Gordy Opitz had to find a way to keep ComDoc’s employees focused after they lost what took 21 years to accomplish
When Gordy Opitz talks about ComDoc Inc., he starts at the beginning, explaining matter-of-factly that Walter G. Griffith founded the business equipment sales and service company in Akron in 1955. He traces its financial growth into the millions of dollars and outlines its industry’s evolution. But the part of the story that elicits the most […]
New Avenues to Independence thinks out of the box to further its mission
“Building Stronger Communities” The story of New Avenues to Independence Inc. is not only about how the organization addresses the needs of the developmentally disabled and the disadvantaged. It’s also about how New Avenues blends a business model with a not-for-profit mission. When it was founded 62 years ago, the group consisted of parent volunteers […]
Mark Scott: Why greatness is never achieved without a little fear
It’s been 34 years since the United States shocked the world and beat the Soviet Union in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. The “Miracle on Ice,” as it came to be known around the world, was completed two days later when Team USA beat Finland and captured the gold […]
Mark Scott: Why it matters what your employees think of you
Rick Fezell gets it. Why else would he jump into the icy waters of Lake Michigan in the middle of January? As the new managing partner for EY’s Midwest Region, Fezell wanted to show everyone that there was another side to his personality than just being the boss. He was willing to step out of […]
Why Steve Streit keeps pushing new solutions for Green Dot customers
There is a big difference between the Green Dot Corp. Steve Streit leads today and the one he thought he would be leading when the company launched in 1999. “We thought this was a card that kids would use to buy things online because their moms and dads would never let them use their own […]
How Stefan Richter ably manages fame and his growing chain of restaurants
Stefan Richter is not one to hold back when it comes to offering an opinion on just about anything. Take his view on the fame he has gained from being a contestant on the Bravo reality TV series, “Top Chef.” “It’s the same story every day,” Richter says. “It doesn’t change. They come in and […]
How Kathy Ireland expanded her portfolio to include a $2 billion design and marketing empire
John Ireland read the notice advertising for a newspaper carrier and just had to show it to his 11-year-old daughter, Kathy. He knew exactly what her reaction would be. “He kind of gently shoved this newspaper ad under my nose,” says Kathy, flashing back to one of the defining moments of her childhood. “The ad […]
Mark Silverman made a full-court press to embrace his critics and build a better Big Ten Network
Mark Silverman has fond memories of Sept. 1, 2007, the day Big Ten Network went live to TV viewers for the first time. “We had been working nonstop to get the network ready,” Silverman says. “I started in December (2006), and most people didn’t come on board until April and May 2007. Flipping the switch, […]
How the JOBS Act has created funding opportunities for small businesses
The JOBS Act, passed in 2012, changed rules to make it easier for small businesses to secure funding from investors. “The Securities and Exchange Commission actually has three initiatives related to the JOBS Act. Crowdfunding has received most of the attention, but the SEC also amended Regulation D to allow small businesses to use general […]
Rob Dongoski: Why companies are stronger when they get their CFOs engaged
With margin pressures, cost reductions and ongoing economic uncertainty on most corporate agendas, a company’s supply chain has become a key driver of growth. The relationship between the supply chain and senior finance leaders is more important than ever as C-suite executives work to build a cost-effective operating model. Yet, in “Partnering for Performance: CFO […]