On this special episode of The O.H.I.O. Fund Report, I’m joined—for the first time—by the two co-founders of The O.H.I.O. Fund, Mark Kvamme and Ray Leach, as well as the fund’s two founding partners, Jill Meyer and Mike Venerable, to share the inside story of how a bold idea became reality.

We explore the inspiration and origins behind a first-of-its-kind strategy designed to generate returns while accelerating prosperity and shaping Ohio’s future. We discuss how, in our first year, we closed on over $230 million in capital from investors and deployed more than $130 million into 19 sector-diverse investments across Ohio’s economy. We also cover what it has taken to build momentum, forge the most powerful network of investors, founders, and operators across the state, and why Ohio’s moment is now—along with the urgency this opportunity demands.

I’m Jeffrey Stern — Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund and host of today’s conversation— and I hope you enjoy this exclusive look behind the scenes at our first year as The O.H.I.O. Fund, our reflections on the journey thus far, and where we go from here!

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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00:00:00 - The Birth of the O.H.I.O Fund
00:03:05 - Ohio's Economic Landscape and Historical Context
00:06:02 - The Vision Behind the O.H.I.O Fund
00:08:56 - Building a Collaborative Network
00:12:07 - The Urgency of Now: Why Timing Matters
00:14:50 - Capitalizing on Opportunities in Ohio
00:18:14 - The Role of AI and Innovation
00:21:01 - Success Stories and Impact Investments
00:24:04 - Creating a Unified Ohio
00:26:46 - The Future of the O.H.I.O Fund
00:29:51 - Personal Motivations and Collective Ambition
00:34:07 - Reflecting on Progress and Future Aspirations
00:39:12 - Surprises and Insights from the O.H.I.O Fund's First Year
00:50:03 - Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Growth in Ohio
00:54:02 - Embracing Change and Building a New Future

Dale Wollschleger is the Founder and former CEO of Cleveland-based ExactCare Pharmacy and the developer of the ExactPack™—a patient-specific medication packaging system designed to simplify complex medication regimens.

This conversation with Jeffrey Stern (Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund) and Dale dives into the unlikely journey of a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur who started in the back of a small Cleveland pharmacy and built a billion-dollar organization serving patients across the country.

ExactCare’s meteoric growth—from inception to a multi-hundred-million-dollar (revenue) business in under a decade—has earned it repeated recognition as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company; Dale himself was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Ultimately, Dale’s remarkable journey stems from an observation he made as a pharmacist: that pharmacists have the opportunity to play a more integral role in clinical care—and that their responsibility doesn’t end when the patient leaves the store. Many patients could live healthier, more independent lives if only they took the right medications at the right times.

In our conversation, Dale shares how he navigated the many chapters of scaling a healthcare business: bringing in private equity and outside capital, evolving his leadership, and balancing high-growth expectations with a deep commitment to patient outcomes, company culture, family—and much more.

https://www.exactcarepharmacy.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wollschleger/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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Chapters
00:00 - The Journey of a Pharmacist Turned Entrepreneur
14:34 - Building ExactCare: Addressing Complex Patient Needs
24:18 - The Evolution and Vision of ExactCare
31:07 - Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pharmacy
38:59 - Understanding the Pharmacy Industry
43:24 - Pride in Building in Cleveland

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Remote Vans: Building The Best Adventure Vans in America With Tony Alexander & Daryn Hillhouse

The O.H.I.O. Fund Report's second episode features Tony Alexander and Daryn Hillhouse, co-founders of Remote Vans — a Cincinnati-based company redefining the premium adventure van category by blending high-quality craftsmanship with the technology and design required for the modern lifestyle — and Jeffrey Stern, Principal at The O.H.I.O. Fund.

Their journey captures a classic entrepreneurial arc—from piecing together their first custom van in a brewery garage at the height of the pandemic to scaling operations at their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Cincinnati, where Remote Vans is now producing meticulously designed, technologically advanced camper vans at scale, and is also where our conversation took place.

Through it, we explore their entrepreneurial lessons, transitioning from custom builds to dealer-focused manufacturing at scale, the commitment to innovation and quality that permeates their brand, the power of community, the nuances of building an automotive company in Ohio and leading in an industry shaped by evolving consumer preferences, and the enduring appeal of adventure.

Tony and Daryn give an awesome account and reflection of Remote Vans and provide a compelling example of Ohio’s entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing might, and the adventure lifestyle.

https://remotevans.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-alexander-676785118/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darynhillhouse/

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For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com
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Chapters
00:00:00 – Remote Vans
00:00:58 – Episode Intro & Remote Vans Origin Story
00:03:18 – The Classic Startup Journey
00:04:48 – How Tony & Daryn Met
00:08:07 – Pandemic Pivot to Van Building
00:11:43 – Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey
00:14:07 – Evolving the Business Model
00:16:28 – Defining the North Star
00:18:22 – The Adventure Van Market
00:22:10 – Remote Vans’ Brand & Lifestyle
00:25:28 – Scaling Craftsmanship
00:30:38 – Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned
00:34:41 – Future Chapters
00:40:30 – Measuring Success
00:41:39 – Building Industry in Ohio
00:46:51 – Ambitious Manufacturing
00:47:10 – Ohio Adventures: Hidden Gems
00:48:31 – Closing & How to Connect

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