Independence Magazine 2023

The Center of it All

We’ve always known Independence to be a true gem. Nestled next to the Cuyahoga National Park, which includes the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath, recreational opportunities abound right at our doorstep. From hiking, biking, and boating, to professional sports, cultural museums, a world-class orchestra, theaters, and easy access to two zoos, we are blessed with an array of activities that contribute to our collective high quality of life.

Companies of all sizes and industries have headquarters and offices in Independence because of its collaborative, business-friendly governance. The city’s proximity to highways, the airport and downtown help organizations attract and retain talented workforces.

The city is known for its low taxes, curbside charm, safe neighborhoods, top-notch schools, outstanding services and amenities, and thriving business districts, which are key to the city’s vibrancy and future growth.

Inside this beautiful publication, you can learn why Independence is brimming with pride. Also, I hope you will support the many outstanding business sponsors who made this magazine available at no cost.

Sincerely,

Gregory P. Kurtz, MAYOR

Forward Momentum

The finance and human resources functions are central to any high-performing organization. Those two components must be firing on all cylinders for an organization to be at the top of its game.

Independence is blessed with a central and easily accessible location, and community leaders continue to take proactive steps to nurture that locational advantage. This has resulted in Independence becoming a vibrant, flourishing business center.

The Independence Finance Department team plays a key role in working collaboratively with Mayor Kurtz, the Economic Development team, members of Council and the business community to ensure the continued viability of Independence as a premier community in which to live, work, visit and raise a family.

From implementing digital accounts payable automation to developing new, creative ways to structure economic development attraction, growth and retention grants, the Independence Finance Department is at the forefront of successfully keeping Independence moving forward to the future.

Sincerely,

Vern Blaze, FINANCE DIRECTOR

Family-owned and operated since 1984

Changes Unveiled

Check out some of the recent and upcoming projects around town.

By Chrissy Kadleck

BIKE RACKS

This fall, the city will be installing bike racks throughout downtown that will be sporting its newly designed logo featuring the City of Independence bell.

“The idea is to really give people the opportunity to bike in our downtown and have someplace to leave those bikes when they come to explore the unique small businesses and destinations located there,” says Jessica Hyser, economic development director.

SAFETY FENCING

Dairy King visitors and passersby will notice a new ornamental fence along Brecksville Road. The 4-foottall, 42-foot-long temporary fence,

which will be up during Dairy King’s open season, has been installed to protect patrons — especially children — from the busy roadway. “This new seasonal fence will make that area safer for everyone,” Hyser says.

WAYFINDING

As Independence’s largest business district, Rockside Road can be intimidating for non-residents coming into the community. The city hopes to combat that confusion with new wayfinding signage and by segmenting the corridor into four color-coded, directional areas.

“We are directly addressing the concerns of the business community, and the idea is to give people some

confidence when they’re driving down Rockside Road to know which side of the road they should be on and where to turn,” Hyser says.

MORMON TEMPLE

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has purchased about 11 acres of land on Brecksville Road and will build a 9,000-square-foot temple, the first of its kind in Northeast Ohio.

A temple is a unique destination, which supports church membership for larger surrounding regions, beyond a single neighborhood or city boundary.

Construction is expected to start in 2024.

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Rebecca was skeptical about college. She knew she was smart, but didn’t know if the college experience would be right for her. Then she came to Tri-C, where she quickly discovered a valuable support network of faculty, staff and fellow students who not only helped her succeed academically — they helped her find a purpose and a future.

Pedal Power

Cyclists geared up for a new race as part of the Home Days celebration.

By Chrissy Kadleck

There was a new, heart-pumping, fast-paced spin on this year’s Home Days celebration — the first-ever Gear Up Velo Independence Criterium.

The inaugural bike race was a partnership between the city and local bike shop Gear Up Velo, owned by Brian and Kate Rybak.

