About Carl

Carl Wagner

Currently, Carl is the Board Chair and Interim Executive Director at Historic South Initiative.  He joined the HSI board in 2018 and became board chair in December of 2020.   In his role as board chair, Carl works closely with the staff of HSI and the committees focused on housing, education, community connections, commercial development and workforce development.

From 1998-2020, Carl worked at Root Inc. In Carl’s time at Root Inc, he managed and supported more than 100 clients designing learning solutions, leading change management efforts, and strategy implementation. He frequently worked with senior teams to help align on strategic vision and messaging, develop engaging solutions to cascade to employees, and create programs that translated ideas into action. 

Carl’s clients included American Express, Bank of America, Bank of Montreal, California ISO, CUNA Mutual Group, KeyBank, Nationwide, Northwestern Mutual, Prudential Group Insurance, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, Seacoast Bank, Scottrade, TD Ameritrade, United Way, WW Kellogg Foundation, and the Yale School of Nursing. 

From 1977-1998, Carl worked as an educator, curriculum specialist, and administrator at St. John’s Jesuit High School. He taught social studies (US History and Sociology), coached track and basketball, and served as both Academic Assistant Principal and Associate Principal.  From 1994-1999 Carl served as Principal and oversaw all aspects of the educational programming.

Carl holds a BA from Miami University and an MA from the University of Toledo. He is a past volunteer director for Directions Credit Union and has advised and supported several local private schools (St John’s, Notre Dame Academy, St Ursula, CCMT)  in their strategic planning efforts. 

Carl lives with his wife, Sherry, in Toledo, Ohio, and is the father of Jessica, Darcy, and Brett. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and running.