Amy D. Klaben, Esq.

Amy Klaben, Esq., has had a lifelong commitment and passion for advocating for women, families and improving the community in which she lives. Ms. Klaben, as Principal of Strategic Opportunities, spearheaded, then became Co-Founder and President of Families Flourish, which began as an initiative of The Ohio State University and community partners and is now a separate, nonprofit corporation.

The mission of Families Flourish offers a 3-year program that transforms the lives of low-wage working families and their children by providing a comprehensive path to economic mobility and wellness. This is accomplished through life coaching, rent support and monthly required programs that promote housing and economic stability, career advancement, and generational change for their children. Families Flourish creates a future where our families are empowered to unleash their talents and pursue their goals & aspirations. By addressing barriers and fostering self confidence, families will be equipped to navigate their lives effectively using program tools designed for lifelong success.

Families Flourish helps communities embrace and create housing that is accessible to all. Parents are provided tools to improve life outcomes for themselves and their children through requisite programs. Life coaching focuses on financial literacy, life skills, job and career advancement, health and wellness, and access to quality education for children. Families are also provided tools to achieve financial capacity, housing stability and affordability through rent support.

Ms. Klaben, with other volunteers, created Building Welcoming Communities (BWC) in 2020. BWC educates the community about discrimination based on source of income and advocates for adoption of ordinances to protect people from such discrimination. To date, ten municipalities in Central Ohio have adopted ordinances.

From 2000 to 2015, as President/CEO of Homeport, Ms. Klaben led all aspects of this large, multi-faceted non-profit organization that provides service enriched rental housing, revitalizes neighborhoods, and helps people to become and remain successful homeowners. Under her leadership, Homeport’s portfolio grew from 830 to over 2,200 service enriched rental homes serving over 5,700 people annually, a majority of whom were single parent families headed by women.

Ms. Klaben practiced real estate law, first as an associate then as a partner, at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur from 1986 to 1999.

Ms. Klaben is and has been an active member of the community serving on many boards including: (current) Families Flourish; (former, along with many others) Franklin County Community Development Advisory Board ▪ League of Women Voters Land Use Committee ▪ Wexner Heritage Village ▪ Enterprise Community Partners National Advisory Council ▪ NeighborWorks America National Real Estate Advisory Committee (Co-Chair) ▪ Community Housing Capital Board of Directors (a national non-profit bank) ▪ JPMorgan Chase National Community Advisory Council ▪ Ohio Housing Council Board of Directors ▪ Columbus Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland ▪ Franklin County Human Services Chamber ▪ Huntington National Bank Advisory Council ▪ Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (Vice-Chair).

Ms. Klaben has received recognition for her leadership including as a 2025 Inspiring Women honoree by Columbus Monthly & Columbus CEO ▪ 2024 Business First Women of Influence Awardee ▪ Columbus WCMH-TV/NBC4 and Nexstar Extraordinary Woman in 2023 ▪ League of Women Voters Democracy in Action Awardee in 2021 ▪ Jewish News 18 Difference Maker in 2019 ▪ 2018 Alumni of Distinction, Springfield, Ohio High School ▪ 2016 YWCA Columbus Women of Achievement ▪ 2014 and 2015 Columbus Smart 50 Awardee ▪ Columbus Realtors 2012 Citizen of the Year ▪ and Greater Columbus Community Helping Hands in 2011.