20100118-NEWS--27-NAT-CCI-CL_--
1/14/2010
3:00 PM
Page 1
JANUARY 18-24, 2010
WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
27
LARGEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS RANKED BY LOCAL REGISTERED ARCHITECTS
Name of firm Address Rank Phone/Web site
Local registered architects 12-1-2009 12-1-2008
Total staff
Local office revenue (millions) 2009
2008
Major current projects
Top local executive Title
1
Westlake Reed Leskosky 925 Euclid Ave., Suite 1900, Cleveland 44115 (216) 522-1350/www.wrldesign.com
42
40
150
$24.0
$25.7
PlayhouseSquare Theatres; Cleveland Clinic Twinsburg Medical Campus and Hillcrest Hospital expansion; Oberlin College, Litoff Building; Parker Hannifin, European Headquarters, Switzerland
Paul E. Westlake Jr. managing principal
2
Herschman Architects Inc. 25001 Emery Road, Suite 400, Cleveland 44128 (216) 223-3200/www.herschmanarchitects.com
22
20
61
$7.0
$13.0
Retail projects: HH Gregg, Dick's Sporting Goods, Gold's Gym, Best Buy, Fred Meyer Jewelers. Shopping centers: Odessa, Texas, Hagerstown, Md., Solon. Shoreway renovation Cleveland; Vieng's Restaurant Westlake
Mike Crislip president
2
Middough Inc. 1901 E. 13th St., Cleveland 44114 (216) 367-6000/www.middough.com
22
21
725
$95.0
$110.0
The Ohio State University, central power plant water treatment; Wal-Mart Stores Inc., multi-level store, Grundy, Va.; V & M Star, administrative offices, Girard/ Youngstown; Bridgestone U.S.A., Smyrna, Tenn.
Charles L. Krzysiak vice president
4
ka 1468 W. Ninth St., Suite 600, Cleveland 44113 (216) 781-9144/www.kainc.com
21
26
55
NA
$18.8
Westfield San Francisco Centre, Calif.; Icon in the Gulch, Tenn.; The Village at Gulfstream Park, Fla.; Annapolis Towne Centre, Parole, Md.; Avery Dennison Northeast Ohio facility
James B. Heller president
5
Bostwick Design Partnership 2729 Prospect Ave., Cleveland 44115 (216) 621-7900/www.bostwickdesign.com
20
18
33
$6.1
$7.3
Marymount Hospital, surgery expansion; Cleveland Clinic Las Vegas, development plan; The Ohio State University College of Medicine; Cleveland Public Library, Rice Branch
Robert L. Bostwick president, director of design
6
Braun & Steidl Architects Inc. 1041 W. Market St., Akron 44313 (330) 864-7755/www.bsa-net.com
18
21
44
$5.0
$8.4
Cleveland State University, new student center; Cuyahoga Community College, Career Center; Faith Family Church; Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy; St. Columba Cathedral, restoration
Chas Schreckenberger president
6
Dorsky Hodgson Parrish Yue 23240 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 300, Cleveland 44122 (216) 464-8600/www.dorskyhodgson.com
18
31
51
NA
NA
8
Hasenstab Architects Inc. 190 N. Union St., Suite 400, Akron 44304 (330) 434-4464/www.hainc.cc
17
19
30
$5.3
$6.7
9
Richard L. Bowen + Associates Inc. 13000 Shaker Blvd., Cleveland 44120 (216) 491-9300/www.rlba.com
16
17
85
NA
NA
9
URS Corp.(1) 1375 Euclid Ave., Suite 600, Cleveland 44115 (216) 622-2400/www.urscorp.com
16
14
711
$105.4
$39.0
11
Bialosky + Partners Architects LLC 2775 S. Moreland Blvd., Cleveland 44120 (216) 752-8750/www.bialosky.com
14
16
30
NA
NA
12
Domokur Architects 4651 Medina Road, Akron 44321 (330) 666-7878/www.domokur.com
13
9
29
$3.3
$2.2
12
Perspectus Architecture 13212 Shaker Square, Suite 204, Cleveland 44120 (216) 752-1800/www.perspectusarch.com
13
11
22
NA
NA
12
TDA 4135 Erie St., Willoughby 44094 (440) 269-2266/www.thendesign.com
13
13
27
$4.4
15
Burt Hill 3700 Park East Drive, Suite 200, Beachwood 44122 (216) 454-2150/www.burthill.com
12
12
22
16
GPD Group 520 S. Main St., Suite 2531, Akron 44311 (800) 955-4731/www.gpdgroup.com
11
11
16
Vocon 3142 Prospect Ave., Cleveland 44115 (216) 588-0800/www.vocon.com
11
18
