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December 2007 Issue
The Willy Sutton Syndrome
If we were to modernize Cuyahoga County to operate more efficiently and, as part of that process, save 5 percent of the county's annual budget, we would save $70 million a year. Assume for a moment that this is possible. Because it is if we can agree on a new charter for modernizing county government, get the necessary signatures to put it on the ballot on November 4, 2008, and have a majority of voters approve adoption of the proposed charter. We can start spending the money 30 days after the ele... |
The Return of the Hollow Man
These days former Cleveland Mayor Mike White is venturing from his alpaca ranch in Newcomerstown to speak here in public, blaming the media for Cleveland's forlorn state, especially The Plain Dealer for holding out reporting, as the main purveyors of doomsday. I agree with him. The media have let the town down. However, the reason for my denouncement is far different than that of the erstwhile mayor, whose speech was a sad act by a pathetic man trying to recover from the scandal that dances around him. ... |
King of Hearts
It must have been an oversight. Somehow, I was (again) not included in Time Magazine's ranking of the world's 100 most influential people. But I am not jealous that Dr. Steven Nissen made the list. He deserves it. Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, was just one of the dozens of world-class speakers at the fifth annual Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit in October held at the InterContinental Hotel. With U.S. News & World Report ranking the Cleveland Clinic... |
Feeding the People
He is going to be out of business in six months. Or so we thought when we first heard Frederick Peters' business plan in 2002 for his chain of pizza shops, Pizza Pan. If you're not familiar, his concept works like this: Rather than selling one pizza for $12 to $16 just like other shops, Peters' pizzerias offer two free pizzas with the purchase of one if they are picked up at the shop, or one free pizza with a purchase when it's delivered. At first glance, giving away that much of your product doesn't so... Mr. Christopher Goes to Washington
In his corporate life, William Christopher thought he knew about pressure. He runs a $5.5 billion division of Alcoa Inc., which is a $30 billion aluminum manufacturer. His Engineered Solutions group, based in Independence, manages 50,000 employees in 103 locations throughout 18 countries and makes hundreds of diverse products. That was until he was asked to testify before the U.S. Senate last summer. "It's an intimidating situation," the 53-year-old Christopher says. "I was glad I wasn't one of the firs... Saving the Soul
Strings of twinkle lights dance in perfect Rockette rows over East Fourth Street. They hang like garland between buildings, creating a festive runway in the core of downtown. The night is rainy, but wetness coats the cobbled surface with a glossy finish, almost like a shiny postcard you'd send to a friend about this memorable little place in New York or Paris or Italy. But we're in Cleveland. And there's a contagious energy charging through that 425-foot-long alley of a street, which snakes between Pros... |
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
Perhaps some of you remember back to your days in elementary school when the annual "Santa controversy" reared its ugly head? For me, it was around second grade. In the days leading up to the holidays, classmates grilled each other as to whether Santa Claus actually existed. Of course, there was always one ringleader who professed that his/her parents told him/her there was no such thing. And you certainly did not want to be embarrassed by being the last one in school to know the truth. So, in an effort... |
2007 Leading Lawyers
The Big Picture Linda Bluso Brouse McDowell LPA A Hardy Litigator Michael Hardy Thompson Hine LLP She Means Business Megan Mehalko Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Labor of Love Adrian Thompson Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Connecting Through Seperation Andrew Zashin Zashin & Rich Co. LPA Click here to search the 2007 Leading Lawyers database A Hardy Litigator
Michael Hardy didn't become a lawyer to follow in his father's or grandfather's footsteps. In fact, he was the first person in his family to graduate from college. Nor did he head to law school because he admired the attorney character Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird." His reasons for choosing the legal profession were less romantic, but no less idealistic. "I had the perception that as a law-yer I could help people solve complex problems," says Hardy, partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office o... Connecting Through Separation
It's almost absurd to hear Andrew Zashin talk about his fear of becoming a "legal robot." The animated 39-year-old co-managing partner of Cleveland's family, labor and employment relations firm Zashin & Rich Co. LPA speaks in a rapid-fire patter, jumps from his chair or rolls in it across the room to illustrate a point. He's not exactly mechanical. "If you're a legal robot, you're just not going to do good law," says Zashin, thumping the conference table with his fist for emphasis in his Public Sq... Labor of Love
