CEOs You Should Know Columbus (iHeart Media)

John R. Ness is CEO and majority shareholder of ODW Logistics, Inc. and affiliates. ODW is a $305 million Third Party Logistics Provider (3PL) headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. ODW is high-growth business that helps clients transform their supply chain into a worry-free, highly efficient engine for their business.

ODW designs and delivers omni-channel logistics solutions that includes: supply chain design, e-commerce fulfillment, warehousing and distribution, and transportation management for a completely integrated client experience. Founded in 1971, ODW Logistics has a nationwide network of strategic locations and serves clients in the personal care, food and beverage, fast-moving consumer goods, and industrial and automotive industries.

John is responsible for setting company vision and strategy, removing barriers, driving for results and preserving the company culture. A passionate entrepreneur, John has launched several new businesses at ODW and is an avid investor. He has strategically reorganized the company’s executive leadership team to scale the business. ODW is owned by the Ness family and has adopted a best-in-class organizational structure, including an independent Board of Advisors, a Family Council and professional management.

Passionate about giving back, John has served leadership capacities on a number of non-profit boards, including the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Mentoring Center and Junior Achievement. He is immediate past chair of the Board of Junior Achievement of Central Ohio. He is also a founder and former Co-Chair of the Columbus Region Logistics Council. He is past chairman of the Ohio Warehouse Logistics Association (OWLA) and is active in the International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA), where he is past chairman of the Emerging Leaders Council. John is an active member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

A graduate of Wittenberg University with a B.S in Management where he played four years of varsity football, John joined ODW as Warehouse Manager and progressed in responsibilities working in various capacities in Operations, Sales & Marketing, Finance and Transportation. He assumed the role of President of the ODW companies in 2003 and became CEO in 2012.

John seeks to lead by example in support of ODW’s Values: Respect – Trust – Team – Opportunity. Accordingly, John is active outside of work with his family and supporting his children and his church. He is former Chair of the Council for the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church and is helping to raise money for the Community Center in Upper Arlington. He and his wife oversee the John & Emily Ness Charitable Foundation and contribute to the Ness Family / ODW Logistics Foundation.

John and Emily, who met in 2nd grade Sunday school class, have four children and live in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Listen to the interview here:

https://610wtvn.iheart.com/featured/ceos-you-should-know-columbus/content/2022-04-11-john-r-ness-chief-executive-officer-odw-logistics-inc/

Source: 610 WTVN News Radio