Customer-concern places PatriArc in the "Hot 100"
[excerpt]

Pete Nofel, Editor

Being recognized as one of the fastest-growing small businesses came as a surprise to PatriArc principal Kevin McNulty, but the firm's success is based on a belief in underlying business principles.

It started in 1995 with four employees, an initial investment of $19,000, and an attitude that there are rewards in paying attention to the "small guy."

       Two years later, PatriArc Gas & Welding Supply Co., Johnstown, Pa., hit the number 76 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's "Hot 100" list of the fastest-growing new small businesses in the United States.

       The list was the joint effort of Entrepreneur and Dun & Bradstreet. D&B identifies itself as the world's leading provider of commercial credit, business marketing information, and receivable management services. It's database tracks 10.7 million companies in the U.S. and 44 million companies world-wide.

       In its "Hot 100" listing, Entrepreneur described its business selection criteria:

       The company founder had to be actively involved in daily operations and must control at least 51 percent of the business;

       The business had to have been founded no early than 1994;

       Annual sales had to exceed $1 million; and

       Companies had to meet the Small Business Administration's definition of a small business, based on number of employees and sales figures – which vary by industry.

Surprise selection
       Being selected for inclusion came as something of as a surprise to PatriArc President Kevin J. McNulty.

       "I got a call from Dun & Bradstreet telling me PatriArc was recommended as a top achiever," McNulty said. "The call came out of the blue since we weren't even aware the magazine was compiling such a list.

       "We do a lot of business with smaller customers and the key reason for our success is that we are customer-oriented," McNulty said. "We provide a lot of technical support to our customers. We do a lot of hands-on with them.

       "We try to get involved with customers and become part of their company. That's really the reason for our quick success in our market-area."

      Before starting PatriArc, McNulty was employed as a vice president of another gas and welding distributor in the Pennsylvania area. Changes at the company meant either adapting to a new corporate structure or working elsewhere . . .

– end of excerpt –