"You will never know unless you try." That is the advice that three friends who started a business out of a basement would give entrepreneurs. We are glad that they followed their own advice because Link Construction has been a wonderful asset to Logan County and the surrounding areas. In 1997, Dave Link, Rich Dyer and Reno Stapleton got together and decided to create an industrial and commercial general contracting business out of Dave’s basement. They also completed their first project that year, at People's Savings and Loan in Urbana. Three years later, they purchased their property at 895 County Road 32 N., Bellefontaine and converted the existing farmhouse into their office space. This is still where they call "home" and have also added a 6000 square foot fabrication shop, where most of their steel is welded, pre-cut and fabricated. Link (President), Stapleton (Vice President) and Dyer (Senior Superintendent) continue to lead the company with the motto "Good people doing good work." When asked what they wanted people to know most about Link Construction, the answer was simple: "We just love to build buildings." With the help of many local suppliers, banks and insurance companies along the way, it is no surprise that now twenty-five years in - Link Construction is one of the area's leading industrial and commercial general contractors. Link is very grateful for the many businesses that have given them the opportunity to work and build for them. One of the most important things they have learned over the years is that to be successful, customers must come first. They are dedicated to listening to the needs and wants of their clients and strive to develop working relationships with the people they build buildings for. Their honesty, integrity and commitment are what sets them apart. Ben Vollrath, Logan County Chamber of Commerce President, states "Link Construction is a key player in the ongoing development of Logan County. Between their commercial construction activity and creation of a prime industrial park on County Road 32, the Link team is always on the lookout for ways to move our community forward." A twenty year member of the Chamber, Link Construction recognizes the benefits of membership because networking connects local businesses to each other in unique ways.
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As a company that strives to reflect the pride, honesty, and hard work ethics that Ohio State "Buckeyes" are known for, it is no surprise that Buckeye State Bank has grown and thrived as much as they have. Originally formed in 1885, the Citizens Bank of DeGraff served the community through the Great Depression & Recession and has the oldest surviving state bank charter in the state of Ohio. The original location is still being used and houses the DeGraff Post Office, complete even with the original vault and name engraving on the outside of the building. In January of 2014, Buckeye Nation Interim (a company comprised of a diverse team of local business leaders) was formed and ultimately purchased the bank that September and changed the name to Buckeye State Bank. A nod to the "Buckeyes" - 2 of Buckeye State Bank's founders are former Ohio State University players: former OSU defensive lineman & #1 draft pick of the 1994 Cincinnati Bengals, Dan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson and former OSU & CFL quarterback, Stanley Jackson. The bank is now located at 101 North Main Street, DeGraff - across the street from its original location, and a perfect place in the center of town that provides enough room for plenty of parking and drive thru availability. Since the purchase and name change in 2014, Buckeye State Bank has not only met the needs of the community but continues to evolve as one of the fastest growing banks in the country. They have grown from 7 employees and $29 million in assets to 43 employees and $260 million in assets. BSB is unique in the fact that it is employee owned because their largest shareholder is its Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), which owns approximately 15% of the bank. A huge accomplishment, Buckeye State Bank earned BauerFinancial Inc.'s highest 5-star Superior rating. A 5-star rating indicates that Buckeye State Bank is one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation. "Don't be afraid to dream! If you have the mindset to make it succeed, you can do anything." - That's what the guys at Sunlight Windows have done since starting the business three years ago, and the advice they would give fellow entrepreneurs in the beginning of their own adventures. When the office building at the family farm became available, Micah Burkholder took the opportunity to use the space to establish his vision of a high quality window and door company. The office, located at 8164 US 68 North, Bellefontaine, has been the perfect spot for this up and coming entrepreneurship - since it is a high traffic area and located around "home," where trusted business has already been established. "Establish yourself with people you can trust to push you outside of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid of a challenge." - Micah started with the help of a couple friends/acquaintances - Jason Ramsey, General & Sales Manager and Corey Dodds, Project & Operations Manager - and Sunlight Windows has grown from just an idea to a successful, thriving business. Micah, Corey