60 Seconds With Lee Fisher

Modern: What would be the most pleasant surprise about Cleveland to an attendee of NA 2010 who doesn’t know the area?

Fisher: Can I give you three things? One is the city’s down-to-earth, genuine people who are not the least bit pretentious. No. 2 is world-class food at world-class restaurants. And, No. 3, if you don’t already know, is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Modern: What will Ohio showcase at the show?

Fisher: We’re working with NA 2010 on the Supply Chain Summit, and we’ll be offering industry experts who will highlight Ohio’s assets as well as the international companies that have chosen us as a location for their business. Beyond that, we’re going to be presenting the fact that Ohio is the state of perfect balance. You can build your business in an entrepreneurial climate and love your life. We have an extraordinary quality of life.

Modern: Our readers are manufacturers and distributors. Ohio is a manufacturing state. Are you seeing light at the end of the current economic tunnel?

Fisher: Ohio has been hard hit by this national economic recession that we inherited. But, we are much further ahead than most states in investing in jobs of the future. One area in particular is advanced energy. We are also the third-largest manufacturing state in the country. Our location and manufacturing expertise position us to make everything from solar panels to wind turbines. We have manufacturing companies that have started new divisions focusing on manufacturing core components and parts for wind turbines. I am very optimistic, based upon my travels to every county in the state, that Ohio is recovering steadily. There’s much work to be done, but we are seeing successes throughout the state in companies that are expanding, hiring new people and creating new jobs.