CLEVELAND – Everstream CEO Brett Lindsey has been recognized as a 2021 Crain’s Notable Entrepreneur for Northeast Ohio.
Under Lindsey’s leadership, Everstream has grown from a Cleveland-only fiber network to the high-capacity business-only fiber network of today with a 10-state footprint. In just the past two years, Everstream has expanded its fiber network to more than 25,000 route miles through its expansion and densification efforts as well as the completion of four strategic acquisitions. In 2020 alone, Everstream increased its workforce by more than 50% to accommodate growth.
Lindsey has emerged as an industry thought leader — securing guest articles, panel placements and interviews, leveraging both his successes with Everstream and more than 25 years of experience in the industry. He has been named to Capacity’s Power 100 twice. Lindsey also sits on the board of directors for the Downtown Cleveland Alliance — tasked with helping Cleveland attract talent, jobs and investment.
Throughout it all, he has fiercely protected Everstream’s corporate culture, where “Do what you say you will do” is one of five core values that have helped the company earn 19 top workplace recognition and culture awards.
Notably, Everstream is committed to giving back to the communities in which it operates and has selected Ronald McDonald House Charities as its corporate beneficiary for the past two years.
At the beginning of 2021, Lindsey committed to match funds raised by Everstream employees for RMHC, up to $10,000. In July, Everstream’s team members raised $10,937 for a total contribution of $20,937 to help purchase various appliances for each local RMHC chapter, such as stoves, a dishwasher, washer and dryer, air purifier and new kitchenware.
Additionally, in April 2020 during the height of shelter-in-place orders, Everstream announced plans to provide local Ronald McDonald House Charities Chapters with a daily meal in seven of its markets for a total of 30 days. Between April 13 and June 26, each of the seven chapters received between 8 and 100 meals a day — feeding between 8 and 100 people at each House, including families and staff. To further support these seven communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Everstream ordered meals from local restaurants exclusively to assist as many businesses as possible.
This year’s Crain’s Notable Entrepreneurs honors 54 entrepreneurs that represent the newer business approaches that could help grow and sustain the area, including developments in business thinking post-pandemic. Honorees include tavern owners and surgeons, a founder of a soul food grill and a CEO of a boutique hotel group, a university professor and a founder of a business offering financial solutions for those with student debt.
Visit crainscleveland.com/awards/crains-2021-notable-entrepreneurs for a complete list of recipients.