Smart Business Magazine, October 2017

4 Smart Business Akron Canton October 2017 ADAM BURROUGHS EDITORS NOTE Avoid bad growth Sustaining success is as important as maintaining itthe waistline and realize the latter companies in Summit Medina Portage Wayne Stark Holmes and Ashland counties that overcame business and market challenges to increase sales and headcounts providing a boost to their communities economies Community growth stemming from the success of companies planted within its borders is a big deal Businesses can become landmarks in their hometowns their names intertwined These companies create opportunities and can be anchors that cities and towns can build around further developing the physical and economic landscape That level of consistent growth is challenging It means adding staff to accommodate the added business training and managing them to continue to provide the service that got the business to where it is It means more clients more products or services to provide It means a larger organization that needs to operate with the same level of service and quality as it had when it was a smaller company Business leaders often talk about how companies need to prepare for growth Handling its stages requires tact and planning otherwise the growth can outpace the companys ability to manage it The company starts to underperform Clients are lost and growth is stunted business declines and progress is reversed The companies featured in these pages have maintained growth over a five year period some greater than others and some for longer than others but all are on an upward trajectory Theyve added jobs and contributed to the economy which strengthens communities Thats something to celebrate Not all growth is good Growth of my midsection for example is bad Growing disengagement within a companys culture is bad and could be counterproductive to the type of growth most companies seek growth in the bottom line This month Smart Business celebrates companies that managed to avoid the former counterproductive growth not ADAM BURROUGHS Associate Editor Smart Business Akron Canton Adam is interested in the people and businesses making a difference in Akron Canton 440 250 7062 aburroughs@ sbnonline com www sbnonline com Smart Business Akron Canton 835 Sharon Drive Suite 200 Cleveland OH 44145 O 8009884726 F 4402507001 Smart Business Magazine Events PUBLISHER CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dustin S Klein GENERAL MANAGER John Lotenero VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Katie Janoch Janet K Valore VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Somer Karim ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERS David Brodowski Jennifer Wafalosky SENIOR EDITOR April Grasso SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mark Scott ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jayne Gest ASSOCIATE EDITOR DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Adam Burroughs PRODUCTION MANAGER Mary Kay Bukowski CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jim Mericsko PROJECT MANAGER EVENTS Danielle Catteau SALES MANAGER EVENTS Meredith Rankin SALES EXECUTIVE EVENTS Lisa Walker AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Tammy Frank Smart Business Magazine Events are a division of Smart Business Network Inc PRESIDENT CEO Fred Koury MANAGING PARTNER CONVERO Lee Koury MANAGING PARTNER CONVERO Michael Marzec CONTROLLER Kathy Deutsch EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Jill Brown ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE Marilyn Homolak Smart Business Magazines Akron Canton Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Florida Houston Los Angeles Northern California Orange County Philadelphia Pittsburgh St Louis Smart Business Akron Canton is published monthly by Smart Business Network Inc 835 Sharon Drive Suite 200 Cleveland OH 44145 All material herein is property of Smart Business Network Inc and may not be reproduced Smart Business and Smart Business Network are registered trademarks of Smart Business Network Inc SMART BUSINESS