Cleinman Performance Partners operates out of two beautifully renovated buildings, at the corner where Oneonta’s Main Street meets Maple Street and Lettis Highway.
Al Cleinman and I sat down for coffee in his office, which boasts a scenic view of Cleinman Island — so dubbed by former mayor Dick Miller. It is a small triangle of land owned by the state Department of Transportation. Sensing that a patch of weeds created a less than perfect first impression for visitors entering the city of Oneonta, Cleinman took it upon himself to convert an eyesore into a lovely urban garden of wildflowers. A few years later, he would similarly convert the unkempt lot across Lettis Highway into what is now Miller Park — named for Mayor Miller.
Cleinman turned down the coffee I brought and, instead, made his own. Turns out he only drinks decaf. I should have known that it would be far too risky to feed high-test to a brain that is already functioning continuously at top speed. He did, however, seem to enjoy the lemon poppy seed muffin which I brought from Latte Lounge.
If you are not familiar with Cleinman Performance Partners, you are probably not alone. Despite employing up to 26 people and providing management consultation to more than 100 optometrists, the company tends to operate under the local radar. Perhaps, however, you may have noticed the giraffe logo on its help wanted ads or carved into a large granite stone in front of the building. So, my first question for Cleinman had to be, “Why the giraffe?”
“My father passed away at age 62 in 1987,” he explained, “and I inherited a wooden sculpture of a giraffe which I placed on my desk. While once writing copy for a help wanted ad, I looked at the sculpture and wrote, ‘If your head is above the crowd and your feet are firmly on the ground, perhaps we have an opportunity for you.’ The ad received 80 responses and the giraffe was born. As a consulting firm, we — like a giraffe — can often provide a better perspective.”
In 1979 at age 23, Cleinman formed Co-Optics of America. He had been working for Brillen International — an importer of eyeglass frames — when he came up with the idea of creating a national buying cooperative for optometrists. Despite having no money and a pregnant wife, he managed to borrow $10,000 with a home improvement loan; quit his job; and form Cleinman Performance Partners. At peak, CPP has employed 26 people and currently has 150 clients – optometrists to whom Cleinman provides consulting services on everything from business management to selling their practice.
Born on a small farm in Edmeston, Cleinman comes from humble beginnings. After farming, his parents operated a small neighborhood grocery where Cleinman learned about hard work and how to run a business. To what does he attribute having spent his life defying the naysayers? “I am the consummate optimist. Pessimists see problems in every opportunity but optimists see opportunities in every problem. And it helps that I have no fear.”
When I asked if he could give advice to today’s young people living in Otsego County, he jumped at the opportunity — after all, giving advice is his passion and is how he earns his living. “Find your passion and commit to it. Avoid drama and remember there is no crying in baseball.” And he quotes Mr. Wonderful (look him up, I had to) who gave the following advice to a young man concerned that his girlfriend was upset by how much time he spent on his business: “You can always get another girlfriend; you cannot get another business.”
Cleinman is a “get ‘er done” guy. He dislikes politics and becomes impatient with the slow pace of government and not-for-profits. Yet, lately he can be found on city government committees and was recently installed as the president of the Future for Oneonta Foundation. Is this a new Al Cleinman? “No, I have always believed in giving back,” he said. “I give 10% of my income to charity and I founded the Major’s Inn Foundation in Gilbertsville when I was 23 years old. Now I am trying to take what I have learned in business and use it to inject entrepreneurial energy into local government and FOF.”
Buckle your seatbelts, Oneonta. Al Cleinman loves you, is an optimist, and will not give up until he makes us stronger.