Announcements : Chamber's Enterprising Business Awards Named

Each year, Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce recognizes one or two successful businesses from the greater Olean area with the Enterprising Business Awards, presented at its Annual Chamber of Commerce dinner. Nominations from members of the Chamber are solicited months prior and through a committee selection process, the businesses are chosen to be honored with this distinction.

The first of two Enterprising Business Awards this year will be given to.....

Park Centre Development, Inc. of Olean, New York.

A member of the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce for 43 years, Park Centre embraces a sound business philosophy with an emphasis on community.
Park Centre Development, Inc., began in 1960, and president of the board, Louis A. Magnano has been the chief executive officer since its inception. While the company’s workforce has grown to eleven full time employees presently and thirty during peak times, Park Centre Development can truly lay claim to significantly supporting the local economy. It has more than 70 local tenants, generating employment for countless workers in the greater Olean area.

Park Centre Development is located in Blue Bird Square in downtown Olean and currently holds 75 properties locally, including residential as well as commercial, with several more in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Erie. It was Mr. Magnano’s vision to develop key properties that were previously untapped or underutilized. He has, however, taken his role as landlord one step further. He has actively recruited new business for the Olean area for years and where there wasn’t a building for a potential tenant, he would build one in a few cases. The greater Olean area has greatly benefited from his entrepreneurship. Mr. Magnano insists on doing businesses locally, purchasing all building materials and products in the Olean area, whenever possible.

Mr. Magnano believes in well maintained properties and Park Centre led the way in Mayor Griffin’s administration when he chaired the Olean Beautification Project. The hanging baskets of flowers and newly painted light poles on the main streets are due in large part, to his efforts through Park Centre. His own properties in Delaware Park Centre and WestGate Plaza are maintained equally as well, setting the bar for other landlords throughout the area. A well maintained property is easy to rent and of the 75 properties owned by Park Centre, 95% are occupied. Always upgrading, Park Centre has just recently completed a renovation project in Blue Bird Square - a marquee denoting each tenant in the Square. The brick wall has been removed and in its place has been installed a paved walkway and seating area.

Park Centre Development has generously supported several local charities through the years in their fundraising efforts such as the Olean General Hospital Foundation, the ReHabilitation Center, St. Bonaventure University, the Dempsey Club, HomeCare & Hospice, just to name a few. Mr. Magnano played an active role in the Jamestown Community College campaign, acquiring thirty-one properties for its development. He has also generously supported the Bartlett Country Club, assisting with its beautification program, as well. And when it was clear that the youth of the Olean area needed a place to skateboard, Park Centre generously contributed to the installation of the Olean Skate Park.

The second Enterprising Business Award will be presented to West Penn Hardwoods & Cabinet World, two local companies owned and operated by Rocky and Kim Mehta of Olean. Together, they opened West Penn on South Fourth Street in January 1995, with Rocky as the sole worker. Just two years ago, they expanded to Cabinet World on West State Street and now employ a total of eight people between the two locations. Gross sales have doubled every year since their opening.

It was Kim’s father who inspired the couple to open this business when he identified a real need for hardwoods in this area. They began by offering primarily domestic woods but today, they bring in exotic woods from around the world like cocoa bola, bubinga, and ebony from Africa, just to name a few. Their inventory at West Penn also includes a large supply of interior building materials. Surprisingly, they sell many of the woods by mail order although their customers think nothing of traveling from throughout the northeast to purchase their woods in person.

West Penn has received several recognitions by United States periodicals but American Woodworking Magazine recently recognized the business as the supplier of the “best quarter sawn White Oak in the country.” The Mehta’s regularly travel to many other countries in search of the best woods that are available on the market and their reputation in the industry is growing significantly.

Cabinet World is a kitchen and bath showroom, complete with a variety of cabinets, countertops, and bath fixtures. In just two short years, this offshoot has also received several awards for high sales achievements from Prestige Cabinetry and Kraftmaid. In fact, one of the Mehta’s designers, Kathleen Stelmach, was named one of the top salespersons in the country in 2002 by Prestige Cabinetry.

The Mehta’s community involvement is considerable. While their three children keep them very busy, they were instrumental in initiating Indiafest to support the Hindu Society of Olean and Allegany. They remain active in other organizations in the community, including the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce.

Woods from West Penn have been purchased for special projects around the world and Rocky and Kim are most proud of two such instances. Several pieces from West Penn were used for renovation of the Cleveland Baseball Stadium and two years ago, an artisan purchased a selection of their curly maple for a specially commissioned chair for Pope John Paul II. It is not unusual for a person to travel several miles for just one piece of wood from their supply.

Both businesses will receive the 2003 Enterprising Business Awards on November 6 at the Annual Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Old Library Restaurant.