Founded in 1984: Innovation Builds DeSalvo Construction
HUBBARD, Ohio – Inside a 6,000-square-foot warehouse behind the headquarters of DeSalvo Construction Co. Inc. in Hubbard is a pristine meeting room where employees gather every other Thursday.
At the front sits a large camera, powered by artificial intelligence, that follows the conversation for those attending remotely.
It’s the latest example of how DeSalvo, now in its 40th year in business, has used new technology to stay competitive. READ MORE
Banks Built Towers, Consolidated, Adopted Technology
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The skyline of downtown Youngstown would look very different were it not for the many banks once headquartered here.
Most of the tall buildings with marble lobbies and stately façades reflect the power of the banks that once flourished inside them. But the names of the banks and financial institutions once prominently displayed on the buildings have changed or been erased.
“It’s kind of amazing all of those big towers survived,” says Bill Lawson, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society. READ MORE
Lessons from Their Fathers on ‘Integrity in Business’
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Greg Smith and Dave Collins went to work for their fathers in different decades, at different growth stages at the two companies their fathers worked side-by-side to build.
Their fathers, Clarence R. Smith Jr. and Arnold Collins, made Compco Metal Products and Diamond Steel Construction Co. the industrial mainstays they are today. Along the way, they became small-business and community benefactors, supporting countless ventures as they got started and stabilized.
Greg Smith, today chairman of Compco, and Dave Collins, president of Diamond Steel, say their fathers did things quietly, never seeking accolades. READ MORE
Founded in 1984: ‘Dumb Luck’ and Determination
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – When asked how Lencyk Masonry went from a small, two-man operation to a large business with fingerprints all over the Mahoning Valley and Ohio, owner Larry Lencyk Sr. is unsure how to answer.
“Dumb luck,” he offers at first.
Then, “I was willing to do whatever it took to satisfy the customer, no matter what I had to do,” he adds, realizing he wasn’t satisfying the interviewer.
“Sometimes it boggles my mind. To come from where we were to where we are now. I attribute that to the wonderful people that we have,” he says. READ MORE
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THE BUSINESS JOURNAL COVERAGE
Reflection: Williams Says Youngstown Defied Rust Belt Cliche
Williams, who served as mayor from 2006 to 2011, grew up in the city, visiting the former Strouss’ with his mother as a child and getting chocolate malts. READ MORE
Reflection: Kovach Says Younger Workforce Is Needed
“If you look at demographics, the ages, we’re a little bit older than we really should be for the potential this area has.” READ MORE
Reflection: Aslam Urges Community to Focus on Assets
When Jaladah Aslam, president of the Youngstown Warren Black Caucus, was growing up in Youngstown, neighborhoods were filled with playgrounds and working people. READ MORE
Reflection: Burgan Recalls High Interest Rates Led to Land Contracts
In the early 1980s, about 30% of Burgan’s business was land contracts. That was after the steel mills closed and people struggled to pay their bills. READ MORE
Reflection: Sauer Paved New Roads for Women
“It’s just such a different world than it is today,” says Diane Sauer, retired dealer from Diane Sauer Chevrolet Inc. READ MORE
40 Years of The Business Journal
To commemorate our 40th year of proudly publishing The Business Journal, we’ll revisit economic development initiatives and newsmakers and ponder: What worked and what didn’t? Where are they now?
We could not foresee the changes that have taken place in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys since 1984, when the region was still reeling from Black Monday and seeking a quick-fix to move forward. READ MORE
