MYRON LEFF

Leff began his career in marketing and communications in 1967 with the Youngstown Vindicator.  After four years with the newspaper, he joined the F.W. Woolworth Company as advertising manager for Woolco Department Stores.  Three years later, he (based in Chicago) became regional director of advertising and was responsible for all Woolco and some Woolworth stores in 14 North Central states.  Leff then joined Federated Department Stores’ Gold Circle division as advertising director.  His next position was sales promotion director for Elder-Beerman Department Stores (a retail conglomerate composed of full-service department stores, budget stores, a shoe store chain, furniture warehouse stores, and automotive service center based in Dayton, Ohio).

In 1979, Leff and his family decided to make Columbus their permanent home site.  At the same time, he decided it was appropriate to move from the client side of the communications business to the agency side. He first joined a Columbus agency as senior vice-president and remained there for five years with responsibility for the new business, client services, media, public relations, and sales promotion departments. 

In 1984, together with former partner Larry Squicciarini, he founded Leff & Squicciarini Advertising and Public Relations, Inc.  The agency grew from a start-up company to one of central Ohio’s largest.  In 1992, the firm merged with Backer Spielvogel Bates to form BSB/Leff & Squicciarini Advertising and Public Relations.  The name was changed to Bates
USA-Midwest in June 1994.  Leff was president of the regional office and a member of the international management committee (10,500 staff across the world).

During these years in the agency business, Leff had P&L responsibility as well as serving clients in an advisory capacity.  The client businesses were varied.  This allowed Leff to work in the retail, telecommunications, restaurant, financial, health care, manufacturing, warehouse, packaged goods, insurance, medical products, state development, higher education, legal, public utilities, non-profit, entertainment, retirement, computer and real estate industries.

In 1996, Leff formed Leff & Associates-a business and marketing consultant firm.  Since that time, the firm has composed business and/or marketing plans, established strategic organization initiatives, created brand development programs and provided special issue consultation for a variety of businesses in nearly all business sectors from start-ups to large national and international companies.

Leff has been a speaker for many organizations.  His presentation topics include: “Business Future +,” “Matching Your Marketing Communications to the Strategic Plan,” “Hiring Executives based upon Behavioral Attributes,” “Ambassadors for Free-Making Every Employee Your Best Communication Vehicle,” “Branding,” among others.  He also has lectured at the Ohio State University Fisher School of Business as the presenter of “Ethics in Marketing.”  Leff also is a published author and wrote a business and marketing advice column called “Ask Myron” for a weekly business newspaper.

Leff has complemented his professional career by serving boards and/or committees with many organizations that have long-term positive effects on the central Ohio community and throughout the Country.  Among these organizations are Alzheimer’s Association, BalletMet, Central Ohio Lung Association, Charity Newsies, Columbus Museum of Art, Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Venture Network, Columbus Zoo, COSI, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, St. Vincent’s Children Center, The Touchdown Club of Columbus and United Way.  In addition, Leff is a co-founder of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA).  Among other recognitions, Leff was presented the Silver Medal Award by The Columbus Advertising Federation for his civic involvement.  He also received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.