During his 30-year commercial banking career, John’s positions at banks in five states ranged from Chief Lending Officer to Chief Credit Officer to CEO. After retiring from banking he commenced his business angel activities fifteen years ago, forming USPrivateCompanies, LLC which has provided capital to 50+ Ohio entrepreneurs. Currently Board Chair of one portfolio company, he is also a Director of three others. John was appointed by Governor Taft to the Ohio Venture Capital Authority at its inception in 2003. The Authority’s Ohio Capital Fund generates high paying jobs by making $150 million of early stage capital available to the state’s most promising technology entrepreneurs. Twenty-six venture firms have received funding via this program. When John’s term expired in 2010, Governor Strickland appointed him to the Third Frontier Advisory Board of Ohio’s Third Frontier. This was initially a $1.3 billion commitment to expand Ohio’s technological strengths and promote commercialization. Ohioans have since approved a $700 million expansion of this highly successful program. When John launched the first Ohio TechAngel Fund (OTAF) in 2004 with 50 investors, the group became a founding member of the Angel Capital Association (ACA). Now with four funds and 340 members, OTAF is one of America’s largest angel groups, and has made 66 investments in 46 ventures. John also belongs to North Coast Angel Funds I & II, (Cleveland), the East Central Ohio TechAngel Fund (Athens), and Columbus-based X-Squared Angels (a group investing nationwide in start-up ventures with diverse management teams). In addition to being on the Executive Committees of all these angel groups, he is the current Chairman of Ohio’s ACA Forum of angel group leaders.