted corrected numbers,” OMA President Ryan Augsburger said. 3/17/2026

A new quarterly survey from the National Association of Manufacturers suggests the sector remains broadly optimistic, with manufacturers reporting a stronger business climate even as trade and cost pressures continue to weigh on the outlook.

According to the survey, 46.6% of manufacturers said they are benefiting from the Trump administration’s regulatory reform measures. Just 33.19% cited an unfavorable business climate as a top concern, the smallest share since the association’s first-quarter 2020 survey.

Overall, 75.3% of respondents said they felt somewhat or very positive about their company’s outlook for 2026, up 5.4 percentage points from the fourth quarter of 2025. Trade uncertainty remained the top concern at 70.6%, followed by rising health care and insurance costs at 69.8% and rising raw material and other input costs at 57.5%. The survey also found improved expectations for sales, production, employment and capital spending over the next 12 months.

“Manufacturers are showing real confidence in the business climate, and that matters,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “The opportunity now is to build on that momentum with policies that support investment, growth and competitiveness.” 3/18/2026

In a year when political theater can quickly become public policy, Ohio manufacturers have every reason to pay attention. OMA’s first scheduled Government Affairs Committee meeting of the year on Thursday, March 19, will give members an early read on the campaigns, policy fights and public decisions that could have real consequences for employers across the state.

Ohio Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke will share Senate priorities for the remainder of the legislative session and provide updates on key Senate races. Members also will receive exclusive political and polling analysis from nationally recognized pollster Robert Blizzard, along with a policy and legal outlook from OMA leadership and the chief counsel at Bricker Graydon Wyatt.

Members may attend in person at OMA’s offices or virtually via Zoom. The business meeting runs from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a networking lunch provided by OMA from noon to 1 p.m.

“Manufacturers cannot afford to be spectators in a year like this,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “The decisions coming out of Columbus and the political forces building toward November will shape the business climate, compliance landscape and competitive position of Ohio employers. This meeting is about giving manufacturers the intelligence they need before those decisions are made.”

Registration is open now for members who want an early read on the political and policy developments shaping Ohio’s business climate. 3/13/2026

Gov. Mike DeWine used Tuesday’s State of the State address to argue that Ohio is gaining ground, pointing to workforce development, career tech expansion and private-sector investment as signs the state is moving in the right direction. The speech focused on jobs, talent and opportunity, casting Ohio as a place where employers can grow and workers can succeed.

But on one of the issues most likely to determine whether that growth is affordable and reliable, the speech went quiet. DeWine did not meaningfully address energy policy, electric rates, grid reliability or utility regulation. Outside of brief environmental references, he offered little on the energy cost and reliability challenges facing employers.

“Ohio has real economic momentum, but long-term competitiveness will depend on energy policy that serves the broader economy, not just utility balance sheets,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. 3/10/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) on Tuesday welcomed a delegation from Dresden, Germany, for a discussion on workforce development, apprenticeship models and industrial innovation.

Held in partnership with the Columbus-Dresden Sister City program, the meeting brought together OMA member manufacturers, representatives from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and JobsOhio for a roundtable on how manufacturers in the United States and Germany are approaching technical training, technology integration and energy challenges. The discussion highlighted shared priorities around building stronger talent pipelines, supporting advanced industries and improving long-term competitiveness.

“Ohio manufacturers compete in a global economy, and there is real value in learning how other leading industrial regions are developing talent and advancing innovation,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Bringing together manufacturers, education leaders and workforce partners for conversations like this helps sharpen Ohio’s competitive edge.” 3/10/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) public policy team was in Washington D.C. this week meeting with the offices of U.S. Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted and U.S. Reps. Bob Latta and Troy Balderson to discuss energy policy, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and other issues impacting Ohio manufacturing. The trip also included meetings with OMA members Whirlpool, Ferrero, Schaeffler, Tyson and Sherwin-Williams, along with a visit to the National Association of Manufacturers headquarters.

The visit gave OMA a chance to hear directly from both lawmakers and manufacturers on the policy decisions shaping costs, competitiveness and growth, while reinforcing the day-to-day realities facing Ohio plants. The goal was straightforward: make sure Ohio manufacturers’ priorities are part of the conversation as Washington weighs decisions with direct implications for investment, operations and expansion.

“Federal policy does not stop at the Beltway. It lands in Ohio plants, on Ohio balance sheets and in Ohio jobs,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “That is why OMA stays engaged.” 3/12/2026

President Donald Trump’s visit Wednesday to Thermo Fisher Scientific in the Cincinnati area put a spotlight on a pharmaceutical manufacturer already helping expand patient access and strengthen domestic production.

Trump used the stop to promote TrumpRx, a portal that directs consumers to manufacturer-backed discount and assistance programs. As Columbus drug-pricing expert Antonio Ciaccia told the Ohio Capital Journal, many of those programs already exist, but putting them in one place could make them easier for patients to find.

The visit also highlighted the role manufacturers are already playing in the affordability debate. Thermo Fisher recently announced plans to invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to expand U.S. manufacturing and innovation.

At the same time, new polling shows voters increasingly see the bigger affordability problem elsewhere. In Ohio, 72% of voters said health insurance prices, deductibles and coverage denials are their biggest personal health care cost pain points, and 78% said policymakers should focus more on lowering premiums, addressing denials and reducing other barriers to care.

Manufacturers are already part of the solution. The pressure is increasingly on insurers and middlemen. 3/11/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) President Ryan Augsburger is urging lawmakers not to repeat the mistakes that led to House Bill 6 as American Electric Power pushes legislation that would allow regulated utilities to own and finance new nuclear generation.

“This is a fundamental rewrite of Ohio’s competitive framework,” Augsburger said. “Utilities earn a guaranteed return on what they build. If they reenter generation, customers carry the long-term financial risk.”

The proposal would move Ohio back toward utility-controlled generation, shifting billions in potential project risk from investors to ratepayers at a time when manufacturers and households are already absorbing steep capacity price increases and volatility driven by speculative load forecasts that customers are paying for before the demand shows up.

OMA supports reliable, diverse energy resources, including nuclear power. But reliability cannot become another House Bill 6-style blank check.

“We have seen what happens when projections drive policy and utilities are guaranteed returns,” Augsburger said. “Customers pay first. They pay again. And they keep paying. Ohio cannot afford to socialize risk and privatize returns.” 3/2/2026