It’s official: Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 has been celebrating outstanding business in the region for three decades.
This step was taken during the 30th edition FastTrack 50 dinner and prize giving took place on November 3 at Wingate by Wyndham LaMalfa at Mentor.
Fast Track 50 is an annual competition that rewards the fastest growing businesses in Lake and Geauga counties based on a weighted average of 80% sales growth and 20% job growth over the previous five-year period.
Applications for the event are accepted and the winners are calculated by a nonprofit board who organizes and realizes the Fast Track 50.
To be considered for a 2022 Fast Track 50 award, established companies had to report revenues of at least $4 million in 2017, the baseline year for all ratings. Emerging companies were required to have 2017 sales of between $250,000 and $4 million.
Traditionally, the Fast Track 50 consists of 25 emerging companies and 25 established companies.
However, the 2022 Fast Track 50 list included 49 winners in total. There were 25 established winners and 24 emerging winners who met the criteria to win the Fast Track 50 awards in 2022.
Top honors at this year’s Fast Track 50 event went to a company from Geauga County and another from Lake County.
Ten10 design de Chardon ranked No. 1 Fast Track Established Business.
Based at 119 Main Street, Ten10 Design specializes in providing graphic and print design services and creating a range of promotional products.
Meanwhile, BoltsandNuts.com of Perry Township earned the #1 Accelerated Emerging Business for 2022 designation.
Located at 3705 Lane Road Extension, BoltsandNuts.com is a distributor of a full line of fasteners including bolts, nuts, screws and washers.
For people who follow the Fast Track 50 lists each year, it’s fun to see which companies make their first appearances on the established or emerging lists.
In 2022, there were 11 first-time winners:
• Supply to all contractors — Based in Mentor, the company supplies products for the commercial construction, roofing and transportation sectors.
• AMP Financial Group — A Willoughby-based financial planning and services provider.
• AM Seamless Gutters — Installs seamless gutters, gutter guards and downspouts for residential and commercial customers. Based in Middlefield.
• Arborwear — Retailer specializing in hardwearing outdoor and workwear. Located in Chagrin Falls.
• Emerald Glen Title Agency — A full-service title and escrow agency based in Willoughby Hills.
• Geauga Coatings — Provides services that include concrete leveling, stabilization, polishing and decorative resurfacing. Located in Chardon.
• Geauga Financial Advisors — Based in Burton, this company provides financial advisory and retirement planning services.
• Wickliffe’s Rad Air Complete Car Care — Provides comprehensive vehicle repair and maintenance services.
• Ralston Instruments — Based in the Township of Newbury, Ralston manufactures pressure and temperature test and calibration equipment for the process industry.
• Turf Pride Lawncare — Provides fertilization, weed control, pest control, lawn aeration services, and tree and shrub care. Based in Mentor.
• Wickliffe Lanes — Bowling alley offering open and league bowling.
But Fast Track 50 also offers special rewards to companies that consistently appear on established and emerging winners lists over long periods of time. This recognition is provided by the Fast Track 50 Hall of Fame.
Companies are awarded membership at different levels of the Hall of Fame by winning a Fast Track 50 award for their fifth, 10th, 15th or 20th year.
These companies join other Hall of Fame members in receiving permanent recognition on the fasttrack50.org website.
In 2022, the five-year Hall of Fame inductees were Willoughby’s Mentor Global Real Estate Advisors and Process Technology. T&D Fabricating, which is located in Willoughby, has also been inducted into the Hall of Fame for 15 years.
The News-Herald hails the Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 for becoming an event that business owners, employees and economic development officials look forward to attending each year. It is truly a celebration that we hope will continue for many years to come.