James Leftwich, newly appointed director of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), spoke about “Leveraging Entrepreneurship in a Challenging Economy,” at an April 25 luncheon at the Hilton Toledo.

“We have to stop the job loss in Ohio and make smart investments in what we have by doing a better job of leveraging it and attracting new jobs,” Leftwich said.

JobsOhio, a new private non-profit organization, was created to run economic development in Ohio. It will focus on creating jobs with limited resources, said Leftwich, who was appointed to the position March 28.

As director, he oversees the daily operations of the ODOD and works closely with Mark Kvamme, director of job creation for Gov. John Kasich, to revitalize the state’s economic development and enhance Ohio’s business climate.

From left, Brian Bucher, regional president of PNC Bank, James Leftwich, director of the Ohio Department of development and Anand Kunnathur of UT.

“We will focus on developing a stronger collaboration with all departments of the state, linking with federal and local resources to create the best business climate for entrepreneurs in Ohio,” Leftwich said.

He reported that Ohio was recently rated as having the third best business climate overall and ninth best business climate for entrepreneurs in the U.S.

“It’s not enough. We have to get past what’s been holding us back in the past and move forward. It’s going to be a fast-moving train,” Leftwich said.

“We’re going to work with regional partners that have a vested interest in what happens there and focus on strategic growth areas in Ohio.”

He indicated that the Regional Growth Partnership will be the lead partner in the Northwest Ohio region’s effort to build a network of business, academia and government. He said they already met with regional partners from across Ohio to outline how the state will work with them.

Leftwich said that Northwest Ohio has many assets and specifically mentioned manufacturing services, great logistics and distribution networks.

“We’re going to take those assets and work very closely with regional partners in Northwest Ohio to enable them to grow,” he said.

“How do we compete against states like Indiana that offer companies money in addition to the usual incentives to locate there?” Hans Rosebrock, manager of economic development in Ohio for FirstEnergy, asked Leftwich.

“It’s a touch challenge. We’ve got to find creative ways to do it using our strengths,” Leftwich said.

He cited partnering university research with industry to take technology to market by using the Third Frontier Program with another round of funding in 2011.

Ohio needs to make smart investments in alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and medical devices to create more high tech jobs, he said.

Prior to his appointment, Leftwich served as president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, that region’s principal economic development organization. He led its economic development initiatives that resulted in the creation of more than 18,500 jobs and $1.5 billion of capital investment in that region.

The luncheon was presented by the UT College of Business and Innovation and PNC Bank.

“It was a valuable opportunity for business leaders to hear from the new director of the Ohio Department of Development,” said Brian Bucher, regional president for PNC Bank. “We are committed to providing critical resources to benefit entrepreneurs in the Toledo-area business community.”

Prior to his luncheon presentation, Leftwich participated in a discussion with about 40 local business leaders facilitated by Clint Longenecker, Stranahan Professor of leadership and organizational excellence at UT.

“We were very impressed with Jim Leftwich and had a very cordial meeting with him. He was not a typical government official meeting with business people. It was like a discussion around the family dinner table,” Longenecker said.

Leftwich is aware that Ohio needs to make it easier for business to get things done here, Longenecker said.

“Coming from Dayton and being an analytical guy, he understands what we’re up against in Toledo, competing with the three Cs (Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus) for economic development funding,” Longenecker said.

The College of Business and Innovation organized the discussion so people could meet him and he could learn about the needs of Northwest Ohio, he said.

Tags: Brian Bucher, James Leftwich, Ohio Department of Development, PNC Bank, University of Toledo

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 28th, 2011 at 12:56 pm and is filed under Finances, Toledo Business Link.
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National City Bank branches in Northwest Ohio and Michigan will be converted to PNC Bank because of the acquisition of National City by PNC Financial Services Group Inc.

Most National City branches in the region will close at 4 p.m. April 9; remain closed over the weekend for the physical conversion and reopen as PNC Bank branches on April 12, according to Brian Bucher, regional president of PNC Northwest Ohio Toledo Region.

Some branches could close earlier April 9 with times to be posted at each location.

“We’re committed to the Toledo market and want to grow in this market, providing additional benefits for the community to make it a great place to live and work,” said Bucher, who has served this region for the past five years living in the Toledo area.

The signage on local National City branches has been changed for the conversion. The new PNC Bank signs are covered by temporary National City banners that will be removed that weekend. No local branches will be closed and all will be refurbished or updated with the conversion, Bucher said.

Brian Bucher

PNC Bank is hiring some customer service and management-level employees but the consolidation could affect a small number of employees whose positions could be eliminated in the process, Bucher said.

“We look at the business to figure out how we can operate better,” Bucher said. “We’re excited about what we’re doing for our customers by combining two institutions with a lot of good people.”

National City customers will become PNC clients with as little disruption as possible, he said.

Customers should receive their new PNC Visa check card by April 9 and can activate the cards after 8 a.m. on that date. Check card purchases can be made during the conversion weekend using either National City or activated PNC Visa check cards.

ATM access to checking, savings and money market accounts will be available at any National City or PNC ATM inside and outside the local region. Balance information will be available via ATM starting at noon on Saturday, April 10.

Mobile and online banking through National City or PNC will not be available after 3 p.m. April 9. Existing customers can begin accessing PNC account information by mobile phone or online starting at

8 a.m. April 12. Telephone banking will resume after 6 a.m. April 12 by calling 1-877-762-9119.

PNC customers will have access to new products, such as the “virtual wallet” which allows people to conduct online banking from hand-held phones and computers 24-7 from almost anywhere with the transition, Bucher said.

“We’re in the people business and strive for the personal touch but you have to have great products and the latest technology,” Bucher said.

“We’re committing more dollars to the local community as part of PNC’s commitment of $100 million over 10 years,” Bucher said.

Bucher said that National City has and now PNC will support local programs, such as the “Grow Up Great” campaign for children up to age 5, with both money and the time of employees volunteers. Locally, the bank has supported the Toledo Zoo, Toledo Mud Hens, UT, Valentine Theatre, and other community organizations.

Bucher said that he knows many of the management people at PNC from his previous experience working for National City Bank in Pittsburgh where PNC is based. He was born in Cleveland and lived in Chicago before earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. PNC has successfully completed the conversion of more than 1 million customers and 320 branches from National City Bank in other regions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana since November 2009. Another 1.5 million customers and 420 branches in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo and Michigan are being converted in April.

“The process of converting customer accounts is proceeding smoothly as the acquisition of National City continues to exceed our expectations,” said Thomas Whitford, PNC vice chairman and co-leader of the National City integration that remains on track for completion by the middle of 2010.

The acquisition of National City Bank by PNC Financial Services Group Inc. closed Dec. 31, 2008. PNC is a national diversified financial services organization, providing business and retail banking, residential mortgages, asset and wealth management to more than 5 million customers in 15 states and District of Columbia.

Tags: PNC Bank

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 4:43 pm and is filed under Finances, Toledo Business Link.
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