Thompson Hine Partner Honored By Ohio Governor

Thompson Hine LLP partner Jeffrey R. Appelbaum has been recognized by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland for his leadership of the Ohio Construction Reform Panel (OCRP). Appelbaum serves as chair of the firm’s construction practice group and leader of Project Management Consultants LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thompson Hine that facilitated the OCRP’s activities.

The panel, which met throughout late 2008 and 2009, comprised a group of public and private sector stakeholders formed to address publicly funded or administered construction projects in the state, focusing on four reform ideals: transparency, flexibility, accountability and efficiency.

The panel’s goal was to reform state construction to deliver more quality and value for Ohioans. At the conclusion of their term, they presented the governor with a variety of recommendations for reforming state construction practices to deliver additional quality and value to construction projects across the state.

Appelbaum was presented with a proclamation certificate by Gov. Strickland on July 13 for his work in leading the OCRP. Certificates also were presented to Thompson Hine lawyers Tom Kirkwood and Alan Ritchie and Project Management Consultants’ Steve Zannoni and Pat O’Brien, who assisted with the effort.

Appelbaum has served the construction industry in the varying roles of trial and transactional lawyer, project counsel, project management consultant, mediator and partnering facilitator, providing service to public and private owners, design professionals, construction managers and contractors on important projects throughout the United States and Canada.