Like so many entrepreneurs, Joseph P. Heider has worn more hats than he can remember. After joining Cleveland-based insurance agency Dawson Companies in 1990, Heider
believed that by integrating financial services for business owners he could create a significant competitive advantage.
In founding Dawson Wealth Management in 1992, he did just that. But he had to do so as a
solo act, becoming a one-man visionary in the niche investment advisory service business. At
first, the client base was slim as people inside the insurance industry didn’t quite know how to
fit Heider’s services into their interactions with clients. But as Heider continued to stick with
his idea of creating unbiased investment strategies that would help clients achieve their financial goals with substantial mitigation of investment risk, his business began to catch on.
As Dawson Wealth Management grew, Heider didn’t have to wear as many hats, but he
had learned the value in knowing everything the company could do. So while Dawson
expanded to more employees and clients, a teamwork atmosphere was at the forefront of
the expansion.
Today, Heider leads an organization that is as flat as possible to involve all of his employees. Heider provides opportunities for his employees to fully engage in their work and
become contributing team members by letting them share the workload. In fact, larger
clients are shared among a team of advisers at Dawson Wealth Management so there is no
internal competition. As a result, there is camaraderie in pushing toward the same mission,
but more importantly to the client, there is more than one source to call for solutions. This
internal teamwork gives Dawson Wealth Management a competitive advantage by positioning the firm to always have someone in place to take care of a client.
Beyond that, Heider makes sure his company provides for local charities, including
employee participation in charity golf events, to further instill a sense of community within the company.
HOW TO REACH: Dawson Wealth Management, (440) 333-9000 or www.dawsoncompanies.com