Everyone has someone who inspires them to do more and develop their talents, someone who pushes them to succeed. Whether you call them mentors or role models, these people are an essential ingredient for success.
Each year, Junior Achievement recognizes these community business leaders with the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame awards, given to those who exemplify excellence in their personal and professional lives. While the laureates and finalists work in industries from banking to baked goods, each has a vision and entrepreneurial spirit that has made them successful.
As a sponsor of the Central Ohio Business Hall of Fame Awards, SBN is proud to present the 2002 honorees.
The Laureates
Roger Blackwell
Roger Blackwell is a professor of marketing at The Ohio State University and president of Roger Blackwell Assoc. Inc., where he serves as marketing and business consultant to companies across the country. He has received numerous teaching awards and serves on the boards of companies including Airnet Systems and Max & Erma’s.
Blackwell says that to succeed in business, a strong customer orientation is essential.
“Successful businesses start with an understanding of how to solve customers’ problems better than the competition,” he says.
Blackwell got his first taste of the business world when he was 8, selling greeting cards door to door.
“Mom stayed at the curb while I sold the cards,” says Blackwell. “My business sold more cards than any other store in town except the Hallmark store.”
Blackwell cites his parents as role models.
“My father was a business teacher and taught me the importance of treating people with respect and dignity,” Blackwell says. “From these values have come the trails that have led to my success in life.”
A professor at the University of Missouri also had an impact. “Because he was so tough on my faults, hopefully some were corrected,” he says. “It takes time to correct faults, and many professors don’t take the time to do that — especially in a way that is positive rather than negative.”
Paula Inniss
Paula Inniss is president of Ohio Full Court Press. The company, founded in 1995, is a digital print provider specializing in typesetting, Web development, production and facilities management.
Inniss is on the boards of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Columbus State Community College and has received awards including the 1999 Entrepreneur Of The Year for Columbus and for Ohio.
Inniss says a passion for the business is essential for its success.
“There should be a high need for achievement, but don’t let the desire for recognition and craving for power or love of money rule your life,” she says.
Inniss attributes her success to striving to reach a higher standard than everyone else.
“Every job and person is important and to be respected,” says Inniss. “I understand that work itself is always subordinate to some higher purpose.”
Inniss’ mother was her role model.
“She was truly the bridge that steadied herself for me so I could get across to the other side,” she says.
Craig Taylor, Stampp Corbin and Glenna Watson are her business role models.
Curtis Moody
Curtis Moody is president and CEO of Moody-Nolan Inc., which offers services in architecture, civil engineering, interior design, planning and digital multimedia. Moody-Nolan, an award-winning firm that employs 134 professionals, has offices in Columbus, Cincinnati and Nashville.
Moody has served on the board of Bank One, YMCA of Central Ohio, Ohio Dominican College and the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
Moody believes that to success, you need perseverance and commitment.
“Establish your goal and be committed to achieving it, even through adverse conditions,” he says.
Moody attributes his success to the opportunities he’s had to use his talents and those of his firm.
“I’ve found over the years that it doesn’t matter how good you are, you need outside sources that believe in you and that are willing to take a risk by choosing you to do the work,” says Moody.
Moody’s role models were the people at the church he attended during childhood.
“These people were not educated, but had to raise a family in troubled times,” he says. “I watched them succeed under circumstances that raised monumental challenges.”
Lewis Smoot Sr. was also a role model.
“He is a humble person, but successful,” Moody says. “I respect him and how he’s handled his life.”
Finalists
William Blaine
As a consultant and retired attorney and entrepreneur, Blaine continues to play an important role in the Columbus business community. He has earned several degrees, including a doctorate in marketing, and has put his education to good use.
From 1960 to 1972, he started several successful retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses in the lumber and construction industries and continues to cultivate his entrepreneurial talents as a real estate developer and business consultant.
Blaine has served on the boards of Ohio Wesleyan University and Riverside Hospital and serves in leadership capacities at the American Red Cross and Catholic Social Services.
Blaine says one word sums up what you need to succeed — perseverance.
“You can succeed irrespective of your intelligence if you have perseverance, integrity and that stick-to-itiveness,” says Blaine. “Education makes it easier. The more education you have, the less you’ll struggle. But you have to have determination and perseverance.”
Jim Crane Sr.
Jim Crane Sr., chairman and CEO of Crane Group Inc., has led the company since 1967. He serves as a board member of Crane Group, is on the board of Fairwood Investment Company and was a director of Bank One of Columbus for more than 25 years.
Crane has served as chairman of the board of the Columbus School for Girls and The Columbus Club, and is a trustee of the Columbus Museum of Art and Children’s Hospital. He is a member of The Ohio State University Foundation Board and co-chair of the 2002 United Way campaign at the $100,000 level of sponsorship.
This former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year says integrity, credibility and loyalty can lead to business and personal success.
