TECHNOLOGY CATEGORY
Etactics Inc.
Michael P. Teutsch
Etactics Inc. provides cost-effective EDI and print services that enhance
the accuracy and delivery of many time-sensitive documents, especially
invoices. The Stow-based company has more than 2,000 clients and has
increased sales 457 percent and employees 200 percent since 2003.
Network Technologies Inc.
Carl Jagatich
Network Technologies Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of computer peripherals, including keyboard-video-mouse and audio/video switches, splitters and extenders for computers and video sources. The Aurora-based company has added 40 employees and increased sales by 100 percent since 2003.
Progressive Foam Technologies Inc.
Patrick M. Culpepper
Progressive Foam Technologies Inc. develops and manufactures an
innovative foam backing product for vinyl siding. The Beach City-based
company has increased sales by 100 percent in the last five years, while
growing to 200 employees.
Summit Data Communications Inc.
Ron Seide
Summit Data Communications Inc. was founded in 2005 by five former
employees of Cisco Systems’ Richfield office to create Cisco-compatible
radio cards for mobile devices. The company has grown to 15 employees,
all of whom are dedicated to providing high-performance cards for wireless devices that allow those devices to communicate with other computers, printers, medical devices or industrial equipment.
The Boutique at Trillium Creek
Heather Funk
The Boutique at Trillium Creek produces a complete range of skin care
products for every skin type. Every patient who visits Trillium Creek
Dermatology can use the company’s software to determine their own skin
type — which has led to an increase in sales and patient satisfaction. The
Medina-based company has increased sales 157 percent since 2003.
TCP Inc.
Ellis Yan
TCP Inc. develops and manufactures energy-efficient and long-lasting
lighting products and accessories. The company has focused on finding innovative new ways to improve energy-efficient lighting and has
experienced massive growth of $249 million in sales and nearly 200
percent in employees over the past five years.
VEXOR Technology Inc.
Joseph E. Waters
VEXOR Technology Inc. has evolved into a waste-to-energy company that
processes many industrial and consumer wastes into VEXOR Engineered Fuel.
Their fuel, a cleaner-burning coal substitute, eliminates waste going to landfills
and reduces CO2 emissions, and the demand for their waste-to-fuel service
has increased sales 73 percent and employees 25 percent since 2003.
MANUFACTURING CATEGORY
Akron Polymer Products Inc.
Gregory Anderson
Founded in Mogadore in 1986, Akron Polymer Products Inc. has
focused on revenue and employee growth. The manufacturer of thermo-plastic tube products has experienced five-year growth of 126 percent in
sales and 100 percent in employees.
Alliance Castings Co. LLC
Lawrence R. Stewart
Alliance Castings Co. LLC is a manufacturer of railroad equipment that
has made a tremendous impact on employment numbers in the city of
Alliance. Since 2003, the company has added 540 employees. The foundry
has given “Value of the Person” seminars to encourage employees to treat
each other with love, dignity and respect.
Blossom Bucket Inc.
Cindy Lowry
Since 1995, Blossom Bucket Inc. has produced innovative products for
the gift industry. The company’s niche market is products that wholesale
for less than $10 — products it says are recession-proof because people
will always buy gifts. The company has increased sales by 174 percent in
the last five years and experienced a 76 percent increase in employees during the same time period.
Collier Well Equipment & Supply Inc.
Mike Hooper
Collier Well Equipment & Supply Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of
equipment and parts used primarily in the oil and gas industry. The Wooster-based company has increased its revenue by nearly $10 million since 2005.
Fastener Technology Inc.
Pam Davis
Fastener Technology Inc. has been growing steadily since it was
founded in 2003. In the last five years, the Akron-based distributor of
industrial fasteners has increased its revenue by 475 percent and its
employee base by 300 percent.
Global Body & Equipment Co.
Daniel Oliver
Global Body & Equipment Co. is a contract manufacturer of steel
fabrications and thermal formed plastics for industries like heavy construction, automotive, truck equipment and the U.S. military. The
Wooster-based company increased sales by 881 percent and employees by 143 percent during the last five years.
Hunter’s Manufacturing Co. Inc.
Richard L. Bednar and George R. Gardner
Founded in 1994, Hunter’s Manufacturing Co. Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of crossbows and crossbow-related accessories.
The Suffield-based company has increased sales by approximately
$5 million since 2003.
Markham Machine Co. Inc.
James M. Markham Jr.
Markham Machine Co. Inc. is a job machine shop that specializes in
the manufacturing of components for machinery used by oil drilling.
The Akron-based company was founded in 1965, but has increased
its sales by roughly $8.5 million since 2003.
Medina Foods Inc.
