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0 71486 01032 6 49 www.crainscleveland.com LATE Richfield. a 10,000-square-footbuildingin aid BDCinleasingandmovingto at $545,135overfiveyears,would taxes forBDC.Thecredit,valued on corporateincomeorfranchise approved afive-year,50%credit the OhioTaxCreditAuthorityhas Department ofDevelopmentsaid is consideringamove.TheOhio related companiesinStrongsville, services forautodealersand 2-year-old providerofphonesales ■ FIRM PREPS FORMOVE CAR DEALERMARKETING occurs. context inwhichtheviolence relationships andthecommunity the lastingimpactofviolent get outofthoserelationships, why theystayinthem,how get involvedinviolentrelationships, communities tofindouthowthey 18 to21in12NortheastOhio to studymorethan90adultsages The three-yeargrantwillbeused Prevention tostudydatingviolence. Centers forDiseaseControland a $900,000grantfromtheU.S. ■ ON DATING VIOLENCE KSU EFFORTTO FOCUS Bullard Stan — supplier basedinBeloit,Wis. an exteriorbuildingmaterials is oneof360branchesforABC, the sizeofits is 42,500square showroom andwarehousebuilding at 8745MunsonRoad.Thenew from itsformerhomeof20years to 9099TylerBlvd.,aquarter- tors, hasmoveditsMentor and windowsdistributortocontrac- ■ EXPANDS WITHNEWSHOP CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIER Brookpark Road. process. Anchoremploys308on efficiency andaddanewgrinding equipment thatwillimprove the metalstampingcompanybuy The 2%,seven-yearloanwillhelp grinding workthat’snowoutsourced. allow thecompanytobringin-house Cuyahoga Countyloanthatwill in Clevelandhaswona$500,000 ■ EQUIPMENT, PROCESS METAL STAMPER TO ADD NEWSPAPER Turner A. Shawn — recovery groupsofKeyBank. flow, asset-basedlendingandasset president intheleveragedcash Strazella workedasseniorvice Superior Ave.Mostrecently,Mr. Strazella tostarttheofficeat600 Cleveland. ScoulerhastabbedAlex one-person officeindowntown restructuring firm,hasopeneda based financialservicesand ■ STEPS INTO CLEVELAND L.A. FINANCEFIRM Kent StateUniversityhasreceived ABC SupplyCo.,aroofing,siding Anchor ManufacturingGroupInc. BDC ManagementGroup,a Scouler &Co.,aLosAngeles- — Shannon Mortland Shannon — — Stan Bullard Stan — old location. NEWS — Jay Miller Jay — feet, doubling Mentor office mile [email protected] By JAYMILLER Athletic Ch.11 clubpreppingtofile 100 would allowtheclubtocelebrateits and outlineaplanforthefuturethat lay outtheclub’sfinancialsituation hear clubpresidentHarryMcDonald meet thisWednesday,Dec.12,to ruptcy protection. close tofilingforChapter11bank- initiatives, ourabilitytoeliminate includes marketingandfinancial with ournewoperatingplan,which members latelastmonth.“Equipped said inanundatedletterreceivedby ruptcy reorganization,”Mr.McDonald ourselves tofileforChapter11bank- Club membersareexpectedto The ClevelandAthleticClubis “We arecurrentlypositioning th anniversary nextyear. rise asinterest insustainablepower picks upelsewhere makers of Despite Ohio’sinertia, THEIRBACKS WIND BEHIND in otherstatesthataremovingaheadwith Bearings nonethelessisseeingitssalesrise company’s businesstocomefromOhio,Avon diameter foruseinwindturbines. precision turntablebearingsthatare9feetin 20% ofsalesatthecompany,whichmakes days, windgenerationaccountsformorethan wind energybusinessforabout20years.These a companyinAvonthathasbeeninvolvedthe from thestateofOhio. continue toblowhiswaywithorwithoutahand Walsh’s company—andheexpectsitto Though Mr.Walshwouldlikemoreofhis Mr. WalshispresidentofAvonBearingsCorp., A favorablewindisdrivingbusinessatJohn By DAVID BENNETT See with Grubb&Elliswhorepresents Richard Sheehan,arealestatebroker the topfivefloors. negotiating toreducethatonly a telephoneinterviewlastweekheis building, butMr.McDonaldsaidin club occupiesthetop10floorsof Building at1118EuclidAve.The the 15-storyClevelandAthleticClub Mann, whoinSeptemberbought with itsnewlandlord,developerEli zation willbenegotiatinganewlease and theBankruptcyCourt. it sortsoutitsdebtswithcreditors tion cancontinuetofunctionwhile ruptcy Code,abusinessororganiza- oncurrentoperations.” trate past debtshouldenableustoconcen- WIND