SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
The Small Business of the Year Award is presented to the small business owner whose efforts and/or entrepreneurial pursuits exemplify the passion and commitment needed to overcome adversity as well as attain success.
Small Business of the Year Winner
Ian Y. Blount and Angela N. Cauley – Coalescence L.L.C. – Columbus, OH – www.coalescencellc.com
Agriculturalists Ian Y. Blount, 41, and Angela N. Cauley, 39, created Coalescence L.L.C. in 2005 with a few goals in mind. Sure, they wanted Coalescence, a custom food blending company that counts Tyson Foods, Kellogg’s, and vegetarian food manufacturer Morningstar Farms as clients, to be successful and provide great service.
But the husband-and-wife team’s primary goal was to build generational wealth for their family and provide a vehicle of employment for underrepresented people of color where they could showcase their talents. “We are proud that 93% of our staff is made up of minorities,†Cauley, co-founder and CEO, says of the company’s 41 employees.
They’ve been successful with their plans, as evidenced by the company’s rapid growth to a $24.5 million enterprise. “We have also grown from our initial 7,500-square-foot facility in 2005, to our current state-of-the-art 35,000-square-foot facility,†says Blount, co-founder, senior vice president, and chief operating officer.
Cauley and Blount envision their company becoming the premier solutions provider in the food and beverage industry. “The strategic goal for our organization is to become a one-stop shop for our customers,†he says.
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