Beyond the numbers: How Rea Business Advisors is powering the digital future

Wayne County is known for what it builds, products that move across the country and around the world. But behind every production line, shipping schedule and customer order is something less visible, yet equally essential: technology. Increasingly, the strength of a company’s IT infrastructure determines how efficiently it can compete and plan for the future. For Rea Business Advisors, helping businesses strengthen that digital foundation is not a new direction, but a natural extension of a legacy built on trusted guidance.

Founded in 1938, Rea & Associates began when Richard Rea, an accountant furloughed from a Cleveland firm, returned to his hometown of New Philadelphia and recognized that local businesses needed reliable financial information to secure bank financing. What started as a commitment to meeting that need has grown into one of Ohio’s largest business advisory firms, now employing more than 450 professionals across 15 offices, including its Wayne County location in Wooster.

While long known for tax, accounting, and audit expertise, Rea has evolved well beyond traditional services. With a refreshed brand as Rea Business Advisors and a renewed focus on strategic guidance, the firm has built specialized teams designed to help companies navigate complexity, strengthen operations, and position themselves for long-term success, including a rapidly growing information technology division.

Rea’s expansion into IT services grew naturally from its commitment to supporting clients beyond traditional accounting functions. As businesses became more reliant on technology, the need for strategic IT guidance became clear. By applying the same relationship-driven philosophy used in its accounting services, Rea began helping organizations navigate the growing complexities of technology, cybersecurity, and risk management.

Initially launching cybersecurity-focused services in 2018, Rea concentrated on IT audits that identified vulnerabilities and security gaps within client environments. These audits helped organizations understand potential risks and created action plans to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.

By 2021, Rea expanded its offerings to include fully managed IT support services. To further strengthen its capabilities, in November of 2022, Rea merged with ARCIS, an IT services company with two decades of experience. The merger brought 15 experienced team members to the firm, and today, Rea Business Advisors delivers its managed IT, cybersecurity, and technology advisory services in-house through its dedicated IT division, Rea Information Services (RIS). To date, RIS has grown to 31 professionals serving approximately 100 clients across various levels of service throughout the firm.

The RIS team provides flexible IT services tailored to each organization’s needs. For some clients, the team serves as a fully outsourced IT department, handling everything from workstation support to cybersecurity and risk management. In other cases, RIS works alongside an organization’s internal IT team through co-managed services, allowing internal staff to focus on strategic initiatives while RIS supports day-to-day maintenance and infrastructure.

In addition to traditional IT support, RIS offers data analytics and advisory services that help businesses better understand and leverage their data to make informed decisions. With artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly emerging as a major focus across industries, RIS also helps clients evaluate, implement, and safely integrate AI technologies while managing associated risks. “We meet our clients where they are and make technology work for them,” said Jeff Rapp, principal and director of Rea Information Services. “Our goal is to remove the burden of IT, so they can focus on running their business. When we’re doing our job well, technology becomes one less thing they have to worry about.”

“What sets RIS apart is its business-first philosophy,” said Rapp. “Rather than leading with technology solutions, our team begins by understanding each client’s goals, challenges, and competitive advantages. From there, strategies are developed to support and enhance business performance.”

Education is also a core component of Rea’s IT services. The team regularly hosts workshops, training sessions, and community events to help businesses better understand how technology can drive growth while minimizing risk. “We really feel that investing in Wayne County can help strengthen the entire community,” said Rapp.

The RIS team supports a wide range of industries, with particularly strong representation in manufacturing. “Roughly 40% of our clients are in manufacturing,” Rapp stated. “However, we are also strong in trucking and logistics, healthcare, dental and medical offices, professional services, retail, hospitality, and legal services. Our team sees technology in many different industries, which helps them improve their knowledge and service for all our clients.”

While RIS serves organizations nationwide, its strongest client base remains in Northeast Ohio, particularly in Wayne, Holmes, and Stark counties. Rea operates 13 offices across Ohio and two in Florida. “I hope clients see us more than just a technology services team,” said Rapp. “Rather, I hope they see us as trusted advisors.”

As technology continues to evolve, RIS anticipates AI will play a significant role in shaping the future of business operations. Rather than replacing employees, RIS sees AI as a tool that enhances productivity, automates routine tasks, and allows employees to focus on value-add efforts within their organizations.

The team is also expanding services such as compliance support, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements in industries like healthcare and manufacturing-related activities with the Department of Defense. As RIS grows, maintaining its relationship-focused, community-centered approach remains a top priority.

RIS serves organizations ranging from small businesses with just a few employees to large corporations. While its primary focus is small to mid-sized companies, the team works with organizations of all sizes by tailoring services to match their needs and goals. “We value every client relationship and prioritize building trust, with many partnerships spanning more than 20 years,” added Rapp.

At its core, the mission of RIS is to simplify technology, reduce risk and allow business leaders to focus on what they do best. In a county known for what it builds, RIS works behind the scenes to strengthen the digital infrastructure that keeps those businesses moving forward. By combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of IT and business operations, RIS continues to help organizations thrive in an increasingly connected world.

As part of Rea, RIS continues the firm’s long-standing commitment to trusted, relationship-driven guidance. To learn more about RIS, visit reamanaged.com