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Articles by Robin Smith
Data Centers and Mid Term Rentals
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The Dos and Don'ts of Seeking Help with Homework
Browse Articles » Education » The Dos and Don'ts of Seeking Help with Homework by Robin Smith Introduction: Homework is an integral part of every student's academic journey, offering opportunities to reinforce learning and develop crucial skills. However, there are times when seeking help becomes necessary to navigate complex assignments or grasp challenging concepts.
Top of the List mergers and acquisitions law practices M&A law M&A attorneys
Thinking of buying or selling a business? Central Ohio's largest mergers and acquisitions law practices have more that 260 attorneys who specialize in the field. According to research and business intelligence firm PitchBook, 2022 saw worldwide deals worth $47 trillion, with a rise in small and mid-size transactions from the previous year. Even small businesses can benefit from legal consultation, whether buying or selling.
Top of the List largest Central Ohio mergers and acquisitions value of deals
The total transaction value of the top 25 Ohio-linked mergers and acquisitions completed in 2022 was $13.31 billion:. This list includes mergers and acquisitions in which the target, buyer or seller is located in Ohio. It lists only transactions completed in 2022, so some transactions announced late in the year might not be included. Of the top 25 deals, Thirteen were targets in another state purchased by an Ohio entity or a subsidiary of an Ohio entity.
Largest Central Ohio engineering projects awarded contract value Central Ohio engineering firms
The 25 largest engineering contracts awarded to Central Ohio firms in 2022 totaled $26.69 million, $12.67 million for projects in the region. This list skews heavily toward large public projects such as highway improvements, sewer work and wastewater management, but also includes design for new retail facilities, HVAC work, materials testing and inspection for solar projects and ADA compliance design for commercial buildings.
Central Ohio's largest employers, ranked
The 100 organizations included in this year's Largest Employers list report 317,955 workers in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties and 1.85 million employees in total. As the region includes the state capital and several fast-growing counties, it is no surprise that state, county and city government entities loom large here.
Largest Central Ohio engineering projects awarded contract value Central Ohio engineering firms
The 25 largest engineering contracts awarded to Central Ohio firms in 2022 totaled $1.02 billion, nearly all of it for projects within the region. This list skews heavily toward large public projects such as highway improvements, sewer work and wastewater management, but also includes design for new retail facilities, HVAC work, materials testing and inspection for solar projects and ADA compliance design for commercial buildings.
Top of the List Central Ohio public companies net income net loss
The 29 publicly traded companies based in Central Ohio chalked up $271.97 billion in revenue in their most recent fiscal years, with year-ends ranging from May 31, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Four companies ended their year with a net loss, compared to only two in the previous year - and the company with the highest revenue also recorded the largest loss. See the five Central Ohio-based public companies with the highest revenue in their most-recent fiscal year in the gallery above.
Top of the List Corporate Citizenship philanthropy charitable contributions in kind contributions
This year's Corporate Citizenship list and awards program again spotlights the generosity of Central Ohio's business community: The 100 companies in our print list provided $132.48 million in cash contributions to local nonprofits in 2022. It's not just mega-corporations providing this monetary support. Though extra-large companies (those with 250 or more local employees) account for 42 of the 100 listed, small companies (one to 49 employees) are the next largest size category with 25.
Central Ohio architectural firms ranked by billings
Central Ohio's 25 largest architectural firms had total gross architectural billings of $270.48 million in 2022. That made for an average of $10.82 million for each of the 25 firms, down slightly from the previous year's $10.9 million average. We asked our list respondents if their firm has used 3D printed materials for local projects, and how big an impact they expect from this burgeoning technology. Of the 15 firms that answered the question, four have used 3D printed materials to some degree.
Central Ohio's largest temp agencies, ranked
Central Ohio's largest temporary employment agencies billed nearly 13 million temp hours in 2022. Both contingent work and remote/hybrid work surged during the pandemic. We asked companies if more temporary workers are now looking specifically for remote or hybrid positions, and if employers are offering those options. Much depends on the industry; for example, light industrial and hospitality jobs are likely to require onsite presence.
TCentral Ohio's largest LGBTQ-owned businesses
The 16 LGBTQ-owned businesses in this year's list employ more than 300 workers, 245 of them in the Central Ohio region. One of our most diverse groups of businesses, this year's list includes a range of food-related enterprises: a bar, several bakeries and a facility offering participatory dining, catering and a pop-up restaurant. Other companies offer healthcare training, legal services, business consulting and technology and communications solutions.
Top of the List Central Ohio business advocacy organizations paid membership chamber of commerce
A diverse group of organizations, Central Ohio's business advocacy organizations include chambers of commerce, single-industry support groups and champions for broader groups such as independent or women-owned businesses. The 25 largest organizations for 2023 boast 14,760 paid members in Central Ohio and more than 350,000 members in total.
