Crain's Cleveland Business, December 18, 2023 by Crain's Cleveland Business

CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM I DECEMBER 18, 2023

BREWING AMBITION Inside The Brew Kettle’s plans to build the biggest craft beer enterprise in Ohio

By Jeremy Nobile

Amid an increasingly competitive, maturing market for craft beer, the lead owner of The Brew Kettle has drafted ambitious plans to refresh the 28-year-old business and grow it into the most expansive and diversified craft enterprise in the state.

“My goal is to create a house of brands,” said Bryan Weber, Brew Kettle’s president and majority owner. “When you have a house of brands and don’t sell out, you don’t lose your customer base or the respect of the industry.” This portfolio of brands is one of several key pieces in Weber’s formula for building The Brew

Kettle into the preeminent craft concern in Ohio. The sweeping plans to achieve this include: an improved approach to beer production and distribution; more Brew Kettle locations; an M&A strategy for rolling up those other craft brands; a company rebrand; construction of a new and improved manufac-

turing facility with its own taproom and restaurant—making for a potentially sprawling complex Weber compares to the Fat Head’s Brewery mothership off I-71 in Middleburg Heights; and the placement of some new executives to help execute the vision. See BREW KETTLE on Page 27

Brew Kettle executives (from left) CEO Evan Schumann, Chief Revenue Officer Marisa Sergi-Schumann and President Bryan Weber are working to refresh, grow and expand the 28-year-old craft brewery. | GUS CHAN

Brew Kettle’s strategy for growth and future success. PAGE 26

Museum of Illusions coming to downtown

Insurance hikes hit commercial property

Global brand signs lease in historic May Co. building

Catastrophe costs spur carriers to raise rates

By Michelle Jarboe

A mind-bending museum plans to set up shop in downtown Cleveland next year, on the first floor of the historic May Co. building just off Public Square. The Museum of Illusions has signed a 9,000-square-foot lease on the Euclid Avenue side of the

May. It’s the first retail deal that Bedrock, the real estate arm of Detroit-based billionaire Dan Gilbert’s Rock family of companies, has lined up since buying the building for an apartment revamp in late 2017. “We’re trying to create fun, vibrant places in our downtown areas, both in Detroit and Cleveland,” said Jason Russell, See MUSEUM on Page 28

By Stan Bullard

The Museum of Illusions includes rooms like a vortex tunnel that creates the sensation of movement. | MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS

A new hot topic is circulating among Northeast Ohio owners and managers of commercial properties, from garden apartments to office towers. Tom Charek, president of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)

TRAVEL AAA projects 2023 to be the busiest year-end travel season since the agency began tracking data, with 115.2 million taking a trip. PAGE 4

REAL ESTATE As Ohio’s population growth slows, so does construction of new houses. In the past year, the state grew its housing stock by just 0.5%. PAGE 25

trade group of Northern Ohio, said, “Whenever we’re together we talk about both rising interest rates and insurance rates. Insurance and how you are handling it is part of almost every conversation now.” The situation is such that even owners of commercial properties in the Cleveland and Akron areas are watching for how See INSURANCE on Page 25

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Legal Aid Society receives $2.5M Part of latest round of MacKenzie Scott gifts to Ohio causes By Crain’s Staff

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott included a Cleveland group in her latest round of donations, announced on Dec. 6. On the site for Yield Giving, Scott’s charitable organization, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is named as a recipient of one of Scott’s gifts. Though Yield doesn’t list an amount, a press release from the Legal Aid Society puts the gift at $2.5 million. In the Legal Aid press release, the organization says, “Legal Aid’s Board of Directors is honored by this one-time special investment in our work. The Board will take time to thoughtfully identify how the funding will be used so this one-time inScott vestment can have the highest and most sustainable impact on our client communities.” The statement adds that the board plans to “align” the spending of Scott’s gift with its new 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. In the statement, Colleen Cotter, executive director of Legal Aid, called the gift “an honor” and noted that the gift is the “largest one-time gift in Legal Aid’s 118-year history.” She added, “We believe in the ripple effect of our efforts, and this gift bolsters our work to fight injustice, and to create ripples of hope as we ‘sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.’” Scott, who previously donated $20 million to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and $6.8 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, also distributed funds to a handful of other groups in Ohio in this round of giving. Those groups and their gifts are: ◗ $6 million to the Muskingum Valley Health Centers in Cambridge and Zanesville. ◗ $5 million to the Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization in Ironton. ◗ $2.2 million to the Crossroad Health Center in Cincinnati. ◗ $1.6 million to SpringVale Health Centers in Caroll and Tuscarawas counties. In total, that’s $17.3 million in donations to Ohio organizations.

The Ørsted Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island. The effort to bring an offshore wind farm to Cleveland has been paused. | BLOOMBERG

Lake Erie wind project runs out of steam as board pauses effort By Kim Palmer

The nearly 15-year effort to bring the first freshwater offshore wind farm in North America to Cleveland has been officially “paused” by the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo) board of directors. The board cited “years of delays and obstacles” as the reason, according to a statement issued Dec. 8. In 2009, LEEDCo’s Icebreaker Wind project set out to construct six turbines about 8 miles off the coastline of downtown Cleveland as part of a pilot program that would have made it the country’s first freshwater wind farm. LEEDCo board member Will Friedman, president of the Port of Cleveland, said in a statement that he is disappointed about the suspension of the project, adding the project permits are still active and he hopes it will get back on track in the future. “This pause is necessitated by a confluence of adverse circumstances and numerous delays resulting in a financial climate where the project’s commercial viability is in question,” he said. Friedman said LEEDCo’s board is open to the possibility of other

developer-owners taking over the project. As part of the pause, a U.S. Department of Energy’s Office (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy grant of $50 million will be remitted, as LEEDCo is unable to meet the development milestones.

tion by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Despite a positive ruling by the EPA, in 2020 the American Bird Conservancy and Black Swamp Bird Observatory filed suit in federal court against the DOE, arguing the government had not properly regulated the environmental

Icebreaker was projected to produce 20 megawatts of clean power, create more than 500 jobs and provide $250 million in economic benefits for the region. The $173 million energy generation project faced numerous challenges over the years—from private lakeshore residents, state regulators and environmental groups—that Friedman said delayed the project’s timeline and had a chilling effect on financing. Once constructed, Icebreaker was projected to produce 20 megawatts of clean power, create more than 500 jobs and provide $250 million in economic benefits for the region. As one of the first of its kind, the project initially went through a nearly three-year environmental assessment regarding bird migra-

impacts of wind energy facilities. In addition, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) enacted what LEEDCo called a “project-killing condition,” mandating that Icebreaker would have to cease operations from sunset to sunrise during the period from March 1 to Nov. 1 to protect migratory birds and bats. That ruling was in opposition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s determination that the project posed “limited direct risk” to migratory birds. The project also faced a lawsuit from two Bratenahl residents represented by attorneys bankrolled by Ohio coal producer Murray

Energy Corp. The suit against the wind farm was heard by the Ohio Supreme Court, which eventually approved the wind farm permit in 2022 after years on the docket. All of those delays led to “constrained economics for the project,” Friedman said. Coupled with higher interest rates, general inflation and “significantly increased capital costs, especially for materials like steel,” the offshore wind project became financially challenging. LEEDCo’s private development partner, which was to construct and operate the project, ceased financial support for Icebreaker recently due to the numerous obstacles, according to the statement. Ronn Richard, LEEDCo board chair, said in a statement he continues to be optimistic about the creation of an offshore wind farm on Lake Erie “in his lifetime.” “LEEDCo has conducted extensive, expert research about the environmental sustainability of offshore wind, laying the groundwork for future projects,” Richard said. “We have sparked a meaningful community conversation about the potential offshore wind can provide and the importance of renewable energy.”

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BrandMuscle opens doors at smaller Post Office Plaza suite By Stan Bullard

Mystery solved. A tour of BrandMuscle’s new suite at Post Office Plaza explained how the digital marketing concern pared down 100 people in 55,000 square feet on two floors at Oswald Centre to a new space of just 13,000 square feet at Post Office Plaza (1500 W. 3rd St.). However, the answer is not just in the brightly painted white and blue drywall, carpets featuring a new logo for branding and cool glass-cornered conference rooms. It’s in the flexible work policy. Helen Baptist, BrandMuscle chief strategy and market officer, said in an interview at the office that the company requires staffers to be in the office only for firm events, visits by clients or special meetings. That clears the way for the office on the third floor of the landmark to function, with one exception, without assigned desks. The receptionist is the only staffer with an assigned workstation, Baptist said. The heart of the operation is a large room with long tables for staffers to share. The open office also serves as a training hub, so tables may be rearranged to suit the firm’s needs at any given time. Conference rooms ring three sides of the suite. A handful of private offices are there but they are not permanently assigned. For anyone. The office now serves as one of two hubs for the company. The other is in Chicago. Randy Elkins, BrandMuscle’s chief financial officer, said in a prepared statement that the

at Playhouse Square are its only pure office plays as its other downtown properties combine offices and apartments. “I think it depends on the nature of the business,” Price said of the BrandMuscle approach to offices. “This seems to appeal to marketing and technology firms. The space we’re building out for Walter Haverfield will be loaded with private offices for the attorneys. The thing is that in Cleveland we’re not gaining new tenants, just moving them around.” But divining business workplace trends are keeping business gurus such as McKinsey and the research units of national realty brokerages busy. Andrew Coleman, CBRE’s Cleveland-Akron market leader, agrees the trend of hoteling is not new as it has been around for a decade. “I feel the technology for remote work made a lot of progress during the pandemic,” Coleman, a veteran office expert, said in a — Doug Price, CEO of K&D Group of Willoughby phone interview. “More businesses Conor Coakley, a Cushman became open to the idea of reWakefield Cresco senior vice mote work and virtual meetings. I president who worked on the think the two combined during landlord side of BrandMuscle’s the pandemic to accelerate these move, said in a phone interview trends in the office market.” There is a big change in the that he felt the hoteling trend had more traction before personality of the workplace at many offices as a result. COVID-19. “There are not a lot of tchotchAt the moment, he said, it seems tenants in the Cleveland kes in the office anymore,” Colemarket are tending to want more man said. “Those and the family private offices in their new suites pictures have to go in the locker at the end of the day. But it all than in the past. Doug Price is CEO of K&D makes a lot of sense compared to Group of Willoughby, which paying for office space for someowns Post Office Plaza. That one who is only there a few times building and the Keith Building a month.”

company is happy to be one of the hubs. “Though we said goodbye to our original Cleveland office, it was important that we remain local,” Elkins said. “That’s why we relocated only a mile away to solidify our commitment to the Cleveland business area.” Scott Weeren, BrandMuscle CEO, said in a news release that he looks forward to hosting clients in the new space. “The atmosphere,” Weeren continued, “creates an environment conducive to building better relationships, solving local marketing challenges, and driving results for our clients. Today marks a new era for BrandMuscle.” In the end, the suite is a tunedup version of hoteling, the practice of having no assigned offices which has been gaining ground for years.

“The thing is that in Cleveland we’re not gaining new tenants, just moving them around.”

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FOR SALE

By Jack Grieve

Corky & Lenny’s, the beloved Jewish deli in Woodmere Village, is closing its doors after serving Northeast Ohio for 67 years. The restaurant is closing not because of a lack of business but rather due to workforce shortages and struggles to find a partner. “It really comes down to a staffing issue,” said co-owner Amanda Kurland. “There were not enough employees to cover the amount of work that it was. It just got to be too stressful, too physically, mentally and emotionally draining.” The East Side institution is not ruling out the possibility that it could reopen in some fashion in the future. “We just need something smaller,” Kurland said. “I think a smaller location with a smaller menu, takeout and catering, could do great. We’d be able to do a lot of our favorites, and I think it’d be a real hit.” In a statement addressing the

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Happy Holidays

Woodmere’s Corky & Lenny’s, beloved Jewish deli, closes

closure, Woodmere Mayor Benjamin Holbert III described Corky & Lenny’s as a “cherished establishment that has become synonymous with the spirit of Woodmere.” He noted that “in recent discussions with the ownership, it became apparent that this iconic establishment is facing challenging times.” The statement continued: “The struggle to attract and retain staff has become an immense hurdle,

and Corky and Lenny’s, despite its rich legacy, has not been immune to these difficulties. It is our sincere hope that this setback is merely a temporary chapter in their story, and soon, we can once again revel in the familiar embrace of their hospitality and delicious menu. Corky & Lenny’s was founded by Sanford “Corky” Kurland and Lenny Kaden in 1956, according to the restaurant’s website. Its first location was in South Euclid, with the current Woodmere spot at 27091 Chagrin Blvd. opening later in 1973. Kenny Kurland, the son of Sanford Kurland and husband to Amanda Kurland, ran the day-today of the restaurant and ultimately made the decision to close. “Thank you to our loyal customers and staff!” the restaurant’s website reads. “We enjoyed over 67 years of success. We (are) sorry we couldn’t continue at this time.”

