Kessel Communications is a strategic communications firm focused on defining and delivering targeted messages for our clients, messages that prompt a desired action or conclusion among specific audiences. We do this through a variety of public relations and marketing communications tactics that ensure measurable results and support the short- and long-term goals of our clients.

Our philosophy is based on the understanding that generating heightened visibility in the marketplace is costly when it is not tied directly to outcomes.

We also recognize that relationships matter – and relationships built on trust and integrity are those that last.  Our clients engage us for our expertise, but they retain us for our honest and candid counsel, and our consistent ability to exceed expectations

Jack Threads is an invite-only online shopping community offering brand names in the surf, skate, and street cultures—offered daily for at least fifty percent off. And there’s only one fresh pick per day.

The site’s founder, Jason Ross, puts the inspiration behind the site this way, “I’m a consumer who was always in streetwear and men’s contemporary fashion, however I wasn’t the customer who needed to have what was ‘hot’ right now.” I didn’t mind waiting for a few months to get the product at a better price, and sacrifice the freshness of the piece. The problem was that I could never find the products on sale.”

Jack Threads partners with brands, like 3sixteen, The Hundreds, Dunderdon, WeSC Denim, Beautiful/Decay, and more, that want to reach the 18-35 market directly so the companies are willing to offer the discounted member-only pricing. As a member, you also get $10 for inviting friends to shop. But they actually have to shop for you to earn deeper discounts when you’re shopping.

“We also created Jack Threads as a more valuable and more discreet way for exclusive brands in the street/contemporary space to move through their previous season product. When selling discounted merchandise you run the risk of sacrificing the image of your brand, and the brands we partner with have spent a lot of time building their brands and their image. We’ve positioned JackThreads as a more valuable way to move previous season merchandise while also protecting the integrity of the brands we work with,” says Ross.

by Lynne Johnson

Ray Bohac is the founder, president and CEO of CallCopy, Inc., one of the fastest-growing companies in the call recording and quality monitoring industry. It was Bohac’s vision that first identified the market opportunity, laid the plans for the development of the company’s solution suite, cc: Discover, and built the team to bring the product to market.

Prior to founding CallCopy, Bohac worked with multiple call recording systems while working for a global BPO/outsourcer. He recognized that of all the applications installed, none had the capacity to scale quickly and affordably to accommodate the changing needs of the clients. A market niche was identified, and Bohac began planning the development of cc: Discover. The end-user was a key consideration in every phase of design, and the finished product was an easy-to-use and feature-rich application.

CallCopy has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2004. Unlike many small companies, CallCopy has achieved entirely organic growth with no outside investments, venture capital or debt. Because of its rapid growth, CallCopy was recently included in the 2009 Columbus Business First Fast Fifty list. In addition to its impressive expansion, CallCopy also takes pride in its people and products, winning both the 2008 Columbus Business First Best Place to Work award and the 2008 Product of the Year award from Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC).

Adding to his experience in corporate finance and business development, Bohac has extensive knowledge in IT systems administration and application programming, specifically within the realm of Computer-Telephony Integration (CTI). Bohac has been a featured speaker at various business and technology events
including the Ohio State Business Builders Club, TechColumbus and the PEP Talks. Bohac is also a founding member of Columbus TechLife, a grassroots group fostering greater culture and passion for social media, Internet, Web and other cutting-edge technology.

In Ohio, the name DiSabato is linked in schoolboy history with wrestling success. Owners of a record eleven state wrestling titles (fifteen when first cousins are included), the DiSabato brothers learned from an early age the lessons of one on one competition. When the world of Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC came to Columbus, OH on March 3, 2007, a conceptual family business was envisioned. MMA Authentics, LLC was born March 4, 2007 when Michael DiSabato, a former collegiate wrestler and Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor winner for The Ohio State University, dove into the business of MMA. Michael garnered the support and guidance of his extended family to get things started. Adam DiSabato, a three time NCAA Division 1 All American for the Buckeyes from 1988-93 began networking with his extensive list of former teammates on the international wrestling circuit. Adam, Michael, and youngest brother, Dominic, had been long time friends and teammates of MMA veterans and former UFC Champions Mark “The Hammer” Coleman and Kevin “The Monster” Randleman.

