Alphamicron Inc., Bahman Taheri
Alphamicron Inc. is a high-tech company specializing in liquid crystal applications for controllable eyewear. Founded in 1996 and based in Kent, the company’s sales increased 42 percent from 2000 to 2003, while the number of employees increased 83 percent from 2000 to 2004.
Cambridge Home Health Care, Nancy Diller-Shively
Cambridge Home Health Care provides nursing, therapy, home health aide and homemaking services to more than 2,100 people each week in their homes. Cambridge, a Cascade Capital Award winner in six previous years, doubled sales from 2000 to 2004 and nearly doubled the number of employees. The company has 22 locations across Ohio.
Castle Aviation Inc., Michael Grossman
Castle Aviation Inc. provides air cargo, business and personal air charter services. The Green-based company, which employs 27 people, increased its revenue from approximately 35 percent from 2000 to last year.
Central Farm & Garden Inc., Joe E. Franks
Central Farm & Gardens offers more than 10,000 items that bring together a blend of agricultural and feed products with consumer and professional lawn and garden merchandise to provide a one-stop service for dealers. The company makes its own birdseed and mixes grass seed, giving it a price advantage over competitors.
Central Farm employs more than 80 people at its main office and 72,000-square-foot warehouse in Wooster. Sales have increased 83 percent from 2000 to 2004.
Clement Construction Inc., Daniel L. Clement
This interior finish carpentry business in the new home industry has more than doubled its number of employees in the last five years, approximately 155 precent, and increased revenue 27 percent. The company has grown to a fleet of eight company vehicles and recently relocated to a more accommodating commercial building.
CMI Industries Inc., Craig Skorepa
CMI Industries Inc., a distributor of fasteners and electric hardware, was founded in Twinsburg in 1981. Its revenue has increased 73 percent from 2000 to last year while keeping 10 employees during that period.
Corporate Technology Group Inc.
Founded in 1999, this voice, data and Internet technology integration company has grown an astounding 1,221 percent from 2000 to 2004. Starting as a two-person company, CTG today employs eight people, most of whom previously worked at other companies that are either no longer in business or that have closed local operations, providing a stable and growing work environment to previously displaced workers.
Dave Walter Inc., Dave Walter
Dave Walter Inc. sells and services BMWs, Land Rovers and Volkswagens. The dealership, based in Akron, has renovated a building at Exchange and Cedar streets and is starting another expansion to further improve its downtown property. Sales in 2004 were up 41 percent from 2000. The dealership employs 75 people.
eTactics Inc., Michael Tertsch
eTactics was established in 2000 to provide electronic data interchange services to health care clients. It delivers, edits and tracks insurance company invoices and patient invoices for clients including hospitals, physicians and billing services.
Since 2000, it has grown from a start-up to a multi-million dollar company and increased its number of employees 300 percent from 2001 to today.
The Executive Coin Co., David Miholer
In 1994, David Miholer, along with his father and brother, turned his passion for coin collecting into The Executive Coin Co. The company engages in the purchase and sale of investible-grade coins, currency and fine jewelry.
The Executive Coin Co. has hired 10 people since 2000 and has increased revenue 242 percent in the last five years. In 2001, Milholer bought a building and moved his company into its current location in Stow.
Group Transportation Services, Michael P. Valentine
Group Transportation Services is a third-party logistics service provider, fulfilling the transportation cycle for business-to-business accounts. A four-time previous Cascade Capital Business Growth Award winner, Hudson-based Group Transportation Services’ revenue grew 250 percent from 2000 to 2004 and it doubled its number of employees in that time.
Hunter’s Manufacturing Co. Inc./Tenpoint Crossbow, Richard L. Bednar and George R. Gardner
Founded in 1994, Hunter’s Manufacturing Co. Inc./Tenpoint Crossbow is a manufacturer and distributor of crossbows and crossbow-related accessories. The Suffield-based company also operates a retail store. Its revenue increased 257 percent from 2000 to 2004, while its number of employees grew 67 percent.
InfoCision Management Corp.
InfoCision Management Corp. is an inbound and outbound call center provider specializing in customer acquisition, care and retention, and nonprofit fund-raising. Last year alone, the company created more than 250 jobs, bringing its number of employees to more than 2,700. InfoCision is a five-time Cascade Capital Business Growth Award winner..
Kendall & Associates Inc., Matt Reeder
Internet consulting and services company Kendall & Associates was founded in 1999 and grew steadily until the dot-com bubble burst and Sept. 11 took the wind out of its sails. Two years later, the company built a shopping cart system that offered online shoppers a rich shopping experience and gave store owners the tools to manage an online retail store. Internet Retail Suite was introduced nationwide in January.
The company grew from two employees last year to nine today, with plans to expand to 20 by the end of next year. It is on track to reach a gross sales increase of 273 percent over last year’s sales.
