2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
Presented By: Nationwide Children's Hospital
Jordan Hansell
CEO & Founder
Tradepost
Jordan Hansell is the Founder and CEO of Tradepost, LLC., an investment platform, providing growth capital to mid-market firms ($1MM to $20MM in EBITDA and $10MM to $100MM in enterprise value) with proven growth trajectories and management teams who have a strong vision. Tradepost selectively seeks investments in businesses it can understand that enjoy defensible, competitive positions with demonstrable opportunities to grow.
Most recently, Jordan served as the President of Rockbridge, a private equity firm focused on the hospitality industry with just under $3B in assets under management. Mr. Hansell was a member of the firm's Executive and Investment Committees.
Prior to joining Rockbridge, Jordan served as the Chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company and the world's largest private aviation provider, which focuses on providing premier, personalized customer service to highly discerning consumers. At NetJets, Jordan led a complete overhaul of the business's culture, processes, and marketing strategies as well as an international expansion into China and India. More specifically, during Jordan’s tenure, NetJets enjoyed its longest-ever string of profitable years, culminating in the highest level of annual profit in its history (which resulted in $1B P&L improvement from the year Jordan arrived at NetJets). In addition, during Jordan’s tenure, NetJets placed $17.5B worth of aircraft purchases, the largest of any such orders in private aviation history, and retired $1.8B in debt.
Before joining NetJets, Jordan was a partner with the law firm Nyemaster Goode, where his practice focused primarily on general corporate matters, complex real estate transactions, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Nyemaster Goode, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Jordan is currently the Executive Chairman of Consolidated Metals, Inc., a national steel tubing supplier, the Executive Chairman of GO Companies, a technology-forward combination of businesses serving the residential real estate market, and a board member of Feazel Roofing, LLC, one of the 10 largest residential roofing companies in the US. Jordan also served for 7 years as the Executive Chairman of QuickInsured, a fast-growing digital insurance agency (which was sold in 2022 to one of the country’s largest insurance brokerages). Additionally, he served as the Chair for, and on the board of, Mount Carmel Health System for 3 years and 9 years, respectively. Jordan was also on the Board of Trustees for Simpson College for 17 years, which included stints as Treasurer for the College as well as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committees.
Jordan has spoken internationally on a variety of topics, including global supply chains, intellectual property for emerging businesses, and leadership. Mr. Hansell received his A.B. Honors degree in Political Science, summa cum laude, from Duke University; a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School; and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Policy. Jordan has been married to Silvia for 26 years, and the two of them have two daughters and a son, Emery, John and Collier. They live together on Daufuskie Island, South Carolina.
Andrew Panos
Founder
Equiti
Andy's innovative leadership and creative sales initiatives fueled the rapid growth of Equiti's Martti into the 2,000+ hospitals and healthcare facilities it serves today. When his brother was tragically injured while on vacation abroad, Andy was inspired to help the millions of patients in the U.S. who face language barriers in healthcare. Andy's experience in operations, business development, and national marketing strategy stems from serving as partner/owner of a creative marketing firm.
Leo Ruberto
Owner & CEO
Feazel
Following his honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps, Leo Ruberto made his way home to find friends of his who were enjoying their own careers in commercial roofing and brought him into the industry. Gaining an enormous amount of knowledge and experience working with friends on a range of commercial and residential projects in places such as Florida, D.C. and Ohio, the more he worked in the field, the greater his interest grew in wanting to settle down and own his own roofing company.
Now, more than 15 years later with his wife and three children by his side, Ruberto is owner and President of Feazel, an exterior building service provider specializing in residential, commercial and multi-family building exteriors. His greatest career accomplishment: owning a company with which he can make a difference in the lives of others. Doing the job to the highest standards of quality and treating people right has contributed to the business gains over the last few years. Ruberto has also committed Feazel to sustainable initiatives. Feazel has not only switched to using environmentally friendly and American-made products, but also instituted a robust shingle recycling program. Feazel donates all used shingles to be converted into asphalt. For each house or building project, it keeps an average of 3 tons of roofing material out of local landfills, which then helps to pave roughly 50 feet of new road.
Dwight Smith
Founder & Former CEO
Sophisticated Systems
Smith is the founder and former President and CEO of Sophisticated Systems, Inc., an information technology consulting company in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Smith founded Sophisticated Systems in 1990 and served as President and CEO until February 1, 2023. He has over 43 years of information technology and software industry experience, including nearly eight years (1979-87) with IBM. Mr. Smith also has extensive experience serving on public and private company and non-profit boards of directors, including serving as a director of Rocky Brands, Inc. (2023-present), Nationwide Children's Hospital (2013-present) and State Auto Mutual Insurance Company (2005-2017). Mr. Smith also served as a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland from 2016 until 2022; Peoples Bank, from February of last yearl, and also the OCLC board sinces 2022.
Jeff Sopp
CEO
Kensington Hill Partners
Jeff leads Kensington Hill Partners with a client-centric approach. Jeff consults companies with M&A opportunities and growth strategies, Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards with strategy, executive leadership selection, plus succession planning, overall board and company governance. His goal is to always deliver total client satisfaction while creating end-to-end solutions that provide maximum return on investment for all stakeholders.
With extensive experience working with Fortune 1,000 clients, Jeff provides his clients and partners with an in-depth knowledge of enterprise-wide requirements and solutions for their businesses. He assists in a range of best practices and strategies, including, merger & acquisition options, and both corporate and personal brand development.
Jeff has decades of board experience, having served as chairman, lead director and/or board member of multi-billion dollar organizations and start-up companies. He specializes in technology, retail, brand & marketing, construction, insurance, finance, and real-estate, but focuses his expertise on growth strategies a company will require to be successful.
Tom Walker
President & CEO
Rev1 Ventures
Tom Walker is the founding CEO and President of Rev1 Ventures, Inc. in Columbus, OH. With a career spanning nearly 30 years in innovation and venture capital, Tom has broad expertise in supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in the successful start and scaleup of new companies. He is a leader in driving innovation within large corporations, research institutions, and communities, especially where it aims to better lives through entrepreneurship.
Tom has formed and managed multiple venture capital funds that have achieved or maintained top quartile performance and has participated in more than 300 investments. Portfolio companies have generated more than $7B in successful exits, including grub, inc. (M&A- LookSmart); Novazyme (M&A-Genzyme); Weather Decision Technology (M&A DTN); Selexys (Board member) (M&A-Novartis); Myonexus (M&A-Sarepta); Celenex (M&A-Amicus); Updox (M&A EverCommerce); Alkami (Board Member) (NASDAQ ALKT), and Matterport (NASDAQ MTTR).
Tom earned a B.S. in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in Business Administration. He is a frequent industry speaker and has received numerous industry awards, including a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Tom is the author of The Entrepreneur’s Path: A Handbook for High-Growth Companies and contributing author to Biotechnology Entrepreneurship, First and Second Editions. He is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur.com and a Forbes Council member and contributor. A founder and board member of the national Angel Capital Association and has advised several regions in the United States and European Union on building entrepreneurial infrastructure and ecosystems. He has testified multiple times before the United States Congress on entrepreneurs, venture capital, and the expansion of life sciences, applied research, and commercialization.