Abdalla “Al” Nimer
Medina Foods Inc. is a manufacturer of beef sticks and beef jerky.
The Litchfield-based company has increased its employee base by
71 percent during the past five years.
Portage Precision Polymers Inc.
Douglas Hartley
Portage Precision Polymers Inc. has weathered enormous growth
without sacrificing the service and quality that led to its success. The
custom mixing and manufacturing company has experienced revenue
growth of $9.75 million and increased employees by 142 percent
since 2003.
Shearer’s Foods Inc.
Robert J. “Bob” Shearer
Shearer’s Foods manufactures and distributes award-winning
snacks and does private-label manufacturing for customers. The
2006 winner of overall success story in the manufacturing division
has continued its growth, with an increase in sales of roughly $60 million since ’06.
West Akron North America
Gregory Anderson
West Akron North America is a manufacturer of sound-filtering
hoses used by automobile manufacturers. The company was founded
in 1997 and has nearly doubled its sales and grew employee numbers
by 65 percent since 2003.
Venture Products Inc.
Dallas Steiner
Founded in 1988, Venture Products Inc. designs and manufacturers
the Ventrac product line of landscape and turf equipment. The
Orrville-based company is known for its Ventrac tractors, and it has
increased revenue by $6.58 million since 2003.
SERVICE CATEGORY
Area Wide Protective Inc.
William A. “Bill” Fink
Area Wide Protective Inc. provides protection and flagging services
for utility work areas in a multistate area. The Akron-based AWP has
undergone tremendous growth over the last five years, including an increase of roughly $15 million in revenue and 440 employees.
AtNetPlus Inc.
James Laber
AtNetPlus Inc. provides information technology services to small
and medium-sized companies that are IT-dependent but have limited or no in-house IT resources. The Stow-based company’s controlled growth strategy has increased employees by 138 percent
since 2003.
AultCare Corp.
Rick Haines
With almost 500 employees and 500,000 health plan members,
AultCare Corp. supplies both jobs and peace of mind to many in
Northeast Ohio. The Canton-based health insurance provider has
added 120 employees since 2003.
Barbicas Construction Co. Inc.
Carla Barbicas
Barbicas Construction Co. Inc. is a construction company that does
asphalt paving as well as several other types of work. The Akron-based company has increased its sales by more than 325 percent over
the last five years.
Bargmann Management LLC
Lisa Bargmann
Bargmann Management LLC, which does business as Homecare
Collection Service, is a medical billing and collections agency. It has
grown exponentially over its four years of existence, with sales
growth of more than $2.5 million and employee growth of 7,600 percent.
Construction Polymers International Inc.
Dirk Benthien
Construction Polymers International Inc., or CPI, is a distributor and
service provider of foam insulation. The Barberton-based company specializes in offering energy-efficient solutions to insulation challenges in
residential, commercial and industrial applications. CPI increased sales by
339 percent and employees by 750 percent since 2003.
Cambridge Home Health Care
Nancy Diller-Shively
Cambridge Home Health Care provides nursing, therapy, home health
aides and homemaking services to more than 2,400 people each week in
their homes. Cambridge, a Cascade Capital Award winner in nine previous
years, is still growing strong, with five-year increases of $7.53 million in
revenue and the addition of 318 employees.
Great Work! Employment Services
Tia Ramlow
Great Work! Employment Services makes it its job to find great workers
for your company’s needs. The Akron-based company facilitates job placements and provides other employment services. The company has
increased its sales by 117 percent since 2003.
Group Management Services Inc.
E. Michael Kahoe
Group Management Services Inc. is a PEO, a professional employer
organization, which provides human resources, benefits risk management
and payroll services to businesses based in Ohio. The Richfield-based
company has increased its sales by $9.4 million since 2003.
HMT Dermatology Associates Inc.
Dr. Helen Torok
HMT Dermatology Associates Inc. is a dermatology practice that features
cutting-edge cosmetic services as well as pathology services and skin cancer surgery. Since moving into Trillium Creek in Medina in 2003, the company has increased employees by 160 percent and sales by 137 percent.
Hattie Larlham
Dennis Allen
Founded in 1961 as a nonprofit organization that provides services to children and adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities, Hattie Larlham has recently expanded its services
into the profit world. New endeavors like Hattie’s Café, Fountain &
Gifts, and Constant Companions Doggie Day Care have provided
vocational opportunities for people with disabilities, who work
alongside a traditional work force. Its operating budget has grown
by $12.6 million, and Hattie Larlham has added 110 employees in
the last five years.
InfoCision Management Corp.
Carl Albright
InfoCision Management is an inbound and outbound call center
provider specializing in customer acquisition, care and retention and
nonprofit fund-raising. The Akron-based company has continued its
strong growth over the past five years, increasing sales by $56 million and adding 1,177 employees.
