Cascade Capital Corporation Honor Roll 2013
Manufacturing
ACS Industries Inc.
Joe Zeno
For more than 35 years, ACS Industries Inc. has been providing world-class manufacturing of construction equipment attachments and replacement parts. The company has committed to not only create but retain high-paying manufacturing jobs and has done so to the tune of 100 manufacturing positions in the local economy over the past five years, increasing the employee headcount by 44 percent.
Biery Cheese Co. Inc.
Ben Biery
A family-owned and -operated company, Biery Cheese Co. Inc. has been providing top quality cheese products for more than 80 years. The company constantly innovates to create custom cheese blends and flavors and has won numerous awards. Biery Cheese also operates Apollo Sky, a quality freight delivery company. The company’s commitment to product innovation, research and development has rewarded Biery Cheese with increased sales and workforce.
Amish Mills/
Daniel’s Amish Collection
Christopher J. Karman
Wooden household furniture manufacturer Amish Mills/Daniel’s Amish Collection has focused on expanding its product line over the past few years and has succeeded in doing so. The company is not only proud of its products, but its customer base too. Amish Mills/Daniel’s Amish Collection furniture can be found in high-quality stores. The company’s success has led to revenue and employee growth of more than 130 percent each over the past five years.
Design Molded Plastics Inc.
Diane Hanson and Jay Honsaker
Design Molded Plastics Inc. is a full-service thermoplastic injection molding company that employs more than 120 associates and serves customers in the medical equipment, protective equipment, automotive, home appliance, electronics and consumer goods industries. Design Molded Plastics’ growth has come from tightening quality variances and commitment to product innovation. This dedication to quality and customer satisfaction resulted in increased sales.
Fuserashi International Technology Inc.
Marty Shimada
Fuserashi International Technology Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Fuserashi Ltd. The company produces highly specialized, cold-formed steel products for the auto and agricultural industry and started U.S. work in 1996. The company has grown by expanding its product offerings into areas such as mobile devices. Fuserashi broke ground on a facility expansion in 2012, adding 60,000 square feet and 17 full-time employees.
Ohio Hickory Harvest Brand Products Inc.
Darlene Swiatkowski and
Joseph Swiatkowski
Ohio Hickory Harvest Brand Products Inc. is a family-owned second- and third-generation company that sells dried fruit, nuts and candies to local stores. The Swiatkowski family leads by example to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere with emphasis on quality and customer service. In 2012, Ohio Hickory formed a new LLC, became majority owners in American Confections and has increased employee headcount by 175 percent.
OrDerv Foods Inc.
Keith Kropp
Since the 2005 purchase of OrDerv Foods Inc., a manufacturer of sauerkraut balls, Keith Kropp has helped expand the company’s food offerings to include wonton poppers, fried pickles, Rueben bites, fried banana peppers, calamari, lobster bites, sauces and a new line of Olivations. In 2005 the company had three employees and with Kropp’s hard work, it has seen sales growth of 175 percent since 2008.
Venture Products Inc.
Dallas Steiner
Venture Products Inc. is the manufacturer of Ventrac compact tractors and commercial grade attachments. Since the first release of Ventrac in 1998, Venture Products has quickly become a leader in the sub-compact tractor market, seeing sales growth of 93 percent between 2008 and 2012. The company’s products are sold in diverse markets such as state and city municipalities, golf course maintenance, parks, sport facilities and airports.
Technology
AtNetPlus Inc.
Jay Mellon and Jim Laber
AtNetPlus Inc., a full-service IT company, has been an early adopter of many technologies that are now commonplace in the industry. Most recently, it has focused on cybersecurity and developed a comprehensive solution called Attack Safe to make cybersecurity accessible and affordable for clients. The company has experienced growth in the number of clients served and has grown its own headcount by 33 percent.
Corporate Technologies Group Inc.
Jeff Sumner and Brett Harney
Corporate Technology Group Inc. is a leading voice and data technology company that has made numerous changes over the past year. In response to client needs, the company expanded its solutions offerings with a primary focus on network monitoring. With the addition to its product portfolio, Corporate Technology has also started offering network assessments. All in all, the company saw sales increase by 30 percent since 2008.
