Return of Fast Track 50 is good thing for area businesses | Editorial
The 2025 Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 awards ceremony made a triumphant return on November 6, 2023, at LaMalfa banquet hall in Mentor, celebrating the fastest-growing businesses in Lake and Geauga counties after a year-long hiatus. This annual event, which recognizes the achievements of local companies, was canceled in 2024 due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the event’s board of trustees expressed a strong commitment to reviving the tradition, culminating in a successful celebration this year. Trustee Board Co-Chairperson Kelly Conrad emphasized the importance of recognizing the hard work and resilience of these businesses, stating, “It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the outstanding companies of Lake and Geauga counties for their hard work, resilience and continued dedication to our community.”
The evening kicked off with a cocktail hour, followed by a dinner and awards ceremony where businesses were honored based on a rigorous evaluation process that has been in place for 32 years. Winners are determined by a weighted average of 80% sales growth and 20% employment growth over the past five years. This year’s ceremony recognized 20 Established companies and 21 Emerging companies, with I-C Automation taking the top spot in the Established category, marking its first Fast Track 50 award. I-C Automation, which specializes in advanced industrial automation services, was followed closely by ACS All Contractors Supply, which earned the No. 1 award in the Emerging category for its contributions to the construction industry. Notably, this year saw seven first-time winners, including Blue Anchor Cabinets and Designs and Griffin Technology Group, showcasing the diverse range of successful ventures in the region.
The Fast Track 50 not only highlights new entrants but also honors businesses that have consistently excelled over the years. Companies like ThenDesign Architecture and NMS Certified Public Accountants, which have been frequent honorees since the event’s inception in 1993, continue to demonstrate exceptional growth and service in their respective fields. The diverse array of winners—from manufacturers to technology specialists—reflects the vibrant business landscape of Lake and Geauga counties, underscoring the importance of customer service, employee retention, and innovative practices in achieving sustained growth. The News-Herald congratulates all the winners and commends the Trustee Board for successfully reviving this important recognition program, wishing for its uninterrupted continuation in the future.
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An event that provides well-deserved recognition of successful businesses in the region has returned after being paused for a year.
The 2025 Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50
took place on Nov. 6 at LaMalfa banquet hall in Mentor. Fast Track 50 is an annual dinner and awards ceremony that salutes the fastest-growing companies in Lake and Geauga counties.
These celebrations had been held every year until 2024, when the Fast Track 50
was canceled because of unforeseen circumstances,
according to an announcement by the event’s board of trustees.
However, in that same statement, trustees expressed their commitment to restart in 2025.
We’re happy to report that the panel pursued that desire and fulfilled its goal.
“We are excited to bring new energy to this year’s Fast Track 50 dinner and awards ceremony, with a shared goal of making it even better in the years to come,” said Trustee Board Co-Chairperson Kelly Conrad, in an announcement earlier this year. “It is a privilege to recognize and celebrate the outstanding companies of Lake and Geauga counties for their hard work, resilience and continued dedication to our community.”
On Nov. 6, the trustee panel carried out the event that they worked very hard to restore. In keeping with tradition, the event began with a cocktail hour, followed by a dinner and awards ceremony.
Companies were declared as winners through the tried-and-true evaluation process that Fast Track 50 has used since it started 32 years ago.
Winners are selected based on a weighted average of 80 percent sales growth and 20 percent employment growth over the previous five-year period.
After the nonprofit Fast Track 50 Board of Trustees reviews all applications, top finishers are then split into Established and Emerging categories, based on sales and employment figures during the evaluated time frame.
Fast Track 50 trustees strive to place 25 businesses each on the annual Established and Emerging lists. However, the number of winners in each category has varied over the years, depending on the quantity and quality of overall applications.
The 2025 Fast Track 50 is comprised of 20 Established and 21 Emerging businesses.
Topping this year’s roster of Established Winners was I-C Automation. The company made this accomplishment extra special by achieving a No. 1 ranking with the first Fast Track 50 award it has ever received.
I-C, which has locations in Wickliffe and Mentor, is a single source of advanced industrial automation services, with extensive experience in design, engineering, manufacturing, robotics, safety, machine vision and process improvements.
While I-C Automation reigned supreme in the Established Companies category, ACS All Contractors Supply earned the 2025 Fast Track 50 No. 1 award for Emerging Companies.
Based in Mentor, ACS All Contractors Supply provides products for the construction industry, commercial builders and transportation organizations.
Another impressive fact about this year’s Fast Track 50 is that the Establishment and Emerging rosters contained a total of seven first-time winners.
Besides I-C Automation, other companies that earned their inaugural Fast Track 50 awards included:
• Blue Anchor Cabinets and Designs: The Mentor-based company provides durable, affordable cabinets, countertops and custom closets for homeowners and commercial builders.
• Griffin Technology Group: The company, which is located in Mentor, provides technology services that help clients meet goals and grow their businesses.
• Alexy Metals: The Willoughby-based company stated on its website that it is an industry leader in chemical refining of gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
“Using proprietary processes, we can extract valuable precious metals from braze alloys and nonconforming brazed components. This includes embedded, internal brazed assemblies,” the company stated.
This year’s Fast Track 50 also featured businesses that have won the event’s namesake award many times since the event was launched in 1993. Some of these frequent winners that once again were honored in 2025 include:
• ThenDesign Architecture: Based in Willoughby, the firm specializes in architecture, planning and interior design.
• NMS Certified Public Accountants: NMS, which has offices in Mentor and Chardon, is a full-service CPA firm providing financial and tax-related services to individuals and business owners.
• Fredon Corp.: Located in Mentor, Fredon provides precision machining, grinding and electrical discharge machining services for industries including aerospace, defense, locomotive, nuclear energy and off-highway transportation.
• Carver Financial Services: The Mentor-based firm works with clients to create wealth management solutions based upon their individual needs, goals and risk tolerance.
When you look at the 2025 Fast Track 50, you’re reminded that successful businesses in Lake and Geauga counties include everything from manufacturers to construction companies to information technology specialists. These businesses strive to provide top-notch customer service, know the importance of hiring and retaining talented and dedicated employees, and have achieved growth, innovation and profitability.
In conclusion, The News-Herald congratulates all 2025 Fast Track 50 winners, and commends the event’s Trustee Board for bringing back the program, after some unplanned difficulties in 2024. Going forward, we hope that the Lake-Geauga Fast Track 50 continues without interruption for many years to come.
