🚗 S&G Stores Hits the Gas on Growth

If you’ve noticed more red, white, and blue canopies at your neighborhood corner, you’re not imagining it, Toledo’s own S&G Stores is on a serious growth tear. What started in 1999 as one Stop & Go on the west side has snowballed into a regional player with 85 locations across Ohio and Michigan by the end of this month. The goal? 150 stores in the next five years.

That kind of scale doesn’t just mean more spots to fill your tank: it means jobs, remodels, and a sharper retail presence across Northwest Ohio. In recent years, S&G has snapped up chains like Barney’s, Stop-N-Shop, and Schafer Oil, consolidating what was once a patchwork of small operators into a recognizable brand with local roots.

And they’re not just pumping gas. Stores are being rebuilt with uniform branding, food programs like the “On The Go Bistro,” and even experiments with frozen yogurt, drive-throughs, and tunnel car washes. Tech is in the mix too: a loyalty app, mobile payments that knock cents off per gallon, and fleet programs for businesses.

What this means for Northwest Ohio

For local consumers, S&G’s growth means a more polished and consistent experience whether you’re filling up in Perrysburg, Sylvania, or Sandusky. For small towns, it often means the difference between a shuttered station and a revitalized hub with fresh food, modern pumps, and a payroll attached. And for the broader region, it signals that a Toledo-based company is holding its ground and even expanding against national chains pushing into the Midwest.

The Takeaway

In short, S&G’s founder Dan Ridi isn’t just building gas stations. He is shaping the everyday economy of Northwest Ohio, fueling not only cars but also jobs, small-town retail, and more. We look forward to the continued success of S&G and appreciate the facelifts they are bringing to all the gas stations that have fallen short.

🏙️ Beacon Wants You to Cash In on Referrals

Cleveland startup Beacon thinks it’s time your network started paying rent. The company, founded by entrepreneur Rob Reznick, just launched a platform that formalizes something most of us already do, connect people with opportunities. Only this time, when your referral turns into a hire, you don’t just get a “thank you”… you get a check.

Typical payouts land between $2,500 and $5,000, with certain premium roles dangling as much as $25,000 for the right introduction. Recruiting firms like NinjaJobs and Direct Recruiters have already tested it and are calling it a potential game-changer in how talent is sourced.

Reznick’s bigger vision stretches beyond tech jobs. He sees Beacon playing a role in helping veterans transition to civilian careers, supporting education pipelines, and plugging holes in industries where traditional recruiting falls short.

What this means for Northwest Ohio?

For Northwest Ohio, the timing is interesting. Companies here are still battling to attract and retain top talent, especially in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and professional services. A tool that incentivizes referrals could help local firms tap into networks they’ve never reached before, without footing the full bill of a headhunter. Maybe this service can leak its way down the turnpike and help spark talented individuals land careers here.

The Takeaway

In a market where talent is the scarcest commodity, your network might just become your most valuable asset and with Beacon, maybe your most profitable one, too.

Filling the Gap: How The Program Inc. is Building the Next Generation of Leaders

Here’s a stat that will stop you in your tracks: 90% of runaway youth, 85% of kids with behavioral disorders, and 71% of high school dropouts come from father-absent homes.

That’s not just a number problem..it’s a community problem. And in Northwest Ohio, one nonprofit is working tirelessly to change that story.

The Program Inc., a 501(c)(3), Founded by Tramain Rayford, exists to make sure boys ages 8–18 don’t just survive father absence, they thrive in spite of it. Their approach is equal parts practical skills, mentorship, and life lessons. Think: tying a necktie, changing a tire, maintaining a car, building confidence, developing character, and navigating relationships. It’s the kind of toolkit every young man needs, but not every young man gets.

Through their Community Development Initiative and the A-List Mentoring Program, The Program Inc. pairs young men with mentors who show up for the long haul. Not just for a week. Not just for a season. For as long as it takes. Because growing into a capable, confident leader doesn’t happen overnight.

And here’s where you come in.

The Program Inc. is hosting its Taste & Toast Fundraiser—an opportunity for the community (yes, you) to invest in the future of these young men. Sponsorships and general admission tickets are available now.

👉 Get involved here. 

If you’re a business owner, leader, or just someone who believes Northwest Ohio’s future is worth investing in, this is your moment. Because helping fill the gap of fatherlessness isn’t just a cause, it’s a community responsibility.

🤜🏼 Money Confessional | Brewing Courage, Pouring Dreams

From a downtown Toledo kitchen experiment to a brick-and-mortar coffee shop, she turned late-night roasting sessions into a community hub for entrepreneurs, students, and creatives. With help from JumpStart and the Women’s Business Center, she took a leap of faith—trading a steady paycheck for a shot at something bigger.

“I used to think coffee was just about caffeine. But when I saw how people connected over a cup, I realized it could be more: a place, a culture, a business.”

With guidance, she moved from brewing in her apartment to leasing a storefront. “I didn’t have a roadmap for opening a café. The mentors showed me what numbers mattered.

☕ Business Roots: “I started by selling bags of coffee to friends on Instagram. Now I’ve got a shop with steady foot traffic and wholesale accounts with local restaurants.”

💵 Revenue Growth: “We’re covering payroll, rent, and supplies and finally paying myself a salary. That feels surreal.”

📚 Mentorship Magic: “I have a great mentor that has connected me with people who’d already built cafés. They saved me from rookie mistakes, like signing a bad lease.”

🍩 Favorite Splurge: A box of donuts from Wixey Bakery. “Every Friday, it’s my treat. Staff knows if the donuts are gone, it’s a problem.”

💡 Biggest Financial Worry: Burnout. “Margins in coffee are tight. I worry about keeping the energy and creativity alive when the grind gets heavy.”

📊 Current Standing: Breaking even most months, edging toward consistent profitability. “The shop isn’t just surviving; it’s becoming a part of the neighborhood.”

🌱 Inspiration: Her grandmother. “She taught me that hospitality isn’t about perfection, it’s about making people feel like they belong.”

🗣 Toledo Tip:

“Don’t wait until it’s perfect. Open the doors, start serving, and refine as you go. Toledo will show up for you if you show up for Toledo.”