Courtesy North East Fire Protection Systems Inc.
By Susan Elise Campbell
Over the next year, the leadership of North East Fire Protection Systems Inc. will transition to Stacey J. Fantauzzi, whose parents started the company in 1978.Jimmy Fantauzzi has been building the company he founded for nearly 50 years and is ready to hand over the presidency to his eldest daughter. The Ballston Spa-based company designs, fabricates, installs, inspects and maintains sprinkler systems for commercial and light industrial buildings and residential developments.
“I’m in no rush to get him out of the company. He’s a great asset,” said Fantauzzi.
In the upcoming year, the elder Fantauzzi will extend his expertise to the next generation of estimators, training them the way he did estimating: drawing by hand. His sketches are then input into a CAD system, she said.
“To understand the whole process at that rudimentary level is a gift to the young folks we have in our office,” she said.
“Jimmy is also helping us with those areas of the business that determine where we are moving forward,” she said. “But at the end of the day, the decisions are mine as to what projects we will take.”
Fantauzzi said her father “never clipped my wings or said I couldn’t do something.” There was no expectation that she or her siblings would join the family business.
“I don’t remember him telling me ‘No’ very often. It was, how are you going to do that?” Fantauzzi said. “He thought it was fabulous that I took my 10-speed bicycle apart and wrote an entire school paper about how it worked. He still likes to learn new things.”
Her father’s inquisitive mind did not skip a generation. Around fourth grade, Fantauzzi thought she might become an interpreter for the U.N. In college, she intended to study geography or become an attorney but earned a degree in business. Later, she pursued MBA courses at the University at Albany.
As a young person, she enjoyed going to construction sites and learning about fitting pipes and every aspect of the business. Over the decades, as the economy fluctuated, she also learned from her parents how to weather the storms of small-business ownership.
Her career took her to a Fortune 500 company, the construction industry and another fire protection company. Then, 14 years ago, she joined the NEFPSI team and advanced to vice president. As president overseeing 23 employees, she is making several enhancements.
One is changing the way the company hires.
“Instead of people who have experience in the fire protection trade, I’m looking for problem solvers,” said Fantauzzi. “Find me good, earnest people and we will train them.”The American Fire Sprinkler Association has an apprenticeship program that NEFPSI runs out of its office for employees, with Fantauzzi as instructor. The company also has AFSA’s support for those pursuing different tracks such as sprinkler system design or inspection, testing and maintenance through the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies.Fantauzzi’s relationship with AFSA gives her a network of expertise to share ideas and experiences, she said. She serves as a committee member supporting the board and continues a 40-year association with the trade organization.
Another enhancement is a new, consolidated financial relationship with Pioneer.
“Usually a business has to approach the bank, but in this case they sought me out,” said Fantauzzi.
She knew Jenifer Marten and Kathy Fialkowski from a previous banking relationship when they reintroduced themselves at a local event, she said.Both enterprises have interest in local mixed-use development and light industrial manufacturing, a construction boom Fantauzzi believes is good for the community and will help her company stay competitive.
“Jen and Kathy said, ’we like construction, we like you, and we want to see what our team can do for you,’” Fantauzzi said.
Pioneer completed financial restructuring to free up capital and improve cash flow for the business.
“The people at Pioneer have a great pulse on the local economy and they have tools to make us a better business,” said Fantauzzi. “They helped us buy two new vehicles in one day and even found a program that helped reduce the interest rate on our loan.”
Not every fire protection company fabricates its own systems, often outsourcing that responsibility to reduce overhead. NEFPSI makes all systems in-house, which, according to Fantauzzi, benefits the company and clients.
“We have nobody to blame but ourselves if there is poor quality, but you don’t get the next job unless you perform well on this one,” she said. “When we test our installations, we don’t get leaks because we know what we’ve made from the raw material.”
“The people in the fabrication shop are part of our team,” said Fantauzzi. “I don’t have to wait in line to get my job done. If there is a schedule change, I can slow down one job and pull in another.”Fantauzzi said she knows the sprinkler business but is still learning business in general.
“The most valuable business experience I’ve gotten is sitting in with our controller and our banker and approaching cash flow and management in a far easier way,” she said.North East Fire Protection Systems Inc. “passionately supports” Ronald McDonald House in Albany, BOCES and the Malta Veterans Association. Jimmy Fantauzzi is a volunteer with the organization, which was founded in part by Renee Farley.
Visit NEFPSI.com for more information.