PLUS: challenges duringtheir firstyear Entrepreneurs musttread through many SMALL BUSINESS SECTION SPECIAL “We’re workingonadeal,”said A keypartoftheclub’sreorgani- Under Chapter11oftheBank- ■ Page 8 GRAND OPENINGS [email protected] Vol. 28,No.49/$1.50 advanced energy equipment advanced energy ■ TAX TIPS because ofaquirkylongtimelease lost itsheatwhentheclub—which sharply curtaileditsfoodservice. costs, theclubinlastyearhas at presentfrom1,300in2002.Tocut move thathascostitmembers. ments tokeeptheclubafloat,a to itsmembersforspecialassess- aged. attheclubandotherslikeithas ship clubs haveopenedup;andmember- dropped; new,lessexpensivehealth years asdowntownemploymenthas we’d liketokeeptheclub.” Mr. Mann.“We’dliketokeepthem; ■ Last January,thebuildingnearly Membership hasdeclinedto299 In addition,theclubhashadtogo The clubhasstruggledforseveral & MORE ■ Page 15 See CLUB Page 21 Page 8 of advancedenergyresourcesinOhio. other thingswouldfosterdevelopment of astateenergypolicy,whichamong Partnership putsforthitsownversion INSIDE: [email protected] By STANBULLARD to Brunswick lure bigproject Cabela’s could site thedeveloperisassemblingat to wintheCabela’sforan83-acre based JacobsGroupareindiscussions Zienkowski saidthecityandWestlake- create. Richard E.JacobsGroupwantsto center thatrealestatedeveloper would landa$100millionshopping the MedinaCountycommunityalso famed Cabela’ssportinggoodsstore, The GreaterCleveland see fortunes Brunswick citymanagerRobert If thecityofBrunswickbagsa PAGE 3 SETUPS. AUTO SUPPLYSHOP FROM THEUSUAL STORES SPEEDAWAY RACY RETAIL ■ SUMMIT RACING’S by CrainCommunications Inc. Entire contents DECEMBER 10-16,2007 See CABELA’S © 2007 Page 21
ISTOCKPHOTO CCLB 12-10-07 A 2 CCLB 12/7/2007 12:25 PM Page 1
2 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM DECEMBER 10-16, 2007 COMING SOON 20 IN THEIR 20S
Giving back In conjunction with the Dec. 24 “Work & Play: Giving Back” section, Crain’s calls for up-and-comers 700 W. St. Clair Ave., Suite 310, Crain’s Cleveland Business plans to publish an online list of ways to Attention, all young up-and- will not be considered. The year and Cleveland, OH 44113-1230 help area nonprofits. To be included, nonprofit organizations should Phone: (216) 522-1383 send the following — organization name; address; phone number; comers. The time is coming to turn date of birth of the nominee also the spotlight on you. should be included. Only people Fax: (216) 694-4264 web site; organization purpose; contact name; contact number; www.crainscleveland.com and how to help (in 50 words or less outline volunteer and Crain’s is seeking nominations who still will be in their 20s as of April other assistance opportunities). Please send information for our Twenty in Their 20s feature, 28, 2008, are eligible for this feature. Publisher/editorial director: by Dec. 15 to sections editor Amy Ann Stoessel at which runs in the April 28, 2008, Send your nominations by Brian D. Tucker ([email protected]) Editor: Mark Dodosh astoessel @crain.com. Call 216-771-5155 with questions. issue. There’s no nomination form Dec. 14, 2007, to editor Mark to fill out. Simply provide us Dodosh either via regular mail at ([email protected]) Managing editor: Scott Suttell with narrative information about a 700 W. St. Clair Ave., suite 310, ([email protected]) REGULAR FEATURES person’s accomplishments in his Cleveland, OH 44113, or via e-mail Sections editor: Amy Ann Stoessel or her field and the nominee’s to [email protected]. Please ([email protected]) Classified ...... 22-23 List: Banks ...... 20 involvement in civic, charitable or put “Twenty in Their 20s” in the Design editor: Kristen Miller Editorial ...... 10 Personal View...... 10 professional activities. subject line of e-mailed nomina- ([email protected]) Nominations must be kept to tions. Senior reporter: Stan Bullard Going Places ...... 14 Stocks...... 26 ([email protected]) a single typed or Word page; Fax submissions will not be Reporters: Letters ...... 11 Tax Liens...... 