JANUARY 2023
welcomed 13,809 vehicles to check out its new look and feel. From spring 2021 through its dedication this June, Phase I focused on the existing upper portion of this property’s former clubhouse area, parking lots and maintenance building at a cost of $1,681,037. An extreme slope from the parking lot down to the former Wicked Woods Golf Course required new ADA-accessible trails. Environmental concerns of stormwater runoff and non-native planting practices were also remediated. Approximately 35,000 people live within a 15-minute drive, and many had walked the property in its former incarnation, lauding its challenging but incredibly scenic hiking. Visitors immediately note a variety of themed tribute features, beginning with a Corridor of Flags honoring our nation’s flag and those of all the military branches. A central plaza also includes a Service Branch Garden of stylized pillars, and a monolithic-style sandstone wall bears the park’s name — its backdrop, that sprawling mileslong view. New amenities allowing for a comfortable visit to Veterans Legacy Woods include a public pavilion that is not reservable, making it always available for up to 45 visitors, that features ADA-accessible restrooms, running water, a water fountain and a water refill station. To encourage exploration, a new paved loop trail of 0.33 miles joins existing former cart paths to provide 4.68 miles of guided travel for hiking. An innovative, multi-leveled Naturebased playground for ages 2-12 features natural play pieces that could have been military-inspired, like a ship and climbing elements reminiscent of “boot camp.” Picnic sets tucked just below the pavilion nearby allow for more private seating. A new parking lot and access drive hosts 75 cars, complete with rain gardens and other sustainable stormwater management practices. Wicked Woods’ former clubhouse, now called Tribute Lodge, also received vast improvements during Phase I in
preparation for future use. Its back “overlook deck” was completely replaced, ADA-accessible entrances created (with new handicap doors and the removal of an entry step), and a performance stage/terraced lawn area landscaped to host various events in the back. All sandstone used for walls, plaza pavers and stone benches were sourced locally from Cleveland Quarries. A variety of new plantings are entirely native to Northeast Ohio. And improvements to Veterans Legacy Woods are far from complete. Coldwater stream and forest restoration will soon be underway thanks to a
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$1,166,575 grant from the Ohio EPA, with assistance from Chagrin River Watershed Partners. Also, beginning this winter, Phase II will include interior renovations of Tribute Lodge, a complete trail system consisting of aggregate and primitive surfaces for multiple uses, and a Memorial Tree Grove where veterans can be recognized with patronsponsored donations. Lodge reservations, highly anticipated, will reopen this spring. Consider Veterans Legacy Woods for your next hike or gathering, won’t you? From activity to reflection, you will not be disappointed by what you will find.
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Visitors immediately note a variety of themed tribute features, beginning with a Corridor of Flags honoring our nation’s flag and those of all the military branches. A central plaza also includes a Service Branch Garden of stylized pillars, and a monolithic-style sandstone wall bears the park’s name — its backdrop, that sprawling mileslong view. New amenities allowing for a comfortable visit to Veterans Legacy Woods include a public pavilion that is not reservable, making it always available for up to 45 visitors, that features ADA-accessible restrooms, running water, a water fountain and a water refill station. To encourage exploration, a new paved loop trail of 0.33 miles joins existing former cart paths to provide 4.68 miles of guided travel for hiking. An innovative, multi-leveled Naturebased playground for ages 2-12 features natural play pieces that could have been military-inspired, like a ship and climbing elements reminiscent of “boot camp.” Picnic sets tucked just below the pavilion nearby allow for more private seating. A new parking lot and access drive hosts 75 cars, complete with rain gardens and other sustainable stormwater management practices. Wicked Woods’ former clubhouse, now called Tribute Lodge, also received vast improvements during Phase I in
JANUARY 2023
$1,166,575 grant from the Ohio EPA, with assistance from Chagrin River Watershed Partners. Also, beginning this winter, Phase II will include interior renovations of Tribute Lodge, a complete trail system consisting of aggregate and primitive surfaces for multiple uses, and a Memorial Tree Grove where veterans can be recognized with patronsponsored donations. Lodge reservations, highly anticipated, will reopen this spring. Consider Veterans Legacy Woods for your next hike or gathering, won’t you? From activity to reflection, you will not be disappointed by what you will find.
CO-EDITORS Chris Yuhasz POV Solution
Casey Zulandt Ten10 Design
CONTENTS
WRITER
Erin Hosier Rebecca Smith
DESIGNER
Stephanie Scott Ten10 Design
4
LETTER FROM THE CO- EDITORS
6
G E A U G A PA R K D I S T R I C T
8
T H E V I L L AG E O F M I D D L E F I E L D P R E S E N TS : M A RY YO D E R ' S A M I S H K I TC H E N
Geauga Business articles are written and selected for their general interest and entertainment value. Authors’ views do not necessarily represent the policies of the Co-Editors, nor does their publication constitute an endorsement by POV Solution or Ten10 Design. All submissions are subject to editorial space availability and editing. To submit articles, inquire about advertising opportunities, or to be placed onto our mailing list please contact Ten10 Design at
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G G P & A S M I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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Letter from the Editor
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Business Leaders,
H
Very few careers appeared accessible to we ard to believe women when I was ahave youngjust girl: teacher, wrapped secretary, nurse, and homemaker. When I up another year, enthusiastically announced to my mother, “I challenging at best for all. want to be a writer,” she cautioned me to take Signs show supply chain typing and shorthand – “Something I could issues are improving and always fall back on, just in case.” Mom meant that is a big step forward. well.
