Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 9, 1993 TAG: 9305080053
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
When career counselors help people whose jobs are eliminated, they frequently suggest looking at small companies with growth opportunities, he said. A growing small business provides a better opportunity for careers, according to Jennings, a business analyst.
Jennings and his office, sponsored by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce, will observe Small Business Week this week. A financing sources seminar will be held Wednesday morning at the Radisson Patrick Henry Hotel and a luncheon Thursday at Holiday Inn-Central will recognize the Small Business Person and Small Business Advocate of the Year.
Nominations by business associates and friends came from among the almost 5,250 companies in Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt counties and Roanoke and Salem. Of the total of 5,355 companies in the region, almost 98 percent are small businesses, defined as outfits with fewer than 100 employees.
The Small Business Person award goes to someone demonstrating staying power, who provides growth in employment, increase in sales, financial strength, innovation of product or service, response to adversity and community service. The Small Business Advocate is recognized for voluntary effort, working to improve and acting as an effective spokesperson for small firms.
Bruce Wood, president of the Management Association of Western Virginia, an employer-employee relations organization, was the only nominee for Small Business Advocate. In the past two years, he sponsored more than 80 seminars for more than 2,885 people. Wood writes a biweekly newsletter and provides legislation information for small companies.
There are 10 nominees for the Small Business Person citation. They are Louis Scutellaro of Passport Furniture and Mario Industries; Robert Fetzer, Renovated Properties Ltd.; Linwood Metts, Heartfelt Inc.; Richard L. Jones Jr., an architect; Bruce L. Cody, Architectural Wood; Norma Gardner, Metropolitan Answering Service; Gail Godsey, Safeguard Business Systems; Scott Elich and David K. Johnson, Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea; and Joseph F. Miller, E.J. Construction Co.
Scutellaro heads a lamp manufacturing outfit employing 62, and a wholesaler of ready-to-assemble furniture with a dozen employees, both on 13th Street. Mario, moved here from New York City five years ago, has more than 300 lamp designs and sells to Spiegel, Walt Disney World Resorts and Bloomingdales. Passport designs furniture here for manufacture in Taiwan; its products are sold in more than 400 J.C. Penney Co. stores.
Fetzer, with partner Earle Shumate, found ways to convert dilapidated buildings into affordable housing, according to his nomination data. He met with groups to ensure that construction conformed with housing guidelines and met historical standards. The company renovated the 900 block of Campbell Avenue Southwest and manages 22 housing units for low- and moderate-income tenants.
Metts started Heartfelt six years ago. The company makes greeting cards and decorative framed pictures. Employing 36, Heartfelt reported first-quarter sales 200 percent ahead of last year. It plans to double manufacturing and warehouse space by the end of the year. Heartfelt developed a line of framed pictures for Hallmark Cards Inc.'s more than 6,000 Gold Crown stores.
Jones was the chief designer of Roanoke County Administration Center, Spring Hollow water treatment facility and motels in Rocky Mount and Covington. He computerized his office practice and uses building scale models as promotional tools.
Cody's firm specializes in custom architectural millwork, providing moldings, sash and doorwork and ornamental woodwork for such customers as the Library of Congress, the Homestead resort, Flushing Meadows Zoo and the Treasury Department. After a fire last year, the company quickly rebuilt.
Gardner's 24-hour-a-day telephone answering service has grown from 12 to 500 accounts and its switchboard was replaced by an automated computer system.
Godsey, a regional distributor, helps small companies set up bookkeeping and filing systems, payroll services and computer forms. Covering 26 counties, she was one of 28 distributors out of more than 700 whose sales won membership in the international firm's President's Club.
Elich and Johnson came to Roanoke in 1990 from Roadway Express jobs in Seattle, Wash. They opened their downtown Roanoke coffee and tea business and later expanded to Blacksburg and Richmond. Their European coffee houses offering roasted, ground and brewed coffee are open about 120 hours a week, employing about 50 people.
Miller operates a third-generation custom home building company in Salem. Constructing three to five homes a year, the firm enjoyed a waiting list during the recent real estate and building slump. He reported revenues 20 percent higher than a year ago and he is completing a half-million-dollar project and starting another of the same size.
George Kegley covers labor, economic development and regional industry for the Roanoke Times & World-News.
by CNB