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AAA: Huge holiday for travel looms By Crain’s Staff

A big Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend across the country—and Ohio—will roll into the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, too, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). In a report released by AAA on Dec. 11, the group projects 115.2 million Americans will travel at 50 miles or more during the 10day year-end holiday travel period (Dec. 23, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024). Those projections would make 2023 the busiest year-end travel season since AAA began tracking the data in 2000. A vast majority of those travelers will be by car. AAA estimates that over 103 million people (90% of expected travelers) will go by

automobile, up over last year’s 101.8 million. And while that total traveler number of 115.2 million would still be behind 2019’s 119.3 million travelers, the number of projected flyers for the 10-day holiday period (7.51 million, 6.5% percent of travelers) would surpass those who used air travel during the same time period of that boffo 2019 holiday (7.33 million). The trend would be an extension of a busy Thanksgiving travel period during which the daily number of passengers screened by U.S. airport security hit a record 2.907 million. A tad over 4 million travelers (3.5%) are expected to use other means of transportation, like buses or trains. While a spokesperson for Cleveland Hopkins International

Airport said that they do not yet have estimates for the upcoming travel period, a recent release said that the airport was on pace to see over 10 million travelers board planes at the airport in 2023, exceeding 2019’s pre-pandemic number. Ohioans who plan to travel by car will be welcomed on the road by gas prices lower than the national average. As of Dec. 11, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Ohio, according to AAA, was $2.821, more than 30 cents below the national average of $3.153. As of Dec. 11, gas prices in Cuyahoga Co. were slightly higher ($2.882 per gallon) than the state average. Bloomberg contributed to this story.

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THOUGHT LEADER REPORT

SPONSORED CONTENT

FINANCE

Watch for these economic factors in the new year Navigating the financial landscape of 2024

f the last year taught us anything in the financial world, it’s that you can’t predict with certainty what’s around the corner. Fortunately, the fears of a recession in 2023 haven’t come to bear, but that doesn’t mean business owners and consumers haven’t faced challenges.

declining consumer confidence, according to the survey, citing concerns over ongoing inflation and the conflicts in both Ukraine and the Middle East. Watch for monthly survey results to get the latest information on consumer sentiment.

This year, we saw the failure of several large banks, prompting many to panic about what would come next. Interest rates have remained at higher-thannormal levels, slowing consumer spending and limiting economic investments. Geopolitical turmoil at home and abroad has created uncertainty in the markets, and the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle is still ahead.

The 2024 election Political watchers typically consider odd-numbered years to be quiet, “off-years,” given no federal elections occur. But with a bitterly divided federal government in Washington, there’s been no shortage of political controversy in 2023, including Congressional leadership changes and government spending standoffs. And with the 2024 presidential election less than a year away, we can only expect the political environment to heat up in the coming months. Why is this important for business owners? Election years and the resulting partisan makeup of Congress significantly impact the markets, and history indicates that gridlock is actually a good thing for stocks.

I joined Brian Toma, managing partner and registered investment adviser at Freeman Heyne Toma Financial Advisors, for a discussion to help business leaders navigate the challenges and opportunities we expect in 2024. Consumer sentiment For better or for worse, consumer

MIKE TOTH Chairman and CEO Westfield Bank

feelings (both real and perceived) significantly shape our economy. Each month, the University of Michigan conducts a survey to gauge consumer sentiment, known as the Consumer Sentiment Index. November 2023 marked four straight months of

Interest rates While the Federal Reserve paused its

rate hikes towards the end of 2023, we’re heading into the new year with rates as high as they’ve been in more than two decades. As inflation persists, business owners and consumers are learning to adjust to this new normal. Even if the Central Bank moves to cut rates in the near future, it may be too little, too late. “The Fed was late to raise rates, and they might be late to cut rates too,” Brian said. The EconomyNow app from the Atlanta Fed is an easy tool for staying up to date on the latest economic data. Community banks One of the biggest stories of the last year was the failure of several top banks, including Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic Bank and others. While this understandably led to fear and uncertainty among business owners and consumers, I made the case following these failures that community banks have renewed importance. Fear, perception and lack of investment diversification were the main contributing factors to these large bank failures — something many community banks stand in clear

contrast to. Community banks are stable and resilient, and offer solutions to safeguard and fully FDIC insure deposits well beyond $250,000. If you take away one lesson from our discussion, it’s that business owners ought to be thoughtful in 2024. Nobody has a crystal ball for what the economy has in store for us. However, you can position your business for success and growth by monitoring these factors and economic indicators. Surrounding yourself with a “dream team” of professionals — including a trusted banker, financial adviser, CPA and lawyer — can make all the difference when economic challenges inevitably arise. Mike Toth is chairman and CEO at Westfield Bank. For more information, contact Chris Van Ausdale at chrisvanausdale@ westfield-bank.com. This discussion is part of Westfield Bank’s Sharing Knowledge Series. The full episode can be viewed or listened to at westfield-bank.com/sks26.

CRAIN’S CONTENT STUDIO

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EDITORIAL

The good and the bad at the end of 2023 I

torney General’s office, and providing that task force with $1.5 million in its first year, and $1 million annually after that, to help reduce retail theft. Retail businesses are vital to the health of cities big and small, and curbing theft is important if those companies are to thrive. With the good, though, comes some bad. Quick thoughts on three things:

t’s the time of year when — if you aren’t frantically looking for a last-minute gift, racing off to social commitment or working on a must-close deal — you might be taking stock of how things have gone over the last 12 months. We hope you’re able to enjoy these closing days of 2023 and reflect on the good things (and not-so-good things) the year brought to your life. In that spirit, here are some thoughts about a few key issues in the region and state. Let’s be positive and start with some good things:

State of the arts: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, the organization that distributes to arts organizations funds generated by the county’s 30-cent-per-pack cigarette tax, had a tough year that is ending with a little hope for a better 2024. CAC has developed a tense relationship with artists, who have become skeptical of the organization’s effi-

BLOOMBERG PHOTOS

It’s about time to get these trains running: There’s a real chance that Ohio’s on track for expanded Amtrak service. The Federal Railroad Administration on Dec. 5 announced that four Ohio routes, known as “corridors,” were selected as priorities for Amtrak expansion made possible by the bipartisan federal infrastructure law. (Thanks again to former Sen. Rob Portman for being an important Republican in helping it pass.) Two of the Ohio routes that will be studied involve our region: Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati, known as the 3C+D, and Cleveland-Toledo-Detroit, and both would include stops at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. A study commissioned by All Aboard Ohio estimates that new passenger rail service in Ohio would contribute up to $107 million to gross state product. The U.S. lags much of the world in developing good rail service, and the Midwest, in particular, is poor even by the country’s standards. Sen. Sherrod Brown was right when he said, “Good Amtrak service shouldn’t be a privilege only for people on the coasts.” The new routes, he noted, “would expand opportunity, help grow businesses and create jobs, and connect communities in Ohio and across the Midwest.” We look forward to it happening.

The long scandal: A federal grand jury on Dec. 4 charged Sam Randazzo, the former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chairman, with bribery and embezzlement crimes, as part of the ongoing investigation surrounding the FirstEnergy/HB 6 scandal. According to the indictment, Randazzo allegedly received more than $4.3 million from “an energy company” and its affiliates to provide favorable rulings and results when he was PUCO chairman from April 2019 to November 2020. If he’s guilty, the punishment must fit the crime. It remains frustrating, though, that years after the scandal came to light there has been so little accountability for those responsible.

ciency and transparency, and that tension has made it harder to move ahead with plans for a campaign to renew the arts-supporting tax. The tax doesn’t expire until 2027, but CAC hopes the issue can appear on the ballot in fall 2024 and is making plans to do that. A renewal, under revised terms, is important because the tax is generating less money than it used to as fewer people smoke cigarettes. CAC took a step in the right direction last week when its board approved a $500,000 grant to another organization, Assembly for the Arts, to administer funding from CAC to individual artists, (CAC can make grants only to nonprofit organizations.) It also offered an apology for the strained relations, with board president Nancy Mendez adding, “We know that any apology must be backed by action.” Let’s hope this is the start to a more harmonious

relationship. The arts sector is a key advantage Cleveland has over other cities of its size, and it needs to remain strong. Taking crime seriously: We’ve praised various initiatives undertaken by Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration to address crime in the city, and to leverage state resources to do the same. All important, because safety is the primary job of a local government for its citizens and businesses. One aspect of crime that doesn’t get as much attention, though, is retail theft, and we appreciated the thought and creativity that went into a recent set of recommendations from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Crime Task Force. Among them: creating an organized retail theft task force housed under the existing Organized Crime Investigations Commission within the Ohio At-

Lakefront dreams: It’s less than ideal that Cleveland’s lakefront plans rely so heavily on the involvement of Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, who’s embroiled in a legal tangle with Warren Buffett and now, according to Bloomberg, is under investigation by federal prosecutors examining whether he offered payments to executives at Pilot Travel Centers that could affect a sale of his stake in the company to Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. We won’t pre-judge. This might be nothing. But it sure would feel better if the city had alternatives as it spends 2024 working to enliven the lakefront. Broken: The long-gestating Icebreaker Wind project to establish a freshwater wind farm in Lake Erie has officially been “paused” by directors of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo), and while they left open the possibility of reviving the effort, it seems done. That’s unfortunate. Cleveland has the natural resources for this kind of innovation. Experimentation in this space is important. We hope at some point someone can find a way to cut through the delays and obstacles that set Icebreaker back.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR The county, attentive to convention cenKennedy family friend of Hagan’s. to enjoy our subsidized housing. Homelessness MMPI walked away with a great payday: ter needs, further financed the building of It all goes back to the desire for a new con$333,333 a month for 30 months, or $10 mil- the Hilton hotel for some $270 million. center here. reflects our difficulty vention There are 600 rooms available to house In the early 2000s, a committee was strug- lion; $83,333 a month in “supplemental gling with how funds could be raised for a rent” for 39 months or $3.3 million; and $12 visitors. allocating resources new convention center. For homeless: none. million for a “developer” agreement and We have an allocation-of-resources problem. Four Cleveland homeless people have died already this winter. While we spend very little actually dealing with the problem of homelessness, we spend tens of millions of dollars making it comfortable for visitors

The Medical Mart became the magic key for the establishment. Former Cuyahoga County commissioner Tim Hagan played a key role, passing a 25-cent, 40-year sale tax increase to finance the deal, without a vote of citizens. To operate the med mart the county enlisted MMPI, a Chicago firm headed by a

Interim Editor: Ann Dwyer (adwyer@crain.com) Managing Editor: Marcus Gilmer (marcus.gilmer@crain.com) Contact Crain’s: 216-522-1383 Read Crain’s online: crainscleveland.com

other payments for a total of $29,854,730. With a final payment of $3 million, MMPI left town with $32,854,730 - and left behind a medical mart that never worked. The county scrambled to revamp the med mart property and make it part of the convention center. The cost: another $40.9 million,

The county will be paying hotel bonds until 2044, when the borrowing and interest costs on the hotel shows the debt service will cost taxpayers $384,523,954. But there are no special funds to meet the homeless problem as winter takes its toll. Roldo Bartimole Cleveland

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Airport crisis requires action By Sandra Ellington

uring the holiday season, passengers and airport workers alike must confront what is always one of the busiest periods for air travel. For airport service workers like me, these months can be grueling. Because of the low pay and lack of benefits that comes along with our jobs, we are constantly understaffed, and it’s impossible to keep up with the influx of travelers over the holidays, which causes frustration for us and the passengers we serve. The only players coming out on top are airlines, who are reporting record revenues amongst this chaos – American Airlines reported revenue of $49 billion in 2022 and more than $14 billion in revenue during the second quarter of this year. If they’re doing so well, shouldn’t the same be said for the workforce that helps make their profits possible? It’s no secret that U.S. air travel is in crisis. My coworkers and I are doing our best to help keep the system afloat, but airlines and their contractors created this mess, and it’s time they’re held accountable to fixing it. The root of the problem is that airlines have fueled a race to the bottom in wages and benefits for the Black, brown and immigrant-powered airport service workforce. Many airport service workers’ wages haven’t budged in nearly 20 years, and we don’t get affordable health care or paid sick days. As a result, turnover is sky-high. That makes our jobs even harder when we’re so understaffed we have to do the work of multiple people as air travel rates soar. And we’re not the only ones that are paying the price. High turnover directly threatens the safety and security of our airports. I’ve been a janitor for over two decades at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and my job looks different today than it did back then because my coworkers and I were able to fight for higher wages and protections like PPE through our union. Now, when I look around me, I see other airport service workers who don’t have a union and are struggling with low wages, long hours, next to no benefits and lack of respect. The impossible choice between paying the bills and putting food on the table for their families. I’ve even seen workers sleep in the airport chapel because they just have three hours to rest between their next shifts. But that’s not what passengers see when they travel. Instead, they’re contending with long lines, frustrating delays and lost baggage. They might not be thinking about the janitors, cabin cleaners, skycaps, baggage handlers and passenger service workers

who are giving it their all in challenging circumstances. That’s why I’ve been raising my voice alongside my fellow airport service workers across the country to demand Congress include airport service workers in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill, which will set policy for our air travel system for the next five years. As the deadline approaches, Ohio’s U.S. senators must ensure the bill includes the Good Jobs for Good Airports wage and benefits standards for all airport service workers, no matter their race, background or zip code. It should be a no-brainer: good jobs are the foundation of good airports that help keep airports running safely and efficiently and help passengers get to their destinations on time. I’m counting on Sens. JD Vance and Sherrod Brown to stand up for blue-collar airport service workers, just like they have for rail workers. Both have led bipartisan efforts on behalf of workers and now airport service workers need that same level of support. I didn’t think we would agree on much until I saw how Vance helped rail workers. I have been impressed with how open he and his team have been to hearing our concerns. I am hoping he will fight for us the same way he has fought for our rail brothers and sisters. Regardless of party affiliation, we all want a safe air travel system. Granting workers fair pay and benefits without costing taxpayers a dime is a common sense, win-win solution to our travel chaos. Vance has a special role to play as a member of the Senate Commerce Committee working on FAA Reauthorization, and in that role, he can help make sure that bill includes the working class people who serve as the foundation of our air travel system. It’s past time for Congress to put a small fraction of the billions in public pandemic dollars given to airlines back to work in our communities by requiring airlines and their contractors to pay fair wages, offer affordable health care and paid time off. That’s how we can improve air travel for everyone – not just the airline executives at the top. I’m proud to work at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. It’s the gateway to Cleveland, and even though it’s chaotic, I love seeing people coming home or getting ready to go on big trips during the holiday season. I do my job. Now it’s on Vance, Brown and all our elected officials to do theirs and help build an air travel system we can all be proud of.

