Jo Ann Davidson currently serves as one of three representatives from Ohio to the Republican National Committee. She is a nationally respected civic and political leader, who made history as the state's first woman Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. From 2005 to 2009, she served as Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee, where she also chaired the 2008 Republican National Convention.

She is also the founder of the Jo Ann Davidson Leadership Institute, an eight-month annual program designed to encourage and train women business and civic leaders to assume more prominent roles, elected or appointed, in government and in the Republican Party.

Before most women even thought of running for public office, Jo Ann Davidson had already decided to serve. She first ran for Reynoldsburg City Council in 1965 before any woman had been elected to council. She did not win. Undaunted, she ran again in the next election cycle. This time she won and went on to serve ten years as a hardworking council member, eventually becoming chair of the council's powerful finance committee.

Mrs. Davidson then successfully ran for a seat in the Ohio General Assembly, where she served with great distinction for 20 years. She was elected by her peers to be the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in January of 1995. During her historic service as the first woman Speaker from 1995 to 2000, she guided many important legislative initiatives through the Ohio General Assembly including welfare reform, electric deregulation and criminal justice reform.

In addition, Mrs. Davidson has extensive experience in the private sector. Prior to 1994, Davidson worked as Vice President of Special Programs for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Davidson holds honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Ohio University and Capital University, an honorary degree in Government Leadership from the University of Findlay, and an honorary Doctor of Public Administration degree from The Ohio State University. She serves on the Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University, the University of Findlay and Franklin University.

She formed her own consulting firm, JAD and Associates, and is currently doing consulting work on a broad range of issues involving public policy development and analysis, strategic planning and political campaigns.