AI and Tech Development Fuel Growth in Beachwood

Fueled by bold investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and a tech-forward spirit that courses through the city, Beachwood has become a springboard for the next wave of progress.

“We have industry leaders here within Beachwood that are spearheading some of today’s modern innovation and that will continue to drive more opportunities for similar companies,” says Catherine Bieterman, the city’s economic development director. 

Here’s a look at how the City of Beachwood is fostering technological developments.

A Global Summit and Local Grand Opening

Millennium Control Systems, a division of Grenzebach, boasts multiple locations within North America, Europe and Asia, but its Beachwood location topped the list as this year’s destination for its International Value Summit, held June 24 and 25. 

Established in 1997 in Cleveland, Millennium Control Systems provides engineered control systems and software solutions to industries such as manufacturing, power and energy, with consistent attention to glass, building materials, metals, tires and rubber.

This was the first time the summit had been held within the U.S., and about 35 personnel were in attendance. 

“We’re a global group, so we talk about the geopolitical situation and how that will affect our businesses,” says Joseph Chuhran, president and CEO of Millennium Control Systems. “We talk about synergies for business and market trends and how we can best position our companies to take advantage of those.”

What’s more, the event coincided with the grand opening of the company’s Beachwood location.

Taking advantage of the presence of international executives, the grand opening included speeches and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by tours and a family day for employees. 

While the company was previously scattered throughout three separate buildings in Northeast Ohio, it was beginning to outgrow those spaces due to the fast-growing power and energy segment, fueled by AI machine learning. It’s now located at 23550 Commerce Park Road in Beachwood.

“Team NEO and the City of Beachwood made it easy for us to make this big decision,” Chuhran says. “We made a commitment to develop our Northeast Ohio location, so we put all of our existing personnel in Northeast Ohio under one roof now, and we’re investing and growing in that facility.”

At the Forefront of AI

Larger companies like Millennium Control Systems aren’t the only ones on the cutting edge of AI. 

Smaller companies such as MIM Software, a GE HealthCare Company; Insight2Profit and AIDAN are also integrating AI and technology to drive revenue and optimize ROI, Bieterman says. 

“It’s these forward-thinking companies that are growing, innovating and guiding the future of our existing and emerging industries here within the region,” Bieterman says. 

She adds that Beachwood’s strong workforce is interwoven with nearby colleges, including Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) and its Corporate College, John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve University, to name a few. 

One such company that’s using AI is AIDAN Systems, which is short for Artificial Intelligence Discovery and Action Network.

AIDAN focuses on transforming operations in health care and manufacturing. In health care, the company uses predictive analytics to anticipate patient needs, optimize staffing and reduce inefficiencies. In manufacturing, the company’s AI control tower helps streamline operations, improve quality and understand what drives sales and growth. 

“We’re not just building tools. We’re building intelligence that acts,” says Quentin Fisher, CEO of AIDAN. “Since 2017, we’ve delivered AI-powered industry solutions that help organizations move from reactive to proactive operations. For smaller companies, that’s hard to do because there are a lot of pieces to make AI work.”

AIDAN’s AI Fit Assessment helps organizations identify high-value, easy-to-implement use cases to get started with AI and build momentum. 

The company works out of Beachwood’s Co-Hatch space, which Fisher says has served as a launchpad for the business.

“It’s a place where we can host clients, run workshops and build community — all essential for a company like ours that thrives on collaboration and rapid iteration,” Fisher says. “It places us in the heart of Northeast Ohio’s innovation corridor, close to clients, partners and talent. The collaborative environment fosters spontaneous idea exchange, and the flexibility of the space supports our hybrid work model.”

Putting the Tech to Work

To further embrace the technological advancements happening within Beachwood, the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce and Solon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), will host the Artificial Intelligence Summit on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to noon at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus Mandel Theatre (4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills).

Centered around the practical application of artificial intelligence and geared toward small- to medium-sized businesses, the summit is designed to help entrepreneurs, executives and professionals discover how AI can deliver real-world solutions for growth and efficiency.

“Everyone is excited about AI and technology, but we’re seeing that small- to medium-sized businesses are getting left in the dust because they don’t always have the staff or sophistication to utilize AI beyond something like ChatGPT,” says David Lapierre, executive director of the Beachwood Chamber of Commerce. “Often, these types of companies are one-man bands and don’t have the resources to dig into the details of AI”.

To address this gap, the summit will feature a robust program including a keynote presentation by Chris Berry, president & CEO of OhioX, a statewide nonprofit building Ohio into a top tech hub. Attendees will also hear from Rob Buchwald, founder & CEO of Akron Innovations, and engage in a panel discussion moderated by Jessica Colombi, director for the future of work at Tri-C. Panelists include Alfred Cowger (attorney and author), Jeff Dennis (CEO, TRNSFRM), Rocco Cuffari (tech consultant, AHEAD Consulting), and Travis Grundke (EVP, Ashton Solutions).

Topics will focus on how AI can be applied to sales, accounting, marketing, manufacturing cycles and more.

“It’s meant to be very informative, and it’s meant to create awareness for small- to medium-sized business owners about what’s out there and the practical applications of AI for their businesses,” Lapierre says. Networking will also play a central role in the event.

Admission is $25 for chamber members and $35 for non-members. Sponsors include Moreland Connect, TechnologyXperts, Inc., Verizon and Crown Castle. For registration and sponsorship details, visit beachwood.org or email director@beachwood.org.