Caruso’s Coffee
Dominic Caruso, who co-owns Caruso’s Coffee with his brother Michael, has clearly mastered the secret of making unforgettably perfect cups of coffee and tea.
Since 1982, family members have shared their talents as premier coffee roasters, sourcing Fair Trade beans from the world’s major growing regions and meticulously crafting them into tastes to please even the most discriminating palates. Each batch of beans is custom roasted to order, packaged the same day and mailed within 24 hours.
Customers can order the firm’s house blends online and have them shipped directly to their homes. The company also conducts wholesale business with restaurants and coffee shops, as well as with distributors that deliver the products to convenience and grocery stores under private labels. Caruso’s creates an impressive line of specialty teas, too.
“I enjoy being the primary person who does all of our taste-testing and buying of the actual beans,” Caruso says. “I love coming up with recipes for specific customers and experimenting with different flavor profiles and nuances.”
A lifelong resident who’s serving his first term on city council, Caruso is proud of the fact that his family’s roots in Brecksville date back to the 1950s.
“My parents started the company with a little one-pound roaster in a small retail shop on Brecksville Road that evolved into the business we are today,” he says. “Brecksville is definitely home and, as a family, we’re extremely invested in the city’s success. The Chamber of Commerce does a great job of supporting and promoting local businesses, which keeps our downtown vibrant and safe.” carusoscoffee.com
Sullivan Orthodontics
No matter what your age or stage of life, the team at Sullivan Orthodontics is dedicated to turning smiles into beacons of radiance.
“Orthodontics is a little different from general dentistry,” explains Annelise Sullivan, DDS, MS, owner of the practice that bears her name. “There are no needles or injections here. We focus on moving teeth with a variety of appliances.”
As a result, her patients range in age from the 7 year old who needs an expander to ensure permanent teeth will align correctly to the adult contemplating whether or not to be fitted with the braces they didn’t get the opportunity to wear as a child.
“When I was younger, you waited until you had all your permanent teeth before you saw the orthodontist,” says Sullivan, who opened her practice in 2012. “But now, there are a lot of really helpful things we can do for young children that will help guide their teeth to come in in a better position.
“I love our adult patients, and we have a good time,” she adds. “But it’s watching the kids who, when they first come to us may be shy and not have the most beautifully aligned teeth, become more confident when their treatment is finished. It’s fun to be a part of that transformation.”
Sullivan, who lives in Brecksville with her husband, Ryan, and their two children, values the convenience and amenities the city provides.
“Brecksville-Broadview Heights has a great school district,” she says, “and once our kids get a little older, there are wonderful opportunities for them to take part in sports and other activities. Since my practice will be here for quite a long time, I want to be within close proximity of the schools. I also enjoy the sense of community that comes when I meet patients at places around town. It’s a beautiful city that residents take a lot of pride in.”
That sense of camaraderie extends to the environment the Chamber of Commerce nurtures.
“Members make a point of keeping everyone involved in the community,” Sullivan says. “And they never lose sight of keeping the focus on Brecksville and what’s good for the city.” sullivanortho.com
Ahola Payroll & HR Solutions
For 56 years, Ahola Payroll & HR Solutions has been dedicated to helping businesses stay in business.
“We like to say we help employers manage everything from hire to retire — from finding, attracting and onboarding employees, to helping manage them and appropriately track their time, compensation and benefits,” says Sonya Ahola, whose grandparents Chester and Rheta Ahola founded the company in 1967. Today, the firm’s services reach 2,300 clients in all 50 states, with the majority based locally in Ohio, managing more than $1.5 billion of payroll, and processing nearly 2 million payroll checks annually. In 2012, Ahola was awarded an Ohio Historical Marker that recognizes its place as the world’s longest continuously operating family-focused payroll provider.
Additionally, Ahola’s HR Consulting Division assists businesses by providing updated policies, helping develop employee handbooks and answering questions that crop up in the course of a business day.
As Sonya Ahola, along with her father Jeff Ahola, uncles Mark and Scott Ahola and aunt Marja Ahola, continue their family’s tradition, they appreciate the benefits of belonging to the Brecksville Chamber of Commerce.
“Our headquarters are here, so we want the city to have a spotlight shine on it and thrive,” Sonya Ahola says. “We’re proud to be chamber members because we enjoy helping businesses in our community that we frequent as residents — including the small, family-owned restaurants we eat out in and the medical offices we go to — succeed. By working together, [as the saying goes] ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’” ahola.com
CMIT Solutions
Now more than ever, businesses need the peace of mind that only comes with a sound cybersecurity protection system. CMIT (Completely Managed Information Technology) Solutions provides innovative technology solutions, cybersecurity and managed IT services including data backup, procurement, compliance, productivity applications and help desk for small- to medium-sized businesses.
“We keep our clients’ computer networks running efficiently, productively and, most importantly, securely,” says Brecksville resident Mary Ann Cordiano, who co-owns the business she and her husband Ed Cordiano launched in 2018.
She recalls a talk given by a Cleveland FBI agent at a Brecksville Chamber of Commerce meeting a few years back that emphasized the importance of cybersecurity. “He looked around the room and said, ‘There are two types of businesses. Those that have already been hacked, and those that will be hacked. So if you’re not doing something about protection, you better start, because the hackers are coming for all businesses, big or small.’”
Information sessions like these are part of the reason the couple is active in the Chamber of Commerce.
“[The organization] promotes businesses through events, sponsorship opportunities, e-newsletters and being the go-to for any resources needed,” says Ed Cordiano, adding that networking opportunities help the couple spread the word about the services they offer.
“We love helping businesses by taking the worry of IT off their plate so they can focus on growing their business.”
cmitsolutions.com/cleveland-oh-1188/about/
World Elite Kids
AJ Ganim, vice president of World Elite Kids, loves nothing more than seeing children and teens ages 2 through 18 enjoying themselves as they engage in the physical activities his company offers.
“We exist,” he says, “to elevate them and give them an edge in life.”
Ganim, a Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School grad and Brecksville city councilman, opened his business in 2012. It’s designed to build confidence, character, connection and skills through a variety of classes that include tumbling, gymnastics, cheerleading and martial arts.
“Every parent knows it takes a village to raise your kids, and we’re certainly a part of that village,” he reflects. “Our instructors, coaches in programming, are active influences on our students’ lives. But beyond that, we do our best to be an inclusive place for all kids to come and learn and have fun doing it.”
Deciding on the location, Ganim adds, was an easy choice.“My wife, who grew up in Charleston, West Virginia, and I lived in Tremont in our young adult lives,” he says. “As soon as we had kids, we moved to Brecksville. It’s a community built with strong families, and we serve families in our business. We saw that we could fill a need.”
Brecksville, he adds, also provides easy access to the highway and local neighborhoods.
Ganim didn’t think twice about joining the Chamber of Commerce. “I helped build and create a business that serves families in our community,” he says. “So why wouldn’t I want to participate in our small-business community? I’m a firm believer in sharing your gifts with others. The networking lunches and different activities the chamber hosts provide great opportunities to meet new faces and see old friends.” worldelitekids.com