Robert P. Madison International Inc. 2930 Euclid Ave., Cleveland 44115 (216) 861-8195/www.rpmadison.com
19
The Promenade at Coconut Creek, mixed-use, retail, office, Coconut Creek, Fla.; William Dorsky, chairman The Plaza at Southpark, Strongsville; The Weils Rehab Pavilion, Bainbridge; Cornelia C. Hodgson, Overtown Transit Village, office buildings, garage, Miami, Fla. president ODMH - Northcoast Behavioral Hospital; The University of Akron, National Polymer Innovation Center; Akron Public Schools, National Inventor's Hall of Fame School; Akron Zoo, conservation carousel
Mark A. Ohlinger president
Mayfield Village, Police Station; CMHA, Outhwaite Building; RTA, Clifton Boulevard enhancement; Cuyahoga County College, Brunswick campus
Richard L. Bowen president
Cuyahoga Community College, Health Career and Technology Building, Highland Hills; Digestive Disease Consultants, medical building, Brunswick; ClevelandCuyahoga County Port Authority, marina/park relocation study
Gary R. Hribar, vice president, URS division; William Colt, sr. vice president
GCRTA, Brookpark Station; Mandel JCC; Tri-C, downtown culinary; Schofield Building; EnVision Apartments; One of a Kind Pet Rescue
Jack A. Bialosky Jr. senior principal
JM Smucker Co.; Kent State University; Bowling Green State University; Cleveland State University; FirstMerit
Michael Domokur owner
The Ohio State University Medical Center; Veterans Affairs Medical Center; The James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute; Canterbury Golf Club; Cuyahoga Community College; John Carroll University
Lawrence Fischer William Ayars principals
$4.2
Bailey Building, restoration; Dalton Local School District, GaREAT Sports Complex phase 3; Garfield Heights City School District; Lake County MR/DD, renovations; Mayfield City School District; Perry Local School District
Robert A. Fiala managing partner
$5.1
$4.5
NASA Glenn Research Ctr., centralized office bldg.; Cuyahoga Community College, Westshore Campus phase 1; Nazareth College, lab building; BaldwinWallace College, Thomas Family Ctr. for Science and Innovation
Michael Reagan Michael R. Carter principals
NA
$33.0
$33.0
NA
Dave Granger president
12
63
$14.0
$15.6
KeyBank, retail branches; Hospice House West; KeyBank, Cleveland Services Center; Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center; Huntington Bank; Morgan Stanley; Willis; Cuyahoga Community College; Jones Day
Deborah V. Donley principal
10
10
21
$2.5
$3.0
Center for Creative Arts; Willson School; Anton Grdina; Mt. Zion Congregational Church; Kappa II Housing (HUD)
Robert P. Madison chairman, CEO
ADA Architects Inc. 17710 Detroit Ave., Lakewood 44107 (216) 521-5134/www.adaarchitects.cc
9
7
35
NA
NA
NA
Robert Acciarri president
19
CBLH Design Inc. 7850 Freeway Circle, Cleveland 44130 (440) 243-2000/www.cblhdesign.com
9
11
21
NA
$3.1
Mercy Medical Center; University of Akron; Ritter Library; Ohio State University Medical Center; Bowling Green State University; Cuyahoga Falls Library; Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Cleveland State University
Marc B. Bittinger, Timothy S. Hunsicker, Michael D. Liezert, principals
19
HWH Architects Engineers Planners Inc. 1300 E. Ninth St., Suite 900, Cleveland 44114 (216) 875-4000/www.hwhaep.com
9
10
90
NA
NA
General Electric Nela Park; Goodyear, Lawton Okla.; Cleveland MetroParks, headquarters; City of Cleveland, various projects; General Electric Energy, Greenville, S.C.
Peter P. Jancar chairman
22
The Austin Co. 6095 Parkland Blvd., Cleveland 44124 (440) 544-2600/www.theaustin.com
8
7
85
$44.6
$39.0
Hills Pet Nutrition, Emporia Kan.; Mitsubsihi Power, Savannah, Ga.; FedEx Ground, Kansas City, Mo.; Lance, Ashland; Bimbo Bakeries, Horsham, Pa.; Pfizer, Portage, Mich.
