When writer Tom Caraccioli pitched a story about the 50th anniversary of Usherwood Office Technology, I was not too impressed with the idea. After all, many companies each year turn a milestone — 10, 20, 30 years or more. But the more I learned about Usherwood, the more fascinated I became.
This is a company that started in 1976 on the second floor of the family home in Oswego and has gone through dramatic growth over the last five decades.
It turns out Usherwood Office Technology is a truly successful family-owned business. Now transitioning into its third generation, the company early on moved its headquarters to Syracuse and started growing. Today it has 19 locations in several states in the Northeast. It employs, 176 people and grosses $50 million a year.
In the beginning, Usherwood used to sell and service typewriters and related equipment — then it sold copiers and fax machines and the service that came with the equipment. As technology evolved and office needs changed so did Usherwood.
Today, as Tom and Jerry Caraccioli explain in this issue’s cover story, Usherwood Office Technology manages everything — cyber security, firewalls, servers, all the company’s PCs, multifunctional copiers, printers and any other technology, including video technology and surveillance cameras, as well as phone systems. The plan for the next decades is to add 29 locations.
Lou Usherwood, the youngest of the four children of founders Charles and Carol Usherwood, has been the key executive pushing the company’s growth.
In 1997 when he bought the business from his parents, he was determined to grow the company.
He worked hard expanding the workforce, the scope of services and the locations the business had.
Today, Lou’s daughters Lindsay, Lauren and Leslie are taking over the main responsibilities of the business.
The story of Usherwood follows a textbook lesson on how to grow a small business:
• Flexibility and ability to adapt: the business went from selling typewriters and copiers to providing cyber security, video conference and all IT-related services;
• Vision: when Lou Usherwood bought the business from his parents at age 33, he set out to greatly expand the company. His goal was to expand the business across New York state — his motto: “Statewide by 2005.” It later expanded through the entire Northeast region, including establishing locations in cities like Boston, Providence and Burlington;
• Leadership: the ability to build a team and create a culture of collaboration and innovative work. Usherwood said employees are “team members” and there is a strong sense of unity among the workforce.
• Quality and relevance of services: the company provides services that are needed by other companies — IT, phone services, computer networks, etc. Good, quality services keep clients coming back for more.
We’re impressed by the growth of this company that started in Oswego 50 years ago. We’re glad to have Usherwood Office Technology on the cover of our Progress 2026 issue.
Wagner Dotto is the editor and publisher of Oswego County Business Magazine.