“Top managers need strong leadership and human relationship skills,” says Crane. “And you have to have the desire and ability to hire good people.”
Gary Glaser
Gary Glaser has been with National City Bank since 1967 and joined National City Columbus as executive vice president of the corporate banking group in 1984. He has served as president and CEO and currently serves as chairman of the board.
He holds seats on the boards of the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America and the Columbus Museum of Art. He’s also served on the boards of the United Way of Central Ohio, Franklin University and COSI.
Glaser says communication is vital in business dealings.
“To be successful in business, you need excellent communication skills,” says Glaser.
James Grote
As a sophomore at The Ohio State University, James Grote put down $1,300 to buy a small neighborhood pizzeria on the south side of Columbus. That was the beginning of Donatos Pizzeria. Today Grote is founder and executive chairman of the successful pizza chain, now owned by McDonald’s Corp.
Grote is founder and chairman of the board of directors of the J.E. Grote Co., which manufactures specialized food processing equipment. He has served as general board chairman of the YMCA of Central Ohio and on the President’s Roundtable Forum, sponsored by the Greater Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
“You have to build integrity and honesty into everything you do,” he says. “That means having a healthy self-discipline and doing what you say you’re going to do.”
Jim Hopkins
Hopkins Printing started as a one-man operation in Jim Hopkins’ garage. He worked at Timken Roller Bearing Co. during the day and completed print orders at night. Today, Hopkins, which employs 100 people, is one of the top commercial printing companies in Central Ohio.
Hopkins is involved with the Printing Industry Association of Northern Kentucky and Ohio and serves on the Printing Industries Business Services Board. He also serves on the Ohio Skills USA-VICA board and on the advisory councils for the Graphic Arts program at Columbus State Community College and Northeast Career Center.
“You need a high level of energy and drive, especially in the beginning stages of the business,” says Hopkins. “And you have to be willing to practice delayed gratification.”
Robert Juniper
At 15, Robert Juniper began working for his father’s collision repair business, Three-C Body Shop. He started at the bottom, learned every facet of the business and developed business and entrepreneurial skills.
Juniper purchased the company from his father in 1984. Today, the company has 14 shops, and Juniper has founded a second company, Jupiter Marketing, which helps other collision repair shops utilize his anti-insurance plan advertising campaign.
Juniper also supports the Heinzerling Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of individuals with multiple disabilities.
“Besides working very long hours and pushing yourself, you need to know that you deserve to be successful,” he says. “People can shoot themselves in the foot and have a hell of a time because they don’t think they deserve it.”
Cheryl Krueger-Horn
Success is sweet for the president and CEO of Cheryl&Co. Using her grandmother’s cookie recipes, Cheryl Kruger-Horn started the business in 1981 while working as vice president of sales at Chaus Sportswear in New York.
The company has grown into a multimillion dollar business with national distribution and retail, corporate, food service and catalogue divisions. It employs nearly 300 workers.
Krueger-Horn led the development of a school-to-work program called Cheryl&Co. Hometown Integrated Project, designed to provide hands-on business experience to high school students.
David Milenthal
David Milenthal, senior partner for Ten Worldwide, founded his marketing communications firm in 1954 as Hameroff/Milenthal/Spence. His clients include AEP, Huntington Banks and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and his firm created the state tourism program “Ohio: The Heart of It All.”
In 1996, Milenthal led the national effort to convince agencies to advocate the development of voluntary guidelines to stop the advertising of tobacco to children.
He says successful leaders must have a clear, tangible vision and entrepreneurial spirit, and must not be afraid to take risks. “You must have the ability to take thoughtful, rational risks in a growing business to keep it moving forward.”
Ed Overmeyer
Ed Overmeyer, chairman and co-founder of insurance agency Berwanger Overmeyer Associates, founded the company in 1973 and has served as a board member for organizations including the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers and Prospect Bank.
He’s also served as treasurer on the board at the Columbus Zoo. In 1991 he received the Golden Achievement Award for Business from Doctors Hospital, and was named 1990 Business Person of the Year by the Upper Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce.
Overmeyer says it takes endurance to succeed.
“You’ll face many adversaries, but you can have a great life if you don’t weaken and get through it.”
Donald Shackelford
Donald Shackelford has been chairman of Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio, since 1998, when State Savings Bank merged with Fifth Third. Before the merger, Shackelford was chairman of State Savings Bank for 25 years.
He serves on corporate boards including LimitedBrands Inc., The Progressive Corp. and The Jeffrey Co. He is vice chair of The Columbus Foundation and a board member of The United Way of Central Ohio. He has also served as chair of The Ohio State University Hospitals’ Board of Trustees and is on the board of Capital South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp.
“Life is more of a marathon than a dash,” says Shackelford. “You need to stick it out and not give up.”
How to reach: Junior Achievement, (614) 771-9903.
