One Experienced, Dedicated Team
Word-of-mouth referrals keep Gisoti Plumbing and Heating Inc. on solid growth trajectory
Since establishing his company at the end of 2013, Greg Gisoti, President of Gisoti Plumbing and Heating Inc., has experienced steady growth, year after year. Today, the company, based in Cohoes, New York, provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and plumbing services for commercial construction projects across New York State.
Gisoti Plumbing and Heating specializes in HVAC, fire main and restaurant plumbing installations for large commercial customers. Clients include the food service industry, including Chili’s and SONIC Drive-In restaurants and Nothing Bundt Cakes stores, as well as retail stores and medical facilities, such as H&M stores, Aspen Dental and Five Star Urgent Care (now WellNow Urgent Care). The company has performed plumbing and HVAC installations for medium- to high-income multi-unit apartment complexes and made equipment upgrades for Vassar College.
The team at Gisoti Plumbing and Heating prides itself on the experience, quality and customer service it provides to its customers. “These are all bid specification jobs, and we’re competing against five to 10 other mechanical plumbing and heating contractors,” Greg says. “A lot of times, we may not be the lowest bidder, but we get hired because they know we will do a good job. We will be on time, and we have great people who work for us. Sometimes a good word-of-mouth referral means a lot more to a customer than just getting a great price on something.”
‘Just Like Family’
Greg credits his success to a team of experienced and dedicated employees; the company has grown over the last seven years from Greg and a helper to today’s staff of 30.
Greg is the master plumber and electrician on staff. He learned the trade as a young boy helping his father, who owned his own plumbing company for 30 years in the same general area. “I started doing this when I was old enough to hold a flashlight,” Greg says.
The company’s project managers have 15 to 20 years of experience each. “We hire great people, including women and veterans. They all work together as a team,” he says. “We treat everyone who works for us just like family. They love working for us and with each other. We’re there for them, always available if somebody needs help,” he says.
Greg says the key to finding the right people is to hire those who like what they’re doing. “The people we take on full time are good people who come ready to work, and they mean a lot to us. Without them, there isn’t a company.”
Greg’s wife, Trisha, serves as Secretary for Gisoti Plumbing and Heating, and his stepson, Chris, works in the field.
A self-described “hands-on” boss, Greg spends most of his time in the field working eight to 10 hours a day. “We’re a goal-oriented company. We never get behind on a deadline. We keep a very tight schedule, and my workers are available to help 24 hours a day if needed. I’m really thankful for them,” he says.
To stay on schedule, the company works closely with supply houses to make sure materials and tools are available when they’re needed. “My project managers and I know where everything is, where it’s going and how it’s going to get there. We’re prepared for jobs two to three weeks ahead of time. The materials are always here when we need them. We don’t let stuff slip through the cracks.”
Gisoti Plumbing and Heating has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, a distinction that plays a huge role in getting business from area companies.
The Blue Book Network® also has been a big source of business referrals for major commercial jobs. “We get calls and emails 15 to 20 times a day from other mechanical contractors, general contractors and builders who got our name from The Blue Book,” he says. Those referrals have led to jobs with large companies, including W.H. Bass, Inc., a general contractor from Atlanta that builds Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores.
Another referral from The Blue Book Network led to a job Greg is particularly proud of—the Gardnertown Commons project, a plumbing job for Farrell Building Company. Gisoti Plumbing and Heating plumbed 168 units, a clubhouse and an in-ground pool for the gated community.
Giving Back
The Gisoti Plumbing and Heating team donates time, money and materials to local veteran housing projects, and the company participates in Habitat for Humanity builds.
Greg also donates to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Road 2 Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit that supports American Motorcyclist Association-licensed motocross and supercross professionals and athletes with financial assistance after sustaining career-ending injuries.
Motocross racing is Greg’s passion, and on weekends he can be found at the local racetrack. He has been involved in motocross and supercross racing since he was a young boy. At age 39, he still occasionally races, but more importantly, he enjoys hanging with the guys at the track. “Riding bikes is a good pastime for me. A lot of guys into motocross are from the construction industry too,” he says.
Pursuing a new business opportunity related to his pastime, Greg is actively restoring and repurposing a building in Clifton Park, New York, to open a full powersports dealership called MotoStar Inc., which will sell brand-name merchandise. The 8,000-square-foot facility will have everything from new dirt bikes, quads, motorcycles, equipment, gear and helmets, as well as a full mechanics shop and maintenance facility. Greg serves as President of MotoStar Inc., which also sponsors the PRMX Kawasaki race team that participates in the Monster Energy AMA Supercross series aired live on national TV.
“We hire great people, including women and veterans. They all work together as a team.” Greg Gisoti, President, Gisoti Plumbing and Heating Inc.
New Growth Opportunities
Over the past several years, Gisoti Plumbing and Heating has expanded its work scope to include large low-income housing projects throughout upstate New York. Most of these large plumbing jobs are private sector projects for developers. However, the firm is currently pursuing public housing projects as well.
One notable job is a low-income housing project for Home Leasing Construction LLC of Rochester, New York, in which Gisoti Plumbing and Heating provided a full mechanical package of boilers, heating and air conditioning systems for 260 apartments located in 70 historic brownstone buildings. “The work was overseen by the local historic commission, so there were a lot of intricate rules and regulations we had to follow,” Greg shares.
For another Home Leasing project in Schenectady, New York, Gisoti Plumbing and Heating is installing HVAC equipment and boilers for 26 apartments in a renovated schoolhouse and for 36 more apartments in a new mid-rise building across the street.
The low-income housing projects, considered essential, kept the Gisoti Plumbing and Heating team busy this past year even as business growth plateaued during 2020 due to the pandemic. Greg sees a bright future ahead and anticipates hiring additional key people to handle the expected uptick in growth similar to what the company experienced over its first seven years in business.
“In 2022, I predict we will continue to grow,” Greg says. “Five years from now, I see our business doubling or tripling in size, with 50 to 60 employees.”
He believes word-of-mouth referrals about the company’s expertise and superior service will continue to provide new opportunities, recalling an instance where Gisoti Plumbing and Heating provided backup for the plumbing installation at a Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store that was behind schedule.
“My supervisor traveled with our team to Western New York, five hours away, to help on the job. The project executive called later and told me we did more work in two days than the other company did in weeks. He said his project manager on site loved our guys and supervisor, and noted that this guy doesn’t like anybody. He said, ‘I can’t thank you enough for getting us back on schedule. Any work you want is yours.’ “
Those words are exactly what Greg likes to hear.