 Rich Fufaro knows how invigorating a fresh start can be. He’s in the business of restoring useful life to electronic and computer equipment, all while fashioning a new career for himself and his business partners.
“I’m like a kid, feeling 26 or 27 years old inside,” Fufaro said, as he reflected on the recent days’ activities, which included an open house for Back Mountain Systems and Remediation (BMS&R) at its new location in the Twin Stacks Center, in Dallas. “In spite of breaking my nose playing racquetball, it has been a good week.”
The youthful sexagenarian and his wife, Rosalie, are the founders of BMS&R, a multi-faceted computer services company now focused on smoke and water remediation (cleaning) services for electronic equipment, following a disaster such as a fire. Remediation is a natural outgrowth, given the host of services provided by BMS&R, such as computer upgrades and repairs, general maintenance, software instruction, database design, website design and maintenance, and photo restoration and enhancement.
“Our customers are amazed to see how well their equipment runs after it has been properly cleaned with our earth-friendly solutions,” said Bill desRosier, the third BMS&R partner and MBA student at Misericordia University.
The team has worked diligently to become the “go-to” company for electronic remediation services in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Less than three years ago, Fufaro tackled his first remediation job out of the basement of his home. Back then, BMS&R was a fledgling computer services and web design company; Fufaro was a knowledgeable computer expert, but a novice in the remediation industry. In fact, the remediation aspect was not something Fufaro had considered until a friend at another remediation firm asked him to clean a fire-damaged computer rather than send it out of the area to be restored.
“Most remediation companies here don’t have the expertise to work on damaged electronics; therefore, business was going to companies in the Allentown area,” Fufaro said. “As word of our services became known, we built a reputation and established a niche for ourselves.”
Disaster relief work is a niche that requires special training and equipment, and desRosier attained his certification from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration.
BMS&R purchased top-of-the-line electronic cleaning stations that are used at the office and can also be immobilized to clean and sanitize electronics at off-site locations.
The company presently has agreements with local and national insurance companies such as Allstate, Erie, MetLife, Nationwide, and other restoration companies such as ServPro. BMS&R provides service to commercial and residential customers within a 60-mile radius of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area.
By moving to the Twin Stacks Center, Fufaro has gained more than just a better location for his business. Twin Stacks is a Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ), which is established in communities that host colleges and universities. It is designed to foster innovation and create entrepreneurial opportunities and do so by aligning the combined resources of education, business, and the community. Working in conjunction with nearby Misericordia University, Twin Stacks became a KIZ in 2004.
“There have been several businesses at Twin Stacks that have applied for and received his designation of KIZ Company,” said Lynn Banta, who, along with husband Richard Haas, owns the Twin Stacks Center. “We immediately saw the potential opportunity for Back Mountain Systems and Remediation.”
The Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute coordinates KIZ activity in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. The KIZ program encourages innovation in one of five targeted industry segments: Healthcare/Life Sciences; Nanotechnnology, Advanced Manufacturing and Plastics; Information Technology/New Media; Back Office/Finance; and Homeland Security. New and emerging businesses located within the KIZ may qualify for tax credits up to $100,000 per year, as well as a stipend to pay local college interns and innovation grants.
Banta explained why programs such as KIZ are so important to businesses in the incubator phase.
“We try to create a village [of services and support] to help businesses survive,” she said.
BMS&R has submitted a KIZ grant request based on the company’s ability to salvage data from damaged computers. Fufaro hopes to receive notification of approval within a month.
With the remediation business well underway, Fufaro and desRosier are presently campaigning businesses to adopt regular, periodic cleaning and maintenance of their electronic equipment as both a business savings and operational efficiency. Through a regimen of cleaning and maintenance, businesses can extend the life of systems and minimize the disruption and expense surrounding equipment changes, according to Fufaro.
After all, getting your second wind– that is, recharging for another go around– is a specialty of Fufaro’s. |