BLOOMBERG

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of the 24 states that have legalized n Nov. 7, Ohioans took to the marijuana recreationally, Ohio’s polls to vote on a number of current 15.75% effective sales tax state and local issues, including rate (10% excise tax plus 5.75% Issue 2, which provides for the state sales tax) would place it enactment of Chapter 3780 of the slightly below the average effective Ohio Revised Code and allows rate of 18%. for the legalization and regulaIf the provisions are passed by tion of recreational adult-use the House and signed into law, the cannabis. Issue 2 passed with just under David M. Kall new effective tax rate of 20.75% would place Ohio on the higher 57% of the vote and, following a is managing end of the effective sales tax rates. 30-day waiting period, took effect member of the Although Ohioans are legally alDec. 7. Cleveland lowed to possess and home-grow Under the law, dispensaries office of marijuana as of Dec. 7, the legal will be subject to a 10% excise tax McDonald sale of recreational marijuana is on each sale of recreational can- Hopkins LLC currently in limbo. While the renabis in addition to Ohio sales and chair of vised provisions of Ohio House Bill tax. The Coalition to Regulate the Tax and 86 would allow medical marijuana Marijuana Like Alcohol estimates Benefits dispensaries to immediately begin that the law will generate several Practice selling recreational marijuana, this million dollars of tax revenue an- Group.. is contingent upon the House’s apnually with proceeds from the 10% excise tax benefiting several commu- proval of the provisions. Furthermore, all other retailers must nity funds, including funds for cannabis social equity and substance abuse treat- wait for the retail licensing process to be fiment programs. While the tax will provide nalized by the Division of Cannabis Conbenefits through increased state and local trol before making legal sales. Because the tax revenue, it also will increase consumer original law provided that the sale of recrecosts and burden taxpayers by implement- ational adult-use cannabis does not become legal until nine months after the law’s ing additional compliance requirements. Under Section 3780.22(D) of the new effective date, it could be a while before the law, the excise tax will be administered law’s tax structure is finalized. If sales become legal before that guidconsistent with Ohio Revised Code Section 5739 that deals with sales tax. However, the ance is available, licensed dispensaries tax commissioner has been granted the au- selling recreational adult-use cannabis will thority to adopt additional rules with re- likely be advised to adhere closely to the spect to the collection, assessment, and sales tax procedures under Revised Code Section 5739 to collect and pay the excise penalties for nonpayment of the tax. Additionally, in a Nov. 9 statement to the tax to the state. Under Section 5739, sales media, Gov. Mike DeWine called for cer- tax is imposed on the retail sale of tangible tain revisions to the law’s administration, personal property and specified services. Regardless of where the effective tax rate including possible changes to the tax rate in order to find balance between produc- lands, retailers will be required to collect ing meaningful tax revenue without driving sales tax from their customers and deposit the tax with the state. If a retailer fails to consumers away. Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens and collect or pay the tax due, they will be subother Ohio lawmakers have also expressed ject to interest and potential penalties up to their desire to make changes to the law’s 50% of the total amount of tax due. Given the need for strict compliance tax structure. On Dec. 6, the Ohio Senate passed provi- with the tax laws to prevent potential intersions to House Bill 86 which would raise est and penalties, as well as the evolving the excise tax to 15%, with counties able to nature of this area of law, it is important to levy up to an additional 3%. According to a consult with an attorney or other tax prorecent study by Ohio State University’s fessional to ensure your cannabis-related Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, business is set up with tax compliance in which looked at the effective sales tax rates mind.

Sandra Ellington is a Cleveland airport services worker. DECEMBER 18, 2023 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | 7

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12/15/23 10:30 AM

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NORTHEAST OHIO’S

FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES WEATHERHEAD 100 Weston and Associates, LLC Handy Rents / Aladdin Rents Flannery | Georgalis, LLC Edgewater Research Company LLC Fuzion Textbook Painting Sweet Kiddles Brookpark Design Builders Marcum Wealth, LLC Rent A Daughter Senior Care Services, Inc. FIT Technologies Brookes & Henderson Building Co. Repair Authority Fully Accountable reLink Medical LLC Consolidus, LLC INSIGHT2PROFIT ReMax Haven Property Management infinIT Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center Sgt. Clean Car Wash Great Lakes Fasteners, Inc. QualityIP Midwest Home Care LTD Exacta Land Surveyors, LLC Global Transport, Inc. Fleet Fast Fire-Dex Sky Quest Crescendo Commercial Realty, LLC Ashton Solutions J&O Plastics Grants Plus Inner Circle Advisors Enterprise Door & Supply DIGITAL PRINT SOLUTIONS Molding Dynamics, Inc. Direct Recruiters, Inc. AQUA DOC Lake & Pond Management Futuri Media MediQuant, LLC AtNetPlus JCI Contractors Foundation Software/ Payroll4Construction BlinkSwag Air Control Products, Inc. LDA architects Talan Products Inc. WTWH Media

MarshBerry Infinium Wall Systems, Inc. ConnectedHR Onyx Creative Inc. Simplified Facilities Group, Inc. WHS Engineering Inc. Laketec Legacy Roofing Services Charak Center for Health and Wellness Ancora Request A Test Starfish Computer Incept Shaker Numeric NPL Home Medical Perspectus Architecture Progressive Poured Walls Etactics Inc. D&R Commercial Flooring Corporate Technologies Group, Inc. Carver Financial Services Simplex-IT Event Source MUM Industries NCS Credit Corrigan Krause Microplex, Inc. Conveyer & Caster Corporation R.L Hill Management, Inc. Powdermet, Inc. Calyx LLC Barnes Wendling CPAs T&D Fabricating, Inc. DMS Management Solutions Proforma Premier Development Partners OGS Industries Banyan Technology SC Fastening Systems LLC FORM EMERGENT BUSINESS AgileBlue bROK Products LLC Champ Titles Gertsburg Licata Co., LPA Sangfroid Strategy The Emerald Group Consultants ENTERPRISE Anderson|Biro Staffing, LLC Even Mix Synergy International Limited, Inc.

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Peak Technology WAN Dynamics, Inc. Inforce Technologies Woodside Health, LLC Flourishing Leadership Institute LLC Ten10 Design Wave Strategy Kiwi Creative True Wealth Design MOD Fast Friendly Repair & Towing Saorsa Wealth Management, LLC TinyCircuits Avrem Technologies, LLC AC Wellman CleanLife Muse. IRA Plan Partners dba iPlanGroup CiresiMorek Cornerstone Wealth Management Roeder Consulting Shaker Investments M Genio Inc. Mortach Financial Services The Wealth Advisory Group of DiLauro Wracher & Thomas Ralston Instruments, LLC Return on Life Wealth Partners ZenStrategies by EA Loxley True Hire BudgetEase Bookkeeping US FREIGHT Shon Christy Social Media StandOut Stickers TITAN Nations Lending Corporation CrossCountry Mortgage Group Management Services, Inc. MAI Capital Management, LLC Park Place Technologies GEMCORE Echo Health, Inc. Morrison Products Inc. Valley Truck Centers Crawford United Corporation Budget Dumpster NOMS Healthcare TalentLaunch Compass Self Storage The Federal Metal Company Mazzella Holding Company, Inc. Brennan Industries Inc. Peoples Services, Inc.

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ABOUT THIS PROJECT: This special section was produced for Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University by Crain’s Content Studio, the custom advertising division of Crain’s Cleveland Business. Select companies were chosen by Weatherhead to be featured in this section; in addition, all of the companies were given an opportunity to sponsor their own spotlights. For questions about this project, contact Crain’s Associate Publisher Amy Stoessel at astoessel@crain.com.

CRAIN’S CONTENT STUDIO

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NEO’S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

35th anniversary an inflection point to honor business community’s progress and potential Weatherhead School of Management continues to shape Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial prowess

he 35th anniversary of the Weatherhead 100 offers us an opportunity to reflect on how much the business world has changed. In the 1990s, the rapid expansion of the Internet was the big news, with a host of new businesses emerging to support organizations looking to have a dominate presence on the World Wide Web. Then, in the 2000s, eCommerce took center stage, with the rapid rise of dot-com startups in 2000, and the dramatic fall of many of these new ventures three years later. Big Tech emerged, but the bigger challenge in 2008 was a global financial crisis. And most recently, a global pandemic. Today, businesses are facing a new paradigm shift. The transition to data-driven and analyticsbased decision-making across organizations has led to a rapid acceleration in data analytics, deep machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, digital transformation and cloud computing. In parallel, the growing social challenges, including ongoing disruptions created by climate change, social inequalities, digital divide and the new realities of the geo-political environment demand business leaders recognize the interconnectedness between organizations and society and how to do well by doing good. “Our role as a leading higher education institution is to be the problem-solving business

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INSIDE BUSINESS PROFILES Brookpark Design Builders ... W3 Anderson|Biro ... W4 Flannery | Georgalis, LLC ... W4 Champ Titles ... W5 Valley Auto / Valley Truck Centers ... W6 Foundation Software ... W6 J&O Plastics ... W8 Weston & Associates ... W9 THE LISTS Weatherhead 100 Winners ... W10 Titans ... W13 Enterprise ... W13 Emergent ... W14

school. We bring the best of our talent, innovation and networks from around the world to Cleveland, and in doing so, serve the region’s corporate community,” said Andrew Medvedev, interim co-dean of the Weatherhead School of Management. Now in its 35th year, the Weatherhead 100 sheds a spotlight on those businesses modeling the leadership, growth and success that define

Northeast Ohio’s entrepreneurial spirit and visionary acumen. Presented by the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, The Weatherhead 100 program recognizes fast-growing, for-profit Northeast Ohio-based organizations. This year’s winners were required to show exemplary net sales growth over the past five years, starting with 2018 net sales of at least $100,000. The organization could not have been a franchise or subsidiary of another company between 2018 to 2022. The organizations were required to be headquartered in one of the counties in the Greater Cleveland metropolitan area: Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull or Wayne. The winners are recognized in four different categories: • Weatherhead 100 Winners: Exceptional net sales growth over the past five years, from at least $100,000 to $1 million. • Weatherhead 100 Enterprise: (formerly known as Upstarts). Fast-growing companies with 15 or fewer employees or net sales of less than $5 million last year. • Weatherhead 100 Titans: (formerly known as Centurions). Fast-growing companies with at

least $100 million in net sales last year. • Weatherhead 100 Emergent Businesses: (new category for 2023). Companies in business for two to four years with a significant increase in sales. Weatherhead’s problem-solving reputation is powered by its world-class research enterprise. From artificial intelligence, data analytics and supply chain resiliency to organizational transformation, the school’s faculty have long been shaping, and not just teaching, the future of business through ground-breaking research. J.B. Silvers, Ph.D., interim co-dean and professor of health care finance and banking and finance at Weatherhead, explained that the school’s goal is to present a curriculum rooted in applying its research work to real-world scenarios and the ever-evolving challenges faced by businesses worldwide. “We want to make sure the Weatherhead experience is inextricably linked to real life, informed by ideas and involvement from our major stakeholders,” Silvers said. The dynamics of a 21st-century global business world may continue to change at a rapid pace. However, the Weatherhead School of Management remains unwavering in its mission to serve as the intellectual hub of the corporate community.

12/4/23 9:12 AM

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How Champ Titles is digitizing asset title management for DMVs Brooke Bilyj Crain’s Content Studio

ealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can be a frustrating, timeconsuming process when you buy, sell or register a car — but Champ Titles is improving the experience by digitizing the titling process. With its unique blockchain-based approach to digital title management, Champ has quickly gained momentum in the last five years since its launch, growing its revenue by 125% this year alone. Four state DMVs have already adopted Champ’s solution. By the end of next year, an estimated 30 million people, including vehicle retailers and wholesalers, insurance carriers, lenders and fleet operators, will be using Champ’s technology to transact on titles more efficiently. When Champ started rolling out its solution to DMVs, it took 45 days on average to process a vehicle title of registration. Now, the DMVs using Champ’s digitized process can turn around a title in less than one day. “If you’re in automotive commerce, insurance or lending, that friction is eliminated,” said Shane McRann Bigelow, Champ CEO. “On a consumer level, the ‘time tax’ that you spend waiting on government forms to be processed is enormous. That’s the time to get to the DMV, wait in line, fill it out and find out what you did wrong so you can go home and get something else and do it again. It’s now digital, and that’s what we’re proudest of, is that we’ve really changed the consumer experience by changing the constituent experience relative to title and registration.” Champ’s solution leverages blockchain technology, which provides “a cryptographically secure system of record to indicate provenance and enable transactions,” Bigelow said. “It’s not just a database with entries in it. It’s a much more sophisticated way to enable a true system of record and

Emergent Business

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Champ Titles Founded: 2018 Sales growth: 1,427.2% Number of employees: 62

turn it into something transactable.” Bigelow compares it to airplane boarding passes — which used to be just a piece of printed paper and then went digital, allowing travelers to change their seats, pre-order meals and check in from their phones. “It was no longer a record; it was a conduit to transact,” he said. “We’ve enabled the same sort of technology with titles. No longer is a title just an entry in a system of record; it unlocks your access to get a loan, insure your car, sell your car or monetize it — without any paperwork.”

