Sunday, October 03, 1999
GREATER CINCINNATI 100
Skilled, loyal employees are precious commodities
BY JOHN ECKBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
For Bernard Barbasch, president of Champion Windows, it was a no-brainer.
The company, which was No. 46 in size in the Cincinnati 100 list compiled by Arthur Andersen, has seen its payroll grow from 500 in 1997 to to 650 in 1998 because of new offices opened throughout the nation.
The company's biggest problem?
“It's a broken record,” Mr. Barbasch said. “The No. 1 challenge is finding good, solid people — working with them and training them and paying them well. It's an ongoing fact of life, and we live with it every day.”
The firm, which will move into a 200,000-square-foot building in Sharonville by next year, has seen phenomenal growth in recent years.
The company's first factory built outside Greater Cincinnati opened in Denver in 1997. Last year, offices opened in Kansas City, Kan., and Kansas City, Mo., as well as Milwaukee and Fort Collins, Colo.
31 offices nationwide
Today, there are 31 sales and installation offices across the nation, from Baltimore to South Bend, Ind., from Omaha, Neb., to Albuquerque, N.M.
That broken record of finding good workers is spinning nonstop at offices of most of the companies included on the Cincinnati 100 list of top privately held companies in Greater Cincinnati.
A survey of the firms found that the “lack of qualified workers” was the top concern of executives, followed by motivating and retaining employees and keeping pace with technology.
Scott Q. Nesbitt, chief executive officer of Data Processing Sciences, based in Blue Ash, where 60 are employed, said competition for employees in high-tech fields is intense.
“There's a lot more to it than just pay,” he said. “We've been lucky and successful in retraining employees. We have an open-door policy among management people so they feel like they're cared for. At some point, people ask what do I want out of my job or career other than just earning money.”
The company designs, implements and supports integrated communications networks and expects to add 30 people by this time next year to its 190-employee roster. There are 12 sales offices in the Midwest, mostly in the Great Lakes region.
“Most of those additional people will be in technical support,” he said. The region is from Pittsburgh to Kansas City, Detroit through Chicago to Milwaukee and then south to Nashville.
Turnover increased
The survey also found that 48 percent of the companies saw increased turnover during the past three years — while 38 percent saw a declining turnover. The remaining companies did not respond to the question.
The employment picture is cloudy across all sectors of the local economy — with workers holding the upper hand.
“Turnover is a fact of life,” said Lou Mifsud, president and chief operating officer of Remke Markets, based in Covington. “It's been difficult over the years, and it becomes even more so with unemployment at record low levels.
“It seems like people are quick to abandon ship for a paltry increase somewhere else.”
Stock ownership plan
Three years ago, Remke instituted an employees' stock ownership plan that delivers shares of the company to full-time employees who stay at least five years.
“It's for people who have made the company part of their future,” he said.
William R. Rumpke said his company is more than a ledger, a list of assets and liabilities.
“A business isn't equipment or machines,” said Mr. Rumpke, president and chief executive officer of the waste-hauling company.
“A business is the people who are working for you. You have to try to make people feel a sense of ownership — make them feel like they are part of the family.”
Top private firms show the will to grow
List of Greater Cincinnati 100
Execs bullish on outlook for area's economy
Notable locals investing in R&D and technology
Signs of softening economy showing
Skilled, loyal employees are precious commodities
Traffic woes creep into gripes
How the list is put together
Ris Paper Co. No. 1 for 3rd year in row
List has room for 11 newcomers
10 companies come close to mark, but lag in revenue pace
Privately owned businesses face Y2K challenges
New device keeps mileage for IRS
Employers can guard against suits
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