Our History

Cousino Communications expands Toledo-based business to Columbus and Steve Bartha relocates to Columbus to oversee the expansion. They open shop at 1946 High Street.

Bernie Cousino decides to pull his business out of Columbus. Instead, Steve Bartha purchases the business and renames it Bartha Visual Educational Service. The company sells and rents film projectors, portable sound systems, filmstrip projectors, and slide projectors.

Bartha expands from a two person operation hiring Walt Fritz, an up-and-coming typewriter salesman.

Through the remainder of the 1960s Walt and Steve grow the business through sales and AV rentals, following the demand of their customers.

Steve Bartha suddenly passes away from a heart attack at age 56. This creates a question of who will take over the family business. Defying the convention of the time, Steve’s wife Mildred takes over the company herself. Over the next 25 years, Mildred and Walt grow the business through sales.

Mildred makes a strategic move for the business and the Bartha office moves from High Street to 1404 Holly Ave. and grows from 3 employees to 18 employees.

Jim Bartha joins the family business as a salesman.

Bartha hires Dan Bashore in the shipping and receiving department. Dan grew the department from the delivery and setup of small systems to something more complex – and saw the potential to sell a service to clients in addition to the equipment.

In the late 1980s, Bartha does traveling shows for State Auto Insurance. It’s through the growth of these events that Dan sees the opportunity to actively pursue more meetings like this and become a national, traveling company.

Bartha moves from Holly Avenue to Indianola Avenue. Bartha begins to have a national presence in the industry and continues to grow.

As the rental and staging side of the business takes off, Jim Bartha is ready for a change. Dan Bashore proposes that he can purchase Bartha, keep the name and the people, and grow the business with the same commitment to quality and service that has made it successful thus far. Bartha is purchased by BKG Holdings, LLC (Dan Bashore, John Killacky, and Tom Gabbert).

Bartha moves from Indianola Avenue to 600 N. Cassady Avenue, where it remains today.

Bartha begins to build a production team that is dedicated specifically to the creative content of our events. This includes set designs, motion graphics, HD video production and art direction and grows over the years to also include animations and event branding.

Bartha creates a dedicated video production department. This allows for the production of video content for clients to be completed in-house making Bartha a truly full-service staging company.

Bartha produces over 300 shows and grows to over 50 employees.

Bartha celebrates 70 years in business.

The COVID-19 pandemic devastates the live event industry, but Bartha perseveres with virtual adaptations.

Bartha celebrates 75 years in business.