Lisa Sachs wasn’t afraid to give up a little control and partner with Cumming Corp. to build an even stronger business than the one she’d started
It didn’t seem like the best time for Lisa Sachs to start her own business. It was the early 1990s and the recession that would ultimately cost President George H.W. Bush his job had taken hold of the U.S. economy. Sachs didn’t see it that way, however. In her eyes, this was a great time […]
James R. Scapa reorganizes Altair Engineering Inc. on a yearly basis to keep it moving forward
James R. Scapa has never been fond of sitting back and admiring what he has built. He has more fun taking a big chunk of it apart and putting it back together in a different way to see if he can make it work even better. One thing he really likes to tinker with is […]
David McKinnon – Why it's OK to say no once in a while
In business, as in life, there are times when demands for my time, energy and resources can be overwhelming. Business can be up or down, and a leader is constantly bombarded for decisions, meeting requests and information. I believe Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix can help prioritize the most important and urgent tasks. I love […]
Stewardship taken seriously
The Summit of Sustainability Awards Winner Mid-Size Business CategoryKent Elastomer Products Inc. In its 53-year history, Kent Elastomer Products Inc. has evolved from a latex tubing manufacturer into a diversified supplier of products ranging from thermoplastic elastomers to non-latex Free-Band Tourniquets. The company started lean manufacturing in 2006 with an emphasis on continuous improvement. […]
Sustainable ways of working
The Summit of Sustainability Awards Winner Large Business CategoryGOJO Industries Inc. GOJO Industries Inc. was built upon a legacy of sustainability — there had to be a better, safer and gentler way for Akron’s rubber workers during World War II to clean their hands. The harsh benzene chemical used at the time was unhealthy. The […]
Angelo Petitti grew Petitti Garden Centers by staying ahead of the trends and focusing on the customer
With no money and little experience in horticulture, Angelo Petitti founded Petitti Garden Centers in 1966 out of an oversized garage — for pretty much no other reason than he enjoyed working outdoors. It wasn’t long before Petitti’s gardening knowledge grew, and he began driving the growth of his business based on the belief that […]
Rich Wilson had to find the right mix so the culture at CertaPro Painters could go beyond a flat finish
When Rich Wilson joined CertaPro Painters in 2003, the company was taking in about $50 million a year in sales. That doesn’t seem like a bad number, but the residential painting franchise company had become stuck at that level, and there wasn’t much reason to believe it was going to change anytime soon. As he […]
Craig Vodnik faced early challenges at cleverbridge, but built a team eager to help beat the odds
How Craig Vodnik built a business for everyone, including Antarctica.
John Carroll University: How to react when you suspect an employee of fraud
No company is immune to fraud. You may have stringent internal controls, and rigorous hiring and training programs, but still employees may find ways to violate standards. “It is not enough to have a strong personal ethical code. It needs to be communicated and enforced to become corporate culture,” says Mariah Webinger, Ph.D., an assistant […]
Natasha Ashton – Helpful tips to help drive creativity and find the next big thing
Inspiration and innovation are traits that no successful business can do without. The ability to rise above the daily grind and see the big picture is the mark of a true leader. But no company can coast on the dreams of one or two individuals alone. Cultivating a corporate environment where inspiration and innovation abound […]