and Jason are all ProVia Certified Installers and have a combined knowledge base of nearly 40 years when it comes to products and installation. Sunlight has also added Dawson Kingrey, as Installation Support. The team prides themselves on the quality and craftmanship of work they put into each job, from start to finish. The attention to detail that goes into designing custom products for all customers, as well as providing precise measurements and installation is what they like to model themselves on. What sets them apart from others is the honest opinion they offer to customers, beyond just making a sale, because they want their customers to be satisfied for years to come. "Keep making things." That was the goal Tom Moreland and Steve Roberts had when they set out to create their own company. Having been employed at Daido Metal in Bellefontaine when production ended at the facility in 2009, Tom and Steve found themselves starting a new chapter. With their desire to "keep making things," they partnered to open a machine shop in Tom's garage. They pulled together a comprehensive set of machine tools from the many plant-closing auctions happening at the time, and DMG Tool & Die was born. DMG provides machining, fabrication, and design engineering services. By combining their manufacturing capabilities with their expertise in technical problem solving, they help customers who need a solution but may not have the time or resources to figure out all the details. In April 2010, DMG moved out of Tom's garage to its current location on the south side of the Daido Metal facility. DMG continues to maintain close ties to Daido and is able to utilize the facility's ample amount of space and power to continue their growth. "We enjoy the opportunity to continue the legacy of manufacturing in the 'Iron City' neighborhood," Tom shared. Sweetie Pie’s Baked Goods & Coffee Shop is the first morning stop for many people driving through and to West Liberty. From fresh-made scones and muffins to breakfast sandwiches and quiche, their menu provides options for everyone - not to mention their extensive coffee and tea selection. Co-owners and sisters Ashley Woolever and Becca Hager have been in business on North Detroit Street for over 5 years. When they were in high school, their parents, Rod & Margaret Hager, started the Cream & Sugar Café in the very location that Sweetie Pie's occupies today. Both Ashley & Becca loved working there and enjoyed different aspects of the business: Ashley loved working in the kitchen and baking up sweet treats and Becca loved making espresso drinks and getting to know customers. In 2016, the space became available again and this time, they decided to start up on their own. Why West Liberty? Ashley & Becca are West Liberty natives and wanted to see their hometown thrive and grow. "Having a coffee shop/café sort of hub is so important, in our minds, to build and create community," shared Ashley. Their building has housed four other coffee shops in the last 14 years, giving the sisters a built-in clientele. Five generations of the Abraham Family have made Bellefontaine home for their families and businesses. Scott Abraham, owner of Cardinal Appraisals, is continuing that tradition as the fifth generation. A 34-year member of the Logan County Chamber, we are honored to recognize Cardinal Appraisals as our first Business of the Month in 2022. A graduate of Bellefontaine High School, Scott returned to his hometown after obtaining his Business Degree in Accountancy from Miami University. He joined his father, Richard Abraham, in January 1988 in their appraisal business and real estate company, RHA Group Realty, Inc. Shortly after, the Abrahams added RHA Homes, a home construction company, and in 1995 acquired a Century 21 franchise. Scott's father Richard retired at the end of 2012, at which time they closed the real estate company. Since 2013, Scott has primarily focused on appraisal work. He is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser focusing most of his business on conventional loan appraisals with area lenders. He also does estate and private party appraisals as requested. Not many people could open up a small business during a global pandemic and thrive, but that is exactly what Jonelle Lewis is doing with Luxe. Luckily, the remodel in an old pharmacy was not completely finished at the time of the Covid-19 shutdown in March of 2020, so Jonelle's staff did not suffer the fallout like most others did. Luxe retail was open just a week as the pandemic hit hard, and to avoid failure before it even began - Jonelle did curbside sales in order to maintain finances of a brand-new small business. There is no doubt that Jonelle picked the perfect spot for her business. She describes Logan County as "home," and strives to offer a "big city" atmosphere with a "small town" feel. The small community of Lakeview supported Luxe with open arms once they were able to officially open on June 1, 2020. Since then, they have flourished and built a wonderful clientele. Like the old pharmacy that Jonelle transformed into a beautiful boutique, Luxe takes pride in the concept of helping others look and feel their best from a personal journey of seeking self-love. Luxe has a clothing and gift retail within its boutique, as well as offering a wide range of services that includes: all hair needs (including "laced" extensions and vibrant color), manicures