Former U.S. Congressman Steve Austria, President of ZHF Consulting LLC, along with Thomas Zaino, Managing Member of Zaino Hall & Farrin and former Ohio Tax Commissioner, are pleased to announce the addition of former State Representative Dan Dodd to the ZHF Consulting team. Dodd will serve as Vice President of Government Affairs for ZHF Consulting LLC. ZHF Consulting continues to build its team of highly qualified professionals, affirming its place as one of the fastest growing government affairs and consulting firms in Ohio.
“I am excited to announce the addition of former State Representative Dan Dodd to the ZHF Consulting team. Having served in both the public and private sectors, Dodd brings much experience and an understanding of how the process works on capital square, which is very valuable in delivering results for our clients.” Steve Austria, President of ZHF Consulting stated. “Dan’s ability to work with both sides of the aisle will be very helpful in finding solutions and addressing those issues important to Ohio.”
Dan is a proud native of New Lexington in southeastern Ohio’s Perry County and represented his home county, as well as Licking, Hocking and Pickaway counties, in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2007-2010. A licensed attorney, Dan also serves as Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Independent Schools, an organization representing 45 member schools and over 17,000 students throughout the Buckeye State.
After graduating from law school, Dan was admitted to the Ohio Bar and began working at Robert J. Dodd, Jr. Co., LPA, specializing in representing worker’s compensation and Social Security disability clients. Dan was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 2006 in the district formerly represented by current Speaker Larry Householder, also a Perry County native. Serving as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities, Civil and Commercial Law, and Veterans Affairs Committees, Dan developed a reputation as a common-sense problem solver willing to cross party lines to create solutions that would benefit all Ohioans.
After leaving the Ohio House of Representatives in 2011, Dan joined the Ohio Association of Independent Schools (OAIS) as its Executive Director. Dan quickly increased the visibility and the profile of the organization, making it an influential voice in education policy debates. Dan’s work on behalf of OAIS has led to several policy and statutory changes, including a high school testing exemption for ISACS-accredited private schools, direct receipt of auxiliary services funding by secular private schools, the change of the school year measured in days to hours, and an authorization of private schools to charge fees for school-provided transportation, among others.
Dan is most proud of his roles as a husband and father. Dan’s wife, Stephanie Dodd, serves as an elected member of the Ohio State Board of Education, and they are the proud parents of daughters Cecilia and Frances, and son, Augustine. The Dodd’s reside in Licking Township, near Buckeye Lake and Hebron, and are members of St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Granville.
According to Congressman Austria, ZHF Consulting continues to build out its state and federal government relations team with the recent additions of former State Representatives Ron Amstutz, Bob Doyle and longtime statehouse advocate Rich Bitonte. Dan Dodd can be reached at 614-782-1440, or email at dandodd@zhfconsulting.com.