Larry Jaffe
Owner/Jaffe Jewelers
Oakwood
What’s your secret to succeeding in your market?
Giving our customers high-quality jewelry and great service for the last 40 years.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
After four decades it’s still fun coming to work and taking care of clients. Whether it’s a young man with his first paycheck or a longtime customer spending tens of thousands of dollars, every guest is treated the same.
Why did you choose South Dayton to locate and build your business?
I’m a third-generation jeweler. My father started Mayors Jewelers in downtown Dayton in 1944, on a handshake. We started Jaffe Jewelers at the Kettering Tower in 1979, spending 25 years there and 15 years at Far Hills and Stroop in Kettering; but we always knew we wanted a location in the Shops of Oakwood, where we could have a greater presence and fantastic retail neighbors.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t wait—live your life. Don’t hold back.
After a long day at work, what’s your drink of choice?
After a long day (or even a short one), I enjoy bourbon. I love to cook and will usually pair a fine wine with the meal I prepare for myself and my partner, Cathy.
Dr. Rob Kominiarek, DO, FACOFP
Owner/ReNue Health
Miamisburg
What’s your secret to succeeding in your market?
Teaching around the country on different areas in health, wellness and longevity. Educating clients, because the more they know and understand, the more compliant and successful they are in reaching their individual goals.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Helping motivated individuals realize their full potential. It’s very rewarding to work with people who want to take their health, wellness and longevity seriously. We see clients from all over the globe. As of late, we have been solely utilizing telemedicine.
Why did you choose South Dayton to locate and build your business?
I raised my children in the area and stayed. It has worked out quite well.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“There is only one liberty to come to terms with and that is death, after that anything is possible” (Albert Camus). His 1940s book The Plague, as it relates to the human condition and destiny, makes for an interesting read, given the times.
After a long day at work, what’s your drink of choice?
Reverse osmosis, carbon-filtered water. As far as a “long day” is concerned, I live by the “Rule of Eight”: eight hours of work, eight hours of play and eight hours of sleep. It’s all about focus and balance.
Chuck Baker
Owner/State Farm—Chuck Baker Agency
Springboro
What’s your secret to succeeding in your market?
I’m guided by the principle that “my success follows the success of my customers.” While a good portion of my job requires some form of selling, I always teach my team to take the approach of putting the mission over commission.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Learning about what people really care about and empowering them to realize their goals.
Why did you choose South Dayton to locate and build your business?
I really like the people here. The atmosphere of the community makes me feel right at home. I was even married at South Dayton Church of Christ, with an awesome reception at Heather’s Cafe in Springboro. (We love Ms. Heather!)
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Stay pliable and playful,” meaning to be a lifelong learner and never take yourself too seriously.
After a long day at work, what’s your drink of choice?
Bourbon. I especially like Noah’s Mill. It’s not too fancy, and most people have never heard of it; but I really enjoy it.
Glenn Mikaloff
Co-Owner/Mathnasium
Centerville and Beavercreek
What’s your secret to succeeding in your market?
Having a real passion for what I do. My wife, Susie (co-owner), and I really care about our customers and want to provide them with great service. Mathnasium is not just for kids who are struggling with understanding math. The versatility of our approach is such that the same techniques that help struggling kids with remediation also help to enrich those kids who seek to advance themselves.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Prior to opening Mathnasium, I had retired from a 40-year career as an executive in the steel industry, and Susie retired from teaching middle school math. We were both looking for something meaningful to do in retirement, some way to contribute and provide something needed in the community. Owning an educational business has turned out to be a great experience. We love working with our kids and our parents, and getting people really excited about, of all things, math.
Why did you choose South Dayton to locate and build your business?
We’ve lived in Springboro for 23 years and have always viewed the South Dayton area to be a great place to live. It’s a vibrant community with wonderful people and lots of opportunity to have a rich, satisfying lifestyle.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
No matter what business you are in, you have to provide something that people need. You must make yourself useful. Useful is the key word.
After a long day at work, what’s your drink of choice?
A nice glass of wine.
Bryan Emerson
Co-Owner/B&Gs Cigar Lounge
West Carrollton
Gonzo Gonzales
Co-Owner/B&Gs Cigar Lounge
West Carrollton
What’s your secret to succeeding in your market?
We start with a high-quality product: a mix of the best premium cigars from a wide variety of manufacturers, maintained in an excellent environment. Then we provide personal service, to help each client select the perfect cigar to fit the occasion. Finally, we’ve created an inclusive atmosphere with a variety of areas, to accommodate each person’s mood and needs.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The diversity of the people we meet is amazing. Cigars are something everyone can enjoy, regardless of age, race or sex. The second visit is where the fun really begins. We can identify which cigars someone truly loved and begin selecting others that have similar qualities.
Why did you choose South Dayton to locate and build your business?
We have lived in Dayton for a long time and realized that despite the great restaurants, shopping and outdoor activities that abound, there wasn’t a quality cigar lounge in South Dayton. We wanted to share our passion and experience with the community and provide a space where everyone can get together for an hour or a day, to relax and have a great time.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
There’s been so much! We’re still growing, but the one thing that guides us most is “do it right the first time.” We’ve gone above and beyond to provide a top-notch humidor and have invested in the best air handling system available. We continue to grow, with quality enhancements to ensure an amazing experience for all.
After a long day at work, what’s your drink of choice?
The simple answer is Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, but the difference between a good drink (or cigar) and a great one is the environment. When you’re happy, content and among friends, everything is better.
