Andy Aichele

Business adviser, Business leader, Change Agent, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Idea generator, Parent, Project manager, Scientist

Andy Aichele, Director of COSI University, is responsible for business strategy and talent development at the Center of Science and Industry – COSI – in Columbus, Ohio. Andy’s focus areas within Strategy are talent management and development, career ladder processes, organizational development, new lines of business development, program portfolio management, and overall strategic planning for the organization. Andy serves as an internal consultant and analyst to COSI’s senior management team and program directors. The other major portion of Andy’s role is to lead COSI University, COSI’s professional development program for COSI team – paid, volunteer and partner – which serves over 400 team members annually along tracks such as onboarding, leadership and management, education policy and methodology, strategic planning, competency-based job training, and team building & problem solving/21st century skills. COSI utilizes a broad base of curriculum, internally-designed, and externally-provided through a wide array of webinars, expert speakers, faculty and consultants. Andy is passionate about education in free-choice settings and in developing and coaching team members. Over the last several years, Andy has converted these education modules into revenue-generating professional development programs for clients such as Progressive Medical, Nationwide Insurance, Columbus Rotary, Girl Scouts of Ohio, Emerson Networks, and The Ohio State University. In seventeen years at COSI, Andy has served in leadership roles with student programs, volunteer programs and public programs, and in teaching roles with outreach programs, public programs, and teacher programs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Capital University. Andy serves on the Leadership and Field Development Committee of ASTC (Association of Science and Technology Centers) focusing on the professional development needs of science center leaders and professionals. Andy served as Co-Curator for the inaugural TEDxYouth @ Columbus event in November 2011. Andy serves the Central Ohio chapter of ASTD (American Society for Training and Development) as the Vice President of Programs and Professional Development for 2010-2011. Andy will be President-Elect of the Chapter in 2012, and President of the Chapter in 2013.

I'm passionate about life-long learning in both free-choice settings and in the world. I'm passionate about learning concepts, processes, and skills and growing relationships to live a great life.

Coaching, Professional Development & Training, Strategy, Talent development and leadership

Without ever experiencing a TED event live, I Co-Curated the inaugural TEDxYouth @ Columbus event in November 2011. The energy that the kids - performers, speakers, presenters, artists - contiributed was inspiring. And I can't think of a better venue for TEDxYouth and TEDxColumbus than COSI. What an amazing couple of days it was this year and I so look forward to the inspiration that will come out of future events.

Connecting people. I may seem quiet, but I am an extrovert who loves to connect people to other people who will freely exchange energy and ideas.