Page 17 - SKILLS - 2023

AMHAC
Eastchester-based family business AMHAC — which stands for All Makes Heating and Air Conditioning — has been serving the HVAC needs of Westchester homes and businesses for more than 70 years. Each year, the company sets out to create brand name recognition by winning national and global industry awards, explains General Manager Natalie Lloyd. “I always say we have the same diagnostics, the same tools as our competition, so what about our company’s culture sets us apart? It’s the interaction between employees and customers. We want people to be proud to work here,” explains Lloyd.
As the Great Resignation marches on, Baby Boomers leave the workforce and millennials fill the labor gap, Lloyd has changed the mindset on hiring. Millennials want to have purpose in their jobs and feel that they’re contributing to
a team. “We hire people to co-create and become part
of a team within our departments of customer service, installers, accounting etc.,” explains Lloyd. Teamwork is paramount to the company’s success, and peer-to-peer accountability and interdependence ensure that no one person owns the success of their job.
“We are headstrong on training and growing people within the company,” comments Lloyd. Everyone on the executive team grew through the ranks. “We don’t find superstars, we build them. A culture of learning exists here. We have plumbers or electricians say to their children, I want AMHAC to train you first before you work with me,” explains Lloyd. “And after two years, they are ingrained in our culture and want to stay and grow with us,” she adds proudly.
Demetrius Simpson first heard about AMHAC through relatives and now has a thriving career there. Prior to joining AMHAC, he worked on HVAC systems in Manhattan high-rises, but residential homes’ HVAC systems vary greatly, so he took a pay cut and began work at AMHAC
as a helper nearly a decade ago. Most helpers shadow a more experienced worker at AMHAC for at least two years before becoming a service technician. “I worked my way up from service technician to service supervisor to service manager. The greatest workers here are homegrown,” comments Simpson.
“Demetrius is our number-one guy for training. We have a bonus structure to incentivize experienced workers to
teach skills to newly hired employees. This fosters a culture of learning, not competition,” says Lloyd.
Plus, the focus on internal training helps with retention. Almost one out of three employees have worked at AMHAC for a decade or more. Add in fun-filled karaoke and casino- themed staff parties plus weekly catered lunches and it is no wonder that AMHAC continues to be one of the most sought-after HVAC employers in the 914.
Eastchester-based AMHAC uses fun-filled staff parties such as the kickoff to summer (bottom left) and annual Christmas party (above) to promote team cohesion.
Kings Capital Construction Group
This Tarrytown-based company with approximately 45 employees constructs two- to 12-story buildings in the county for a variety of developments, from retail to affordable housing projects.
Not only do they build upwards, but they also do civil work taking place below ground, covering aspects such as infrastructure and underground utilities. That’s a unique construction approach, according to JD Summa, the company’s president and CEO.
Whether Kings is building projects or figuring out employee assistance, Summa prides himself on never taking a “one size fits all” approach. Take child care, for example: As a parent himself, Summa knows that it is hard to concentrate on your job if you are worried about your children’s wellbeing. This became increasingly evident during COVID. “During this period, we realized that childcare became a major issue for families, especially for families with both parents working. To help with their peace of mind during
an already stressful time, we helped offer parents of young children some relief in dealing with their childcare issues,” explains Victoria Bruno, business development manager.
For example, for one employee, Kings increased the employee’s individual healthcare benefits to family coverage, allowing his spouse the ability to stay home with their young children. For another employee, they
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© Courtesy of AMHAC
© Courtesy of AMHAC