Deepwood Industries
Deepwood Industries, Inc. is a Mentor, Ohio-based vocational rehabilitation and employment services organization that places and supports individuals with developmental disabilities in paid community jobs across manufacturing, catering, cleaning, and laundry through its CES, JCR Imagine, and Willoughby Works programs, while running a small dog-treat retail line.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersMentor, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Deepwood Industries does
Deepwood Industries, Inc. is a regionally focused vocational rehabilitation and employment services organization headquartered in Mentor, Ohio (with a second facility in Willoughby) that places and supports individuals with developmental disabilities, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder, in paid community employment. Its core program portfolio is organized around three service lines: Community Employment Services (CES), which provides direct-hiring and individual/group employment contracts for industries such as manufacturing, catering, food service and prep, laundry, and cleaning; the Josef and Christine Roman (JCR) Imagine Program, which delivers individualized vocational habilitation, daily living skills, and community integration for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (backed by autism specialists and an in-house SLP); and Willoughby Works, which has run in-house piecework (packaging, heat sealing, shredding, mailing, assembly, packing, shipping) for more than 40 years. A branded consumer product line, Pieces of Imagination, sells all-natural dog treats (Pumpkin Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Banana flavors at $6 per bag) made by program participants, with proceeds funding training and educational events.
Commercially, Deepwood operates a primarily sales-led GTM motion through direct business contracting: CES and Willoughby Works bill employers for services performed or days/hours worked, with the Willoughby branch competing on turnaround time for piecework and larger assembly jobs. Pricing across CES contracts appears to be negotiable unit/hour billing rather than published SaaS-style tiers; dog-treat pricing is the only standardized, publicly listed unit price ($6 per 4 oz or 5 oz bag). Distribution mixes direct sales (to enterprise and SMB employers in Lake County and the broader Cleveland/NE-Ohio region), retail via three named pet stores (Barktown in Willoughby, Bailey's Bark in Eastlake, Unique Like Me in Painesville), and an on-site e-commerce storefront for local pickup. Customer relationships are unusually long-tailed: named clients include Ladies and Gentlemen Salons and Spa (25+ years, laundry), Center for Pastoral Leadership (20 years, support staff), Carver Financial Services, Lake County Title Bureau, Rad Air, Lantern of Madison, Food For Thought, and newer additions Steris, Supply Technologies, and Silco Inc.
The company is affiliated with the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Lake BDD; JCR program contact uses a lakebdd.org email), which shapes its referral and, likely, its funding base. The firm operates as a private Ohio corporation with an Inc. designation, has no disclosed venture or growth-equity funding, no AI/ML technology surface, no mobile apps, and no proprietary software beyond a WordPress-based marketing site. Leadership is led by Executive Director Mitchell Berman with an Adult Services Director (Johanna Patena), a Business Manager (Phyllis Hanson), and program-level Adult Services Managers across CES, JCR, and Willoughby Works; the wider team is comprised substantially of job coaches, autism specialists, an SLP, procurement, and shipping/receiving roles, consistent with a labor-intensive service delivery model.
Deepwood Industries firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Deepwood Industries
- Legal name
- Deepwood Industries, Inc.
- Website
- https://deepwoodindustries.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Deepwood Industries, Inc. is a Mentor, Ohio-based vocational rehabilitation and employment services organization that places and supports individuals with developmental disabilities in paid community jobs across manufacturing, catering, cleaning, and laundry through its CES, JCR Imagine, and Willoughby Works programs, while running a small dog-treat retail line.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Deepwood Industries industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where Deepwood Industries is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mentor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Deepwood Industries business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dog Treat Sales (Pieces of Imagination): The Pieces of Imagination dog treat business sells homemade dog treats made by individuals with Autism. All proceeds go back into the program to fund events, skills training, and educational training. Products include Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats ($6.00) and Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats ($6.00).
- Community Employment Services (CES) Contracts: CES provides employment services to businesses through direct hiring and individual/group employment contracts. Services include manufacturing, catering, food service and prep, laundry and cleaning. Employers are billed for services provided.
- Willoughby Works Contracted Work: Willoughby Works provides contracted in-house work including piecework, packaging, heat sealing, shredding, mailing, assembly for manufacturing, and shipping. Services are provided to companies needing jobs completed in a timely manner.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual dog treat bags at $6.00 each |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Deepwood Industries product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Deepwood Industries provides vocational rehabilitation and employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its core offerings include Community Employment Services (CES), which places workers in community jobs across manufacturing, catering, food service, laundry, and cleaning; the JCR Imagine Program for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder; and Willoughby Works for in-house contracted work such as packaging, assembly, heat sealing, shredding, and shipping. The organization also produces and sells the Pieces of Imagination line of artisanal dog treats.
Product overview
Deepwood Industries operates as a vocational rehabilitation and employment services organization offering multiple programs. The core offerings include the Pieces of Imagination Dog Treats product line (featuring Pumpkin Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats sold at $6.00 each), Community Employment Services (CES) for community-based employment placement, the JCR Imagine Program for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder focusing on vocational habilitation, and Willoughby Works providing in-house contracted manufacturing and assembly work. All programs aim to provide employment, vocational training, and community integration opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- JCR Imagine Program: The Josef and Christine Roman (JCR) Imagine Program offers individualized services focusing on vocational habilitation, contracted work in-house, daily living skills, and community integration opportunities for adults who have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Community Employment Services (CES)
- Willoughby Works
- Pieces of Imagination Dog Treat Business
Products and services
- Community Employment Services (CES) Employment placement and workforce services that place individuals with developmental disabilities into community jobs across manufacturing, catering, food service, laundry, and cleaning. Offers direct hiring, individual contracts, and group employment models with job coach training and ongoing follow-ups every 3-4 weeks.
