Lee Fisher has served as an Ohio state legislator, Ohio Attorney General, President and CEO of the Center for Families and Children in Cleveland, Ohio and Ohio Lt. Governor. In his role as Lt. Governor, serving with Governor Ted Strickland, Fisher also served as Director of the Ohio Department of Development, Chair of the Economic Growth Council, and Chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission and member of the Ohio Venture Capital Authority which fund high potential technology-based early stage companies.
During the time Fisher led Ohio’s economic development efforts, Site Selection magazine awarded its Governor’s Cup to Ohio three consecutive times – in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The Governor’s Cup recognizes the state with the most new or expanded capital investment projects in the nation. Site Selection also recognized Ohio with the 2008 Competitiveness Award, recognizing the Ohio Department of Development, under Fisher’s leadership, as the top economic development agency in the country.
Fisher led the creation of Ohio’s first-ever Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The plan is best known for Fisher’s idea, the Ohio Hubs of Innovation and Opportunity, designed to foster urban-based collaborations between businesses, colleges and universities and research institutions.