In our business we buy a
The good news is there are an increasing lot of paper and we are number of careers available to women today. starting for the first time In fact, well-known companies, like IBM and in over a year to see that General Motors, have recently appointed our now havein female CEOs, and thesuppliers trend towards women paper onthetheir shelves leadership positions is on rise. According and that that the “worry” to Hult International Business School, there are factorFortune of can500 I get the more women running businesses product has65-year started to today than at any point in the history POV Solution Staff (L-R): of Fortune 500. Still, where young men are dissipate. Chris Yuhasz and Lincolnencouraged to be ambitious and assertive, women are crew, told from an early not to for be I want to thank the Ten10 Joe andage Casey, “bossy. ” Let’s change that habit. making our first year a smooth transition after my
dear friend Margie Wilber retired. It has been very There are many advantages of women in the workplace. A diverse workplaceand has shown enjoyable to work with Kimm Leininger the to foster creativity innovation. Women excel GGP team and getting a littleand more involved with at the soft skills needed for business leadership, the editorial section of the publication. I have come like effective communication, empathy, across several new business contacts who have self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.the great stories to tell. I look forward to continuing Women represent huge economic power and trend into the New Year. important consumer insight. It is estimated that women contribute approximately $20 trillion in consumer spending every year, accounting for 85% of consumer purchases. However, despite this fact, only 11% of creative directors in advertising are women.
For a growing number of women, the fastest route to success is launching their own business. Women-owned business in the U.S.this project Naturally, without our advertisers, have increased 74% over the past 20 wouldn’t be possible. I wouldyears. like to personally Our start-up culture empowers women and is in our mission thank each one of you for believing making the balance of career and family easier.
of telling our story and for also helping us come up This issue of Geaugacontent Business features several with additional with the contacts each one women who are making their mark – Judge of you have in our community. We will be publishing Mary Jane Trapp, lawyerin Betsy Rader, two femaleyear. The next three magazines this upcoming pilots, a photographer, an owner of an outdoor Issue is planned for April. If you have interest in being dog sports complex, and a videographer/ involved in the publication as an advertiser, please musician. I hope their stories inspire other visit our website or call either myself or Joe Zulandt. young women to reach for their dreams.
Appreciation, IWith alsoGreat want to point out that we are going to be getting right into this year’s GGP Incubator Program in January. Please make sure to keep in-touch as summer will be here before you know it - wishful thinking being a true Geauga County resident. For more information about hosting a summer intern, visit Margie Wilber ggpyouthworkforce.com. Editor-in-Chief/Publisher, Geauga Business President, Write 2 the Point
Hope everyone is off to good start in the New Year!
Chris Yuhasz Chris Yuhasz
Publisher, Geauga Business Co-Editor, Geauga Business Magazine President, POVPOV PrintSolution Communications President,
MEET OUR PRIMARY WRITER
W GEAUGA BUSINESS
Summer 2021
e wanted to formally introduce you to our primary writer and voice of the Geauga Business Magazine- Erin Hosier. Erin Hosier is a veteran publishing professional and the author of the memoir Don't Let Me Down. She grew up in Geauga County and lives in Cleveland. 1 It also gives me great honor to share with you that Erin is the daughter of Paige Hosier who many of you know! We are very grateful for Erin’s involvement with our publication and look forward to continue working together in the future.
Erin Hosier, Writer
4
GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
A
s we enter the new year, I find myself reflecting on the highlights in 2022. In these first three issues, I’ve personally developed new relationships with businesses around Geauga County, and have learned so much about the CEO’s, their mission to improve our county and workforce, as well as the impact they are making beyond our community. In each issue of the magazine, we will continue to deliver content focused on the businesses that call Geauga County home and serve as the heartbeat of our community. This includes companies big and small, the business owners, employees, non-profits, and every
organization in between. Geauga Business Magazine thrives on highlighting the stories that make our county shine. Chris Yuhasz and his team at POV, with the support of Geauga Growth Partnership, and our sponsors have made this publication possible. Help us bring you content you’d like to see – feature suggestions and advertising opportunities are welcome. I would love to hear from you!