and pedicures, acrylic, all esthetic services including lash extensions, facials, waxing and relaxation massage. Their "one stop shop" also offers top of the line tanning with one lay down unit, one stand up unit, and an automated spray tan booth to give you the perfect sunless glow. Perfect for the holiday season – you can buy a Luxe gift certificate good towards any service or retail product! In 1983, Bev Goff had a vision to serve the teachers and parents of Logan County when she created the one-of-a-kind business called the Education Station. As she decided to retire in 2018, Mandy and Brian Osterfeld purchased the business. With a vision to still serve educators and parents and carry-on Bev's legacy, they ultimately transformed it into The Fun Company. As parents themselves and business owners already, Mandy & Brian knew they also wanted to update the business by adding an expanded toy selection with the latest and greatest available on the market. Mandy states that one of their "favorite family pastimes was visiting super cool independent toy stores across the country, and we thought - why not build one right here in Bellefontaine!" Bellefontaine was the location of choice because after buying Tanger's Furniture 5 years ago, the Osterfeld family fell in love with Logan County and all that this community has to offer a young family. The Fun Company specializes in toys, games, books, puzzles, crafts, STEM, learning aids and teacher supplies. Have you seen their pop it and Lego collections!? They also host birthday parties and workshops on a regular basis. Did you know - The Fun Company offers layaway for Christmas, as well as a wish list program for Christmas and birthdays that gives you 10% off anything in the store! Your child can also receive a gift in the mail on their birthday! All for FREE! It is a no brainer that The Fun Company is the perfect addition to all that Logan County has to offer families. stablished in 1883, Thermoid produces one of the broadest lines of industrial rubber products available anywhere in the world. The products the company manufactures are used in dozens of industries, including air, automotive, aviation, bulk transfer, chemical, marine, water, and welding. From industrial hoses to ducting to conveyor belts, Thermoid's engineering expertise and customer focus has enabled them to provide products for even the most challenging environments across air, land, sub-sea, and even space. Thermoid was acquired by H.K. Porter Company, Inc. in 1958 and just 10 years later, the company established its hose plant in Bellefontaine. In 1987, H.K. Porter placed all their rubber product plants in a wholly-owned subsidiary named HBD Industries. Logan County was chosen from two final site options for the company. The Bellefontaine manufacturing facility currently employs nearly 200 people, including generations of families, and produces industrial rubber hoses. Thermoid is a leader in developing innovative hose product designs and manufacturing production techniques, including their own Concure® continuous manufacturing process, which was invented, developed, and patented by Thermoid to help produce the best hose products. The Concure® process assures dimensional stability, provides a contamination-free and smooth hose tube in long, unbroken lengths. Thermoid additionally uses Thermocure, its patented manufacturing process, to provide consistent I.D. and O.D., to make the hose easier to couple, and help its smooth cover provide added durability when dragging over rough surfaces. At first glance, Ascend Consulting may seem like your average accounting firm. But upon closer inspection, you'll find a local company doing critically important work for organizations not only here in Logan County, but across the country. Founded in 2017, Ascend Consulting has grown from a local management consulting firm to a full-service firm with clients around the U.S. and employees in multiple states contributing to the company's goal of providing reliable, responsive service with professionalism and great attention to quality. Ascend goes beyond the typical accounting firm services of bookkeeping and tax to truly help companies grow and scale by using a unique "Strategy + Finance + Team" model which goes beyond the financials and advises companies on their strategies, their teams, and the critical decisions they need to make in order to achieve greater success. Having grown up in Logan County and graduated from Riverside High School, Ascend's Founder and CEO Jacob Schroeder has always had a special place in his heart for this community. His goal in founding Ascend Consulting in Logan County was to prove that professionals can return to their community and create successful careers here. "This is especially true in the remote world where we can serve clients all over the world while enjoying the high quality of living that Logan County can offer," shares Jacob. His success with Ascend Consulting has earned him recognition locally as the Chamber's 2020 Young Professional of the Year; in addition, Jacob has been recognized nationally as a nominee for the Top 100 QuickBooks ProAdvisors in 2020. He also has served on the QuickBooks Accountant/Payroll Council, a group of 18 accounting professionals from around the country working to help Intuit improve their product for clients and the industry. |
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