OHIO alumni luncheon honors Voinovich School legacy, McCloud's public service

The spotlight was on George V. Voinovich’s namesake school and a top staff member of the former governor and U.S. Senator during OHIO’s 41st Annual State Government Alumni Luncheon.

More than 120 attended the event hosted by Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

A keynote panel featured Greg Browning, an OHIO graduate with deep ties to the University, and Mark Weinberg, founding dean of the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, who teamed up to write a history of the school released earlier this year. Marsha Lewis, the school’s former senior associate dean, moderated the discussion.

Stephanie McCloud, administrator/CEO of the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, received the Ohio University Outstanding State Government Alumni Award.

Voinovich School Dean Tracy Plouck kicked off the event by recognizing sponsor Bricker Graydon Wyatt and notable attendees including members of OHIO’s Board of Trustees, Foundation, Public Service Advisory Group and Voinovich School Advisory Board.

In discussing the book “Becoming the Voinovich School,” which he authored with input from Weinberg, Browning called it a story of “great collaboration” with extensive partnerships inside and outside of the University that reflected the public-private partnerships championed by the school’s namesake.

“We’re writing about a model for the future,” he said, while crediting Weinberg with creating the successful school’s concept from scratch decades ago. “These times, as turbulent as they are, underscore the importance of public service.”

Weinberg said keys to the school’s success included finding ways to pull the University’s resources together for the betterment of the region.

“From day one it was a University-wide approach,” he said.

The Voinovich School also benefitted greatly by leveraging the influence and advocacy of its alumni, many who ended up serving the state and in other levels of government. Weinberg said the school also was and remains unique in how it developed partnerships between various entities in the region and at state and international levels.

McCloud, the luncheon honoree, has held top legal positions in the administrations of Voinovich, Gov. Mike DeWine and former Attorney General Jim Petro. She graduated Cum Laude from OHIO in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree and a minor in Political Science. She earned her Doctor of Law from Capital University Law School in 1996 before embarking on her lengthy career in public service later that year as a staff attorney at BWC.

McCloud said she was honored to be recognized during an event that focused in part on Voinovich’s legacy.

“I got to learn a lot from him, not the least of which was fiscal responsibility,” she said. She also took note of some words of advice he gave her: “Take care of this job and the next one will take care of itself.”

Those words of advice would eventually lead to one of her toughest assignments as a go-to administrator for DeWine – leading the Department of Health during the COVID pandemic.

Throughout her life, she said a pleasant constant has been her membership in the society that proudly wears Cutler Green.

“Being a Bobcat is a special thing,” she said. “There’s a natural camaraderie that I see all over the country.”