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How a former golf course became Geauga County’s first veterans park
A Living Memorial PARK DISTRICT
BY SANDY WARD
At the center of Geauga County, along the main artery Route 44, lies a new park with more heart than most. Veterans Legacy Woods quickly gained recognition as Geauga County’s 27th county park and its first park of any kind dedicated to U.S. Veterans. A former-golf-course-turned-Nature-sanctuary, this 180-acre property now honors the legacy of anyone who has served in our Armed Forces and provides a place for them and their families to relax, reflect, and be remembered by the community. Situated at the border of Newbury and Burton townships, the entrance view of Veterans Legacy Woods extends nearly three miles toward Burton, treetops fading into the distance: black and snowy white, shades of green, or warm reds, oranges and yellows, depending on the visit. “But Veterans Legacy Woods is much more than a park with paths surrounded by beautiful landscape,” writes Michele Pemberton, director of the Geauga County Veterans Service Commission, herself an Army veteran. “It is a refuge for our veterans. A place where everyone can come to relax and connect with Nature, or meet with a few veterans to talk about the good days. ... This park is a reminder that our service and dedication to this country and Geauga County will never be forgotten.” From mid-April through September, Veterans Legacy Woods
6
GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
welcomed 13,809 vehicles to check out its new look and feel. From spring 2021 through its dedication this June, Phase I focused on the existing upper portion of this property’s former clubhouse area, parking lots and maintenance building at a cost of $1,681,037. An extreme slope from the parking lot down to the former Wicked Woods Golf Course required new ADA-accessible trails. Environmental concerns of stormwater runoff and non-native planting practices were also remediated. Approximately 35,000 people live within a 15-minute drive, and many had walked the property in its former incarnation, lauding its challenging but incredibly scenic hiking. Visitors immediately note a variety of themed tribute features, beginning with a Corridor of Flags honoring our nation’s flag and those of all the military branches. A central plaza also includes a Service Branch Garden of stylized pillars, and a monolithic-style sandstone wall bears the park’s name — its backdrop, that sprawling mileslong view. New amenities allowing for a comfortable visit to Veterans Legacy Woods include a public pavilion that is not reservable, making it always available for up to 45 visitors, that features ADA-accessible restrooms, running water, a water fountain and a water refill station. To encourage exploration, a new paved loop trail of 0.33 miles joins existing former cart paths to provide 4.68 miles of guided travel for hiking. An innovative, multi-leveled Naturebased playground for ages 2-12 features natural play pieces that could have been military-inspired, like a ship and climbing elements reminiscent of “boot camp.” Picnic sets tucked just below the pavilion nearby allow for more private seating. A new parking lot and access drive hosts 75 cars, complete with rain gardens and other sustainable stormwater management practices. Wicked Woods’ former clubhouse, now called Tribute Lodge, also received vast improvements during Phase I in
preparation for future use. Its back “overlook deck” was completely replaced, ADA-accessible entrances created (with new handicap doors and the removal of an entry step), and a performance stage/terraced lawn area landscaped to host various events in the back. All sandstone used for walls, plaza pavers and stone benches were sourced locally from Cleveland Quarries. A variety of new plantings are entirely native to Northeast Ohio. And improvements to Veterans Legacy Woods are far from complete. Coldwater stream and forest restoration will soon be underway thanks to a
$1,166,575 grant from the Ohio EPA, with assistance from Chagrin River Watershed Partners. Also, beginning this winter, Phase II will include interior renovations of Tribute Lodge, a complete trail system consisting of aggregate and primitive surfaces for multiple uses, and a Memorial Tree Grove where veterans can be recognized with patronsponsored donations. Lodge reservations, highly anticipated, will reopen this spring. Consider Veterans Legacy Woods for your next hike or gathering, won’t you? From activity to reflection, you will not be disappointed by what you will find. 7
Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen
W
ho can possibly resist Mary Yoder’s Roast Beef Sandwich with freshly mashed potatoes with beef gravy or freshly Roasted Chicken with homemade dressing? These and other traditional Amish fare are whipped up and served up daily at Mary Yoder’s Amish Kitchen in Middlefield. Ohio. The Miller Family, Daniel, Rita and Josh, admit that buying a restaurant in 2019 just before COVID hit certainly had its fair share of challenges. However, the Miller’s say it gave them time to position the business and even
www.maryyodersamishkitchen.com
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Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen 14743 North State Street Middlefield OH 44062 Ph: 440-632-1939
gave them strategies they are still using today on the other side of COVID, including a robust take out business and pick-up window that is busy all the time. Daniel comes by the food business honestly as his Dad was a not only passionate about cooking, he was a trained dietician who cooked for large institutions. Daniel learned at an early age all about the food business and he frequently helped his Dad cater large events, which left him completely prepared for large crowds at Mary
Yoder’s where it is not unusual for them to accommodate large groups for parties and events up to 200. Mary Yoder’s is also a perfect place for businesses to entertain clients and Mary Yoder’s is the perfect spot for traditional Amish meals, buffet, family style or right off the menu. Now days, you can even buy “to go” favorites from the gift shop, including pies, bakery, soups, pickles, dressing, Shephard’s Pie just to mention a few. Speaking of menu, the Millers have worked diligently to add healthy
GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Winter 2022
Mary Yoder's AmishDOORS Kitchen Article PAINTED WOODEN ARTICLE Compliments of our sponsor: IS SPONSORED BY THE VILLAGE OF Village of Middlefield MIDDLEFIELD
MIDDLEFIELD MEANS BUSINESS. THAT’S A PROMISE.
