TechColumbus President & CEO Ted Ford Leaving Organization

TechColumbus announced that Ted Ford, president & CEO, is leaving the organization at the end of the calendar year after six highly successful years as its leader. The TechColumbus Board of Directors has launched a search to select a successor.

“The last six years have been challenging and exciting,” said Ford. “We’ve made tremendous progress, both as an organization and as a region. I think it’s time to pass the baton to the next leader and to look for ways I can help advance other initiatives that accelerate our region’s growth.”

Ford was recruited in 2005 by the leaders of OSU, Battelle and CAS to quarterback the merger between the Columbus Technology Council and the Business Technology Center, a process that resulted in the formation of TechColumbus. The merger created a unified organization with the critical mass and resources to accelerate the growth of the regional technology economy. In addition, OSU’s science and technology affiliate, SciTech, co-located its offices with TechColumbus on the university’s West Campus, making TechColumbus Center a one-stop-shop for technology-based economic development.

“Ted has been an outstanding leader over the last six years,” said Steve Allen, CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Chair of the TechColumbus Board. “When we formed TechColumbus in 2005, only a handful of people were even talking about the role technology could play in the growth of Central Ohio’s economy. Today, TechColumbus is recognized as one of the best technology advocacy organizations in the country and has been instrumental in mobilizing our region behind tech-based economic growth. Ted’s leadership has been central to making that happen.”

During Ford’s tenure as President & CEO, TechColumbus emerged as a major force for economic growth in the region. Under Ford’s leadership, TechColumbus:

• Raised over $43 million in state and local matching funds to accelerate the creation and growth of new technology startups in the region. These funds enabled TechColumbus to find, coach, and finance dozens of new startups that have gone on to secure follow-on investment and to provide support and assistance to over 1,200 other companies region-wide.
• Supported the expansion of the Ohio TechAngel Fund, the largest angel investor organization in the nation and a major source of follow-on capital for technology startups.
• Won national recognition for the region as a rising tech-based economy. TechColumbus was awarded the State Science and Technology Institute’s 2009 national award for building entrepreneurial capacity.
• Worked with Columbus business and higher education leaders on the launch of Columbus2020!, a comprehensive regional economic development strategy that builds on the strengths of TechColumbus and dramatically increases efforts to retain, expand, create and attract companies to the region.
• Led efforts to quadruple the TechColumbus membership base and grow signature events, such as the TechColumbus Innovation Awards, Central Ohio’s premier event recognizing achievements in science, technology and business.

Regarding his future plans, Ford said it is premature to announce those now. “I love this community,” he said. “Columbus is really poised to move onto the national and international stage in a big way. I am looking forward to contributing in other ways.”