Member Spotlight: CollegeAdvantage

Member Spotlight by Tim Gorrell, Executive Director for Ohio Tuition Trust Authority

Provide us with a brief summary of your business’ services.
The Ohio Tuition Trust Authority sponsors and administers Ohio’s 529 College Savings Program, CollegeAdvantage. For more than 25 years, our agency has been a trusted resource in helping families plan, save, and invest in Ohio’s 529 Plan to achieve higher education goals.

Tell us about your company’s mission and values.
Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage, provides families across the nation flexible investment options and educational resources to invest in our trusted tax-advantaged 529 plan for education expenses after high school.

We demonstrate our values daily by providing valuable products and services, excellent leadership, and a focus on customer satisfaction.

What are the services you use the most (or are looking forward to using) from the Columbus Chamber?
Through collaboration with the Columbus Chamber, we seek to build relationships with chamber members, provide Ohio’s 529 Plan resources, and share our expertise to enhance education, training, and employment viability throughout the region. In particular, the chamber’s programs and research services will support our goal to increase knowledge and understanding of the products and services our agency offers.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?
Our agency constantly monitors state and federal laws, regulations and policies that affect the 529 college savings industry. We work in partnership with financial leaders such as Vanguard, BlackRock, Fifth Third, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Wilshire, and Ascensus. We also engage regularly with other leaders in the 529 industry and the financial services sector to maximize application of best practices and trends. Lastly, working with our primary advertising partner SBC, other partners statewide, and using well-focused internal resources, we listen closely to our customers to maintain our standard as a 529 industry leader.

What is your company culture like?
Our agency culture is based on the belief that each individual of our talented team makes an important contribution to meeting the agency’s mission. Great teams are not flashy or one-dimensional; great teams are consistent, fair, balanced, and have a depth of proficiency across the mission spectrum.

What does it take to be a successful employee at your company?
Our employees must have a sense of purpose and regard for what we do. They must be committed to all aspects of their responsibilities, not just some. They must be promotors of our agency, to earn and maintain the trust of those who invest for the futures of their loved ones with us. They must fulfill their roles with vigor, competence and unyielding loyalty and integrity. All while having fun doing what we do.

What makes Columbus such a great place to do business?
Being centrally located in Columbus, our agency can easily connect with innovative leaders, partner with a diverse array of institutions and successful companies, and project throughout the state of Ohio. The “Midwest mind-set” is a plus for our program as friends, family, and neighbors share information and success stories about Ohio’s 529 Plan.

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Twitter: @Ohio529plan

Facebook: @collegeadvantage

LinkedIn: Ohio Tuition Trust Authority

Website:  CollegeAdvantage.com