choices and even includes a veggie burger on their menu. Fresh and farm to table is not a new concept for the Millers and they’ve work hard to provide the freshest ingredients to their dishes. Sourcing as much of their food as they can from local Geauga companies, the Millers are proud to say they are buying a large portion of the meats from Heritage Meats and produce from Fred’s Fresh Produce. They also buy large blocks of produce from the Geauga County Farmer’s Auction when in season. Roasted Chicken has been a new hit and the 60 - 70 person team that Miller’s employ are busy serving over 40 cheesecakes a week, another new hit on the menu. And when it comes to sharing their enthusiasm about being in Geauga County and Middlefield in particular, the entire Miller family is thrilled. Daniel tells us, “We are so pleased with the Mayor of Middlefield because he is so business centric.” Miller ads, “Middlefield wants businesses to success and the mayor works so hard to help provide them with all the tools they need from Middlefield.”
We view our role as business partners and will answer your questions immediately, help with any needs, and facilitate a smooth, seamless move to Middlefield Village. Let’s get to work. Together. Middlefield is one of the most prosperous Villages in Northeastern Ohio. An extraordinary place to live, work and visit—our citizens, history, and industry make it what it is. Mayor Ben Garlich
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www.middlefieldmeansbusiness.com
More Ponds, More Problems
A
qua Doc Lake and Pond Management, based in Chardon, and now serving 10 states - has been an industry leader for decades, but lately the demand for their services has reached a new level of urgency. With its cheerful mascot of a cartoon frog wearing yellow summer shorts with a stethoscope around its neck, one might assume the business might go into a state of hibernation for winter, but it turns out water maintenance isn’t just for summer anymore. “I’ve always said that we're a seasonal business,
“We've got different aspects of the job happening at different times of the year, ultimately to get every lake and pond winterized so they're safe and ready to go for the next spring.”
10
but we're busy every season,'' says President John Wilson. “We've got different aspects of the job happening at different times of the year, ultimately to get every lake and pond winterized so they're safe and ready to go for the next spring.” Wilson began working as a laborer while still a teenager in 1983 at an early incarnation of the company he now owns. It was the perfect job for a kid who grew up digging ponds in his own backyard in the hopes of keeping fish alive (and failing). He liked the excavation work and quickly saw the need for different services beyond creating a pond in the first place. After getting a degree in computer science from CSU, Wilson purchased the business from his old boss and mentor, Bill Cloonan, in 1989. At first, it was a one-man operation - Wilson, one truck, and around 60 customers.
Today, Wilson reports that Aqua Doc has 186 employees in 10 states (at least 110 of them in Chardon), 100 trucks on the road, 150 boats in the water, and a consistent reputation as one of the fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio, most recently named by the Fast Track 50 organization, and Case Western Reserve University School of Management’s Weatherhead 100. The secret to their seeming infinite growth? When it comes to man-made bodies of water, maintenance is key to preventing your placid pond from becoming a stinky swamp. Aqua Doc isn’t just concerned with aesthetics (though they excel at fountains, stationary docks, watergardens, and they can keep your koi alive), but Wilson will also remind you that a body of water is a living ecosystem that needs to be preserved. “I always say man-made ponds have man-made problems - farm runoff, septic runoff, GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
AQUA DOC IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Contracts with Aqua Doc are usually seasonal and often multi-year, depending on the pond’s issues, but Wilson reports that contract renewal rates have always been high because, every year, Aqua Doc does a better job. That said, you can’t call Aqua Doc a week before your 4th of July party, because Wilson emphasizes that there are no overnight solutions, and consistency is key. “You can’t really prevent lake algae or weed problems. You've got to be more proactive than reactive, and conscious of the wildlife habitats - the fish, frogs, snakes and turtles,” Wilson says. When asked to name the most
exotic wildlife found on the job in Ohio, Wilson reports “a lot of mink,” freshwater clams, and bryozoa, an aquatic invertebrate he describes as a freshwater jellyfish that attaches itself to rigid objects in the water and is actually a sign of good water quality. Aqua Doc loves working with individual homeowners to create the water feature of their dreams, whether that’s for swimming or irrigation, but the company also works with parks, golf courses, cemeteries with ponds, and even lakes managed by the state. One ongoing problem has been the influx of the invasive mollusks known as Zebra muscles, which can wreak havoc on water quality. “Things have improved so much in Lake Erie - two years ago you couldn't see two feet down, Wilson says. “But
in Indian Lake, we saw an increase in Zebra muscles this year that were transported from lake to lake, so we went in there with our team and did a lot of research. We did depth surveys, tested the muck, tested the different weed species in there, and came up with a care plan, and now it’s cleared up beautifully.” Wilson says that with all this demand for their services, Aqua Doc has been hiring nonstop. “We need as many people as we can find. I see new employees come through my office daily. I think we're looking at 40 or 50 new positions in the next two years.” When asked what he’s looking for in an employee and what their background should include in terms of experience, Wilson takes a less formal approach. “What we look for is people who
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geese - just anything and everything, because a pond is a product of its watershed.”
