Lou Amiano
Owner
Amiano & Son Construction

What made you decide to pursue a career in the industry?
After graduating college, I went on a lot of interviews for everything from investigator jobs with the district attorney's office in Camden as well as private investigator positions. After going on the interviews I talked to my Dad about the construction company he had.

Where did you draw inspiration in order to start and build this incredible business?
After speaking to Lou Sr. about the construction company I grew up with, the one I worked in during the summers. He was hesitant at first. He wanted me to do what in his mind was the right thing, which was to use my degree to get a job. I, however, saw the possibilities of growing his construction company into a design-build concept, which was unheard of in the late '90s. I began to work with my Dad on ideas I learned from business courses.

What were your visions when you started in 2000 and how have you met them or even surpassed those goals?
In 2000, we incorporated and rebranded our company. The rebranding was that we could offer design concepts during the sales phase. Clients worked with myself and eventually the staff we hired to create the concept of the remodel we were hired for. At first I did everything – I was the bookkeeper, I did marketing, served as production manager, carpenter, laborer, salesman, estimator and office manager. In 2006, I brought in my wife, Wendy Amiano, to take over the office positions. Her marketing and public relations background helped take my vision to the next level.

In what different ways have you grown Amiano & Son over the past 56 years?
There are so many ways my company grew to where it is today. Prior to my partnership with my dad, his company was much different. He took on mostly masonry work. From time to time, he would do general contracting on a small project. My father, like many from his era, was a self-taught tradesmen. I can proudly say the men who worked with my dad were some of the best quality tradesmen I have ever met. They were the men who helped to build South Jersey. The skills and attention to detail they had always stuck with me. When I look back at my career as an entrepreneur, I cannot believe the journey. It took me from my many hats I had to wear, to a company that successfully employs over 20 local residents. I look at a company that went from one or two projects at a time to an eight-to-12 project at a time company. I went from a zero award company – which bothered my competitive nature – to a national and regional award-winning company. I went from working in a home office to two full-service design-build showrooms. One of the first in our area back in 2011!

What do you see as the biggest accomplishment since your start?
Being able to offer good careers to good people is a huge accomplishment for Amiano. Wendy and I worked hard to create an internal brand for our staff. It took some time but it has paid off. We have a wonderful team that includes family of mine and family of our long-term staff whose kids we watched grow and they wanted to work with us! That is a huge compliment to a small business. Being able to offer such diverse and good career opportunities is because of the success of Amiano as a premier design-build remodeler in New Jersey. Studying and learning from some of the best in the industry is what kept driving my passion for more. Seeing ideas from business leaders in the construction industry nationally gave me the confidence to take Amiano to the next level every time. Making my motto, "We can always improve."

What products/services do you currently offer that you think a homeowner values the most?
Our kitchen and bath remodels are the most valued projects. In the past few crazy years, people in our market were faced with staying in their existing homes due to the pandemic, interest rates and nowhere else local to move to. People get tired of looking at the same kitchen and bathroom. At least remodeling offers a new home feel with a new aesthetic, excitement, new spaces for storage, increased home value and a sense of accomplishment.

What is your favorite part of the job?
I enjoy going to conferences and learning new things. The new trends in both business and construction are paving the way for better living. Staying on top of new trends keeps my newest staff engaged and motivated. I am very process oriented. I actually enjoy creating processes to solve problems. When you combine learning environments, such as conferences, with the creativity of a process to implement, you as a business owner are literally taking your entire staff to the next level. That is what we strive for, constant improvement.

In what ways do you expect to continue to grow?
In the next 5 years we want to adhere to our current project loads. We need to catch our breath and regroup as a company. My daughter and my nephew have been working hard alongside us. We have all faced some good times and bad together. They have been learning through experience on all aspects of running a small business. They aspire to run Amiano & Son Construction. We anticipate to begin our new chapter in 10 years unless life derails us. Wendy hopes to open a consulting business with me in the next 15 years to help other small business owners. For now, we are working to keep our company going strong for the next generation.

Amiano & Son Construction
1637 US-206, Southampton Township, N.J.
(609) 268-5923 2500
Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, N.J.
www.AmianoandSon.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 7 (June 2024)
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