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Show Successful enfrepeneurs to gather May Editors Note: On May some of the nations most successful entrepreneurs will gather in Salt Lake City for the annual convention of g Inc. Magazines 500 companies. The following is one of a series ofarddes featuring a Utah company which has been ranked among the periodicals elite list. 20-2- 2, fastest-growin- A nigh school dream of owning his own business has come true for Ralph Little. But the real life story is better than anything he could have dreamed of. d This year his Salt Lake firm, Litde and Company, expects gross sales to exceed $5 million. The phenomenal 1 ,393 percent growth of the company from 1980 through 1985 caught the attention of Inc. Magazine and the publication rated Litde 8c Company as number 164 in its annual list of the nations 500 fastest growing companies. The magazine lists the company as providing mortgage field services, but Litde says that most people dont have any idea what that really means. We are by no means a mortgage company, but we provide a highly specialized service to mortgage companies, banks, savings and loans and others who make first mortgage loans, says the company president. The companys business revolves around inspecting, evaluating and securing properties or other collateral involved in defaulted loans. Field representatives attempt to contact the delinquent borrowers involved to determine their present financial condition and attitude toward repayment. This is done in an effort to give the mortgage company better information about the borrowers ability and likelihood to bring the loan current. We are not in the collection business, but attempt to contact individuals in a transaction and encourage better communications between them and the mortgage company, Little explains. Representatives also inspect properties to assess any vandalism or other damage and take necessary security measures. If the windows of a home or building need to be boarded up or a building otherwise secured, we take care of that for the lender, he says. Oddly, Little 8c Company does only a small share of its business with Salt Utah-base- d Lake-o- r firms because most of those lending institutions have local portfolios and their own staffs provide those types of services, he City-base- explains. The majority of our business is with large banking or lending firms with operations. We have a staff of 35 employees in Salt Lake, and a nation-wid- e network of about 2,600 field representatives who can inspect, evaluate or secure a property anywhere in the United States. Because we specialize in this service, we have developed our own computer software, forms and techniques, and we think we are more effective than a lenders staff or a smaller field service company doing similar work, Little nation-wid- e adds. The entrepreneur started his company in 1979 after earning a BS degree in finance from the University of Utah. While it was his first major venture, it was not his first entrepreneurial impulse. Ive always wanted to be in business for myself. Throughout high school and college I started small businesses to make enough money to pay for school. I kept my eye on others who started their own business and were successful to see how they did it and what set them apart from those that failed. And I was always looking for opportunities that others overlooked, he recalls. In 1979, with a wife and family to support. Little wanted to start a business that would do well in an economy that he viewed as heading for a recession. I had done some work for a mortgage company while I was going to school and felt sure I could develop a successful business based on the type of work I now do. Most people want to develop an idea that will make them a million dollars, believes Little. I was looking for an idea that could make me a dollar and then do it a million times. Even though the majority of his clients are located elsewhere, he has elected to locate his business in Utah. It is a great place to live and raise a family. Ive been able to hire talented and hard working people who believe that if the company flourishes and is healthy, they also will da well. Picture tells all By SHIRLEY CARNELL ; ' . Are you warning your children against the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs, promiscuous sex, and the like? Are you wondering how much they will believe what you are saying without trying these vices for themselves? I can only give my personal opinion from my experience. My parents visually exposed me to the streets of sin when I was a child of about ten years of age. The sights of drunken men, street fights, women of the night, etc., vividly impressed my mind more than any words could have done. How much better to influence a child in the ways of righteousness than to see him suffer the consequences of : sin! Here are ways your Mission would like to help: 1. Let us be your Home Missions project for Daily Vacation Bible School. Let us come to you or you come to us- -a field trip! 2. Let us show our slides or our movie films to your young people. 3. Moms, dads, bring your children to the mission for a tour or visit an evening Chapel Service. 