How Akron kept its homegrown companies from straying

What do you do when a Fortune 500 company executive in your community calls and says, “We are restructuring our headquarters and all options are open, including looking outside of our community”? You do anything you can to get the company to stay. Losing a Fortune 500 company means lost jobs for citizens and lost […]

The art of advertising

Great advertising needs to: No. 1, sell your company’s point of differentiation and No. 2, be memorable. Balance these, and you’re gold. It’s easier said than done.

More work is needed to connect the elements of an innovation ecosystem

Northeast Ohio has made significant progress toward improving its economic prospects and it is encouraging to observe the energy with which a Regional Economic Strategy (RECS) is being pursued. It is not clear, however, if everyone is yet on the same page, whether within the RECS itself, or across our chambers of commerce and the […]

Top executives shine by building, leading innovative organizations

The 50 smartest companies in Central Ohio are being honored in this month’s magazine. These businesses of all sizes have leaders who motivate and inspire people with their passion. And their efforts are having an impact on the region through innovation, impact on employment and business continuity/sustainability.

For success to be sustained, organizational inertia is not an option

Albert Einstein has been quoted comparing life to riding a bicycle. “In order to stay upright, you must keep moving forward,” he once quipped. This pearl of wisdom certainly could apply to the business world today. An organization moves forward by being anticipatory, recognizing trends, understanding data and using it effectively, and having the courage […]

When good management is a bad idea

When you lift the hood on successful companies you usually discover an engine of solid, professional management practices. These companies have a thoughtful multiyear strategy created and refined with input from all the key functions in the business. Senior managers are diligent in aligning all of the departmental and functional priorities to the strategy. Teams […]