Epiphany Management Group
Suranjan Shome
Epiphany Management Group was founded in 2007, as a one-person company with no existing customers. Over the last six years, that outlook has drastically changed with significant investments made in senior management personnel, processes and systems automation. The success is largely due to a strategic planning process. In a four-year period sales have increased 454 percent.
Etactics Inc.
Michael Teutsch
Etactics Inc. is a cost-effective EDI and print services company that enhances the accuracy and delivery of many time-sensitive documents, especially invoices. The company serves more than 2,000 clients and is preparing for the next level of growth. Etactics continues to add new products and services and in doing so increased its headcount by 61 percent in the last four years.
Keystone Technology Consultants
Greg Cordray
Keystone Technology Consultants is a full-service IT company that puts heavy emphasis on its customers and the relationships it builds. By fostering these relationships, Keystone has been able to create lasting impact by helping with network needs today and toward the future. This attention to detail has helped Keystone realize a 100 percent sales increase and a 92 percent employee increase in the past three years.
Service
Americas International Inc.
Wayne Stair
Americas International Inc., a wholesale distributor of rubber and rubber chemicals, has continued to expand beyond Northeast Ohio into Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles. In November 2012, the company partnered with Solutia Inc., a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical, to distribute Therminol drum quantities to the Northeast. With a network of warehouse operations that ensure accurate and on-time deliveries, sales have grown 164 percent since 2008.
Area 51 Consulting
Marling Engle
Area 51 Consulting is an IT consulting firm for local small and midsized businesses. On Jan. 1, the company merged with TCI Data Solutions, a move that resulted in substantial expansion of Area 51’s team and resources as well as product and service innovation. Sales have tripled since 2008 and staffing levels are on the rise as well.
Broadleaf Partners LLC
Doug MacKay and Bill Hoover
Broadleaf Partners LLC is a growth-focused investment management firm serving the needs of foundations and endowments, retirement plans and high net worth individuals. The investment management firm uses frequent and honest communication to build client confidence and trust. Sales have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 49.5 percent since 2008.
Carrara Companies Inc.
Justin Sucato
Carrara Companies Inc. provides comprehensive restoration, construction, cleaning and environmental services. Founded in 1996, the business has averaged 30 percent growth each year. Since 2007, Carrara has doubled its annual revenue and added 37 associates. The company has three locations — Richfield, Cuyahoga Falls and Columbus — where it supports the state of Ohio in emergency response.
Catastrophe Management Solutions Inc.
Curtis F. Pilot
Catastrophe Management Solutions Inc. provides call center support to national insurance carriers during catastrophic weather events. CMS focuses on maintaining a roster of trained and prepared employees who can step up and be ready when they are called into action. Staffing has increased rapidly, from 11 employees in 2009 to 700 in 2012.
Certified Nerds
Marling Engle
Certified Nerds is a computer repair and sales shop focused on providing fast and friendly service at competitive prices. Employees are willing to take the time to answer questions and provide clear explanations even when the inquiry is not part of an order. The focus on exemplary service has propelled sales to grow by 74 percent since 2008.
Cohen & Co.
J. Michael Kolk
Cohen & Co. provides entrepreneurs and privately held businesses with a full range of accounting, tax and business advisory services. The goal is to help local business owners remain profitable, which is a key component to a growing economy. Management and employees work together to align goals and keep the firm moving forward and growing.
County Fire Protection Inc.
John Lubinski
County Fire Protection Inc. is a full-service fire protection company. It’s become a multi-million dollar company that specializes in the service and installation of fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems, backflow preventers, fire extinguishers and exit emergency lighting among other things. Growth has taken County Fire Protection across Ohio with offices in Akron, Columbus and Toledo.
Great Lakes Fasteners Inc.
Kevin R. Weidinger
Great Lakes Fasteners Inc. is a fastener distributor with offices and two distribution centers in Twinsburg. Since 1958, GLF has been servicing Midwestern manufacturers by providing innovative problem solving skills with a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality fastener products. An aggressive acquisition strategy has propelled sales to 32 percent growth since 2008.
