The O.H.I.O. Fund Report

About The O.H.I.O. Fund Report

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report℠ — a podcast dedicated to elevating Ohio’s collective ambition by highlighting the most compelling stories of innovation and growth throughout the state. Each episode carries the industrious DNA of Ohio, exploring the state’s economic renaissance across advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, biotech, healthcare, energy, data centers & AI, consumer goods, and logistics advancements.

Publisher

The O.H.I.O. Fund

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 May 2025

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Bernie Kosar on Resilience, Reinvention, Football & Believing in Ohio

   With Cleveland poised to recognize October 13 as Bernie Kosar Day, we’re especially excited to share this episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report featuring Bernie Kosar — legendary Cleveland Browns quarterback, Youngstown native, entrepreneur, investor, and one of the most beloved figures in Cleveland sports history. The timing feels especially meaningful. Cleveland City Council has introduced a resolution designating October 13 — 41 years to the day after Bernie’s first regular-season start for the Browns — as Bernie Kosar Day. We’re proud to share this conversation in advance of that recognition. Growing up in Youngstown during the collapse of the region’s steel economy, Bernie developed an intense fear of failure and determination to find a way forward. That mentality ultimately carried him from an improbable childhood dream to quarterbacking the Cleveland Browns — but it would also be tested repeatedly long after his playing career ended. In this vulnerable conversation, Bernie reflects openly on the highs and lows that followed: business and entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, addiction, mental and physical health challenges, and ultimately the liver transplant that gave him another chance at life. Throughout our conversation, Bernie returns to a lesson he learned from Jimmy Johnson: somehow, someway, figure out a way to make a play. It became more than a football philosophy. It became a way of approaching failure, recovery, business, health, and life itself. We also discuss why Bernie has continued to choose Ohio throughout his life — from deliberately finding his way home to play for the Browns, to his optimism today about the state’s economic future and the opportunity to help raise Ohio’s collective ambition. That connection to place makes the city’s upcoming recognition of Bernie especially fitting. ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://x.com/BernieKosarQB?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/berniekosarofficial/?hl=en ——— The guest's participation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered an endorsement of the firm or any investment product. The guest has not been compensated for their participation.

2. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Betting on Ohio — Jill Meyer on The O.H.I.O. Fund

   What does it mean to actually bet on Ohio—not simply out of civic pride, but because the economics make it a compelling place to invest? This episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report features our founding partner Jill Meyer in a conversation originally published on The Working Lunch with Jack Crumley. Jill shares the thesis behind The O.H.I.O. Fund: bringing private Ohio capital together to invest in growing Ohio companies, real estate, and infrastructure—and helping more of the value created by that growth remain in the state. She also explains why The O.H.I.O. Fund takes a multi-asset approach, why the people behind a business matter as much as the idea itself, and how stronger connections among Ohio’s cities, investors, founders, and operators can compound the state’s economic growth. The conversation ranges from Ohio 4.0 and the next chapter of the state’s economy to reshoring, advanced manufacturing, AI, and companies like 1872 and Remote Vans. Underneath it all is a simple challenge from Jill: stop apologizing for being in Ohio, recognize the world-class innovation already happening here, and find a way to lean in. ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: Originally Aired: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xlm-dGbzOk

3. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Applied AI in Ohio: EASE Logistics, jakib.ai, and the Future of Freight

   What does it take for AI to matter inside a real operating business? Not as a demo, not as a dashboard, and not as a generic productivity tool — but as something that answers calls, reduces clicks, quotes freight, improves service, and helps people spend more time doing the work that actually moves the business forward. Today on The O.H.I.O. Fund Report, we’re setting the stage for a conversation led by Mark Kvamme — co-founder, CEO, and CIO of The O.H.I.O. Fund — with Peter Coratola., founder and CEO of EASE Logistics, and Andy Jenks, co-founder of JAKIB.ai. Together, they unpack one of the clearest examples we’ve seen of applied AI in Ohio: a service-heavy logistics business navigating a difficult freight market, partnering with an AI company to start small, solve real operational bottlenecks, and eventually build Amy — an AI layer embedded directly into how EASE works. They discuss track-and-trace calls, customer service, quoting, user adoption, CEO-level ownership, and why AI at its best may be less about replacing people and more about multiplying their output. So please enjoy this conversation with Mark Kvamme, Peter Coratola, and Andy Jenks. ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://easelogistics.com/ (https://easelogistics.com/) https://www.jakib.ai/ (https://www.jakib.ai/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-coratola-jr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-coratola-jr) https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajenks/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajenks/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkvamme/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/markkvamme/)

4. 

