EAST SYRACUSE — For Michael Bower, those words by Robert Frost could not be more descriptive of his entrepreneurial journey. Bower was born in Arkansas on a farm and grew up without many of the civilized things we take for granted. There was no running water or bathroom on the farm. It was where he would develop the work ethic that would help him achieve his goal.

Bower enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for four years. Following his Marine Corps service, he obtained a physics degree from Kent State University and over time, obtained a master’s degree in engineering from the University of South Florida. Both were great accomplishments for a man who never read books as a child in Arkansas. During his professional career, Bower worked in a variety of operational management roles for both Eaton Corporation and United Technologies Corporation (UTC), but he knew he wanted more. He knew he wanted to purchase and run his own business.

In February 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bower’s journey began. Michael did an internet search for business help in Central New York. He happened to come across the Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and decided to reach out. He was eventually assigned to work with me and that was the beginning of a journey that would span more than two years.

During my initial conversations with Michael, he made it clear that his goal was to acquire and run his own business. As Michael and the SBDC began exploring opportunities that were available in the Central New York area, he noticed a general manager position at Eagle Metalcraft, Inc. of East Syracuse, advertised on the MACNY, The Manufacturers Association web site.

The company was founded in 1953 as the Eagle Manufacturing Company, primarily as a welding shop. The business had evolved over time to include precision sheet-metal fabrications. While working for Eagle Metalcraft wasn’t going to directly help him achieve his goal, it was a position in which Michael knew he could provide value because of his education and practical experience.

 He started working at Eagle Metalcraft in June 2020 as its general manager during a period when the pandemic had adversely affected sales for many companies including this business. Even though sales bottomed out in his first month of employment with the company, Bower “rolled up his sleeves” and began to apply his practical knowledge of engineering and manufacturing to the existing processes at the company. From that point forward, sales improved incrementally every month. In the midst of working long days to improve sales and net margin, he and the owner of the company [Jim Helmer] spoke about the possibility of Michael eventually purchasing the business. 

As poet Robert Frost also said, “By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work 12 hours a day.” That quote would certainly prove true for Michael Bower. Following many months of due diligence between the two parties, [Bower and Helmer] would come to an agreement and eventually close on the transaction in February 2022, which would change the course of Michael’s life. Bower worked with the SBDC and its network of resources along with Citizen’s Bank to finalize the change of ownership. 

Since he began working for Eagle Metalcraft two years ago, Bower has helped double sales and double the workforce at the precision metal component company based at 3550 Burnet Ave. in the village of East Syracuse.

While interviewing Michael for the story, he told me how much he loved the employees. “These employees care about this company. They are cost conscious and quality driven,” Bower said. 

Prior to purchasing Eagle Metalcraft and while serving as the general manager, he noticed that there were skills that were being underutilized. Michael wanted to create a climate at the company that was less transactional and make it a place where people wanted to work. He’s given the employees opportunity to be successful and “everyone has stepped up.” 

 “I want to motivate our employees, so they can share in the success of the company while holding myself accountable to them,” Bower said. “But I couldn’t have done this without the Onondaga SBDC and Mark. They helped me with the business valuation, creation of a business plan and construction of the financial projections for external funding.”

Bower continued, “Mark and I have been lockstep for over two years. He has served as a mentor, coach, and was completely invested in my success. He’s been encouraging and supportive in helping me through my journey.” 

Michael knew what Robert Frost was talking about when he said, “The best way out is always through.” Michael went through and came out on the other side, becoming the owner of a business that provides value to the employees, the Central New York community and to himself. He truly believes that the Central New York community has an “entrepreneurial heartbeat” and he wants Eagle Metalcraft to be a big part of that landscape. Let’s just hope Michael doesn’t have to work 12-hour days forever as part of that process.

Business Advisor’s Tip: Anthony Robbins was quoted as saying “There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.” There are many ways to approach making a business dream that reality. One effective way is to become an employee of the company. That provides you with an “insider’s view” of the key components of the business that would directly affect your decision and impact your career.

Mark Pitonzo is a state-certified business advisor at the Onondaga SBDC’s satellite office located at Onondaga Community College @Liverpool. Contact him at m.j.pitonzo2@sunyocc.edu