The Columbus Metropolitan Club

Founded in 1976 by 13 visionary women leaders in Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Metropolitan Club connects people and ideas through community conversation. From its start, CMC has welcomed everyone. Each week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club hosts a public forum discussion on topics that range from business to policy to social services and beyond. The discussions might feature a diverse panel of experts, or may be a 1:1 interview with a high-level community or business leader. Every CMC forum provides its audience with an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.

Annual State of Nonprofits 06/25/2025

The New Franklin County Health Map 06/18/2025

High-Tech Careers Mean High-Stakes Education 06/11/2025

Unraveling Recovery: How Cutting Medicaid Threatens Ohioans in Crisis 06/02/2025

Unraveling Recovery: How Cutting Medicaid Threatens Ohioans in Crisis Optimal Health Series Is Ohio headed for a crisis in health coverage, especially for mental health and addiction services? More than a decade ago, Ohio’s Medicaid expansion was a game changer, extending coverage to over 700,000 Ohioans and providing a lifeline to thousands of Ohioans in need of mental health and addiction treatment services. Expansion worked: uninsured rates dropped, medical debt decreased, health improved, and emergency room visits went down. In just four years, 630,000 Ohioans received treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder, a victory in the fight against opioid addiction. In 2024, forty percent of adults covered by expansion had a primary mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis. These gains may now be in jeopardy: Governor DeWine’s new proposed biennial budget includes a so-called “kill-switch” provision that would automatically end mental health and addiction services provided through the expansion if federal Medicaid funding is reduced. With key leaders and policy experts, we’ll unpack the impact Medicaid has had on health outcomes in Ohio and the consequences facing patients in recovery if the state’s landmark care expansion is abandoned. Featuring: Oyauma Garrison, President & CEO, Maryhaven, Inc. Rachelle Martin; Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Franklin County Amy Bush Stevens, Amy Bush Stevens Consulting, LLC, Consultant to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University The presenting sponsors of the CMC Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was sponsored by Maryhaven. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on June 4, 2025. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/36817015

Tariff Tightrope: Ohio’s Balancing Act with Canada 05/21/2025

Taxed & Confused: Making Sense of Rising Property Taxes in Ohio 05/14/2025

Who Gets to Move Up? Rethinking Economic Mobility in Central Ohio 05/07/2025

Bioscience Breakthroughs Are Saving Lives in Central Ohio 04/30/2025

Advancing Together: Meet the Columbus Partnership’s New Leader 04/23/2025

Why the Federal Reserve Matters to You 04/16/2025

Keeping the Columbus Promise 04/09/2025

Central Ohio Builds BIG! 04/02/2025

A Conversation with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine 03/26/2025

All Amped Up: Can Ohio Meet Its Future Energy Needs? 03/19/2025

State of the Performing Arts 03/12/2025

State of the Performing Arts Columbus is more than lucky: the city is home to a vast array of performing arts organizations that bring vibrancy, expression, and wonder to Ohio’s state capital through theater, dance, ballet, live music performances, and more. Artists, venues, and companies abound, plus scores of associated programs that seek to inspire young people to learn about themselves by exploring the world of performing arts. While audiences are filling events, funding remains a challenge, with uncertainties around public funding that are driving arts organizations to build innovative partnerships with each other and supporters. With Central Ohio’s rising population, demand for the performing arts is expected to grow, and new venues to handle the growth are in the works: CAPA is raising $14 million to renovate an historic church on Third Street in downtown into a new multipurpose arts venue, while the Columbus Symphony last year unveiled plans for a breathtaking new 200,000-square-foot venue that would be the city’s first purpose-built concert hall, and Shadowbox’s Up Front Performance Space is also now newly-renovated. With representatives from key venues and organizations, we take stock of the state of performing arts in Columbus with industry leaders for a look behind the curtains. Featuring: Daniel Walshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Symphony Chad Whittington, President and CEO, The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts Stacie Boord, CEO, Shadowbox Live Regina Ann Campbell, CEO, King Arts Complex The host is Jami Goldstein, Chief Creative Officer, The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC). This forum was sponsored by The Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and The Greater Columbus Arts Council. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on March 12, 2025. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/35660960

