It offers gamers and Esports fans 24 stations for hourly rental and a private room with six more stations.

JACKSON TWP. Video game and esports enthusiasts have a new location to test their skills.

Crit Hit Gamin, a video game LAN center, has opened at 4400 Portage St. NW near Interstate 77. Jason Pratt and Rebecca Lustig, husband and wife, opened the center at the end of January.

It features 24 battle stations for PC gaming loaded with 25 of the most popular video games. It also offers six additional game stations in a private room that can be used for esports practice, parties or private events.

Plans are to add either an Oculus Rift or an HTC Vive in the new future, Pratt and Lustig said. Also in the works is a private, soundproof booth to stream on Twitch.

Pratt and Lustig both are gamers and for several years considered opening a center. The opportunity came when they moved to the area to help Lustig's family. She grew up in Jackson Township and moved away to attend college. She met Pratt while both attended graduate school at Wayne State University in Michigan.

The couple's idea of opening a gaming center became reality when they came to Stark County. As they got started, they received guidance from the Small Business Development Center at Kent State University Stark campus.

"Gaming has always been a passion of mine," Pratt said. He modeled the business after a similar operation in Sioux Falls, N.D., where he grew up. Gamers pay an hourly rate to use the machines.

Growing interest in competitive esports prompted the addition of the private room. Pratt and Lustig said the space is good as a practice area for local teams, and noted that colleges and high schools are starting to create esports teams and competing in esports leagues.

For more information about Crit Hit Gaming, visit www.crithitgaming.com.

Kiko Co. expands

Auctioneer and realtors Kiko Co. has expanded into Summit and Medina county markets by teaming with Akron-based Young's Auction Service.

Founded by Bob and Tina Young in 2007, Young's Auction Service specializes in real estate, antiques and collectibles, firearms and weekly consignment auctions.

Dick Kiko Jr., chief executive officer, said the company tries to provide advice and options to sellers, with a commitment to integrity, collaboration and caring.

"Bob Young and his team at Young’s Auction Service exemplify this mission. As a family business themselves, they are committed to providing an exceptional experience for both buyers and sellers, treating everyone with honesty and respect," Kiko said, adding that he's excited to have the Youngs join the company.

Young will be a licensed auctioneer and realtor with Kiko, serving Akron, Medina and Wadsworth, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson, and Green and Barberton. He will focus on residential real estate, farms and land, commercial properties and quality collectibles. He also is licensed to help clients sell firearms. Young's Auction Center in Akron will continue to conduct consignment auctions at 6 p.m. each Friday.

Kiko Co. started in 1945 with Russell T. Kiko Sr. and his wife, Coletta, conducting sales at the family farm. The business has expanded to cover much of Ohio and parts of West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Last year Kiko sold more than $140 million in real estate and more than $20 million in personal property.

Timken Co. listed among most ethical

Ethisphere Institute once again has included Timken Co. among its listing of the world's most ethical companies.

It's the ninth time Timken has been on the list. Ethisphere recognized 128 honorees from 21 countries and 50 industries. Timken is one of only four companies honored in he industrial manufacturing category.

Richard G. Kyle, Timken president and CEO, thanked the company's 17,000 employees worldwide for demonstrating a commitment to ethics and integrity. "We are focused on making the world a better place through our products, services and actions, and doing the right thing every day, everywhere we do business," Kyle said in a statement.

According to Ethisphere, Timken and other organizations on the list show how companies continue to be a driving force for improving communities, building capable work forces and fostering corporate cultures focused on ethics.

"To be recognized nine times on our list puts Timken in rare company," Timothy Erblich, Ethisphere CEO, said in the statement. He said Timken employees embody the company's "commitment to operating with honesty, fairness, respect and responsibility all around the world."

Bolivar business expands

Ohio Billing is expanding as it marks 26 years of operations.

The Bolivar-based company provides billing services for fire and emergency medical service agencies around the state.

Terri L. Davis, who founded the company in 1993, said the business is growing and needs a larger location. It has about 25 employees and expects to add three to five more workers once its expansion is finished later this year.

Utica Midstream adds speaker

Sam Schupbach, vice president for gathering and processing in operations processing for MPLX, has been added to the list of speakers for the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce 2019 Utica Midstream program.

Schupbach will review MPLX operations, which includes MarkWest Energy Partners, in the Utica Shale formation. MPLX is tied to Marathon Petroleum Co.

The 2019 Utica Midstream is March 21 in the Barrette Center at Walsh University. The daylong program begins with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.cantonchamber.org/utica-midstream-2019.

Reach Edd at 330-580-8484 or edd.pritchard@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @epritchardREP