Smart Business Magazine, September 2018

38 Smart Business Cleveland September 2018 HONOREES F leet Response is a family owned company that was founded by Ron Mawaka Sr in Cleveland in 1986 as Rental Concepts Inc The original focus of the organization was to manage temporary business rentals In 2003 RCI and Integrated Vehicle Systems combined to create Fleet Response one company that offers comprehensive custom fleet services Fleet Response has grown steadily based on the value it offers customers It continues to operate on the founding principles of innovation professionalism accountability and effectiveness Its clients include Fortune 500 companies with fleets ranging from 50 to 25000 vehicles The company has more than 150 employees who provide support for accident maintenance and safety programs In 2017 Scott Mawaka president and CEO purchased Fleet Response from the majority shareholders ensuring the company will remain a privately held family business Mawaka has a strong conviction about treating employees and clients like family As a result he is committed to operating on Fleet Responses founding principle of innovation with a culture that not only places clients at the forefront of the business but employees as well Mawaka knows the difference between good customer service and great customer service ultimately depends on the people who provide that service By creating a family focused environment everyone truly cares about the work they are accomplishing 2018 Family Business Achievement Awards F or more than 100 years Forest City Tree Protection Co Inc has evolved and changed to provide its clients with the most effective and environmentally friendly tree care available while keeping its workforce safe Though Forest City has faced tree pest problems since its beginning in 1910 after the company was founded by W P Lanphear Jr how those problems are treated have changed drastically For a long time many treatments consisted of applying chemicals to the foliage branches and trunks Since then Forest City has been a pioneer and national leader in the tree injection process to treat the issues delivering tree care medicines directly into the sap stream or roots of trees Such protections helped protect American elms from the fatal Dutch elm disease ash trees from the emerald ash borer insect and oak trees from the oak wilt fungus disease By its very nature tree work is a risky dangerous profession Forest City has been an industry leader in worker safety The company has incorporated training elements from its trade association professional society and other sources into a comprehensive training curriculum that serves as a key part of employee development and advancement Led by President and Owner Lauren S Lanphear W P s grandson the company expects to continue its legacy of innovation well into the future Lauren S Lanphear President and owner T o mark the 150th anniversary of Gordon Lumber Holdings Co three of founder Washington Gordons great great granddaughters are sharing memories while also looking ahead to the future of the lumberyard Spread across the country in Maine Florida and Ohio the sisters are united by their family history and a desire for the company to continue its growth Pamela Goetsch currently serves as the chairwoman and is also both a director and a shareholder in the business As far back as she can remember she attended company shareholder meetings with her parents The most actively involved family descendant in the company Goetsch and her sisters are the daughters of Gloria Gordon Bauman a direct descendant of Washington Gordon and the second largest shareholder of Gordon Lumber stocks For her part in the growth of the company Goetsch helped guide Gordon Lumber during the 2008 recession and through corporate leadership changes in recent years Leaning on her talents she has focused on financing legal matters management and training issues with the company over the years Todays Gordon Lumber surpasses any dreams that Washington Gordon may have had for his fledgling company There are currently seven locations employing 120 people and servicing 3500 customers Pamela Goetsch Chairwoman Scott Mawaka President and CEO