Group Management Services
Mike Kahoe
Group Management Services is a professional employer organization that provides payroll and benefit services as well as risk management and human resources. GMS has doubled its sales force in the last five years and has enhanced its on-boarding process for all new hires. Sales have grown by more than 56 percent since 2007.
HMT Dermatology
Associates Inc.
Helen M. Torok, MD
HMT Dermatology Associates Inc. offers world-class general and cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, skin cancer treatment and holistic medicine, as well as high-quality skin care products and makeup. HMT has consistently added new treatments and services while growing its capabilities and as a result, sales have increased 35 percent from 2008 to 2012.
Incept Corp.
Sam Falletta
Incept Corp. is a conversational communication BPO firm that specializes in call center and social media support services for the biomedical, software and automotive industries. The company has executed more than 15 million customer transactions for some of the best known brands in the world. During the past five years, Incept has nearly doubled the size of its workforce and realized a pretax profit increase of more than 375 percent.
InfoCision Management Corp.
Craig Taylor and Steve Boyazis
InfoCision Management Corp. has been a leader in the call center industry for 30 years specializing in inbound and outbound call center solutions, direct mail and fulfillment and interactive web and data solutions. The goal is to provide direct marketing services that deliver results for the customer. In the past five years, the company has created 700 jobs.
J. Rayl Transport Inc.
Jeremy Rayl
J. Rayl Transport Inc. is a third-generation, full-service transportation company that was created in response to the needs of local tire companies. The company has more than 230 trucks and 750 dry van trailers servicing the United States and Canada, placed strategically depending on the needs of customers. Sales have grown consistently, increasing 13 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Jarrett Logistics
Systems Inc.
W. Michael Jarrett
Jarrett Logistics Systems Inc. provides supply chain management services to high-growth companies. Services include transportation management, freight bill payment, premium freight management, claims processing and custom reporting. Each customer gets service that is catered to its own needs. The company added seven employees in 2012 and watched its sales rise by 18 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Kisling Legal Group
Alberto “Rob” Nestico
Kisling, Nestico & Redick LLC, a personal injury law firm serving Ohio, is based in Akron and has offices in Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown. Since 2008, the firm has added 65 new jobs as its business has grown. The Kisling Legal Group offers the knowledge, experience and commitment necessary to get proven results.
Laudan Properties LLC
Kevin R. Weidinger
Laudan Properties LLC works closely with banks, servicers, real estate brokers and investors to manage and maintain their portfolio of residential assets. Its competitive advantage is its network of licensed contractors with a service area stretching from Michigan to Florida and now expanding west toward California. Success is reflected in the firm’s sales, which grew 195 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Lighting Services Inc.
Kim Allerman and Kurt Allerman
Lighting Services Inc. is a design/build company specializing in retrofit lighting. Through advances in lighting technology as well as the company’s experience in the field, customers have saved millions of dollars in energy costs. Since 2008, the company has added 10 new positions to assist with the additional work brought about by cost-conscious customers interested in advances such as LED technology.
Metis Construction
Services LLC
Julie Brandle
Named after Metis, the Greek Titan goddess of wisdom, planning and good counsel, Metis Construction Services LLC supplies construction services to diverse industries, and is involved in such projects as the redevelopment of downtown Kent. Since its creation in 2009, the company has grown from two employees to 20 and its revenue has increased nearly tenfold.
Metisentry
Marling Engle
Metisentry is a Web design development and promotions company that serves small- to midsized businesses. Last year, it grew in diversity by acquiring a local consulting firm named Rainmaker to expand its marketing offerings. Founded in 2006, Metisentry began as a one-person operation. The company has seen 185 percent growth in revenue since 2008 and has employed as many as 10.
National Interstate Insurance Co.
Dave Michelson
National Interstate, a specialty property and casualty insurance holding company, offers transportation insurance, alternative risk transfer and insurance for specialty vehicle owners. Built on the premise that customer service and personal attention matter, National Interstate has been on the Forbes 100 Most Trustworthy Companies list for the past four years.
Ohio Tool Systems Inc.
Jack Grace
An industrial tool and material handling distributor, Ohio Tool Systems Inc. has expanded from a five-person staff in 1974 to a 50 employee, multi-million dollar operation with nine sales locations and four factory authorized repair and warranty service centers. Some of its clients include Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Honda and Toyota. Annual revenue since 2008 has grown by 46 percent.
