Formerly known as PACER Associates, Birol Growth Consulting has won four Weatherhead 100 awards as Northeast Ohio’s fastest-growing single-employee business and the 34th fastest-growing company of any size.
Birol’s professional career started in 1977, when he was selected as a Kemper Scholar during his first year at Boston University and worked for Kemper Insurance Companies. In 1981, Birol graduated summa cum laude from Boston University and was a Scarlet Key - the university’s highest honor for academics and leadership - recipient.
Birol’s professional experience includes working as a marketing analyst for Union Camp (currently known as International Paper), where he executed a strategy to replace the U.S. dairy industry's plastic shipping cases with the Uni-Trip® corrugated packaging system—a move that resulted in $2 million of profit in sales. Upon receiving a promotion after that success, he became the company’s youngest manager. Birol has also held various positions in marketing, customer relations, and public affairs in Boston, Chicago, and New York.
| Q. What do you do for fun? A. Travel is my addiction. Q. What CD is in your CD player right now? A. I don’t have a CD player I use anymore. But I did just listen to Waiting for Columbus by Little Feat on my iPhone. Q. What is the last magazine you read? A. Condé Nast Traveller. Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. The Sopranos. Q. Who is your role model? A. Mick Jagger and Madonna. |
With stops in more 60 countries, Birol has accepted the world as his classroom. After earning his MBA in marketing and finance from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Birol took an unconventional path - an internship with the United States Association of International Development (USAID) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Birol is no stranger to new environments. Raised in Istanbul, Turkey, this results-oriented entrepreneur grew up during the time of the Cold War. He watched Russians bring their armaments down the Bosphorus Strait, and the U.S. Sixth Fleet was docked near his home. At 12, Birol moved to Westchester County, New York, with his family. Birol believes that becoming an American kindled his own version of the American dream, which soon translated into PACER Associates.
Currently, Birol uses his more than 20 years of successful business-to-business experience to deliver results. His client list includes family and entrepreneurial businesses, manufacturers, contractors, and service companies, including several Fortune 500 companies. He has also helped IBM produce leads that exceeded their goals by more than 100% and guided Actel Cellular as the company increased sales by more than 200%.
The media has always turned to Birol for his expertise in business growth, marketing, and strategic planning. He has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN’s Dollar Signs, Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, and Inc. magazine and has authored five books: The 5 Catalysts of 7 Figure Growth, Accelerating Your Growth, Growing Your Business During Succession or Transition, Returning Your Business to Growth, and Focus. Accomplish. Grow. In addition to these accomplishments, he has also published more than 200 articles.
Birol is motivated and passionate about all aspects of his practice. He continues to inspire people with his dedication and creativity.
