Happy Friday - a few meetings and deliverables stand between you and a cold beverage downtown at Party in the Park. Power through.

The region is making the most of the weather this weekend. The Detroit Grand Prix runs Sunday, same cars that just turned left 200 times at Indy, now back on street circuits. If you're watching, you already know. If you're not, there's always next year.

Speaking of momentum - Kaden and I took our first strategy session outside this week, dinner on the patio at Farnsworth in Waterville. Good food, good conversation, and a clear view of where Toledo Money is headed. The audience data, the social traction, the energy building in this region; it's all pointing in the same direction. We're not guessing anymore. We're building.

Which brings us to this: we're ready to invest in the brand. If you know a firm or individual who does serious brand-building work; not deck-fillers, but people who understand how to position a media company, send them our way. We're taking meetings.

One more thing. We're excited to announce our June sponsor is locked in. We're keeping the name close to the chest for now, but we'll say this: they're local, they're building something real in this region, and they're exactly the kind of organization Toledo Money should be aligned with. The full reveal is coming. Keep your eyes on your inbox.

Owens Corning | $OC ( ▲ 1.64% )

Dana Incorporated | $DAN ( ▼ 2.35% )

The Andersons | $ANDE ( ▼ 1.4% )

Owens Illinois | $OI ( ▼ 3.02% )

Welltower Inc. | $WELL ( ▼ 1.98% )

Marathon Petroleum Corporation | $MPC ( ▼ 0.79% )

First Solar | $FSLR ( ▼ 0.55% )

The Toledo Zoo's annual ZOOtoDO returns this fall, and if you've never been, here's what you need to understand: this isn't just a fundraiser. It's the room. The one where Northwest Ohio's business community, civic leaders, philanthropists, and culture-builders all show up in the same place, at the same time, with a drink in hand and nowhere else to be.

This year's theme, Beneath the Surface, promises an immersive after-dark transformation of the Zoo grounds. Think >18 bars, 55 regional restaurants serving curated bites, live entertainment across multiple stages, and animal encounters that most people never get access to. Giraffe feeds on the deck. A stingray touch tank. Train rides through the Africa! exhibit. And for Premium Experience ticket holders, private animal encounters inside the Malawi Event Center, courtesy of Hollywood Casino.

The food and drink isn't an afterthought here, it's the event. The region's top restaurants compete for a room full of people who eat well and spend accordingly. The beverage program is full-service, and The Lair, a moody, fireside lounge tucked inside the experience, adds cigars, bourbon, and curated curiosities for those who want to go deeper into the night.

But here's the real story: ZOOtoDO has quietly become the premier networking event in the region, without ever trying to be one. The Toledo Zoo draws a specific kind of attendee - people who are invested in this community, literally and figuratively. PNC anchors it as title sponsor. Lexus presents. Owens Corning, Kroger, CLA, and a deep bench of regional heavyweights fill out the sponsor list. These aren't passive donors writing checks from a distance. They show up.

In 2017, the event drew 1,800 guests and generated $240,000 for conservation. Nearly a decade later, with ticket prices and corporate sponsorships growing year over year, the economic footprint of this single evening is almost certainly well north of $300,000 — all of it cycling back into animal care, conservation initiatives, and community access programming.

That's the part worth sitting with. This is a party that funds critical programs and projects right here at the Toledo Zoo. The people having the best night of their September are also funding something that outlasts the event.

Tickets are on sale now. The Premium Experience sells out first, it always does. There is a Premium Experience waitlist, if you need it.

If you're serious about Northwest Ohio, you already know where you'll be on September 18th.

A familiar corner in Northwest Ohio is being reimagined into something entirely new.

At Airport Highway and 20A, The Greens at Oak Openings is transforming the former Charlie’s property into an approximately eight-acre destination centered on family-friendly entertainment, casual dining, and community gathering. Founded by Kevin and Mandi Martin, the concept is designed to be more than a one-time stop. It is being built as a place families, friends, and visitors return to regularly.

At the center of the property sits The Nest, a shared gathering space bringing multiple food and beverage concepts under one roof. Guests will be able to start with coffee from Revival Coffee, grab a meal from Scorecard Eatery featuring smash burgers, JoJo’s pizza, and classic ballpark favorites, and finish with ice cream from Northwest Ohio staple Toft’s Dairy. Rotating novelty frozen treats, branded as Tee Time Treats, will round out the experience.

Anchoring the property is an 18-hole miniature golf course designed to complement the food and hospitality experience and create a destination where visitors can spend an afternoon or evening together.

For Kevin Martin, the project also reflects a strong Northwest Ohio family legacy rooted in entrepreneurship, leadership, and long-term business building.

Kevin grew up in Williams County and comes from a family with deep regional roots. His father, Bill Martin, built his career at Spangler Candy Co., working his way up through accounting and leadership after joining the company in 1999. Bill later became president, recognized as the first non-family president in the company’s history.

Business ownership also runs through Martin’s extended family. His in-laws founded Foundation Steel in 2008, a women-owned structural steel company serving the construction industry. Today, Charlotte Dymarkowski continues to lead the business alongside Martin’s brother-in-law, Danny Dymarkowski. Kevin himself spent roughly a decade there as a project manager, while his father-in-law, Paul Dymarkowski, helped guide the company financially as CFO previously and is now a partner at Flatrock Bridge Group.

“Over the years, you pick up things,” Kevin says, reflecting on lessons learned from family, mentors, and growing up around business operators. He credits much of his approach to family-oriented leadership, work ethic, and relationship building learned from his father and extended family.

Some community members may assume The Greens at Oak Openings is connected to the nearby Oak Openings Metropark. While the business is privately owned and operated, the name reflects an appreciation for one of the region’s most recognized natural assets and its proximity to the park system. For the Martins, the nearby Metroparks represent part of what makes the location special and reinforce the destination’s focus on outdoor fun, gathering, and local pride.

As opening day approaches, community interest continues to build. Guests can already stop by to purchase gift cards, merchandise, and apparel. One gift card can be applied across the full experience at The Greens.

For opening updates, hours, and announcements, follow The Greens at Oak Openings on Facebook.

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Toledo Money is grateful to have hundreds of professionals from Owens Corning, Welltower, Dana, and local publicly traded powerhouses subscribed to this newsletter. The people reading this aren't spectators; they're the reason these numbers exist. Every margin improvement, every record quarter, every analyst upgrade traces back to someone in this region doing their job at an exceptionally high level. Northwest Ohio competes nationally and globally, and it wins. That's worth celebrating.