Ohio's largest craft brewers, ranked
Our 25 largest Ohio craft brewers produced 306,852 barrels of beer in 2022, plenty to make a trip around the state this summer something to look forward to. (This list includes brewers outside of Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties - for your closer-to-home beer fix, see the Central Ohio Craft brewers list.) U.S. beer sales volume was down 3.1% year-over-year in 2022 at 182.05 million barrels, according to data from the Brewers Association.
Central Ohio assisted living facilities, ranked
The 25 largest assisted living facilities in Central Ohio offer 4,208 state-licensed beds. This year's list includes a brand-new addition to the region's options, ranked at No. 6 with 180 beds. Both need and cost for assisted living continue to grow as baby boomers age. The most recent available Genworth cost of care survey found the median monthly cost for a one-bedroom assisted living apartment rose 4.7% nationally, from $4,300 in 2020 to $4,500 in 2021.
Central Ohio's largest commercial construction companies, ranked
Central Ohio's largest 25 commercial construction companies landed $8 billion in construction contracts in 2022, including $6.73 billion in contracts for projects within the region. That $8 billion total represents a nearly 43% increase over the total contract value of $5.6 reported for 2021 in last year's list. Projects located in Central Ohio grew by more than 53%, from $4.39 billion.
Central Ohio largest insurance agencies in surance brokerages premiums written
Central Ohio's 25 largest insurance agencies and brokerages wrote $3.25 billion in new and renewal premiums in 2022. The agencies employed 473 sales agents and brokers among a total of 897 employees in the region. We asked our list respondents if they were seeing AI used in the insurance industry. Only two companies addressed the question, one to say that AI is just beginning to show up.
Central Ohio commercial real estate brokerages brokers sales agents employees
This year's 26 listed commercial real estate brokerages (including a tie at No. 25) boast 380 licensed sales agents and brokers in the Central Ohio region and employ nearly 1,800 workers. Fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, changes in work patterns and area population growth are all being felt in the Central Ohio commercial market. We asked brokerages which types of properties are currently hot in Central Ohio - and which are not.
Top of the List Central Ohio residential real estate agencies sales volume
Business slowed for Central Ohio's top real estate agencies in 2022, with the 25 largest agencies reporting an 8% drop in transaction sides from 2021. (An agent might represent a buyer or seller for one transaction side, or might represent both for two transaction sides.) Residential real estate in Central Ohio remains tight, facing challenges including increased mortgage rates and low inventory.
most difficult golf courses Central Ohio USGA slope rate course rating
It's spring in Central Ohio and the thoughts of many area golfers turn to, well, golf. Challenging golf. We rank the region's toughest golf courses, as measured by the USGA's slope rating for the most difficult men's tee. The slope rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer - for men, one with a course handicap of 20, who can hit tee shots an average of 220 yards and reach a 370-yard hole in two shots.
Central Ohio ZIP codes educational attainment bachelors degree advanced degree high school diploma
On average, 41.4% of the population 25 or older in Central Ohio ZIP codes hold a bachelor's or higher. That figure is for the 55 ZIP codes in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties with estimated 2022 populations of 10,000 or more. In the most highly educated ZIP code, more than 77% have earned at least a bachelor's degree, with 33% holding a master's, professional or doctoral degree.
Top of the List: Fastest-growing Central Ohio public school districts
Central Ohio's 49 public school districts enrolled a total of 276,905 students in the 2021-22 school year. Total district enrollments ranged from 476 students to more than 45,000. Average change in enrollment was 1.4%. Thirty-five districts gained students from the 2020-21 school year to 2021-22. One district's enrollment stayed the same, while 13 districts lost pupils.
Top of the List: Central Ohio's largest private schools by enrollment
Central Ohio's 20 largest private schools report 6,584 students enrolled in grades 9-12. Birthrates in the U.S. have been dropping since 2008, yet Central Ohio is growing. We asked our list respondents how their pools of applicants have changed over the past five years - is it shrinking or growing, and why? The two secular schools that answered the question reported consistent numbers of applicants, with one noting an increase in preschool through the fifth grade.
How much do teachers earn in your Central Ohio school district?
How much, on average, are teachers paid in your school district, and how much experience do they bring to their jobs? Ohio Department of Education data show average teacher salaries range from $53,573 to $89,297 across 49 school districts in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties. The five highest salary figures are found in five city school systems - Bexley, Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington and Worthington.
Central Ohio public school district expenditures per pupil
Central Ohio operating expenditures per pupil in the 2021-22 school year ranged from $10,515 in the Southwest Licking Local Schools to $21,211 in the Columbus City Schools. The average across all 49 districts in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties was $13,946 per student. These expenditures include the cost of instruction, pupil support, staff support, administration and operations support.
