Columbus 2016 Announces Leadership Team
For Immediate Release
November 19, 2014
For More Information:
John Ivanic, City Council, 645-6798
Meredith Tucker, Columbus
2016, 390-3144
Former DNC Chair Wilhelm Aiding Efforts
COLUMBUS-
As the decision for hosting the 2016 Democratic National Convention nears,
Columbus 2016 has announced its executive leadership team to further underscore
the community’s collaboration and commitment in hosting the next convention.
Since November of 2013, Columbus has been widely regarded as the most organized
city pursuing the DNC Convention. The establishment of the Columbus 2016
leadership team is another critical step toward a continued partnership with
the DNC.
Joining Mayor Michael B. Coleman, the Chair of Columbus 2016,
are former Democratic National Committee Chair David Wilhelm, Resource/Ammirati
Founder Nancy Kramer and Columbus Partnership President and CEO Alex Fischer.
“We’ve assembled a committee made up of some of our community’s
most prominent leaders who are eager to put on a phenomenal convention for
candidates, media, and delegates,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus 2016
Chair. “Columbus is truly the best location to the host the 2016 Democratic
National Convention, and we’re ready to share our city’s hospitality with the
rest of the nation.”
Wilhelm will serve as Steering Committee Chair and as a
Strategic Advisor for the convention bid process. Wilhelm was selected by
President Clinton to serve as DNC Chair after leading the President’s
successful campaign in 1992. Wilhelm also led the selection of Chicago for hosting
the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Wilhelm is currently a Partner and
Chief Strategy Officer for Hecate Energy.
"The road to the White House runs through Ohio, and the
road to victory in Ohio runs through Columbus,” said David Wilhelm, Columbus
2016 Steering Committee Chair. “Politics aside, Columbus is prepared to show
the DNC just how ready, willing, and able we are to host the most important
political convention in the world."
Nancy Kramer is Founder and Chairman of Resource/Ammirati-
the largest independent digital marketing agency in the United States. Kramer
will lead the Civic Engagement Steering Committee for Columbus 2016.
"Columbus is the perfect city to host the DNC National
Convention,” said Nancy Kramer, Columbus 2016 Civic Engagement Chair. “It’s a
21st century city with smart, open and highly collaborative citizens who mirror
the nation's diversity. We are willing to do whatever it takes to bring the
Convention to Columbus and make it a memorable experience. Bring it on!"
Alex Fischer
is the President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, a civic organization of
Columbus, Alex Fischer, President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership
will serve as Finance Committee Chair. The Columbus Partnership is a membership-based CEO
organization of 52 CEOs from Columbus’ leading businesses and institutions
tasked with a primary goal to improve the economic vitality of the Columbus Region.
“Not only will the DNC attract tens of thousands of guests
and generate millions of dollars of economic activity, it will place Columbus
in the national spotlight and showcase our community to the world,” said Alex
Fischer, Columbus 2016 Finance Chair. “Our business community in partnership
with our host committee is ready to take the Columbus spirit of collaboration
to the next level and execute an extraordinary convention.”
Degee Wilhelm, former personal aide to President Clinton,
national political campaign operative and past DNC convention site selector has
been selected to serve as the Executive Director for Columbus 2016.
"We’ve assembled a talented team to help land the DNC Convention to our
beloved Columbus community,” said Degee Wilhelm. “We look forward to working in
partnership with the DNC and bringing our own extensive convention and national
campaign expertise to these efforts.”
A critical component of the host committee’s work in
fulfilling the obligations with the Democratic National Convention Committee
will include raising the resources necessary to conduct a world-class
Convention.
In addition to honoring the requisite host committee
responsibilities, Columbus 2016 will aim to engage Columbus and Ohio residents
in the convention by organizing strategic and attractive business and civic
opportunities that represent the diversity and excitement of the city, and that
will also help tell the Columbus story.
“We are excited to welcome Democrats from
across the nation to our great city,” said U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
" Our Midwest hospitality, world-class institutions, venue capacity,
and many more amenities make Columbus the perfect city to host the Democratic
National Convention in 2016."
The host committee will be largely responsible for welcoming
and planning events for the 35,000+ delegates, media and visitors to the city
during the convention, as well as training thousands of volunteer workers and
coordinating security.
“Columbus has all the necessary
financial and logistical resources to host an unforgettable Democratic National
Convention,” said Columbus City Council President Andrew J. Ginther. “Our
community is prepared to produce a convention that will rank among the most
successful in the party’s history.”
