Our Story

Our Mission: We provide mobility carts to those unable to walk, and create meaningful volunteer work all in the name of Jesus Christ.

March–2013

  • Vince and Lee Petno, on a much needed Florida vacation, were encouraged to check out the website and operations of a ministry to people in developing countries. The ministry – called PET (Personal Energy Transportation) had a production shop in Penney Farms, a retirement community within a few miles of their vacation condo.
  • Vince visited the shop and met a ministry founder, Larry Hills, who took him on a 90-minute tour of the facility.
  • After further communication and much prayer time, he talked with Larry who gave him information that would help establish an organization where PETs would be produced along with the details of how, when, and where a new operation – in NE Ohio – could be approved with support from PET International headquarters.

April–2013

Back home in Stow, Vince contacted two close friends, Ed Morris and Dick Heasley for their advice about this ministry that he felt the Lord had impressed upon his heart to establish. Both were enthusiastic about his consideration offering to give prayer toward it.

May-August 2013

The Lord answered prayers by the introduction of Ralph and Candy Hickman, owners of Blaze Technical Services in Stow, who offered to donate a portion of their building as a shop for building PETs.

Several friends, all brothers and sisters in Christ, came forward to support PET OH-Stow. Ed Morris had a layout of the shop production lines drawn; help in the form of installed electrical power came from Thompson Electric; advice came from Christ Community Chapel of experiences on incorporating and submission as a non-profit corporation – 501 (c) (3).

October-December 2013

Four men went to Penney Farms for a week for certification of PET OH-Stow for a production affiliate approval. Vince had his “Dream Team” come together as full production begins. First Open House held to introduce Mobility to prospective supporters and prayer partners.

January-June 2014

More volunteers come, interested in supporting the shop, bringing their gifts of experience to PET OH-Stow. Dream Team sending PETs to Gain (CRU) in PA for shipment to developing countries. Many companies support PET OH-Stow by providing production materials at no cost.

2014-2015

PET OH-Stow completes first on-site delivery of PETs to Hospital Shalom in Guatemala. PET OH-Stow celebrated the 100th PET built at the PET shop in Stow. All along PET OH-Stow received support from Christ Community Chapel through prayers, participation in open houses, and permission to be included in “They Have Been Gifted” events.

2016-2017

Rebranding – PET International announces Mobility Worldwide as new name and brand replacing PET. The Stow affiliate becomes Mobility Worldwide OH-Stow. New support in the form of need for local trucking materials pickup, plus trips to distribution partners, comes from Don Sitts Auto Group. In addition, Don Sitts names Mobility as the recipient of all funds raised at “Cruisin’ the Chapel” Auto Show.

Distribution partners, each of whom is an evangelical ministry, remain GAIN (Cru) in Pennsylvania, World Vision International at its Sewickley, Pennsylvania warehouse, Samaritan’s Purse, and Hospital Shalom.

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s School of Business & Entrepreneurship (SOBE) is a huge help in designing and preparing Mobility newsletters plus actively designing and soliciting ads for “Cruisin’ the Chapel” brochures.

2017

Leadership change – A change in Mobility-Stow leadership is announced as Vince Petno steps down as president of the ministry. New leaders, both of whom have many years of business experience, are Craig Anderson as president and Fred Gross as vice president. Vince remains as a volunteer each day the shop is open.

2018

Annual Meeting – In October, Mobility-Stow hosted the Mobility Worldwide Annual Meeting at the Aurora Campus of Christ Community Chapel. Representatives from 17 of the 24 production shops were in attendance. One of the sessions focused on new innovations to improve effectiveness of our carts. Stay tuned for more on this topic. 

Growth – This year, shop operations have expanded by adding an afternoon shift that has been very well-attended. Mobility OH-Stow has grown in the last few years, from shipping 100 Carts in 2015 to 400 carts in 2018. From 2013 through 2018, total carts built and shipped are just under 1000.    

2019

Should be another productive year. The goal of 475 carts, to be built and shipped, is starting in January. New research will begin on the improvements suggested at the Annual Meeting. We will keep our thoughts and operations, and prayers, totally sustained by the Lord Jesus Christ.