Seven businesses led by the accountancy alumni below were named RedHawk50 honorees for 2023 in an awards gala held March 15 at the Cincinnati Music Hall. RedHawk50 is an annual program to “identify, recognize, and celebrate the 50 fastest growing private companies around the world founded or led by former students of Miami University.” The goals of the program include recognizing the impact of Miamians on the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, serving as a vehicle for business leaders to pass their knowledge on to the next generation, and reinforcing Miami’s reputation as a “Cradle of Founders”—a platform to launch business leaders. Love and Honor to our Accountancy alumni in the RedHawk 50!
Bridge Industries, led by CEO & Founder Jeffrey Berlin ’84, is a private holding company founded in 2003 with a mission to buy and build manufacturing, engineering, and field services businesses while preserving a family business and entrepreneurial culture. Their products and services are used in diverse end markets such as industrial, energy, chemical, renewables, pharma, and food. Their holding company structure is designed to foster business collaboration within partner companies, while providing valuable strategic support and capital for their development and growth.
Freestar engineers cutting-edge monetization solutions for websites and apps. Led by CEO Kurt Donnell ’03, the company’s passionate team of 200 ad tech experts leverage industry-leading technology and data science to enable busy website and app owners to seamlessly maximize revenue while freeing themselves of the hassles of ad operations. Freestar’s ever-expanding family of publisher and app developer partners reach over 70% of all U.S. internet users each month and provide unique opportunities for advertisers to reach their target audiences efficiently at scale. Headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, the company has team members spread across the world in thirteen countries.
Mugsy was founded by CEO Leo Tropeano ’10. Tired of the rigid and unflattering men’s denim on the market, Leo set out to redesign men’s jeans from scratch. Over the last decade, Mugsy has evolved into a full men’s clothing brand relentlessly focused on making “damn good-looking and insanely comfortable clothes.”
No Laying Up, founded by accountancy alumni Philip Landes ’07 and Chris Solomon ’08, along with another Miamian, history alum Todd Schuster ’08, is a company built around the goal of entertaining, informing, and connecting a community of avid golfers around the world. What started as a group text among college friends has now grown into one of the most popular podcasts in the game of golf, and their archives include appearances from the biggest names in the sport. Outside of the podcast, No Laying Up also produces multiple video travel series, best-in-class writing about the PGA Tour and LPGA, a robust social media presence, and a thriving community of friends and fans.
Republic Wire, Inc., led by Co-Owner & CEO Ronald Rosenbeck ’70, was incorporated in 1982. In its first decade, it existed as a broker importing wire from Chile. In 1994, it built a 40,000-square foot building and started manufacturing wire with 27 people, growing to a 400,000-square foot manufacturing facility, with a 320,0000 square foot distribution center that is currently under construction. Republic Wire currently comprises 200 employees, and its sales team covers the entire U.S. and Canada. Its customers include electrical, industrial, and utilities wholesale distributors covering residential, commercial, industrial, and utility markets. The company’s wire has been used in the New York Freedom Tower, Disney World, Cape Canaveral, Great American Ballpark, SoFi Stadium, Paycor Stadium, and many other stadiums stretching across the U.S., as well as many schools, homes, multi-unit apartment complexes, office buildings, warehouses, factories, and hospitals. Today, 98% of its copper and aluminum building wire is made in the USA.
Semify is led by CFO Amit Dixit ’10 alongside Miami English alum and company CEO Patrick Briggs ’06. It is a white-label services and software platform that helps marketing agencies, enterprise software companies, and franchises achieve digital marketing scale through on-time delivery of digital marketing services. Its superior digital marketing service fulfillment (focused on white-label SEO, white-label PPC, and white-label paid social advertising), U.S.-based hands-on customer service, and commitment to its partners’ success allows its partners to focus on their sales, nurture leads, and develop clients—all while Semify handles the work behind the scenes. Its mission is to grow together, and its services enable that for all who work with Semify.
UPshow, co-founded by CEO Adam Hirsen ’05 along with Miami marketing alum Matt Gibbs ’05, is the leading on-premise performance marketing solution powering digital screens for brick and mortar businesses. Its back- and front-of-house platform provides interactive digital marketing, entertainment, and communications to drive meaningful business outcomes. UPshow transforms TV screens into powerful and engaging digital experiences and creates a revolutionary on-premise network that drives customer, patient and employee behaviors directly from their mobile devices.
