TECHNOLOGY GROUP
Clinical Research Management Inc. Victoria Tifft
Clinical Research Management Inc. is a full-service clinical research organization that supports the development of FDA-regulated vaccines, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. CRM Inc. has increased its number of employees
from 150 to 210 in the last four years.
VEXOR Technology Inc. Joseph E. Waters
VEXOR Technology Inc. has evolved into a waste-to-energy company that
processes many industrial and consumer wastes into VEXOR Engineered Fuel.
Its fuel is a cleaner-burning coal substitute that eliminates waste going to landfills and reduces carbon dioxide emissions, and the demand for their waste-to-fuel service has increased sales by 36 percent and employees by 59 percent.
PartsSource LLC A. Ray Dalton
PartsSource LLC is the nation’s only multimanufacturer, multimodality alternative parts supplier supporting both imaging and biomed parts requests for
hospital equipment. During the last five years, it increased revenue 1,036 percent and employee numbers 685 percent.
TCP Inc. Ellis Yan
TCP Inc. develops and manufactures energy-efficient and long-lasting lighting products and accessories. The company has focused on finding innovative
new ways to improve energy-efficient lighting and has experienced massive
growth of 84 percent in sales and 123 percent in employees over the past five
years.
MANUFACTURING GROUP
Akron Polymer Products Inc. Gregory Anderson
Founded in Mogadore in 1986, Akron Polymer Products Inc. has focused on
revenue and employee growth. The manufacturer of thermoplastic tube products has experienced five-year growth of 84 percent in sales and 92 percent
in employees.
Blossom Bucket Inc. Cindy Lowry
Since 1995, Blossom Bucket Inc. has produced innovative products for the gift
industry. The company’s niche market is products that wholesale for less than
$10 — products it says are recession-proof because people will always buy
gifts. The company has increased sales by 185 percent in the last five years and
experienced a 100 percent increase in employees during the same time period.
CMI Industries Inc. Craig Skorepa
CMI Industries Inc., a distributor of fasteners and electric hardware, was
founded in Twinsburg in 1981. The company’s revenue increased 167 percent
in the last five years, and employee numbers increased 50 percent during the
same time period.
Control Systems Co. Marie Collins
Control Systems Co., a manufacturer of smokeless ignition equipment, has
seen many changes since its inception in 1972. The company has expanded
from installing its technology in marine boats to being used in the electric utility industry. Control Systems has seen an 87 percent growth in revenue and a
60 percent growth in employees over the last five years.
Fire-Dex LLC Bill Burke
Fire-Dex LLC manufactures firefighting clothing and emergency response
apparel. The company’s lean manufacturing methods have translated to tremendous growth, with an emphasis on production. Fire-Dex enjoyed sales growth of
121 percent over the last five years, with employee growth of 45 percent during
that same time span.
Hunter’s Manufacturing Co. Inc. Richard L. Bednar and George R. Gardner
Founded in 1994, Hunter’s Manufacturing Co./TenPoint Crossbow is a manufacturer and distributor of crossbows and crossbow-related accessories. The
Suffield-based company also operates a retail store. Its revenue increased
126 percent since 2002, and employee numbers increased 28 percent.
Metal Dynamics Co. Scott Plance
Metal Dynamics Co. is an agricultural machinery manufacturer based in
Orrville. The company, which was founded in 1998, has experienced massive
growth over the last five years — a 990 percent increase in revenue and a 250
percent increase in employees.
Portage Precision Polymers Inc. Douglas N. Hartley
Portage Precision Polymers Inc. has weathered enormous growth without
sacrificing the service and quality that led to its growth. The custom mixing and
manufacturing company has experienced revenue growth of 856 percent and
increased employees by 142 percent.
Shearer’s Foods Inc. Robert J. Shearer
Shearer’s Foods manufactures and distributes award-winning snacks and
does private-label manufacturing for customers. Last year’s Overall Success
Story winner in the manufacturing division has continued its growth, with
increases in sales and employees of 65 percent and 51 percent, respectively,
over the last five years.
WestAkron North America Gregory Anderson
WestAkron North America, a manufacturer of sound filtering hoses used by
automobile manufacturers, was founded in 1997. The Akron-based company
increased annual revenue 85 percent and employees 50 percent in the last five
years.
The Will-Burt Co. Jeffrey O. Evans
The Will-Burt Co., which is based in Orrville, designs, manufactures and
markets a broad range of masts and accessories for broadcast, cellular, military
and other applications. Despite being in business for more than 100 years,
Will-Burt is growing at a strong rate. The company increased sales by 100 percent and employees by 35 percent in the last five years.