12 submissions that exceed this limit accepted. David Bennett ([email protected]) Shannon Mortland ([email protected]) Jay MIller ([email protected]) John Booth ([email protected]) Shawn A. Turner ([email protected]) Chuck Soder ([email protected]) Designer/reporter: Joel Hammond ([email protected]) Research editor: Deborah W. Hillyer ([email protected]) Cartoonist/illustrator: Rich Williams >cigdYjXidgn6EN Online editor: Jeff Stacklin ([email protected]) Marketing coordinator: Laura Franks ([email protected]) 6EN Advertising sales director: Mike Malley ([email protected]) Account executives: Adam Mandell ([email protected]) Art Bouhall Jr. ([email protected]) Andrea Rubin ([email protected]) )#,*;dg&-%YVnh#&%!%%%b^c^bjbWVaVcXZ# Dirk Kruger ([email protected]) 7jh^cZhh6XXZhhBdcZnBVg`ZiVXXdjci Nicole Nolan ([email protected]) Classified advertising manager: Don Schwaller ([email protected]) Office coordinator: Toni Coleman ([email protected]) Ndjgldg`^c\XVe^iVaXVcWZ Western accounts manager: Ellen Mazen, 323-370-2477 ([email protected]) Western accounts assistant: Alexander Carlos, 323-370-2400 ([email protected]) ldg`^c\]VgYZg# Production manager: Craig L. Mackey ([email protected]) Production assistant: Steven Bennett ([email protected]) Graphic designer: Kristen Wilson ([email protected]) Receptionist: Jodi Stirtmire ([email protected]) Billing: Susan Jaranowski, 313-446-6024 ([email protected]) Credit: Donna Meeks, 313-446-6097 ([email protected]) Circulation manager: Erin Miller ([email protected]) Customer service manager: DeZcV;^ghiBZg^i7jh^cZhh6XXZhhBdcZnBVg`ZiVXXdjciidYVn# Kate Schumacher ([email protected]) Crain Communications Inc. The FirstMerit Business Access Money Speak with one of our Business Service Center specialists Keith E. Crain: Chairman Market account allows you to get more about opening a Business Access Money Market account Rance Crain: President for your money. It gives you the easy today. Call us toll-free at 1-888-283-2303, or visit us Merrilee Crain: Secretary Mary Kay Crain: Treasurer access to your funds that you need and online at www.firstmerit.com. William A. Morrow: the high yield that you want. Executive vice president/operations Brian D. Tucker: Vice president FirstMerit Bank. Robert C. Adams: Group vice president The bank for owner-managed businesses, technology, circulation, manufacturing Here’s what else they give you: Paul Dalpiaz: Chief Information Officer their employees and their families Dave Kamis: • Interest on all balances Vice president/production & manufacturing • Check writing capability Patrick Sheposh: Corporate circulation director • Online Banking access G.D. Crain Jr. • Security of FDIC insurance Founder (1885-1973) Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. Chairman (1911-1996)
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DECEMBER 10-16, 2007 WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS 3 New 1100 Superior owner wooed by redo
The 576,086-square-foot structure $15.35 a square foot. With skyscraper’s vacancy tumbling down, Illinois is 18% vacant. However, American The 1100 Superior building has Landmark sees the 80,000 square feet received a massive remodeling and firm scoops up ‘one of nicest buildings in the city’ of empty space as an opportunity. upgrade since 2005 from the prior “We will be very competitive,” Mr. owner and its management and By STAN BULLARD American Landmark, which is based Roeser said. “We have a great deal of leasing company, the Cleveland [email protected] in Skokie, Ill. “We think we bought experience leasing vacant space.” office of Hines Interests, a develop- one of the nicest buildings in the city, With the vacancy rate among ment and property management American Landmark Properties and we’re in it for the long haul.” prime, or Class A, buildings down- concern based in Houston. Ltd., a real estate investment com- Mr. Roeser declined to disclose town approaching 10%, Mr. Roeser During the past two years, the redo pany that owns a stake in Chicago’s terms of the building’s purchase, said he’s confident his company and has attracted several companies to Sears Tower, is the new owner of which closed Dec. 3, from 1100 its