Aqua Doc Lake & Pond Management 10779 Mayfield Rd. Chardon, OH 44024 Ph: 440-286-7663 www.aquadocinc.com Hours Mon-Fri
8am-5pm
11
like science and the outdoors; maybe they fish or hunt. I don't care if they’ve not gone to college because they didn't know what they wanted to do with their lives back in high school. We've got a number of employees that have master's degrees or PhDs in ecology; We have two that got masters degrees in Lake Management at a one-of-a-kind program in New York.” Years ago, Aqua Doc developed an in-house program called Aqua Doc University to train employees in the science at the center of their work. Every January, each new employee completes five levels of coursework. “Our people with masters degrees say that the first four levels are almost tougher than the college classes. At the fifth level, the newly trained have to come teach the beginners. We are very technical and up to speed on everything we do. The program gets better and better every year, and we keep improving it. We're using that model throughout all of our branches.” 12
On January 1st, Aqua Doc will open their eighth and ninth offices. Beyond Ohio, they currently serve regions of West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Tennessee. For 10 years, they've been very successful in Atlanta Georgia. Since 2019, they’ve answered demand in North and South Carolina, where Aqua Doc continues to grow despite a lot of competition in those states. An office in Pennsylvania will open very soon. John Wilson’s reputation precedes him, as is evidenced by his license plate, which spells out one of his nicknames, B1G FR0G. (Others include The Big Kahuna and the Godfather of Ponds.) “I went on a panel a couple years ago and someone asked me how it felt, managing a pond. I told them I really haven't managed a pond in a number of years because my daily duties are managing people. Our goal is to take care of as many lakes and ponds as we can. I never thought we would get this big as we grew, but when you have great people in the mix, great things happen.” GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
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Creating a better, cleaner environment by Recycling scrap metals for our community and beyond.
Honest Scales Recycling 15535 Burton Windsor Rd. Middlefield OH 44062 Ph: 440-632-3083 Fax: 440-632-0308
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GGP Connects with ASM International to Help Students Connect and Grow A
MORE INFO:
SM International, or American Society for Materials (formerly “Metals”), headquartered in Newbury, Ohio, is an esteemed organization known as the “world’s largest and most established materials information society.” The professional membership that studies and disseminates information to professionals concerned with materials like metals, alloys, plastics, composites, resins, and various coatings used to make products we use every day. ASM houses a massive research database available to its 20,000+ members in 80 chapters worldwide. There are currently around 70 employees, a mix of on-site and remote workers. Though the organization began to take root in Detroit in 1913, generations of Eisenman Camp:
GGP’s Incubator Program:
residents of Geauga County may recognize ASM International by its iconic geodesic dome (aka “The Dome”), designed by architects John Terrence Kelly and Buckminster Fuller, and built in 1958 on property just south of State Route 87. Education, networking and professional development are central to ASM’s mission, and Geauga’s high schools have a unique opportunity to take part in student internships at the college and high school levels. The program supports three or four interns every summer, and a few more throughout the year. Additionally, Eisenman Materials Camp, an allexpenses-paid camp for junior and senior high school students interested in materials engineering, is hosted for one week at the Dome every summer. The camp is open to students from all over the country (and sometimes internationally), about 30 annually, and is sponsored by ASM Materials Education Foundation. ASM has been an active participant in
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Geauga Growth Partnership’s (GGP) Summer Incubator Program (formerly known as their Summer Internship Program) since its inception in 2013. Each year they hire and mentor select interns researching careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Afina Lupulescu, Senior Product Developer, has taken a very personal interest in the program since she joined ASM nearly 10 years ago. Over the years, Lupulescu has helped nurture several professional success stories among former GGP referrals. She’s impressed with the next generation’s technical expertise and passion for learning, particularly Geauga’s own. “I am very pleased with the quality of interns from the Incubator Program - they keep me young,” She laughs. One such student was Ryan McGinnis, a West Geauga graduate, who had already completed another internship at Mercury Plastics in 2021 when he joined ASM ahead of his first semester at the Colorado School of Mines in the fall. Last summer, McGinnis won GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Winter 2022
GEAUGA GROWTH PARTNERSHIP IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
a scholarship from GGP for an essay he wrote about his time at ASM. The assignment was to outline his aspirations and challenges going into the program, before reflecting on his accomplishments and what he’d learned by the end of summer. In his essay, he outlined his course of study as a Materials Engineering and Data Ecosystem Intern, where he would immerse himself in data science to “explore the broad implications of the role artificial intelligence can play in supporting manufacturing in the fourth industrial revolution.” McGinnis was open about being intimidated going in. “A major obstacle was my lack of materials engineering knowledge,” he wrote. But by the time he’d completed the program and worked alongside peers and mentors - especially making professional connections - he felt fully prepared for his upcoming college courses. At first, McGinnis worried about not being exposed to in-person collaboration, but found that he actually thrived in the hybrid model of sometimes working from home. “I learned about the importance of balance in those meetings. Virtual collaboration is essential when your colleagues live all over the world.” ASM’s membership has its privileges (McGinnis got to work on a project for NASA), and fosters an environment
