Pomeroy shows vision for success

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Oct 20, 2006

* Business position: Founder and owner of CXtec - a provider of new and "equal2new," pre-owned networking and voice equipment, data-center products, and CABLExpress cables based at 5404 South Bay Road in the town of Salina.

* How he made news: Pomeroy has built the computernetworking and equipment seller from his garage into a company than now exceeds $100 million in annual sales and has more than 350 employees. Working from his home, Pomeroy developed the low-overhead business strategy that allowed him to build his company quickly. "Doing business over the phone gives us high efficiency at low cost," Pomeroy told The Business Journal in a February 2005 interview. Pomeroy started Reliance Used Computer Corp. in 1978. The company dealt in used IBM mainframe-computer products. After IBM cables became a large part of sales, Pomeroy's business became CABLE Express in 1.980. Later it became CABLE Express Technologies.

Today it's simply CXtec. The last name change eliminated assumptions that the company sold only cable products, according to Pomeroy.

* Personal background: Pomeroy earned an M.B.A. in marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1968, and a bachelor's degree in management engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1966. He's an amateur-radio buff, enjoys travel and adventure, is an avid collector, and has pursued genealogy - finding a lost family branch living in Pompey 200 years ago. Pomeroy is a past recipient of the Crystal Ball Award, presented by Central New York Sales and Marketing Executives.

* Corporate culture: Pomeroy says his favorite part of the job is providing opportunities for others to grow. That has paid off. CXtec was named one of the "50 Best Companies to Work for in America" by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Great Place to Work Institute in 2004 and 2005. CXtec put a big emphasis on .training and recognizing employee achievements and milestones. After a CXtec employee lands a big sale, the company's publicaddress system plays celebratory sound effects, Depending on the size of a sale, the representative might receive a sonic salute from a roaring dinosaur or an animated pig. The pig represents the company's Profit Improvement Growth (PIG) program. The headquarters building's first floor is home to CXtec's "Junkasaurus Park." The dinosaur-themed display celebrates CXtec's growth through overlooked opportunity. There is also a game room and casual dress code in the workplace. CXtec's house band, "The Dinosaurs" has advanced far in the FORTUNE Magazine "Battle of the Corporate Bands" competition.

* Company growth: Annual sales increased 14 percent in 2005, and at the start of 2006 the company was projecting an increase of 17 percent this year.