StartupSTARK Expands With Acquisition of Local Job Websites, Hires Two Full-time Employees

CANTON, OH / AGILITYPR.NEWS / December 05, 2019 / With help from Patriot Software, growing nonprofit plans to maximize StarkJobs.com and CareerMarketplace.com as community assets while increasing its own sustainability

As part of its strategy for growth and sustainability, startupSTARK recently completed the purchase of local job websites, CareerMarketplace.com and its properties, StarkJobs.com and AkronWorks.com. Thanks, in part, to a substantial donation from Patriot Software, a Canton-based developer of accounting and payroll systems, these sites will now help startupSTARK further its mission to develop partnerships that attract, retain, and grow businesses through innovation.

The momentum of startupSTARK has been further underscored with the addition of two full-time hires, Stacey Richardson, Operations Manager, and Jamie Whitacre, VP of Sales and Donor Relations.

Patriot Software CEO Mike Kappel and President Michael Wheeler, both champions of startupSTARK, helped pave the way for the nonprofit’s acquisition of CareerMarketplace.com. “Under the startupSTARK umbrella, these technical resources—StarkJobs.com in particular—are better positioned to help reverse brain drain in Canton and surrounding Northeast Ohio communities,” says Kappel.

• Through CareerMarketplace.com, StarkJobs.com and AkronWorks.com were launched as local job boards in 1995 by Top Echelon, a recruiting services company also started by Kappel. StartupSTARK will continue to sell job postings to local employers and hold job fairs, but the sites will be expanded to encompass:All open jobs in the area.
• Partnerships with local colleges to help their students and graduates learn more about local opportunities.
• Informative content for job seekers regarding continuing education if they don’t currently have the skills they need for the job they want.

“Mike and Michael went above and beyond to make sure this asset was properly placed under our banner, and we are grateful for their efforts and generosity in support of startupSTARK’s sustainability and mission,” says Christopher Cutter, Chief Operations Officer, Phoenix Enterprise Solutions and startupSTARK board member. “People and businesses that benefit from job postings and fairs will also support our broader goal.”

Creating ‘Innovation Ecosystem’ Was Impetus For startupSTARK

The idea for startupSTARK was rooted in the 2012 SXSW StartupBus Competition when Cutter and Zach Linquist, Managing Partner, Co-Founder, Block Bridge Capital and startupSTARK board member, were introduced to the “innovation ecosystem” concept—a modern approach to urban work areas where innovation is incubated. These areas are walkable; have strong network connectivity, collaborative spaces, and infrastructure; offer flexible leasing options; and are close to support businesses, research centers, and universities.

“We toured several cities that seemed to come alive with a vibrant focus on technology and innovative companies,” says Linquist. “After returning, it was evident Northeast Ohio needed this same spark.”

That idea led Linquist to work with then Ohio Representative Kirk Schuring to pass House Bill 233, which authorizes downtown redevelopment and innovation districts in the state, and eventually resulted in Canton getting Ohio’s first innovation district. The funding, along with hard work from civic and business leaders, is spurring redevelopment of a 12-block area in downtown Canton.

“As Zach often says ‘proximity breeds serendipity,’ and it has become a startupSTARK mantra,” says Cutter. “In bringing people and resources together, an innovation ecosystem encourages collaboration in new ways that benefit everyone in our community.“

Striving to Create Greater Levels of Collaboration

StartupSTARK officially became a 501c3 in August of this year. The organization added board members Jon Bishop, Chief Financial Officer, Nymbl Systems, and Ray Bertka, Chief Executive Officer, Phoenix Enterprise Solutions, and brought in several local business leaders as strategic advisors.

With a goal of achieving greater levels of collaboration between businesses and other entities, startupSTARK continues to rapidly grow its mission with partnerships, including the Stark Economic Development Board, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Canton. In addition, Consumers National Bank has partnered with startupSTARK as a Marquis level donor, supporting the organization's mission for multiple years. StartupSTARK is still seeking four more Marquis partners that share in its vision, in which to drive its mission forward.

“Economic development is not a zero-sum game,” says Linquist. “We all win when we work together, share ideas, and become more regional in our thinking. It’s exciting to see current and emerging leaders working together to build the foundation of a modern economy in Stark County.”