Dean & Assoc.
Dean & Associates (operating as Ohio TLS) is a Columbus, Ohio-based manufacturer representative firm specializing in traffic control, roadway, and streetscape lighting, representing 18+ manufacturers to Ohio DOT agencies, municipalities, and select commercial clients on a commission basis.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersColumbus, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Dean & Assoc. does
Ohio Traffic and Lighting Solutions, Inc. (operating as Ohio TLS, and previously known as Dean & Associates and Dean-Lawless Lighting Systems) is a Columbus, Ohio-based manufacturer representative firm founded over 35 years ago. The firm acts as the exclusive Ohio sales channel for 18+ manufacturers of traffic control hardware, roadway and decorative lighting, structural poles, lowering systems, and site amenities. Its core "product" is its line card — a curated portfolio covering poles (wood, concrete, aluminum, steel, fiberglass), LED luminaires (LEOTEK, SpecGrade, Sternberg, King Luminaire, North Star), traffic hardware (Pelco, lowering systems), foundation/anchor systems, and decorative site elements (VISCO, TerraCast, Spencer Fabrications). Ohio TLS does not develop proprietary technology; rather, it represents and supports the sale of partner-manufactured equipment, providing project quoting, specification support, order entry, and account management across the entire State of Ohio.
The firm's go-to-market is a traditional, relationship-driven field-sales model. A team of approximately 8 full-time staff — including a President/Owner, Director of Sales, Senior Account Manager, four Project Account Managers/Customer Success staff, and supporting roles — covers defined Ohio territories (Central, NE, Southern, Western, Northwest). Customers are almost exclusively public-sector: the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for interstate and interchange lighting, and Ohio municipalities (Columbus, Dublin, Hilliard, Upper Arlington, Reynoldsburg, Cincinnati, Cleveland) for streetscape, decorative, park, and crosswalk lighting. Commercial and industrial (sports lighting, architectural flood lighting) is a secondary segment. Revenue is generated through agency commissions on equipment sales placed by the firm's manufacturer partners to end customers — a transaction-fee model with project-based, quote-driven pricing and no disclosed subscription or recurring component.
Operationally the firm is small, founder/owner-led (Mark Minic, President and Owner, 35 years with the company), privately held with no external institutional investment disclosed, and narrowly geographically focused on Ohio. Its strategic significance lies in the exclusive manufacturer relationships and decades-long specification influence with Ohio's public infrastructure buyers rather than in scale, technology, or capital intensity.
Dean & Assoc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dean & Assoc.
- Legal name
- Ohio Traffic and Lighting Solutions, Inc.
- Website
- https://ohiotls.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Dean & Associates (operating as Ohio TLS) is a Columbus, Ohio-based manufacturer representative firm specializing in traffic control, roadway, and streetscape lighting, representing 18+ manufacturers to Ohio DOT agencies, municipalities, and select commercial clients on a commission basis.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dean & Assoc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Traffic and Roadway Lighting Manufacturer Representation Services
- NAICS
- Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Retail (Path, Flood, Security, Deck) (CRAIAHAC)
Keywords
Where Dean & Assoc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Columbus
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dean & Assoc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Manufacturer Representative / Agency Commission: Ohio TLS operates as a manufacturer representative firm, earning commissions on sales of lighting, traffic, and roadway equipment made by their manufacturer partners to end customers (municipalities, DOT, commercial entities) in Ohio. Revenue is generated through a traditional agency commission model — a percentage of sales volume placed through the company's representation efforts across its manufacturer line card.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Dean & Assoc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dean & Associates (operating as Ohio Traffic and Lighting Solutions, Inc.) is a manufacturer's representative firm that sells and specifies traffic, roadway, municipal, decorative, and commercial lighting equipment on behalf of 18+ manufacturers across the State of Ohio. The firm provides project-based quotation, order entry, sales coordination, and post-sale support, connecting manufacturer partners with Ohio DOT agencies, municipal governments, and commercial/industrial end customers through a regional team of account managers.
