As the Vice President of Government Relations for the Columbus Chamber, Steve
Tugend is responsible for advocating the public policy view of the region's
business community to federal, state and local government leaders.
During his tenure at the Columbus Chamber, Tugend has undertaken an effort to
increase communication between the business community and elected
officeholders. Key accomplishments include the Chamber's first published a
public policy agenda, and Government Day, as well as the creation of a new
forum, Capital Connections, that allows Chamber members to interact with public
policy leaders.
Tugend guided the efforts of Team DSCC, a coalition of business, government and
civic leaders. This coalition advocated the retention and growth of the Defense
Supply Center Columbus – Columbus' twelfth largest employer. Because the
Department of Defense was conducting a national review of all of its bases, the
6,100 jobs at DSCC were at risk. After a $1 million campaign to advocate DSCC
was deployed, the Pentagon announced that DSCC would not only remain open, but
would also grow up to 2,000 jobs.
Prior to joining the Columbus Chamber, Tugend supervised the government
relations operations in 17 states for Farmers Insurance. He also has served the
campaign manager for Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton, a legal
counsel to Justice Paul Pfeifer, and a private practice attorney.
Tugend holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Area Studies from Wittenberg
University and a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law. He
is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Tugend serves on the boards of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement
District and the Columbus International Visitor's Council. He holds a position
on the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission's Transportation Advisory Council
and is a Commissioner on the Ohio Subrogation Rights Commission. He is also the
President-elect of Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley.
Tugend and his wife, Sue, live with their three children in Bexley, Ohio.
