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The Leading EDGE Awards
This is a sample of a few of the Leading EDGE Award Winning Companies honored on May 16, 2007. We invite you to read their breif profiles and the answers provided to questions about doing business in Northeast Ohio. To learn more, follow the link to their website.
Antares Management Solutions - Westlake, OH
www.antaressolutions.com
Antares Management Solutions set it roots in Northeast Ohio right from its beginning in 1997. Headquartered in Westlake, Antares designs and maintains information technology systems, develops software applications to meet customer needs and administers information technology services.
Why is your company committed to Northeast Ohio?
The company is made up of people from the area who have gone to area schools and colleges, and have been longtime residents of the area. The company is committed as a whole to Northeast Ohio.
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
Northeast Ohio is a great area and has a lot to offer—winning numerous awards, playing home to great sports teams and cultural offerings (theater, museums), developing great working relationships and resurging market growth.
Ken Sidon, President, Antares Management Solutions
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Cynergies Solution Group - Willoughby Hills, OH
www.cynergies.net
Founded in November 1997, the Lake County-based Cynergies sources and delivers the most critical component in the technology industry—human capital.
Why is your company committed to staying in Northeast Ohio?
We have been very successful at matching some of the area’s brightest, diverse talent with the area’s top organizations. We’ve also attracted talented individuals from all over the country to relocate to this area. It’s really great to speak with them after they’ve been here a few months and hear how much they like it here. The cost of living is extremely reasonable, and new opportunities are not difficult to find.
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
This area is a great place to attract top talent. A great housing market with urban, suburban and rural options, all within easy commutes of major business hubs, as well as cultural and entertainment venues make the area extremely attractive.
Ellie Chalko, Co-founder and EVP, Cynergies Solution Group
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Dealer Tire - Cleveland, OH
www.dealertire.com
Dealer Tire is headquartered in the midtown corridor of Cleveland. Although technically only 7 years old, Dealer Tire is an offshoot of Walter J. Mueller Inc. founded in Cleveland in 1918.
Dealer Tire has 19 warehousing operations in Strongsville; Irwindale (Calif.), Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Hayward (Calif.), Miami, Denver, Kansas City, Phoenix, Tampa, Lyndhurst (N.J.), Elmsford (N.Y.), Minneapolis, Seattle, Dallas, and Baltimore. It also operates virtual sales offices in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota Colorado, Florida, California, New Hampshire, Washington, Virginia and Texas.
Why is your company committed to Northeast Ohio?
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
I would answer the same for both questions. Cleveland is a Midwestern, metropolitan city with small-town appeal in close proximity to other cities of scale that provide a diverse and concentrated potential population of employees, clients/customers and vendors.
The area offers a dynamic entrepreneurial environment in which to collaborate with institutes of higher learning and nonprofit organizations, while municipal and state agencies invest heavily in urban revitalization through attractive incentive packages that aid in the success of start-up ventures or relocating businesses.
Having access to major sporting events, incredible cultural institutions and two of the top health care providers in North America available as well as affordable transportation and an educated workforce makes Cleveland an excellent location for any business.
Richard L. Cahoon, Partner, Chief Marketing and Program Officer, Dealer Tire
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MemberHealth Inc. - Solon, OH
www.mhrx.com
MemberHealth found this region the perfect place to open its prescription drug program provider business in 1998. And it will continue here, adding more employees and acquiring more space. It is so attractive that Universal American Financial Corp. is planning to acquire it later this year—but plans call for MemberHealth to remain, and expand, in Northeast Ohio.
Why is your company committed to Northeast Ohio?
Northeast Ohio is a center for health care services, with renowned hospitals, insurance companies and third-party administrators. As such, our location provides us with a well-trained employee base.
Also, our central location in the nation means we are within easy reach of the retail pharmacy industry and the pharmaceutical manufacturer community. Just as important, our family roots are here.
