Ira Sharfin

Young-at-Heart Award Honoree, 2019

The Young-at-Heart Award is presented annually by the CYP Club to community leaders who support our vision of engaging the next generation and who approach life with a youthful zeal.

Ira Sharfin is CEO of Continental Office, based in Columbus, OH, with additional locations in Pittsburgh and Toledo. With a team of 250 associates, Continental creates, builds and maintains great spaces.

The company influences purposeful change in environments, with specific expertise in furniture, floors, interior construction and branding, and is also one of North America’s largest Herman Miller dealers. Sharfin enjoys assisting Continental’s clients as they explore the future of work and ways to create meaningful workplace experiences.

Sharfin joined Continental in 2005 after spending 17 years as a strategy partner with PwC Consulting and IBM. He consulted with several Fortune 500 companies, assisting executive teams and boards of directors in increasing shareholder value. He held a variety of leadership roles, including global director for the Strategic Profit Improvement practice and industrial sector lead for IBM’s M&A team.

He serves as the Chairman of Hopewell Works, a membership-based enterprise providing unique work and meeting experiences, connecting people and fostering community. Based in Columbus, Hopewell is in the planning phase for its next two locations.

With a strong commitment to community service, Sharfin has served on a variety of boards, including Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus School for Girls, New Albany Community Foundation, Wexner Heritage Village, and OSU Hillel. He has also served on the board of NCT Ventures and Herman Miller’s dealer steering council. Ira is a member of Young Presidents Organization and actively participates in Pelotonia.

Sharfin graduated from the University of Michigan with an Industrial Engineering degree. He lives in Westerville with his wife Dr. Meghan Cook and five daughters.