An autographed photo of Muhammad Ali hangs in Adrian Thompson's corner office at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. "When I was a kid, he was my idol," says Thompson, a partner at the Cleveland law firm. "As an African-American male, he was not afraid to stand up for his principles. And that's what I try to do." Growing up in the small town of Willard, Thompson had a role model closer to home, too. "I was pushed by my father," he says. Thompson's dad attended school only through the eighth grade, then spe... She Means Business
A sharp mind. A hard worker. A tremendous business generator. Attorney Megan Mehalko is all this — and more, says Ira Kaplan, associate managing partner at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. Mehalko has worked for the Cleveland law firm since 2000. "She is the complete package," says Kaplan, who will become managing partner of Benesch in January. The traits that make Mehalko an accomplished attorney were evident long before she earned her law degree. As a teenager, she spent her summer va... The Big Picture
Linda Bluso always looks at the big picture. As a business and corporate attorney, Bluso spent her 25-year career not only navigating clients through the law, but also working closely with businesses on every aspect of their operations. As a legal adviser, she guided local businesses and organizations through everything from growth and loss to acquisition and scandal. Today, Bluso serves as partner-in-charge of Brouse McDowell LPA's Cleveland office, where she continues to serve clients armed with a sha... |
A Filmmaker's Journey
Cleveland's distance from the movie meccas of Hollywood and New York City isn't stopping one area writer/director from his grassroots attempt to find local funding and build a buzz around his first feature-length film, "Ivan's Journey." "This is definitely a Northeast Ohio project," says writer/director Matthew Gregor. "Cleveland is the optimal place for me to have my base of operations. It's quiet, there are no distractions, and the infrastructure is absolutely amazing and just ready to support the fil... Churchill's Forgotten Mentor
Not many people know that Winston Churchill as a young man had an American mentor who would serve as a major influence on the future legendary British prime minister. This little studied relationship is explored in a book that was released late this year by Michael McMenamin, a Churchill scholar and partner at the Cleveland law firm Walter & Haverfield LLP. Scholars in both the United Kingdom and the United States are applauding the book, "Becoming Winston Churchill – The Untold Story of Young Win... From Melting Pot to Tossed Salad
"We are open for business!" That was the message proclaimed by Ingrida Bublys, honorary consul general of the Republic of Lithuania, and echoed by many others at a reception at the Union Club in late October. Nineteen honorary consuls and one official consul — Dr. Zvone Zigon, consul general of the Republic of Slovenia — make up the Cleveland Foreign Consular Corps. Michael L. Miller, honorary consul of Sweden, gathered the group together and invited the business community to "call on us. We... Head in the Clouds
That hard drive in your PC. Kiss it goodbye. Not due to a virus or dropping it on the kitchen floor, but because you won't need it anymore as we will soon all access the same big hard drive in the sky, better known as the Internet. The concept of "cloud computing," where we will be able to access our data regardless of where we are or what device we use (early examples being Yahoo!, Gmail or AOL e-mail), is one of the top digital trends the marketing gurus at Google are envisioning for the future, accor... Home Office
A popular misconception about Northeast Ohio's economy is it's losing jobs because the corporate headquarters are moving out. Turns out, from 2000 to 2006, corporate and division headquarters were one of the largest drivers of job growth in Northeast Ohio — more than the banking, hospital and insurance industries — according to Ned Hill, professor and distinguished scholar of economic development at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. Hill reveale... New Team on the Block
"We're doing a reverse Modell," Jim Ferraro joked at this month's press conference where he announced news that won't break any local football fan's heart. Along with his partner, Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar, Ferraro revealed plans to move his Arena Football League (AFL) franchise from Las Vegas to Cleveland, or as Ferraro affectionately called the city, "the best football town in the world." "This is an awesome opportunity," said Kosar, who will act as team president and CEO. "Not only for me,... Old Friends
In the midst of union strikes affecting automakers General Motors and Chrysler earlier this fall, one area firm and its northern partner have locked in on a niche business to prevent those kinds of labor disputes from disrupting companies. Canada-based AFI International Group announced last month the acquisition of Cleveland firm International Management Assistance Corp. (IMAC). Both companies specialize in continuity services for businesses facing a crisis that threatens to upset their business, such a... |
Better Together
