Fueling the future – Why Cleveland rocks so much more than you might think
I first visited Ohio City in the early ’80s with my parents and six siblings to shop at the West Side Market, and I remember my immigrant mother and first-generation father sharing their love of the old-world vibrancy of the market. I also remember how dilapidated the surrounding neighborhood was — but how it had […]
Don Plusquellic: Foreign travel brings big returns on city investment in jobs and payroll
In 1990, Bob Bowman, an economic development specialist hired by the predecessor to the Greater Akron Chamber, asked me to travel with him to the Hannover Trade Fair, the world’s most important technology show. Since that time, members of our Economic Development department have attended the show every year to showcase our city and state […]
Damon Hacker: ‘Not my company!’ attitude is dangerously out-of-date
You can’t pick up a newspaper, business publication or magazine without reading about this month’s mega-data breach. “Stolen: 3.5 million credit card numbers, complete with contact information” and so on all seem like headlines detailing sizable losses coming from large corporations specifically being targeted for their treasures. Unfortunately, each of these breaches were not the […]
The 2013 Class of Power Players in Cleveland
The 2013 Class of Power Players in Cleveland We would like to recognize The 2013 Class of Power Players in Cleveland. This yearlong luncheon series featured the most influential business leaders in the region sharing their perspective on why Cleveland is such a great place to live, work and visit. Jim Bennettsenior vice […]
Lee Ellis: What’s your leadership vision for the New Year?
Starting a new year can be a time of mixed emotions. I know because I greeted six consecutive New Year’s sitting in North Vietnam prisoner of war camps. Fear was the foremost emotion in those first three years, and the others were somewhat daunting, too. Yet, we always kept hope that the new year would […]
Dustin S. Klein: Take a moment to consider the journeys you’re on and what they mean
I recently visited with an entrepreneur whose journey over the past nine years included excitement, challenge, transformation and growth. Brand Castle founder Jimmy Zeilinger and I first crossed paths in 2005 when he and his wife, Andrea, were honored by Smart Business as one of that year’s “Rising Stars.” At the time, Brand Castle was […]
Lise Stewart: Light the flame and carry the torch to retain your family business’ culture
Many people ask me how the new generation of leadership can honor the family legacy and tradition while still putting its own “stamp” on the company culture. This can be particularly difficult today when we have so many generations working in the same place. However, history and tradition form a strong foundation for the company […]
New Goodyear headquarters is where collaborative efforts will open the next chapter
When the new $160 million global headquarters of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. was designed, the themes that would be followed were a far cry from those of the first Goodyear office building. The new headquarters was built based on five themes: Team — One campus optimized for collaboration. Innovation — Market and technology are […]
Leslie W. Braksick: How your company can retain your best and brightest employees
When unwanted attrition happens, the usual reaction is, “Why? Where are they going?” Most organizations use the exit interview to answer these questions. An HR professional meets with the departing person and attempts to learn the good, bad and ugly about why they are leaving. Unfulfilled promises and hopes are revealed as the interviewer shrinks […]
Veteran-owned – Northstar Contracting is on an upward trajectory in Cleveland
Stephen and Pam Coleman finally realized their new company was going to be taken seriously one day in 2009, six months after they had unfairly lost a bid for a critical contract. The Colemans had submitted a proposal for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers job they felt perfectly suited for. Their company, Northstar Contracting, […]