yet-to-be-hired local leasing agent the building. Among them are locally 1100 Superior, a skyscraper with Superior Square Venture, another will take the building to a higher based concerns such as Cleveland- that name and address in down- out-of-town investor that lists occupancy rate within a year. Mr. Cliffs Inc., Edward Howard & Co. and town Cleveland. to an Atlanta address. Cuyahoga Roeser declined to disclose the asking Colliers Ostendorf-Morris, as well as “We think we’ve added another County assigns the 21-story build- rate for space in the building. The First American Lenders Advantage, a trophy to the portfolio,” said John ing a market value of $38 million for CoStar real estate data service said the Cleveland-based division of First Roeser, executive vice president of property tax purposes. average rent paid in the tower is See SUPERIOR Page 24 STAN BULLARD
INSIGHT Chancellor, commission agree: State universities must produce more grads
By SHANNON MORTLAND INSIDE: A more detailed look at the [email protected] master plan set by Eric Fingerhut, the Ohio Board of Regents chancellor. Increase the educational attain- Page 24 ment of Ohioans. Make a college education more nine, two- and four-year state schools affordable. to work together more closely. The Raise the quality of the state’s commission consists of community public colleges and universities. leaders and presidents of the Univer- Play a greater role in economic sity of Akron; Northeastern Ohio leadership. Universities Colleges of Medicine Those are the four broad goals and Pharmacy; and Cleveland State, that Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of Kent State and Youngstown State the Ohio Board of Regents, has set universities. for the University System of Ohio in “The chancellor’s goals and the drafting a 10-year master plan to commission’s goals are aimed at the create a more collaborative system same, basic fundamental issue for of higher education in the state. The Ohio, and that is increasing the master plan is due March 30 to the number of graduates that are coming General Assembly. from the university system,” said Mr. Fingerhut’s goals mirror many MARC GOLUB Lester Lefton, president of Kent State. ABOVE: Summit Racing is revamping the look of its three retail stores — in Tallmadge, McDonough, Ga., and Sparks, of those put forth by the Northeast Historically, many Ohioans either Nev. — to allow for more creativity and project-oriented layout. “We’ve always tried to make this a ‘wow’ environment,” Ohio Universities Collaboration and haven’t gone to college or have says Summit advertising manager Nan Gelhard. BELOW: The Summit facade illuminates the Tallmadge night sky. Innovation Study Commission. It was gone out of state for degree work. formed by the Legislature in late 2006 Mr. Fingerhut wants the university and is charged with creating by Dec. system to compete with other states DEFINITELY NOT A DRAG 31 a blueprint for Northeast Ohio’s See FINGERHUT Page 24 Summit Racing’s new THE WEEK IN QUOTES retail store layout bucks “With so much to gain “In all my work with … in the renewable entrepreneurs, I never trend of traditionally energy industry, we met one that didn’t bland auto supply shops should strive to enact a have a failure. …
By JOHN BOOTH policy that will put us Most important is to [email protected] on an equal playing separate the business
n the cusp of turning 40, field with the other failure from individual Summit Racing Equip- 25 states that have failure.” ment probably is old enacted standards.” — Mark Hauserman, executive director, Muldoon Center for enough to be considered — Erin Bowser, director, Entrepreneurship, John Carroll Environment Ohio. Page One Oa classic. Still, even the best engines can Nev. Executives of the privately held com- University. Page 15 use some tinkering, as evidenced by pany won’t discuss nuts-and-bolts data “Have a good business a coming overhaul of the Tallmadge such as sales figures or the number of “Our goal was to company’s retail stores and its recent employees, but Tallmadge city officials esti- plan