Cheryl Davis is a private person. As vice president and corporate secretary at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, she's also a very busy person. But when it comes to The Gathering Place, a resource in Beachwood for people touched by cancer, Davis puts aside her personal life to make time in her hectic schedule to volunteer. "I think it's just a wonderful place," says Davis, who serves on the board of directors and chairs the strategic planning committee. "It's a place where you can walk in the door ... |
Worth a Million
For one week only, a room on the lower level of Ellen Zegarra's Seven Hills home has been turned into a fashion showroom, complete with display racks and hundreds of samples by The Worth Collection, a New York City-based designer and manufacturer of luxury clothing. The northern Ohio divisional sales manager is using the temporary setup to recruit and train entrepreneurial sales associates in the region to sell the $100 million company's high-end couture creations and more moderately priced WorthWear, a... |
Ad Man
From the Beginning: Mark Szczepanik always knew he wanted to follow a career in advertising, even before enrolling at Ohio University. After graduating in 1999 with a degree in journalism, specializing in advertising, he worked for a small ad agency in Toledo before becoming a copywriter with Liggett Stashower in 2002. He was promoted to associate creative director three years later, then named director of brand voice earlier this year. Industry Leader: In June, Szczepanik became the youngest pre... |
2007 Leading Lawyers
The Big Picture Linda Bluso Brouse McDowell LPA A Hardy Litigator Michael Hardy Thompson Hine LLP She Means Business Megan Mehalko Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP Labor of Love Adrian Thompson Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Connecting Through Seperation Andrew Zashin Zashin & Rich Co. LPA Click here to search the 2007 Leading Lawyers database A Hardy Litigator
Michael Hardy didn't become a lawyer to follow in his father's or grandfather's footsteps. In fact, he was the first person in his family to graduate from college. Nor did he head to law school because he admired the attorney character Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird." His reasons for choosing the legal profession were less romantic, but no less idealistic. "I had the perception that as a law-yer I could help people solve complex problems," says Hardy, partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office o... A Successful Turnout
When companies like The Sherwin-Williams Co., IBM and the Consumer Electronics Association need to plan an event, they rely on the more than 100 certified meeting professionals at Experient Inc. Formerly known as Conferon, Experient considers itself a leading source for integrated meeting and event solutions, handling more than 3,500 events a year that range from a 25-person business meeting to a political convention with more than 100,000 attendees. It's no wonder Experient has been a regular on the We... Connecting Through Separation
It's almost absurd to hear Andrew Zashin talk about his fear of becoming a "legal robot." The animated 39-year-old co-managing partner of Cleveland's family, labor and employment relations firm Zashin & Rich Co. LPA speaks in a rapid-fire patter, jumps from his chair or rolls in it across the room to illustrate a point. He's not exactly mechanical. "If you're a legal robot, you're just not going to do good law," says Zashin, thumping the conference table with his fist for emphasis in his Public Sq... Empowering Employees
After working for a recruiting company for five years, Pat Murphy left in 2002 to launch Global Technical Recruiters. "I had a lot of good ideas that I thought I could achieve on my own," says Murphy. "I approached my brother about starting the business, and he said, ‘Why not?'" Together, Pat and Rob Murphy, who had sold real estate for 14 years, opened a firm in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood to provide temporary and permanent staffing to Northeast Ohio businesses. Pat runs the operations, wh... Entrepreneurial Gene
Entrepreneurship runs in Ailish Murphy's family. More than 20 years ago, her parents started a catalog business selling Irish-themed products. Her brother owns a company that designs e-commerce Web sites, and her sister was incorporated as a merchandising analyst. So it's no surprise that Murphy got the bug and founded her own company, MurTech Consulting, in 2000. The Independence-based technology consulting and placement firm specializes in helping Fortune 1000 clients in Greater Cleveland, Akron, Cant... Flying High
Flight Options LLC didn't become one of the largest private jet operators in the world by staying one course — and it hasn't always been a smooth ride. In fact, the business model has been tweaked and refined since the company was founded in 1998. But eventually, this nine-time Weatherhead 100 winner got it right. Flight Options began as a company that sold used aircraft, but it lost money every time some of the planes took flight, says S. Michael Scheeringa, CEO. By 2004, Flight Options was a $55... Growing Like a Weed
In 2001, Rob Palmer took a leap of faith. Actually, he took two leaps. "Some people's dream is to start their own business. Others dream of staying home with the kids," says Palmer. "My wife and I did both at once and made it work." Palmer founded Weed Pro Ltd. nearly seven years ago, while his then-pregnant wife simultaneously quit her teaching job in Westlake to stay at home with their children. "I wasn't one of those guys with a big bank account or inheritance," he says. "We did it by managing our bu... High-Tech Success
