By Olivia Riley

For Greg Houston, Ohio State is “where the heart is.”

The 1980 Ohio State alum is one of SSI’s newest advisory board members. He plans to use his four decades of experience—from play-by-play broadcasting to leading a multi-million-dollar communications firm—to help students accelerate their careers in sports.

“Where I want to help on this board is to connect people who have an interest in sports,” Houston said. “Maybe I can help them open some doors to get to their future careers.”

After earning his degree from Ohio State, Houston began his career in local news, anchoring radio and later producing at WOWK-TV in Huntington, West Virginia. He transitioned into public relations, gaining a broad perspective on marketing and communications, which helped him discover his true passions.

“Sometimes, you end up doing something and finding it’s a lot more interesting than you might have thought,” Houston said.

In 1988, Houston founded DeanHouston, Inc., a business-to-business marketing communications firm in Cincinnati. The company grew from three employees to nearly 80, with offices in Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Shanghai. Houston sold his shares in 2019 after 31 years but remains Emeritus Co-Founder.

In addition to his professional success, Houston has always prioritized his passion for sports. He did football play-by-play for Ironton High School from 1985-93, coached softball since 2007, and served on the Cincinnati Reds Member Board of Directors from 2015-24. He is also an executive board member of Northern Kentucky University’s Go Norse Fund, supporting athletics.

When approached about joining SSI’s board, Houston didn’t hesitate. He already contributes annually to Ohio State through a scholarship named for his late father, Frank, and embraces every opportunity to give back to his alma mater.

“I graduated from Ohio State, and I’m proud of it,” Houston said. “I’m all in.”

Looking ahead, Houston is eager to support students through SSI, driven by his passion for mentorship and growth.

“I know where my strengths are, and I know where my heart is. It’s where I can help people,” Houston said. “I hope to inspire them the way I felt I was inspired by those who mentored me.”