Goering Center Honors Region’s Top Businesses at its 19th Annual Awards

Six "best in class" regional businesses in both family and private business divisions were named, along with 12 finalists from 75 original semi-finalists.

Cincinnati, Ohio - September 12, 2018 – The Goering Center named the top family and private businesses in the region last evening at its nineteenth annual awards at JACK Casino in downtown Cincinnati. Nearly 700 people from the Center’s network of business owners, volunteers, community leaders and corporate partners attended the celebration.

More than 500 businesses were nominated for the awards. An independent panel of judges had the challenging task of identifying 75 semi-finalists. Of those, six were named winners and 12 were designated as finalists in family and private business divisions based on their number of employees.

Here are the winners and finalists:

Winner: Centennial Talent Strategy & Executive Search
Finalists: Fedders Construction, Inc. and Holland Advertising

Winner: Carabello Coffee Company
Finalists: Casco Manufacturing Solutions and Appro-Rx

Winner: Hydrotech, Inc.
Finalists: Esther Price Candies and Assisting Hands Home Care of Cincinnati and NKY

Winner: The Movement Sports & Enrichment Foundation
Finalists: Atlas 10 and Roebling Point Books & Coffee

Winner: PQ Systems
Finalists: Relevate Health Group, Inc. and Steinhauser, Inc.

Winner: The Motz Corporation
Finalists: Rosedale Green and MadTree Brewing Company

To be considered, companies were asked to provide thoughtful reflection and comment on a big business breakthrough that set their business on a new trajectory; an approach to leadership and employee development that shows their commitment to personal growth; how they shaped a culture for performance, inclusion and engagement; community development; and job growth and investment. A panel of four judges then selected businesses in each of the categories that were best able to articulate their impact and express how they fit into the fabric of a successful business community.

This year’s judges were Mike Miller, LCNB National Bank; Dan Heyd, Graydon; Lisa Hinton, Mellott & Mellott, PLL; and Tom Flottman, Flottman Company Inc.

Awards were also given to businesses and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the Goering Center and Greater Cincinnati.

Glier’s Meats was inducted into the Goering Center’s Greater Cincinnati Family Business Hall of Fame in recognition of the contributions they have made to their industry, our community and as a model of everything the Goering Center values and teaches.

The Keith Baldwin Volunteer Award for 2018 was given to Mike Sipple, Sr. and Mike Sipple, Jr., Centennial Talent Strategy & Executive Search. This father and son duo personify the Center’s tenth best practice of successful family and private businesses – “embrace and encourage company and individual community service” which they have done through contribution of countless volunteer hours on behalf of Goering Center members.

Finally, Kelly Backscheider, BGR, was named the 2018 recipient of the Larry Grypp Rising Leader Award. Kelly was recognized for exemplifying the best practice of Dynamic Business Strategy at BGR. Kelly led efforts to improve the company’s organization and structure, contributing to BGR achieving more than $104 million in sales.

An estimated 4,500 family and private businesses operate in the Cincinnati region. Membership in the Goering Center is not a prerequisite for the awards or for nominations.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Lisa Jonas, Goering Center, 513-556-7403 or at lisa.jonas@uc.edu.