Columbus Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Rich Granger as Director of Workforce and Workplace Innovation

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Rich Granger as its new Director of Workforce and Workplace Innovation, effective March 30, 2026. With more than 25 years of experience across workforce development, innovation strategy, education, and cross-sector collaboration, Rich brings a strong track record of building partnerships that connect employers, educators, policymakers, and students to strengthen regional talent pipelines. 

In his new role, Rich will lead initiatives designed to help employers address workforce challenges, advance innovative workplace practices, and support the development of sustainable talent pathways across the Columbus Region. His work will support the Chamber’s mission to convene, navigate, and advocate for the business community while helping organizations prepare for the future of work. 

“Rich Granger brings a unique combination of innovation leadership, workforce strategy, and education partnerships that will be invaluable to our members and the broader business community,” said Andy Hardy, Vice President of Government Relations at the Columbus Chamber. “His experience working across industry, government, and education will help strengthen the Columbus Region’s workforce ecosystem and support employers as they navigate a rapidly changing talent landscape.” 

Rich joins the Columbus Chamber from DriveOhio, an initiative of the Ohio Department of Transportation, where he served as Managing Director of Workforce and Economic Development. In this role, he led a statewide portfolio of workforce development programs designed to prepare Ohio’s talent from Pre-K through PhD for careers in transportation, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. His work included leading collaboration with partners such as the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, JobsOhio, Columbus City Schools, the Ohio STEM Learning Network, and employers across the state. 

During his time at DriveOhio, Rich also led the development and promotion of the DriveOhio Educator Toolkit, a free collection of STEM curriculum resources supporting K-12 career exploration, with over 1,600 registrations by educators impacting thousands of students across Ohio.  He also collaborated with more than 20 universities and community colleges to expand higher education engagement in workforce innovation. 

Prior to his work with DriveOhio, Rich spent more than 18 years at Battelle Memorial Institute, where he held a variety of leadership roles in strategy, business development, innovation, and program management, overseeing multimillion-dollar research and development portfolios and leading cross-sector partnerships. 

Rich also serves as a Lecturer at The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs, where he co-teaches “Rapid Innovation for Public Impact” through the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering and Public Policy, guiding multidisciplinary student teams in solving complex challenges for government and industry partners. 

“I’m incredibly excited to join the Columbus Chamber team and collaborate with employers, educators, community partners, and our amazing talent to further strengthen workforce pathways across our 11-county region,” said Granger. “The Columbus Region continues to experience tremendous growth and opportunity, and I look forward to expanding our workforce programs and services to continue connecting Chamber members with the talent and innovation they need to succeed.” 

Rich holds an MBA from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering from The Ohio State University, where he was also a published cartoonist in The Lantern student newspaper. 

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About the Columbus Chamber of Commerce: The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that serves more than 2,600 organizations across the Columbus Region. Founded in 1884, the Chamber serves as a strategic partner to the region’s businesses. We convene the community, advocate as the active voice for business, and navigate the insights, connections, and solutions that drive prosperity and growth. The Chamber provides an interconnected ecosystem where businesses collaborate to eliminate barriers to success, creating a vibrant environment for enterprises throughout the region. Together, we make our region an exceptional place to do business. Learn more: columbus.org.