By the Editors
Presented by Ohio Business Magazine, the sixth annual Ohio Success Awards honors growth companies, nonprofits and governmental organizations across the state of Ohio. The Ohio Success Awards recognizes the accomplishments of companies that have demonstrated growth in revenue and employees, as well as having demonstrated involvement in their community and service in their industry; nonprofits that have made a significant impact upon the communities they serve; and governmental organizations that have created unique value or opportunities based upon their ingenuity, partnership and perseverance. Read on to learn more about these exemplary organizations.
Nomination Process
For the 2024 Ohio Success Awards, a nomination form was emailed to businesses throughout the state, inviting them to self-nominate. A form was also posted online so that other businesses could participate. For-profit, nonprofit and government institutions were able to self-nominate. Nominees were asked to provide information on topics such as their revenue starting in 2021, company size starting in 2021, approximate profitability, and revenue and profit projections. The winners were then selected by committee and had to show growth in one or more of these categories. If you are interested in nominating your company next year, subscribe to the Ohio Business Magazine and newsletter (both of which are complimentary), at OhioBusinessMag.com/subscribe.
Private Companies
| Company | Description | City | Chief Executive | Year Established | 2023 Revenue | 2021 Revenue | 2023 Employees | 2021 Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Engineering Consultants | Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, technology and utilities engineering design and construction administration services | Columbus | Gavin Lim, President | 1998 | $10-$24 Million | $10-$24 Million | 61 | 56 |
| Air Force One | Building automation, commercial HVAC and water treatment contractor | Dublin | Greg Guy, CEO | 1984 | $49-$100 Million | $49-$100 Million | 366 | 202 |
| AtNetPlus | Managed service provider that offers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge technology solutions | Stow | Jay Mellon, CEO & Co-Founder | 1998 | $5-$9 Million | $5-$9 Million | 45 | 38 |
| Barnes Dennig | Accounting and advisory firm | Cincinnati | Jason P. Rammes, Managing Director | 1965 | $25-$49 Million | $25-$49 Million | 180 | 180 |
| Brown & Gettings, DDS | Dentists | West Chester | Lee Brown, DDS | 1981 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 19 | 16 |
| Creekside Occasions | Wedding and event center | Chillicothe | Todd Snowden, Owner | 2000 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 6 | 2 |
| Custom Design Benefits | Third-party administrator of self-funded health benefit plans | Cincinnati | Julie D. Mueller, President & CEO | 1991 | $5-$9 Million | $5-$9 Million | 65 | 68 |
| Elite Biomedical Solutions | Manufacturing | Cincinnati | Jeff Smith, CEO | 2012 | $10-$24 Million | $10-$24 Million | 60 | 49 |
| Evan’s Auto Care | Independent auto repair facility | Cincinnati | Evan Brodof, Owner | 1964 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 12 | 8 |
| Fahlgren Mortine | Full-service, integrated communications company | Columbus | Neil Mortine, Chairman & CEO | 1962 | $25-$49 Million | $25-$49 Million | 233 | 181 |
| Fleet Response | Comprehensive fleet management services | Hudson | Scott Mawaka, CEO | 1986 | $10-$24 Million | $1-$4 Million | 380 | 280 |
| Force Design, Inc. | Engineering/robotic automation integration | Troy | Seth Angle, President | 1997 | $1-$4 Million | $5-$9 Million | 18 | 15 |
| GBQ Partners LLC | Accounting and consulting firm | Columbus | Darci Congrove, Managing Director | 1953 | $25-$100 Million | $25-$49 Million | 290 | 192 |
| Gold Medal Products Co. | Manufacturer of concession equipment and supplies | Cincinnati | James Adam Browning, President | 1931 | $100-$249 Million | $100-$249 Million | 505 | 430 |
| Harrison’s Pro Tree Service | Tree pruning, removal and stump grinding | Franklin | Jeffrey & Denise Harrison, Owners | 2008 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 16 | 8 |
| Harvest Tax & Accounting | Tax planning and compliance, accounting & bookkeeping, financial statements and more | Mason | Eric Bonney, Shareholder | 2020 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 8 | 5 |
| Land of Illusion Adventure Park | Family-friendly attractions including waterpark, haunted houses and holiday lights | Middletown | Brett Oakley, Owner | 1997 | $5-$9 Million | $1-$4 Million | 7 | 5 |
| Leavitt Group Midwest | Commercial and personal lines Insurance | Westerville | Robert L. Smith Jr., Agency President | 1980 | $49-$100 Million | $25-$49 Million | 43 | 47 |
| MES, Inc. | Global sourcing and supply chain | Lewis Center | Hiten Shah, President | 2009 | $49-$100 Million | $25-$49 Million | 47 | 32 |
| Oswald Companies | Insurance brokerage | Cleveland | Robert J. Klonk, Chairman & CEO | 1893 | $49-$100 Million | $100-$249 Million | 430 | 385 |
| Peacox Child Care | Child care | Canal Winchetser | Deonna Cox, Owner & Administrator | 2017 | $1-$4 Million | Less than $1 Million | 17 | 10 |
| Petroff, Smitherman & Associates, LLC | Family law attorneys | Columbus | Ronald R. Petroff, Managing Partner | 2007 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 8 | 6 |
| Purely Sweet Bakery | Bakery | Beavercreek | Dawn Vaflor, Owner | 2013 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 5 | 4 |
