Goering Center Announces Cincinnati's Top Six Private and Family Businesses

The Goering Center named the top six Cincinnati regional businesses in both private and family divisions and congratulated 12 finalists from the 75 original semi-finalists in this year’s 17th Annual Family & Private Business Awards.

Cincinnati, Ohio - September 14, 2016 – The 17th Annual Goering Center Family and Private Business Awards gala was held Tuesday, September 13, at the Cincinnati Jack Casino in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.  More than 725 people attended the event to honor Cincinnati’s top businesses.  From 570 nominated companies, the panel of judges narrowed the list to 75 semi-finalists and from those, selected one winner and two finalists in six categories identifying Cincinnati’s finest private and family businesses. 

“As more and more Millennial and Generation Y workers join our teams and advance into management roles, the expectations and motivations for these newer employees are causing businesses to evolve their hiring and employment practices as they try to seamlessly blend the generations into cohesive teams,” said Larry Grypp, President, Goering Center. “Our winners all demonstrated that they have mastered this demographic shift, and have successfully unified their multigenerational workforces. We are honored to honor them.”

An independent panel of four judges led an arduous, six-month-long selection process to identify the winning businesses. On the panel were Lisa Hinton, Mellott & Mellott, PLL; Dan Heyd, Graydon, Head & Ritchey; Mike Miller, Fifth Third Bank; and Tom Flottman, Flottman Company, Inc.

One winner and two finalists were announced in three categories for both the family and private business divisions.  Categories were determined by the number of employees.

Cincinnati’s Top Family Businesses - Winners & Finalists

1-25 Employees: Winner - Solica Construction; Finalists – Stigler Supply and Wetzel Flooring

26-100 Employees: Winner – AfidenceIT; Finalists – Kingsgate Transportation and Neyer Properties

101+ Employees: Winner – COBCO Enterprises; Finalists - Donnellon McCarthy / ABS Technologies and Phototype

Cincinnati’s Top Private Businesses - Winners & Finalists

1-25 Employees: Winner – Vehr Communications; Finalists – IntrustIT and Kolar Design

26-100 Employees: Winner – Melink Corporation; Finalists – Axis Interior Systems and The Motz Corporation

101+ Employees: Winner – Clark Schaefer Hackett; Finalists – BRG Realty Group and MCM CPAs & Advisors

Pam Beigh, founder and president of SalesCORE, was honored as the Keith Baldwin Volunteer for 2016, for her service to the Center, the University and the Greater Cincinnati business community. Additionally, The Drees Company was inducted into the Family and Private Business Hall of Fame.

There are an estimated 4,500 family and private businesses in the Cincinnati region; the Goering Center hosts 330 of these businesses as active members with a goal of 400 members by the end of 2018.  Membership at the Center is not a prerequisite for the awards or for nomination.  Of this year’s semi-finalists, nearly half are not current Goering Center members.