and stick to it. expansion into new merchandise arenas. mate Summit employs between 700 and 750 Use it as a guideline make something that Founded in 1968, Summit has a mail- people locally and is easily the city’s largest or you can lose track warmed the towel to order business as its backbone but runs employer. of what your ideas make it feel like it just three retail stores at its distribution centers “We’ve always tried to make this a ‘wow’ were a year ago.” came out of the dryer.” in Tallmadge, McDonough, Ga., and Sparks, See SUMMIT Page 25 — Doug Whitner, president, — Dan Pribanic, owner, Innovations Direct. Page 26 Chagrin River Outfitters. Page 18 CCLB 12-10-07 A 4 CCLB 12/7/2007 3:10 PM Page 1
4 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM DECEMBER 10-16, 2007 Ownership stability helps MAI thrive Playhouse Square declined to give an exact number of Investment management emphasis also credited how many hires will be made. He also declined to disclose the firm’s Foundation adds to By SHAWN A. TURNER would change hands again when asset level target. [email protected] IMG was acquired in November “We were hoping that in the first 2004 by an affiliate of private equity year or so we would just stabilize the Theater District stable When he first received the call in firm Forstmann Little & Co. business,” Mr. Buoncore said. March 2006 from an investment “This was an organization that “Truth be told, we were expecting By STAN BULLARD banker who was shopping what was was sort of in limbo,” Mr. Buoncore some decline.” [email protected] then McCormack Advisors Interna- said of McCormack Advisors. Mr. Buoncore, managing partner tional in Cleveland, former Victory But Mr. Buoncore said a closer of MAI, credits in part the firm’s Playhouse Square Foundation, Capital Management CEO Rick look revealed McCormack Advisors attention to its wealth management operator of the restored theaters in Buoncore admits he was not terribly could benefit from placing more business as helping boost its asset downtown Cleveland and producer interested in acquiring the business. emphasis on its investment man- levels. For instance, the firm in of property makeovers in the city’s “This is a perfect fit for you,” he agement business and from stable January plans to introduce its MAI Theater District, is the new owner of recalled the investment banker as ownership. He also was impressed Strategic Equity Allocation Fund, the long-vacant former Cowell & saying. by the people at McCormack. which will provide investors expo- Hubbard jewelry store building at “Oh, you tell that to everyone,” So, on Feb.1 of this year, he sure to several asset classes. 1305 Euclid Ave. Mr. Buoncore responded. assumed control of the firm, which “It’s the whole universe,” Mr. With the purchase, the foundation Mr. Buoncore had left Victory has been renamed MAI Wealth Buoncore said. “Domestic and inter- assumes control of an underused in 2005 to set up his own small Advisors LLC. national equities, commodities” and stretch of frontage on Euclid Avenue, investment management company, It turns out that perhaps the real estate investment trusts. The which is drawing interest from real BC Investment Partners LLC, investment banker who’d called Mr. firm also offers tax, estate and retire- estate developers and businesses and wasn’t ready to acquire a Buoncore wasn’t wrong. ment planning services. thanks to construction on the street money management firm that had MAI currently counts billable So far, selling the firm’s own clients of the Regional Transit Authority’s undergone multiple management assets under management of $1.2 on its investment management $200 million Silver Line. The RTA changes in a short time span. billion, a 41% increase from $853.1 services — something McCormack project is creating dedicated lanes STAN BULLARD McCormack Advisors had been million on April 30 of this year, Advisors hadn’t done — is paying off, for hybrid diesel-electric buses con- sold in 2000 to Merrill Lynch by according to a July 16 Crain’s Cleve- said Martin Christ, a director at MAI. necting