Champ Titles has amassed a team of about 60 employees committed to growth with a “Champ versus the world” mentality. “It’s a demanding environment, but we’ve got a group of people who are all laser-focused on a single goal and have committed themselves to the business in amazing ways,” said LT Slater, head of strategic partnerships. Propelled by more than $30 million in funding — including last year’s $12.9 million Series B investment — Champ is well-positioned to continue innovating its blockchain platform to streamline the titling process for more states. “We didn’t build this company to be a moderate-sized company,” Bigelow said. “We built this company to be the largest software company in Northeast Ohio, so we’ve got a long way to go.”

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Honored to be named a Weatherhead 100 company and excited to continue advancing our customers’ operations in 2024 and beyond!

Champ has been recognized as one of the largest software developers in the area. While the tech company works across the country, they are proud to call Cleveland home.

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SPONSORED CONTENT explosive 13.4% year-to-year surge between 2021 and 2022. “Right now, we have about $235 million in sitting new truck inventory, of which 70% is sold and waiting for outfits, completions, delivery, etc.,” said Brian, whose seven children all help run the business. “We feel pretty good about going into (2024).” He started working at Valley Truck in 1978, when the Valley View establishment — originally founded as the Ford Motor Co. distribution center — was a single site, Class A commercial truck sales center on Canal Road. He bought it outright in 2006, and over the years built the company to include six retail automobile and seven commercial truck dealerships spanning from Columbus to Monroe, Michigan. He also added a rental arm and two businesses that customize commercial vehicles for specialized uses.

of which was COVID, supply chain shortages and, more recently, inflation and soaring interest rates. Andy added “staying ahead of the curve” as an additional growth factor. In early 2022, for example, the company moved in a direction of providing game-changing service offerings new to the retail automotive industry. Last month, according to Andy, those services were responsible for 700 additional service events. “Three years ago, that number of these game-changing services would have been close to zero,” he said. “It’s really growing like wildfire and bolstering our business in a kind of uncertain time.”

R.L. Hill Management is proud to be recognized in the Weatherhead 100

RLHill MANAGEMENT, INC. GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS

The next game-changer to break ground next year is a Ford-branded automotive campus that will be located across the street from the current Canal Street headquarters and dealership.

“Whether you need a Ford pickup truck for your son or daughter or a Western Star Twin Steer mining truck with the equipment put on, we do everything from cradle to grave — the outfitting, financing, servicing, leasing and rental and so forth,” said Brian’s son, Andy O’Donnell, who oversees the retail division.

Andy described the planned 23-acre complex as an outdoor lifestyle development. Along with traditional showrooms, the site will have stocked ponds, walking paths, extended-hour service garages, a test track, specialized Bronco and Mustang experience centers and 24/7 EV charging stations, among other features.

The elder O’Donnell credited much of Valley Truck’s growth to acquisitions, solid customer service and success developing new customer relationships amid a host of market challenges — not the least

“We really want to make it a destination,” Andy said. “Our customers don’t want to come for an oil change and sit and drink horrible coffee, and we don’t want them too, either.”

Celebrating 25 years serving the greater Cleveland area 440.439.0490

rlhillmgmt.com

complementary products that our customers want, and that accelerates our go-to-market strategy,” Ode said.

OUR SERVICES

In May 2021, for example, Foundation acquired an Arizonabased estimating software provider, Teamwork is integral to success at Foundation Software. specifically serving the electrical, plumbing these acquisitions is assimilating the and mechanical trades. Then in same culture across the new January 2022, the firm acquired additions. another estimating package in Florida geared toward roofing and interior “When you’re thousands of miles contractors — moving Foundation apart, it’s a challenge to embed your closer to its goal of becoming an culture,” Ode said. “If you can’t get all-in-one back-office solution. people to buy in or understand what More recently, in May 2023, Foundation acquired a Utah-based mobile cost management platform that allows employees to clock in and out automatically using geofencing and biometric data. “This latest acquisition is very innovative for us and very advanced for the construction industry,” Ode said. “It has helped bridge the communication gap between the office and the field.” These additions have grown Foundation’s footprint to four offices nationwide, with about 500 employees combined. The key to integrating

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you’re doing and why you’re doing it for the greater good of the umbrella company, then you’re going to have problems — but we’ve been able to do that successfully.” Bolstered by these acquisitions with an aggressive appetite for more, Foundation continues to diversify its offerings to maintain 20% annual growth. “The market is ripe,” said Steven Antill, chief revenue officer. “There are hundreds of thousands of construction companies just in the U.S., so the runway in front of us is still tremendous.”

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Innovation central to Weston’s growth in storage tank market Brooke Bilyj Crain’s Content Studio

Weatherhead 100

ndrew Feucht planned to consult companies purchasing large storage tanks for diverse applications when he founded Weston & Associates in 2017. Whether end-users wanted to store perishable goods for the food and beverage industry, grains and liquid fertilizers for the agricultural sector or even wastewater, oil or gas, he tried to guide clients toward the best storage solution for each use. However, “we easily identified some major issues with quality and supply chain shortages in the industry,” he said. “Most manufacturers’ lead times were over a year out, and that wait was detrimental to our clients. We quickly turned into a manufacturing company because we weren’t finding the quality of products that we would expect or promote.” Weston began manufacturing stainless steel tanks with a goal of building storage solutions better and faster than the competition. They then continued innovating specialized liners, covers, and, more recently, durable coating systems. Now, the company combines manufacturing and engineering expertise to custom-design and build specialized storage tanks for various applications. “We were able to take a lot of the lessons learned from the construction field, tailor that into our design and provide a product that outlasts our competition,” Feucht said. For example, Weston partnered with Lockheed Martin engineers to create an electrochemical energy storage system that holds raw energy until it’s converted into electricity for their Gridstar Flow battery. Lockheed Martin was so impressed with the solution that they named Weston an Outstanding Supplier of the Year in 2020. “Weston is the only company that customizes their tanks to our specifications. Their bolted tanks are of the highest quality, and they have always delivered on time,” said Victor Luna, senior specialist and mechanical technician in advanced energy storage at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

No. 1 Weston and Associates, LLC Founded: 2017 Sales growth: 238%

Number of employees: 89

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these key components with local manufacturing companies,” he said. Last year, the company introduced Weston NanoCoat, utilizing a nano-coating technology initially formulated for aerospace applications to create a durable coating that protects against harsh elements. Compared to traditional powder coatings, which take about eight hours to cure after several passes through 400-degree industrial ovens, Weston NanoCoat cures within an hour and 20 minutes when heated to just 150 to 200 degrees. Not only is this process faster, but it consumes less energy, too, reducing the solution’s carbon footprint.

Only Construction-Ready Site Available On Opportunity Corridor

This relentless innovation is propelling Weston’s growth. Since entering the market with about $300,000 in sales in its first year of business, Weston ended 2022 with $32 million in sales and expects to hit nearly $50 million this year. Although quality products are paramount to Weston’s success, Feucht said his skilled team of 125 employees is just as critical to growth. “We’re hiring people to grow with us, so as we’re looking at growth, we’re talking with our key individuals to understand what that means for them,” said Feucht, who walks through each of Weston’s four facilities in Massillon every day to stay connected. “A lot of times, when companies grow at this rate, the leaders get stuck in their office just focused on numbers, whereas I’m more focused on the people and making sure they’re the reason why we’re growing.”

WE ARE

HONORED to be in the company of THIS YEAR’S RECIPIENTS.

At Flannery | Georgalis, we proudly salute the businesses leading the charge in Northeast Ohio. Thank you for making our community stronger.

Feucht attributes the quality and longevity of Weston’s products to the superior strength of the domestic steel they use, combined with Weston’s innovative Americanmade coatings. “All of our coating systems are domestically made and formulated, and we’re able to make

N O C

L U T A R G

Founded in 2017, Flannery | Georgalis focuses on sensitive matters and complex investigations, disputes, and litigation.

f lannerygeorgalis.com Weston & Associates provides customized storage tank solutions for industrial, commercial and municipal needs.

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NEO’S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

WEATHERHEAD 100 WINNERS RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

WEBSITE

Weston and Associates, LLC

Stark

2017

westonandassociates.com

Handy Rents / Aladdin Rents

Lake

1984

handyrents.com & www.aladdinrents.com Consumer goods rental company.

90.2%

Flannery | Georgalis, LLC

Cuyahoga

2017

flannerygeorgalis.com

Focuses on sensitive matters, including criminal defense, investigations and business litigation.

52.6%

Edgewater Research Company LLC

Cuyahoga

2018

edgewaterresearch.com

Independent equity research and market intelligence firm.

48.5%

Fuzion

Cuyahoga

2017

gearbyfuzion.com/fuzion/shop/home

Curates and decorates incredible gear and apparel.

48.2%

Textbook Painting

Cuyahoga

2006

textbookpainting.com

A residential and commercial painting contractor serving Northeast Ohio.

45.5%

Sweet Kiddles

Cuyahoga

2011

sweetkiddles.com

The first flexible childcare concept. Each customer attends on their own schedule.

35.4%

Brookpark Design Builders

Cuyahoga

1951

Brookparkdesign.com

Exterior envelope contractor specializing in panel systems, metal roofing and pre-engineered metal building systems.

34.2%

Marcum Wealth, LLC

Cuyahoga

2006

marcumwealth.com

A team of financial advisors that lead clients with financial planning.

33.6%

Rent A Daughter Senior Care Services, Inc.

Cuyahoga

2003

rentadaughter.org

"Our mission is to ensure a better quality of life for our elderly clients and their families by providing dependable and affordable care."

33.0%

FIT Technologies

Cuyahoga

1999

fittechnologies.com

Managed IT services, cybersecurity, and data services company, that is headquartered in Cleveland.

31.8%

Brookes & Henderson Building Co.

Geauga

2012

Brookes-Henderson.com

We are a high-end, custom, home builder and renovator.

31.2%

Repair Authority

Cuyahoga

1990

repairauthority.com

Repairs home medical equipment including oxygen concentrators, CPAPs, ventilators and other respiratory devices.

30.2%

Fully Accountable

Summit

2014

fullyaccountable.com

Outsourced accounting/CFO and finance services for e-commerce and digitally based businesses.

30.1%

reLink Medical LLC

Summit

2014

relinkmedical.com

The nation's largest independent provider of medical equipment disposition services.

28.3%

Consolidus, LLC

Summit

2006

consolidus.com

Leading innovation company in the promotional products industry, leveraging proprietary technology improving costs and service.

27.2%

INSIGHT2PROFIT

Cuyahoga

2006

insight2profit.com

Helps businesses accelerate profitable growth through pricing expertise, data science and tailored technology.

25.4%

ReMax Haven Property Management

Cuyahoga

2010

rentcle.com

Residential property management.

24.4%

infinIT

Cuyahoga

1995

infinit.us

Cleveland's leading data center and ISP providing internet, voice, cloud, backup, MSP and security.

23.7%

Apex Dermatology and Skin Surgery Center Cuyahoga

2011

apexskin.com

Driven by one common purpose: Transforming lives through healthy skin.

23.7%

Sgt. Clean Car Wash

Stark

2013

sgtclean.com

Express exterior car wash chain with free vacuums. Currently with 14 locations in Northeast Ohio and 1 more under construction.

23.2%

Great Lakes Fasteners, Inc.

Summit

1958

glfus.com

Supplier and packager fasteners, selling to manufacturers and service companies across the globe.

22.1%

QualityIP

Portage

2004

qualityip.com

A managed services company dedicated to helping businesses with tech related issues.

21.7%

Midwest Home Care LTD

Summit

2004

mwhcare.com

An in-home health care agency offering a variety of services to their clients.

21.2%

Exacta Land Surveyors, LLC

Cuyahoga

1994

exactaland.com

Leading provider of land survey and field management services to companies & individuals.

20.9%

Global Transport, Inc.

Cuyahoga

2008

globaltransportinc.com

Full-service trucking, brokerage, logistics and 3PL provider serving 48 states.

20.9%

Fleet Fast

Summit

1974

fleetfastsolutions.com

Commercial truck repair facilities specializing in fast and creative damage repair solutions for fleets of all sizes.

20.8%

Fire-Dex

Medina

1983

firedex.com

Global manufacturer of PPE for first responders and PPE care and maintenance under Gear Wash.

20.7%

Sky Quest

Cuyahoga

2001

flyskyquest.com

Provides safe and reliable private jet charter services, aircraft management and aircraft sales.

20.5%

Crescendo Commercial Realty, LLC

Cuyahoga

2008

cc-realty.com

Commercial real estate services (consulting, leasing, investment brokerage and property management.)

20.1%

Ashton Solutions

Cuyahoga

1994

ashtonsolutions.com

Business technology consultant and managed IT services provider.

20.0%

J&O Plastics

Wayne

1982

jandoplastics.com

A leader in the plastic injection molding industry since 1982.

19.3%

Grants Plus

Cuyahoga

2007

grantsplus.com

As the nation’s leading grants firm, we’ve helped nonprofits raise over $300 million in funding.

18.9%

Inner Circle Advisors

Cuyahoga

1996

innercircle.cpa

Advisor to small businesses, helping them grow in value and minimize income taxes.

18.3%

Enterprise Door & Supply

Lake

1980

enterprisedoor.com

Family-owned and operated distributor of architectural grade doors, frames and hardware.

18.1%

DIGITAL PRINT SOLUTIONS

Summit

2009

dpsamerica.com

A sales and service solution for production printing, finishing and embellishment equipment and supplies.

18.0%

Molding Dynamics, Inc.