Jentner Financial Group
Bruce A. Jentner
Jentner Financial Group provides fee-only wealth management services like financial planning and investment management for families
and organizations with at least $1 million in investments. After rewriting the business plan that he used for 17 years, Jentner has grown the
company’s sales by 110 percent over the last five years, while positioning for even more growth.
Kandel Transport Inc.
Jack Daniels
Kandel Transport Inc. is a contract motor carrier specializing in frozen
foods, dairy products and fruit flavorings. The Akron-based company has
focused on revenue growth in the last five years and has had to increase
employees 175 percent to keep pace.
Liberty Bank N.A.
William A. Valerian
Liberty Bank N.A. provides local consumers and privately held businesses
with innovative financing and cash management services. Although facing
significant competition from larger financial institutions in Northeast Ohio,
Liberty Bank has focused on the advantages of being locally owned to
generate growth. The Twinsburg-based company has increased its sales
by 456 percent and more than doubled its work force since 2003.
Maxim Enterprises Inc.
Steve Maxim
Maxim Enterprises Inc. provides field services for the mortgage industry,
including grass cutting, evictions and lock changes. The North Canton-based
company increased its revenue by more than 250 percent since 2003.
Promethean Software Services Inc.
Steven Montgomery
Promethean Software Services Inc. provides expert resources and tested turnkey e-commerce and EDI solutions. The Twinsburg-based company was founded in 1993 and has increased its revenue by 107 percent and
its employees by 140 percent in the last five years.
R & R Sanitation Inc.
Gregory Kennell
Founded in 1986, R & R Sanitation Inc. is a refuse collection company. The Kent-based business has increased its sales 63 percent
since 2003.
Ritzman Pharmacies Inc.
Eric Graf
Ritzman Pharmacy Inc. is a retail pharmacy that specializes in home
infusion services, specialty dosing and natural products. The
Wadsworth-based pharmacy group has 10 locations in Summit,
Wayne and Medina counties. It has increased sales by nearly $6 million since 2003.
SS&G Financial Services Inc.
Mark Goldfarb and Robert Littman
SS&G Financial Services Inc. is a regional accounting business advisory firm providing accounting, consulting, investments, technology, payroll
and health care services. It is a 2005 Legacy Award honoree, and during
the last five years, it increased sales by $22.8 million.
SS&G Healthcare Services LLC
Thomas Ferkovic
SS&G Healthcare Services LLC is a professional services firm dedicated
to serving physicians and physician practices. It combines strategic planning, hands-on practice management and health care consulting expertise. Since 2003, revenue has increased 246 percent and the employee
base grew 400 percent.
S&V Industries Inc.
Senthil Kumar
S&V Industries Inc. is a marketing agent and logistics solution
provider for more than 50 U.S. original equipment manufacturers by
sourcing various manufactured parts and assemblies from global
suppliers. Since 2003, the company has increased sales 181 percent
and employee growth has been 300 percent.
Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp.
Rick Schultz
Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp. is a provider of surgical instruments and repair services to hospitals, surgery centers and veterinarians.
The Stow-based company has seen tremendous growth in the past five
years. Revenue has more than doubled and the employee base has
increased by roughly 79 percent.
S2K Inc.
Steve Maxim
S2K Inc. sells mortgage field supplies to contractors around the
country. The North Canton-based company, which does business as
BargainLocks.com, has increased its staff by 150 percent since 2003
and has increased its revenue by 150 percent during the same time
period.
Virtual Hold Technology LLC
Mark J. Williams
Virtual Hold Technology LLC is an information technology company that is dedicated to developing market-leading virtual queuing solutions for the contract centers of Fortune 1,000 clients. The Akron-based company has experienced 148 percent employee growth since
2004.
Westfield Bank
Jon Park
Westfield Bank is a community financial institution that offers business
and personal checking, loans, cash management, investment savings and
more. Westfield’s revenue income growth rate has surpassed 230 percent
over five years — an increase of $18 million.
WhiteSpace Creative
Keeven White
WhiteSpace Creative is a communications and marketing firm that
develops fresh marketing solutions for corporate clients, nonprofit
organizations and start-up businesses. WhiteSpace has experienced
sales increases of roughly 150 percent in the past five years and has
increased employees 150 percent in the same time period.
Wholesome Pet Distributing
Allan Bauman
Wholesome Pet Distributing is a Smithville-based distributor of pet
supplies like pet food, toys and grooming products. The company,
which was founded in 1999, makes donations to several local charities. It has also increased its sales by more than 200 percent and its
employees by 112 percent since 2003.
