Business Courier Article
New Ohio Ambassadors sought to tell
‘Ohio Story’
Louis Hughes, P&G
August 2009
Everyone loves a good story, and the
closer a story hits home, the better it
is. The emerging Ohio Story is truly
compelling, and the new Ohio Ambassadors
Program is looking for passionate,
everyday storytellers.
I proudly share this
message on behalf of the Association of
Ohio Commodores, a statewide group of
public- and private-sector leaders who
actively assist the State in advancing
areas that contribute to its economic
development and the prosperity of all
Ohioans. Promoting the Ohio Ambassadors
Program is our latest initiative, and we
expect it will have an enormously
positive effect.
The Commodores were
entrusted with hosting the program’s
June launch right here in Cincinnati,
and the choice of location was
significant. The success of the
Cincinnati USA region is an important
part of the Ohio Story, just as
aggressively telling the Ohio Story
benefits our entire region. In this way,
the Ohio Ambassadors’ work dovetails
nicely with the Cincinnati USA
Partnership’s marketing efforts.
The Ohio Story is being
told because of our state’s exciting
transformation. Always a cornerstone of
the U.S. economy and a terrific place to
do business and raise a family, Ohio has
been evolving its old "Rust Belt"
perception to a "Knowledge Belt"
reality. Our largely blue-collar image
has yielded to "green-collar" leadership
that is shaping the new economy.
This transformation has
created a tomorrow-focused workplace
while enhancing our blend of cultural,
social and business assets. Taking a
fresh look at the whole, it’s easy to
see why we call Ohio "the state of
perfect balance."
Ohio’s 21st-century
business climate aligns with an
affordable yet high quality of life. New
technology complements and leverages our
historic manufacturing, service and
agricultural bases. The interrelated
business, educational and governmental
communities provide a rich and
supportive environment for innovation
and business growth. Our heartland
location and combination of airports,
active rail lines and interstate
highways place us within easy reach of
both coasts and major international
markets. Advantages like this are part
of the reason why Ohio is the only state
in the country whose exports have
increased every year since 1998.
Ohio’s new tax law,
which has given us the lowest capital
investment tax rate in the Midwest,
makes it easier for our business
community to be much more competitive
globally. Emphasis on R&D, advanced
manufacturing and new-economy job
creation is turning Ohio’s workforce
into a competitive strength. And
aggressive advanced energy technology
development, including effective worker
retraining, is positioning Ohio as a
leader in the drive to energy
independence.
While Ohio has achieved
this "state of perfect balance,"
reputations often linger beyond their
time. So enthusiastically spreading this
exciting new Ohio Story is the charge of
the Ohio Ambassadors.
Everyone who steps up to
serve as an Ohio Ambassador brings his
or her unique network, circle of
influence and personal credibility. By
sharing the Ohio Story locally,
nationally and internationally, you can
play a vital role in enlightening and
empowering others who may be positioned
to help make our great state even
greater. And that will increase our
collective opportunities and spur
additional growth — economically, in our
workforce, in research and educational
excellence, and in our quality of life.
Hughes is Director
of Ohio Government & Community Relations
for Procter & Gamble, Grand Commodore of
the Association of Ohio Commodores, and
a member of the Cincinnati USA
Partnership’s executive committee.
