Music.
It was all about the tunes.
Music was life for Dean Connors during his high school days, and particularly, rock and roll. Connors is a drummer, and he’s played in a plethora of bands throughout the years while working full-time jobs at the same time. He was even a disc jockey for a local rock station once upon a bit ago until Connors figured out the compensation for such a gig in the Upper Ohio Valley was well below his dreams.
So he reinvented, something Dean has accomplished more than a few times in order to remain here in the Wheeling area so he would be close to his mother and father as well as his brother and sister. These days, he owns CMS Bankcard Services, a company based in downtown Wheeling that offers services involving ATMs and point-of-sale systems for local businesses.
Connors also delved into the real estate business near Market Plaza and along Chapline Street, and while some struggle to gain tenants, this man’s square footage has zero vacancies. His dedication to progress in the Friendly City, though, has been recognized by government and the media because, well, it’s considered unusual in the Rust Belt’s culture of decline.
What made you decide to leave the radio business behind and find employment that would allow you to remain in the Upper Ohio Valley?
I left the radio business a VERY long time ago. After the Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed these big conglomerates to own multiple stations in one market, the magic was gone. No more competition. Very few live DJs. Plus, I was tired of moving around the country and had also reached and succeeded at some personal milestones along the way. I programmed a #1 station for several years at WASP-FM, Uniontown, PA, and had great runs as a Promotions Director in Chattanooga, TN, and an air personality in Harrisburg, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, and of course the legendary WOMP-FM right here in the valley!
After radio, I earned two degrees at California University of Pennsylvania and worked for my brother, Scott Connors. Eventually, I went out on my own to buy some rentals and “flipped” about eight houses in Tiltonsville, Yorkville, Martins Ferry, and Bridgeport. When the housing market crashed, I was sitting on a house for almost a year. During that time, a new opportunity presented itself, and CMS Bankcard Services was born.
Please tell the story about how you came to open CMS Bankcard Services in the Upper Ohio Valley, and include what services the business offers.
In 2009, my friend Scott McFarland had already been in the Bankcard processing business for nine years or so. He was explaining his business to me when he stopped and said, “You could do this!” With nothing to lose, I set up my home office, printed some business cards, and tried to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible.
Under Scott’s guidance, I managed to string together a handful of processing clients. Eventually, I landed my first ATM. Over the next couple of years, I learned a lot more, continued picking up clients, and expanding our footprint and product line. We now have clients nationwide, with deals in the tri-state area, as well as Las Vegas, Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, and most recently, of all places, South Dakota.
We offer full-service Bankcard processing. From a regular little terminal, to full Point of Sale System processing, complete with mobile processing, shopping cart applications, and a full suite of processing options. We are the official processor of Main Street Bank, but we work with all banks. We can offer a much better rate than most banks or national processors. We also offer ATM service, gift cards, and a host of other options.
Why have you decided to heavily invest in commercial properties in downtown Wheeling?
My success with CMS Bankcard Services has allowed me the opportunity to invest in the local business economy. The announcement of the Health Plan was the first thing that spurred my interest. I purchased 1057 Market St. first. That’s the home of MMM … Popcorn, plus a nice apartment. Then I picked up 25 11th St., now the home of Wilbraham, Lawler, and Buba’s West Virginia headquarters. (I also “picked up” my now girlfriend, Susan Regrut, the Managing Shareholder of the W.Va. office, in the process!)
With those two properties, I discovered how fast downtown properties rent. The number of people that want to live and work downtown is staggering. Next, I acquired what would become my crown jewel, the former Stenger Business Systems, and more recently Linn Pottery at 1035 Chapline St. It took two years and a substantial financial investment, but this building is now a fully functional office building with three heritage tenants. It’s home to Information Helpline, Sexual Assault Help Center, and NAMI of Wheeling, WV. It also is the operations center for CMS.
I’ve gotten off the subject but just to finish the thought …
Most recently, I purchased 1061 Market St (Gator Investments) and 27 11th (Heavenly Water). There are four apartments on the upper floors, and they all get rented the moment they become available.
In short, downtown is changing. There are Millennials who love living downtown, especially in and around The Plaza on Market. The city’s improvements in this area have made it the epicenter of downtown living.
In your opinion, what are the short-term and long-term futures for the downtown area?
I’d love to attract a grocer to upper downtown. I’d like to see some of the other apartments get finished and rented. Of course, everyone wants entertainment and dining options, and there are certainly some of those already available.
Long term, I’d love to see the Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Building project come to fruition. I cannot wait for the streetscape project to finally get started (and finished!).
Development begets development. And it’s all happening here now.
How has the pandemic made it difficult for you to conduct business?
Well for CMS, we were considered an essential business and therefore able to adapt pretty quickly. Amy Graham, my Office Manager and “right hand” was able to work from home, servicing clients over the phone, fielding calls, and remotely accessing anything she needed. Cathy Mowder, the office accountant, reduced her schedule to just one or two days a week and was working in the office pretty much alone.
We actually closed on two of the properties in the Plaza on Market during the pandemic. This allowed me to go work on the properties alone and get a lot done! I was able to get one of the apartments and one commercial space ready within about three weeks and had immediate tenants, including OVMMA, Johnny Haught’s martial arts and physical training facility.
