ted dawson began serving as executive director of the columbus economic development board in october 2007. as an interim business consultant, ted has provided management advisory services to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in such areas as business succession planning, strategy, and new business development. in his career at arvinmeritor, his positions included vice president - commercial vehicle exhaust, vice president/general manager - components, and vice president - automotive marketing. ted has provided exemplary service and commitment to the columbus community through his membership on the boards of ivy tech community college, columbus area chamber of commerce, arvin foundation, and community education coalition. he holds an accounting degree from notre dame university, an mba from xavier university, and he currently serves as an mba executive mentor for the xavier university graduate school of business.