Patrick B. Flanagan president
22
Burgess & Niple 1300 E. Ninth St., Suite 612, Cleveland 44114 (216) 241- 9600/www.burgessniple.com
8
7
54
NA
$10.3
General Instructional Building, Ft. Lewis, Washington; Hubbard Schools, K-12 Charles J. Zibbel campus, Hubbard, Ohio; Company Operations Facilities, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; director, Child Development Center, Ft. Bliss, Texas Great Lakes region
22
Harris/Day Architecture 3722 Whipple Road, NW, Canton 44718 (330) 493-3722/www.harrisday.com
8
6
20
$2.5
$2.2
Wayne County Schools Career Center; Bridgestone Technical Center
R. Jeffrey Day president
22
Herman Gibans Fodor Inc.-Architects 1939 W. 25th St., Suite 300, Cleveland 44113 (216) 696-3460/www.hgfarchitects.com
8
8
18
$2.3
$2.5
Emerald Alliance V, 70-unit supportive housing building, Cleveland; Kendal at Oberlin, expansion and renovation; Squire Sanders, interior renovation; Mount Saint Joseph Home, 100-bed skilled nursing home, Euclid
James G. Herman president
22
Makovich Pusti Architects Inc. 111 Front St., Berea 44017 (440) 891-8910/www.mparc.com
8
8
13
NA
NA
Veterans Administration, surgery, surgical intensive care; Fairview Hospital, pediatric behaviorial health; Richmond Medical Center, behaviorial health, critical care, stepdown
Ronald J. Makovich president
22
Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects Inc. 1020 Huron Road, Suite 101, Cleveland 44115 (216) 771-0090/www.studiorfa.com
8
6
26
$1.7
$2.2
A.J. Celebrezze Federal Building; J.W. Peck Federal Building; MYCAP MahoningYoungstown Community Action Partnership; University Circle Methodist Church (Oil Can)
Richard Fleischman president
22
Sandvick Architects Inc. 1265 W. Sixth St., Cleveland 44113 (216) 621-8055/www.sandvickarchitects.com
8
9
17
$1.8
$3.2
Cleveland Institute of Art; Gospel Press
Jonathan Sandvick president
29
Array Healthcare Facilities Solutions 3201 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 495, Beachwood 44122 (216) 292-7950/www.arrayhfs.com
7
6
14
$2.9
$3.0
Community Health Partners, master plan and implementation, Lorain; UH Case Medical Center, parking facility, Cleveland; UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, master plan, Cleveland
Christopher Trotta vice president, managing principal
29
City Architecture Inc. 3634 Euclid Ave., Suite 100, Cleveland 44115 (216) 881-2444/www.cityarch.com
7
8
23
$4.1
$4.4
Collinwood, Recreation Center; Mayfield, RTA Station; University of Akron, Administrative Services Center; Garden Valley Apartments; Lakefront West
Paul J. Volpe president
29
Holzheimer Bolek + Meehan Architects 7227 Chagrin Road, Chagrin Falls 44023 (440) 247-9800/www.hbmarchitects.com
7
7
12
NA
NA
Amherst Pubic Library; Roanoke County Library, Va.; Wichita Central Library, Kan.; Newton Public Library, Kan.; Warren Civic Center & Library, Mich.; Pickaway County Library
Dan Meehan, David Holzheimer, Peter Bolek, partners
29
TC Architects Inc. 755 White Pond Drive, Suite 401, Akron 44320 (330) 867-1093/www.tcarchitects.com
7
9
20
NA
NA
NEOUCOM, campus research and academic expansion; Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, Edgewood Homes Hope VI, elderly housing development corporation, numerous projects
Robert C. Chordar president
Crain's Cleveland Business does not independently verify the information and there is no guarantee these listings are complete or accurate. We welcome all responses to our lists and will include omitted information or clarifications in coming issues. Individual lists and The Book of Lists are available to purchase at www.crainscleveland.com. (1) URS acquired Washington Group in 2007. The 2009 local office revenue includes the acquistion, the 2008 revenue is for URS only.
RESEARCHED BY Deborah W. Hillyer
20100118-NEWS--28-NAT-CCI-CL_--
28
1/15/2010
3:58 PM
Page 1
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM
JANUARY 18-24, 2010
Mobile: Some clients wary of investing in technology continued from PAGE 1
“There’s a real shakeup in the industry,” said Mike Strauss, vice president of interactive at Marcus Thomas in Warrensville Heights. “I think in general, 2010 is going to be considered the year of mobile marketing.” According to online research firm eMarketer, U.S. mobile advertising spending — comprising display ads, search and messagebased advertising — will grow 85% to $593 million this year from $320 million in 2008, and it’s projected to hit $1.6 billion by 2013. Advertising falls under the umbrella of marketing, along with anything else from promotions and contests to interactive games. Likewise, the number of U.S. web visitors using a mobile device climbed 34% over a oneyear period, to 56.9 million visitors in July 2009 from 42.5 million in July 2008, according to The Nielsen Co. And those numbers are translating into more business for marketers whose clients are eager to ride the mobile wave. As an example, thunder::tech is working with the Winking Lizard restaurant chain, which is based in Bedford Heights,
to develop an iPhone app that allows users to rate and review the 200 beers Winking Lizard sells. It’s the restaurant’s first entry into mobile marketing. “If you spend a lot of time at our 14 locations, you’ll see people playing with their cell phones a lot,” said Jon Gross, Winking Lizard’s director of development. “It’s a way for us to interact with our customers.” Mr. Gross said the Winking Lizard has not advertised through traditional media, but sees the potential in expanding its mobile marketing beyond the app, which is expected to be rolled out in March. Cleveland-based DigiKnow also expects an influx of business, not only via smart phone apps but also from mobile web sites, text messaging and mobile advertisements, said Scott Chapin, director of consulting services. In anticipation of demand for its expertise, the marketing firm launched this month a new page on its web site for information on its mobile services. Similarly, thunder::tech this month is launching a mobile version of its desktop web site.
Narrowing the target Ray Davies, managing director of the Cleveland office of public relations and marketing agency j. simms, said mobile marketing is a valuable investment because it is measurable and “pennies on the dollar” compared with marketing through more traditional media. The San Diego-based j. simms works with clients to develop textmessaging campaigns, which are appealing to marketers because the recipients actually must sign up to receive the message. Mr. Davies estimates the text read-through rates at about 96%, while only about 25% to 30% of their clients read through e-mail. “Marketing has shifted from mass media to relevance media,” meaning the message is more targeted, Mr. Davies said. In December, for example, j. simms helped Painesville-based RDP Motorsport USA, which restores vehicles and upgrades their performance, launch a text-messaging campaign that allows RDP to send to its customers messages that include discounts, videos or special event invitations. Clients
signed up for the service through RDP’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages. “We had 300 to 400 people register to receive our messages,” said RDP founder Steven Leerentveld. “We used social media to put out our message, but we didn’t really know who or how many people read it. Now we know exactly who is receiving our texts.”