4. Pastor, let us bring twice-bor- n men to your congregation to give their personal testimonies, along with a Rescue Mission challenge by the executive director. Please, carefully consider these opportunities. Tomorrow may be too late. As to the future, Little is optimistic. His companys major growth, as calculated as part of the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies, has taken place during the past three years. He believes he will sec a $2 million growth in overall billings from the $3 million in total billings the firm realized in 1986. Little says he looked for a business that was counter cyclical, but has found that the demand for his companys service remains strong during good economic cycles as well. Our growth has not been due to any single factor, but the major influences have been the leveling out of real estate values and the growth in the secondary mortgage market. Because real estate values have remained relatively constant, an individual or company unable to make the mortgage payments usually cannot sell the house or piece of real estate at a price high enough to cover the back payments and the principal balance, he points out. With the tremendous growth in the secondary market, and the buying and selling of mortgages, moral distance has been created between the lender and the borrower, Little explains. Thirty years ago a borrower and a lender had a closer relationship and therefore the borrower felt a stronger moral commitment to his lender and toward repaying the mortgage obligation. With the borrower and the lender being so distant, the borrower feels less of an obligation to remain current on the obligation and therefore is coast-to-coa- 20-2- 2 more likely to go into foreclosure, Little says. Is he hoping to land a spot on next years Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies with a higher ranking? That remains to be seen, Little shrugs. Its great to be selected as one of the 500 fastest growing companies in the nation. Its even greter to be ranked as Number 164 in the country. Certainly it calls attention to what weve known all along.. .that we are a well managed company, providing this service better than anyone else, and that we have a well implemented business plan and the staff to carry it out. Our major objectives are to continue growing by acquiring new customers and giving them the best service available. By doing that, our goal of $5 million in billings in 1987 will take care of itself. If thats good enough to get conus included in the Inc. 500 for next year, so much the better, Little cluded. Inc. 500 convention was attracted to Salt Lake by the The May 20-2efforts of die State of Utah Business and Economic Development Division. Between 600 and 800 are expected to attend the function, hosted by Gov. Norman H. Bangerter. In addition to Inc. Magazine, other hosts arc Metro and Economic Utah, Inc., the State of Utah, the Utah Division of Business and the Salt Lake Commerce of Chamber Lake Area Salt Development, Convention and Visitors Bureau, in cooperation with AT8rT 2 Volunteers make world whirl Jim Romero is a nightshift employee at Hill Air Force Base. When he is not in working, he can frequently be found at Crestview Elementary Layton. Jim has been volunteering for the school for over four years now. Jim will do whatever the school needs him to do, whether it is reading, He goes to tutoring math, help with PTA activities or help on the playground. the school whenever he can, it docs not matter how often, but when he is there it makes a difference. Jim is an excellent example of a citizen in Utah in his community. taking the initiative to help education for substitute a arc not Volunteers good teaching; they arc a supplement. A volunteer is a helper, a supporter, not a replacement for a teacher. Volunteerism is not a new concept in Utah. Thousands of Utahns volunteer for many years. PTAs and others already in programs that have been running that greatly help students. have initiated school volunteer programs We have men like Jim Romero helping in the classroom, teachers like Ron Muir who train volunteers to aid their teachers effectively, and businesses like Mountain Bell and Arctic Circle who give their aid freely to the schools. Volunteerism is a philosophy, a spirit that is entirely Utahn. I am discussing a way of thinking and behaving, not just having people visit schools to help. Volunteerism is a partnership of the public and education. Winston Churchill succeed in said, It is no use saying We are doing our best. You have got to involved with for I am is by help getting what your asking necessary. doing education. As I have visited many schools, I have gained a greater understanding of what is going on, and seeing the specific needs of the students and teachers. Until you go into the schools, you have no idea what their needs really are. I have no control over the volunteer program, but I am asking for you to take the initiative to visit the schools in your community and to sec what you can do for them. In this way, we too may succeed in doing what is necessary, not just doing our best. In the past five years, enrollment in public schools has increased 20 percent. Over the next decade, we forsee an increase of 132,000 student- s- a 31 percent increase. Our states limited resources could never match such an increase. this Consequently, we will have to turn to other methods of managing we will require our education for we people, want If young quality growth. widespread public support-no- w. We face many challenges in education. I