Product overview
Ohio Traffic and Lighting Solutions, Inc. (operating as Ohio TLS, formerly Dean & Associates) is a commercial and roadway lighting agency serving the State of Ohio market. The company acts as a manufacturer's representative for DOT, municipal, and roadway lighting products, representing over 20 manufacturer brands. The portfolio includes LED lighting systems (LEOTEK, SpecGrade LED, Sternberg UNRIVALED), decorative lighting (King Luminaire, North Star Lighting), structural products (12-54 Industries poles, Nova Pole aluminum structures, StressCrete spun concrete poles, Millerbernd manufacturing, ArburPole engineered wood poles, PLP Composite fiberglass poles), traffic signal hardware (Pelco, camera and lighting lowering systems), site amenities and decorative hardware (VISCO, TerraCast, Spencer Fabrications), wood utility poles (Koppers UIP), foundation and anchor systems (Foundation Systems & Anchors), and sports lighting (Spartan Sports Lighting). The company provides project support, quotation, order entry, and sales coordination for customers across Ohio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LEOTEK LED Lighting Products High-performance conventional LED lighting systems for commercial, industrial, DOT, municipal, utility, and streetscape applications, including GreenCobra, VersaTEK, and Arieta Series luminaires, decorative post top colonial lanterns, Eseta wall sconces, utility grade barn lights, and IOT devices, sold in Ohio through the firm as manufacturer representative.
- SpecGrade LED Industrial Commercial Luminaires Reliable, precise, and innovative industrial, commercial, and roadway LED luminaires designed and engineered to industry highest standards, represented in Ohio for DOT, municipal, and industrial applications.
- Sternberg Decorative LED Lighting Systems Decorative LED lighting systems including URBANLINE contemporary roadway lighting, LED outdoor vintage lighting, ornamental poles and bollards, roadway poles, decorative traffic signal poles and mast arms, plus site amenities including street clocks, benches, trash receptacles, and mailboxes, represented for Ohio streetscape projects.
- King Luminaire Decorative LED Lighting High-performance decorative LED lighting systems including spun concrete and metal poles, decorative arms, bollards, small cell poles, and site amenities, represented in Ohio for municipal decorative streetscape projects.
- Pelco Traffic Signal and Utility Hardware Traffic signal hardware, decorative lighting, and utility hardware products for Ohio DOT and municipal markets, represented in Ohio by the firm.
- Koppers UIP Pressure Treated Wood Poles Pressure-treated utility grade wood poles for DOT and municipal applications including ODOT Spec and RUS Spec products in CCA-treated and Penta-treated options, represented in Ohio.
- StressCrete Spun Concrete Poles Spun concrete poles for lighting and traffic applications manufactured by StressCrete Group, represented in Ohio for DOT, municipal, and roadway projects.
- Nova Pole Aluminum Structures Aluminum structures for lighting, roadway, and streetscape applications including decorative architectural aluminum poles, represented in Ohio.
- PLP Composite Hyperia Fiberglass Poles Hyperia fiberglass reinforced composite light poles including commercial light pole standards and decorative composite light standards, represented in Ohio.
- ArburPole Engineered Wood Light Poles Engineered wood light poles made from Alaskan Yellow Cedar laminated construction, including cross arms, bollards, and custom bracketry, represented in Ohio.
- Millerbernd Manufacturing Co Products Roadway, traffic, lighting, hi-mast, sign structures, streetscape structures, decorative architectural steel poles, decorative traffic structures, and stainless steel lighting standards with Millerbond wet coat painting system and standard 5-year warranty, represented in Ohio.
- Camera and Lighting Lowering Systems Camera lowering systems with internal or external power and signal cabling, and lighting lowering systems for indoor or outdoor applications with manual or electric winch options, represented in Ohio.
- Foundation Systems and Anchors Anchor bolts, ground rods, threaded rods, all threads, U-bolts, and steel bolt circle templates specializing in DOT and anchor specification, fabrication, and hardware, represented in Ohio.
- 12-54 Industries Decorative Pole and Hardware Collection Aluminum, steel, and decorative pole collection including Deco Cast bases, arms, finials, and accessories for lighting, signage, and traffic applications, represented in Ohio.
- Spartan Sports Lighting Turnkey Solutions Turnkey sports lighting solutions combining StressCrete concrete poles with King Luminaire products for field lighting applications, represented in Ohio by a division of StressCrete Group.
- North Star Lighting Architectural and Flood Products Architectural and LED flood lighting, LED light tower tubes, LED roadway lighting, marine/hazardous area lighting, and tunnel lighting solutions, represented in Ohio.
- VISCO Innovation Resin Based Products Resin-based commercial outdoor products including planters, site furnishings (benches, bike racks, picnic tables, trash receptacles), lighting and lamp posts (light pole deco bases, traffic support deco bases, small cell poles, custom 3D printed poles, deco arms, finials), ornamental cast iron and steel poles, ornamental bollards, and ornamental luminaires, represented in Ohio.