Malone Advertising, Fred Bidwell
Malone Advertising has created 114 jobs since 2000, bringing national attention to Akron with rapid growth and by winning major accounts. The agency, which serves national and regional consumer marketers with strong brand-building capabilities, specializes in retail and distribution channel marketing. In the last two years, Malone has added 40 new clients. The agency has been through six office expansions and in 2003, opened a branch in Bentonville, Ark., to implement more than 300 Wal-Mart programs in which Malone clients participate.
Malone employs 165 people, and its revenue was up 368 percent last year from 2000.
MRI Executive Solutions Inc, James Chadbourne
This executive recruiting and placement firm serves the transportation, logistics and supply chain management industries. It also focuses on management needs for lean manufacturing, engineering and aerospace.
Founded in 2001, MRI employs 15 and has doubled its revenue each year since its founding. This year, the firm purchased a 14,000-square-foot building in Fairlawn, with room to add 15 more employees.
Nair’s Lawn Care Inc., Roger L. Nair
Nair’s Lawn Care Inc. does landscaping, grounds maintenance, fertilization, irrigation, paving and retaining walls and is a landscape supply center. In a crowded industry, it has found its niche by focusing on snow plowing and salting service. In this niche, Nair’s has increase its revenue 78 percent from 2000 to 2004. The company, which employs 45, is ranked in the top 30 firms in the United States for these services. The company recently moved into a five-acre, 65,000-square-foot facility in Brunswick.
PackShip USA, W. Michael Jarrett
PackShip USA has more than tripled its revenue in the last five years. The company, established in 1998, counted on the projected growth of e-commerce and the related need of packaging and shipping items too large to send through UPS or the postal service. In 2002, the Orrville-based company opened an Indiana location to better serve a concentration of customers there. In 2005, it added a 40-foot gooseneck trailer to its fleet and got authority to carry products across state lines.
Pettigrew Feed and Hardware Inc., Lonnie Pettigrew
Pettigrew Feed and Hardware Inc. is the only feed store in Portage County. This family owned hardware/retail store, founded in 2001 in Ravenna, employs 10 and significantly increased revenue over the last several years.
R&R Sanitation Inc., Gregory Kennell
R&R Sanitation Inc. was founded in 1986. Based in Kent, this refuse collection business has increased revenue f46 percent from 2000 to last year and increased the number of employees in that time 36 percent.
Sequoia Financial Group, Thomas A. Haught
At Sequoia Financial Group, the goal is to grow by becoming Ohio’s most trusted financial adviser. It offers clients a team-based approach to addressing financial plans and goals, and provides clients with the highest level of service regardless of the issues.
The company has grown its revenue 304 percent from 2000 to 2004 and increased the number of employees from five to 14 while maintaining a client retention level in excess of 99 percent.
Tatro Insurance Agency, Scott Tatro
Tatro Insurance Agency, an Akron-based firm, increase its number of employees from two in 2001 to five last year, and wrote more than $350 million in business in 2003.
Terminal Warehouse Inc., Ronald N. Goson
Founded in 1968, Terminal Warehouse Inc. has taken off in the last five years, growing from 49 employees to 110 and nearly doubling its revenue.
The industrial based storage and distribution company has grown by continuing to develop processes that add value to clients’ supply chains. In 2003, the Akron-based company expanded into the Columbus market with a 360,000-square-foot facility with 40 employees.
TRIAD Communications Inc., Rick Krochka
TRIAD Communications has maintained steady growth through a difficult economy by maintaining a diversified client base and developing strong relationships with clients. The Cuyahoga Falls-based advertising company offers products and services including multimedia campaigns, packaging and sales brochures.
It has invested in software and technology that allowed it to expand capabilities in Web site development and marketing, annual and financial reports, and political strategy and communications.
It employs eight and has increased revenue 206 percent in the last five years.
VEXOR Technology Inc., Joe Waters
Founded in 1999, VEXOR Technology Inc.created 30 jobs and generated million in sales. The Medina-based company was created to manage nonhazardous industrial waste and byproducts, and is widely recognized as a leader in its industry. The company is in the process of purchasing a processing and recycling facility in the Southeast that is expected to double sales in three years.
West Akron North America, Gregory Anderson
West Akron North America, a manufacturer of sound filtering hoses used by automobile manufacturers, was founded in 1997. The Akron-based company’s revenue increased 42 percent from 2000 to 2004.
WhiteSpace Creative, Keeven White
WhiteSpace Creative is an expanding communications and marketing firm staffed by a team of award-winning professionals focused on delivering fresh solutions to marketing challenges. With the addition of staff, the company outgrew its space, and this year moved to downtown Akron, increasing its visibility and giving it an opportunity to become more involved in the revitalization of downtown.
The Will Burt Co., Jeffrey O. Evans
The Will Burt Co. is a world leader in the manufacture of telescoping masts and accessories. The company employs computer-aided design, as well as some of the most sophisticated manufacturing equipment available. Its integrated operations give it the ability to handle all phases of the manufacturing process, from tool and die development, machining and fabrication through the installation of electronics and instrumentation to design and deliver telescoping mast and lighting products fully assembled.
The 100-percent employee-owned company increased its revenue 117 percent from 2000 to 2004 and employs 275 people.