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
Northeast Ohio has a diverse labor force with a good work ethic. Our standard of living is good, but not too expensive, and that’s an important consideration for businesses.
With the rapid growth of the insurance, health care and financial services industries, Northeast Ohio is becoming an interesting place to be. The innovation here affords many opportunities for collaborative thought.
Charles E. Hallberg,
President, CEO and Founder,
MemberHealth Inc.
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The Davey Tree Expert Company - Kent, OH
www.davey.com
Founded in 1880 in Kent, the Davey Tree Expert Company provides tree, shrub and lawn care, large tree moving, commercial landscape services, vegetation management and consulting services throughout North America.
Davey operates from nine Northeast Ohio locations, including: Akron, Canton, Eastlake, Kent, North Royalton, Solon, Stow, Wooster and Youngstown.
Why is your company committed to Northeast Ohio?
Northeast Ohio has contributed to the success of The Davey Tree Expert Company ever since its 1880 origins. At that time, the people of the Warren and Kent areas proved to be responsive to the introduction of a new science called "tree surgery." Northeast Ohio continues to encourage the preservation of our natural environment and trees as evidenced by the fact that nearly 250 "Tree City USA" communities reside here.
Davey maintains its North American headquarters here, based on the
pro-business environment including reasonable corporate taxation, world class yet personalized professional services such as banking, legal, financial and accounting and the Midwest work ethic. We have
easy access to Akron and Cleveland airports and the region has relatively little traffic congestion compared to most major urban areas. We can quickly and economically access all of our North American markets.
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
Davey’s employees enjoy living here for the diversity of recreational opportunities, desirable school systems, tremendous medical options and affordable housing.
We can entertain clients at nationally recognized sites such as Firestone Country Club and our greatest natural treasurer, Lake Erie. Other attractions include our tremendous park systems, skiing, theaters and professional sports. We simply enjoy all the benefits offered by other highly visible regions in the country but without the many encumbrances with which they are burdened.
I would tell prospective business decisionmakers to evaluate the quality of their personal life here, then talk with any number of organizations who can find multiple solutions for their business needs.
Karl Warnke, President & CEO, The Davey Tree Expert Co.
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The Garland Company - Cleveland, OH
www.garlandco.com
Garland Company was founded in 1895 in Cleveland and has never moved from that location. A family owned business for 80 years, it manufactured paints, roof coatings and greenhouse maintenance products. In 1974, new ownership reorganized and focused on high-performance roofing products. In 1985, the employees bought the company through an employee stock ownership plan.
Cleveland remains its headquarters and hosts its research and development labs, main manufacturing facility and distribution center. Garland also operates manufacturing plants in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and New Mexico as well as a joint venture in Germany. Sales offices operate in all major U.S., Canada and United Kingdom markets.
In addition to Cleveland, distribution centers also exist in San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, and Glouster, England. Garland’s employees slightly fewer than 500 people and hopes to hit the $200 million sales mark this year.
Why is your company committed to Northeast Ohio?
Northeast Ohio is our home and we have no thoughts of ever changing that. Cleveland has been very good to Garland over the years. The city guaranteed an industrial revenue bond to help us expand back in 1985. We have been able to acquire needed land in the neighborhood necessary for expansion.
Northeast Ohio has a wealth of talented workers that has contributed to our success over the years. Cleveland is in the center of major markets in the Midwest, Northeast and Southern United States. Also, raw materials necessary for manufacturing are readily available. Shipping costs are very reasonable because of Cleveland's access to major highways, rail lines and Great Lakes.
What would you tell a prospective business considering this region?
I would recommend Northeastern Ohio to any business looking for a business friendly environment, a wealth of talented employees with a good old Midwestern work ethic, state-of-the-art shipping resources, access to needed raw materials, along with quality schools, hospitals, and recreational opportunities to keep valued employees happy.
Richard J. DeBacco, CEO emeritus, Garland Company
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