Hurdles ahead Mobile marketing does not come without its challenges, however. For one, it can be difficult to retrofit an app to each smart phone — whether it’s the Android, iPhone or Blackberry, said DigiKnow’s Mr. Chapin. “I don’t believe marketing will sustain all these different smart phones,” he said. “Today, I would still recommend to clients on building an app for the iPhone. Six months from now, that answer may be different.” Agencies also say it can be difficult to convince marketers who are judicious about spending money to invest in a technology that is undergoing a daily metamorphosis. “It’s a conversation we have
almost daily with clients,” Mr. Therrien said. “About half of our clients are talking mobile, and the other half, we’re trying to enlighten. Mobile is becoming a mainstay.” Marketers also are concerned about return on investment, which social media, another marketing phenomenon, does not always yield — at least in dollar signs. “It depends on how the company measures success,” said Marcus Thomas’ Mr. Strauss. “Return on investment is not always revenue. The return could just mean that the company now has an app.” As marketing strategies adapt to incorporate mobile, and on a broader scale, digital marketing in general, investment in more traditional media, such as radio, TV and print, likely will be scaled back. Still, industry practitioners caution against a full-out foray into mobile at the expense of other media channels. “The challenge is making sure your target audience has the appropriate mobile habits,” Mr. Strauss said. “Not all folks with mobile phones use them to their full capacity. Mobile marketing has value, but it can’t stand on its own.” ■
Firms: Tax rules may change continued from PAGE 1
While Mr. Mueller said CapitalWorks likes to do about three deals a year, it didn’t do any in 2009. Still, he said he expects CapitalWorks to close its first deal of 2010 in the next 30 to 45 days, and to hit its goal of three deals for the year.
No sprinters in the field Stewart Kohl, co-CEO of The Riverside Co., also expects more companies to put themselves up for sale as they become confident that they can fetch a good price. Purchase prices and multiples will begin to “creep up,” he said, but not skyrocket. Likewise, investors are starting to inch back into the fray. “They’re sure not sprinting,” Mr. Kohl said. While Mr. Kohl said Riverside’s 70company portfolio did “surprisingly well” for the year, down just about 5% in sales and earnings for 2009, the firm completed about half as many deals in 2009 — a total of 14 — as it had in 2008, when it did 31. Mr. Kohl said he saw both 2008 and 2010 as bookends, though, and expects that just as 2008 started the year strongly then ended in turmoil, 2010 will finish with the year on an upswing after a slow beginning. “We went into 2009 with almost nothing in the pipeline,” he said. “In the second half, the pipeline began to rebuild. I think we’re going into 2010 with the world significantly better.” John Nestor, senior managing partner of Kirtland Capital Partners, said he is beginning to field calls from bankers who once again are interested in talking about the possibility of making loans for private equity transactions. Mr. Nestor said bankers pared down their portfolios to get rid of poor performers and now are looking for more opportunities. Linsalata Capital Partners senior managing director Eric Bacon said he’s looking for 2010 to be a “par” year, with two or three acquisitions, where 2008 and 2009 were both sub-par. Mr. Bacon said he expects
2010 to be a good year for private equity firms to clean up a backlog of distressed companies.
Cash needs will drive deals Steven Rosen, co-CEO of Resilience Capital Partners, said deal flow for his firm, which deals in turnaround companies, was up considerably last year. The pace will be even greater in 2010, Mr. Rosen expects, as companies continue to be interested in reinvesting in their business, but need to bring in new partners who have the money to do so. Mr. Rosen expects refinancing to drive some deals, but said it is likely sellers still will want to retain some stake in their businesses to take advantage of potential upsides as the economy improves. “When the economy recovers is the most difficult time for companies that don’t have access to capital,” he said. Private equity firms also see the possibility of regulatory and tax changes on the horizon. Mr. Mueller said a potential tax change could impact firms’ business models as they work to keep returns high. Now, Mr. Given said, general partners’ 20% take of profits in the funds are taxed as capital gains, at a 15% rate. A new proposal would tax the general partners’ share of profits as earned income, potentially more than doubling the tax rate for those earnings. Mr. Given said he doubted if funds would try to pass the increase on to investors, but Mr. Mueller said some funds might try to cut back in other ways to keep returns high. There also are proposed changes that would call for private equity funds to register themselves, though many fund CEOs and managing partners said either that they hadn’t yet started paying attention to the proposals or that the necessity would have little impact on them, as either they have registered voluntarily or have dealt with increased regulation for various reasons in the past. ■
20100118-NEWS--29-NAT-CCI-CL_--
1/14/2010
3:03 PM
Page 1
Tired of doing more with less? Now you can do more with more. Start the year smart. Get a total solution created specifically for your small business.