Cuyahoga

2001

moldingdynamics.net

Custom plastic injection molding, we make you more competitive.

17.8%

Direct Recruiters, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1983

directrecruiters.com

Executive search firm recruiting top talent for mission-critical positions.

17.8%

AQUA DOC Lake & Pond Management

Geauga

1983

aquadocinc.com

Since 1983, we have been keeping lakes and ponds beautiful.

17.0%

Futuri Media

Cuyahoga

2009

futurimedia.com

Develops AI-driven audience engagement and sales intelligence technology for media companies and creators.

16.5%

MediQuant, LLC

Cuyahoga

1999

mediquant.com

Healthcare's leading provider of active data archiving technology and solutions for the enterprise.

16.4%

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 18

COMPANY DESCRIPTION A turn-key manufacturer and contractor of the world’s largest storage tanks and systems.

* SALES GROWTH 238.0%

12/4/23 10:43 AM

opening one door opens doors across our community. An investment in education is an investment in the future. That’s why KeyBank is proud to support people and programs that focus on helping children and adults in our community reach their full potential. We believe in creating opportunities for students to grow and excel and appreciate everyone who helps prepare them to achieve their goals. KeyBank congratulates this year's Weatherhead 100 award winners.

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 19

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W12

NEO’S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

WEATHERHEAD 100 WINNERS RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

WEBSITE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

* SALES GROWTH

AtNetPlus

Summit

1998

atnetplus.com

A leading managed IT services provider specializing in comprehensive and reliable managed IT and managed cybersecurity.

16.0%

JCI Contractors

Ashtabula

1988

jcibuilds.com

Commercial and industrial building company.

16.0%

Foundation Software/Payroll4Construction

Cuyahoga

1985

foundationsoft.com

Develops & supports job cost accounting & project management software for the construction industry.

15.9%

BlinkSwag

Cuyahoga

2007

blinkswag.com

Branded swag/apparel, print, gifting, employee rewards & recognition organization.

15.8%

Air Control Products, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1975

aircontrolproducts.com

Ohio's premier HVAC supplier, where people and culture come together to partner with you delivering solutions and service.

15.1%

LDA architects

Cuyahoga

1995

ldaarchitecture.com

Architectural, interior design, landscape, historic preservation design firm.

15.1%

Talan Products Inc.

Cuyahoga

1986

talanproducts.com

A contract manufacturer specializing in metal stampings and fabricated aluminum extrusions.

15.1%

WTWH Media

Cuyahoga

2006

wtwhmedia.com

B2B media company serving engineering, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and food industries.

14.7%

MarshBerry

Cuyahoga

1981

marshberry.com

Provides intellectual capital, strategic consulting, and investment banking services to clients in the insurance and wealth management industries.

14.4%

Infinium Wall Systems, Inc.

Cuyahoga

2003

infiniumwalls.com

Manufacturer of glass wall systems used as demountable partitions.

14.3%

ConnectedHR

Cuyahoga

2014

connected-hr.com

Delivers high-caliber, right-sized human resources strategy and support to growing businesses throughout Northeast Ohio.

14.2%

Onyx Creative Inc.

Cuyahoga

1974

onyxcreative.com

Architecture and engineering professional services firm providing aspirational design.

14.1%

Simplified Facilities Group, Inc.

Lorain

2002

simplifiedfacilities.com

A single source solution for facility management and maintenance services.

14.0%

WHS Engineering Inc.

Cuyahoga

2005

whs-eng.com

Consulting engineering firm offering mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural design services for building systems.

13.9%

Laketec

Cuyahoga

1989

laketec.com

An IT solutions and managed services provider, specializing in voice, network & cloud.

13.5%

Legacy Roofing Services

Summit

2012

legacyroofing.com

Charak Center for Health and Wellness

Cuyahoga

1994

charakcenter.com

Ancora

Cuyahoga

2003

ancora.net

A boutique firm, offers asset management, family wealth, insurance solutions and retirement plan services.

12.7%

Request A Test

Cuyahoga

2001

requestatest.com

A national leader in direct to consumer lab testing.

12.6%

Starfish Computer

Cuyahoga

1996

starfishcomputer.com

IT managed services for business.

12.4%

Incept

Stark

1993

inceptresults.com

Brings the human element of conversations back to customer experience.

12.3%

Shaker Numeric

Cuyahoga

1996

shakernumeric.com

Trusted partner for precision machining in the Midwest with 65 years of knowledge and craftsmanship.

11.9%

NPL Home Medical

Cuyahoga

1993

nplhomemedical.com

The leading provider of custom wheelchairs in Northeast Ohio.

11.8%

Perspectus Architecture

Cuyahoga

2001

perspectus.com

Provides architectural design, planning, interior design & historic architecture with a client-focused philosophy.

11.8%

Progressive Poured Walls

Medina

2006

progressivecg.com/ppw

Offering a full range of foundation-building services to meet your residential & commercial needs.

11.0%

Etactics Inc.

Summit

1999

etactics.com

Products and services assist clients across various business sectors to improve business processes, boost staff productivity, reduce expenses and accelerate payment.

11.0%

D&R Commercial Flooring

Cuyahoga

1978

drflooringgroup.com

Offering superior quality flooring products to a variety of industries.

10.9%

Corporate Technologies Group, Inc.

Summit

1999

ctgusa.net

A unified IT services provider for voice, data and security services to regional businesses.

10.8%

Carver Financial Services

Lake

1990

carverfinancialservices.com

Provides Personal Vision Planning™ to help people live well while simplifying their lives.

10.8%

Simplex-IT

Summit

2007

Simplex-IT.com

Empowering clients by providing managed and co-managed IT services including CIO, cybersecurity. Simplifying the Complex.

10.7%

Event Source

Cuyahoga

1979

eventsource.com

Providing premium rental products for any event with world-class service.

10.4%

MUM Industries

Lake

1996

mumindustries.com

Parent company of industrial product manufacturers: Integra Enclosures, StrongBox and EMF.

10.3%

NCS Credit

Cuyahoga

1970

ncscredit.com

AR security services for the construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail industries.

10.3%

Corrigan Krause

Cuyahoga

1989

corrigankrause.com

Provides comprehensive consulting, tax and accounting services to individuals and privately-held businesses.

9.8%

Microplex, Inc.

Stark

1985

microplex-inc.com

Manufactures custom cables and wire harnesses for industrial automation, medical, military, and OEM markets.

9.5%

Conveyer & Caster Corporation

Cuyahoga

1961

cc-efi.com

Regional distributor of casters and material handling equipment.

8.8%

R.L Hill Management, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1998

rlhillmgmt.com

Our unique strengths lies with defining and understanding what needs to be done to succeed and taking advantage

8.5%

Powdermet, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1996

powdermetinc.com

The U.S.'s largest producer of wrought magnesium and a leader in advanced materials development.

7.4%

Calyx LLC

Cuyahoga

2005

Calyxit.com

An IT solutions provider that focuses on delivering better business outcomes for our clients.

7.3%

Barnes Wendling CPAs

Cuyahoga

1946

barneswendling.com

Our client service objective is to build and maintain our clients' net worth.

6.7%

T&D Fabricating, Inc.

Lake

1991

tdfab.com

Fabricating, stamping, and metal finishing.

6.7%

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 20

One of the largest roofing services providers in Ohio, and one of the fastest-growing roofing companies in the country. Charak provides comprehensive and cutting-edge mental health and substance abuse treatments to all socio-economic classes.

13.4% 13.4%

12/4/23 10:45 AM

W13 SPONSORED CONTENT W17

RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

WEBSITE

DMS Management Solutions

Cuyahoga

2003

dmsmgmtsolutions.com

Proforma

Cuyahoga

1978

proforma.com

The $600 million technology and business success leader in the printing, promotional products & packaging industry.

4.6%

Premier Development Partners

Cuyahoga

2007

premierdevelop.com

A full service design-build, construction, and commercial real estate development company.

4.3%

OGS Industries

Summit

1959

ogsindustries.com

Manufacturer of precision metal components for critical applications in aerospace, industrial and transportation markets.

4.0%

Banyan Technology

Cuyahoga

2001

banyantechnology.com

Leading provider of freight management software for OTR shipping driving operational efficiencies and cost savings.

2.1%

SC Fastening Systems LLC.

Summit

1999

scfastening.com

Customer-focused industrial and construction supply distributor. Value-added services-kitting & packaging.

1.4%

FORM

Geauga

2004

theformgroup.com

A digital-first creative agency for arts & culture and nonprofit organizations.

0.1%

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

* SALES GROWTH

COMPANY DESCRIPTION Provides a wide range of accounting & consulting services to small- & medium-size businesses.

* SALES GROWTH 6.0%

TITAN WINNERS RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

Nations Lending Corporation

Cuyahoga

2003

nationslending.com

A growing IMB in the Cleveland area, licensed to lend in all 50 states.

150.3%

CrossCountry Mortgage

Cuyahoga

2003

crosscountrymortgage.com

The nation's No. 3 largest and fastest-growing retail mortgage lender.

50.8%

Group Management Services, Inc.

Summit

1996

groupmgmt.com

GMS is a certified professional employer organization (CPEO) that helps small businesses with HR administrative tasks.

39.8%

MAI Capital Management, LLC

Cuyahoga

1973

mai.capital

Full-service registered investment adviser with $17.1 billion AUM as of 6/30/23.

39.2%

Park Place Technologies

Cuyahoga

1991

parkplacetechnologies.com

Global data center and networking optimization firm.

30.4%

GEMCORE

Summit

1992

gemcorehealth.com

A family of companies transforming lives through industry-leading diabetes management solutions and personalized health coaching services.

29.6%

Echo Health, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1997

echohealthinc.com

Offering business payment solutions through core principles of partnership, expertise, innovation and ease of integration.

26.9%

Morrison Products Inc.

Cuyahoga

1923

morrisonproducts.com

Leading manufacturer of fans for the North American HVAC industry, celebrating 100 years in 2023.

21.2%

Valley Truck Centers

Cuyahoga

1964

valleytruckcenters.net

Customer driven provider of premier global vehicle brands through advanced value business solutions.

20.7%

Crawford United Corporation

Cuyahoga

1910

crawfordunited.com

A growth-oriented holding company providing specialty industrial products to diverse markets.

17.8%

Budget Dumpster

Cuyahoga

2009

budgetdumpster.com

Provides affordable and dependable waste removal solutions to customers nationwide.

17.2%

NOMS Healthcare

Erie

2001

nomshealthcare.com

A diversified multi-specialty organization with over 300 providers in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

15.1%

Talent Launch

Cuyahoga

2016

mytalentlaunch.com

A nationwide network of independently-operated staffing and recruitment firms under common ownership.

14.1%

Compass Self Storage

Cuyahoga

2008

compassselfstorage.com

Self-storage industry leader providing self-storage and moving solutions nationwide.

13.9%

The Federal Metal Company

Cuyahoga

1913

federalmetal.com

Since 1913, an industry leader in high quality copper-based cast alloys.

12.7%

Mazzella Holding Company, Inc.

Cuyahoga

1954

mazzellacompanies.com

One of the largest independently-owned companies in the overhead lifting and rigging industries.

8.5%

Brennan Industries Inc.

Cuyahoga

1953

brennaninc.com

Global distributor and manufacturer of critical flow components.

7.7%

Peoples Services, Inc.

Stark

1914

peoplesservices.com

A network of 3PL warehouses providing supply chain logistics, freight brokerage, and asset-based transportation.

6.6%

WEBSITE

ENTERPRISE WINNERS RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

WEBSITE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

* SALES GROWTH

Anderson | Biro Staffing, LLC

Cuyahoga

2015

andersonbirostaffing.com

A staffing firm focused on the office professional and light industrial space.

97.0%

Even Mix

Cuyahoga

2013

evenmix.com

Designs and manufacturers patented mixers for containers from 30 to 10,000 gallons.

93.5%

Synergy International Limited, Inc.

Summit

2002

synergyloyalty.com

Excels in leadership development, DEIB, marketing research and executive coaching for global & regional organizations.

92.0%

Peak Technology

Cuyahoga

2017

ptcle.com

Managed IT service provider.

50.3%

WAN Dynamics, Inc.

Cuyahoga

2016

wandynamics.com

A cloud-based and traditional managed network services provider and technical consultancy.

45.8%

Inforce Technologies

Cuyahoga

2009

inforce.io

A systems integration and technology consulting firm specializing in the P&C insurance industry.

44.8%

Woodside Health, LLC

Cuyahoga

2011

woodsidehealth.com

A medical office building acquisitions and management firm.

43.2%

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 21

12/4/23 10:45 AM

W14

NEO’S FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES

ENTERPRISE WINNERS RANK

COMPANY

HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

WEBSITE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

* SALES GROWTH

Flourishing Leadership Institute LLC

Summit

2016

xchangeapproach.com

A leadership development facilitation company that teaches change agents to create transformational online learning experiences.

39.7%

Ten10 Design

Geauga

2009

ten10design.com

Centralizes and improves purchasing processes for promotional marketing products, apparel and print collateral.

34.5%

Wave Strategy

Cuyahoga

2016

wavestrategyllc.com

Healthcare innovation consultancy serving academic medical centers/technology transfer offices, industry, start-ups and funders/accelerators.

30.8%

Kiwi Creative

Cuyahoga

2011

kiwicreative.net

Digital marketing agency and HubSpot partner for B2B software + tech companies.

30.0%

True Wealth Design

Summit

2007

truewealthdesign.com

Caters to successful individuals and families, providing integrated financial planning, tax and investment services.

