#38 Derek Block

Touchstone (asi/345631) – CEO

2022 Rank: #35

Industry Experience: 27 Years

Previous Appearances on Power 50: 7

For the second time in his professional career, business had to take a backseat for Derek Block. It was in 2016 that Block survived a cancer scare – and in the process recalibrated Touchstone to put it on surer footing and back into the Top 40.

Life came calling again when a congenital heart issue required Block to have surgery in September 2022. The surgery was successful and Block took four months to recuperate, leaning on Touchstone leadership to carry the torch in his absence. “It was a blessing not to have to worry about anything other than a full recovery,” Block told Venue Cincinnati. “Touchstone has a great team who all have a ton of confidence in one another.”

It was still an eventful year for Block on the business side. Touchstone last year expanded into a 400,000-square-foot warehouse and moved into new office headquarters. Block also made the decision to sell off one of the company’s business channels. Now, Block is fully recovered and Touchstone is doing well, with the CEO telling Counselor this summer that the company was up 15% “conservatively” for the year.

“I’m grateful and humbled for the perspective I have,” Block said earlier this year. “That’s thanks to all the people who have woven into my life, or I’ve woven into theirs. It’s given me a great appreciation for getting through what could have been a totally different experience.”