Sustainable & Affordable Wind Power Solutions for Your Home or Business - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: As Doug Bloom was online conducting research on renewable energy, he met an engineer from China who holds nine international patents on his vertical axis turbine. Doug began selling his turbines in the United States and before long suggested to his parents, Robert and Nancy Bloom, that they form a wind power energy company so he could focus on running the sales department. On April 15, 2008, Robert and Nancy founded Four Seasons Windpower, LLC and distribute for this manufacturer as well as others. We met with Nancy recently and listened as she provided this overview of Four Seasons Windpower's revolutionary products and vision for the future. - read more...

It's a Great Place to Be! - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: The Northridge Health Center was founded in North Ridgeville, Ohio on January 1, 1985 by a group of approximately thirty investors dedicated to serving the Northeast Ohio community. The vision of making a difference in the lives of others shared by these remarkable people has enabled The Northridge Health Center to become a 126 bed skilled nursing and 64 unit independent living facility that is second to none. Walking through the halls you feel an immediate sense of warmth and belonging radiating from the laughter and smiles of the residents and staff. This dynamic team has successfully created an environment of infectious happiness that glows on the faces of staff members, residents, and the residents' family members. - read more...

Loving Care For Your Pets While You Are Away - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: Jill and Jerry Harmon have been pet lovers their entire lives and share a common desire to help other people with their pets. Raising and showing Shetland Sheep Dogs for ten years, Jill has provided pet and obedience training, dabbled in agility training, and helped a friend groom dogs. Jill and Jerry founded Dogs On The Go in February 2003 to enable them to share their experience with others while providing a much needed service to the local community. We visited with Jill and Jerry recently, and listened as they provided this overview of Dogs On The Go's services; - read more...

Your #1 Landscaping Supply Center - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: Robert (Bob) Smart began working in the landscaping industry in 1976 during a major growth phase in the development of Bay Village and Westlake. Bob started his own snow removal company in 1978 and quickly expanded the scope of his company's offerings to include full-service landscaping in 1986. In December 2007, Bob sold his majority interest in his old company to form two new companies, Smart Scapes Landscaping, Inc. for his son, D.J., and Mr. Yard Landscaping Supply for himself. We visited with Bob recently, and listened as he provided this overview of Mr. Yard's products and services; - read more...

Wellness, Function, and Appearance - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: While in college, Dr. Walter R. Below roomed with a young man whose father was a practicing dentist in Lexington, Kentucky. Most Saturdays you could find Dr. Below and his roommate working at the dental office where Dr. Below soon realized that he could excel at the technical nature of dentistry while enjoying the opportunity to form trusting relationships with his patients. Since receiving his dental degree at the University of Louisville's School of Dentistry in 1981, Dr. Below has become a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, a General Member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and American Association of Hospital Dentists. - read more...

Top Quality Appliance Repairs Since 1986 - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: As a small child, Tony DiMassa could frequently be found taking things apart, seeing how they worked, and then putting them back together again. He attended the Cuyahoga County Vocational School during his junior and senior years in high school where he quickly learned the ins and outs of appliance repair. In 1986 Tony founded Total Appliance Service in a small space behind his father's barber shop and his father was often the source of his earliest customers. His father would come back to where Tony had a little desk and one telephone, and say, "I have a customer that needs his washing machine fixed." Tony then got the customer's address, went to his house, and fixed the washer. From these humble beginnings, Total Appliance Service has since grown into being one of the top appliance service companies in the entire northeast Ohio community. We met with Tony recently, and listened as he provided this overview of Total Appliance Service's services and offerings; - read more...

Quality Workmanship That Is Guaranteed! - Sal and Tom Manera, owners of Sal's Landscaping Co., grew up working along side their father where they learned the landscaping and concrete trades. Using the knowledge handed down from father to sons, Sal and Tom Manera have spent nearly three decades introducing Northeast Ohio residents to outdoor living at its finest. We met with Tom and Sal recently, and listened as they provided this overview of the services Sal's Landscaping Co. has to offer; - read more...

Maintaining Your Child's Healthy, Happy Smile - Serving North Ridgeville, Ohio: Arlene J. Coloma, D.D.S., M.S. was always interested not only in finding a career that would enable her to be involved in the health care industry, but one that would also enable her to work with children. Soon after her dentist encouraged her to consider the dental profession, Arlene quickly realized that pediatric dentistry would allow her to combine both of these interests. - read more...

Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Care - Dr. Paul M. Shearer, a native of Bucyrus, Ohio, harbored a fascination with medicine throughout his childhood years. He attended Valparaiso University in Northwest Indiana, then studied at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduation, Dr. Shearer completed a two year surgical residency at University Hospital Health Systems followed by a fellowship at the VA Hospital in Cleveland where he gained extensive knowledge of wound care and diabetic care of the foot. - read more...