Hermant Mainthia always dreamed of being his own boss. Even with a lucrative career — where he spent 25 years at NASA Glenn Research Center as a consultant and civil servant — Mainthia wanted to put his mechanical engineering education toward an entrepreneurial endeavor. "It's been a lifelong goal," Mainthia says. "I've been dreaming about having my own business since childhood." So, in 1996, he combined that entrepreneurial itch with his affinity for NASA and founded Mainthia Technologies i... Home Run
The passion for high school sports displayed by Northeast Ohioans inspired four high school buddies — three of them brothers — to develop a unique sports marketing program that pairs national sponsorship dollars with more than 3,000 high schools across the country. The result? Home Team Marketing is approaching $5 million in annual sales in just over seven years. The company is now batting a thousand — last year sales were up by more than 1,153 percent and the employee base grew to 22.... Labor of Love
An autographed photo of Muhammad Ali hangs in Adrian Thompson's corner office at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. "When I was a kid, he was my idol," says Thompson, a partner at the Cleveland law firm. "As an African-American male, he was not afraid to stand up for his principles. And that's what I try to do." Growing up in the small town of Willard, Thompson had a role model closer to home, too. "I was pushed by my father," he says. Thompson's dad attended school only through the eighth grade, then spe... Mixon's Moxie
The average tenure of chief executive officers of large U.S. companies is 9.8 years, according to a recent study by consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Naturally, there are always exceptions to the law of averages: A. Malachi Mixon III has been CEO of Invacare Corp. for 28 years. In January 1979, Mixon used $10,000 of his own money and led a leveraged buyout of Invacare with annual revenues of just $19 million. Since then, Mixon has grown Elyria-based Invacare into a $1.6 billion worldwide enterprise t... No Signs of Slowing Down
To say TMW Systems Inc. is on a roll would be an understatement — its record on the Weatherhead 100 list is a testament to its 24-year success. The software developer for the trucking and logistics industry has had a spot on the list 14 out of the 20 years the awards program has been in existence and holds the record for the most consecutive years on the list: 12 (from 1993 to 2004). "The record is an outgrowth of the focus and commitment we have shown in our core market — the transportation... On Her Own Terms
Patricia M. Giambrone is best described as driven, especially when it comes to her career. "No matter where I worked or who I worked for, I always tried to be the best employee," she says. Her tenacity led her to start her own company after serving 15 years as a controller for her husband's masonry construction company. "I said, 'Why do I have to work for someone else?'" Giambrone recalls. "He said, 'Get all your certification and let's go.' I was tired of working for everyone else and wanted to work fo... Overwhelming Response
Since it was first packaged with Microsoft Office in 1990, PowerPoint presentations have been mostly a passive experience. The speaker would churn through his or her charts, graphs and bullet points and the audience would listen, take notes and maybe ask a question or two at the end. But thanks to Youngstown-based Turning Technologies, the audience finally gets to interact with the presentation, answer questions the speaker poses during the talk and — as any instructor knows — retain a lot m... Producing Sucess
Lakeside Produce Distribution Inc., a national distributor of fresh produce to the salad manufacturing industry, has experienced remarkable growth in its short five-year history. President and CEO Terrence Granzier started the company in the winter of 2002 and, today, he's targeting $6 million in sales this year. That's a lot of growth for a company with just four full-time employees. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been a staple in Granzier's life since he was 16 years old. After graduating from The O... Profiting from Debt
When it comes to booming businesses in Northeast Ohio, there are few that owe their success to America's growing debt. But with the average American carrying more than $8,000 in credit card debt, Hudson & Keyse LLC (H&K) has emerged as a leader in debt buying and reselling, with 1,727 percent sales growth since 2002. Its growth has landed the company on coveted lists such as the Weatherhead 100 and Inc. Magazine's top 500 fastest-growing companies. Chairman Joseph Carroll founded H&K in 1984. Today, he ... She Means Business
A sharp mind. A hard worker. A tremendous business generator. Attorney Megan Mehalko is all this — and more, says Ira Kaplan, associate managing partner at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP. Mehalko has worked for the Cleveland law firm since 2000. "She is the complete package," says Kaplan, who will become managing partner of Benesch in January. The traits that make Mehalko an accomplished attorney were evident long before she earned her law degree. As a teenager, she spent her summer va... Shining Star