- Spencer Fabrications Custom Metalwork Custom fabrication of arches, hardscapes, signage, wall/awning signs, and wayfinding signs with full design, engineering, graphic design, and fabrication capabilities, represented in Ohio.
- TerraCast Products TerraCast brand products for decorative lighting and site amenities applications, represented in Ohio.
- Manufacturer Representation and Field Sales Services Manufacturer representation services providing dedicated regional account management across defined Ohio territories (Central, NE, Southern, Western, Northwest), including direct sales to Ohio DOT agencies, municipal governments, and commercial/industrial customers, project specification support, quotation, and order entry for partner manufacturers' lighting, traffic, and roadway equipment.
Companies that use Dean & Assoc.
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Dean & Assoc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Dean & Assoc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- 12-54 Industriescore12-54 Industries supplies aluminum, steel, and decorative pole collections along with Deco Cast bases, arms, finials, and accessories for lighting, signage, and traffic needs. Ohio TLS represents this manufacturer for the Ohio DOT, municipal, and roadway lighting markets.
- ArburPole™ (by Sternberg Lighting)coreArburPole provides engineered wood light poles including Alaskan Yellow Cedar laminated poles, cross arms, and bollards, plus custom bracketry. Ohio TLS represents this product line in Ohio.
- Camera & Lighting Lowering SystemscoreProvides camera lowering systems with power and signal cabling (internal for new systems, external for existing) and lighting/lowering systems for indoor or outdoor applications with manual or electric winch options.
- King Luminaire (StressCrete Group)corePart of StressCrete Group, King Luminaire offers high-performance decorative LED lighting systems, decorative spun concrete and metal poles, decorative arms, bollards, small cell poles, and site amenities.
- Foundation Systems & AnchorscoreProvides anchor bolts, ground rods, threaded rods, all threads, U-bolts, and steel bolt circle templates. Specializes in DOT and anchor specification, fabrication, and hardware.
- Koppers UIPcoreSupplies pressure treated utility grade wood poles for DOT and municipal applications, including ODOT spec and RUS spec products, available in CCA treated and Penta treated options.
- LEOTEKcoreLEOTEK provides high-performance conventional LED lighting for commercial, industrial, DOT, municipal, utility, and streetscape applications. Product lines include GreenCobra, VersaTEK, and Arieta Series luminaires, decorative post top lanterns, wall sconces, utility grade barn lights, and IOT devices for future expansion.
- North Star LightingcoreProvides architectural flood lighting, LED flood lighting, LED light tower tubes, LED roadway lighting, marine/hazardous lighting, and tunnel lighting solutions.
- PelcocoreSupplies traffic signal hardware, decorative lighting, and utility hardware for Ohio DOT and municipal markets.
- Millerbernd Manufacturing CocoreSupplies roadway, traffic, lighting, hi-mast, sign structures, and streetscape structures for commercial, DOT, municipality, roadway, and utility markets. Also provides decorative architectural steel poles, decorative traffic structures, and stainless steel lighting standards with Millerbond wet coat painting system and standard 5-year warranty.
- Nova PolecoreNova Pole provides aluminum structures for lighting, roadway, and streetscape applications, including decorative architectural aluminum poles.
- PLP Composite (Hyperia)corePLP Composite offers Hyperia fiberglass reinforced composite light poles for commercial and decorative applications.
- Spartan Sports Lighting (StressCrete Group)coreA division of StressCrete Group, Spartan Sports Lighting combines StressCrete concrete poles with King Luminaire products to provide complete turnkey sports lighting solutions for any application.
- SpecGrade LEDcoreSpecGrade LED is recognized as one of the world's most respected manufacturers of reliable, precise, and innovative industrial, commercial, and roadway LED luminaires, designed and engineered to the industry's highest standards.
- Spencer Fabrications, Inc.coreSpencer Fabrications provides custom fabrication of arches, hardscapes, signage, wall/awning signs, and wayfinding signs with full design, engineering, graphic design, and fabrication capabilities.
- Sternberg LightingcoreSternberg Lighting provides UNRIVALED decorative LED lighting systems, URBANLINE contemporary roadway lighting, LED outdoor vintage and decorative lighting, ornamental poles and bollards, roadway poles, decorative traffic signal poles and mast arms, plus site amenities including street clocks, benches, trash receptacles, and mailboxes.