An Eighty Year Tradition of Compassion and Caring - Charles A. Mandley founded his funeral home in 1928 at 15480 Triskett Road in Cleveland, OH. His family purchased a summer home in Fairview Park at a time when the city was a sleepy little town on Cleveland's west side, and in 1953 converted this home into a funeral home, also. Mr. Mandley was joined in business by his son-in-law, Clayton Vetrovsky, and later Clayton's son Robert. Robert's sons, Todd and Scott Vetrovsky, became licensed Funeral Directors in 1977 and quickly became the fourth generation associated with the family business. - read more...

Taking Healthcare to the Next Level - Michael Francus, owner of Larchwood Village, inherited his interest in providing long-term care and skill nursing services from his father, a physician practicing in the State of Maryland and the owner of several nursing homes. Michael, an attorney and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA), has followed in his father's footsteps by purchasing seven skilled nursing and rehab centers throughout Cuyahoga, Lake, Medina, and Summit Counties, the latest addition being Larchwood Village in Cleveland. - read more...

Quality Driven, Customer Focused - Jeff Mitchell's career in heating and air conditioning began shortly after his high school graduation. As he gained experience in the employ of others, he quickly realized that the keys to success in his chosen industry would be possessing an uncanny degree of technical expertise coupled with an unswerving dedication to providing a high level of customer satisfaction. In 1985 Jeff founded Westland Heating/Air Conditioning which he continues to run today with the assistance of his wife, Debi, and their son, Zach. We met with Jeff and Debi recently, and listened as they described the services Westland Heating/Air Conditioning provides; - read more...

More Than Just a Home - Shirley M. Horta, a woman with a heart of pure gold, shares her North Olmsted home with up to fourteen roommates at a time. Not just anyone needing a place to call home, mind you, but people needing an extra bit of care and understanding as they navigate the endless little details of daily life. In 1985 Shirley and her husband founded a similar home on W. 117th in Cleveland, and then another near Mochican Park in Ashland, Ohio. In 1995, she opened River Crossing at Bradley Woods, conveniently located at 29794 Lorain Road. We met with Shirley and RN Consultant Carol Hale recently, and listened as they provided this overview of the services available at River Crossing at Bradley Woods; - read more...

Complete Lawn Maintenance Services - Employed in a local machine shop, Dave Nowakowski frequently longed for the fresh-air working environment he had come to know while growing up on one of Ohio's many family farms. In 1987, Dave began a sideline business providing landscaping and lawn maintenance services to local residents and business owners. In 1990 Dave resigned from his position at the machine shop to focus his full-time attention to his new and growing company. We visited recently with Dave and his wife, Sharon, and listened as they provided this overview of Razor Sharp Lawn Maintenance's wide range of services; - read more...

The Perfect One-Stop-Shop for Mom-To-Be and Baby - Coming from a background in the hospitality industry, Lori Miles founded Details in Avon, Ohio in 2003. Specializing in "gifts from the heart", Details had a small section devoted specifically to babies that underwent tremendous growth, eventually growing to the point that it needed a home of its own. In 2005, Lori opened The Littlest Details at 36840 Detroit Road at The Shoppes of Olde Avon Village dedicated to items for mothers-to-be and babies. We visited with Lori recently, and listened as she provided this overview of The Littlest Details' offerings; - read more...

Lifestyle. Quality. Philosophy. - Devon Oaks assisted living is proud to be part of Eliza Jennings Senior Care Network, a non-profit organization caring for older adults in the Cleveland area for 120 years. Devon Oaks opened its doors in 2000 in the heart of Westlake on Crocker Road, across from (what is now known as) Crocker Park. We met recently with Executive Director Danielle Maur, Director of Marketing Carrie Cuadrado, and Administrator of Clinical Services Melissa Foldi, and listened as they provided this overview of Devon Oaks: - read more...

Voted One of Cleveland's Best Dentists - As a young man growing up in Canada, Allen Park, D.D.S. had been interested in becoming a dentist from a very young age. One day while doing his undergrad work in Ontario, he was approached on campus by a recruiter from Case Western University in need of directions. As Dr. Park led him to his destination, the recruiter asked if he might have in interest in dentistry, gave him a business card, and invited him to investigate Case Western's dental school. Dr. Park came to the United States to enroll in Case Western University's School of Dental Medicine, and after graduation founded Dover Center Family Dentistry in North Olmsted in 2004. We met with Dr. Park recently, and listened as he provided this overview of the services his practice offers; - read more...