Monte Ahuja was what some might call a star student, especially once he left the confines of a college campus. Graduating from Cleveland State University armed with an MBA and an ambitious business plan for Transtar Industries, Ahuja founded the company in 1975 with encouragement from a professor who was impressed by his vision. Ahuja had plans to develop a national transmission parts distribution company committed to offering rebuilders parts availability and personal service previously unheard of in t... The Big Picture
Linda Bluso always looks at the big picture. As a business and corporate attorney, Bluso spent her 25-year career not only navigating clients through the law, but also working closely with businesses on every aspect of their operations. As a legal adviser, she guided local businesses and organizations through everything from growth and loss to acquisition and scandal. Today, Bluso serves as partner-in-charge of Brouse McDowell LPA's Cleveland office, where she continues to serve clients armed with a sha... The Birth of Weatherhead 100
When Kirk Neiswander first heard of the Weatherhead 100 concept more than 20 years ago, he thought it was a dumb idea. The former director of entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management remembers meeting with Bob Pavey, a managing partner with venture-capital firm Morgenthaler Partners. Together with venture-capital firm Primus, Morgenthaler funded Neiswander's research study to find out which new businesses in Northeast Ohio were thriving. "In the mid-1980s, w... The Right Time at the Right Place
Timing is everything when it comes to the success of MemberHealth, a national pharmacy benefits manager that administers prescription drugs for commercial and government organizations. In 2006, the oldest of the baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, turned 60 years old. As this generation ages, the demand for prescription drugs will increase, making it the largest group of health-care consumers in the country. So it's no coincidence that MemberHealth has had explosive growth since fou... |
A Successful Turnout
When companies like The Sherwin-Williams Co., IBM and the Consumer Electronics Association need to plan an event, they rely on the more than 100 certified meeting professionals at Experient Inc. Formerly known as Conferon, Experient considers itself a leading source for integrated meeting and event solutions, handling more than 3,500 events a year that range from a 25-person business meeting to a political convention with more than 100,000 attendees. It's no wonder Experient has been a regular on the We... Empowering Employees
After working for a recruiting company for five years, Pat Murphy left in 2002 to launch Global Technical Recruiters. "I had a lot of good ideas that I thought I could achieve on my own," says Murphy. "I approached my brother about starting the business, and he said, ‘Why not?'" Together, Pat and Rob Murphy, who had sold real estate for 14 years, opened a firm in Cleveland's West Park neighborhood to provide temporary and permanent staffing to Northeast Ohio businesses. Pat runs the operations, wh... Entrepreneurial Gene
Entrepreneurship runs in Ailish Murphy's family. More than 20 years ago, her parents started a catalog business selling Irish-themed products. Her brother owns a company that designs e-commerce Web sites, and her sister was incorporated as a merchandising analyst. So it's no surprise that Murphy got the bug and founded her own company, MurTech Consulting, in 2000. The Independence-based technology consulting and placement firm specializes in helping Fortune 1000 clients in Greater Cleveland, Akron, Cant... Flying High
Flight Options LLC didn't become one of the largest private jet operators in the world by staying one course — and it hasn't always been a smooth ride. In fact, the business model has been tweaked and refined since the company was founded in 1998. But eventually, this nine-time Weatherhead 100 winner got it right. Flight Options began as a company that sold used aircraft, but it lost money every time some of the planes took flight, says S. Michael Scheeringa, CEO. By 2004, Flight Options was a $55... Growing Like a Weed
In 2001, Rob Palmer took a leap of faith. Actually, he took two leaps. "Some people's dream is to start their own business. Others dream of staying home with the kids," says Palmer. "My wife and I did both at once and made it work." Palmer founded Weed Pro Ltd. nearly seven years ago, while his then-pregnant wife simultaneously quit her teaching job in Westlake to stay at home with their children. "I wasn't one of those guys with a big bank account or inheritance," he says. "We did it by managing our bu... High-Tech Success
Hermant Mainthia always dreamed of being his own boss. Even with a lucrative career — where he spent 25 years at NASA Glenn Research Center as a consultant and civil servant — Mainthia wanted to put his mechanical engineering education toward an entrepreneurial endeavor. "It's been a lifelong goal," Mainthia says. "I've been dreaming about having my own business since childhood." So, in 1996, he combined that entrepreneurial itch with his affinity for NASA and founded Mainthia Technologies i... Home Run