| ScherZinger Pest Control | Termite and pest control | Cincinnati | Steve Scherzinger, CEO | 1934 | $10-$24 Million | $5-$9 Million | 90 | 82 |
| SMACT Works, Inc | IT and management consulting services | Dublin | Ranjith Yengoti, Founder & CEO | 2013 | $5-$9 Million | $1-$4 Million | 60 | 42 |
| Smart 1 Marketing | Digital marketing agency | Blacklick | Todd Swickard, cOE & Co-Founder | 2009 | $10-$24 Million | $5-$9 Million | 18 | 24 |
| Spider Logistics | Transportation and logistics company | West Chester | Duy Vu, CEO | 2019 | $1-$4 Million | Less than $1 Million | 9 | 3 |
| Superior Dental Care | Group dental benefits agency | Centerville | Andrea Hogben, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing, Corporate Affairs & People Officer, Medical Mutual | 1986 | $49-$100 Million | $49-$100 Million | 56 | 47 |
| T&M Associates | Consulting, engineering, environmental and technical services company | Columbus | Gary Dahms, President & CEO | 2012 | $10-$24 Million | $10-$24 Million | 69 | 56 |
| Tap Root Hospitality Group | Winery and event venue group | Chagrin Falls | Kathleen Dangelo, Owner | 2023 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 60 | 35 |
| Taylor Logistics Inc. | Logistics/supply chain | Cincinnati | Drew Taylor, President & CEO | 1850 | $49-$100 Million | $49-$100 Million | 242 | 190 |
| The Wembley Club | Fitness club | Chagrin Falls | David Barr, Owner | 1989 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 16 | 12 |
| Think Patented | Marketing execution company | Miamisburg | David McNerney, President & Partner | 1970 | $25-$49 Million | $10-$24 Million | 133 | 119 |
| Valley Truck Centers/Valley Automotive Group | Auto and truck dealer | Cleveland | Brian O’Donnell, President & CEO | 1964 | $1-$4.9 Billion | $500-$749 Million | 685 | 450 |
| Zeal40: the creative agency | Branding, graphic design, content creation, photography and video services agency | Cincinnati | Stacy Koenig and Nicole Fariello, Co-Founders | 2015 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 5 | 4 |
| Zipline Logistics | Trucking/logistics/3PL | Columbus | Walter Lynch, CEO | 2007 |
Nonprofits/Government
Being successful means more than increasing revenue and employees—it also can mean making an impact. These nonprofits and governmental institutions demonstrated exceptional impact upon the communities they serve.
| Company | Description | City | Chief Executive | Year Established | 2022 Revenue | 2020 Revenue | 2022 Employees | 2020 Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Second Home For You | Homelessness, transitional housing and supportive services organization | Cleveland | Gregory Earl Jones, Owner | 2015 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 5 | 3 |
| Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired | Provides comprehensive services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired | Cincinnati | Teri Shirk, President & CEO | 1911 | $10-$24 Million | $10-$24 Million | 164 | 175 |
| Culture Works | Arts fund and arts agency for Dayton, Montgomery County and the seven-county surrounding area | Dayton | Lisa Hanson, President & CEO | 1974 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 4 | 4 |
| Goodwill Easterseals Miami Valley | Employment and training services | Dayton | Lance W. Detrick, president & CEO | 1934 | $49-$100 Million | $49-$100 Million | 1,422 | 1,050 |
| Hilliard Food Pantry Plus | Food pantry and supportive services | Hilliard | Erin West, Executive Director | 1960 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 5 | 5 |
| Ohio Legal Help | Legal information, resources and tools to connect Ohioans with help for their legal problems. | Columbus | Susan Choe, Executive Director | 2019 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 5 | 4 |
| Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries | Employment and training center | Cincinnati | Mark Hiemstra, President & CEO | 1916 | $25-$49 Million | $25-$49 Million | 670 | 658 |
| Rotary Foundation of Cincinnati | Foundation supporting the Rotary Club of Cincinnati | Cincinnati | Sara M. Pattison, Executive Director | 1961 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 1 | 1 |
| Saint Ursula Academy | College preparatory private Catholic high school for girls | Cincinnati | Lelia Keefe Kramer, President | 1910 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 94 | 94 |
| Seeds of Literacy | Adult education and GED preparation | Cleveland | Bonnie Entler, President & CEO | 1997 | $1-$4 Million | $1-$4 Million | 20 | 17 |
| The New Path, Inc. | Human services nonprofit organization | Tipp City | William Lutz, Executive Director | 2000 | Less than $1 Million | Less than $1 Million | 6 | 6 |
| West Chester Township | Local government | West Chester | Larry D. Burks, Township Administrator | 1823 | $49-$100 Million | $49-$100 Million | 268 | 268 |
Advanced Engineering Consultants
Columbus
Barnes Dennig
Cincinnati
“Our 2023 growth was diversified growth, coming from so many different practice areas. Our fractional accounting services group is just exploding, and we continue to see widespread adoption of our wealth management services, and our SOC reporting service is growing by leaps and bounds. It’s been truly rewarding to find ways to deepen our relationships with clients and provide more solutions that make their lives easier—and provide them with peace of mind.” – Jay Rammes, Managing Director
Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Cincinnati