Three Decades of Heating & Cooling Excellence - After graduating from trade school, Jim Armaro spent several years working for local heating and air conditioning companies. In 1978 he founded Armaro Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration in North Ridgeville, Ohio, and has spent the past three decades building a reputation for top quality workmanship and unparalleled customer service. We met with Jim recently, and listened as he provided this overview of the services Armaro Heating, Cooling, and Refrigeration provides; - read more...

Four Generations of Insurance Excellence - In 1934 Sydney H. Lance founded one of the first insurance agencies in Medina County. He ran the successful agency until his retirement in 1965 when the day-to-day operations of the company became the responsibility of his son-in-law. A satellite office in Brunswick, Ohio was opened in 1957, and in 1974 Mr. Lance's grandson, Robert A. (Rob) Rapp joined the agency. The family sold their Medina operation in late 1984, and on April 1, 1985 Rob purchased the Brunswick agency and changed the name to Homestead Insurance Agency Inc. Today Rob continues the family tradition of service to their policyholders with the assistance of his wife Valerie and son Brandon. We met with Rob recently, and listened as he described the products and services that have enabled Homestead Insurance Agency Inc. to remain a dominant force in the local insurance industry for the past five decades; - read more...

Fast, Accurate Claims Reimbursement - Working for over nineteen years in administration and customer service, Jeanne M. Hall began to search for a business opportunity that would utilize her computer and customer service skills. She discovered in the late 1990s that automated medical billing enabled medical service providers to submit their claims to insurance companies electronically, thereby eliminating their dependence on the mail and improving their cash flow by receiving their payments quickly. Many medical practitioners, although, were not taking advantage of this revolutionary technique due to the high cost of the software needed. Jeanne decided to make the investment in the necessary software, offer her services to the medical community, and in 1999 founded Blue Sky Automated Billing. We visited with Jeanne recently, and listened as she offered this overview of the services Blue Sky Automated Billing provides; - read more...

Committed to Quality and Customer Value - After Tom Brunner graduated from Ohio State in 1972, he went to work for a national lawn care company where he remained employed for several years. Late in the fall of 1976 he returned to Northeast Ohio and founded Personal Lawn Care, starting with himself, his brother, and a friend. Focusing on providing their customers with quality workmanship on each and every job, the company specialized in mowing and fertilization services. - read more...

Tradition and Quality for Over 65 Years - Shortly after graduating from high school, Michelle Carter completed the floral design course at Hixson's School of Floral Design in Lakewood, Ohio. After gaining experience at several Northeast Ohio flower shops, including Sissons, she purchased the shop in 1995. Sissons Flowers & Gifts was founded in 1939, and Michelle continues to help people express their feelings with flowers. We visited with Michelle recently, and listened as she provided this overview of the products and services Sissons Flowers & Gifts provides; - read more...

Expert Tree Care Since 1973 - Mike Wechter began working for a local tree service while still in high school. After gaining a few years' experience and attending courses at Ohio State along the way, Mike decided to open his own business. In 1973 he founded Mike's Tree Service Inc. which originally consisted only of himself and one truck. Throughout the years, the fledgling company continued to grow as a result of plenty of hard work and dedication to complete customer satisfaction. To accommodate this consistent growth, Mike built a new facility on Just Imagine Drive to house his business in the 1980s. We met with Mike recently, and listened as he described the services Mike's Tree Service Inc. provides; - read more...

Specializing in Plumbing & Heating Sales and Service Since 1971 - Working indoors as a machinist, George R. Leonard longed for a job that would present the opportunity to be outside more. He found a job as a plumber's helper, liked the work, and in 1971 founded Leonard's Plumbing & Heating, LLC. We visited with George recently, and listened as he provided this overview of the services Leonard's Plumbing & Heating provides; - read more...

Avon, Ohio's Version of Cheers - The owner always dreamed of being in business for himself. He was a hard worker and early in life realized the benefits of dedicating his energy to creating equity in his own company. He discovered a property built in 1952 that has long been the location of an Avon, Ohio tavern. The business is located on the first floor of the building, and the previous owners have always occupied the three bedroom apartment on the second floor. The old North Ridge Tavern became ZZ's Big Top in 1984 and began to transform a dream into a reality. We visited with owner Keith Zeman recently, and listened as he described ZZ's Big Top's offerings; - read more...

Catering to Your Individual Borrowing Needs - With a Masters Degree in Finance and twenty years banking experience, Michael B. Sartor determined to find the most effective way to help consumers searching for mortgages on residential and commercial real estate. Naturally, they could always approach their bank or another financial institution for their lending needs, although Michael knew that mortgage brokers could offer a wider variety of loan choices coupled with a level of personalized service that banks simply couldn't match. In 2004, he founded Gold Medal Mortgage, Inc. to aid borrowers in finding loan options tailored to their individual needs. We met with Michael recently, and listened as he provided this overview of the products and services available from Gold Medal Mortgage, Inc.; - read more...