VERIZON SMALL BUSINESS PAK
89
As low as
99
$
a month
for 1 yr w/3-yr Agmt (plus taxes & fees)
High Speed Internet Speeds up to 7.1 Mbps
Unlimited Nationwide Calling With 99.9% Network Reliability
25 GB Online Storage Equal to 25 pickup trucks of printed documents
Mobility FREE Wi-Fi + FREE Wireless Router
Advanced Internet Security Award-winning Online Protection
One of the many tools in the Verizon Small Business Toolbox.
CALL 1.888.291.8033 today
CLICK verizon.com/toolbox
For new HSI business customers, subj to credit review. Offer may be fulfilled via bill credit(s). Std rates apply after 1st year. Early termination fees: up to $149 for HSI & $125 for voice. Up to $99.99 activation & other fees, taxes, charges & terms apply. Service availability & actual speeds vary. HSI provisioned at 5.0 Mbps or up to 7.1 Mbps based on VZ line qualification requirements. Verizon Wi-Fi available in designated locations only; other terms and software limitations apply. For details, visit business.verizon.net/wifi. Offer ends 4/17/10. ©2010 Verizon.
20100118-NEWS--30-NAT-CCI-CL_--
30
1/15/2010
3:40 PM
Page 1
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM
JANUARY 18-24, 2010
Kent: Transit center to accommodate expected uptick in downtown traffic continued from PAGE 3
house art programs also is a high priority because those programs currently are spread throughout six locations on campus. The Kent State campus also will receive an updated and friendlier look by replacing a long corridor of concrete with grass and trees, Dr. Lefton said. The transformation will give students an outdoor place to relax, interact and study.
campus to its outer ring, and renovation of some old and outdated buildings, Dr. Lefton said. Space freed up by administrative offices will be renovated and used as academic space, he noted. University leaders have been meeting with architects and designers to determine what projects are most needed and feasible and what will top the priority list. Remodeling buildings to be handicap-accessible and replacing drafty, single-pane windows is a necessity, Dr. Lefton said. “We have a lot of buildings that were built in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, when nobody worried about people in wheelchairs,” Dr. Lefton said. “We’ve got a lot of buildings that just haven’t been given the attention they should have over the years.” Though a modern, glass-enclosed building totaling 50,000 square feet is planned as the new entryway to the school’s science buildings, Dr. Lefton said architects have been told to take a more classical approach when planning other new buildings. Among the first projects likely to be constructed is a new building for the architecture program, which is one of Kent State’s centers of excellence, Dr. Lefton said. A building to
Contact: Phone: Fax: E-mail:
Throwing a Haymaker If students and employees want to leave campus to patronize shops and services in downtown Kent, they’ll soon be able to cross the busy Haymaker Parkway on an “esplanade,” or walkway, that will connect the campus and the Main Street business district, Dr. Lefton said. The multilane Haymaker Parkway now encourages people to drive the short distance between the campus and downtown, said Randy Ruttenberg, a principal at Cleveland’s Fairmount Properties, a developer that plans to spend $40 million to redevelop downtown Kent. “Given that Haymaker Parkway was built in a way that really creates a barrier between downtown and Kent State, this esplanade will go a
long way,” he said. Mr. Ruttenberg said three planned buildings totaling 162,400 square feet will add new space for retail, office and residential units to downtown Kent. He currently is in talks with tenants to fill each of the three-story buildings, but he said seven tenants either have signed letters of intent or are in advanced discussions to locate in the refurbished downtown Kent. Mr. Ruttenberg would not disclose possible tenants, but he said he is in talks with four restaurants, a microbrewery, two clothing shops, a 10,000-square-foot bookstore and a store relating to outdoor sports. His firm also is in the final negotiating stages with two office tenants. A project that is ready to move forward is a long talked-about hotel and conference center in Kent. Its developer is Pizzuti, a Columbus-based development firm whose owner, Ron Pizzuti, is a Kent State graduate. Expected to cost in the range of $12 million to $14 million, the 115-room hotel is planned for the intersection of Haymaker Parkway and Depeyster Street, said Shannon Hamons, director of special projects
at Pizzuti. The conference center will be built across Depeyster Street but will be connected to the hotel, most likely via a covered walkway, he added. The conference center will feature 8,000 to 12,000 square feet of meeting space in the form of medium-size rooms, which currently are not offered in Kent, Mr. Hamons said. The hotel will provide a place to stay for visitors such as parents of students and guest speakers, who currently must stay as far away as Hudson or Stow. Kent State has committed to providing up to $3 million for the construction of the hotel and conference center, but Dr. Lefton said those details have not yet been ironed out. Noted Mr. Hamons, “The university will be partnering with us in some fashion, whether that’s as an investor or as a partner.”
