Quarterly Membership Luncheon - June 2025

Smart City, Smarter Community: The Road Ahead

Jordan Davis, Executive Director
Smart Columbus

Jordan Davis is the Executive Director of Smart Columbus, a collaborative innovation lab advancing technology to benefit communities. Under her leadership, Smart Columbus has evolved from a grant-funded initiative into a financially stable civic innovation engine, shaping how cities embrace technology for the public good. As the organization's leader, she has positioned Columbus as a national model for smart city transformation, ensuring that technology serves the people that use it.

Jordan has led groundbreaking initiatives that redefine urban modality and digital equity. She spearheaded the deployment of one of the country's first self-driving vehicles on public roads and built an electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem that fueled a 500% increase in EV adoption. She is also driving a $20.2 million initiative to bridge the financial divide, providing free digital skills training and devices so all Columbus residents can fully participate in an increasingly connected world. She led the creation of the Columbus Resident E-Bike Incentives Program, making sustainable transportation more accessible. Additionally, her leadership helped to secure an $18 million investment to create the Community Information Exchange Initiative, a county-wide effort to transform access to health and human services for people when they need it most.

Beyond her work in Columbus, Jordan is a sought-after national speaker on technology and community impact, championing the role of cities in shaping the future. She has been recognized among the "Top 25 Government Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers" by Government Magazine, a "Top 100 Influential Young Executive" by American City Business Journals, a "Rising Star" by Automotive News, and one of ten Mercedes Benz Future of Mobility Fellows in the world.

With a vision for cities that are more connected, inclusive, and forward-thinking, Jordan continues to position Columbus at the forefront of smart city innovation, where technology is actively improving lives for the entire community.

Monica Dupee has been City Manager in Westerville for four years. She is a credentialed city manager through the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA) and has her Masters in Public Administration.

Monica has 10 years experience as a Municipal executive and has dedicated 18 years of her life to public service.

Monica is an award winning City Manager. In 2016 she was awarded the Early Career Leadership by ICMA; One to Watch by Cleveland Magazine in 2018; and 2020 General Paine Leadership Award.

Monica believes in continuous learning and finished her “DEI in the Workplace” Certification from University of South Florida in 2021; became a “Certified Futurist” from the Futurist Institute in 2022; and finished a “Strategy Execution” program through Harvard Business School online in 2023.

When not at work or learning new skills, Monica is a full time mother of Noah and Stevie ages 5 and 2 respectively and a wife to Steve. She enjoys working out, reading books, and sleeping when time is available.

Michael Farrar, Chief Information Officer
City of Westerville
Michael Farrar MBA, originally from Central Ohio, is a seasoned Information Technology leader with over 20 years of domestic and international experience. Holding advanced degrees in Management Information Systems, Business Administration, and an international MBA, Michael currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Westerville, Ohio. In this role, he spearheads the City's technology strategy, encompassing service centralization, data security, innovation, and the management of WeConnect Data Center, the nation's first municipally owned and operated public/private data center. Michael is actively engaged in the Central Ohio IT community.

Michael is an Executive Board Member for ComSpark/CDO Magazine, a member of OhioX, a committee member for the CIO Tomorrow Conference, and the organizer of IT Martini and TechLife Columbus, a successful quarterly and annual networking event that supports local charities.



Rachel Ray, Economic Development Director
City of Westerville