Cincinnati State President O’dell M. Owens is now an Ohio Commodore
July 7, 2011
Cincinnati State President O’dell M. Owens has been inducted into the Association of Ohio Commodores.
The Association of Ohio Commodores is a group of individuals recognized by the Governor of Ohio with one of the state’s most distinguished honors, The Executive Order of the Ohio Commodore, for their business accomplishment, acumen, and leadership.
Dr. Owens was one of 16 people from around Ohio who were inducted in the 2011 summer ceremony as new members of the Association.
“As the president of a community college dedicated to training men and women to become productive participants in the workforce, I am particularly proud of this honor,’’ Dr. Owens said, following the recent summer induction ceremony at The Ohio State University’s Faculty Club.
“Education and the economy are intertwined today as never before,’’ said Dr. Owens, a physician who has long been involved in educational, entrepreneurial and civic endeavors.
In addition to serving as the CEO of a non-profit foundation devoted to using technology to bring world-class training to adults who care for pre-school aged children, Dr. Owens has served on the governing boards of Antioch College and the University of Cincinnati, and has been an active volunteer within the Cincinnati Public Schools system. He currently serves on the board of directors of U.S. Bank, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
The Association of Ohio Commodores was founded in 1966 by Ohio’s then-governor James A. Rhodes to honor 60 business executives who accompanied him on the state’s first international trade mission. It was incorporated in 1971 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization.
Since the inception of the Association of Ohio Commodores, members have participated in international trade missions, received distinguished guests from other countries, and in recent years served as a primary sponsor of the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Awards. In 2000, the Ohio Department of Development’s Global Markets Division undertook the administration of the Association, in order to better utilize the expertise of this volunteer business force.
According to the organization’s website (www.ohiocommodores.org), 18 charter members of the original Commodores still belong to the Association, and some families have seen multiple generations achieve membership. Members have included bankers, government officials, university professors and administrators, leaders of trade associations and economic development organizations, and senior executives of manufacturing firms from a wide variety of industries. The Association of Ohio Commodores currently has more than 260 members.