   28 May 2026

   Anna Dey on the Business of Franchise

   This episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report features Anna Dey — a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise entrepreneur based in Northeast Ohio. Anna has spent the past decade building a portfolio of franchise businesses across Ohio, operating across brands including Anytime Fitness, Clean Eatz, Smoothie King, The Vitamin Shoppe, Barrio Tacos + Tequila, and goGLOW. Along the way, she’s developed a unique perspective on franchising as a path to entrepreneurship and today works with aspiring entrepreneurs through The franSPOT, helping others navigate the process of becoming franchise owners. Alongside her for-profit work, Anna is also the founder of 24 in 24 — an endurance running event that has raised over $3 million for children battling life-threatening illnesses across Ohio. In our conversation, we discuss: Anna’s path from first-time franchisee to multi-brand operator How the franchise model actually works — and why it’s often misunderstood The tradeoffs of scaling across multiple brands vs. focusing on one What separates strong franchise operators from the rest Building teams, delegating, and evolving as an entrepreneur The story behind 24 in 24 — and how it became a community institution ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://thefranspot.com/ (https://thefranspot.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamdey/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamdey/)

5. 

   24 Apr 2026

   Ken Sobel (Hyperframe) — Moving to Ohio and Constructing The Future of Steel Framing

   Ken Sobel — Co-founder and CEO of Hyperframe. Ken is a repeat founder and engineer whose path into construction followed an earlier startup journey through Y Combinator and an acquisition by Visa. With Hyperframe, he’s taken a first-principles approach to one of the most fundamental components of construction — steel framing — reimagining a process that’s been slow, manual, and largely unchanged for decades, and redesigning it into a snap-together framing system that’s faster, safer, and far more efficient. After years of development and real-world validation, the company has achieved strong product-market fit and is now scaling manufacturing. That journey led Ken and his team to relocate Hyperframe from California to Ohio, where they are building their first large-scale production facility. In our conversation, we discuss: Ken’s path from startup founder to construction entrepreneur Why construction remains slow, manual, and resistant to change The insight behind Hyperframe — redesigning building products themselves What it actually looks like to use Hyperframe on a job site The challenge of scaling a hard tech company Why credibility is everything in construction adoption The decision to move to Ohio — and what it enables This is a conversation about reindustrialization in practice — and what it takes to rebuild physical industries from the ground up. ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: linkedin.com/in/ken-sobel (http://linkedin.com/in/ken-sobel) https://www.hyperframe.com/ (https://www.hyperframe.com/)

6. 

