Weatherhead 100 awards recognize Northeast Ohio’s sales growth leaders for 2014

Mongoose Metrics LLC, a Northeast Ohio telecommunications marketing research company in Independence, has captured the top rank among 2014 Weatherhead 100, the prestigious annual list compiled by Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. The call-tracking company, established in 2007, posted sales growth of 6,459 percent in Weatherhead 100’s five-year measurement period (2009-20013). Call tracking is an emerging marketing research method that provides businesses with valuable information about each caller. The information helps to build customer relationships and enables businesses to determine which form of marketing was effective in generating sales leads. It was Mongoose Metrics’ first Weatherhead 100 appearance. Ironically, it will also be its last. In September, the company was acquired by Chicago-based competitor Ifbyphone. The Mongoose Metrics office in Independence remains in operation as part of Ifbyphone. Lauden Properties, headquartered in Twinsburg, ranked second on the Weatherhead 100, with sales growth of 5,541 percent. Lauden’s sales growth more than tripled from last year’s competition, when the company finished as the top-ranked firm. Echo Health Inc., of Westlake, placed third this year, with sales growth of 2,742 percent. The company also placed third last year. Weatherhead 100 was established to celebrate Northeast Ohio’s spirit of entrepreneurship and to recognize companies that exemplify success in the region. The winning companies are headquartered during the five-year sales period in Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Richland, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne counties. The awards and qualifying requirements are divided into three categories:

• Weatherhead 100: Companies with sales of at least $100,000 in 2009, and more than $1 million last year, with at least 16 full-time employees.
• Upstarts: Fast-growing companies with up to 15 employees and sales of less than $1 million last year.
• Centurions: Fast-growing companies with at least $100 million in sales last year.

In the Centurions category, Mazella Holding Cos, in Cleveland, took first, with five-year sales growth of 423 percent. In the Upstarts category, the first-place honor went to Chesterland’s Exscape Designs LLC, which posted five-year sales growth of 454 percent. The companies were honored at a ceremony Thursday night at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. The 2014 Weatherhead 100 list indicates notable growth in professional services, from security consulting to marketing. Companies in the manufacturing sector and computer companies (hardware, software and information technology) also were well represented. The complete 2014 lists of Weatherhead 100, Centurion and Upstarts winning companies are posted at weatherhead.case.edu/weatherhead100/winners.