A Bellefontaine High School graduate has been recognized for his career success and giving spirit.

Sean Simon was recently named a Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 recipient.

Simon, 35, is the chief credit & operational risk officer at Provide in Columbus.

Provide financially empowers healthcare providers to achieve their practice ownership dreams.

The Columbus Business First 40 Under 40 judges candidates on their career accomplishments, volunteer activity, community impact, and letters of recommendation.

Sean earned this recognition for starting the Simon Family Giving Fund in 2021, creating credit and operations teams that work in unison with the sales team, and helping create and establish Provide’s Columbus Office.

Simon joined Provide in May 2017 as director of credit. He was the first employee in Ohio.

Since then, Simon has helped build Provide’s operational headquarters in Columbus while also building a credit and sales team. The office surpassed 100 employees last year.

“Everyone at Provide is proud and excited to see Sean so deservingly included on the 40 Under 40 list,” said Provide Chief Business Officer Andrew Bennett. “Nobody at Provide has contributed more than Sean to the company’s presence and growth in Central Ohio.”

Simon is also involved with the United Way and Mid-Ohio Food Collective.

Sean said the book Give and Take by Adam Grant helped validate some of his own views and business philosophy.

Simon added, “I grew up watching my dad run a small business (CoverLink Insurance) where he prioritized the interest of his customers, team, and community, often over his own short-term interests. I think he understood that helping others succeed was more valuable in the long term than prioritizing his own short-term interests and burning bridges in the process.

“Adam Grant’s research helped reaffirm some of the assumptions I made in watching my dad and gave me confidence in applying a similar philosophy to my own career.”

Simon was also recently honored by Purpose Jobs with the Purpose Award.

The Purpose Award honors community and company leaders who embody what it means to be a purpose-driven leader.

In addition, the award celebrates people who impact the Midwest startup and tech community by demonstrating empowerment, compassion, and actions that uplift others.

Simon graduated from BHS in 2006, then earned his undergrad degree in finance at Miami University in 2010 and a Master of Business Administration at Ohio State in 2018.

Sean and his wife, Emily, have a 2-year-old son, Bennett.

Sean’s parents are Tom and Andrea Simon of Bellefontaine.

Photos: Sean Simon