Kenny McDonald, CEcD

Kenny McDonald, CEcD

President and CEO

614-905-0811 | km@columbusregion.com

Board and Community Involvement

  • Immediate Past Chair, International Economic Development Council
  • Board of Directors, Columbus Collaboratory
  • Board of Directors, Columbus Regional Airport Authority
  • Board of Directors, Experience Columbus
  • Board of Directors, SciTech
  • Board of Directors, Transportation Research Center

Role and Responsibilities

Kenny has served as president and CEO of One Columbus, formerly Columbus 2020, since the organization’s inception in 2010. He has helped lead the execution of the One Columbus strategy and development of the Columbus Region’s competitiveness agenda, and he has also built local and national partnerships that have accelerated the area’s development.

Kenny has over 25 years of regional economic development and management consulting experience focused on helping companies develop and execute their location strategies and helping communities achieve their goals. Kenny has worked with a variety of industries including automotive, biotechnology, aerospace, pharma, and advanced electronics. He has consulted manufacturing and logistics operations and advised numerous headquarters, research and development, and technology facilities.  Kenny has held economic development roles in Savannah, Albuquerque, and Charlotte prior to Columbus and worked as a corporate location advisor for Fluor Corp.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Certified Economic & Community Developer, 2001-present
CEO of the Year, Columbus CEO magazine, 2017
Executive Order of the Ohio Commodores, 2016
National Top 50 Economic Developer, Consultant Connect, 2015, 2020, 2021