Tony Maas, president and CEO of J.T.M. Food Group, says he's as devoted to the business as he is to his Catholic faith, and he's quick to point out that the two are not mutually exclusive.
"I’m here to tell you, if you serve God first the money will follow,'' said the 61-year-old Maas, who for the past 33 years has been running the business that started in 1960 as a family-owned butcher shop in Delhi Township.
Maas has enjoyed the best of both worlds – secular and sacred – by allowing his faith to inform his business decisions and charitable giving, including donating 10% of the company's profits each year to Catholic ministries and other charitable organizations.
"It's a blessing that we can make an eternal difference with the business and a monetary difference with the business,'' Maas said during an interview from his office on the sprawling J.T.M. campus in Harrison.
Maas will be recognized for his business acumen and charitable giving as the winner of the 2021 Carl H. Lindner Award for Entrepreneurship and Civic Spirit.
The award is named for the late chairman of Downtown-based American Financial Group, who was known for his business and public accomplishments.
Maas, who will receive the award at a luncheon on Nov. 17, said he was "humbled'' for being recognized with the award, named for one of the families he admires most in Cincinnati.
"The Lindner family is unbelievable,'' he said. "They've helped this community like no other family, and they’re humble servants to this day. I’m just blessed to have this award in honor of their father.''
Like the Lindners', Maas' altruism has created a windfall for area churches and nonprofits over the years as well as his company and its approximately 650 employees.
J.T.M., which became known by its present name in 1980, is one of the nation's leading producers of fully cooked kettle products, such as burrito fillings, macaroni and cheese, sauces, soups and dips.
The company, which moved up from 55th last year to 51st on the 2021 Deloitte Cincinnati 100 list of the region’s largest privately held companies, has grown annual revenues from about $8 million in 1988 to more than $280 million this year, he said.
J.T.M. serves thousands of schools, restaurants, military and government organizations, food distributors and retailers throughout North America.
And Maas readily admits he spends most of his waking hours working or "worrying" about work, especially in today's business climate, marked by supply chain disruptions and product shortages that have made certain ingredients hard to come by.
"Just simple things like buying beef and pork and chicken; if you want something next week, you can't get it,'' Maas lamented. "Along with that, the price is way higher than it should be.''
Still, Maas continues to serve his customers with the same commitment and determination he credits for his success in business and in life.
“I believe you should never go to work, you should go to your life purpose,'' he said. "I’ve been blessed to have that here at J.T.M.''
While the business is constantly on his mind, Maas makes time for outside pursuits, including his love of sports.
“You’re not going to find a bigger Bengals fan than me,'' he said. "The Bengals, the Reds and UC Bearcats basketball are the three teams that I love.''
Maas, who coached basketball and other sports for 22 years at Our Lady of the Visitation Parish and School in Mack, said sports have taken him many places – including to "heaven.''
"Baseball Heaven" that is, or the annual week-long Reds Fantasy Camp for men and women held at the team's training camp in Goodyear, Arizona.
Maas said he's played on fantasy camp teams each year since 1989, except last year when the camp was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
And he's proud to say his teams have won four fantasy camp world championships.
"I love baseball,'' he said with a grin.
The winner's bio
Who: Tony Maas, president and CEO of JTM Food Group
Hometown: Delhi Township
Education: Elder High School
Family: Wife, Barb, and five adult children.
Business: J.T.M. is a food manufacturer specializing in kettle-cooked sauces, sides, dips and entrees.Founded in 1960 by Jack Maas Sr., JTM originated as Maas Brothers Meats and in 1974 was renamed Jack Maas Meats. To be reflective of the growth of the business, in 1980 the company became known by its present name, J.T.M. Food Group.
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