“Visitors to Franklin County and Columbus are always
pleasantly surprised by our vibrant, innovative and welcoming community,’ added
Marilyn Brown, Columbus 2016 Co-Chair. “The Columbus 2016 Host Committee will
work together to capture and incorporate those hometown assets into a dynamic
delegate experience.”
Columbus 2016 Host
Committee:
Leadership
Chair, Mayor Michael B. Coleman
Finance Chair, Alex Fischer, President & CEO, Columbus
Partnership
Civic Engagement Chair, Nancy Kramer, Founder &
Chairman, Resource/Ammirati
Steering Committee Chair, David Wilhelm, Partner & Chief
Strategy Officer, Hecate Energy
Co-Chairs
Senator Sherrod Brown, D-OH
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, D-OH
Joe Rugola, ED, Public School Employees/AFSCME Local 4
Brian Ross, CTA, President & CEO, Experience Columbus
Commissioner Marilyn Brown, President, Franklin County Board
of Commissions
Councilmember Andrew Ginther, President, Columbus City
Council
Pablo A. Vegas, President & COO AEP Ohio
Honorary Chairs
Governor Ted Strickland
Senator John Glenn
Elected Officials
Heather Bishoff, State Representative
Kevin Boyce, State Representative
Paula Brooks, Franklin County
Commissioner
Terry Brown, Franklin County Recorder
Hearcel Craig, State Representative-elect
Mike Curtin, State Representative
Tracy Maxwell Heard, State Representative,
Minority Leader
Mary Jo Hudson, Member, Columbus Board of Education, and
Attorney, Bailey, Cavalieri, LLC
Honorable Jerry MacArthur Hultin, Senior Presidential
Fellow, New York University, President Emeritus, Polytechnic Institute of NYU,
and Former Under Secretary of the Navy
Zach Klein, Columbus City Council
David Leland, Partner, Carpenter, Lipps and Leland, LLC, and
State Representative-elect
Ed Leonard, Franklin County Treasurer
Michelle Mills, Columbus City Council
John O’Grady, Franklin County Commissioner
Maryellen O’Shaughnessy, Clerk, Franklin County Common Pleas
Court
Eileen Paley, Columbus City Council
Fran Ryan, former Chair, Franklin County Democratic Party
Zack Scott, Franklin County Sheriff
Michael Stinziano, CTA, State Representative
Priscilla Tyson, Columbus City Council
Community Leaders
Misha Barnes, Managing Director of Public Affairs, Planned
Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
Jeni Britton Bauer, Founder and Chief Creative Officer,
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
Yvette McGee Brown, former Justice, Ohio Supreme Court and
partner, Jones Day
Tim Burga, President, Ohio AFL-CIO
TaKeysha Sheppard Cheney, Founder & CEO, The
Women's Book & TWB Media Group
Joel Diaz, Chief Development Officer, AIDS Resource Center
Ohio
Dr. Michael V. Drake, President, The Ohio State University
Thomas Grote, Chief Financial Officer and stakeholder, Green
Biologics Limited
Elyzabeth J. Holford, Executive Director, Equality Ohio
Donna James, Managing Director, Lardon & Associates LLC
Ronald A. Pizzuti, Chairman and CEO, The Pizzuti Companies
Frances Strickland, Educational Psychologist and former
First Lady of Ohio
Abigail Wexner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Whitebarn
Associates, member, Columbus Partnership
Guadalupe Velasquez, Assistant Director, Columbus Community
Relations Commission
Becky Williams, President, Service Employees International
Union District 1199
Columbus 2016 Staff:
Degee Wilhelm, Executive Director
Derrick Clay, Senior Advisor
William DeMora, Senior Advisor
Nicolette Jaworski, Senior Advisor
Melissa Murray Kruse, Senior
Advisor
Todd Rensi, Senior Advisor
Meredith Tucker, Media Contact
Brooke Wojdynski, Digital Director
Click here for
biographies for the Columbus 2016 team.
In addition to formalizing the host committee, Columbus 2016
has officially been incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Columbus 2016 includes representatives from the City of
Columbus, Columbus Partnership, Experience Columbus, Franklin County, and local
community leadership. More information on Columbus 2016 and the city’s bid for
the DNC can be found at columbus2016dnc.com.
Or by following @Columbus2016dnc
on Twitter and Facebook.