<PAGE>   1
24.1     POWERS OF ATTORNEY

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State 
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                                /s/ KENNETH P. FURLONG
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Kenneth P. Furlong
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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                                /s/ MICHAEL W. GARDNER
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Michael W. Gardner
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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                                     /s/ BOB BINSKY
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     Bob Binsky
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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                                  /s/ ALIDA L. BREEN
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Alida Breen
<PAGE>   5
'                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                                     /s/ M. RICHARD SULSER
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                     M. Richard Sulser
<PAGE>   6
                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned who is a director or officer of PH Group Inc., an Ohio
         corporation (the "Company");

Does hereby constitute and appoint Charles T. Sherman to be his agent and
         attorney-in fact;

With the power to act fully hereunder and with full power of substitution to act
         in the name and on behalf of the undersigned;

To sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission the annual report
         on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

To execute and deliver the annual report on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB and all
         instruments or reports necessary or in connection with the filing or
         amendments thereto, and generally to act for and in the name of the
         undersigned with respect to such fillings as fully as could the
         undersigned if then personally present and acting.

The agent named above is hereby empowered to determine in his discretion that
         times when, the purposes for which, and the names in which, any power
         conferred upon him herein shall be exercised and the terms and
         conditions of any instrument, certificate or document which may be
         executed by him pursuant to this instrument.

This Power of Attorney shall not be affected by the disability of the
         undersigned or the lapse of time.

The validity, terms and enforcement of the Power of Attorney shall be governed
         by those laws of the State of Ohio that apply to instruments
         negotiated, executed, delivered and performed solely within the State
         of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney this 9th day of
February, 1999.


                                               /s/ TERRY L. SANBORN
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Terry Sanborn