Akron-Canton, OH –The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance (ACAA) is pleased to announce that Dwayne Groll, CEO of Environmental Design Group and ACAA co-chair, was honored with the 2025 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award through the National Small Business Association (NSBA).
This prestigious, national award recognizes a U.S. small business leader committed to advocating for the small-business community and whose work extends beyond the issues and policies that impact their own business or industry. Recipients also demonstrate a history of engagement in industry, civic and other volunteer efforts to advance and improve small business. Groll was among four finalists for the award from a highly competitive group of business leaders from across the country.
“Dwayne’s recognition as Advocate of the Year reflects his relentless commitment to making this region a better place for businesses to grow and thrive,” said Jeff Dafler, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce. “His leadership with the Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance has elevated the voice of small business and shown how collaboration across chambers and industries can drive meaningful change. We’re proud to have a leader like Dwayne shaping the future of our business community.”
“This national recognition is a true testament to Dwayne’s leadership not only as a business owner who has experienced growth and success over the last several years, but also his leadership as co-chair of the Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance and a champion of action to improve the operating environment for the business community,” said Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. “We are fortunate to have a leader like Dwayne in our community.”
For many years, Groll has been instrumental in many advocacy efforts aimed at advancing and improving the overall small-business community through policy and legislation. Most notably,
Groll led a coalition to suspend the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), effectively eliminating harsh penalties on small businesses; streamline the certification process for minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned enterprises (MBE/WBE/VBE); and direct a regional campaign to oppose burdensome R&D tax credit amortization rules. These efforts included direct lobbying efforts through meetings, letters, op eds, and social media campaigns that leveraged video content and podcast episodes. His work was well received by allies in the legislature and helped inform positive results on all three issues.
Through his leadership of the ACAA, Groll plays a pivotal role in chairing a dedicated group of business leaders who invest significant time to engage with elected officials at the local, state, and federal level to help them understand the needs and act in support of the business community. He was also a key architect of the ACAA’s public policy agenda focusing on lowering costs, improving tax laws, expanding support for MBE/WBE/VBE firms, and strengthening workforce and innovation opportunities for small businesses in the region. His strategic efforts have made the ACAA a go-to resource for small business advocacy and helped ensure the Akron-Canton region received its fair share of support from state and federal grant programs, such as the Ohio Innovation Hub Grant Program and the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs Program.
These accomplishments demonstrate Groll’s commitment to leveraging regional partnerships for the greater good, advancing economic opportunities for the Akron-Canton region, and improving the operating environment for our region’s businesses.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award on behalf of our community. The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance, along with its dedicated team of community leaders who give their time and energy, has demonstrated that when chambers, businesses, and policymakers collaborate, meaningful change is achievable,” said Groll. “Ohio’s future is bright because of this spirit of cooperation and commitment, which is laying the foundation for lasting success and positioning our state as a national leader in entrepreneurship and small business.”
Groll was formally recognized at the NSBA Washington Presentation held September 10-11, 2025. The annual event is designed to convene small business leaders in Washington, D.C. to discuss policy and connect directly with Members of Congress, Administration officials, and other key decision makers on the most pressing issues facing the nation’s small and mid-sized businesses. For more information on NSBA, visit nsbaadvocate.org.
To commemorate Dwayne’s achievement, a series of congressional proclamations were provided by U.S. Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, and U.S. Representatives Max Miller, and Mike Rulli. U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes also honored Groll during her recent remarks on the House Floor.