More of the 2025 Ohio 500
By The Editors
Who are the most powerful and influential people in Ohio? There are many, to be sure, but who are the men and women who are truly working to make our state great?
In this fourth annual feature, we decided to answer that very question. We asked our readers to fill out an online survey, spoke with our partners, reached out to community leaders and did our own research to create the 2025 Ohio 500.
Below, read profiles on a handful of our 2025 winners and view the full list in the print and digital publications of our winter 2025 issue.
Lynn Esmail
Executive Director, OptimALL Services
SW Ohio
Education: University of Cincinnati; Ohio University
Someone You Admire: I truly admire RFK, Sr. and a speech he gave in 1966 called Ripples of Hope. I think about that message almost every day, and it truly inspires me in my daily work and family life. Small things can make a huge difference!
Something Surprising About You: I’ve walked Europe’s Camino de Santiago trail two years in a row! The pilgrimage really speaks to me, both physically and spiritually. I find it helps recenter me and refocus on what’s important.
Jonathan Hale
Executive Director, Wealth Management , The Hale Group at Morgan Stanley
SW Ohio
Education: University of Cincinnati
Someone You Admire: My father, Rip Hale.
Something Surprising About You: Something many find surprising is that I’ve been to 39 countries.
Proudest Moment: One of my proudest moments was when I proposed to my wife in Thailand.
Hobby/Passion: Traveling, golf, boating and nonprofit work.
Something About Ohio You Love: The people.
Civic Contribution: Dayton Live Board, executive committee; Kettering Health Foundation Board; Dayton Foundation Development committee; Levitt Board; Dayton Rotary
Kristy Preston-Stagg
Special Advisor to the office of the COO, Hyosung
SW Ohio
Education: BA Political Science and International Relations
Someone You Admire: Throughout my journey in life, I’ve found that as I get to know people and hear their stories, I often come to admire them—not necessarily for traditional achievements, but for the life choices they’ve made that truly work for them. It’s inspiring to see people live authentically and intentionally, even if their path is very different from my own.
Something Surprising About You: I love the journey of life, with all its ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s not always easy, but it’s always meaningful. Every experience, whether joyful or challenging, shapes who we are and adds to the richness of the journey.
Something About Ohio You Love: One thing I love about Ohio is that even after living here my entire life, I’m still discovering places I never knew existed. There’s a sense of endless exploration here, I feel like I have a lifetime’s worth of adventures still waiting for me in my own backyard.