A different downtown For its part, the city has designed the $21 million Kent Central Gateway Transit Center to accommodate the additional traffic that is expected downtown when construction is completed, said Daniel Smith, economic development director for
REAL ESTATE
Genny Donley (216) 771-5172 (216) 694-4264
[email protected]
COMMERCIAL SPACE
the city of Kent. The three-story site will include a 300- to 400-space parking garage, a bus depot for people taking buses into Akron and Cleveland, retail and office space, and a connection to the bike path, he said. The city has applied for a $21 million federal grant to fund the center, and Mr. Smith said the city should know whether it will receive the money by Feb. 17. Ground would be broken in late summer or early fall, he said. If the federal money does not come through, the city would try to fund the project through other transportation grants, which would delay the ground breaking by six to eight months, he said. Kent’s downtown area has been on a slow decline for probably the last 30 years as shopping habits changed and mainstays such as banks and a drugstore closed, Mr. Smith said. However, university towns are hot right now, and they’re faring better than others, he said. “We weren’t able to attract a lot of renovation and new innovation for probably three decades,” he said. “But I really think we’re going to get it done in 2010.” ■
Copy Deadline: Wednesdays @ 2:00 p.m. All Ads Pre-Paid: Check or Credit Card
OFFICE SPACE
REAL ESTATE SERVICES
ATTENTION REALTORS:
FOR LEASE
Need to sell your home?
Now is a great time to promote your Luxury Properties to high-end prospects AND receive reduced rates on your advertising.
Cleveland/Shaker Hts. Historic AmTrust building, N. Moreland & Larchmere. 1,000 s.f. to 8,000 s.f. from trendy & modern to well appointed & distinguished. Free parking • Kitchen Facilities • Large Training Room/Classroom Space • Conference Room. For additional information contact
Fairmount Properties 216-514-8700
• Job Loss • Business Failure • • Medical Cost • Divorce • Call us to discuss your options. Short Sale & Foreclosure Certified
Transaction Realty 216-432-0444
Classified Ads WORK!
Call Genny Donley at (216) 771-5172 or e-mail
[email protected] for more details.
CLASSIFIED
BUSINESS SERVICES
DZ/d/E' /ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĂŶĚ/d^ĞƌǀŝĐĞŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶƚƐ KƵƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞ͗
ĂƚĂDĂƉƉŝŶŐͲ/ŶǀĞŶƚŽƌLJŶĂůLJƐŝƐͲKƉĞƌĂƚŝŽŶƐŶĂůLJƐŝƐ ,ŽůĚŝŶŐŽƐƚKƉƚŝŵŝnjĂƚŝŽŶΘ&ŽƌĞĐĂƐƚŝŶŐͲWƌŽĐĞƐƐŽŶƚƌŽůΘ ƵƚŽŵĂƚŝŽŶͲĂƚĂďĂƐĞƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚƵƌĞΘWƌŽŐƌĂŵŵŝŶŐ tĞďͲďĂƐĞĚZĞƉŽƌƚŝŶŐΘŶĂůLJƐŝƐdŽŽůƐĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚΘŵŽƌĞ
ĂůůϮϭϲͲϮϮϴͲϴϳϱϯǁǁǁ͘ŵĂƌŝŬĂŶ͘ŶĞƚ
BML Building Maintenance LLC Commercial & Industrial Property Management, Building Maintenance & Construction.
FLYNN
ENVIRONMENTAL
440-353-1661
For Assessments (800) 690-9409
www.bmlbuildingmaintenance.com
www.flynnenvironmental.com
E-MAIL US YOUR AD
[email protected]
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
ATTENTION BUSINESS SERVICE OWNERS!
Car Wash - Full Service Very Profitable E. Sub. $1MM Cash. Business only. -------------
Profitable UPS Store E. Sub. $80K + Inv.
Submit your business card to promote your service and receive a
SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNT off your ad price. To find out more, contact Genny Donley at 216.771.5172
subscription to WANTED: Your Crain’s Cleveland Business
M.B.A. Realty, Inc. www.bizbrokermba.com
440-885-0139
DON’T FORGET: Crain’s Cleveland Business on-line @ CrainsCleveland.com For all the latest business news...online
Crain’s Executive Recruiter MARKETING MANAGER We are seeking a person with an MBA degree along with 5-6 years of marketing experience, preferably in the financial sector. The successful candidate will work with Branch officers in the development of marketing plans to increase sales, assess market trends in the category, as well as identify competitive strategies for the various product lines. This individual will also assist in the communication activities of the organization. The position includes 10-15% travel. Please send resume to Mary Ann S. Johanek at the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, 24950 Chagrin Boulevard, Beachwood, Ohio 44122.
Attention Employers: Reach the most qualified workforce - advertise your open positions in Crain’s Cleveland Business. Special Rates Available for Executive Recruitment. All ads appear online at CrainsCleveland.com enhanced online listings available.
Call Genny Donley at 216-771-5172
To sign up call toll-free at 1-888-909-9111 or on-line @ CrainsCleveland.com. Click on “Subscribe Now.”
20100118-NEWS--31-NAT-CCI-CL_--
1/15/2010
3:39 PM
Page 1
JANUARY 18-24, 2010
CRAIN’S CLEVELAND BUSINESS
WWW.CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM
31
THEINSIDER
THEWEEK JANUARY 11 - 17 The big story: Cleveland public relations firm Edward Howard & Co. soon will be on its own no more. Directors of Columbus-based Fahlgren Inc., one of the nation’s largest marketing communications companies, and majority shareholders of Edward Howard announced that Fahlgren plans to acquire Edward Howard. The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of 2010, “although integration and coordinated new business and marketing efforts will begin immediately,” according to a news release issued jointly by the two companies. Fahlgren operates Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations, and it’s those two businesses that will be combined, though both brand names will remain.