27.9%

MOD

Cuyahoga

2016

yourmarketingondemand.com

A marketing-on-demand service company that provides marketing, event and project–based consulting.

27.4%

Fast Friendly Repair & Towing

Lake

2013

fastfriendlyrepair.com

Elite full service auto & truck repair from a Kia to Kenworth located in Lake County, Ohio.

25.9%

Saorsa Wealth Management, LLC

Lorain

2018

saorsawm.com

Comprehensive wealth management services firm.

25.4%

TinyCircuits

Summit

2011

tinycircuits.com

Designs and manufactures small electronic products.

24.5%

Avrem Technologies, LLC

Mahoning

2007

avrem.com

Business IT & cybersecurity consultants.

22.3%

AC Wellman

Lake

1902

acwellman.com

Bronze, aluminum & other plaque design, fabrication, finishing & restoration; medical device manufacturer; pattern letters and pattern manufacturer.

22.1%

CleanLife

Cuyahoga

2011

cleanlife.com

Finding a better way to illuminate the world.

18.7%

Muse.

Cuyahoga

2011

MuseHeadquarters.com

A brand strategy and content marketing firm.

15.3%

IRA Plan Partners dba iPlanGroup

Cuyahoga

2012

iplangroup.com

Self directed IRA administrator.

14.8%

CiresiMorek

Cuyahoga

2012

ciresiandmorek.com

Revolutionizing search: shaping the future of executive recruitment through our honest and candid approach.

14.6%

Cornerstone Wealth Management

Cuyahoga

1996

cornerstonewealthmgmt.com

A fee-only, financial planning & investment management Registered Investment Advisor (RIA).

13.7%

Roeder Consulting

Cuyahoga

2001

roederconsulting.com

A project management firm, we bring strategy to life through a holistic approach centered on people.

13.2%

Shaker Investments

Cuyahoga

1991

shakerinvest.com

A boutique investment management firm focused on small and mid-cap growth companies.

12.9%

M Genio Inc.

Cuyahoga

2012

mgenio.com

A downtown Cleveland-based technology solution provider specialized in mobile app, Internet of Things, Salesforce and blockchain solutions.

11.3%

Mortach Financial Services

Lorain

1993

mortachfinancial.com

Retirement and wealth planning advisor using annuities to attain consistent growth and lifetime retirement income.

10.1%

The Wealth Advisory Group of DiLauro Wracher & Thomas

Summit

2015

raymondjames.com/wagdwt

Wealth management firm focusing on high-net-worth families and small/mid sized businesses.

9.7%

Ralston Instruments, LLC

Geauga

1969

Ralston Instruments, LLC

We design and manufacture pressure and temperature measurement instruments and software for the process industry.

9.2%

Return on Life Wealth Partners

Cuyahoga

1994

RetunOnLifeWealth.com

Independent financial steward for individuals, families & businesses seeking personalized wealth planning.

8.3%

ZenStrategies by EA Loxley

Summit

1995

zenstrategies.net

Takes a holistic approach to supporting your business through strategic advising and accounting.

5.1%

True Hire

Stark

1995

true-hire.com

A leading provider of background checks, drug testing and other HR services.

4.4%

BudgetEase Bookkeeping

Cuyahoga

2010

budgetease.biz

Generates the financial information for growing organizations so they can make insightful decisions that result in a simpler life.

4.4%

US FREIGHT

Cuyahoga

2009

GOUSFREIGHT.COM

Premier transportation company delivering on exceeding expectations.

3.7%

Shon Christy Social Media

Summit

2017

shonchristy.com

A niche social media marketing agency specializing in strategy, management and consulting.

2.9%

StandOut Stickers

Medina

2009

standoutstickers.com

We make custom stickers and magnets.

2.0%

EMERGENT BUSINESS WINNERS HQ COUNTY

YEAR FOUNDED

AgileBlue

Cuyahoga

2019

AgileBlue.com

An AI-enabled SOAR | XDR platform that monitors and detects cyber attacks before a breach.

453.2%

bROK Products LLC

Stark

2018

brokproducts.com

Develops innovative towing accessories for professional and recreational users to the automotive aftermarket industry.

114.3%

Champ Titles

Cuyahoga

2018

champtitles.com

A leading provider of digital vehicle title and registration services.

1427.2%

Gertsburg Licata Co., LPA

Cuyahoga

2021

gertsburglicata.com

Business law and strategic advisors. We create freedom and growth for entrepreneurs and their ventures.

121.0%

Sangfroid Strategy

Cuyahoga

2016

sangfroidstrategy.com

Helps organizations connect data to strategy in real-time to increase their social impact.

127.1%

The Emerald Group Consultants

Cuyahoga

2019

theemeraldgrp.com

Recruiting and staffing firm.

169.7%

COMPANY

WEBSITE

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

* SALES GROWTH

* Ties in Growth % are broken based on employee growth stats.

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 22

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SPONSORED CONTENT W15

Ohio entrepreneurs, in their own words Graduates of the Weatherhead School of Management talk with Crain’s Associate Publisher Amy Stoessel for a series of Quick Take videos that focus on the spirit of entrepreneurship that the Weatherhead 100 program promotes. • Scot Lowry, Weatherhead professor and co-founder of PromiseOne Companies, talks about the strategy for business ownership that he teaches his students. • Brent Zimmerman, founder, Saucy Brew Works production brewery, shares his thoughts on Cleveland’s startup scene. • Laura Guilliam, manager, Center for Talent Development at Progressive Insurance, talks about her experience in Weatherhead’s Master of Science in Organizational Development program. • Watch their stories at www.crainscleveland.com/Weatherhead

Get more with Ancora. We offer comprehensive investment solutions as well as tailored guidance across wealth planning, retirement plan management and insurance solutions. 216-825-4000 / www.ancora.net

Scot Lowry MBA ’01

Brent Zimmerman EMBA ’08

Laura Guilliam MS ’18

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE

WEATHERHEAD 100 HONOREES

on their well-deserved recognition!

For more than a century, Buckingham has helped businesses achieve their goals.

bdblaw.com

P009_024_CL_20231218.indd 23

12/4/23 9:12 AM

WE’RE ON A MISSION... Brennan Industries is proud to be recognized as a Weatherhead 100 Titan for our commitment to leadership, growth and success. 2023 marks Brennan Industries’ 70th anniversary and a continued commitment to our core values of quality, service, and innovation. More than a leading global supplier of hydraulic fittings, we’re a multi-generation family business rooted in Cleveland. We are honored to be named a Top 60 Best Employer in Ohio and a Weatherhead 100 Titan, and grateful to continue serving our community and customers.

brennaninc.com 24 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | DECEMBER 18, 2023

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INSURANCE From Page 1

serious hurricane season is in Florida or California wildfires. The price hikes are due to rising losses for insurers after catastrophic events the past few years, often hitting multiple states. Charek, for one, said he was thankful for a quieter hurricane season this year. Jonida Stuewe, vice president and property practice leader at the Cleveland-based Oswald Cos. insurance broker and risk adjustment advisory firm, said the property insurance market is probably the most challenging it has been in 20 years. “The market started to harden after three large hurricanes — Harvey, Irma and Maria — had massive impacts on the U.S,” she said. “We have seen premium increases by double-digits the last 26 consecutive quarters. The Council for Insurance Agents and Brokers (a trade group) said the average property rate increase for the end of 2022 was 16%. The just published third quarter 2023 rates was 17%.” Meantime, the spike in inflation and the run-up in construction costs since the onset of the pandemic have pushed up replacement costs and replacement values for properties. A 25% increase in replacement costs in the region pales compared with the 50% rate experienced in Florida, but the pain remains. That created issues for owners who had not kept their replacement cost estimates up to date, Stuewe said.

something like this coming, you don’t stick your head in the ground. Ohio is faring far better than other places.” At Willoughby-based K&D Group, the company has seen insurance costs rise 15% to 20% in the past few years, and CEO Doug Price said he feels the replacement costs calculated for its portfolio have “skyrocketed.” Several steps are being taken by building owners to manage their insurance costs. “You have to help yourself,” Burton Carol’s Anzalone said. “A lot of people say they require tenants to have renters insurance, which helps mitigate losses for the company. “A kitchen fire can require $40,000 for repairs. If the tenant has insurance, that would be covered,” Anzalone said. If not, it becomes a bill for the building owner. At K&D, water losses have been a problem. “We make sure all the crews know how to turn off the water quickly,” Price said. He and others say insurance companies also inspect the buildings and make recommendations for potential issues that need to be addressed that affect rates. Oswald’s Stuewe said property owners benefit from having frequent conversations with their insurers so they can understand the conditions at each property. Bundling multiple buildings helps spread the risk. In K&D’s case, it has a policy for all 42 of its buildings in downtown Cleveland and the suburbs. That also creates a bigger client for the insurance companies, as insurance coverage is a $3.5 mil-

“The market started to harden after three large hurricanes — Harvey, Irma and Maria — had massive impacts on the U.S.” — Jonida Stuewe, vice president and property practice leader at Oswald Cos. Joy Anzalone, chief operating officer of Burton Carol Management of Warrensville Heights, said the apartment ownership and management firm is “concerned about what our renewal rates will be in March. We’ve had rate increases of 10% to 30% annually in the last three to four years.” Burton Carol has seen replacement costs climb 50% in Florida, where it has properties, but even in the Cleveland area they are up about 25%, he said. Charek, the NAIOP official who also is vice president of development for Welty Development of Fairlawn, counts himself lucky that when the company was doing the underwriting for the just-opened CBIZ Plaza office building in Independence, he checked with insurance experts. They told him to expect big insurance price increases. So he estimated the premiums would double from the rates at that time to the first year of the six-story building’s completion. “It was timing and good advice rather than being smart,” Charek said. “Once you see

lion bill annually for K&D. Even though insurance prices have climbed, Price puts keeping on top of risks a regular part of management for handling insurance. Charek said Welty also follows such a bundling process for its properties, which span several states east of the Mississippi River. Anzalone said negotiating helps reduce bills as well. “It’s become a creative endeavor with your broker,” she said. Several owners say they have switched brokers to seek better rates. And different brokers have different insurance relationships because the pool of companies insuring apartments is getting smaller. Charek said rising insurance costs are an issue throughout the property sector because they are hard to pass on to tenants; apartments have the least ability to pass on climbing insurance costs. “Tenants are smart,” Anzalone said. “They shop. They look at what they can get elsewhere. You can’t pass it on. It’s a new reality.”

As Ohio’s population growth slows, so does new home construction By Jack Grieve

Ohio is moving much slower than most U.S. states when it comes to building new houses. From July 2021 to July 2022, the state grew its housing stock by just 0.5%. The average increase for states nationwide during that period: about 1.1%. Ohio’s rate of housing construction pales in comparison to places like Utah, which topped all states by growing its housing stock by 3.3% in the same period. Next was Idaho at 2.8% and Texas at 2.3%. Three other states — Florida, Colorado and South Carolina — all built 2% or more. While Ohio outpaced neighbors Michigan and West Virginia (both 0.4%), it trailed Pennsylvania (0.8%), Kentucky (0.8%) and Indiana (0.9%). Maryland tied Ohio’s 0.5% increase Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island grew their housing stocks the least in that period, all clocking in at 0.2%. Connecticut came in next at 0.3%. Alaska tied Michigan and West Virginia’s 0.4%. That’s according to data released recently by ResiClub, a real estate analytics site launched recently by Lance Lambert, former real estate editor at Fortune magazine. The states where more houses are being built are, in general, places with relatively less incumbent tax burdens. They are also pockets of the

Ohio grew its housing stock by just 0.5% this year. | BLOOMBERG

country where populations are increasing. Whereas the U.S. Census Bureau estimates Ohio’s population decreased by about 8,000 residents during the July 2021 to July 2022 period, Utah gained roughly 61,000. Meanwhile, Idaho was the second-fastest growing state last year, followed by South Carolina and Texas. Ohio’s population growth has long been in the black with the state seeing a 4% increase in residents between 2000 and 2020. But that took a turn after the pandem-

ic, and residents are now leaving the state faster than they are coming in. Ohio’s lackluster home growth comes at a time when the nation’s housing market is struggling with an extreme lack of inventory of for-sale homes. A recent Realtor. com study found that the U.S. is short about 6.5 million homes. If building lots of houses would ease that burden, Ohio is not helping. Dennis Rodkin of Crain’s Chicago Business contributed.

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With gratitude + appreciation. Thank you to our outgoing board president, Brian Seidner, with The Siegfried Group. Brian has served as a member of the Welcome House Board of Trustees since January of 2015, and as president since 2017. During that time, he has overseen tremendous growth, led the organization through the pandemic and was instrumental in strengthening our community presence. A true ambassador and champion for our cause, Brian’s wise counsel, passion and friendship has been an invaluable asset to Welcome House.

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How The Brew Kettle plans to expand and acquire its way to craft beer dominance By Jeremy Nobile

As newly installed executives work on other aspects of The Brew Kettle’s ambitious growth strategy, including improving the existing business and enhancing distribution, president Bryan Weber is focused on expanding operations and acquiring other craft companies in a bid to assemble a portfolio of craft brands. If all goes to plan, these combined efforts stand to cement The Brew Kettle as the most expansive craft beer enterprise in Ohio. “While Bryan develops horizontally, we continue to plug ahead in mass market and distribution—which is where some size and scale comes from— while the margin comes from the brewpubs,” said Brew Kettle CEO Evan Schumann. “This also makes us the most diversified brewery in the state. That penetration doesn’t really exist with anyone else.”

