Family bringing business home

Randd Associates moves into the former VRI site on Progress Drive.

Rick Dobson, president of Randd Associates on South Kettering Boulevard, is moving his growing business to a larger location in West Carrollton.

Jim Noelker Rick Dobson, president of Randd Associates on South Kettering Boulevard, is moving his growing business to a larger location in West Carrollton.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Man, 68, drowns at Caesar Creek Lake
5/26/12
Water rescues prompt warning from health officials
5/25/12
Beach Waterpark sued for failure to deliver
5/25/12
Raleigh Trammell’s defense opens in felony trial
5/25/12
UD to move satellite campus to Dublin
5/25/12
> More headlines

By Lawrence Budd, Staff Writer 2:17 AM Thursday, December 15, 2011

WEST CARROLLTON — A local family is giving West Carrollton business.

Rick and Judy Dobson and their children, Matt and Sarah, have lived in West Carrollton since 1984.

Now Randd Associates, the family’s promotional materials company, is moving to the former VRI building on Progress Drive.

The former Judy Herbst is a native of West Carrollton; her husband, born and raised in Maine, is well known for his civic contributions.

“Everybody knows him. He volunteers a lot in the community,” West Carrollton Economic Development Director Bill Covell said.

The city is offering a $20,000 loan to help the Dobsons renovate during the move from Kettering Boulevard in Moraine. Depending on Randd’s growth, the city has agreed to forgive all or part of the loan. The percentage forgiven is based on company payroll.

“We make out because we collect more payroll tax,” Covell said.

The Dobsons and Randd (an acronym for Randy and partner Dan Bir are known for contributing to the community, through events such as the Independence Day celebration.

With the schools, they are about to unveil the Pirate Pack Food-to-Go program. Students from families who have fallen on hard times will be sent home for the weekend with packs of food.

“Apparently there’s quite a few people that don’t have the money to eat,” Dobson said.

Randd also prints campaign yard signs and other election materials.

In 2004, he lined his yard with Bush-Cheney signs free for the taking. There were 8,000 takers.

This fall in the Miamisburg Municipal Court race, Randd materials were used by Democrat John Ebersole and Republican Robert Rettich, winner in a three-way race.

“That’s what great about this country. You can express things whether the guy next door to you agrees with you or not,” Dobson said.

Share this article