“Every year, the City of Independence tries to raise the bar and improve the Home Days experience for everyone who attends,” says Independence Mayor Gregory Kurtz. “The Independence Criterium is a unique race that [was held] in the heart of the city on a closed track where bike racers flew by fast while being cheered on by family and friends. It is something different and exciting to add to our Home Days celebration.”

The closed course race was held Aug. 5 across the street from Independence City Hall on the three-quarter-mile loop in the Independence Technology Center’s parking lot adjacent to the Hemlock Trail, says Kate Rybak.

“We started talking with the city a little over a year ago about the possibility of having a bike race here since there aren’t a lot of bike races at the end of summer,” she says. “But it was important to us that this race was for kids in addition to cycling professionals.” Kids were encouraged to do one loop along the course, while adults completed multiple laps.

The event was sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national organization for bike racing based out of Colorado, Brian Rybak says. He and his wife have owned Gear Up Velo since 2020, where they sell everything from kids bikes and equipment to pro-level racing bikes for both road and mountain biking.

The couple is hoping to collaborate with other local racing clubs to expand the Criterium into a multi-race series.

“This is something where cyclists and the city can both benefit from in so many ways,” Kate says. “We have traveled to several communities that have amazing bike races, and the community creates a block party-type atmosphere around it for businesses, residents and visitors.”

Knabe Law Firm, a strong supporter of the local cycling community, was the race’s title sponsor.

Student Helpers

Local high schoolers are on a mission to spread positivity.

Knowing how important it is to spread kindness, some young people are striving to make a positive impact in the community. One such group is Actively Caring for People (AC4P), made up of students from Independence High School. For the past three years, AC4P has organized fundraisers and campaigns to spread positivity within the school.

Out of Darkness

AC4P is currently led by High School Counselor Kyle Kovach. In May, the students hosted an Out of Darkness Walk to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention. “Independence has personally felt the effects suicide can have on a community and school district, so the students thought the Out of Darkness walk was a great opportunity to bring awareness, raise funds and try to build a climate of understanding and compassion.”

This was the second year the club hosted the walk. Not only did they have more participants, they doubled the amount of money raised for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

By Lisa Galek

Recent Independence graduate Reece Wright was inspired to get involved with AC4P because of the Out of Darkness Walk. “I felt very strongly that encouraging mental wellness and increasing awareness by having public events was a key step toward combating mental health issues,” Wright says.

Throughout the school year, AC4P sponsored various activities to promote compassion and positivity. On Halloween, they passed out candy with uplifting messages. During the winter holidays, students shared hot cocoa with classmates. On Valentine’s Day, they posted heart-shaped messages on lockers. The AC4P students believe these gestures can significantly impact someone’s day or even change their perspective on life.

Last year, AC4P experienced a steady increase in the number of students attending their meetings. At the beginning of the year, a small group of five or six students participated. That eventually blossomed to more than 30 students across all grade levels.

As AC4P enters its fourth year, the group is excited to keep growing. AC4P volunteered to help with the

Freshman Festival for incoming ninth graders. “The students want to create something to show the new freshmen they’re accepted,” says Kovach. “They want to be the people who will show them around the school.”

For Kovach, it’s essential to be flexible and allow students to take on leadership roles, because they are the ones who know what issues need to be addressed. “I’m so proud we have these students who want to make a change,” he says. “The hardest thing for students to do is to stand up and say, ‘We want to change things or bring people together.’ The easiest thing to do is nothing.”

MEET THE DIFFERENCE MAKERS

Recent graduates Drew Straub and Reece Wright discuss the impact of AC4P.

Q: Why did you decide to get involved with Actively Caring for People?

DREW: I saw the devastation that a toxic school climate can cause. I wanted to contribute to changing that so no future student has to deal with a peer losing their life to suicide.

Q: What was most meaningful about being a part of AC4P?

DREW: Seeing the passion from people of all different backgrounds and ages to exact change in our community. It’s a really hopeful experience to work with a diverse group with a common goal.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory related to working with AC4P?

