CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

Entrepreneurs’ Organization and Strauss & Troy — A Partnership in Business and Community

Chris Frutkin has been an entrepreneur since grade school. Today, the 42-year-old owner and president of City Center Properties, LLC, a local condominium developer, continues that tradition and is making it his mission to help other like-minded individuals through his work as the president of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).

On the occasion of EO’s 20-year anniversary, it has established a partnership with Strauss & Troy as part of its continuing efforts to uncover new opportunities for the organization’s 56-member Cincinnati chapter. EO members are founders, cofounders, or controlling shareholders of companies in many different industries, from manufacturing, retail, and accounting to real estate, pharmaceuticals, and service industries — industries in which Strauss & Troy has been actively involved during its 54-year history. The two organizations will spend the next three years collaborating to help EO’s members grow and expand their businesses.

Frutkin says the invitation-only global community for entrepreneurs enriches members’ lives through dynamic peer-to-peer learning and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. EO recognized that Strauss & Troy has the personnel and expertise to make a valuable contribution, and it is looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.

The firm will provide support for EO’s work by securing high-profile speakers for EO’s educational events and providing meeting space for the organization’s smaller forum groups. These seven- to eight-member groups meet monthly to discuss relevant business and work-life balance issues. Strauss & Troy attorneys will provide forum groups with legal and business education on topics such as buying and selling a business, exit strategies, employee benefits, real estate, and any other topics of interest to EO members.

“It’s a perfect fit for us,” said Tony Barlow, the attorney heading up the partnership for Strauss & Troy. “We’ve been serving the needs of business owners in a broad capacity for decades. And our strategic partnership with EO is a natural extension of the firm’s commitment to community. Since entrepreneurs are the future of small business in the region, the firm wants to do its part to assure that this entrepreneurial spirit thrives.”

Strauss & Troy has demonstrated a deep commitment to its clients and the greater Cincinnati community, alike. The firm and its employees have a long and rich tradition of sharing gifts and talents with others in the community, as detailed from time to time in Impact. EO members are likewise committed to making a difference in Greater Cincinnati. “EO members strive to make a difference and leave a legacy. They want to win the game on all levels and they do it through optimism, cooperation, and giving back to the community,” Frutkin says.

Frutkin sums it up by saying, “The end result is that EO members have learned how to better operate their companies, work reasonable hours, make more money, lead fulfilling personal lives, and make a difference in their communities. This is an amazing way to live. We look forward to Strauss & Troy assisting us on this journey.”