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BEAVER TOWNSHIP - To the astute sports fan who also pays attention to game officials in sports requiring arbiters, you might have recognized the 'S' logo on the back of their shirts.
That logo belongs to the highly-successful Smitty Officials Apparel brand, located in Canton and owned by former NBA-college basketball referee and Lowellville native Joe DeRosa.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday's weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, DeRosa told the group each season brings a new challenge and one that he and his staff readily accepts.
"I am busier than I have ever been since I retired but it's without all that travel, which is what I wanted to get away from," he told the group. "We now offer over 10,000 products for officials and teams covering all sports. When you watch college football and basketball, and even high school games, that is our 'S' on the back of their shirts. Our motto is the 'S' is everywhere.
"Because of the exposure, hopefully people think it is a quality product and we can continue to make it grow knowing, however, there's only so many sports officials and the market can only be so big unless we expand into other things. I think we have a nice share of the market share."
The company, which is co-owned by DeRosa's wife, Patti, employs 20 and has increased their product line by 2,000 items over the past year alone, all of which are ready for distribution once an order is placed.
"It has taken a lot of hard work and support from many people to get to where we are today," said DeRosa, who remains one of just two officials - the other is Joe Forte - to work an NBA final and NCAA college basketball championship game.
"We make shirts for almost every state in the country, from field hockey to lacrosse, football to basketball so really, we make sure it's for some sport somewhere, not everywhere, but somewhere," DeRosa added.
Creating specialty logos for conferences and states has helped the company.
"We made a decision back in 2013 that if we were going to try to expand our business, we had to get up with the times," DeRosa noted. "It started out with one guy in Alabama who contacted me to see if I would be willing to do it. It was going to cost a lot of money to get the equipment and everything set up but everything we do, and you see the 'S' on any shirt when you attend an Ohio high school football or basketball game, you see the logos and the 'S' on the back. We make all of that stuff in our warehouse and while we don't service every state, we are missing a couple but remain there for everyone."
New products are constantly being discussed and developed.
"We are always looking and trying to develop new products so we can meet the demands of the market," he said. "Right now, nothing major is coming but there are a few things up and coming. We are trying to come out with a tapered fit umpire pant for baseball so they aren't so baggy. That has been in the works and we are trying to do the same for football. We did it for basketball officials two years ago and it is our No. 1 selling pant right now. Those innovative things help to keep us progressing and meet the needs of our customers."
DeRosa's son, J.B., is currently in his seventh season as an NBA referee.
"It is going well for him and he will work 60-plus games this year," DeRosa added. "The season ends next Sunday then he will find out if he will work the playoffs. You never know how it is going to go so you go out and just do the very best you can and let the chips fall where they may."
While states continue to experience a shortage of officials, DeRosa believes there are many hopefuls out there looking to break into the profession.
"I think there are a lot of people trying hard," he noted. "Over the weekend, I received a request asking if I can help some of the new officials in Iowa. They asked if I would be able to give them a discount, do I have anything that is obsolete that they can wear or can I donate some whistles so I see they are trying.
"I know they are trying in Ohio, too, it's just a matter of whether or not people look at it as something worthwhile."
Next week, YSU head football coach Doug Phillips will serve as guest speaker.
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