where interns are respected team members. Some of the advantages students receive (besides exposure to the worlds of aerospace and robotics, to name just two), are getting to network with professionals and student peers, being compensated up to 40 hours a week, and even having a voice at the board of trustee meetings. Of McGinnis, Lupulescu says, “I think Ryan has a bright future ahead. He’s very determined. He’s very intelligent, and he has the tenacity and audacity to become an amazing professional. Whether he finishes with materials or directs himself toward another field, he has that curiosity that only top scientists have, and I’m very happy for him.” She likes to keep tabs on the students as they progress in their professional development, is still in touch with many of them years later, and is known for her recommendation letters. Due to the pandemic forcing two years of cancellations, McGinnis wasn’t able to attend the Eisenman Camp himself, but now plans to return as a counselor one day. He is grateful to GGP for facilitating his two local, life-changing internships. “I passionately believe that with such an amazing opportunity located in Geauga County, more young students should participate in the program that is specifically geared to assist their growth and enable their success,” he says.
WHO IS GGP? Geauga Growth Partnership (GGP), a membership-based, economic development nonprofit, recognizes that no matter the size of your business, no one can do it alone. Since 2010, GGP has been helping area businesses problem-solve, strategize and network with peers and mentors for the betterment of the community. Perhaps none of the vital work GGP does is more impactful than preparing today’s youth and tomorrow’s young adults to enter the workforce, and supporting them in determining their career path, wherever it takes them. GGP fosters preparedness through a number of supplementary educational programs targeting students in grades 6-12, and plans to develop customized programs for K-5 classrooms in the future. The programs that are open to teens include career exploration, open houses, workshops, and coursework to prepare for interviews and presentations. As well as direct exposure to employers through the 8-week GGP Youth Workforce Summer Incubator Program.
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A Conversation with the First Woman CEO in ASM’s 110 Year History: Sandy Robert WHAT DREW YOU TO ENGINEERING & PREPARED YOU TO BECOME A CEO? I grew up in Michigan primarily, and my dad was a metalsmith by training. I really loved the idea of making things with my hands. After college, one of my first jobs was at the Eastern Michigan University where I led a group called the Center for Entrepreneurship. Our service model was to put together a membership organization to help people who didn’t have any real formal training in leading companies to learn those skills. I was their assistant director for about nine years. Most of the companies I worked with there were second and third tier automotive suppliers, and I loved the way they solved problems. From there I moved to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, where I held a variety of roles for 13 years. I’ve had three sequential jobs as an executive directorslash-CEO of STEM societies, including the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE), and the CEO of the Association for Women in Science. Last summer, a recruiter who knew how much I love manufacturing and engineering contacted me about ASM, and here I am. ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MANUFACTURING? Not only is manufacturing one of the most long tail industries, every job an engineer has, there are about six jobs that support it that have to do with logistics, warehousing, distribution and sales packaging. It will always be important to our economy, because aside from plants and nature, everything around us was made. Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Eastern Pennsylvania, New York; That’s where the big swath of machine tool and heat treating expertise in our nation is. We continue to play a really large role in educating people that manufacturing’s not going away, and if anything, it’s becoming more efficient and much of it more automated.
been held by someone who lived not only in the county, but sometimes onsite. There’s an old farm at the edge of the ASM property, where the executive director used to have to live. Part of it is, as a professional of a certain age, I already have the infrastructure of my life set up in a different place. At ASM, the staff and the board developed confidence that we can run the organization remotely quite easily. I think that allowed them to open the door to someone like me who brought unique qualifications, loved the job, had a strong background in STEM society business models, and knew I needed to not be here full time. I have a place that I rent in the county, but my permanent home continues to be in Michigan. AS RECENTLY AS 2019, WOMEN REPRESENTED ONLY 34% OF THE STEM WORKFORCE, THOUGH THOSE NUMBERS SEEM TO BE RISING. WHAT HAVE YOU OBSERVED? Being a woman who’s worked in this profession for 36 years, I think it’s changed so much, and is now much more inviting to women. But the long and the short of it is that girls and women are 50% of the population and we don’t yet see that reflected in the STEM professions, so I’ve dedicated a big part of my focus towards doing what I can to mentor. People have questioned how long I’ll last in a position as the first woman to have this job in 109 years; I think the bigger question is, what impact will I have, and can I help create the realization that women are just as capable in leadership as men. One of the things the staff has commented on is that I don’t wear three piece suits every day, that I’m approachable, and that I’m interested in what they have to say about helping to redesign what we do and make things better. If women can’t show up and have jobs in STEM, what does that say about how innovative our industry’s solutions are going to be?
