20130408-NEWS--1-NAT-CCI-CL_--
4/5/2013
4:38 PM
Page 1
$2.00/APRIL 8 - 14, 2013
Powerful allies are in cards Wichita’s formidable billionaire Koch brothers have equity muscle to spare in aiding American Greetings’ go-private deal By MICHELLE PARK mpark@crain.com
Nestled in paragraph four of last week’s announcement about the
Weiss family finally striking a deal to take private American Greetings Corp. was another revelation: The impossibly wealthy, very Libertarian Koch family is investing alongside
them to get the deal done. And, according to those familiar with the Wichita, Kan.-based Koch Industries Inc. conglomerate, that investment means the “very cau-
INSIDE: A sampling of Charles G. Koch’s beliefs. Page 21 tious” Koch brothers see value in the greeting card maker — and could be buying an inside look at the company before they pull the trigger on an even bigger deal. See POWERFUL Page 21
INSIDE Born and bread Paul Storsin, the quality assurance manager for Orlando Baking, oversees an operation that produces about 226,000 pounds of bread and rolls per day. He says he’s always on call, and is “everywhere.” CREAM OF THE CROP, PAGE 3
Mentor’s guardian against Web theft CardinalCommerce is keeping crooks at bay with online software By CHUCK SODER csoder@crain.com
hen Pete Miller started producing his own line of hardwood floors in 1982, he wanted to serve local builders and flooring contractors near his home in the largely Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio.
CardinalCommerce is putting on some muscle as it prepares for a fight with a growing number of online crooks. With a fresh infusion of cash, the company, which makes software used to secure online purchases, plans to hire 30 to 40 people and expand its headquarters in Mentor. The 13-year-old company — which employs about 100 today, up from 55 in March 2008 — has been growing for years, but it needs to bulk up faster to make the most of two big opportunities, said Michael Keresman, Cardi- Keresman nalCommerce CEO and founder. Those are: ■ The spread of smart phones and tablet computers is driving up the number of products purchased over the Internet.
See TRADITION Page 20
See CARDINAL Page 5
JANET CENTURY
Amish employees account for about 70% of the staff at Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling in Middlefield.
TRADITION, WITH A TWIST 14
Hardwood flooring company in Middlefield has deep Amish roots, but is aided by modern technology
By RACHEL ABBEY McCAFFERTY rmccafferty@crain.com
W
0
NEWSPAPER
74470 83781
7
SPECIAL SECTION
SMALL BUSINESS When it comes to selling their work, artists often need help from professionals ■ Pages 13-17 PLUS: FUNNY TIMES’ GROWTH ■ ADVISER ■ TAX TIPS ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2013 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 34, No. 14