   19 Mar 2026

   Will Zell (Vessel) — Empowering Founders and Democratizing VC in Ohio

   Will Zell — Founder and Managing Partner of Vessel, founding CEO and now Executive Chair of AssetWatch, and a leading voice in rethinking how venture capital works across Ohio. Will’s path into technology and venture isn’t conventional. He grew up — and still lives — in Bellefontaine, Ohio. At 17, he ran for city council under the slogan “A Voice for the Future.” He spent time in ministry, built a real estate portfolio during the financial crisis, and ultimately found his way into technology startups — learning firsthand what it means to raise capital in a state that consistently punches below its weight in venture investment. After early startup failures, Will co-founded what became AssetWatch, a predictive maintenance platform serving global manufacturers. The company has since raised more than $100 million in venture capital and scaled into a high-growth industrial technology business employing hundreds. But perhaps more interesting than breaking through Ohio’s capital gap is Will’s effort to redesign it. In 2020, he founded Vessel — a diversified venture platform focused on investing in and building category-defining companies in Middle America. Through Vessel and the Ohio Angel Collective, Will is working to expand access to early-stage capital, grow the top of Ohio’s innovation funnel, and shift the ecosystem from scarcity to abundance. In our conversation, we unpack: The structural capital gap facing Ohio founders What it took to navigate AssetWatch through near-zero runway moments Why democratizing venture access matters How to build a multi-stage venture platform outside the coasts And what it would mean for Ohio to invest in innovation proportionally to the size of its economy This is a conversation about capital formation, ecosystem design, and the long-term work required to build a venture-backed innovation economy in Ohio. 00:00:00 Introduction & Show Disclaimer 00:00:58 Will Zell’s Background & Early Influences 00:04:26 Path to Entrepreneurship & Community Impact 00:11:11 Transition from Curiosity to Entrepreneurship 00:13:03 Early Business Ventures & Real Estate 00:20:01 Entry into Technology Startups 00:22:01First Tech Swings & Lessons Learned 00:25:58 The Ohio Capital Gap 00:31:08 Breaking Through with AssetWatch 00:36:59 AssetWatch Product & Impact 00:40:22 Transition to Vessel & Venture Capital Access 00:45:34 Vessel’s Mission & Structure 00:49:07 Goals for Success & Midwest Venture Landscape 00:55:16 Power of Community & Culture Change 01:00:25 What's Next: Curiosity and Culture Change 01:04:35 Founders, Opportunity, and Encouragement 01:06:08 Bellefontaine Highlights & Closing 01:08:39 Farewell & Closing Credits ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willzell/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/willzell/) https://www.ohioangelcollective.com/ (https://www.ohioangelcollective.com/) https://buildvessel.com/ (https://buildvessel.com/) https://spiltsocial.com/ (https://spiltsocial.com/)

7. 

   27 Feb 2026

   Chad Delligatti on InnoSource, AI, and the Future of Staffing

   Chad Delligatti — CEO of InnoSource, the Dublin, Ohio–headquartered workforce solutions company that has quietly grown into a national platform serving Fortune 500 and midsized organizations across the country. Since joining InnoSource in 2000 as one of its earliest employees, Chad has devoted his entire professional career to building the company — helping it evolve from a regional staffing firm into a leading human resources, recruiting, onsite outsourcing, and data solutions partner employing more than 2,000 associates across North America. In our conversation, Chad reflects on his entrepreneurial beginnings — from lawn mowing businesses in Granville to flipping Beanie Babies in college — and the pivotal decision to join a then-fledgling company called InnoSource instead of pursuing a corporate career. That decision shaped the next 25 years of his life. We unpack how the staffing and outsourcing industry has evolved — from classified ads and fax machines, to job boards and Indeed, to today’s AI-driven recruiting workflows — and how InnoSource is entering its next chapter powered by technology. Chad shares how their proprietary AI tools are dramatically accelerating hiring cycles, increasing recruiter efficiency, improving candidate engagement, and raising quality-of-hire — all while maintaining the “human touch” that remains central to InnoSource’s culture and differentiation. At its core, this is a conversation about earned wisdom, resilience through change, and building something durable in Ohio. 00:00 [Welcome & Introduction: Chad Delagatti’s Entrepreneurial Journey] 01:34 [Core Values & Early Experiences: From Sweeping Floors to Lawn Care] 04:14 [Building Loyalty: Lessons from Early Business Ventures] 08:42 [Choosing InnoSource: The Entrepreneurial Fork in the Road] 13:34 [InnoSource Today: Workforce Solutions & Company Overview] 15:56 [AI Transformation: The Pivot to Technology-Driven Recruiting] 18:06 [Evolution of Staffing: From Newspaper Ads to AI-Powered Hiring] 24:22 [AI’s Impact: Changing the Recruitment Experience & Company Mindset] 30:56 [Culture & Consistency: Preserving the Human Touch Amid Change] 34:31 [Leadership Lessons: Growth, Delegation & Building a Passionate Team] ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://innosource.com/ (https://innosource.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-delligatti-621bba2/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-delligatti-621bba2/)

8. 