BEING AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SWITCH TO MORE REMOTE WORK, POST-PANDEMIC?
HOW ABOUT GEN Z’S APPROACH TO WORK AND NEW INFORMATION?
Some of the professional opportunities at this point in my career have traditionally
What I see with the next generation is how much they want to work on solving some of these problems, like how we’re going to
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get clean water to places in subSaharan Africa; how we’re going to build cars that are 95% or more recyclable, or to reclaim rare earth metals when we create all these batteries. I’ve heard numbers as high as 40,000 people a day leave the workforce because Boomers are retiring. We have to be thinking about who’s going to replace that brain trust. Every year the ASM board has three student members in its composition, and what I notice is how much they inspire me. They’re not afraid to speak up and say the change they want to see. They haven’t been in business for decades and been told that’s not the way we do things. I think a lot of it is both appreciating the innovation and the potential contributions of the younger generation, and really leveraging the fact that many of them are fearless. In fact, one of the things that they’ve helped us see as a board, is that they’re not interested in being part of an organization that doesn’t align with their values - how refreshing.
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GEAUGA COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT ASM BRINGS TO THE AREA BESIDES ITS EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES? The 11 and a half story-tall geodesic dome on the property that was co-designed by Buckminster Fuller isn’t something that every community has. In the post World War II era, we had a lot of GI’s coming back, and we needed to find ways to create affordable housing. It was in this context that Fuller created a structure that doesn’t need to have beams going down through it, but the hexagons that come together can support themselves if designed the right way; that was revolutionary. To be able to come here and see the architecture that surrounds the building like a large umbrella, I hope that it inspires people as they walk through to talk about how beautiful it is and understand more about the world that materials play in our lives. GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
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The City of Chardon Gives its Residents a Reason to Stay
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t’s been a busy 2022 for the city of Chardon, where its elected employees are working hard to make sure its residents don’t have to leave its limits to find just about anything they need. (And who wants to drive in Northeast Ohio in winter more than absolutely necessary?) This year, Community Development Administrator Steve Yaney joined forces with city council members, Kyle Martin and Heather Means, who make up the Economic Development Committee, to work closely to address the community concerns of the city’s 5,200 residents and local businesses that serve them. Heather Means is on a mission to support local small business owners. Having been in their position for five years as owner of Circa, an antique shop which was located on the Square 18
until it closed its doors in December 2019, she knows the challenges they face. Means ran for city council in 2019 with their concerns in mind. During the pandemic lockdowns, the city would try to accommodate almost any request a business might have as residents adapted to new accessibility rules. That meant helping restaurants create more seating outside, or offering 10-minute parking signs so people could pick up their takeout. After Covid restrictions were lifted, Means asked the council to allocate a budget to finally set up a Chardon business directory, which previously never existed. “We’re going to put some advertising behind this idea of supporting your local community and really getting the message out about why this is so important. It’s one small step in
a bigger plan to help support our local businesses.” In addition to being the Chair of the Safety Commission, Means also focuses her energy on the Think Local campaign, and getting the word out about the wealth of successful niche businesses already in town. It’s an eclectic mix. For instance, Adirondack Beaver Blankets on 5th
“Small business owners in particular are the hardest working people. Think Local reminds us to find it here first and keep your money in our community.”
GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
January 2023
avenue specializes in products made of wearable beaver fur pelts. The pink mirrored building on Seventh Ave - formerly known as Eltech - was purchased last year by a tech company called ISSQUARED, who moved from California and have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars on renovations. Means estimates that over the course of the next couple years, that company alone will be bringing in around 200 high paying jobs. “Chardon Auto Spa has spent over a half a million dollars on their redesign,” she said. “You have these folks coming into town investing significant money in our community to make something better, and when they’re spending that much, that means they’re going to stick around. It’s so good for the community.” Yaney concurs: “A good example of that is Chardon Tavern. They completely renovated the front of the restaurant and paved the parking lot, and they’re planning on adding another 200-300 square feet to the kitchen. Buckeye Chocolates went through a similar renovation. They have plans for more parking and upgrading their drive-through. There’s other projects like that that just haven’t
started yet, but they’re in process." Means adds “We want to attract other folks to come into town. For that to happen, we have to show that we have a robust commercial economy and that we’re supportive of our businesses."
a business that wants to come to this area,” she said.
