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 18th Annual Family & Private Business Awards.

Cincinnati, Ohio - September 13, 2017 – The 18th Annual Goering Center Family and Private Business Awards gala was held Tuesday, September 12, at the JACK Casino in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio.  More than 650 people attended the event to honor Cincinnati’s top businesses.  From 500 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.  

An independent panel of four judges led a six-month-long selection process to identify the winning businesses. On the panel were Lisa Hinton, Mellott & Mellott, PLL; Dan Heyd, Graydon; Mike Miller, LCNB 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 – RiskSOURCE Clark-Theders; Finalists – Brookes and Hyde and The Rug Gallery

26-100 Employees: Winner – Kingsgate Transportation; Finalists – Braxton Brewing Company and Bullen Ultrasonics

101+ Employees: Winner – Gold Medal Products; Finalists –
Projects Unlimited and General Tool Company

Cincinnati’s Top Private Businesses - Winners & Finalists

1-25 Employees: Winner – John D. Dovich & Associates; Finalists – Kolar Design and TRAK Group

26-100 Employees: Winner – Tufco Flooring; Finalists – Affordable Language Services and Matrix Companies

101+ Employees: Winner – Eco Engineering; Finalists – CareStar, Inc. and Cold Jet

Mary Miller, CEO and Co-owner of JANCOA, was honored as the Keith Baldwin Volunteer for 2017, for her service to the Center, the University and the Greater Cincinnati business community. Additionally, JTM Food Group was inducted into the Greater Cincinnati Family Business Hall of Fame.

There are an estimated 4,500 family and private businesses in the Cincinnati region; the Goering Center hosts 340 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.