- JCR Imagine Program Individualized vocational and life-skills program for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder covering vocational habilitation, contracted in-house work, daily living skills, and community integration. Supports participants with autism specialists, senior autism specialists, and speech-language pathology services.
- Willoughby Works In-house contracted work services providing piecework and large short- and long-term jobs including shredding, assembly, mailings, sealing, packing, packaging, heat sealing, and shipping for community companies. Operated from the Willoughby, Ohio facility for more than 40 years.
- Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats Artisanal all-natural dog treats made by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, featuring whole wheat flour, eggs, pumpkin puree, peanut butter, salt, and ground cinnamon. Sold in 4 oz. bags in bone and heart shapes for $6.00. Available online and at local pet retail stores.
- Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats All-natural softer dog treats made by individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder using ground oats, eggs, peanut butter, and bananas. Sold in 5 oz. bags in puzzle piece and heart shapes for $6.00, designed to break in half easily.
Companies that use Deepwood Industries
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Deepwood Industries technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Deepwood Industries partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SteriscoreCurrent work contract with JCR Imagine Program. Steris provides contracted work in-house for local businesses, allowing individuals to gain valuable work skills and take pride in finished products.
- Supply TechnologiescoreCurrent work contract with JCR Imagine Program. Supply Technologies of Cleveland provides contracted work opportunities for individuals with autism.
- Silco Inc.coreCommunity Employment Services recently entered a contract with Silco Inc. in Mentor to package product. CES individuals are working four full days each week.
- BarktowncoreRetail partner selling JCR Imagine Program dog treats in Willoughby location.
- Bailey's BarkcoreRetail partner selling JCR Imagine Program dog treats in Eastlake location.
- Unique Like MecoreRetail partner selling JCR Imagine Program dog treats in Painesville location.
- Fred Astaire Dance StudiominorNew cleaning site added to Community Employment Services. Provides employment opportunities for individuals in the program.
- Lake County Council on AgingminorNew cleaning site added to Community Employment Services. Provides employment opportunities for individuals in the program.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Deepwood Industries competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Melwood: Nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation, community employment, and contract services (packaging, landscaping, staffing) to people with disabilities. Closest one-to-one comparable combining the same three revenue models Deepwood operates.
- Penn-Mar Human Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing community employment, vocational training, and contracted packaging/manufacturing services for people with developmental disabilities. Comparable regional nonprofit with similar service mix.
- RHA Health Services: Provider of vocational, behavioral, and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across multiple states. Comparable on supported-employment and developmental-disability focus.
- Opportunity Partners: Minnesota-based nonprofit offering vocational rehabilitation, community employment, and contracted business services for people with disabilities. Closely mirrors Deepwood's three-program structure at a similar regional scale.
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit operating jobs and supported-employment programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Highly comparable on participant profile and the autism-inclusive employment proposition.
Broad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries International: Largest US nonprofit operator of vocational and employment services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Operates similar community placement, contracted services, and retail (thrift) models at national scale.
- SourceAmerica (formerly AbilityOne): Federally authorized nonprofit that connects people with disabilities to employment via contracted services (packaging, assembly, mailings — the same categories as Willoughby Works). Direct comparator on the contracted-work side of the business.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing employment, vocational, and community-living services to people with disabilities including autism. Comparable mission focus and disability-employment program structure.
Others
- The Arc: National advocacy and service network for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable on participant population and employment-policy focus, though structured as an advocacy/affiliate network rather than a direct service operator.
Regional players
- LifeBridge Community Services: Regional provider of vocational and day-program services for adults with developmental disabilities. Comparable mission and program design though operating in a different (New York) geography from Deepwood's Ohio base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Deepwood Industries social profiles
Digital presenceDeepwood Industries financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Deepwood Industries leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Deepwood Industries funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Deepwood Industries 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 Deepwood Industries
What does Deepwood Industries do?
Deepwood Industries provides vocational rehabilitation and employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its core offerings include Community Employment Services (CES), which places workers in community jobs across manufacturing, catering, food service, laundry, and cleaning; the JCR Imagine Program for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder; and Willoughby Works for in-house contracted work such as packaging, assembly, heat sealing, shredding, and shipping. The organization also produces and sells the Pieces of Imagination line of artisanal dog treats.
Is Deepwood Industries a public or private company?
Deepwood Industries is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Deepwood Industries founded?
Deepwood Industries was founded in 1983. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Deepwood Industries based?
Deepwood Industries is headquartered in Mentor, United States, in the North America region.
How does Deepwood Industries make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dog Treat Sales (Pieces of Imagination) is the primary driver. The others are community Employment Services (CES) Contracts and willoughby Works Contracted Work.
Who are Deepwood Industries's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Melwood, Penn-Mar Human Services, RHA Health Services, Opportunity Partners and Best Buddies International. Broad incumbents are Goodwill Industries International, SourceAmerica (formerly AbilityOne) and Easterseals. The Arc is listed as an others. LifeBridge Community Services is listed as a regional player.
Does Deepwood Industries have an API?
No public API is recorded for Deepwood Industries.
What industry is Deepwood Industries in?
Deepwood Industries's product category is Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 6243 and its SIC code is 7361.