Greg Lashutka Chairman of the Board, Franklin University

Greg S. Lashutka received his bachelor’s degree in history in 1967 from Ohio State, where he was co-captain of the Buckeye football team in 1965. He went on to play defensive end for the Buffalo Bills briefly and served for four years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, including active duty in Vietnam in underwater explosive ordnance disposal.

Following his military service, he graduated from Capital University Law School in 1974. He served as Judge Richard B. Metcalf’s law clerk in the Probate Court of Franklin County and as U.S. Congressman Samuel Devine’s legislative aide. He later became a partner with the law firm of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, where he focused on municipal and sports law.

He was twice elected to four-year terms as Columbus city attorney, serving from 1978 to 1985. As the city’s chief legal officer, he supervised 42 attorneys in the criminal and civil divisions. During his tenure, he streamlined the prosecutor division, making it more responsive to community needs.

Under Lashutka’s leadership as the city’s 46th mayor since 1992, Columbus has become one of America’s premier inland international cities. In 1994, the city hosted the United Nations World Summit on Trade Efficiency, at which officials from around the globe discussed ways to increase trade through electric commerce. Through Lashutka’s initiatives, such as the Inland Port project and Trade Point USA, central Ohio businesses can increase trade and expand their operations.

In 1993, he was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County magazine. He was president of the National League of Cities in 1996, serving as a spokesman and representative for more than 3,000 municipalities nationwide. He is a frequent speaker to legal and municipal audiences throughout the country, and he has coordinated numerous county and statewide political campaigns for local, regional and national candidates.

Lashutka, who joined Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company in 2000 as the company’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations retired in 2007. He currently serves as chairman of Franklin University’s board of directors and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (United States). He is also an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

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