Public Square, University also gives the building a possible sports marketing giant IMG, whose land Business list of Northeast “We’re still in the elementary Circle and the Woodmere transit showroom for a consumer products or founder, Mark H. McCormack, had Ohio’s largest money managers. stages,” Mr. Christ said. “We’ve got station. It also is dressing up the industrial design firm, which would be created the money management The firm employs 55, and several to catch up on a business almost 35 streetscape and sidewalks along the in keeping with a use envisioned by affiliate. Merrill then sold the busi- more could be added during the years old and tell a story that’s route. promoters of a Design District on ■ ness back in 2002 to IMG, though it next year, though Mr. Buoncore never really been told.” Jack Herrick, president of Realty Euclid. Investors Co. of Cleveland, which Ned Hill, vice president for eco- owned the Cowell & Hubbard build- nomic development at Cleveland ing, said the company decided to sell State University who is involved in after it was approached by multiple the Design District effort, confirmed parties interested in the structure. that the Cowell & Hubbard building The foundation was one of four would be of interest to his group as a groups — but not the first — that location for design talent or a show- IT’S JUST AN IDEA. submitted written offers for the room. property, he said. The Playhouse Square Foundation The foundation paid Realty is a partner in the Idea Center build- An idea worth protecting. So talk to us before you tell your golf buddy, who Investors $1 million for the two- ing, which houses technology firms story, 43,000-square-foot building and ideastream, the umbrella organi- tells his accountant, who tells her brother who happens to be married to the on Oct. 22, according to Cuyahoga zation for Cleveland’s public broad- County land records. casting stations. The Cowell & Hub- Art Falco, Playhouse Square Foun- bard building occupies the same block city’s most successful venture capitalist. Our Intellectual Property practice dation president, said the foundation as four of the foundation’s theaters bought the property because it occu- and the Idea Center. develops and protects the technology assets and intellectual property of pies the key southeast corner of East Cowell & Hubbard, a jewelry store 13th Street and Euclid. company dating to 1861 in Cleve- a broad spectrum of clients. While your Research & Development team is “We have a lot of ideas for what we land that later was purchased by might get in there,” Mr. Falco said. out-of-town interests, constructed However, he said it likely will be next the building in 1920 and operated focusing on their next great idea, our IP team is already protecting it. year before a course is set for the there until 1981, according to “The property. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.” When it comes to technical capabilities, communication skills, Mr. Falco noted the city of Cleve- Mr. Herrick said the building was land’s Civic Vision 2000 master plan constructed so that it can accommo- pragmatic legal counseling, and litigation experience, identifies the corner as a potential date construction of more floors atop housing site. He said the storefront it. ■ we go beyond the expected. Calfee – move forward
with confidence.
Calfee, Halter & Griswold llp Volume 28, Number 49 Crain’s Cleveland Business (ISSN 0197-2375) is published weekly at 700 West St. Cleveland - 216.622.8200 www.calfee.com Columbus - 614.621.1500 Clair Ave., Suite 310, Cleveland, OH 44113-1230. Copyright © 2007 by Crain Communications Inc. Periodi- cals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and at additional mailing offices. Price per copy: $1.50. POSTMASTER: 1400 KeyBank Center, 800 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 • 1100 Fifth Third Center, 21 East State Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215 Send address changes to Crain’s Cleveland Business, Circulation Department, 1155 Gratiot Avenue, De- troit, Michigan 48207-2912. (888)909-9111.
