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Ohio Business Spotlight
The Ohio Business Spotlight is a new initiative designed to highlight strong businesses that can serve as examples of Ohio’s economic potential. Ohio businesses start at the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, so there is a special opportunity to empower new entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to succeed in the Buckeye state. Each month, Secretary LaRose will select various businesses around the state that share a common theme.
"My great grandfather found his American dream in Ohio when his company filed to do business right here at the Secretary of State's office," said LaRose. "It’s my goal to continue encouraging that dream and highlighting Ohio’s success stories will go a long way towards providing the energy, insight, and inspiration entrepreneurs need as they prepare to start their business."
Learn about Ohio business with a century of service in the spotlight below.
March's Ohio Business Spotlight
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Address: 26650 Renaissance Parkway, Suite D-4, Cleveland
County of Headquarters: Cuyahoga
ContempoCleveland.com
Social Media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, LinkedIn, YouTube
About
Our Founder, Renée DeLuca Dolan, started Contempo in 1996 with intent to build trusted relationships as she grew her business. They derive great satisfaction helping other businesses relate to their customers.
The Contempo mission is to make their customers look good. They understand that each client has unique needs and business objectives. Connecting with customers in the marketplace requires a strong identity and a clear message. Their team has a depth of expertise to develop custom visual communication solutions to achieve goals. They’re focused, efficient and accountable.
Founder, Renée DeLuca Dolan finds empowering women in business and giving back to the local community an integral part of being a business owner.
- National Advisory Board, Kent State University College of Business Administration
- Board Member, Warrensville Heights Area Chamber of Commerce
- Event Chair – Home Team Celebration, Northeast Ohio Adoption Services
- Publisher, Cleveland Business Connects
- Founder, Female Entrepreneur Summit (bringing more than 400+ women together)
- Founder, Female Entrepreneur Summit Fund (invested in a female entrepreneur in the Cleveland area)
- Founder, Amplify Speaker Series
- Recipient of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Cleveland 2018 Pioneer Award
- Recipient of the 2017 Spirit of Women in Business Award, Kent State University College of Business Administration
- Founder, New program – Online Entrepreneurial Education Badges at Lorain County Community College
What do you like about doing business in Ohio?
I love doing business in Ohio because there are so many opportunities and resources for networking and growing your business through various organizations including: JumpStart, Inc., Goldman Sachs 10KSB, Dale Carnegie, WBENC, etc.
What advice do you have for other women business owners looking to have success in Ohio?
Ask for help. Don’t be shy and insecure about reaching out to other women business owners, mentors, colleagues and friends. Build your network daily, attend relevant events, take advantage of free funding opportunities through local pitch competitions and non profit offerings.
Have you been able to take advantage of some of the resources for women-owned businesses?
Yes, I am currently certified as a City of Cleveland: Cleveland Small Business (CSB), Minority Business (MBE), and Female Business Enterprises (FBE) and (LPE). I am also in the process of getting my certification through WBENC as well and finally have been on boards of local non profits and networking organizations that support women business owners including Women in Networking, WHACC.org, College of Business Advisory Board, Kent State University, College of Business Administration. I founded a Female Entrepreneur Summit 9 years ago to support female entrepreneurs in our state of Ohio and this year we are expecting 50 sponsors, more than 400 attendees and more than 25 speakers from across the state and region that support and assist female entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. www.fescleveland.com
Why is it important for Ohio to encourage women to start a new business?
To fuel our economy and Ohio has been named one of the best places for women to start a business based on high business growth density, low cost of living and lack of corporate taxes have been mentioned as advantages. We also have great support through networking and financial means as well.
How and why did you become an entrepreneur
I began an entrepreneur by accident truly. I asked my boss if I could freelance when I was working at a large corporation in the late 90’s, (my peers and colleagues from the same company had been doing so) and my boss said no. So I said I guess I handing in my two week notice and I left.
Was it something you always intended for yourself?
I did know day one that the corporate environment wasn’t for me, but I learned as much as I could about sales, design, communication, how to work with executives and corporate clients and then I got out. I’m a creative, independent thinker that truly wants to help others in their professions grow through creative communication and marketing. I love assisting young women and others grown their businesses and based on my own experience and work ethic, I hope to provide a terrific environment for growth and creativity in my organization.