have declared a State of Alerr in education. I have asked all Utahns to understand the necessity of action now. for TomorALERT, is my Agenda for Leadership in Educational Resources row. ALERT will be a top priority during my years as Governor. ALERT can be briefly summarized into four main points of action. First, schools. Growth in education can be managing growth in education in our schools. Volunteerism is just in managed by beginning with volunteerism the and volunteerism is is Education education. aids of changing, the one of many long range planning for future changes. education can Second, improving the quality of education. The quality of also be greatly improved with the help of volunteers. Volunteers can help students who lag behind and students who excel. Both types of students need aid the teacher in fulfilling the special special attention and volunteers can needs of the students. Third, education and economic development. Volunteerism is Fourth, the partnership of the public and higher education. of volunteer-isschools. work in to concept than My much more getting people Education. with is better described as Private Sector Partnerships Educawith Private the of Partnerships be one Industry Volunteers can part tion. I would like to see companies of all sizes in every part of the state schools. encouraging their workers to get involved with Volunteerism encompasses various aspects. With increased enrollment and to bring inadequate funding, we do not have the resources ($100 million) is to this with method One to national down cope to classrooms average. ' volunincrease the adult to pupil ratio. This can be done through the aid of businesses. friends or volunteer.. can teers. Anyone .parents, grandparents, These volunteers supplement the efforts of our excellent teachers. A volunteer is a helper, a supporter, not a replacement for a teacher. A major aid in the volunteer program would be to have parental involvement. Parents and are the primary educators of the child. The parent is the childs first teacher best the are Parents else can. than better child their anyone influence can teachers. As a father and a grandfather, I am just as concerned as you are about our children and our grandchildrens education. Let us do something about . Ron Muir is a teacher at Bryant School. Every year, Ron teaches thousands if of parents how to teach skills to their students. Volunteers can be effective the this teacher. the Furthermore, gives and d by Volunstudents the opportunity to have more help with their assignments. teachers the save and reinforce they good teaching, teers can supplement and volunteers basically suppletime, but they will not replace the teacher. The ment the aid of our excellent teachers. We as the public and higher education need to become a partnership. EducaVolunteers can be one part of the Private Industry Partnerships with as well as the student and life volunteer the for enrich can Volunteerism tion. more teacher. The availability of the childs parents is declining due to households. We now need to look to our senior citizens, g release time to parents or businesses, and their employees. Businesses can give schools. the in employees to volunteer Businesses can frequently contribute more than individuals in services. Such services would be loans of equipment to schools, the contribution of materials, or allowing release time to employees to tutor in the schools. I would like to see companies of all sizes in every part of the state encouraging their workers to get involved with schools. well-traine- well-direct- in-ki- Web was well-spu- n imaginative. By DALE J. NEILS ON I have never read the book Charlot- tes Web. But, if its anything like the musical of the same name presented by the Top Hat Theatre, no wonder people liked it! The Top Hat Theatre presented Charlottes Web at the Magna Recreation Center on May 1, 2 and 4. Using a cast that was almost completely children, director Elaine Whitman aid a super job! The set design, the props, the music, etc. were all very well done. Most intriguing was that it was done all by amateurs. But dont let that word fool you: this production was professional in every way. First off, Wilbur, played by Jesse Greathouse Jr. caught my eye. His pink plaid shirt and white overalls were a good pig5 costume. But his little twirly tail, made from, all things, a pink pipe cleaner, was very clever and Debbie Thorsen did the sophisticated goose very well, Charlotte (Julie Johns) played an intelligent spider who knew her lifes purpose. The goslings were amusing, especially the one with the piece of the egg shell! The stars in the sky were quite realistic, while the barnyard atmosphere provided some very colorful scenery. The painted window, sky, shelf and pictures on the wall of the farmhouse also showed great believability. And how about Charlottes writing in her web? Writing on clear plastic showed not only practicality, but cleverness, as well. The county fair was another aspect of the production that I really enjoyed. The hour and 15 minutes of Char- lottes Web was just right; not too long, but just long enough. deRefreshing is a good way to scribe this production! , sTtI - v' Travis K. Chadwick can say tired! it ail with a look Im a little bit Is this the kind of smile you had in mind, Mr. Photographer? Thats enough for now, Ive got some serious playing to do." |