Chamber honors local small businesses

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The focus was on entrepreneurship and small businesses Thursday as the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce honored several small companies and non-profit organizations during the Chamber’s annual Salute to Small Business luncheon at Willow Bend Country Club.

Winners were named in seven categories: Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Agriculture Enterprise, Charitable Non-Profit, Generations, Downtown Champion, Woman-Owned, and Export-Import Excellence.

Winners this year included:

Spirit of Entrepreneurship – Miller Precision Manufacturing Industry Inc., a business started in 1988 in Ottoville that has now 20 employees and provides machine services in the area.

Agriculture Enterprise – Pond Seed Company of Scott, which has been in business since 1927, when current owner Fred Pond’s grandfather, Omar, started the business, which creates its own varieties of soybean, wheat and clover seed under the AGI name.

Charitable Non-Profit – Van Wert County Council on Aging, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to senior citizens, including transportation, meals and recreation, under the leadership of Executive Director Kevin Matthews.

Generations – Brickner Funeral/Ambulance Service, a company first established in 1888 that has been under present ownership for 60 years. The company has 19 full-time and 11 part-time employees.

Downtown Champion – F&S Floor Covering, a third-generation business begun in 1950 by Gaylord Fast and Milton Schumm. Arnell Fast then took over the business in 1965 and moved the store to its current location at 202 E. Central Ave. The business is now operated by Fast’s children, Mark Fast and Denise Blackburn.

Woman-Owned – DeShia, a business founded 1988 and owned by Karen and Rob Miller that provides unique, quality gifts, collectibles and home decorations and, since 1998, also features a café/tea room, “The Gathering Room,” which serves lunch on Fridays, as well as on special occasions and for organizations and companies.

Export-Import Excellence – Cool Machines Inc., founded by Dave Krendl and Andy Schulte in 2006, makes machines that provide movie special-effect snow and install insulation, as well as fiber and special additive metering equipment for the asphalt road-building markets, and Earthblock machines and housing design for the green energy markets. The company has 17 employees and was first based in New Haven, Ind., before coming to Van Wert.

All seven winners received plaques from the Chamber honoring their success and achievements, as well as certificates from Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor’s office and that of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandell (click here for more photos).