Brand education: how the LEGO Group protects its trademarks in China
Robin Smith, vice president and general counsel for the LEGO Group, reveals how the toy company is improving IP awareness among children, students and consumers in China Brand protection means everything to the LEGO Group, which recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, having been founded by Ole Kirk Kristiansen in 1932. The Kirk Kristiansen family decided to use two Danish words, ‘leg godt’, which means ‘play well’, as the trademark for its toy company.
Top of the List Central Ohio financial planners fee and commission fee-based assets managed
Central Ohio's 25 largest fee and commission financial planners managed more than $39 billion in assets at the end of 2022. Fee and commission planners (also referred to as fee-based) are generally compensated through a combination of fees and commissions. Some might offer fee-only planning to individuals and use other forms of compensation for corporate accounts. In our list survey, we asked planning firms what their most difficult investment challenge was in 2022.
Central Ohio's top commercial property sales of 2022, ranked
Central Ohio's 25 largest commercial sales of 2022 totaled $1.19 billion - an average of $47.76 million per sale. Both numbers were lower than those on last year's list, which totaled $1.34 billion for an average of $53.72 million per sale. The mix of property types represented in the top sales was broader in 2022, with 12 industrial properties, six multifamily, four retail and three office. Of the 25 sales in last year's list, 22 were industrial assets.
Central Ohio 2022 home sales residential sales highest sale prices most expensive homes
The highest-priced Central Ohio residential sales of 2022 - 42 homes, including eight tied at No. 35 - totaled $106.56 million. The average price for listed homes was $2.54 million. Rising prices have been the norm in the Columbus residential market for several years. For some striking historical perspective, consider these tidbits from past lists: In 2013, the top two most expensive homes were tied at $2.2 million - less than half the price of this year's two top homes (also tied).
Central Ohio family-owned businesses full-time employees revenue top officer
Large and small, family-owned businesses have a significant impact in Central Ohio. The 50 largest employ more than 14,500 workers in the region, with more than 12,000 of them full-time. We asked our list participants what steps family-owned businesses should take to protect themselves in the face of higher interest rates, inflation and a possible recession in 2023.
Top of the List: Central Ohio’s largest attractions and entertainment venues
Attendance at Central Ohio’s largest attractions and venues increased by an average of 195.03% from 2021 to 2022. The majority saw increases, some spectacular, while only a few saw traffic decrease. We asked facilities in our list survey to predict how 2023 attendance would compare to 2022 – “much higher,” “somewhat higher,” “about the same,” “somewhat lower” or “much lower.” Click here to read the complete story. Story excerpt provided by Columbus Business First. Written by Robin Smith.
Top of the List Central Ohio attractions entertainment venues attendance
Attendance at Central Ohio's largest attractions and venues increased by an average of 195.03% from 2021 to 2022. The majority saw increases, some spectacular, while only a few saw traffic decrease. We asked facilities in our list survey to predict how 2023 attendance would compare to 2022 - "much higher," "somewhat higher," "about the same," "somewhat lower" or "much lower." Of the 33 that answered the question, most saw more attendance growth coming.
Top of the List: Wealthiest Central Ohio ZIP codes
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Central Ohio's 25 wealthiest ZIPs ranges from a little more than $218,000 to more than $409,000. As Columbus's tight real estate market and rising prices persist in the face of rising interest rates, we are focusing several of our census-based lists on Central Ohio housing data, ranking the wealthiest ZIPs by median home value.
Central Ohio's largest accounting firms, ranked
Central Ohio's 25 largest accounting firms employ 1,103 CPAs among more than 3,500 total employees in the region. CPAs, other professional accountants and advisory and consulting employees make up more than 88% of that total. Accounting firms face many of the same staffing challenges as other businesses. We asked the companies in our list survey what steps they have taken, or plan to take in 2023, to maintain staffing levels.
Central Ohio engineering firms billings registered engineers employees
Our 25 largest Central Ohio engineering firms boast 600 registered engineers and 2,630 total employees in the region. As with many professions, engineering has seen increased use of technology, with the Covid-19 pandemic kick-starting many changes. We asked our list respondents how technology has improved their work in the past five years - and what has been the downside. Greater work flexibility was the most-mentioned improvement, allowing hybrid work schedules and better work/life balance.
Central Ohio's largest employee benefits companies, ranked
Central Ohio's largest employee benefits companies employ a total of 637 Central Ohio employees working directly with employee benefits and a total of 2,561 workers in the region. Benefits have been a hot topic among employers trying to attract and retain workers in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Many have added mental health coverage, assistance with student loans and expanded childcare assistance to their benefit portfolios.
Central Ohio family law attorneys divoce custody child support annulment separation
In Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties in 2021 (the most recent data available), 18,664 incoming cases were filed in the domestic relations divisions of county Courts of Common Pleas. That's an uptick of 4.8% over 2020. Statewide, Ohio saw a 5.2% increase in domestic cases. Our listed law firms have a total of 88 local family law attorneys.
