Title: Founder and Owner
Company: Gifts That Give Back
Location: Rockbridge, Ohio, United States
Ms. Cassie Davis, Founder and Owner at Gifts That Give Back and Owner of Surface Tech Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Retail Business Management and Construction.
Over the past decade, Ms. Davis has distinguished herself as a leader in the retail, hospitality and construction sectors. In 2016, she established Gifts That Give Back in Logan, Ohio, structuring it as a limited liability company based on legal counsel to maximize operational flexibility while maintaining a strong social mission. This structure enabled Ms. Davis to balance raising three children and managing three joint family businesses with her husband without the administrative demands of a nonprofit board. The venture began as an annual vendor market featuring local artisans whose handmade goods support charitable causes. Entry fees from attendees have provided vital resources to food pantries, homeless shelters and adopting families facing significant financial barriers.
Driven by a commitment to serve marginalized communities both locally and globally, Ms. Davis expanded the initiative into two ethical retail storefronts under the same name. She has grown her supply chain from three initial artisan groups to over 145 partnerships spanning 45 countries, including the United States. Ms. Davis’s expertise in business management is evident in her ability to manage operations across storefronts located up to three hours apart in Ohio’s primary tourist regions, Hocking Hills and Lake Erie shores, while operating primarily from a home office. Her responsibilities include overseeing daily logistics, such as inventory control, social media management, website updates, store design and product replenishment. Ms. Davis also continuously scouts and builds partnerships with local and international artisan groups to create dignified employment opportunities for individuals in impoverished situations.
The impact of Ms. Davis’s work is far-reaching. Through Gifts That Give Back’s markets and storefronts, she has helped relieve financial burdens for seven families pursuing adoption, provided essential aid to feed the hungry and house the homeless, and disrupted cycles of generational poverty by facilitating dignified work for vulnerable populations. Ms. Davis credits these achievements to the collective efforts of her community of supporters and considers it an honor to contribute to this enduring legacy of positive change.
In addition to her role at Gifts That Give Back, Ms. Davis has served as the owner of Surface Tech Inc. in Columbus since 2009. This large subcontracting company operates within the greater Columbus area and serves as her family’s primary source of income. A trusted vendor, Ms. Davis’s team repairs and resurfaces solid surfaces, including wood floors, countertops and cabinets, as well as baths and sinks, tile and much more.
Apart from her work in these sectors, Ms. Davis manages a hospitality enterprise that oversees short-term Airbnb rentals located above her storefronts. These were designed to help offset building maintenance and operational expenses.
Ms. Davis began her career in 2005 as a technical educator in the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Fairfield Medical Center. Her early roles also included consulting for Cardiva Medical, now Haemonetics Corporation, between 2006 and 2008. From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Davis worked as a clinical sales associate II at Spectranetics within Philips Healthcare, gaining valuable experience in medical device sales. She also worked as an AMT at Cardinal Health between 2013 and 2016.
Ms. Davis’s academic accomplishments have played a foundational role in her success across multiple industries. She received an Associate of Applied Science at Hocking College in 2002 and an Associate of Applied Science in radiologic technology as the valedictorian of her class from Washington State Community College, now Washington State College of Ohio, in 2005. Additionally, she secured a bachelor’s degree in business management, with honors, from Ohio Christian University in 2009. These credentials equipped Ms. Davis with both scientific rigor and business acumen, qualities that have enabled her to excel as an entrepreneur and leader.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Davis maintains active involvement with civic-minded organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity International and local homeless shelters and food pantries, including the SE Ohio Food Bank. She also sponsors children through Compassion International and World Vision International, further reflecting her dedication to service both locally and abroad. In 2019, Ms. Davis began serving as an ambassador for Mercy House Global. In this capacity, she has furthered her commitment to ethical employment initiatives worldwide.
Ms. Davis attributes her success not only to professional expertise but also to a fundamental belief that people possess good hearts and want to help others when given clear avenues for action. Rejecting negative perceptions about human nature, she has built Gifts That Give Back around the principles “Shop with Purpose” and “Love Your Neighbor,” encouraging customers to make small changes that collectively drive significant impact.
Looking ahead, Ms. Davis intends to continue expanding Gifts That Give Back by adding additional storefronts and growing the vendor market’s reach, enabling more families to benefit from its mission-driven model. She is particularly focused on deepening support for adoptive families amid ongoing needs for safe homes for children worldwide. Notably, plans are underway to enhance the organization’s online presence, allowing its impact to extend beyond current geographic boundaries. However, growth remains paced by available funding resources at this time. Additionally, Ms. Davis hopes to join the Fair Trade Federation as part of ongoing efforts toward ethical commerce.
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