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DECEMBER 10-16, 2007 WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS 5 Call-back software keeps Virtual Hold’s line busy
By CHUCK SODER Virtual Hold today houses about “We’re actually saving your place in line, and calling even faster rate, adding that he aims [email protected] 60 employees at its headquarters in to employ 100 by the end of 2008. Copley Township. That number you back when it’s your turn, in the time promised.” “The challenge is finding the right A coffee break isn’t the social stood at 22 in 2000 and barely – Eric Camulli, director of technology, Virtual Hold Technology LLC people,” he said. experience it used to be for Mark changed for four years. They’ve found the right technol- Williams, president of Virtual Hold All the while, though, the company companies and wireless phone accommodate them, the company ogy, said Denece Shields, director Technology LLC. was building its customer base service providers. last April expanded its headquarters of consumer services at Moen The software company in Copley among gas and electric companies, Those customers helped Virtual to take the entire first floor of the Inc., one of Virtual Hold’s first Township has doubled its staff and which Virtual Hold saw as a key Hold open even more doors because Creative Technologies building at customers. tripled its revenue during the past market because they often receive call center managers in other indus- 137 Heritage Woods Drive, growing The maker of plumbing supplies three years on the popularity of a large call volumes when services go tries would stumble upon the tech- to 16,000 square feet from 9,000 that’s based in North Olmsted product for call centers that tells down. nology when calling the cable com- square feet. already has about 30 people answer- callers when an operator will contact Virtual Hold said it now sells pany, for instance, Mr. Camulli said. Virtual Hold’s revenue has grown ing phones on any given shift, but them so they don’t need to wait on Concierge to about 80% of the major “We started getting this exposure as well and today is “in the healthy Ms. Shields estimated Moen would hold. gas and electric companies in at the grassroots level,” he said. eight figures,” product marketing need nine to 15 more without Mr. Williams used to be able to the United States. Gaining a solid manager Eric Ryan said. He would Concierge. greet all his fellow employees by foothold in that market gave the Now that’s customer loyalty not reveal exact figures. “You would take it away from name whenever he bumped into Summit County software provider Virtual Hold has added about 10 Mr. Williams said he expects me kicking and screaming,” she them while grabbing a cup of joe in the credibility to market to cable people per year since 2004. To growth to continue next year at an said. ■ the company break room — but that was before Virtual Hold took off. “Now I have to introduce myself,” he said. Mr. Williams, who founded the company in 1995, said its growth rate started increasing in 2004, because by then Virtual Hold had established a customer base among utility companies, which gave its main product, Concierge, credibility in other industries. Virtual Hold also by then had recovered from the dot-com bust and the recession following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and potential customers were starting to understand the difference between Concierge and less expensive call- back technologies, Mr. Williams said. “We were way ahead of the curve,” he said. The selling point of Virtual Hold’s product is that the software is able to estimate how long it will take for an operator to contact the caller, based on how many operators are working, the length of each call and how many other callers are waiting. Most call-back technologies return calls only after operators have taken care of everyone on hold, and they don’t estimate how long that will take, said Eric Camulli, director of technology at Virtual Hold. “We’re actually saving your place in line, and calling you back when it’s your turn, in the time promised,” Mr. Camulli said. So much for downtime Call centers are showing interest in the technology, though it still has not gained wide acceptance, said Mark Czarnecki, president of The Benchmarking Network Inc. of MAKE LATE NIGHT Houston, which conducts studies and surveys for the telecommunica- tions industry. DEPOSITS IN THE COMFORT of Mr. Czarnecki said he did not know if other companies sell any- thing similar to Concierge. However, YOUR OWN BUSINESS. he noted that the technology, by redirecting calls, could help call centers keep their representatives GET MORE DONE IN LESS T IME W I TH REMOTE DEPOSI T. busy during downtime, which is one of their major goals. 