Help for business at a crossroads.

• Author: Reynolds, Dan
• Position: FROM BEGINNERS TO BIGSHOTS - Michael Pearson of Union Packing Co.

Michael Pearson's career track reveals two qualities that could be considered the linchpins of his business success. The first is that he isn't afraid to change direction if the path he initially chose seems like the wrong one. The second is that when he decides to make a change, he sits down and carefully considers his options, including getting advice from other business professionals if he thinks he needs it.

The owner of Yeadon, Penn.-based Union Packaging LLC, has already encountered several crossroads with his company, and he finds himself at another one in 2008.

In nine years, Pearson's paper-container making company has grown to 94 employees and $20 million in annual sales. As a manufacturer of individual food containers for the fast-food industry, Union Packaging can count itself as a supplier to the big three of what professionals refer to as the QSR, or quick-service restaurant, business.

Union Packaging makes sandwich, french-fry and other finger-food containers for McDonald's Corp., Burger King Corp. and Wendy's International Inc.

So far so good; nothing wrong with those connections. But Pearson has a dilemma. Sales have leveled the past two years and he wants to continue to grow his business. The question is how and in which direction.

"For me the dream is about growth organically and watching Union Packaging move into more segments of the folding-carton industry beyond just food," said Pearson.

Whether that might be in pharmaceuticals or some other segment, Pearson isn't sure at this point.

"That's the dilemma where I am at fight now," said Pearson.

If past performance is any indication of future results, Pearson will rely on a combination of his gut and expert opinions before making his decision.

As a younger man, Pearson had a dream of being a Marine pilot. But he came from a family that placed a strong emphasis on higher education. So after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Pearson enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School. That made his parents happy, but one year into it he started having misgivings. It was during his first summer law clerking that it hit him.

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"It wasn't me," said Pearson. Even though his family opposed it, Pearson left law school for Army officer candidate school. He now wore eyeglasses, so flight school was out of the question.

Pearson ended up serving in military intelligence and spent nine months in the Middle East during the first Gulf War. After the...