POLAND — It was an ordinary day at work for Shawn Mulhall when a man walked into his business three years ago, changing everything.

“He walks in and he asks: ‘Do you re-do trophies?'” Mulhall recalled.

Mulhall, owner of S & T Engraving and Awards, Inc., 80 S. Main St. in Poland, said he told the man, a former employee of Werner Ladder’s Greenville, Pa., location, to bring the trophy in — but was asked if he could help get the memento from the back of a vehicle.

As the man opened the vehicle, that’s when Mulhall’s eyes opened wide. “I knew instantly what they were,” he said.

He was looking at the National Collegiate Athletic Association trophies for coaches of the year.

Tasked with redesigning header plates and revamping engraving details, Mulhall said the man was “passing through” town when he googled “trophies” and S & T Engraving popped up.

“What’s the chances of that happening? It’s pretty cool,” Mulhall said.

He explained that Werner Ladder of Illinois is a major sponsor of March Madness, and the trophies themselves are handed out by the Atlantic Athletic Club.

According to Werner Ladder’s website, it is a sponsor of the annual sports extravaganza.

The trophies are then given to the Division I men’s and women’s basketball coaches of the year.

Mulhall has worked with FishBait Marketing of Charleston, S.C., an advertising company representing Werner Ladder, and most recently Hanlon Sculpture of New York, where the trophies are made, and sends it a design proof. Once he gets the go-ahead, Mulhall works on the trophy then ships it to its destination.

The fact that his small business has a direct connection to the Final Four — the men’s trophy is handed out at halftime during the final game — is quite the compliment.

“It’s very humbling to me, and it’s a great, great honor,” he said.

The trophies themselves are larger-than-life as far as they go.

Standing at about 3 feet tall, the top is bronze that sits atop a solid walnut base. Two children are depicted with a peach basket, and James Naismith, inventor of basketball, is teaching the kids about the sport. A ladder goes up to the basket.

“The trophy has a lot of meaning,” Mulhall said, recognizing the significance of the trophies in the realm of sports. “It’s a pretty prestigious award.”

Mulhall and his wife, Renee, began S & T Engraving about 30 years ago, working from home.

He said they would work on youth sports trophies and other smaller-type jobs. Deciding to establish a home-work balance, Mulhall said they decided to open an actual shop. “We didn’t really want people coming to our home,” Mulhall said.

Always wanting to have his own business, Mulhall was working at an area Phar Mor when the decision to open the shop was made, although he didn’t think he’d be in this field for the long haul.

“I never had any intention of doing this my whole life,” he said.

Along the way, the Mulhalls have learned more about the engraving field “and almost 30 years later, we’re still doing it.”

Through word-of-mouth and a loyal customer base, Mulhall said S & T Engraving has projects around the country.

Ultimately, people from the area move away and still want the small business to complete work.

“People always remember Youngstown, no matter where you go,” he said.

To stay current Mulhall said the business, which currently employs four, shifts with the times, learning new trends. In addition to engraving, S & T embroiders and will soon venture into wedding gifts and special events.

Excited to see other opportunities coming, Mulhall said that the decision to be his own boss is what motivates him. “This is the ultimate challenge for me. I get excited,” he said.