   22 Jan 2026

   Making the World’s Best Dog Food in Cleveland — Michael & Tory Waxman on Scaling Sundays For Dogs and the Future of Dog Food

   This episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report features Michael and Tory Waxman — the founders of Sundays for Dogs, the Cleveland-based company designed to make dog parents’ lives easy. What began with their own dog, Mabel, and a simple but powerful question — why does feeding dogs well have to be so difficult? — has grown into one of the most exciting consumer companies to emerge from Ohio. Led by loving dog parents Dr. Tory Waxman, a veterinarian, and Michael Waxman, a serial entrepreneur, Sundays pioneered human-grade, air-dried, zero-synthetics dog food designed to be healthier than kibble and easier than refrigerated alternatives. Since our last recorded conversation in 2023 (https://www.layoftheland.fm/123-tory-michael-waxman-sundays/), Sundays has scaled dramatically. Having raised more than $55 million in capital and built out a Cleveland-based R&D Test Kitchen — where our conversation today took place — Sundays has grown from a direct-to-consumer upstart into a nationally recognized brand preparing for omni-channel distribution, creating a product that dogs love while positioning themselves at the forefront of the booming pet food market and the emerging ambient fresh movement. In our conversation, Michael and Tory share how they’ve navigated multiple chapters of scaling — including customer acquisition and brand evolution, balancing supply and demand, investing deeply in product innovation, and building a senior leadership team — while staying grounded in the mission that inspired Sundays from the start: making it easier to be an awesome dog parent. They also discuss what excites them most about the future and what comes next for Sundays as the company continues to grow. 00:00:00 - "The World's Best Dog Food is Made in Cleveland" 00:00:25 - Introduction: Sundays for Dogs 00:05:20 - Building an In-House R&D Test Kitchen in Cleveland 00:10:06 - Most Dogs Still Eat Kibble (And Why That's Changing) 00:15:09 - Marketing Evolution: How Does Sundays for Dogs Stand Out? 00:20:18 - New Recipe Launch Preview (From the Test Kitchen!) 00:21:33 - Ohio: The Surprising Dog Food Capital of America 00:25:36 - Supply Chain Stories & Lessons Learned 00:30:39 - When Demand Outpaces Supply: A Good Problem? 00:32:59 - Beyond DTC: Omnichannel Distribution Strategy 00:38:21 - How AI Will Transform How People Buy Dog Food 00:41:34 - Dogs as Family: Where Is Society Headed? 00:46:44 - Building Company Culture at Sundays 00:52:13 - The Vision: Making Sundays a Household Name 00:55:18 - Where to Find Sundays for Dogs ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ——— LINKS: https://sundaysfordogs.com/ (https://sundaysfordogs.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelewaxman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelewaxman) https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-waxman-87781b176/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tory-waxman-87781b176/)

9. 

   18 Dec 2025

   Building the Future of Housing — Brad DeHays (Connect Housing Blocks) on Construction, Innovation, and Modular’s Potential

   This episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report features Brad DeHays — Founder and CEO of Connect Real Estate and Connect Housing Blocks. Brad’s journey spans from buying small distressed properties while still in college to leading one of the most ambitious housing manufacturing platforms in the country. Through Connect Real Estate, Brad has revitalized some of Ohio’s most overlooked landmarks — transforming abandoned power plants, trolley barns, and historic buildings into vibrant new community anchors. That same entrepreneurial vision inspired him to launch Connect Housing Blocks (CHB), a 630,000-square-foot modular housing facility anchored in Ohio, now one of the largest modular housing factories in the world. Using state-of-the-art equipment and prefabrication methods, CHB produces high-quality apartments from start to finish, eliminating nearly all measuring, cutting, and heavy lifting—the result: faster, more consistent, and more affordable housing production at scale. In our conversation, which took place on site at CHB, Brad shares how he’s navigated multiple chapters of starting and scaling Connect, the founding insight that drove him to take on industrial-scale modular housing, how he engages communities and leverages public–private partnerships, his unique approach to talent and culture, and his vision for solving the housing crisis by massively scaling up production capability. 00:00:00 - The Birth of an Innovative Solution 00:03:50 - Understanding the Housing Crisis 00:08:56 - Reinventing Construction Processes 00:14:58 - Scaling Modular Housing Production 00:20:54 - Transforming the Construction Timeline 00:31:45 - Vision for the Future of Housing 00:35:42 - Scaling Modular Construction: A Game Changer 00:41:33 - The Future of Modular Housing: Opportunities and Challenges 00:46:16 - Design and Aesthetics in Modular Construction 00:51:55 - Labor Challenges in the Construction Industry 00:55:15 - Cultural Dynamics and Employee Empowerment 01:00:04 - Looking Ahead: Growth and Future Prospects ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com ———

10. 