Address: 6245 Westerville Road, Westerville
County of Headquarters: Franklin
Corna.com
Social Media:
Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn
About
Corna Kokosing offers comprehensive design phase and construction phase services under all delivery/contractual methods, including construction management, general contracting and design-build. They have established a strong reputation within the education, healthcare, industrial, office, retail, public, and specialty markets by executing projects on time and within budget under strict quality control and safety measures. With $.5 billion bonding capacity and nearly 65 years in business, their breadth of experience and resources allows them to build some of the most significant projects in the Mid-West and beyond.
Corna Kokosing has been built upon integrity, quality, and commitment. Their commitment to building their community is always growing, as they’ve invested time and resources to nearly 500 organizations over the past three years alone. “Always improving” is their mentality when it comes to sustainability, lean processes, team member personal growth, and in-house innovation awards. As a women-owned and women-led corporation, they are proud to lead the charge to increasing diversity in their industry and community as well as create a work environment where they have been awarded Columbus CEO “Top Workplace” by their own team members for the fourth consecutive year in 2019.
What do you like about doing business in Ohio?
The state of Ohio provides a lot of advantages for businesses. For nearly 65 years, CK has had the privilege of doing business as an Ohio-based company where all CK shareholders and the majority of team members reside. We’re familiar with Ohio laws and they are fair to all stakeholders involved. We especially appreciate the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board, which directs resources for optimal growth in Ohio’s workforce economy. From their efforts, in conjunction with ours, Ohio has a well-trained workforce from which to recruit.
What advice do you have for other women business owners looking to have success in Ohio?
In my experience, regardless of the size of your company, I believe it is important to identify a trusted board of advisors. There should be diversity, made up of men and women, who are both inside and outside of your industry. Your board should include people who have had an Ohio-based business for a while. The experience from each advisor will assist you in being a successful business in Ohio.
Why is it important for Ohio to encourage women to start a new business?
Ohio is one of the best places to start a business. As Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said so well in a recent article, "entrepreneurship is what drives Ohio's economy… there's this energy and this passion and great new ideas for how to grow Ohio's economy and make sure no Ohio family is left behind.”
Address: 805 Chalker Street, Akron
County of Headquarters: Summit
Social Media:
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
About
Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce® is an original family recipe hailing from the heart of Durango, Mexico, made in Akron, Ohio. It is a hand-crafted, small-batch hot sauce that mindfully delivers a balance of the bold heat and distinctive flavors culinarily characteristic of Mexico’s northern region and beyond. The deliberate selection of ingredients makes this hot sauce the perfect balance of hot and flavorful sure to satisfy the most adventurous and daring palates.
Name: “It’s my (Cristina) Daddy’s recipe, Not Yo’ Daddy’s recipe!” When coming up with a name, we wanted to make sure we had a name that was catchy and paid tribute to the genius that brought us the original recipe of our hot sauce, Cristina’s Dad, Jorge Gonzalez Cano. With our name we share with you the essence of our story and quick glance at our origin.
Their hot sauce has been featured in The Devil Strip, AkronLife Magazine, and New Day Cleveland. Thanks to the support from everyone who enjoys their hot sauces, they have been able to make contributions to organizations that support education, arts and culture, health and women’s sports.
What do you like about doing business in Ohio?
Akron quickly rallied behind our crazy idea of starting a Mexican Hot Sauce business. People in Ohio, and specifically Summit County, were quick to offer a helping hand, a purposeful connection or information for how to move your business or idea forward. The Ohio Business Gateway was easy to navigate and made it possible for us to set up our business license in a matter of minutes.
What advice do you have for other women business owners looking to have success in Ohio?
You have to be willing to do some learning on your own. Commit to your purpose and share it. The more you share your vision, the more people will be willing to rally behind you and offer their support to help you move forward. Accept that there will be challenge, remain flexible and persevere through them.
Have you been able to take advantage of some of the resources for women-owned businesses?
We have been lucky to befriend incredible women in our journey, in particular our beloved friend Mary Hospodarsky, owner of Sweet Mary’s Bakery. She has taken us under her wing and has opened her kitchen for us to produce our hot sauce. Additionally, or friend Kaley Foster, owner of Urban Buzz Beeswax Candles, was instrumental in the genesis of our business. Because of people like them we have not yet taken advantage of some of the great resources available to us and our business.
Why is it important for Ohio to encourage women to start a new business?
Communities that invest in minorities are stronger, and wealthier. Women and other minorities need additional encouragement to bring about their ideas and dreams to reality as they face fewer examples of success from people that look like them and were born to circumstances similar to them. As we work to bring about changes to the hegemonic values of our society and our communities, ensuring women see themselves as able and capable to succeed will only generate a wealthier more sustainable economy.