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6 CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM DECEMBER 10-16, 2007 STUFF Political policy For 15 years, Sen. Sherrod Brown has shunned his government-subsidized medical plan in support of his constituents and universal health care. U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown wants are, but he said the coverage doesn’t Congress to enact universal health really kick in until after a $5,000 care not only because he thinks it’s annual deductible. The financial the right thing to do, but also so he consequences of such coverage could get access to better coverage. have been significant; a January A Dec. 7 profile in The Washington 2000 car accident led to injuries Post noted that the Ohio Democrat that ultimately cost Sen. Brown since 1992, when he was running for about $12,000 out of pocket. a House seat, has decided to show The senator’s pledge is a “mean- solidarity with constituents “by ingful gesture,” according to Gail pledging not to sign up for govern- Shearer, director of health policy ment-subsidized health insurance analysis for Consumer Union, “because for members of Congress until lawmakers are generally shielded lawmakers had guaranteed all from the hardships that many ordinary Americans access to health care.” Americans endure to get and keep Now-Sen. Brown didn’t think he’d health insurance,” The Post noted. be waiting so long. Sen. Brown said he’s optimistic “Truth be told, I thought that we that Congress can make “major would pass some real universal progress” in the next year or two, and health care (by 1994),” he told The he still hopes for universal coverage. Post. “I didn’t think it was going to “I’m not judging my colleagues for be a 15-year-long or two-decade- what plan they are on,” he told the long commitment.” newspaper. “I just think that everybody PROVIDED The newspaper said Sen. Brown, in this country should have better Ohio Technical College plans to renovate the former J.C. Penney building at Randall Park Mall. The building will become who served 14 years in the House health care than many get to have. its PowerSport Institute, which will be used to train students in repairing motorcycles, watercraft and all-terrain vehicles. before winning a Senate seat last year, Maybe in some sense, it gave me did what millions of others without some incentive to work on real health employer-sponsored coverage do: He reform for people. ... I just think that bought a policy on the individual market. if we (lawmakers) get an option for a PowerSport Institute to roll into Sen. Brown declined to tell The good health plan, the public ought to Post how much his annual premiums have the same option.” empty Randall Park Mall space
By SHANNON MORTLAND College’s main campus at East 51st the second for Ohio Technical College [email protected] Street and St. Clair Avenue. Five in Greater Cleveland. Salt for Ice Control more employees will be hired imme- “We’ve got a lot of room out there Ohio Technical College is renovat- diately, with more to come later in and Cleveland is a pretty central Bag and Bulk ing the former J.C. Penney building at 2008, said Tom King, director of location to get to from the East and Randall Park Mall to become the new enrollment management at Ohio Midwest,” Mr. King said. At least one • Halite Big Savings on home of its PowerSport Institute. Technical College. other manufacturer of motorcycles Truckload Orders! The 210,000-square-foot building The new home of the PowerSport or all-terrain vehicles could sign • JiffyMelt is slated to open in February and a similar deal within the next year, Minimum Delivery = 1 Pallet Institute also will become the Midwest • Calcium will be used to train students in training center for Kawasaki Motors and others have expressed interest, Chloride Forklift Delivery Available the repair of motorcycles, watercraft Corp. USA and Polaris Industries Inc., according to Mr. King. and all-terrain vehicles from various Mr. King said. Kawasaki and Polaris The school is overhauling the John S. Grimm, Inc. 1-800-547-1538 manufacturers. dealers from across the East and Mid- former department store to accom- Authorized Dealer About 20 employees will be moved west will send their technicians to the modate classrooms, a Main Street to that location from Ohio Technical North Randall location, which will be area that will include dealer store- fronts and a motorcross/snowcross training course, Mr. King said. He was unsure how much money will be spent on renovations. Vacated space at the main campus will be used for other programs, he said. The power sports program now has about 150 to 200 students, but Mr. King expects enrollment to grow to 300 students next year as the current one-year training program is extended to 18 months and an asso- ciate’s degree program is added. "USINESS !DVISORS AND #ERTIFIED 0UBLIC !CCOUNTANTS Overall, Ohio Technical College has about 900 students — two-thirds of whom are from outside Ohio — but Mr. King expects enrollment to reach 1,200 in the next year. He said rising gas prices have spurred interest in motorcycles because they’re more fuel efficient than cars and trucks, a trend that leads to the need for more technicians. 7HATS IN A NAME With the opening of the North Randall location, Kawasaki will increase its involvement with the PowerSport Institute beyond just moving the company’s Midwestern training center here from Grand Rapids, Mich., said Donald Church, director of the Technical Services Department at Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA. The motorcycle maker will provide #/.&)$%.#% &ORMERLY