Hammack and central Ohio leaders discuss economic conditions, opportunities, and challenges
Cleveland Fed president and chief executive officer Beth M. Hammack met with the Cleveland Fed’s Central Ohio Business Advisory Council, toured the Center of Science and Industry, and delivered remarks during a visit to Columbus.
To collect the most recent information and anecdotes about business conditions in the Fourth District, the Cleveland Fed has nine regional Business Advisory Councils (BACs). Each council is made up of leaders from a variety of businesses, economic development organizations, and labor groups.
During a recent visit to Columbus, Beth Hammack, the president and CEO of the Cleveland Fed, met with one of these councils: the Central Ohio BAC.
Leaders from major businesses, nonprofits, and labor organizations including the Ohio Trucking Association, Bath and Body Works, M/I Homes, Inc., the Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, and One Columbus (the region’s economic development agency) are represented on the Central Ohio BAC.
Members of the Central Ohio BAC in Columbus (April 16, 2025)
During a wide-ranging discussion with the Central Ohio BAC members, Hammack heard repeatedly about how recent government policies, including proposed tariffs, have caused a high level of uncertainty for the region’s companies and organizations.
While in Columbus, Hammack also met with leaders from the Center of Science and Industry (COSI).
Hammack participates in an experiment at COSI (April 16, 2025)
COSI, a science museum, uses a hands-on style of learning to get children and visitors of all ages interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, or “STEAM.”
Hammack and members of the Cleveland Fed’s education outreach team spoke with COSI’s leaders about the Bank’s ongoing work to develop unique, accessible financial literacy resources. The Cleveland Fed’s goal is to eventually create new materials that would complement the age-appropriate resources already available on clevelandfed.org. COSI’s current educational outreach programs engage more than 300,000 students in Ohio and neighboring states each year.
Hammack was also invited to speak at the Columbus Metropolitan Club’s weekly forum, where she delivered remarks and answered questions on a wide variety of topics. During her speech, Hammack explained the Fed’s five main functions: financial stability, supervision and regulation, payments, consumer protection and community development, and monetary policy.
Hammack gives a speech at a Columbus Metropolitan Club forum (Courtesy Ian Alexander Photography, April 16, 2025)
Hammack speaks with moderator Clay Gordon at the Columbus Metropolitan Club (Courtesy Ian Alexander Photography, April 16, 2025)
About President Beth M. Hammack’s Around the District tour
President Hammack is visiting communities across the Fourth District as part of her Around the District tour to meet and connect with the people who live and work in all corners of the region and to gain a better understanding of how the economy is working in different communities. The Cleveland Fed, with branches in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, serves an area that comprises Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. Hammack will use this information to inform her policy views and better represent the Fourth District around the Federal Open Market Committee table.
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Beth M. Hammack
Beth M. Hammack is the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, one of 12 regional Reserve Banks in the Federal Reserve System.