How and why did you become an entrepreneur? Was it something you always intended for yourself?
We truly were encouraged by our friends and the community to make our business official. Richelle and I, both, exuded an entrepreneurial mindset prior to opening our business. We both received athletic scholarships that paid for our undergraduate studies. We both started or led organizations throughout our academic and professional careers, and we both embraced the unknown by leaving our hometowns to make it on our own after graduating high school. Opening a business, thus, was just another task for us to complete and the fact that we had a community of supporting individuals encouraging us from the beginning made it easy to use our talents by opening up our own business.
Address: 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton
County of Headquarters: Greene
UES.com
Social Media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
About
Founded with a vision to become a renowned scientific research and development organization, they’re proud of how far they’ve come in realizing that vision by continuing to solve scientific challenges.
Their history is deeply involved with earning contracts within the Department of Defense and delivering scientific research services and technical expertise in several disciplines, including materials science, aerospace power and propulsion, bio and nanoscale technologies, surface engineering, photonic and electronic technologies, additive manufacturing, and product development. Many of their scientific and technical staff hold Ph.Ds. in their respective fields.
They take pride in our status as an Ohio-based, women-owned small business that partners effectively with several government and industry customers such as the Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Aerospace Systems, the 711th Human Performance Wing, School of Aerospace Medicine, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, The National Institute of Health, General Electric, Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney, Honda, Fiat-Chrysler, Nissan, SKF AeroEngines, Apple, St. Gobain, and Arconic.
What do you like about doing business in Ohio?
UES, Inc. was founded in Ohio in 1973, and our success has always been tied to our region’s commitment to and investment in Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Ohio is fortunate to be the home of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in the state with 30,000 employees, including military, civilian and contractors with an economic impact of $4.2 billion per year. We are proud to serve the Air Force and attract technical professionals from all over the nation in a central location with excellent schools, work-life balance and affordable housing.
Is your business family-owned?
My father, Kris Joshi, founded UES, Inc. with a vision to become a renowned scientific research and development organization. I am proud of how far we’ve come in realizing his vision by successfully growing our business with scientific research services and technical expertise, primarily to the Department of Defense, in several disciplines, including materials science, aerospace power and propulsion, bio and nanoscale technologies, integrative health and performance sciences, surface engineering, photonic and electronic technologies, additive manufacturing, and product development.
Have you been able to take advantage of some of the resources for women-owned businesses?
We take pride in our status as an Ohio-based, women-owned small business. Our core research business currently does not have women-owned small business designations or set asides. However, we do utilize Small Business Innovative Research grants to develop technologies and partner with government and industry customers such as the Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, The National Institute of Health, General Electric, Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney, Honda, Fiat-Chrysler, Nissan, SKF AeroEngines, Apple, St. Gobain, and Arconic.
What advice do you have for other women business owners looking to have success in Ohio?
My advice to an entrepreneur wanting to start a business in Ohio is to establish a business in an area that you love. Understand the landscape and the idiosyncrasies of the business area, and stay focused, but be willing to pivot as lessons are learned. Also utilize your resources. Ohio has a plethora of startup resources including all-purpose accelerators, incubators, advisers, and angel-investment groups.
Address: 9 West Second Street, Chillicothe
County of Headquarters: Ross
WheatberryBooks.com
Social Media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
About
Wheatberry Books opened in historic downtown Chillicothe in December 2017. They expanded to a larger location in January 2020. In addition to our carefully curated selection of books and themed merchandise, they host regular author events, a variety of book clubs, lead a monthly story time, and take pride in engaging with their community.
What do you like about doing business in Ohio?
Ohioans are passionate about supporting local businesses. I also love how many customers visit looking for books about Ohio history!
What advice do you have for other women business owners looking to have success in Ohio?
Start by talking to other women business-owners. You will find more support and encouragement than you know what to do with!
Why is it important for Ohio to encourage women to start a new business?
Women bring a unique perspective to any situation, and entrepreneurship is no different. When people of different genders and backgrounds work together, we are all more likely to succeed.
How and why did you become an entrepreneur? Was it something you always intended for yourself?
Books are my passion. I am a pharmacist by trade (a career that I still practice and love). I have never been a risk taker, and opening this shop was way out of my comfort zone, but I feel that if you are committed to something you love, it will thrive. And in turn, you will thrive.
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