Expanding SME Lending through Flexible Decisioning Models
90% of businesses worldwide are small and medium enterprises, or SMEs, according to data from the World Bank. These businesses create jobs, contribute to local and national economic growth and maintain the spirit of entrepreneurship. Unfortunately, outdated systems prevent SMEs from acquiring the capital needed to fund their dreams.
Central Ohio cities median monthly housing cost rental owner-occipied lowest housing cost highest housing cost
No surprise: Housing in Central Ohio is expensive, with both rents and home prices across the region rising faster than wages. Our 2023 list of the largest Central Ohio cities uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates to reveal the municipalities with the most and least total housing units and the median monthly housing costs for occupied units. But how do costs for owner-occupied and renter-occupied units compare?
Rent in Central Ohio villages: These are the least expensive
Central Ohio's tight housing market and rising interest rates mean rents are rising right alongside house payments. Our 2023 list of the largest villages in Central Ohio villages uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey estimates to show which villages (defined in Ohio as a municipal corporation with fewer than 5,000 permanent residents) have the most housing units and their monthly median housing costs.
Central Ohio cities housing units median household income monthly housing costs owner-occupied renter-occuiped
The 28 cities in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties offer more than 640,000 total housing units. Of that total, about 50% are owner-occupied and about 43% are rented. Given the ongoing tight housing market in Central Ohio, we focused this year's largest cities and villages lists on total housing units and median monthly housing costs according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2016-2020 American Community Survey five-year estimates.
Central Ohio law firms largest local attorneys local lawyers
The 25 largest Central Ohio law firms report a total of 1,364 local attorneys and 12,851 firmwide. Three of the top five firms reported more local attorneys this year than last. But looking at all 20 firms that appeared in both this year's and the 2022 list, eight gained attorneys, 10 have fewer local lawyers than last year and four stayed the same. This year's list features a firm new to the Columbus area - notable in a list that changes little from year to year.
Central Ohio's largest meeting and event facilities, ranked
Central Ohio's 50 largest meeting and event facilities offer more than 5 million square feet of indoor space for events large or small, with 631 meeting or banquet rooms available. Business was up in 2022 for most facilities in our survey.
Central Ohio's largest hotels, ranked
Central Ohio hotel rooms took a giant step in 2022 as Ohio's first 1,000-room hotel came online. The 25 hotels in this year's list now offer more than 6,600 rooms across the region, including more than 1,700 suites. And more of those rooms were filled in 2022 after two lean years. We asked hotels to compare their business in 2022 to 2021, choosing from much busier, somewhat busier, about the same, somewhat less busy and much less busy.
Central Ohio residential remodelers home remodeling sales volume
Central Ohio's residential remodelers marked a busy year in 2022, with the 23 companies that participated in our list, ringing up $280.09 million in remodeling volume. Asked how 2022 compared to 2021 for their businesses, six companies reported 2022 was "much busier" and seven "somewhat busier." Six said 2022 was "about the same" as 2021 and only one chose "somewhat less busy." Three companies did not answer the question. The year was not without challenges, however.
SBA lenders Central Ohio total loans dollar volume
Central Ohio's 25 largest SBA lenders in fiscal year 2022 approved 1,393 7a loans to businesses in the SBA's Columbus District and Cincinnati Branch offices' 60-county area. Total dollar volume of the approved loans was $309.55 million. A familiar Central Ohio institution was responsible for nearly 68% of the total loans, for a dollar volume of more than $139 million. See the five largest Central Ohio SBA lenders, ranked by number of 7a loans approved in fiscal year 2022, in the attached gallery.
mba programs central ohio largest enrollment
Central Ohio's 11 MBA programs saw an overall bump in enrollment in the past year, growing from a total of 1,710 students in fall 2021 to 2,010 in fall 2022. Local programs offer traditional, online and flex options and a number of specialties. What is the value of an MBA? The Corporate Recruiters Survey 2022 Summary Report from the Graduate Management Admission Council placed the median starting salary of an MBA graduate at $115,000, not including possible signup/starting bonuses.
banks savings and loans Central Ohio deposits assets market share
Central Ohio banks and savings and loans held $99.17 billion in local deposits as of June 30, 2022. Assets for the 48 listed banks totaled $7.64 trillion. The list includes institutions holding deposits in Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties. Information was obtained from FDIC deposit market share reports.
home mortgage lenders Central Ohio total mortgages closed
This year's 25 largest Central Ohio home mortgage lenders closed on 30,418 first mortgages in 2021. As a group, that number represented a 5.8% decrease from 2020. We asked lenders in our list survey how their business had changed since the beginning of 2022. As interest rates have risen, lenders have seen a big drop in refinance loans, with a larger percentage of business dedicated to purchase loans.
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