    20 Nov 2025

    The Secret Sauce of Sauces: Scaling Signature Sauces with Perry Stancato

    Perry Stancato is the founder and CEO of Signature Sauces and a third-generation operator of the beloved Cleveland institution, Stancato’s Italian Restaurant. This conversation with Perry explores the entrepreneurial journey of someone who grew up in the family restaurant — from standing on a milk crate as a kid making waffles for Sunday brunch to running Stancato’s today while simultaneously building Signature Sauces into a premier national food manufacturing partner. Signature Sauces began in 2005 with a simple idea: to bottle his family’s legendary red sauce after customers kept asking for it. What started as a way to serve Stancato’s loyal patrons quickly evolved into something much larger. Perry discovered that while retail was cutthroat and unforgiving, his passion and true product-market fit lay in foodservice — helping other restaurants scale their “secret sauces.” Today, Signature Sauces has grown into a company that helps make the products that make others famous, serving clients from local Ohio favorites to national brands like Bob Evans, Momofuku, Benihana, Barrio, and many more. Alongside that manufacturing growth, Perry continues to steward Stancato’s — the restaurant that has been a Cleveland staple for decades. He reflects on the delicate balance of honoring a community legacy while making small, thoughtful changes to stay relevant across generations. In our conversation, Perry shares the challenges of taking nearly ten years to get Signature Sauces off the ground, the resilience it took to keep going, the lessons learned from retail versus foodservice, and what he’s most proud of: seeing team members who started as dishwashers grow into leaders, and knowing his work helps thousands of diners enjoy meals every day. We also dive into his Ohio pride, from the region’s food scene to partnerships like the Ohio State Buckeye Tailgate sauces, and his perspective on what it takes to build a legacy business in Cleveland. 00:00:00 - The Legacy of Stancatos: A Family Business Journey 00:09:03 - From Family Recipes to Signature Sauces 00:12:49 - Navigating the Food Industry: Retail vs. Food Service 00:17:15 - Scaling Up: The Art and Science of Sauce Production 00:20:39 - The Future of Signature Sauces: Expanding Partnerships 00:21:55 - The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 00:23:33 - Vision and Growth of Signature Sauces 00:26:10 - Lessons from the Restaurant Industry 00:29:10 - Balancing Time and Responsibilities 00:31:40 - Building a Legacy in Ohio 00:34:30 - Innovation and Technology in Food Production 00:37:08 - Trends in the Culinary World 00:39:44 - Understanding Risk and Success 00:42:22 - Navigating Customer Relationships 00:45:20 - Insights for Aspiring Food Entrepreneurs 00:45:35 - Reflections on the Journey ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ———

11. 

    9 Oct 2025

    Risk, Patience & Opportunity: Terry Coyne’s Real Estate Playbook and Reflections on Ohio’s Market

    This O.H.I.O. Fund Report features one of Ohio’s most accomplished commercial real estate leaders, Terry Coyne — Executive Vice Chairman of Newmark and Principal of Terry Coyne Properties. Over his 25+ year career, Terry has negotiated more than 2,000 transactions totaling over $5 billion in value. In Cleveland alone, over the last five years, he and his team have brokered 250 transactions worth more than $1.2 billion. In our conversation, Terry shares his unique philosophy on real estate, risk, and patience — insights that have led him to opportunities ranging from representing companies like GOJO and L’Oréal, to redeveloping the old Chrysler Plant, to building the Cleveland MidTown Tech Park, to now leading the 670+ acre Rickenbacker site adjacent to Anduril’s Arsenal 1 Hyperscale Manufacturing Facility. We also break down Terry’s perspective on Ohio’s regional markets, lessons from his father, the intersection of real estate and entrepreneurship, and his views on the future of the state’s economy — from data centers and energy policy to the cultural ambition needed for Ohio to keep rising. 00:00 - Introduction to Terry Coyne and His Career 00:24:45 - Exploring Ohio's Unique Markets 00:29:35 - Land vs. Real Estate: Understanding Value 00:36:12 - The Future of Work: Remote vs. In-Office 00:41:55 - Taxation and Its Impact on Real Estate 00:48:44 - Hidden Gem ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ———

12. 

