Benjamin Drake

Ben has been involved with 1809 LGBT Alumni since joining the Board in 2001. Ben is currently Treasurer of 1809. He attended Miami from 1980 to 1983 studying Systems Analysis and obtained his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Ben returned to Miami in 1988 and earned his MBA in Finance in 1990.

After graduating, Ben joined the Business Consulting practice of Arthur Andersen LLP in Columbus, Ohio and focused on providing business and technology consulting services to clients in the financial services, insurance, telecommunications, government and non-profit sectors. Ben remained with Arthur Andersen for 7 years and was an Experienced Manager responsible for the Central Ohio Knowledge Management consulting practice when he left. He then joined the Ohio State Bar Association as its Director of Technology Services where he initiated the construction of the organizations internet presence. The OSBA is one of the nations largest bar associations with over 24,000 attorney members. Following this position, Ben was instrumental in the formation of several internet related technology companies: PrimeActive Technologies, Universal Application Services, BigBang Ventures and Prosymbiont Consulting. Currently, Ben is involved in real estate investment and re-development.

In addition, Ben is active in the local Columbus community and has served on the Boards of Trustees for Jefferson Township, Franklin County, Ohio, the Jefferson Water and Sewer utilities district and Stonewall Columbus. Ben is also currently on the Boards of the Ohio State University GLBT Alumni Society, Actors’ Theatre of Columbus, and the Franklin County (Ohio) Planning Commission.