Wikipedia
Horizons Companies is a media content development and video production firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio that creates and produces broadcast television programming, television and radio advertisements, web sites and other audiovisual elements for corporate, governmental and educational entities.
The company was founded in 1984 by Donald A. Lee as Horizons Video and Film, and began operating out of small office in Upper Arlington, Ohio. In 1994, the firm changed its name to Horizons Companies and moved its operations into a former 1930's arc deco movie theater in Columbus, Ohio. The former theater, originally called the Arlington Theater, was opened on June 1, 1935 by Clarence MacDonald and its first feature presentation was West Point of the Air starring Wallace Beery, Robert Young, Maureen O'Sullivan and Rosalind Russell. The theater went dark in 1950, and was completely refurbished by Don Lee into a production facility with editing rooms, an audio recording suite and a sound stage. The art deco elements of the theater were retained, however, as were the ticket booth and the holes in the wall of the projection room. In 1996, Horizons opened branch offices in Nashville, Tennessee and San Diego, California. Following additional growth in the 1990s, Horizons converted and moved into a English manor previously owned by real-estate mogul turned convicted felon Albert J. DeSantis. Today, the company operates its production services out of what were once the horse barns, stables and riding arena on DeSantis' property.
In 1999, Horizons produced an enhanced CD for the album Steady On by contemporary Christian music artist Point of Grace. The enhanced CD received the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for Best Enhanced CD. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Horizons created a subsidiary music publishing and artist management company called Grandma Katherine's Music. This subsidiary produced a number of music CD's, including "Unadorned" (1997) and "Breathe" (2001) by Chuck Brown, "Ghost Towns and Kingdoms" (1999) and "This Grand Parade" (2000) by Fred Haring, Yankee Celtiac Consort's "Wander the Wood" (1997), John Morgan and Friends' "Stories" (1999). Additionally, Horizons produced CD albums for Watershed ("Star Vehicle", Thundercreek Records, 1998), and Tim Easton ("Special Twenty", Heathen Records, 1998), Neil Jacobs ("World Blue", Adena Productions, 1999). In 1997, Horizons produced an enhanced CD for contemporary Christian artists Caedmon's Call's "Intimate Portrait".
Horizons Companies' growth and success was recognized in 2000 with founder/owner Don Lee being named as a Technology Finalist for the 2000 Columbus and Central Ohio Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Between 2000 and 2006, Horizons Companies created and produced an episodic documentary television series about the history, tradition and personalities of Ohio State University football. The series, titled Buckeye Classics, was broadcast throughout the state of Ohio on network affiliate stations and on the statewide cable channel Fox Sports Ohio. During its run, the writer and editor of Buckeye Classics received several Emmy awards from the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
In 2001, Horizons Companies was prominently featured as a case study in a college textbook for students of business and management. Chapters within the textbook included "Horizons: A Values-Based Company With a Bright, Yet Challenging Future", "Horizons: Mission, Strategies for Growth, and Decision Making", "Horizons: The Importance of People, Human Resource Management, and a Strong Corporate Culture", "Horizons: Leadership, Communications and Motivation", "Horizons: Standing at the Crossroads"
Horizons Education, a division within Horizons Companies, creates educational media products for publishing companies. In 2003, a music video DVD for infants and toddlers, '' Noodlebug: Animal Friends'', was honored with a Gold Award from Parents' Choice, which reviews and recommends books and toys for children. In 2009, another Horizons Education product for elementary school students, '' Snapshots: Simply Science'', was recognized with a Distinguished Achievement Award by the Association of Educational Publishers.
In 2004, Horizons Companies' camera crews were called upon to help document the Ohio campaign activities of presidential candidates John Kerry and George W. Bush for a feature film documentary entitled ...''So Goes the Nation ''.