    4 Sept 2025

    The O.H.I.O. Fund — Origins and Ambitions

    On this special episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report, I’m joined—for the first time—by the two co-founders of The O.H.I.O. Fund, Mark Kvamme and Ray Leach, as well as the fund’s two founding partners, Jill Meyer and Mike Venerable, to share the inside story of how a bold idea became reality. We explore the inspiration and origins behind a first-of-its-kind strategy designed to generate returns while accelerating prosperity and shaping Ohio’s future. We discuss how, in our first year, we closed on over $230 million in capital from investors and deployed more than $130 million into 19 sector-diverse investments across Ohio’s economy. We also cover what it has taken to build momentum, forge the most powerful network of investors, founders, and operators across the state, and why Ohio’s moment is now—along with the urgency this opportunity demands. I’m Jeffrey Stern — Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund and host of today’s conversation— and I hope you enjoy this exclusive look behind the scenes at our first year as The O.H.I.O. Fund, our reflections on the journey thus far, and where we go from here! ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ——— 00:00:00 - The Birth of the O.H.I.O Fund 00:03:05 - Ohio's Economic Landscape and Historical Context 00:06:02 - The Vision Behind the O.H.I.O Fund 00:08:56 - Building a Collaborative Network 00:12:07 - The Urgency of Now: Why Timing Matters 00:14:50 - Capitalizing on Opportunities in Ohio 00:18:14 - The Role of AI and Innovation 00:21:01 - Success Stories and Impact Investments 00:24:04 - Creating a Unified Ohio 00:26:46 - The Future of the O.H.I.O Fund 00:29:51 - Personal Motivations and Collective Ambition 00:34:07 - Reflecting on Progress and Future Aspirations 00:39:12 - Surprises and Insights from the O.H.I.O Fund's First Year 00:50:03 - Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Growth in Ohio 00:54:02 - Embracing Change and Building a New Future

13. 

    31 Jul 2025

    ExactCare: From Pharmacist to Building a Billion-Dollar Pharmacy Care Company with Dale Wollschleger

    Dale Wollschleger is the Founder and former CEO of Cleveland-based ExactCare Pharmacy and the developer of the ExactPack™—a patient-specific medication packaging system designed to simplify complex medication regimens. This conversation with Jeffrey Stern (Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund) and Dale dives into the unlikely journey of a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur who started in the back of a small Cleveland pharmacy and built a billion-dollar organization serving patients across the country. ExactCare’s meteoric growth—from inception to a multi-hundred-million-dollar business in under a decade—has earned it repeated recognition as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company and a Top Workplace by The Plain Dealer. Dale himself was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Ultimately, Dale’s remarkable journey stems from an observation he made as a pharmacist: that pharmacists have the opportunity to play a more integral role in clinical care—and that their responsibility doesn’t end when the patient leaves the store. Many patients could live healthier, more independent lives if only they took the right medications at the right times. In our conversation, Dale shares how he navigated the many chapters of scaling a healthcare business: bringing in private equity and outside capital, evolving his leadership, and balancing high-growth expectations with a deep commitment to patient outcomes, company culture, family—and much more. https://www.exactcarepharmacy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wollschleger/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wollschleger/) ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ——— Chapters 00:00 - The Journey of a Pharmacist Turned Entrepreneur 14:34 - Building ExactCare: Addressing Complex Patient Needs 24:18 - The Evolution and Vision of ExactCare 31:07 - Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pharmacy 38:59 - Understanding the Pharmacy Industry 43:24 - Pride in Building in Cleveland ———

14. 

    18 Jun 2025

    Remote Vans: Building The Best Adventure Vans in America With Tony Alexander & Daryn Hillhouse

