By Ryan Joseph

If you have ever lived in Upper Arlington, chances are you know Chris McGovern.

A 1980 graduate from Upper Arlington High School, McGovern, 47, has always lived in the suburb, and still hangs out with friends from elementary school and beyond.

“It amazes me how many people have stayed in and around UA,” he says. “I’ve always traveled a lot and this is just a great place to have a home base.”

It’s a familiar UA story: native son leaves for college, but returns to build a life and raise a family. McGovern has been different, however, in his level of commitment, to UA, to Central Ohio and beyond.

For nine years, McGovern was a member of the Upper Arlington Civic Association with his wife Cindy. During their involvement, the couple helped run the annual Independence Day celebrations, getting the neighborhoods together to contribute to the festivities. They also help with the fireworks and music, organizing activities and managing volunteers, wearing different hats from year to year.

“It takes a lot of continual effort,” McGovern says of the festivities. “You’re planning the entire thing so it comes off without a hitch, or at least without a hitch that anybody notices. You basically take a month off after the parade, and then you’re right back into planning everything. It’s a year-long process trying to get all those gears aligned.”

McGovern says he firmly believes in the power of volunteerism.

“Upper Arlington is a unique community. We are involved citizens. If you have a concern you can step right up and run for city council, school board or get involved with any number of groups. The officials and staff that run our city do a great job,” McGovern says. “I always believe in giving back and involving myself in the community.

Involvement has always been a priority for McGovern, he says, from his kids’ tennis tournaments to organizations and activities outside of Upper Arlington. His activities and interests vary widely. He served as the president of the board for Firstlink, a Columbus organization and call center that connects people to resources and services they need (Firstlink can provide abused spouses with help or a philanthropist with an organization in need, for example).

McGovern has also been involved with the Columbus branch of the International Visitors Council, which facilitates visits from overseas visitors to the United States to promote cultural understanding.

Bridging cultural divides in art has also been a passion for McGovern. He is president of the board of trustees for Kiaca art gallery in the Short North, the first non-profit African-American art gallery in Ohio.

The gallery is the brainchild of artist Talle Bamazi. The two originally met at a Short North Gallery Hop while Bamazi was a student at the New York Academy of Art. McGovern helped Bamazi bring the space to life in 2005 because of their joint passion for African art.

“African art is misunderstood. It is not only a mask from a tribe; they have just as much diverse art from Africa than anywhere else in the world. The media of soapstone to bronze to oil paints rivals no other,” McGovern says.

McGovern has incorporated African art in the interior design of his advertising company, Emerging Marketing, which he started in 1994. The office, just off 3rd Avenue in the Short North is located in a house built 139 years ago. African art, such as oil paintings and sculptures, plays a vital role to the feng shui of the office (McGovern wanted to clear the air of residual bad karma – the home’s original builder was a clown who typically performed in black face).

From his business life to his volunteer interests, one thing that remains a constant in McGovern’s life is the desire to improve the lives of others.

“I feel that if there is something I can do to help and to make someone’s life more of a joy, that’s what’s important,” McGovern says.

McGovern’s hyper-involvement has made him a recognizable face in the community – he says his friends have jokingly referred to him as “the mayor,” and he has at times considered running for public office.

While currently focusing on his business, McGovern feels he has impacted his community best through his volunteer efforts. This includes his work with the UACA, which he says provided him with a great amount of pride, and other projects to which he devoted heart and soul.

“(Working with) the Upper Arlington Civic Association, we were able to involve our kids (son Nick, 18, and daughter Bridget, 16) in most of the events and activities. We were able to teach why we give back and how much fun it can be,” McGovern says. “Nonprofit organizations need our help more than ever before … If you can’t donate money to help, take your family and donate time. Most organizations are in need and would love the help.”

Ryan Joseph is a contributing writer for Upper Arlington Magazine. 


EXTRA: Emerging Marketing has since been recognized as one of the “Fastest Growing Businesses in Columbus” by Business First Fast 50 and has been a member of the top 20 businesses in Columbus for 12 years. McGovern himself has been a top 10 finalist for the Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Person of the Year.”



































Chris McGovern
No longer a member
Been two years since been in
Way it works first year float chair paradade chair different committee each year work on four main events are the other five years you’re a helper takes lot of effort continual planning the entire comes without a hitch nobody
Take on e month off then right back into trying to plan everything contant all year long process sgetting all gears aligned

Chosen a little borader path than just UA been on the board firstlink president of first link not currently prez organization dial 211 social need first link connect you food to pantry battered spouse place to stay money or time donate services call first link hook up with approp capacities money to give connect to organiz lot more work done been on national scale local rather than UA at home scale

Advert agency clients international clients try to do for the good of people all over the country not just in upper Arlington

At this particular moment doing nothing because mr involved one son heading Miami nothing help him daughter 16
Wife pto greenview both been very involved sporting career tennis hastings and the high school retired couple in transition trying figure out what’s next
Also involved in international visitors council still involved bringing people to America bringing business dialy lives promote maerican way kaz to Ukraine to Russia helping see how Americans truly are

Transition in lives

That would, be correct something I can do to help make someones life more of a joy that’s whay I want to do traveled extensively throu Europe ssee how thought of not good not just government
We need to educate selves on how to adapt to everchanging world how enculturate self to other people

For years definitely has many of my friends called me the mayor always wanted run for some type public office working with the repub party how work my way through don’t believe

I fee lyou can really make change respect what council volunteerism time put into it wellness policy for city of upper Arlington schools welike to try and get in and do good


The African art has to do with the building built sells family circus clown he after leaving circus minstrel show black face making fun

When bought the building finding out about the history met her who owns kaica one thing led to another pres of that board three or four years

More exposure lot of lients all over the place our building exhib the artwork
The artwork kiaca’s mission about breaking down barriers reaching out to the world to give Africa a different light turuly to try and break down walls Africa and rest of the world how we all look at it

At this particular moment this econ climate growth of the business can fund other projects business maintain that

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