Outtech Inc.
Jay Scholes
Outtech Inc.’s mission is to provide clients with professional sales and marketing specialists with a passion to help build the success of the outdoor and hunting equipment manufacturers the company represents. Outtech stresses comprehensive training of the dealers and box stores in the use of the products — and as a result, has seen a 60 percent growth in annual revenue since 2008.
PackShip USA
W. Michael Jarrett
As its name implies, PackShip USA provides packaging and shipping services for large, high value merchandise and logistics management for mid-market companies. Based in Orrville, PackShip USA has other locations in Pennsylvania, Indiana and North Carolina. PackShip USA encourages its staff to do great things for customers every day. Its revenue has grown by 50 percent since 2008.
PartsSource Inc.
A. Ray Dalton
PartsSource Inc. provides medical replacement parts and software solutions for biomedical and diagnostic imaging equipment. Founded in 2001 by A. Ray Dalton, the company today receives requests for more than 1,000 parts per day. PartsSource has garnered Cascade Capital Growth Awards six of the past seven years and has added nearly 200 employees in each of the last five years.
QualCare LLC, dba Home Instead Senior Care
Therese Glorioso
Home Instead Senior Care, a health service organization that provides personalized quality private duty home care to seniors in Northeast Ohio, has grown its sales over the past five years by 205 percent. To meet the wishes of clients who wanted more mature companions, the organization recruits senior citizens to fill those roles, and they have become the backbone of the company.
Sequoia Financial Group LLC
Thomas A. Haught
Sequoia Financial Group LLC offers a full range of wealth management services. The company has continued to grow since its founding 20 years ago, expanding and better serving its clients in Northeast Ohio and beyond. In particular, the company has grown through acquisitions and in offering innovative technology. Annual revenue since 2008 has increased by 60 percent.
Slate Rock Safety LLC
Kim Wilson
Slate Rock Safety LLC is a retailer and wholesaler of work and safety apparel, all sold through ecommerce. Its premise of employee enthusiasm, a high-spirited culture and empowerment has led to substantial growth over the last five years. The company recently relocated to allow for additional office and warehouse space to address its growth, which includes a whopping 1,514 percent in revenue since 2008.
SS&G Inc.
Robert Littman and Mark Goldfarb
Accounting and business advisory firm SS&G recently added an office in Chicago to its existing Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina locations. During the recent unstable economy, SS&G has focused on providing clients with the guidance needed to continue the success of their businesses. This has helped the firm to grow by 36 percent in the last five years.
SS&G Healthcare
Services LLC
Thomas Ferkovic
Specializing in medical billing and accounts receivable, independent physician and dental practice management, clinical research and financial and operational consulting, SS&G Healthcare Services LLC focuses on those issues so clients can concentrate on what matters — their patients. Since 2008, the company has had an increase in annual revenue of 62 percent, and the staff has increased by 15 percent.
Steel City Lighting Co. Inc., dba Five Star Lighting
Kim Allerman and Kurt Allerman
Five Star Lighting is a specialized wholesale distributor of lamps, ballasts, light fixtures, lenses/louvers and lighting-related products using state-of-the-art technologies. As a supplier of energy-efficient lighting products, the company takes pride in bring savings to the local economy in energy costs, improvement in productivity and safety resulting from improved facility lighting and the ability of companies to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution.
Trillium Creek Boutique LLC
Heather Funk
Trillium Creek Boutique LLC offers cosmetic consultations and retail sales of a variety of skin care products, makeup and gifts. With four locations in Medina and Wooster, the boutique also offers complimentary makeovers and skin care consultations. Dr. Helen Torok, medical director of Trillium Creek Dermatology & Surgery Center, trains all the consultants. Annual revenues are up 31 percent since 2008.
WhiteSpace Creative
Keeven White
WhiteSpace Creative, an integrated marketing agency, last year acquired an advertising and marketing agency, resulting in growth of a third in clientele and staff. This added to the company’s recent focus to develop more robust public relations and social media service offerings. In the past nine years, WhiteSpace Creative added 25 positions, and annual revenue has grown 30 percent since 2008. ●