- StressCrete Poles (StressCrete Group)coreStressCrete Group provides spun concrete poles for lighting and roadway applications, offered as part of Ohio TLS's comprehensive pole product lineup.
- TerraCast ProductscoreTerraCast Products is included on the Ohio TLS line card as a manufacturer partner for Ohio DOT, municipal, and roadway lighting markets.
- VISCO, Inc.coreVISCO provides innovation resin-based commercial outdoor products including planters, site furnishings (benches, bike racks, picnic tables, trash receptacles), lighting and lamp posts (light pole deco bases, traffic support deco bases, small cell poles, custom 3D printed poles, deco arms, finials), ornamental cast iron and steel poles for roadway, streetscape, and traffic signal applications, ornamental bollards, and custom capabilities.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Dean & Assoc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rexel: Global electrical distribution group serving commercial, industrial, and public-sector customers with lighting and infrastructure product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose presence in Ohio overlaps with the same end-buyer types Ohio TLS serves, though via wholesale rather than agency representation.
- Graybar: Largest North American electrical, lighting, and comm-datacom distributor with a broad portfolio of roadway, traffic, and commercial lighting products. Comparable because it serves many of the same municipal/DOT/government buyer types with overlapping lighting and traffic hardware categories, although it operates as a wholesale distributor rather than a dedicated rep firm.
- Acuity Brands: Large North American lighting and building solutions manufacturer whose brands (Lithonia, Holophane, American Electric Lighting, DTL) compete directly with LEOTEK, Sternberg, and SpecGrade LED on Ohio municipal and DOT specifications. Comparable as the upstream manufacturer whose go-to-market decisions (including rep appointments) directly shape Ohio TLS's territory economics.
- Border States Electric: Regional electrical distributor with strong presence in the upper Midwest and significant traffic/roadway lighting exposure. Comparable because it sells similar categories of DOT and municipal lighting/pole/traffic hardware to overlapping buyer types, though as a distributor rather than an exclusive manufacturer's rep.
- Wesco International: Global electrical, communications, and utility distribution company serving government and infrastructure customers with roadway and traffic lighting categories. Comparable as a broad incumbent distributor operating in adjacent channels that occasionally competes with regional rep firms for large municipal accounts.
- Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting leader (formerly Philips Lighting) competing across roadway, decorative, and smart-city LED categories. Comparable as a competing manufacturer whose choice to use national reps, direct sales, or cooperative channels can disrupt Ohio TLS-style regional rep models.
- Hubbell Lighting: Lighting and electrical products manufacturer with established roadway and area-lighting lines (e.g., Kim Lighting, Beacon, Spaulding). Comparable as a competing brand whose specifications compete for share against Ohio TLS's represented lines on Ohio municipal and DOT projects.
- Eaton (Cooper Lighting Solutions): Diversified power-management company whose Cooper Lighting Solutions business competes in roadway, street lighting, and traffic hardware markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose channel and product strategy influences Ohio TLS's competitive positioning with Ohio DOT and municipalities.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Dean & Assoc. social profiles
Digital presenceDean & Assoc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dean & Assoc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Dean & Assoc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dean & Assoc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dean & Assoc.
What does Dean & Assoc. do?
Dean & Associates (operating as Ohio Traffic and Lighting Solutions, Inc.) is a manufacturer's representative firm that sells and specifies traffic, roadway, municipal, decorative, and commercial lighting equipment on behalf of 18+ manufacturers across the State of Ohio. The firm provides project-based quotation, order entry, sales coordination, and post-sale support, connecting manufacturer partners with Ohio DOT agencies, municipal governments, and commercial/industrial end customers through a regional team of account managers.
Is Dean & Assoc. a public or private company?
Dean & Assoc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dean & Assoc. founded?
Dean & Assoc. was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Dean & Assoc. based?
Dean & Assoc. is headquartered in Columbus, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dean & Assoc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: manufacturer Representative / Agency Commission.
Who are Dean & Assoc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rexel, Graybar, Acuity Brands, Border States Electric, Wesco International, Signify (Philips Lighting), Hubbell Lighting and Eaton (Cooper Lighting Solutions).
Does Dean & Assoc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dean & Assoc..
What industry is Dean & Assoc. in?
Dean & Assoc.'s product category is Traffic and Roadway Lighting Manufacturer Representation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIAHAC, Outdoor & Landscape Lighting Retail (Path, Flood, Security, Deck). Its NAICS code is 335139.