Williams Toyota Lift in East Sparta is celebrating 80 years in business and recently took home a President’s Award — Toyota’s highest dealership honor.
Three Williams brothers — Paul, Harold and Clyde — founded the company in 1946 as a service shop and Sohio gas station. The business at 9462 Main Ave. SE is now a forklift and industrial equipment dealership that offers related services, such as warehouse automation and fleet tracking.
“Reaching 80 years isn’t about standing still and celebrating a number; it’s about a continuous, daily commitment to getting better at how we serve our clients,” Andrew Williams, the third-generation owner and president of Williams Toyota Lift, said in a prepared statement. “An organization doesn’t survive for eight decades without two foundational things: outstanding, dedicated people who treat our customers’ uptime as their own personal mission, and deep-rooted partnerships with clients who trust us to understand their challenges and find a solution.”
Andrew’s father, Paul Williams, led the business from 1969 to 1999 and shifted the company’s focus toward forklifts and warehouse equipment. The company rebranded to Williams Toyota Lift under Andrew’s leadership.
In March, the company received the Toyota President’s Award. It honors Toyota dealerships that “go above and beyond” and excel in all areas of operation, according to Toyota.com.
“We are incredibly grateful for the team we have built and the relationships we have forged across Ohio, and our goal remains focused on improving every single day to support them down the road,” Andrew Williams added.
Two new U-Haul neighborhood dealers
The U-Haul Co. of Massachusetts and Ohio has announced that two businesses are newly affiliated U-Haul neighborhood dealers:
They now offer U-Haul services that include rental trucks, trailers, towing equipment and other moving supplies.
Liberty HealthShare to reduce costs, return money
Liberty HealthShare, a cost-sharing ministry, is returning a total of $2 million to members and reducing monthly program costs for the second consecutive year.
The amount of money each member can expect to receive will vary, depending on their plan and time with Liberty HealthShare, according to a spokesman.
The faith-based nonprofit offers six medical cost-sharing programs as an alternative to health insurance. Family contribution amounts for three core programs have been reduced by an average of 16% this year, according to a recent announcement.
“As a Christian health care sharing ministry, we, and our members, understand that we take seriously a commitment to keeping our faith central to our operations and decision making. And rest assured, we aren’t done,” CEO Dorsey Morrow said in a prepared statement. “We’re so thrilled to be able to improve our member experience, and we will never stop seeking ways to improve programs, reduce costs, or care for them in whatever way we can.”
Massillon CEO named small business champion
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has named Fred Horner, CEO of Advanced Industrial Roofing in Massillon, as the 2026 Small Business Champion.
Horner has been a member of the small business advocacy organization since 1989 and is the current chairman of NFIB’s legislative committee. The award recognizes members who show dedication to helping the organization promote and protect small businesses.
“Fred is a longtime small business owner and has earned a great reputation for being a reliable voice for the small business community,” Jared Weiser, NFIB Ohio state director, said in a prepared statement. “We are proud to have him as an NFIB member and thank him for his years of service to Ohio’s small businesses.”
Timken employees honored
The Manufacturing Institute has awarded two Timken Co. employees with the 2026 STEP Ahead Awards, which recognize outstanding women in leadership.
The honorees were Abby Causey, plant manager at Timken’s facility in Bucyrus, and Michelle Barnhart, human resources manager at the company’s Lincolnton, North Carolina, plant. Timken, a global manufacturer of engineered bearings and industrial motion products, is based in Jackson Township.
“Abby and Michelle exemplify the high caliber of leadership we cultivate at Timken,” Natasha Pollock, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, said in a prepared statement. “Through their vision, dedication to operational excellence and meaningful community engagement, they inspire our teams and set a powerful example for others. Their achievements highlight the breadth of opportunity within manufacturing.”
Causey improved performance metrics in safety, quality and delivery as the plant manager in Shiloh, North Carolina, before being promoted to the Bucyrus plant in November. Barnhart chairs a talent development program and also founded the company’s Celebrating Abilities Network, an employee resource group focused on disability, neurodivergence and caregiver inclusion.
Company teams take part in golf fundraiser
Company teams from the Canton area recently took part in the 29th annual Bill Phillips Legacy Foundation Golf Classic at The Quarry Golf Club.
Businesses, such as GPD Group and Ajax TOCCO Megnethermic, took part in the memorial fundraiser named for Bill Phillips, who was a lifelong Canton resident. Proceeds from the event benefit the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Campaign.
The campaign raises awareness and addresses clinical care gaps for women, whose greatest health threat is cardiovascular disease. The golf classic was held on May 18.
Reach Kelly at 330-580-8323 or kelly.byer@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Williams Toyota Lift celebrates 80 years | Business roundup
Reporting by Kelly Byer, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kelly Byer, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