“In 2023, CABVI won the Better Business Bureau 2023 Torch Award for Ethics. We expanded low-vision services and recently expanded our vision services team. We served more than 4,000 in our community and took a new approach to serving our own with more adaptive equipment and improved accessibility in manufacturing. Renovations provided an expanded rehabilitation suite and a larger computer lab. We are thrilled with so many expansive opportunities.” – Teri Shirk, President & CEO
Fahlgren Mortine
Columbus
“Our success stems from being in a state of constant reinvention. What worked for our clients a few years ago simply will not work today. And what fueled our growth to this point looks very different than our plan for the future. We have to keep our eyes up to new ways of thinking.” – Marty McDonald, President
GBQ Partners LLC
Columbus
“Our purpose of empowering growth of our people, our communities and our clients’ businesses served as the driving force behind our strategic initiatives and unique workplace culture.” – Darci Congrove, Managing Director
Leavitt Group Midwest
Westerville
Ohio Legal Help
Columbus
“Ohio Legal Help, a statewide, secure mobile-first hub of free legal information, forms and resources, is the bridge to justice for all Ohioans. We served nearly 800,000 Ohio families in 2023 through the support of our board, advisory committee, and the justice community at large. We could not have served so many Ohioans without the small but mighty staff of five who work every day to empower users to solve their legal issues.”- Susan Choe, Executive Director
Saint Ursula Academy
Cincinnati
“A welcoming and inclusive culture and a strong team led to Saint Ursula Academy’s success in 2023. A tradition of excellence keeps the bar high and every member of the team works to provide the best for our students every day. We strive to make each student and adult feel welcome and that they belong as an important part of the community. It’s an authentic sisterhood rooted in the strength of Catholic values. The clear mission empowers every member of the community to act with faith, integrity and courage as they work to make a positive impact in the world.” – Lelia Keefe Kramer, President
Oswald Companies
Cleveland
“Oswald’s employee-owners were steadfast in adhering to our goals. They were instrumental in helping the firm gain new business and complete an acquisition of a brokerage in Michigan. We will continue along this track in 2024 as we move our headquarters to a prime location in downtown Cleveland that can accommodate additional growth.” Robert Klonk, Chairman & CEO
Petroff, Smitherman & Associates, LLC
Columbus
“The key factor contributing to continual growth in bottom line revenue in 2023 is our firm’s dedication to white-glove service and customer communication above all else. In an industry where the most common complaint, above all else, is lack of communication and accessibility, Petroff, Smitherman & Associates, LLC prides itself on debunking these myths. Every client has a partner, associate and paralegal assigned to his or her case. We take a team approach to customer service and legal representation.” – Ronald R. Petroff, Managing Partner
Seeds of Literacy
Cleveland
“Our success at Seeds of Literacy was truly a testament to the unwavering dedication of every individual within our organization. Our remarkable achievement was rooted in the commitment each member possesses toward our adult learners. With 300-plus volunteers generously offering their time as tutors, and a small yet incredibly passionate staff, we’ve cultivated an environment where patience and compassion thrive.” – Bonnie Entler, President & CEO
Think Patented
Miamisburg
“Our success in 2023 had a lot to do with keeping true to our strategic plan from 2020 and 2021. During the pandemic a lot of companies reduced spending and cut employees. During those years, we kept all our employees, we invested in new equipment and added 50,000 square feet for a new fulfillment center. As we came out of the pandemic, we were strategically positioned to support the needs of our clients. The other part of our success is our continued investment in our employees.” – David McNerney, President
Zipline Logistics
Columbus
“Even amidst a massive freight recession, our business is poised for long-term success because of the founding principles we built our organization upon. When we started Zipline Logistics, we didn’t want to be the brokers who hyper-focus on their bottom line and throw service out the window. We believed selecting a niche market to serve and becoming experts in that space would ultimately bring the highest quality of service and the most value to our customers. This has allowed us to create mutually beneficial partnerships with CPG brands who share our value set, ensuring Zipline’s success for years to come. – Andrew Lynch, President
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Cincinnati
T&M Associates
Columbus
“T&M Associates celebrated our strongest year ever in 2023. In 2012, T&M opened the Columbus office with just five people. We’ve been thriving ever since, maintaining a 25% employee growth rate annually, while achieving double digit profitability and revenue growth. In my six years leading Columbus, we’ve broadened service offerings, adding four new practices to the Midwest including Program/Construction Management, Electrical & Automation, Transportation, and Site Development. Our diverse practices and national client focus attract top talent in scientists, engineers and construction management professionals. – Robert Pfendler, SVP, Regional Operations Officer