REECE: It rained both years at the Out of Darkness Walks, and we danced in the rain both times. Nothing is a better representation of what AC4P is than the idea that life isn’t always easy, but dancing through it with people who love you makes it all worthwhile.

Road to Readiness

A new program at the high school helps students get an in-depth look at potential careers.

We all want students to receive a well-rounded education. That’s why it’s essential to look beyond test scores and focus on providing kids with the skills and experiences they need to succeed as adults. Ben Hegedish, superintendent of Independence Local Schools, wholeheartedly believes in this philosophy. “We really feel strongly that our kids need to be prepared for their futures,” he says. With this goal in mind, Independence Local Schools developed the Road to Readiness program aimed at graduating future-ready students.

To create the Road to Readiness program, the district partnered with Jessica Hyser, the economic development director for the City of Independence, and Norm Potter from Structured Creativity Consulting. With more than 800 businesses in Independence and about 80 students in each graduating class, the program could easily be tailored to meet the specific needs of each student.

The team engaged with middle and high school teachers and administrators during the school year to develop the program. In March, a group of teachers spent a day visiting five local businesses — Precision Environmental, MAI Capital Management, Melt Bar & Grilled, CSA Group and ROE Dental Laboratory. Teaching staff also received a presentation on the types of skills and qualities employers find most valuable from Team NEO.

The goal was to expose teachers to various career paths and opportunities so they could take this

By Lisa Galek

knowledge and integrate it into their classroom lessons.

“The first prong is helping our teaching staff learn about these opportunities and embed these types of real-world projects, problems and experiences into their classrooms,” Hegedish explains. “The second step is partnering with businesses and industries to come into our schools to guest teach and conduct career day activities.”

The third prong, he adds, are the customized experiences where students are going to businesses for immersive opportunities and making connections with potential career mentors.

During the spring, Micki Dotson, a business teacher at the high school, led a group of about 20 students on a visit to MAI Capital Management. The teens talked with financial professionals, and each student prepared questions for the staff, which were answered during a Q&A session.

“Even though students taking my classes may not all go into business, they appreciated it,” says Dotson.

“Our business community has loved this program,” Hyser adds. “And I’m excited our kids are getting a great experience.”

“We really feel strongly that our kids need to be prepared for their futures.”

—Superintendent Ben Hegedish

SERVICE, SUSTAINAB ILI T Y AND INNOVATION

East Pleasant Valley Road makes a great home for businesses with a global impact.

By Lesley Gibson

On a strip of East Pleasant Valley Road just east of Brecksville Road and uphill from the valley, a diverse mix of businesses have found a welcoming home for their companies. Including a toy manufacturer, a dental laboratory, an Ohio-based beverage distributor and a prolific food manufacturer, these local businesses are thriving in Independence.

WILD REPUBLIC

One of the newest additions to Pleasant Valley Road is a 44-yearold toy manufacturing company with a mission. Wild Republic, which was founded in 1979 by G.B. Pillai — a GE engineer with a love of both children and animals — manufactures stuffed animals and toys that aim to connect children with nature, educate them about their world and drive a more sustainable future. After 30 years in Twinsburg, the company relocated to Independence this past March.

“We’re all about connecting humans and animals,” says Vishnu Chandran, Wild Republic’s president and G.B.’s grandson. The product line was designed with a focus on educating children about the wonders of nature and was carefully created to reflect the company’s commitment to sustainability. “We have a high-quality line of stuffed animals and plastic toys that incorporate elements of sustainability, and we continue to grow more and more sustainable each year,” he says.

Wild Republic, which has more than 2,500 employees worldwide, is the global leader in providing stuffed

animals for the attraction sector — museums, zoos, aquariums and national parks.

