Brian K. Hicks: President & CEO
Brian Hicks is the founder, president and chief executive officer of Hicks Partners, LLC. Since its formation in 2003, Hicks has led the company in developing and executing strategies to help dozens of clients – large and small – achieve their economic development, government relations and public relations goals.
Hicks’ deep understanding of government affairs and processes, combined with his experience as chief architect of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project and Clean Ohio Fund, provide knowledgeable, excellent service and results. In the past seven years Hicks has helped clients procure more than $15 million of state and local economic development grants, tax credits and loans to retain and create more than 500 jobs. In addition, he has helped secure more than $18 million in Ohio Third Frontier grants to create more than 900 additional jobs.
Prior to forming Hicks Partners, LLC, Brian Hicks had a long career as a public affairs official in a variety of key roles in federal and state government and on local, state and national political campaigns. Widely considered “Ohio’s most powerful unelected official” (according to The Associated Press, The Plain Dealer and The Columbus Dispatch), Hicks was involved in virtually every aspect of managing the state of Ohio while serving as the governor’s chief of staff. In this role he was responsible for significant policy and legislative issues, including developing Ohio’s operating and capital budgets. In addition, he served as Ohio deputy secretary of state and as senior legislative assistant to a U.S. Congressman.
Due to his expertise in election law, Hicks served as an advisor to Bush campaign officials and local elections officials and, in November 2000, led a team from Ohio to participate in the presidential election recount in Florida.
Hicks is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he was elected president of the Undergraduate Student Government, representing more than 50,000 students. He is currently a member of the board of trustees of The Ohio State University, the board of directors of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of Marburn Academy and a member of the Ohio Water Development Authority. Hicks is a regular political analyst on radio and television, including having served as a weekly panelist for an Emmy award-winning show titled “Campaign Perspectives” on WCMH-TV4 in Columbus.