Pacesetter — 05/16/09

May 14, 2009 08:38 pm

— Thumbs up to Light Enterprises and its owner and founder, Mike Light, for being honored as a Pacesetter Small Business by the Kentucky Small Business Development Center in Frankfort.
In particular, Light was recognized for expanding his business to avoid laying off valued employees.
“Once you get someone worth investing in, unemployment just isn’t a good option,” Light said during a ceremony Wednesday in Frankfort. “Someone else will pick that employee up right away.”
In order to keep his employees busy during slow periods, Light began purchasing older houses in need of restoration. He then would have his employees work on doing the restoration. Once a house was restored, Light would sell it for a profit.
While the home restoration business involved construction, Light has for the most part built his successful business by tearing things down. Over the years, Light Enterprises has torn down scores of buildings and prepared dozens of pieces of property for construction.
Light Enterprises evolved from a lawn mowing business Light, now 54, started to earn money while in college. Then a property owner asked if he could remove a tree — and Light did. Next came a building, and the business took off. Light Enterprises now employs 20.
Light definitely has found a niche for himself in the business world. Hard work and a good business sense has paid dividends for him, and his commitment to keeping his workers on the payroll has resulted in employees who are loyal to him. They make the best kind of employees.