Women's Wealth is Central Ohio's Growth 03/05/2025

The Power of Two Chambers 02/26/2025

Insights From Congresswoman Joyce Beatty 02/19/2025

When Safety Nets Shrink 02/12/2025

The Caregiver Crisis 02/05/2025

Ohio Higher Education Innovates for a New Era 01/29/2025

Ohio Higher Education Innovates for a New Era Ohio’s system of higher education is reinventing itself for a new era in the state’s history. Will schools be ready? Among the challenges, the number of U.S. high school graduates is expected to peak next year at about 3.5 million students before dropping 15% in the next four years, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, with profound implications for institutions of higher education. Additionally, the needs of key Ohio employers are always accelerating, creating growing pressure on schools to produce workers ready to enter an ever-evolving workforce, especially in technology and healthcare-related professions. Schools are also creating new ways to ensure students stay housed, fed, and that childcare resources are available to keep students with families enrolled and moving toward graduation. A college education remains a life-changing asset for graduates, with Axios reporting recent grads in 2023 ages 22-27 earned $24,000 more annually than their peers holding just a high school degree. With the help from our expert panelists, we explore how Ohio’s higher education institutions are innovating to adapt to a changing educational and workforce landscape. Featuring panelists: Dr. John Comerford, President of Otterbein University Dr. David Harrison, President of Columbus State Community College Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, President of Central State University Dr. James Orr, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management at The Ohio State University The host is Sheridan Hendrix, Higher Education Reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was sponsored by Columbus State Community College, Grange Insurance, The Ohio State University, and Otterbein University. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on January 29, 2025. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/34742660

Central Ohio Hospital CEO Roundtable 01/22/2025

Central Ohio Hospital CEO Roundtable Optimal Health Series Central Ohio is growing rapidly, and the region’s four major hospital systems are following suit. Each of Columbus’ “Big Four” systems – OhioHealth, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Mount Carmel Health System, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital – are expanding rapidly, constructing new facilities and scrambling to hire legions of qualified healthcare professionals. With the region’s population expected to grow by 30% in the next 25 years, that may translate into 730,000 new residents – all of whom will require access to healthcare. Can Central Ohio’s biggest healthcare players keep pace with demand? This forum features an extraordinary panel featuring the CEOs of all four of the region’s major hospital systems for an in-depth exploration of the present and future of healthcare in Central Ohio. Featuring panelists: Dr. Stephen Markovich, President and Chief Executive Officer, OhioHealth Timothy Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Dr. John Warner, Chief Executive Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Executive Vice President, The Ohio State University Tauana McDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Carmel Health System The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development and the State of Ohio Leadership Institute, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University. The presenting sponsors of CMC’s long-running Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth, and Nationwide Children's Hospital. This forum was also sponsored by AstraZeneca, Cardinal Health, Fifth Third Bank, The Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio Powered by Aspyr, Mount Carmel Health System, and CK Construction. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Vue Columbus. This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus, Ohio's historic Brewery District on January 22, 2025. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/34739485

The New Columbus Real Estate Scene 01/15/2025

Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast 01/08/2025

From Vacant to Vibrant: The Future of Retail in Downtown Columbus 12/19/2024

Belonging Is Redefining the Modern Workplace 12/11/2024

Belonging Is Redefining the Modern Workplace Ohio’s labor market remains incredibly tight, but Central Ohio organizations that are building strong cultures of belonging are attracting top talent from diverse backgrounds. Leading employers know from experience that cultivating a strong and authentic sense of belonging among employees can revolutionize recruitment, engagement, retention, productivity, and ROI, even with remote workers. Recent criticism around DEI in the workplace has sparked concerns that diversity, equity, and inclusion progress could stall, but many employers are not only not abandoning DEI initiatives but deepening them with strategic efforts to build a sense of belonging among employees. They’re also ensuring the definition of diversity remains broad and embraces neurodivergent and physically impaired employees, elevating every voice. With a panel of passionate leaders, we’ll explore the meaning and value of creating a culture of belonging in the contemporary workplace, and how it’s helping key Central Ohio employees and employers to stay at the top of their games. Featuring: Daniel Juday, Founder + Facilitator, Space Creator LLC Dr. Tina Pierce, Chief of Strategy and Belonging, The Ohio State University Alumni Association Jennifer Robinson, Chief Human Resources Officer and Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Veterans Services The moderator is Margaret Finley, Head of DEI and Corporate Affairs, ADS, and President, Board of Directors, Central Ohio Diversity Consortium. This forum was sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, with additional support from Aspyr and The Central Ohio Workforce Development Network. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on December 11, 2024. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/34401475

Columbus Eviction Rates Are Headed in the Wrong Direction 12/04/2024

Benchmarking Central Ohio - Part 2 11/20/2024

Benchmarking Central Ohio - Part 1 11/13/2024

After the Election: Listening, Healing, and Moving Forward with The Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu 11/06/2024

The Columbus Metropolitan Club

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