Sarabok, Daniels, and Clay all previously worked for IntelliMark (formerly Knowledgesoft) and bring sound executive experience, technology expertise, planning, and support to their business partners. Through their own experience and by partnering with other complementary independent companies, Momentum Virtual Partners (MVP’s), Momentum is able to provide the customer a complete product solution. This MVP process provides invisible and seamless results to the customer, and in turn keeps the possibilities of future business for Momentum virtually boundless. In addition, through working with their MVP’s they are able to broaden their customer base and have other companies promoting their services. It’s like having an extended sales team without having to financially support them in-house. Partnering has proven a valuable tool to Momentum, as they are already up to their eyeballs in projects.

Depending on the customer’s wishes, Momentum works on-site or at their own office, which is equipped with technology allowing them to complete projects on-or off-site. To date, Momentum has found three out of five companies prefer having services on-site although their office is centrally located in a quiet neighborhood, is easy to access, and provides plenty of parking.

Having a business that is virtually boundary-less, Clay and Daniels say it is difficult to define their hours of business. They explained that even if they are out of the office, they have the capability of a fifteen-minute response time if necessary.

Strong strategy and intensive planning took place prior to starting Momentum, but Sarabok, Daniels, and Clay, who all have strong personalities and individual specialties, continue to approach working together with a strong awareness factor. They schedule “organizational health check-ups” where they articulate their focus, reassess goals collectively, and spend planned time on problem resolution and growth.

In January, Momentum began as three employees, but by the end of the year their business plans project they will be increasing to a staff of 10. This expansion may include state contracting and end-user training divisions, but through their virtual partnering the possibilities are endless.

When asked if they were interested in going back to work for someone else, their collective response was “no.” Freedom to control your destiny, fulfillment, and the ability to see the outcome of your energy input were the main reasons for this reaction.

Advice they offer to prospective entrepreneurs or new business owners is to “go into business with your eyes open and don’t hide from any of the facts. Be real honest with yourself and your motivation for doing it,” Clay says.

A family-owned business, Frank and Sandy Kocevar purchased their first cycling store in Harrisburg, PA, in 1969, after finding a lack of customer service while trying to purchase a bicycle. They knew they could help others better than they had been helped. Taking their experience in the small motor business of motorcycles, lawn mowers, and snowmobiles, they quickly applied it to the bicycle and fitness fields.

Over the years, two additional stores were purchased, one in Hummelstown and one in Cleona. In 1995 the Kocevar family consolidated the Harrisburg and Hummelstown stores into a new 12,000- square-foot store in Hummelstown, PA. This new In Gear store includes a huge, nicely arranged showroom with a tiled path floor, a strong service department (with approximately 80 orders the day of our visit), and a complete basement used for storage and lay-away purchases.

In Gear carries a full line of bicycles spanning from the old-fashioned Schwinn road bikes to high-tech bikes with disc brakes and dual suspension and offers financing and lay-away plans. A niche market In Gear has found is high-end lines and hard to get models which has afforded them the opportunity to expand their business further by filling out-of-state and overseas orders.

Recently, In Gear Cycling and Fitness was honored by being ranked 43rd in the top 100 bicycle “top shops” in the nation by VeloBusiness, an industry trade periodical. Stores were ranked by other bicycle businesses and representatives on store appearance, community out-reach, business soundness, and market share.

One of the many things the Kocevars enjoy in running their bicycle and fitness stores are the close relationships they have made with customers over the years. Many individuals who got their first bicycle years ago at one of the Kocevar’s stores still return to buy bicycles for their own children. Determination, dedication, and strong family bonds have certainly been successful elements for In Gear, which will be passed down the Kocevar family to their son Scott upon their retirement.

In Gear is a member of the National Bicycle Distributors Association (NBCA) and supports several fitness-bicycle-oriented participatory events such as “Rails to Trails,” bike rodeos, the MS Bike-a-Thon, Bike & Hikes, and school bicycle safety checks with several of these events supporting safety and public awareness. Scott Kocevar sits on the Trek National Advisory Committee for Juvenile & BMX cycling and the Schwinn Fitness Advisory Committee. In addition, In Gear is proud to sponsor Little League teams and nationally ranked BMX teams.

If you’ve ever noticed the bicycles the local police departments use for city beats, you’ve probably seen bicycles purchased from In Gear’s commercial division. The In Gear commercial division also supplies bicycles and fitness equipment to many of central Pennsylvania’s school districts, medical centers, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.

Specializing in people with special needs is one of In Gear’s strong suits. They are experienced in working with visual impairments, prosthesis accommodating, and their stores are accessible. In Gear offers the personal touch and dedication to all customers. They take time to insure the right product is matched to the needs and desires of their customers.