Groomed from youth to continue family business

Yuma businessman Perry Pensky is carrying on his father's dream and proud of it.

Pensky is president of Penn Neon Sign Co., a business his father started more than 50 years ago. That makes it one of the oldest existing businesses in Yuma and one of only a few that still remains in the founding family.

That wasn't his original goal in life, Pensky acknowledged. "As a kid, I wanted to be an architect." That lasted until he was about 20.

Looking back over his involvement in the business, he said he realizes now that he "was almost groomed into it" by his father, Bernard "Bernie" Pensky, who apparently had no doubt in his mind but that his son would grow up and take over thebusiness.

"I worked in all the areas before I moved into the office," Pensky said. "I grew up sweeping the floors and helping where needed. I probably worked in every aspect of the business - in the shop, on trucks, the paint department, the manufacturing depart- ment."

He learned business management from his father and the operation end of the business from John Pancrazi. He learned from other employees as well, both the experienced ones who had worked for his father and those he hired after taking over the business.

"I had to gain their respect" by listening to them rather than telling them what to do, he said.

Pensky counts himself lucky he was able to work with his father for several years, until the elder Pensky died in 1990.

"Dad worked hard to make the business," Pensky said. "The family has always been proud of it being a long-standing viable business in town. I felt we should keep it going."

The elder Pensky was introduced to Yuma during World War II, when he was stationed here as a bomber flight instructor with the Army Air Corp. After the war he decided to stay in Yuma - the weather beat Chicago where he was from.

"And he saw an opportunity for growth in Yuma," the younger Pensky said of his father. Opening a sign business was something of a natural for Bernie Pensky, whose own father (a Russian immigrant) had a business inChicago that painted the sweeping murals in movie theaters of that era and also owned a paint shop.

Penn Neon Sign Co. was started with two employees in 1946 at Madison Avenue and 2nd Street, moving two years later to its current location at 707 W. 8th St. into what had been a flour mill.

At the time, that was the edge of the city. Since then, not only has the community grown, but so has the business, Pensky noted.

The original building has been added onto several times and the operation has grown to 12 employees. The business has expanded beyond the community into Imperial County, Phoenix, Tucson and Kingman.

The sign making business has gone from painted metal and wood signs and painting signs on the sides of businesses to computer-generated science and large illuminated signs. Neon is still a big part of the business, Pensky said, but computerized signs are an increasing trend.

"That's a far cry from the paint brush," he said. "Sign painting has become almost nonexistent."

And of course, there have been new regulations. Pensky worked with the city in adopting its sign ordinance.

That's just one example of his involvement in trade and community organizations.

He's been involved with the Arizona Contractors Association Board and is a member of the Southwestern Contractors Association and the Arizona and International Sign associations. He also served as president of Fort Yuma Rotary Club and is currently board president of the Yuma Golf and Country Club. And he donated hours and materials for the new Ocean-to-Ocean Highway bridge.

"As a businessman, I feel it is important to support the community and give back," Pensky said. He added that he especially enjoys helping children and assisting others who are starting a business.

"It's fun to work with these people. They're so proud when the sign goes on their business. So there's a lot of satisfaction in what I do.

"I'm proud of what I do. I try to strive for high quality in all that I do. Father and Mr. Pancrazi tried to instill in me to put out a quality product above all else. It's nice to drive around town and see the signs the company designed and installed."

As for whether the business will remain in the family, that's not too likely, Pensky said. His wife has her own Farmer's Insurance business and his daughter is a teacher. Nephews have expressed an interest in the business, but none of them live in Yuma.

"But I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," Pensky said.

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Joyce Lobeck can be reached at

jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.

DATABASE

Name: Perry J. Pensky

Position: President of Penn Neon Sign Co. Inc.

Age: 44

Education: Kofa High School, including three years of drafting; one year at Arizona Western College; three years at Arizona State University; and annual sign-business related seminars

Family: Wife Shelly, daughter Natasha

Professional experience: More than 25 years in the sign business

What you like most about your job: Seeing the enjoyment and pride of customers in new signs for their business

Civic involvement:Fort Yuma Rotary Club

What you enjoy doing in your spare time: Golfing, boating and offroading; spending time with family and friends

Your favorite vacation: San Diego, San Francisco, Sedona, Prescott, Lake Powell, Aspin, Colo., or a golf resort any- where

If you could have another job what would you like to be: Professional golfer and instructor. What would be a better office than outside on a golf course?

Career advice: A painter wants to be a painting contractor; a cook wants to own a restaurant. Learn to manage a business - "You already know how to cook."