CLEVELAND — Northeast Ohio and, more specifically, the city of Parma has the highest concentration of residents of Ukrainian descent, more than anywhere else in Ohio. Since their arrival in the latter part of the 19th Century and multiple waves scattered across the 20th Century, Ukrainian-Americans have raised families, built businesses and have had an indelible impact. Prompted by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, a Cleveland business stands ready to welcome the newest wave of refugees.
Dobronos said his company, Architectural Fiberglass Inc., just acquired another fiberglass manufacturing firm out of Pennsylvania. The deal is expected to close in just a few weeks. Business, he said, is about to double.“I opened my mouth at a church meeting and said, ‘why don’t you do this? Or that?’” Dobronos said. “They said, ‘great, why don’t you take charge of it?’”
“They told me, ‘here is the formula. You do it on your own.’ That’s how I got started basically,” Dobronos said. “From there it kind of grew, all basically through word of mouth.” “She actually kicked me out of the place when I first came in,” Dave Woznak said. “I said I wanted to see the museum and she said we’re closed and slammed the door in my face."“I knew we were going to be together. He’s my soul… He came over the Atlantic to find me… even though I slammed the door in his face.”
“We try to get them affiliated with the butcher, the grocery store, and the pharmacy so they can feel at home,” Michael G. Dobronos said. “Then, when coming to work here, there’s somebody that they can have lunch with and go on break with that speaks their language. It gives them a warm feeling that a little bit of home is with them.”
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine three weeks ago, that family has been needed more than ever. Although the opening salvos of the unprovoked attack on the former Soviet country largely focused on the eastern part of Ukraine, Putin’s army has intensified attacks on civilian targets, including those on the western side of the country.