Cap’n pay: The next president of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority will make less money than the last port boss. A Port Authority committee effectively has pegged the top salary for the new chief at slightly less than $220,000. The agency had been paying Adam Wasserman $283,000 until his departure last November. The Port Authority’s transition committee is recommending to the port board that it hire Boyden Global Executive Search of New York to find the best candidate for the job. Boyden’s fee will be a maximum of $65,000, based on 30% of the new president’s first-year salary. That fee was set because the Port Authority is expecting to pay the new president no more than $220,000.
Recycler recycled: The sale of compounder and recycler Michael Day Enterprises Inc. to Italian plastics maker Radici Group was approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Akron. Radici was the stalking horse bidder in the deal and will pay $5.7 million for the assets of Wadsworth-based Michael Day. Michael Day filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last Nov. 10, citing assets and liabilities each valued at between $10 million and $50 million. To their wealth: Dawson Wealth Management of Rocky River merged with Rehmann, an integrated accounting, business consulting and wealth management firm based in Michigan, to create a company with more than $1.3 billion in assets under management. The new entity will remain in Rocky River and operate under the Rehmann name. Dawson Wealth Management, formerly a unit of Dawson Cos., has served clients in Northeast Ohio and across the state for nearly two decades. The government, here to help: With the aid of a federal program created as part of the government’s stimulus plan, the MetroHealth System sold $75 million in bonds, the proceeds of which it will use for capital projects throughout the system. While MetroHealth will have access to the $75 million raised through the bond sale, it also will receive from the U.S. Treasury a portion of the interest that it pays on the bonds under the Build America Bond program. Under the program, state and local government bodies that issue bonds receive a direct federal subsidy payment for a portion of their borrowing costs equal to 35% of the total interest paid to investors.
This and that: CBiz Inc. acquired National Benefit Alliance, an employee benefits firm in Midvale, Utah. National Benefit has 16 associates and recorded about $2 million in revenue during the past 12 months. … Ferro Corp. said its Ferro Electronic Materials unit, a supplier of materials for producing photovoltaic solar cells, was awarded $1 million by the Ohio Department of Development to develop advanced durability sealing systems for solar cells. To keep up with local business news as it happens, visit www.CrainsCleveland.com
REPORTERS’ NOTEBOOK BEHIND THE NEWS WITH CRAIN’S WRITERS
Fleischman’s firm gets the point ■ Richard Fleischman + Partners Architects Inc. recently clicked on the lights at its new offices in the Osborn Building, the structure shaped like a slice of pie at the intersection of Huron Road, Prospect Avenue and East Ninth Street near Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. Known for namesake architect Richard Fleischman’s modernist designs, the firm just moved into a triangular office at the point of the building. It occupies space that has remained dark since the 1898-vintage Osborn Building became apartments in the mid-2000s. Mr. Fleischman pooh-poohs the design contrast between the spaces his firm creates and the one it now calls home. He said the European modernist architects he studied before launching his firm in 1961 often located in old buildings in Italy and Germany. “We’re all about openness and light,” Mr. Fleischman said, and the first-floor former retail space offers both in abundance. Still visible from his worktable is the firm’s former home, a building at 1025 Huron Road that it converted to a studio in 1988 and sold in 2007. Mr. Fleischman said he could not come to terms with his buyerturned-landlord, so he found less expensive space at the Osborn Building. He would not disclose the rent. Despite a recession that has been deadly for architects, the firm remains busy; current jobs range from a $27 million updating of a University of Cincinnati dormitory complex to a redo of the landmark Epworth-Euclid
WHAT’S NEW
STAN BULLARD
Architect Richard Fleischman in his company’s Osborn building space in downtown Cleveland United Methodist Church at University Circle. The firm occupies the same amount of space as before, about 5,400 square feet, but has added two registered architects this past year, giving the firm eight in a staff of 26. Mr. Fleischman said business cycles are part of the design life. “Architects have been at work for thousands of years,” he said. “We’ll be here.” — Stan Bullard
Mr. Whipple (not that one) would love to hear from you ■ Cleveland State University students who are preparing for a research trip to London next spring are looking for five local businesses to partner with beforehand. A group of 15 students from CSU’s Nance College of Business Administration in May will go to London as part of an international marketing and business research class. However, they’re hunting for local businesses to begin working with to design research
Where there’s a Will, there’s an argument
This is not your grandfather’s turntable. The AT-LP120-USB includes a direct-drive turntable, PC- and Mac-compatible software, a USB cable and other accessories. AudioTechnica says it’s “rugged and durable to meet the demands of professional use, and provides consumers with the flexibility to enjoy topquality vinyl playback and easily transfer records to digital media files and CDs.” “With the continuing popularity of enjoying records and dubbing them to digital media, we recognized the time was right to introduce a true high-performance USB turntable system that combines exceptional record playback performance and sound quality with total ease of use,” says Crystal Griffith, AudioTechnica’s consumer marketing manager. The turntable features a high-torque, direct-drive motor for quick startups with both forward and reverse “back-cueing” play capability, the company says. It’s available online or through AudioTechnica authorized retailers at a suggested retail price of $429. For more, visit www.audio-technica.com. Send new product information to managing editor Scott Suttell at
[email protected].
