Before joining Business First, Fortine was vice president of sales at eCycle LLC, a Hilliard electronics recycling business with a growth record that put it on the Business First Fast 50 and Inc. 5,000 lists of fast-growing privately held companies. Prior to his stint at eCycle, he was president of Custom Retail Group in Columbus, vice president of sales and client services at Manta Media Inc., and was a co-founder and partner at NuGrowth Solutions.

Early in his career he was a sales executive for technology companies in the region. He arrived in Central Ohio to work at Metatec International.

“Nick is an energetic, thoughtful leader who is passionate about the important role the Columbus Business First plays in this community,” said Mike Olivieri, executive vice president of American City, the parent of Business First.“His experience working across multiple revenue platforms and his proven success building the CBF sales team makes him uniquely qualified to lead Columbus Business First at a time of great invention in how we deliver on our mission to help local executives and entrepreneurs grow their business, advance their career and simplify their professional lives.”

Fortine is a graduate of Bowling Green State University. He resides in Blacklick with his wife and two daughters.