“When I think growth, I no longer think numbers. I think strategy,” says Moe Alakoli, CEO of PALLETCO. “It’s much easier to think in numbers, but it’s not sustainable.”| Edward Lowe Foundation
Launched in 1947 as a modest residential painting company, Martin Specialty Coatings has evolved into a diversified firm that provides complex coating solutions and construction services to commercial, healthcare and government clients. Innovation is a core value for Martin, one that has enabled the Shreveport, Louisiana-based company to triple its size in the past few years, exceeding $20 million in annual revenue and 100 full-time employees.| Edward Lowe Foundation
Driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to healthy meals, Innovation Food Service (IFS) provides nutritious, high-quality meals to schools, childcare centers, senior living facilities and businesses. Founded in 2002 by Thomas Lane, a trained chef, the Twinsburg, Ohio-based company has been growing steadily since its inception. Last year alone it served 7,000 daily lunches to schools in northeast Ohio.| Edward Lowe Foundation
Pharmacist O.K. Grettenberger launched LorAnn Oils (named after his wife, Laura, and daughter, Ann) in 1962, aiming to provide pharmacy customers with quality essential oils in smaller quantities than they could buy at the time. Fast forward to 2025: the Lansing, Michigan-based company has grown to more than $23 million in annual revenue and 70 employees.| Edward Lowe Foundation
Packing a punch on both environmental and economic fronts, Encore CO2 is commercializing technology that recycles carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into valuable new products.| Edward Lowe Foundation