REGIONAL CHAMBER Pool company makes a splash

The Fabulous 20 awards honor the region's fastest-growing small businesses.
By CYNTHIA VINARSKY
VINDICATOR BUSINESS WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Swimming-pool and hot-tub dealers have had a tough year across Northeast Ohio -- unusually rainy weather and a sluggish economy have forced overall industry sales down 25 percent.
That's what makes Steve Bayer's success even more exceptional. The owner of Caribbean Pools & amp; Hot Tubs in Austintown says his sales are up 27 percent so far this year.
Bayer's retail pool and hot-tub store was recognized this morning as the region's Emerging Business of 2003, one of more than 20 small businesses honored at the 12th annual Greater Mahoning Valley Fabulous 20 awards.
Sponsored by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the Williamson College of Business at Youngstown State University, the awards celebrate the Valley's fastest-growing for-profit companies in four categories.
Nominees need not be based locally but must have significant operations in Trumbull, Mahoning or Columbiana counties and must generate annual revenues exceeding $500,000.
Thriving on referrals
The Emerging Business award goes to a high-performing new business. Founded in 2001, Caribbean Pools & amp; Hot Tubs qualifies.
"I don't want to jinx myself, but we've grown in hot tubs and grown in pools," said Bayer, who started his own business after working for several years as an employee at two of the area's largest pool retailers.
"We're not looking to be the biggest pool store, that's for sure, but we're big on personal service. Fifty percent of our business has come in from referrals."
Event planners also added a Human Resource Development Award, now in its second year, to recognize companies making significant investments in employee development.
Building the region
Keynote speaker for the breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Boardman was Randall T. Kempner, acting executive director of a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Council on Competitiveness to foster economic growth in selected regions around the country.
The project, called the Center for Regional Innovation, is including Northeast Ohio among the three regions it is working with this year.
Kempner urged the audience of about 250 area business leaders to change their focus, working to build the talent the region already has rather than trying to attract new large employers. He said Northeast Ohio in general has a problem with "brain drain" -- educated, talented people's leaving the area.
"You've got to develop local talent first," he said. "There's a lot of talent-chasing going on around the country, and you can't move a factory as easily as you can move a person."
To keep its talented people here, he said, leaders should look for ways to improve the quality of life. That can mean traditional amenities such as operas, art museums, parks and walking trails, he said, but it can also mean creative, unusual events to foster community spirit and friendship.
He said diversity and a tolerant environment are also important to attract and keep talent. "Willingness to take risks and appreciation for diversity: These are attitudes that support innovation," he said.
vinarsky@vindy.com