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Business News
PITTSBURG —
Seems like winning a national championship can make fans get more excited about their team. This year’s seventh annual Paint The Town Red spirit celebration is proof of that.
For the first time this year homeowners were able to decorate their houses and turned out in force. Schools also took it to the next level, officials said.
On Friday, businesses showed they’re competitive in more than just the marketplace. There were about the same number of entries — about 70 — for the business contest this year, but they took their decorating creativity to another level, painting windows and lawns, holding tailgating parties and football games, and in several cases covering their entire building.
“It does seem like each year the creativity increases and the competitiveness increases, which a great thing,” said Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, which cohosts the event each year. “Pitsco had a full-fledged football game and Names and Numbers had a tailgate party. Businesses are getting very original in the way they’re getting their employees involved.”
The award was divided into three categories: businesses with more than 15 employees, businesses with eight to 15 employees and businesses with fewer than eight employees. A new business award, the Community Favorite Award, was started this year as well.
Teri McThompson, owner of Splash Pool & Patio at 802 S. Broadway, decided she and her employees would wrap their entire store in red plastic.
“We want to win it and we want more red than anyone else,” McThompson said.
McThompson said she and her volunteers used 800 feet of red plastic table covering, and that they worked from 6 a.m. until about 10 a.m. taping the strips together. McThompson’s artist mother, JoAnn Allen, of Chetopa, came down to paint the gorilla eyes on the front window.
“We’re in it to win it,” employee Kelsi Frogley said from behind the counter.
McThompson, who won second place in Division III, said she has participated in the contest for several year, and won the first time she entered.
“It’s fun,” she said, adding that people driving past her shop in cars and trucks, and even fire engines, have been honking their horns all morning. “I wish more people would do it.”
Pitt Plastics was the winner of the first annual Community Favorite Award.
Brooklyn Streeter, supply chain and inventory manager, gave all the credit to executive administrative specialist Ashley Hamblin, who had the idea to put balloons and PSU flags on all of the cars parked out front.
Seems like winning a national championship can make fans get more excited about their team. This year’s seventh annual Paint The Town Red spirit celebration is proof of that.
For the first time this year homeowners were able to decorate their houses and turned out in force. Schools also took it to the next level, officials said.
On Friday, businesses showed they’re competitive in more than just the marketplace. There were about the same number of entries — about 70 — for the business contest this year, but they took their decorating creativity to another level, painting windows and lawns, holding tailgating parties and football games, and in several cases covering their entire building.
“It does seem like each year the creativity increases and the competitiveness increases, which a great thing,” said Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, which cohosts the event each year. “Pitsco had a full-fledged football game and Names and Numbers had a tailgate party. Businesses are getting very original in the way they’re getting their employees involved.”
The award was divided into three categories: businesses with more than 15 employees, businesses with eight to 15 employees and businesses with fewer than eight employees. A new business award, the Community Favorite Award, was started this year as well.
Teri McThompson, owner of Splash Pool & Patio at 802 S. Broadway, decided she and her employees would wrap their entire store in red plastic.
“We want to win it and we want more red than anyone else,” McThompson said.
McThompson said she and her volunteers used 800 feet of red plastic table covering, and that they worked from 6 a.m. until about 10 a.m. taping the strips together. McThompson’s artist mother, JoAnn Allen, of Chetopa, came down to paint the gorilla eyes on the front window.
“We’re in it to win it,” employee Kelsi Frogley said from behind the counter.
McThompson, who won second place in Division III, said she has participated in the contest for several year, and won the first time she entered.
“It’s fun,” she said, adding that people driving past her shop in cars and trucks, and even fire engines, have been honking their horns all morning. “I wish more people would do it.”
Pitt Plastics was the winner of the first annual Community Favorite Award.
Brooklyn Streeter, supply chain and inventory manager, gave all the credit to executive administrative specialist Ashley Hamblin, who had the idea to put balloons and PSU flags on all of the cars parked out front.
“She said “How can we turn this entire building red?’” Streeter said of Hamblin, who was in a meeting.
To do it, employees used roll stock sheet plastic intended to be cut as trash bags to line the front of the building. They also hired Patterson Art Works to paint the mural of Gus chasing Central Oklahoma’s Bronchos mascot.
“We knew the window was a big part of the building,” Streeter said. “Our goal was to make our building as red as possible and I think we achieved that.”
Lori Horton, owner of Celebrations By Lori in downtown Pittsburg, said she’s participated in the contest each of the past seven years. Typically the business goes all out, but Horton decided to tone down the decorations after last week’s rain that sullied part of the Little Balkans Days festival.
“We went a little conservative because of the weather this year,” Horton said. “If it holds up, we’ll leave it up until Homecoming.”
Horton said she participates for the fun of the event and fellowship of downtown business owners.
“We try to do everything ourselves,” she said. “It’s something we take ownership in.”
One business that really took PTTR to the next level was Pitsco. Founder Harvey Dean and president Lisa Paterni were cheerleaders during a flag football game in front of bleachers full of fans. There were even employee officials.
“We were going to host a tailgate party at the Pittsburg State game, but a week later, we got the email for Paint the Town Red,” said Eric Simmons, Pitsco sales management team member. “We thought the tailgate would be pretty fun for all employees. One thing led to another, and we got access to the cheerleader uniforms. We thought Lisa [Paterni] and Harvey [Dean] would look great in them.”
Pitsco also gave out $50 gift certificates to employees.
“I think you can look around at the number of BA and MA graduates from PSU here,” Simmons said. “One of the things about a college town is everybody comes out to support the team. Pitsco is a big supporter of the team, not only in athletics, but in academics as well.”
Founder Harvey Dean was dressed as a yell leader, and even participated in a few plays. He scored a touchdown on a pass (defenders kind of let him) and threw an interception on his first play.
“Pittsburg State hasn’t called yet [to take me on as their quarterback]. I would return a call if they did,” Dean sad. “But my arm is not quite as strong as their current quarterback.”
Dean said Pitsco wouldn’t be company it is today without the all of the talent it has reaped from Pitt State.
“Our guys really love PSU,” Dean said. “Last year, we painted the grass red. We love PSU. We probably have 60-70 employees with degrees from PSU. Maybe more. It’s a great event for all of the town.”
