Columbus Beckons!

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As I begin my eighth president's message, I thought it prudent to give a shout-out for the host city of our 75th Annual Educational Conference (AEC) & Exhibition. Having the AEC in Columbus is an especially proud moment for me, as this city is my adoptive hometown. It is the 75th AEC of our esteemed professional organization--the diamond jubilee of NEHA--and it promises to exceed expectations. As you may recall, I moved my family from Michigan to the Columbus area about eight years ago to accept the environmental health director's position at Columbus Public Health and I do not regret the career move. Although I miss Michigan and its great north woods and trout streams, my family and I have made a new life in the vibrant metropolis of Greater Columbus.

It's a city where almost anything can be found, from the arts to sports venues to just about any activity you could imagine. Columbus offers unbelievable shopping, with two world class malls: the Easton Town Center and the Polaris Fashion Place. Also, Limited Brands is headquartered here. The city has a diverse economy based on education (The Ohio State University, with the nation's largest campus, is here), government (Columbus is Ohio's capital city), insurance, and banking (Nationwide insurance and Huntington National Bank are both headquartered here). We have fashion, defense, aviation, and food. Several restaurant …