Enter Retail Strategies, a consulting firm that plays matchmaker between businesses and neighborhoods with the goal of increasing access to a wider world of commercial offerings; they’ll market Chardon to national chains that might be considering opening a franchise in the area.
Some people aren’t thrilled at the prospect of change; The recent addition of Starbucks on Center St. wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but Means is adamant. “That was a private business transaction between people; it has nothing to do with the city. For a business economy like ours to be successful, we need a mix of everything - small, medium, and the larger chain stores like Home Depot and Walmart. Chardon isn't going to be Mentor or Chagrin Falls. We’re our own thing and we can have balance.”
Retail Strategies works by analyzing GPS and other data to produce a detailed report about who’s shopping where, and when. Means shares some stats: “They can tell us how our Home Depot ranks with all the others in Ohio, that there were 500,000 visits to our Walmart by 250,000 unique people, that the farthest visitor came from two hours away, and that the busiest intersection in Chardon is Wilson Mills and Water St. They can tell you 8,000 cars go through there a day. That’s the kind of data that they can provide to
Martin remembers a lot of opposition to bringing in a Walmart, but believes the big box stores can coexist fine with the mom and pops. “It’s nice to have options in different parts of town, so when people shop in one area, there’s something close to them,” he said. Yaney, who has worked for the city for 12 years, remembers it took at least 8 years of conversations and planning for the Bob Evans to open, and now it’s a top location for the Ohio-based chain. Zoning decisions are never made lightly.
RETAIL STRATEGIES
THINK LOCAL, SHOP LOCAL
thinklocalchardon.com 19
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT Steve Yaney is the guy to talk to when you need a permit to build something, or a code enforced. I asked Yaney how long the process to set up a new business or renovation within the city typically takes. He said it depends. “If it’s just someone wanting to do something to their house, it can take a couple days to process. A new business opening can take a week or two for fire and building inspections. A new building might take several months to go through the steps with the planning commission before breaking ground.” Subdivisions can take longer depending on availability and sales. Construction on Hidden Glen on Wilson Mills, for instance, started back in the mid-nineties, and there are still 2 phases to go. A bigger development like Redwood, which is a proposed neighborhood of 91 rental townhomes on Center St, could take two to three years, start to finish. Redwood is not your standard apartment complex. Each single story home comes with a two car attached garage, a front porch, a deck on the back, all the amenities. Yaney reports that there are currently 12 buildings in various stages
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of construction and on track to be completed by this time next year. Despite a rocky financial climate nationwide, Yaney said that Chardon had one of its best years in the housing sector. “This year, Thistle Creek, near the Square, plotted another 32 lots - about a third of those have already been built or are currently under construction. When they started this project a couple years ago, I think the target home price was meant to be around 300K; the first couple that sold were closer to 500K.”
BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME Kyle Martin started his role on the city council in February, appointed to fill the vacancy left by Mayor Chris Grau when he was elected. Martin has lived in Chardon for 35 years, having grown up in town and moved back to the city limits four years ago. As chairman of the economic development committee, he brings a local’s perspective to the job. “One of the things I want to do is make it attractive for some of the older folks to stay, but also bring in some of the younger population to root their families, send their kids to school, and work here.” Yaney cites local parks, businesses and residential
neighborhoods as reasons to move to Chardon, and points to the area’s healthcare options as another selling point. The Cleveland Clinic just opened a 6,000 square foot facility on Center St; NDS Orthodontics built a new facility on Water St. The old Lake Health Urgent Care Center on Fifth Ave, now run by University Hospital, was also renovated within the last year. Means is fired up about the eclectic programming provided by Thrive - a visual and performing arts group now housed at the theater and community arts center - and Martin loves the bike paths and that the city is getting more and more walkable. Yaney promises more good local development news will be revealed in 2023. I asked everyone what they’d personally like to see open up in Chardon. For Means, it would be a rock climbing gym. For Martin, an updated high school and more restaurant options that hold later hours. And for all, a hotel, since there isn’t a goodsized one yet in Geauga county. The refrain from all as it relates to Think Local, is that the city wants to continue to hear from its residents so it can better support their needs. Martin sums it up this way: “We do want their voices heard - that’s what we’re here for.”
GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Winter 2022
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Hillbrook Welcomes:
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ood, fun, entertainment and Shopping, the perfect start to the Holiday Season. Maple Leaf Community Residences held a Brunch at The Club at Hillbrook on November 13th. The fundraiser was well attended and included a special performance by the Cleveland Ballet. The performance was met by a standing ovation and highlighted by the old-ambiance of the building. The backdrop of the freshly fallen snow added to the splendor of the afternoon. On February 13th at 1:00pm You can join Maple Leaf Community Residences at their annual benefit event for Day At The Races in Chardon.
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GEAUGA BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Winter 2022
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