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<font color=green> Special WDT Feature about our Beermaster !

Sackets businessman: Be 'co-petitive'
TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2008



WHO: Errol S. Flynn grew up in Sackets Harbor and retired there in 1990 after a career in computer programming and marketing.

He and his son, Stephen S. Flynn, founded Sackets Harbor Brewing Co., which opened in May 1996. That was followed by Good Fellos Brick Oven Pizza and Wine Bar and Sackets Cantina restaurants.

Errol Flynn has also been involved in the rebirth of the Can-Am Festival and began the Oktoberfest, which was moved to June this year as the Sackets Harbor Beer and Wine Festival. He also served with the Chamber of Commerce and on the village Board of Trustees. He is the village's citizen of the year.

WHY DID YOU MOVE BACK TO SACKETS HARBOR? "I grew up here as a kid. I've always said this village reminds me of the song 'What a Wonderful World.' I always had fond memories of here. When I retired, we were going to move to Phoenix, but we made the decision to move here instead.

"When I was a kid growing up here, one person was really influential. That was the scoutmaster and teacher Herbert Huttermann. He produced six Eagle Scouts, and I was fortunate to be one of them. He told us, 'No matter what you do with your life, you've gotta give back to your community.'"

HOW DID THE BREW PUB START? "Three or four years after we moved here, my son said he had an idea for a business. I thought for sure he would say software, but he said he'd like to build a microbrew pub.

"We bought the old Hampton Depot, which had been closed five or six years. My wife and I made the investment. We bought it, gutted it.

"It was Rose Ann's goal to take it back to what it is — an old railroad station. She recaptured the look and feel. We built the brew house in front. I had no idea what it was — I worked in the software industry!

"Steve hired a very talented brewmaster from New York City. Before I knew it, in May of 1996, we opened the brew pub. It took off exceptionally well. Rose Ann had the flair, and Steve had the idea. All this came together. Steve was named small businessperson of the year. It just took off."

HOW DID YOUR COMPUTER CAREER TRANSLATE TO THE RESTAURANTS? "I was very fortunate in the computer industry. I worked for very bright people. For example, I went to New York City and at a dinner, I sat next to Sam Walton, who started Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

"I worked with and for the president of Novell. He sort of inspired us with creating your own competition. You've got to be 'co-petitive.' We teamed up with IBM, Novell, Dell and others. Our network card plugged right into the parallel port and allowed you to get online.

"In order to be successful in business, you've got to be 'co-petitive.'

"Like in Sackets Harbor, your competition is in Syracuse. The people in Sackets are your partners. What's exciting about it is that all the restaurants in Sackets Harbor and 80 percent in Watertown carry it (the beer). They're our partners in beer and competition in restaurants."

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO BEING NAMED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR? "I can't tell you enough how emotional I was when they told me I won this award. Just think — I get to ride in the parade this year!

"In 1990, when you turned down the street, it looked like a bomb hit it. We've done a lot in the village since 1990. There's a lot of fine people in this community. And the big picture is I never thought I would come back to this little community.

"There are other people who deserve it. Maybe it's because they think I'm old. It's like winning the Oscar in your small village. Without Rose Ann, we wouldn't have the design. Without Steve, we wouldn't have the idea. The only thing I brought to the table was to get in their way and get them involved in the community."

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF CAN-AM? "My grandkids love the parade, but to me right now, it's the old-time baseball. Murray Maxon and I started it about five years ago. We were sitting at his hotel talking about ideas to boost Can-Am. The museum in Rochester sent a lot of information. At first, we had to recruit people to play. Now, we've got people waiting to play.

"But my big favorite is that all my kids come home. Jennifer lives in Concord, Massachusetts. She has two children. Paula lives in Cobourg, (Ontario) Canada, and has three children. Stephen is the youngest, and he and his wife, Megan, have two children and a dog, Barley, who is the village's mascot."


If you have a recommendation for a Q&A subject from southern Jefferson County, contact staff writer Nancy Madsen at [e-mail] or 661-2358.







Sackets Harbor citizen of the year Errol S. Flynn has been involved in many community activities.




Source: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20080624/CURR04/616910840/-1/



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