Canton Brewing deal The Brew Kettle already boasts a comparatively sizable Northeast Ohio footprint with brewpub restaurants in Strongsville, Amherst, Mentor, Hudson and, most recently, Canton via the Hall of Fame Village. There’s also a core production facility in Middleburg Heights, which is only used for manufacturing and is not open to the public. The brewery produces about 10,000 barrels of beer annually, Schumann said. And the company has roughly 230 employees across all those operations. Seeking opportunities to expand in the wake of becoming the business’ majority shareholder, Weber purchased the former Canton Brewing Co. facility—which marked Stark County’s first craft brewery when it opened in 2015— for $1.7 million this past summer. At the time of that acquisition, Weber was thinking of rebranding the brewery as the District Brewing Co. However, the plan now is to reopen that space as the Canton Brewing Co. around spring 2024. This change illustrates Weber’s thinking behind building a house of craft names under the Brew Kettle’s holding company. The idea is to roll up these other businesses while retaining their respective identities and capitalizing on the synergies that come with additional size and scale. An expanded taproom network also allows for cross-selling of sister beer brands, which is significant as breweries make their best margins on pints sold over the counter. “There has to be some consolidation,” Weber said. “But brands

don’t have to go away with that consolidation.” It’s an approach that could be compared to what Anheuser-Busch InBev has done with its Brewers Collective, a craft division that includes names like Chicago’s Goose Island Beer Co. and Cleveland’s Platform Beer Co. Platform closed earlier this year but lives on as a brand in the AB InBev portfolio. Weber—who emphasized that he has no plans for closing any brewery he may roll up—is actively in talks to acquire or partner with some other indie breweries and pubs that may want to affiliate with a larger company like his. Some of those discussions are making progress with companies in Akron in Columbus with many other targets and markets on his radar.

The M&A opportunity It’s a seemingly opportune time for an outfit like The Brew Kettle to position itself as an acquirer with some brewers struggling in a craft segment that, according to the Brewers Association, was down 2% at midyear. While that downturn may not sound so bad, it follows several years of steady growth in what BA analysts describe as a “maturing” industry. There are nearly 430 craft breweries in Ohio, according to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. That includes 38 breweries that opened this year. There have also been at least 18 closures this year, however, which is on par with 2022. Rising costs and flat-to-down sales are already impacting many craft operators. That includes Akron’s R. Shea Brewing Co., which launched a $2.3 million crowdfunding campaign to save its ailing business, and Cleveland’s Terrestrial Brewing Co., which was facing eviction due to unpaid rent and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It’s worth noting that with both those companies, debt that was taken on to expand pre-pandemic has become tougher to service amid rising interest rates. Weber’s expectation is that combining with The Brew Kettle would be received differently by the public compared with selling to Big Beer and potentially more desirable to business owners. “One thing I can tell you about the craft beer ecosystem is people hate breweries that sell out,” Weber said. “There are a lot of craft breweries in Ohio we could do deals with, and we will. There are also a lot of great craft breweries in Colorado, California, the East Coast, which are privately owned and that want to get scale in the Midwest.”

Build, acquire, expand It’s not just about large metros. Whether that comes through a partnership or building de novo locations, Weber is keen on establishing a presence with his enterprise in smaller cities where local competition is soft, Weber holds about 3.5 acres in Avon, for example, through one of his companies. The Brew Kettle website has previously noted that a new location was in the works there. But now, Weber is not so sure. “We are identifying other key locations where you don’t have a lot of other competition,” he said. “You don’t want to be in Avon when you have a hundred other places that you’re in competition with.” It’s a different story in Brunswick Hills, though, where a new Brew Kettle facility is in the works. The land there is currently under development. Weber also said that he’d like to build something at or near the new Northeast Ohio Medical University location in Rootstown, though no plans are really in motion with that just yet. Apart from all of this, Weber also has plans for a combined production facility and taproom/restaurant at a roughly 16acre site in Medina near the intersection of I-71 and State Route 18. Work on that—which Weber described as a “Fat Heads-scale project,” drawing a comparison to that brewery’s large facility in Middleburg Heights—is expected to begin in 2026 and wind down in 2028. About $500,000 has already been invested in engineering and development for that facility, Weber said. Once completed, the complex will replace Brew Kettle’s current manufacturing outpost in Middleburg Heights. While Weber can’t put a price tag on all his expansive plans, he said about $20 million has been invested in the company since he effectively took control in 2022, though not all of that has been deployed yet. “We’re not taking on a penny of debt,” he said. “We’re just leaning on our core investors.” As far as standing out in a crowded and fragmented market for food and drink, Weber expects his growing enterprises’ moderately priced fare will continue to appeal to a value-minded consumer segment regardless of the economic environment. “I think the consumer is going to spend their money on what they believe is a great value proposition,” he said. “And when you come here, it’s a great value proposition.”

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BREW KETTLE From Page 1

“The platform of Brew Kettle long term is to consolidate up with some of these unique craft breweries that don’t have the support of a larger company,” said Evan Schumann, Brew Kettle’s newly installed CEO and president of L’uva Bella Winery, which now owns a minority stake in the brewery and vice versa. “That is where we can implement our strengths to support them and let them leverage their own brands in their unique market,” Schumann added. “L’uva Bella and Brew Kettle are the brands that we are pushing in retail. And I think Brew Kettle can support the other craft brands in its portfolio through their tasting rooms.” These growth aspirations point to a significantly different company trajectory for a business that, according to court filings, was in a “dire financial condition” not that long ago.

Weber wrests control A serial entrepreneur, investor and real estate developer, Weber became a Brew Kettle partner in 2016. Weber was assembling a retail development in downtown Hudson at the time. He secured the brewery and restaurant as a tenant there, and that’s when he decided to invest. The Hudson Brew Kettle opened the next year. But it wasn’t until last year that Weber really took control of the Brew Kettle enterprise following a fallout with erstwhile business partners. In spring 2022, Weber and other investors sued to oust Brew Kettle shareholders and managers Christopher Russo and Rodney Davis from the company. The two held a 25% stake in the business at the time. Russo and Davis were charged with misappropriating Brew Kettle resources to fund personal ventures, causing loan defaults and committing securities fraud. The two were accused of selling nearly $15 million in Brew Kettle securities to plaintiff-investors, according to the lawsuit, while allegedly misrepresenting the value and financial performance of the business and failing to disclose the full extent of the company’s debts and liabilities. The case was ultimately settled and Russo and Davis were removed from the business. Their ownership stakes were acquired by Weber, positioning him as the Top: The Brew Kettle’s Northeast Ohio footprint comprises brewpub restaurants Strongsville, pictured, Amherst, Mentor, Hudson and, most recently, Canton via the Hall of Fame Village. Middle: Phil Zini bottles some of the restaurant’s root beer, in the bottling facility at Brew Kettle’s Strongsville facility. Bottom: A serial entrepreneur, investor and real estate developer, Bryan Weber became a Brew Kettle partner in 2016 and took control of the enterprise last year. | PHOTOS BY GUS CHAN

majority shareholder. All other terms of the deal are confidential. It was a pivotal moment for Weber, who is subject to a non-disparagement agreement and prefers to not revisit that case in detail. “There was a business decision that needed to be made whether to continue down a path of litigation or come to a resolution and save an amazing brand and a couple hundred people’s livelihoods,” Weber said. “Where we are a year later is, we’re certainly on a growth trajectory.”

New and improved Regarding Brew Kettle’s apparently “dire” financial straits, Weber notes that the issue was not with cash flow in the business but with how revenue was being allocated under the prior managers. With the lawsuit settled, Weber turned his attention to improving the company, starting with the distribution side. The Brew Kettle acquired a 10-barrel pilot brewing system to be “more nimble with seasonals,” Weber said. That also allows for doing more “creative things” in terms of special releases for the brewpub, he added, while the core production facility primarily cranks out mainstay offerings for grocery stores, like the White Raja IPA. The canning line was improved as well and is now outfitted to package 19-ounce, single-serve cans, a popular segment in convenience stores. He also has acquired new food trucks. At the same time, Weber felt a need for the craft brand, established in 1995, to appeal to a younger demographic—something the 1988-founded Great Lakes Brewing Co. has been working on since its current CEO Mark King was brought on in 2019. As such, some older brewpubs were refreshed with updates like renovated bathrooms, better lighting and new seats and tables. Topgolf Swing Suites also were added to Brew Kettle’s flagship Strongsville location and its brewpub at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, which opened last year. Those suites feature simulators for virtual golfing and other games in a lounge-type setting, presenting an activity designed to help draw younger people, groups and families—kids tend to like the zombie dodgeball game, Weber said.

L’uva Bella partnership As these upgrades were in motion, a business associate introduced Weber to the couple behind Lowellville’s L’uva Bella Winery, which is owned and operated by CEO Marisa Sergi-Schumann and president Evan Schumann (her husband). The two acquired the business from the Sergi family in 2020. While L’uva Bella has a restaurant and tasting room in Mahoning County, its bread and butter is in retail sales of its various wine brands—like Purple Rain—now

available in 10 states. The thinking was the business could support Brew Kettle with its off-premise business. But as their relationship blossomed, L’uva Bella and The Brew Kettle ultimately decided to invest in one another. Owners of each company acquired a 10% stake in the other. With this partnership struck, Schumann was appointed CEO of The Brew Kettle and Sergi-Schumann was named chief revenue officer. They’re taking on these roles in addition to their work with the winery. “You’ve got to surround yourself with people who have expertise different from your own. What they bring to the table is a different level of skill set. They are very detail-oriented, have a high level of communication and are very driven by result—also, they’re young,” Weber said. “I think they have a lot of bandwidth and technological prowess that will benefit (The Brew Kettle).” While Schumann oversees running the brewery enterprise, Sergi-Schumann largely is focused on expanding and improving off-premise sales. “I’m bringing in what I’ve done over the last 10 years in distribution,” said Sergi-Schumann. “We are very good at building relationships.” Brew Kettle currently distributes throughout Ohio’s largest metro areas but the plan is to build on that and penetrate smaller pockets of this state as well as others. Owners are projecting to grow retail sales by 30% in 2024. Coinciding with this are plans for tightening up the Brew Kettle beer portfolio, enhancing seasonal offerings and releasing some more traditional and light lagers that can compete with popular macro brews. They’re also looking into hip new offerings, like ready-to-drink beverages. A refreshed look on cans and packaging should go a long way in helping the brand stand out from others on store shelves and bolstering brand awareness, Schumann said. That’s why the rebrand is in the works, which the public should notice sometime in the second quarter next year. “We are working on winning in a down craft market by really building out a sleek portfolio of quality, simple products that will win in retail,” Schumann said. Another benefit of this partnership is Brew Kettle carrying L’uva Bella wines at its brewpubs. Having “good wine” is a “huge transition” for the company, Weber said. Additionally, the Strongsville location, which has long allowed customers to brew on-premise, now offers winemaking for guests. All of these efforts are part of the recipe for reinvigorating a nearly 30-year-old company. Meanwhile, Weber is focused on the broader company expansion, which includes growing and improving operations over the coming years and assembling that portfolio of craft brands.

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The Museum of Illusions has more than 40 locations, each with a series of interactive and photo-ready exhibits. They include mirror-filled infinity rooms, optical tricks, puzzles and brain teasers. | MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS PHOTOS

MUSEUM From Page 1

Bedrock’s local vice president of operations and leasing. He described the museum concept as “edutainment” — a mix of science and art, learning and fun. The space is expected to open by mid-2024. Founded in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2015, the Museum of Illusions has more than 40 locations in the United States and overseas. It’s part of a growing crop of nontraditional retail tenants that offer customers more than just a transactional shopping experience. The company, which offers franchises, has set a goal of opening 100 museums across the globe by 2026. The Cleveland outpost will be the first in Ohio. “Cleveland is rich with history and creative people looking for new and interesting twists on the arts and entertainment scene, making it the perfect place for a concept like the Museum of Illusions,” Jonathan Benjamin, the company’s CEO, said in a written statement. The Museum of Illusions Chicago opened a few years ago and recently expanded. Tickets cost $25 to $30. A location in Pittsburgh is scheduled to debut later this month. Admission there will be $25 for teenagers and adults and $20 for children ages 5 and up. Each of the museums contains a series of interactive and Instagram-ready exhibits. They include mirror-filled infinity rooms; vortex tunnels that create the illusion of

The May Co. building in Cleveland reopened in 2020 as apartments, with retail spaces on the ground floor and an area earmarked for a rooftop restaurant and bar. The massive former department store stretches between Euclid and Prospect avenues. | BEDROCK

movement through lights and mirrors; optical tricks, three-dimensional holograms, puzzles and brain teasers. Russell, who has taken a virtual tour of a museum, said the facilities are tailored to their markets. He believes the Cleveland installation will reach a broad customer base, ranging from downtown visitors to school groups on field trips to couples looking for a date-night activity. “The one thing that I’m really encouraged by is the education and the science behind it. … While it is perceived as a retail experi-

ence, there is so much more to it,” Russell said. The museum will fill part of the space once occupied by Cadillac Ranch, an over-the-top bar and restaurant that included a mechanical bull, a dance floor and a related martini bar and nightclub. Cadillac Ranch, later called Cowboy Rock, shut its doors more than a decade ago. Bedrock reopened the May in 2020 as apartments and a Roost apartment hotel, which offers short-term, furnished lodging. Cuyahoga Community College leases space for its culinary school

on the first floor, but the other storefronts on Euclid and Prospect Avenues are vacant. Russell said that Bedrock, which also owns the nearby Tower City mall, is marketing both properties to other retailers, including food-and-beverage operators. The company worked with Jeremy Grossman, a Massachusetts-based retail leasing consultant, on the museum deal. “I just think it’s a great opportunity to invigorate the Public Square area and bring people downtown,” said Nanci Ferrante, a senior vice president with Cush-

man & Wakefield-Cresco Real Estate, a local brokerage that also helped to facilitate the transaction. The museum is set to open in the middle of a push to liven up Public Square. Destination Cleveland is rolling out a major lighting project that will span public art, street furniture and new approaches to illuminating buildings. The goal is to encourage more evening foot traffic. Meanwhile, the nonprofit group Downtown Cleveland Inc. is starting to implement a new retail strategy, with an eye on pop-up shops, local tenants and creative uses for vacant spaces. “One of the prime directives coming out of the retail strategy is we need to create great experiences that attract diverse types of people,” said Michael Deemer, the organization’s president and CEO. Deemer hopes to see other unconventional tenants sign leases in the central business district, which is still recovering from a pandemic that deeply wounded downtowns across the nation. He applauded the Museum of Illusions news. “It is the direction that we need owners across downtown thinking about,” he said. “We need owners thinking about nontraditional uses. As an organization, in implementing the retail strategy, we’re going to be very focused on identifying ways that we can encourage people who are coming downtown to come earlier, to stay later, to stay longer. . . .That’s how we’re going to create an attractive retail environment overall.”