Circling the carcass for opportunity ■ Office buildings and parking lots aren’t the only properties that people watching the bankruptcy of AmTrust Financial Corp. are keeping an eye on. The former holding company of AmTrust Bank also owns a piece of vacant land in Arizona, about 50 or 60 miles from Phoenix. Robert Goldberg, a director of the company, said in a meeting with creditors that the company had owned the land for two or three years with the intent of using it for solar energy. The company also owns a Euclid Avenue parking garage and office buildings on Chagrin Boulevard and in Rocky River. — Arielle Kass
BEST OF THE BLOGS Excerpts from blog entries on CrainsCleveland.com.
COMPANY: Audio-Technica U.S. Inc., Stow PRODUCT: AT-LP120-USB DirectDrive Turntable System
projects based on issues facing Northeast Ohio companies. While in London, the students will visit business libraries, contact businesses and conduct interviews to gather marketing information that will benefit those Northeast Ohio companies. Last year’s class analyzed the competition and market for steel tube and bar products for Timken Steel, assessed the potential for a new product from Snap-On Business Solutions, and surveyed the off-site fabrication business for PCX Corp., which makes prefabricated electrical centers. Companies interested should contact Thomas Whipple, chairman and professor of marketing at the Nance College, at 216687-4770. — Shannon Mortland
■ Forest City Enterprises CEO Charles Ratner upbraided columnist George F. Will for a recent Washington Post column that attacked the company’s controversial Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, N.Y. In a Jan. 12 letter to The Post, Mr. Ratner complained that Mr. Will “never contacted the developer — my Ratner company — or supporters of the project, who include the governor, the mayor and the Brooklyn borough president,” and that the columnist misrepresented the use of eminent domain in the project. (Mr. Will said eminent domain “has become elastic in the service of avarice.”) “At the start of this project, my company announced that it would try to avoid the use of eminent domain,” Mr. Ratner wrote. “To that end, we bought properties in the footprint, many of which were abandoned warehouses and empty lots. A group of holdouts announced early on that they were opposed to the development and pledged to sue often. They kept their word — but lost every battle.” Now Mr. Ratner has something in common with environmental advocates who say Mr. Will consistently misrepresents things in columns on climate change.
Greener pastures in reach for Cleveland initiative ■ The Economist lauded the efforts of the Evergreen Cooperatives of Cleveland to
“create 10 green, for-profit businesses that local residents will own and operate.” The magazine spoke with Mienyon Smith, a 31-year-old mother of five who works at Evergreen Cooperative Laundry and for the first time in her life is making more than minimum wage. After eight years with the company, Ms. Smith could own a stake worth $65,000.
A little bit of this, A little bit of that ■ Here’s a staggering statistic, according to an analysis by The Associated Press: Of 128 manufacturing plants in North America closed since 1980 by the Detroit Three automakers and their largest suppliers, three of every five now sit idle. Those 128 plants had a payroll of 196,000 workers at the time they closed, the AP reported. “Today, only 36,500 people work at those sites that have been redeveloped, and at only three of the revived plants does the number of employees match or exceed the number in their carmaking past,” according to the AP. ■ The world is getting a little bigger for Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Co. The Washington Post reported that a bar called The Big Hunt has become the first establishment to offer Great Lakes’ award-winning beers on draft in D.C. Credit here goes to Big Hunt general manager Dave Coleman, a Cleveland native. Now you know where to go for a taste of home the next time you’re in the nation’s capital. ■ A Wall Street Journal piece on the history of the “Gatorade shower” called the Cleveland Browns’ Jan. 3 celebration for head coach Eric Mangini “one of the most questionable decisions in dousing history.” Hey, if fans and players can’t get excited about four consecutive Browns wins, when are we ever going to do so?
20100118-NEWS--32-NAT-CCI-CL_--
1/14/2010
3:00 PM
Page 1
Pay early or defer payment – either way, it’s money in the bank. “The Plum Card seemed like a natural way to save some money. I saved thousands of dollars over the course of a year, and it was a no-brainer.” - Thomas Tranguch, T&F Tire Supply Inc., Member Since 2008
The Plum Card ® from American Express OPEN offers flexible payment terms. If your established business pays your bill early, you get a 1.5% discount that can add up to thousands of dollars that go right back to the bottom line. Or your business can defer payment if cash flow is ever less than steady. This kind of flexibility gives you the option to choose, each month, which way to pay. And puts more cash back in your hands.
Is the Plum Card right for you? Visit plumforbusiness.com to see how other businesses use the Plum Card to their advantage. Or call 1-866-973-PLUM. Then decide for yourself.
Pay your balance in full within 10 days of the statement closing date and get a 1.5% discount on virtually all purchases made that month. The discount will appear as a credit on the following billing statement. Pay 10% of the balance from new activity on your billing statement plus the entire amount of any previously deferred payment or amounts past due by the “Please Pay By Date” on that statement and you can extend payment on the rest until the closing date of your next billing cycle without penalty. Visit plumcard.com for details. ©2010 American Express Bank, FSB. All rights reserved. P04
