Husted to Head InnovateOhio, Workforce Efforts

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Governor-elect Mike DeWine Tuesday named his running mate and Lt. Governor-elect Jon Husted to serve as head of InnovateOhio and to take a leadership role in Ohio’s workforce and economic development efforts.

Once the pair takes office Jan. 14, Husted will also take the helm of Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative, the mission of which is to review regulations in Ohio from the perspective of businesses and create a better environment for job creation.

“Jon has been a constant leader for our state in creating greater efficiency and has dedicated his career to making Ohio a better place to do business,” said DeWine. “Workforce development is one of the most important things for us to invest in as we strengthen Ohio’s economy for the long-term, and Jon and I will be taking personal interest in this work over the next four years.”

The mission of InnovateOhio is to look at state government from the point of view of consumers in order to create efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve the interactions Ohioans have with state services. Husted will work closely with all members of the governor’s cabinet to implement an innovative, efficient culture across state government.

“I am grateful for the confidence that Governor-elect DeWine has in me and for the opportunity we have to make a transformative difference in the way our state serves Ohioans, their families, and our businesses as we grow our workforce and our economy for the future,” said Husted.

Husted’s priorities will also include Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative, which will further his mission to create a leaner, more efficient and more effective state government.

As part of his portfolio, Husted will take a leadership role in the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, which coordinates the workforce development efforts of 16 cabinet offices. He will work closely with the directors of the departments of Administrative Services, Development Services, and Higher Education on issues impacting workforce development and economic development.

Husted made increasing efficiency and better customer service a hallmark of his administration over the Secretary of State’s Office. Prior to Husted’s term, starting a business in Ohio took days or weeks and required mailing of paper forms. Husted automated the process and now businesses can form within hours by using an online process.

He also championed the implementation of Online Voter Registration. These efficiencies have allowed him to reduce the cost of starting a business in Ohio by 21%, while cutting the size of his own staff by 42% when compared to his predecessor. Husted ran the Secretary of State’s Office for his final two years without using tax dollars and most recently returned a $10 million surplus to the state treasury.