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Former MetroHealth CEO files to dismiss suit against system By Paige Bennett

Ex-MetroHealth president and CEO Dr. Akram Boutros’ lawsuit against the health care system was dismissed after Boutros filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, citing health issues. In a notice filed Dec. 8 in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Boutros asked to dismiss the case because of a “serious health issue that requires intensive treatment, including week-long inpatient admissions every three weeks.” Boutros’ medical team Boutros advised he may not be able to participate fully in trial or pretrial proceedings, the notice says. He plans to refile the suit once his treatment is finished, according to court documents. The court dismissed the case without prejudice Dec. 11, according to court documents. A jury trial slated to start Feb. 12 also has been canceled. Boutros filed two lawsuits

were not immediately returned Dec. 11. A spokesperson for MetroHealth said in an email that the filing speaks for itself and that the system wishes Boutros a speedy return to health. Steed, who took over as CEO at the beginning of 2023, came to MetroHealth from Sinai Chicago. In a Q&A with Crain’s Cleveland earlier this year, she said it was unfortunate for anyone to come into a new position at a time of crisis, but that she hoped to shift the spotlight away from the negativity surrounding the health system. “MetroHealth is all about the people and all about the community,” Steed told Crain’s in January. “And that’s where I want to turn the spotlight back on. So, I don’t want to get distracted by the negative. That’s not fair to the organization. That’s not fair to the people that are serving this organization every single day, making that level of investment. And it’s certainly not fair to the people that we’re serving.”

against his former employer, the first in November 2022, shortly after he was fired by the MetroHealth board of trustees. MetroHealth alleged it had discovered that Boutros paid himself more than $1.9 million in unauthorized bonuses between 2018 and 2022. It uncovered the unapproved bonuses during the transition between Boutros, who planned to leave the post at the end of 2022, and current CEO Airica Steed. Boutros has denied the allegations and said the board authorized the bonuses. In the first lawsuit against MetroHealth, he accused the board of violating the state of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act and board bylaws in the hiring of Steed and the investigation of his compensation. He filed a second lawsuit against MetroHealth on Dec. 15, 2022, claiming defamation of character, wrongful termination and breach of contract. Messages to Boutros’ attorneys

Cedar Fair shuffles leadership ahead of merger with Six Flags With a big merger on the horizon, Sandusky-based Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. (NYSE: FUN) is making some changes to its corporate leadership structure. The amusement park operator announced that Robert White, who since 2021 has been the company’s senior vice president of business intelligence, has been promoted to chief commercial officer. It’s a new executive-level position “created to better meet the challenges of today’s dynamic consumer landscape and enhance the company’s focus on driving guest demand,” Cedar Fair said. Meanwhile, Christian Dieckmann, who in two separate stints with Cedar Fair has worked for a total of eight years in strategy-oriented roles, has been promoted to chief strategy officer. He’ll be “focused on identifying growth opportunities and driving strategic initiatives at the company,” the company said. The promotions of White and Dieckmann are effective immediately. As part of the reorganization, Kelley S. Ford will exit as executive vice president and chief marketing officer after 11 years in the job. She will remain employed at Cedar Fair in a non-executive role until March 29, 2024, the company said. Richard A. Zimmerman, Cedar Fair’s president and CEO, said in a

CEDAR FAIR

By Scott Suttell

statement that Ford was the company’s first dedicated CMO and “helped modernize and develop a comprehensive marketing function that has played a key role in the company’s growth.” The company noted that White, who has more than 40 years of experience in the amusement park industry, will be responsible for developing and directing the company’s commercial strategies for guest acquisition. He will report directly to Tim Fisher, Cedar Fair’s chief operating officer. Dieckmann, who has a decade of experience in the location-based entertainment space,

will focus on developing and executing growth opportunities across the company’s portfolio of properties. He will report directly to Zimmerman. In November, Cedar Fair and Six Flags Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: SIX) announced they will combine in what they called “a merger of equals transaction” that creates a business valued at about $8 billion, including debt. The new company will have the Six Flags name and will trade under the FUN ticker symbol that Cedar Fair has used. It will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Cedar Fair has been migrating some of its executive operations. (Cedar Fair operates the Carowinds park in Charlotte.) The Cedar Fair/Six Flags merger is expected to close in the first half of 2024. Cedar Fair at present owns and operates 13 properties, consisting of 11 amusement parks, four separately gated outdoor water parks, and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario. The combined Cedar Fair/Six Flags will operate a portfolio of 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks and 9 resort properties across 17 states in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

A rendering shows Intel’s big project in the Columbus area. The company is projected to bring thousands of jobs to Ohio. | CONTRIBUTED

Ohio receives highest bond ratings from three largest global agencies By Kim Palmer

With the Dec. 8 announcement from S&P Global upgrading Ohio’s long-term obligation bond ratings to “AAA” from “AA+,” 2023 marks the first time the state has received top bond ratings from S&P, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch. Rob Marker, S&P Global Ratings credit analyst, in a statement, said that the rating upgrade reflects robust efforts to diversify the state’s economy, specifically citing large financial investments by the state economic agency, JobsOhio, that continue to drive statewide private-sector investment. Recent JobsOhio data show that the state secured commitments for more than 102,129 new jobs and $62.24 billion in capital investments from 2019 through mid-2023. The state’s “active budget management,” reduction in pension liabilities over time and debt service all contributed to a positive “long-term credit stability,” according to an S&P statement on the rating. “The upgrades reflect our view of Ohio’s demonstrated commitment to active budget management and building and maintaining reserves through economic cycles,” said Marker, citing the state’s plan to issue approximately $393 million in General Obligation Refunding Bonds before the

end of the year. Refunding bonds is the process where municipalities refinance outstanding bonds by issuing new bonds. “This third Triple-A rating is a testament to Ohio’s unmatched economic strength and fiscal responsibility,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in a statement issued Dec. 11. “Our budgetary leadership, combined with strategic investments in diverse sectors, has paid off immensely. We’re not just maintaining a balanced budget, we are fostering a flourishing economy.” Ohio’s move from one slot below S&P’s highest rankings to the highest rating comes on the heels of Moody’s announcement that Ohio’s issuer rating had been raised from Aa1 to Aaa, the highest rating on its scale. The December upgrade by Moody’s, according to a statement, was based on “a continuing trend of very strong financial management, improving reserves and liquidity, low and declining leverage and a state economy that is poised for diversification and growth despite lagging demographic trends.” Fitch Ratings in August affirmed Ohio’s long-term issuer default rating at AAA, its highest rating. In August 2022, the city of Cleveland’s bond issuer rating was upgraded by Moody’s from A1 to Aa3, the first time the city had improved in 12 years.

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Wesley Gillespie will assume the role of President of ERIEBANK, replacing David Zimmer, founding President of CNB’s ERIEBANK division who is transitioning into the role of Executive Regional Director, effective December 31, 2023. Mr. Gillespie has led the bank’s expansion in Northeast Ohio. He and his team have been responsible for delivering C&I commercial services and commercial real estate lending, treasury management services, consumer banking, private banking, and wealth & asset management.

American Structurepoint, Inc., announces the promotion of Ed Kagel to vice president. Ed will work to develop strategies to grow American Structurepoint’s Ohio operations, including growing our dynamic Cleveland design center. He draws on over 27 years of engineering experience. Ed has a passion for assisting local public agencies and communities of all sizes to solve complex infrastructure challenges in transportation, utility infrastructure, investigative services, and construction solutions.

Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center

BANKING FINANCIAL SERVICES

SLV Public Relations, LLC Chrystal Fairbanks has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Regional Manager for ERIEBANK Ohio where she will oversee daily operations of the Ohio offices located in Ashtabula, Lake and Cuyahoga counties. Ms. Fairbanks brings over 25 years of banking experience to her new role where she will be responsible for leading and collaborating with office managers to achieve established goals and provide best-in-class service.

BANKING

ERIEBANK Tim Flenner has been appointed Market Executive for Ohio at ERIEBANK, where he will lead a team of commercial lenders to drive business development opportunities across all lines including private banking, wealth management, treasury management, and across the retail footprint. Mr. Flenner, who joined ERIEBANK in 2016, has 20 years of banking industry experience and expertise, and most recently held the position of Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Area Manager.

Ancora We are happy to announce that Lance Ference, AIF ® has joined Ancora as a Vice President and Retirement Plan Education Specialist. Lance will assist the firm’s Retirement Plans division with coordinating education and enrollment programs for retirement plan participants. Prior to joining the firm, Lance spent the last four years with A&M Financial Group, working with small business retirement plans. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Education from Cleveland State University.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Ancora Ancora is happy to announce that Lisa Rosenthal, CFA, CFP ® has joined the firm as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Lisa will assist Ancora’s investment team with managing clients’ custom portfolios. Lisa brings over 30 years of industry experience with her, most recently serving as a team financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Miami University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management.

30 | CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS | DECEMBER 18, 2023

Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center welcomes Robert M. Fumich, M.D. to its practice. Dr. Fumich specializes in orthopaedic and sports medicine, primarily focusing on conditions affecting the knee and shoulder. He belongs to numerous professional organizations, including the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Sports Medicine. Dr. Fumich sees patients in Lyndhurst.

Oatey Co., a leading plumbing industry manufacturer, has appointed Patrick Hall as Senior VP, Retail. Hall comes to Oatey with significant retail sales experience in the home improvement and hardware retailing industry. Most recently, he served as Director of Retail Channel Sales and Marketing at Cooper Lighting Solutions. As Senior Vice President of Retail at Oatey, Hall will lead the retail sales division and drive sales growth.

LEGAL

Benesch Dorothea R. Carleton has joined Benesch as an Associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Dorothea Carleton focuses her practice on Corporate and Securities. She has experience in conducting due diligence for multiple transactional deals including asset acquisitions, special purpose acquisition companies, and stock purchases. Megan C. Parker has joined Benesch as an Associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Parker Megan specializes in intellectual property law, boasting a robust background in legal research and writing. Her practical experience in trademark law was gained during her tenure as a legal intern at the Akron Law Trademark Clinic.

LAW

LEGAL

LAW

Brennan Manna Diamond

Benesch

Brennan Manna Diamond

BMD is pleased to announce that Cassandra Manna has been promoted to Member. Cassandra works primarily out of BMD’s Cleveland office, focusing her practice on all matters relating to estate and wealth planning and family-run business leadership teams. She actively recruited Estate Planning law firms to join BMD and expand the reach, impact, and capabilities of her practice. Additionally, she chairs the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, leading efforts to increase cultural awareness.

Bianca Smith has joined Benesch as an Associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Bianca has experience collaborating with a robust team of litigators in various practice areas, including commercial litigation, labor and employment, product liability, soft intellectual property and white-collar defense. She has also performed extensive legal research involving commercial litigation topics such as class certification, federal statutes, employment law, and affirmative defenses.

Jacob Bruner is a former employment litigator-turned-estate planning attorney who returned to BMD after working for several top national firms to shift his focus to serving millennials, young couples, and family businesses on the brink of one of the largest intergenerational transfers of wealth in history. Jake’s mixedpractice background allows him to serve affluent clients in various legal settings. While Jake resides in Denver, he is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Colorado, and Florida.

LEGAL

Benesch

LAW

Brennan Manna Diamond

BMD is pleased to announce that Nicholas Karam has been promoted to Partner. Nick has been with BMD’s Akron office since 2019 and practices in the areas of commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate business matters. His practice primarily focuses on commercial real estate purchases and sales and lease negotiations, from both the landlord and tenant sides. Nick also has experience with due diligence in property purchases, including environmental, survey, and title-related issues.

BMD is pleased to announce that Marlon Primes has been promoted to Member. Marlon joined BMD’s Cleveland office in 2022 as a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and has 30 years of legal experience. He is the Co-Chair of the firm’s Business and Tort Litigation Group and handles a variety of complex civil litigation in state, federal and appellate courts. Marlon’s practice covers a wide variety of practice areas most notably, litigation and employment law.

Kate Powell has joined Benesch as an Associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Kate specializes in Powell representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies in complex M&A transactions. She also regularly offers guidance on a variety of corporate and governance issues. Alyson Waite has joined Benesch as an Associate in the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. Alyson has facilitated Waite resolutions in employment and immigration matters before state and federal courts, as well as administrative agencies. She has experience conducting legal research and drafting pleadings. Alyson has also conducted labor and employment due diligence for various transactional deals.

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