The new headquarters in Independence is a home base for 111 employees (including 90-year-old G.B., who still reports to work every day), and allows space to execute design, distribution, administration and innovation. The building houses a technical team that oversees a custom software product, KM-Ware, which helps zoos and other attractions with admissions, donations and e-commerce. This fall, the company opened a brand-new manufacturing facility that will allow it to feature one of the only “made in USA” tags in the entire stuffed animal sector. With the new manufacturing facility and a steady long-term growth plan, “We hope to triple our on-site staff here in Independence,” says Melissa Klubnik, senior global vice president.

The business is focused on its mission of connecting people and animals through sustainable products. That includes a new line of quick-biodegrading stuffed animals that break down in the earth in two years. Wild Republic also actively partners with the National Audubon Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology to preserve natural habitats for birds and is working on building new, future partnerships that focus on rainforest preservation.

“The goal is to make sure that whatever we eventually do, we leave this planet a better place for future generations, and in the process, educate children about the wonders of nature,” Chandran says.

HEIDELBERG DISTRIBUTING

The Independence location of Heidelberg Distributing — an Ohio-based beverage distributor that has been in operation since 1938 and has nine locations across Ohio and Kentucky — has been an East Pleasant Valley Road mainstay since 2002. It’s the company’s distribution center for 10 counties across Northeast Ohio, and it serves as a 140,000-square-foot base for a bustling 24/7 operation where roughly 215 employees work around the clock to distribute wine, beer, low-proof spirits and a slew of nonalcoholic products across the region.

“Anything 42 proof and below we’re legally allowed to warehouse and distribute,” says Ron Utterback, vice president and Northern Ohio general manager. “We distribute wine, beer, low proof spirits and numerous nonalcoholic products, including water and energy drinks. And we’re a brokerage for highproof spirits.”

Heidelberg distributes to any business that has a license to sell alcohol. “Everything from gas stations to Costco, to national on-premise chains

Above: G.B. Pillai

Right: Vishnu Chandran

Heidelberg Distributing

like Applebee’s or Macaroni Grill,” Utterback says. “If you have a place of business and a permit to sell alcohol, chances are you are buying something from Heidelberg Distributing.”

The company, which just celebrated its 21st year at the Independence site and makes an ongoing effort to give back to the community through (nonalcoholic) donations and collaborations, couldn’t be happier to be in Independence. “The land is absolutely beautiful here,” says Utterback. “The Cuyahoga Valley right next to us is the most peaceful, scenic view imaginable. Being in Independence has worked out really great for us.”

SIGNATURE SAUCES

If you’ve ever eaten at a restaurant or purchased a sauce branded from a chain restaurant, chances are you’re familiar with the work of Signature Sauces. The culinary manufacturer, which has been based on East Pleasant Valley Road since 2010, partners with restaurants of all sizes — independent boutique restaurants to well-known national chains — to create (or recreate) their sauces, soups and dressings and ship them either in bulk directly to the restaurant, or package and distribute them to retailers.

“We have about 700 active recipes, and we make any cuisine, from Indian to Italian, barbecue to salsas,” says founder Perry Stancato.

The site in Independence is home to a culinary innovation center, where five chefs research, develop and test new recipes. An additional 55 employees work to manufacture, package and warehouse the products, and collaborate with off-site distribution centers to ensure everything gets where it needs to go.

“Typically, when a restaurant comes to us, our chefs will reverse engineer their recipes to match

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Signature Sauces

STAY ENGAGED BETWEEN ISSUES.

theirs, but with more standardized raw ingredients,” says Stancato. “A lot of our restaurants have multiple locations throughout the country, and they count on us to make sure their products are produced correctly for consistency and safety and arrive on time.”

A commitment to customization and a consistent, high-quality product is a driving factor behind Signature Sauce’s success. “We treat boutique restaurants the same way we treat national chains,” says Stancato. “At the end of the day, our clients are focusing on guest experience and opening their restaurants, and they leave the quality to us.”

ROE DENTAL LABORATORY

ROE Dental Laboratory has been helping dentists and oral surgeons bring better dental products to patients since 1926. “We provide a full complement of dental lab products to dentists, everything from veneers to dentures to crowns to orthodontic appliances,” says B.J. Kowalski, president and CEO.