MMA Authentics has quickly positioned itself as one of the premier authentic athletic Mixed Martial Arts apparel companies in the business. MMA Authentics™, Cagefighter™, MMA Elite™, and Familia Gladiatoria™ authentic athletic fighting gear has been worn by many of the top Cagefigthers since March 2007 including World Lightweight Champion, BJ Penn, Former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Pride Middleweight Champion, Dan Henderson, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber, as well as rising UFC stars, Roger Huerta, Jason Lambert, Sam Stout, Wanderlei Silva, Joe Stevenson, Diego Sanchez, Stephan Bonnar and former IFL superstar, Chris Horodecki.

Armed with exclusive licensing rights to many of the top fighters in the world of MMA, MMA Authentics has already been successful placing product with prominent retailers in the United States, Canada and Europe. Sales expectation for the future are significant and sustainable long term growth as the premier authentic athletic Mixed Martial Arts fight gear company is the goal. Climb into the cage with MMA Authentics and be prepared for an incredible show!

Janis Mitchell, President, CEO and founder of Precise Resource, Inc. has been a leader in the talent acquisition and technology industries for over 20 years.

Mitchell, a dyslexic serial entrepreneur, founded Precise Resource after proving her business prowess in several other entrepreneurial ventures involving technology and talent resource management. Previously in her career, she established a successful technology consulting practice that grew to a multi-million dollar business, as well as founded Info Fortress Solutions, a premier provider of complex IT security solutions in the Federated Identity Management arena . After selling her previous firm to a global player in the information security industry and subsequently managing the combined company’s Professional Services for the Americas, Mitchell once again felt the entrepreneurial passion start another company.

Mitchell was honored by Business First Newspaper with their “Most Remarkable Women” designation and also named to the newspaper’s “Forty Under Forty” class. She was named by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce as 2003 “Small Business Person of the Year”, NAWBO Visionary Award Winner in 2005, and was Ohio Northern College of Engineering’s Spotts Lecturer in the year 2006.

Mitchell currently volunteers with the WYBSL as a baseball coach. She also serves as an advisor and club leader for 4-H, an organization focusing on raising tomorrow leaders. Mitchell is also involved with the Central Ohio Board of International Dyslexia Foundation, Entrepreneur Steering Committee for City of Columbus, Columbus Chamber Work Life Balance Committee, Columbus Chamber Small Business Development Committee, serves on the Board of Governors for Ohio’s IT Alliance and is working to improve young women entering in the IT and Engineering fields as well as serves as a mentor to other IT professionals.

Rich is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor. In 1986, while attending The Ohio State University, Mr. Langdale founded Digital Storage, Inc. (”DSI”). Since that time he has founded a total of eight companies and has co-founded, acquired or invested in several more under the umbrella of NCT Ventures. Mr. Langdale, through his capacity as a Managing Partner of NCT Ventures, is still actively involved with several of these portfolio companies.

In 2001, Mr. Langdale (along with other persons affiliated with NCT Ventures) founded and developed the Center for Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University, which quickly earned a tier one ranking from Entrepreneur Magazine. Mr. Langdale helped develop the Entrepreneurship curriculum in addition to teaching undergraduate, MBA and Executive MBA courses on Entrepreneurship. Mr. Langdale is an executive board member of The Columbus Chamber of Commerce (former Chairman of the Entrepreneurship Steering Committee), OSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbus Technology Council and Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Research Board).

Mr. Langdale has received numerous awards for his business and civic contributions including:
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce & Mayor Ambassador of Columbus, 2002
- The Ohio State University Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award, 2003
- Four time finalist for Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mr. Langdale regularly attends Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program. He attended The Ohio State University prior to beginning his career as an entrepreneur and investor.