The passion for high school sports displayed by Northeast Ohioans inspired four high school buddies — three of them brothers — to develop a unique sports marketing program that pairs national sponsorship dollars with more than 3,000 high schools across the country. The result? Home Team Marketing is approaching $5 million in annual sales in just over seven years. The company is now batting a thousand — last year sales were up by more than 1,153 percent and the employee base grew to 22.... Mixon's Moxie
The average tenure of chief executive officers of large U.S. companies is 9.8 years, according to a recent study by consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Naturally, there are always exceptions to the law of averages: A. Malachi Mixon III has been CEO of Invacare Corp. for 28 years. In January 1979, Mixon used $10,000 of his own money and led a leveraged buyout of Invacare with annual revenues of just $19 million. Since then, Mixon has grown Elyria-based Invacare into a $1.6 billion worldwide enterprise t... No Signs of Slowing Down
To say TMW Systems Inc. is on a roll would be an understatement — its record on the Weatherhead 100 list is a testament to its 24-year success. The software developer for the trucking and logistics industry has had a spot on the list 14 out of the 20 years the awards program has been in existence and holds the record for the most consecutive years on the list: 12 (from 1993 to 2004). "The record is an outgrowth of the focus and commitment we have shown in our core market — the transportation... On Her Own Terms
Patricia M. Giambrone is best described as driven, especially when it comes to her career. "No matter where I worked or who I worked for, I always tried to be the best employee," she says. Her tenacity led her to start her own company after serving 15 years as a controller for her husband's masonry construction company. "I said, 'Why do I have to work for someone else?'" Giambrone recalls. "He said, 'Get all your certification and let's go.' I was tired of working for everyone else and wanted to work fo... Overwhelming Response
Since it was first packaged with Microsoft Office in 1990, PowerPoint presentations have been mostly a passive experience. The speaker would churn through his or her charts, graphs and bullet points and the audience would listen, take notes and maybe ask a question or two at the end. But thanks to Youngstown-based Turning Technologies, the audience finally gets to interact with the presentation, answer questions the speaker poses during the talk and — as any instructor knows — retain a lot m... Producing Sucess
Lakeside Produce Distribution Inc., a national distributor of fresh produce to the salad manufacturing industry, has experienced remarkable growth in its short five-year history. President and CEO Terrence Granzier started the company in the winter of 2002 and, today, he's targeting $6 million in sales this year. That's a lot of growth for a company with just four full-time employees. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been a staple in Granzier's life since he was 16 years old. After graduating from The O... Profiting from Debt
When it comes to booming businesses in Northeast Ohio, there are few that owe their success to America's growing debt. But with the average American carrying more than $8,000 in credit card debt, Hudson & Keyse LLC (H&K) has emerged as a leader in debt buying and reselling, with 1,727 percent sales growth since 2002. Its growth has landed the company on coveted lists such as the Weatherhead 100 and Inc. Magazine's top 500 fastest-growing companies. Chairman Joseph Carroll founded H&K in 1984. Today, he ... Shining Star
Monte Ahuja was what some might call a star student, especially once he left the confines of a college campus. Graduating from Cleveland State University armed with an MBA and an ambitious business plan for Transtar Industries, Ahuja founded the company in 1975 with encouragement from a professor who was impressed by his vision. Ahuja had plans to develop a national transmission parts distribution company committed to offering rebuilders parts availability and personal service previously unheard of in t... The Birth of Weatherhead 100
When Kirk Neiswander first heard of the Weatherhead 100 concept more than 20 years ago, he thought it was a dumb idea. The former director of entrepreneurship at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management remembers meeting with Bob Pavey, a managing partner with venture-capital firm Morgenthaler Partners. Together with venture-capital firm Primus, Morgenthaler funded Neiswander's research study to find out which new businesses in Northeast Ohio were thriving. "In the mid-1980s, w... The Right Time at the Right Place
Timing is everything when it comes to the success of MemberHealth, a national pharmacy benefits manager that administers prescription drugs for commercial and government organizations. In 2006, the oldest of the baby boomers, the generation born between 1946 and 1964, turned 60 years old. As this generation ages, the demand for prescription drugs will increase, making it the largest group of health-care consumers in the country. So it's no coincidence that MemberHealth has had explosive growth since fou... |
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