    Remote Vans: Building The Best Adventure Vans in America With Tony Alexander & Daryn Hillhouse The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's second episode features Tony Alexander and Daryn Hillhouse, co-founders of Remote Vans — a Cincinnati-based company redefining the premium adventure van category by blending high-quality craftsmanship with the technology and design required for the modern lifestyle — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund. Their journey captures a classic entrepreneurial arc—from piecing together their first custom van in a brewery garage at the height of the pandemic to scaling operations at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Cincinnati, where Remote Vans is now producing meticulously designed, technologically advanced camper vans at scale, and is also where our conversation took place. Through it, we explore their entrepreneurial lessons, transitioning from custom builds to dealer-focused manufacturing at scale, the commitment to innovation and quality that permeates their brand, the power of community, the nuances of building an automotive company in Ohio and leading in an industry shaped by evolving consumer preferences, and the enduring appeal of adventure. Tony and Daryn give an awesome account and reflection of Remote Vans and provide a compelling example of Ohio’s entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing might, and the adventure lifestyle. https://remotevans.com/ (https://remotevans.com/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-alexander-676785118/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-alexander-676785118/) https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynhillhouse/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynhillhouse/) ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ——— Chapters 00:00:00 – Remote Vans 00:00:58 – Episode Intro & Remote Vans Origin Story 00:03:18 – The Classic Startup Journey 00:04:48 – How Tony & Daryn Met 00:08:07 – Pandemic Pivot to Van Building 00:11:43 – Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey 00:14:07 – Evolving the Business Model 00:16:28 – Defining the North Star 00:18:22 – The Adventure Van Market 00:22:10 – Remote Vans’ Brand & Lifestyle 00:25:28 – Scaling Craftsmanship 00:30:38 – Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned 00:34:41 – Future Chapters 00:40:30 – Measuring Success 00:41:39 – Building Industry in Ohio 00:46:51 – Ambitious Manufacturing 00:47:10 – Ohio Adventures: Hidden Gems 00:48:31 – Closing & How to Connect ———

15. 

    15 May 2025

    Eagle Electronics: Onshoring America's Critical Technologies with TJ Dembinksi

    TJ Dembinski, Eagle Electronics: Onshoring America's Critical Technologies The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's first episode features TJ Dembinski, co-founder and CEO of Eagle Electronics — dedicated to on-shoring America’s critical technology supply chain, starting with the IoT and automotive-grade cellular modules — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund. This conversation traces a fascinating arc — one that begins with the macro and geopolitical forces shaping global commerce and lands in a Northeast Ohio advanced micro-electronic manufacturing floor where Eagle Electronics is domestically building one of the most critical pieces of our digital infrastructure: the cellular module. TJ's story, and the founding of Eagle, is deeply embedded in these broader structural shifts — from the decoupling of U.S. global supply chains to the bipartisan momentum around domestic manufacturing and reindustrialization, to the evolving national security concerns that now govern the production of connected technologies. Before founding Eagle, TJ was a Partner at Drive Capital, where he spent over five years exploring and investing at the frontiers of emerging technologies — from AI to cybersecurity to advanced manufacturing. In our conversation, we explore how his vantage point as an investor informed his transition to becoming a founder, and how Eagle emerged from an intersection of powerful global tailwinds and one very specific customer need. We also talk about the nuances of reshoring, what onshoring looks like in practice, what cellular modules are, and why Ohio — of all places — is emerging as the epicenter of America’s next industrial chapter. From partnerships to cutting-edge automation, from regulatory and security considerations to hard-earned insights about what it actually takes to build something physical at scale — TJ brings an insightful clarity to one of the most exciting, complex, and important entrepreneurial movements underway today and how Eagle Electronics is positioned to lead within it. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/) https://www.eagleelectronics.com/ (https://www.eagleelectronics.com/) ——— For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com (https://theohiofund.com/) ——— [00:00:00] Eagle Electronics [00:01:17] Introducing TJ Dembinski [00:02:57] The Macro Trends Shaping Eagle Electronics [00:06:03] Transition from Investing to Entrepreneurship [00:07:54] Eagle's Origin Story [00:08:51] Advanced Manufacturing and Onshoring [00:11:23] Political Drivers of Reindustrialization [00:12:21] Defining Critical Technologies [00:13:42] Why Ohio? [00:16:02] What is Eagle Electronics? [00:17:00] What is a Cellular Module? [00:17:46] Setting Up U.S. Manufacturing [00:18:59] Regulatory Environment [00:21:22] Addressing Real vs. Perceived Risk [00:23:11] Startup Life Cycle [00:23:47] Eagle's Market Strategy and Vision [00:26:25] Workforce & Talent for Manufacturing [00:28:13] Market Timing and Competition [00:30:01] Learnings as Investor and Founder [00:32:00] Capital and Funding in Ohio [00:34:34] Enabling Ohio's Manufacturing Ecosystem [00:37:15] Building in Hardware vs. Software [00:41:26] Fostering Nuance and International Collaboration [00:42:30] Earned Wisdom and Entrepreneurial Journey ———

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

12,970

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

70

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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