Valley companies defy recession, win Chamber awards for growth

The chamber honored 10 companies for their business growth last year.

By Don Shilling

BOARDMAN — Jet Stream International has relied on old-fashioned customer service to do something difficult during a recession — grow.

The Niles maker of metal supports for pipe and wire conduits increased sales by about 20 percent last year and about the same amount this year. The 28-person company added four workers last year to meet increased orders.

James Constas, operations manager for Jet Stream, said the company focuses on making custom products that its customers need and delivering them quickly.

Jet Stream was one of 10 companies honored Thursday by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce at its annual Growth Awards breakfast.

Jet Stream received the Pinnacle Award for greatest increase in sales among companies with fewer than 100 employees.

It also was honored for its increase in employees and was presented with the Globe Award for largest increase in exports.

Constas said the company has more customers in Canada and South America.

Its supports are used in hospitals and factories as well as bridges and tunnels.

Jet Stream was founded in 2002 by these four partners: Ed Rumble, company president, Ron Goodemote, maintenance manager; John Isbill, sales manager; and Constas.

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, keynote speaker for the awards breakfast, said the recession has hurt many people in Ohio, but the companies who were honored show that business success still is possible.

“There is no reason to be pessimistic, and the Valley is the best example of that,” he said.

He noted that the area has been hit hard with job losses in recent decades, and yet Entrepreneur magazine recently ranked Youngstown as one of the nation’s 10 best places to start a business.

One of the main reasons for the ranking is the growth of Turning Technologies of Youngstown, which started in the Youngstown Business Incubator. The company, which produces audience response systems, was founded in 2002 and has grown to more than 140 employees.

Turning Technologies was honored with Pinnacle Awards for its growth in sales and employees last year.

Fisher said Turning Technologies and the other honorees have succeeded by living within their means during these tough economic times but also having the foresight to invest in areas that provide business growth.

He said the state is moving in the same direction by trying to foster business growth in emerging industries, such as polymers and alternative energy.

shilling@vindy.com

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber presented Growth Awards to these companies, with Pinnacle Awards going to leaders in the first two categories:

Increase in employees

Bodine Perry of Canfield, Pinnacle Award (fewer than 100 employees)

Turning Technologies of Youngstown, Pinnacle Award (more than 100 employees)

ATC Healthcare Services of Liberty

Data Recovery Systems of Youngstown

Jet Stream International of Niles

Increases in sales

Jet Stream International, Pinnacle Award (fewer than 100 employees)

Turning Technologies, Pinnacle Award (more than 100 employees)

ATC Healthcare Services

Bodine Perry

Converse All Steel Services of Canfield

J. Arnold and Associates of Boardman

Quality Switch of Newton Falls

Increase in export sales

Jet Stream International, Globe Award

IES Systems of Canfield

Quality Switch

Emerging Business Award

Vienna Pharmacy Care of Vienna

Human Resource Development Award

Farmers National Bank of Canfield