ROE has operated out of its East Pleasant Valley Road space since 2017, with a staff of 280 full-time employees. The team works hand in hand with dental and oral surgery offices to design, create and help implement customized dental products.

The company’s embracing of technology is key to its success. “Our staff uses advanced technology to design customized products on a computer screen, then do the final artistry part with their hands to make it look lifelike,” Kowalski says. At the Independence headquarters, the staff uses 3D printing, milling and metal printing to craft products. ROE Dental holds several patents on specialized dental products and is wholeheartedly committed to staying on top of the latest innovations in the field.

“The dental industry as a whole changes much faster than other medical professions because it is driven by a lot of individual proprietors or small business organizations,” says Kowalski. “The decisions happen a lot quicker in this industry than others. If there’s a new machine that comes out that can make something better or to a higher quality, we’re investigating it quickly and probably getting it.”

ROE recently expanded to a second space on Pleasant Valley Road and continues to target aggressive growth in the future. “We’re invested in creating opportunities for our employees to grow personally and professionally, and to serve more doctors and patients,” Kowalski says.

Below: ROE Dental, Right: In the lab

Behind the scenes at Signature Sauces

Growing Still

Independence continues to attract new businesses, thanks in part to a wide array of everevolving commercial and office spaces. By Chrissy Kadleck

9000 Rio Nero Drive

Art supply company Faber-Castell USA has made Independence its new corporate home, becoming the anchor tenant at 9000 Rio Nero Drive, and assuming 143,000 square feet of the 260,000-square-foot, high cube, Class A space.

Built by DiGeronimo Companies, the state-of-the-art industrial space will fill a gap in the marketplace, says Joseph Barna, SIOR, principal at Cushman & Wakefield, CRESCO Real

Independence Technology Center

9000 Rio Nero Drive

Estate. Barna was the broker consultant representing Faber-Castell and its search for a relocation and expansion for its new U.S. headquarters and distribution center.

“The industrial market has been extremely strong, and in Northeast Ohio, we’re at about a 2.4% vacancy rate, which is a record low,” says Barna, who now represents the owner on leasing the balance of the space. “For any developer to put up this type of high-end building from start to finish in less than a year and deliver it fully improved is something almost unheard of in our market.”

The high-end Independence location offers easy access to Interstates 77 and 480, which is attractive for prospective companies.

“It’s a quality space in a great location, and what made everything come together was the DiGeronimo development group has multiple disciplines in-house,” Barna says. “So they’re a one-stop shop that can expedite the process.”

He adds, “Then you combine that with the City of Independence, we streamlined the process into a timeline that has had excellent results. And we have an anchor tenant that knows what they want. All the stars aligned, and we ended up with a great project.”

Independence Technology Center

More than two decades into ownership of the Independence Technology Center, Dick Pace is once again reimagining the space, but this time, it’s for a post-COVID era.

In 2002, Pace bought the building, once used as Republic Steel’s research facility with a pilot steel mill and laboratories, from International Steel Group. Pace later built two additions, doubling the size of the building to accommodate his main tenant, the Cleveland Clinic.

“The difficult question that all commercial real estate developers are struggling with is, what does post-COVID office space look like?”

says Pace, adding that his reimagining includes 200,000 square feet that will be vacated by the Cleveland Clinic’s 1,200 finance department employees who now work remotely.

“My wife Cheri and I were discussing it, and she said the reason someone wants to come to work instead of being at home by themselves is for the sense of community. So that is exactly what we’re trying to do. We’re reimagining the space to be really focused around communities.”

Working with Panzica Construction as well as an architect firm, Pace is envisioning amenities such as a fitness center, outdoor courtyard, café and community spaces for everything including book clubs to Bible studies, and even a treehouse for meetings or gatherings.

“It’s been a fun, creative process,” Pace says. “We have a wonderful relationship with the Clinic, and we’re working hand in glove with them.”