Robert Perry was working for the Cleveland Browns in 2011 when he struck out in his attempt to get Welty Building Co. of Fairlawn to lease a loge at the stadium in Cleveland.
Perry, who was then the Browns’ manager of suite sales, didn’t land that deal, but Welty officials were so impressed with Perry’s sales ability that he landed a top job at the Fairlawn commercial construction company whose portfolio includes various Akron-area landmarks.
“I feel nothing but excitement about making the transition ... this is a phenomenal opportunity,” Perry said. “Failure turned into success.”
He’s now vice president of Welty Building and will focus on sales.
Perry joined the Fairlawn company earlier this month, after talking about the job for months with Don Taylor, president and CEO of Welty Building. Perry said he was determined to complete the 2012 season with the Browns, purchased last fall by Jimmy Haslam, chairman of the Pilot Flying J travel center/truck stop chain.
Taylor said Perry’s “knowledge of the Cleveland market and his proficiency in sales will allow for Welty to expand even further.”
Welty, with its main building on Ridgewood Road in Fairlawn, has a Cleveland office on Euclid Avenue. Most of the company’s 78 employees work out of Fairlawn. Perry will work out of both facilities.
Before working with the Browns, for the 2011-2012 seasons, Perry was president of his own company, a medical supplies distributor called Legacy Healthcare Solutions. Previously, he sold pharmaceuticals for Pfizer Inc., focusing on the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and MetroHealth Medical Center, all in Cuyahoga County.
The Youngstown native is a graduate of Western Reserve Academy, the private high school in Hudson, and received an undergraduate degree at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., and an MBA from Kent State University.
He golfs and skis and has participated in three marathons and three triathlons. He lives in Shaker Heights with his wife, Amy, an obstetrician-gynecologist, and their two school-age daughters, Paige and Brooke.
Perry said whether selling loge leases or construction services, “it’s about listening to the customer identify what they want and need and providing them a relationship from beginning throughout the process.”
Welty Building’s work includes teaming up with Gilbane Inc. as construction manager for the new Goodyear corporate headquarters in East Akron and serving with Fred Olivieri Co. as construction manager for the large Timken Co. office in Jackson Township.
Welty Building’s past projects include renovations and expansion of the Akron Art Museum, and renovations to Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.