Executive Suite: Doug Matz, Riverhead
Doug Matz, owner and president of Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning in Riverhead, has gone solar on the roof of his company, and his workers stay in touch with the office wirelessly. (Oct. 12, 2011) Credit: Randee Daddona
His business may not have the "wow factor" of an Apple or Starbucks, says Doug Matz, owner of Flanders Heating & Air Conditioning. Most of his customers aren't going to "put in a new furnace and bring company down to see," he says.
Still, he runs his business with big-guy approaches, such as offering ongoing training for employees, sending managers to leadership seminars, spotting and visiting top-performing contractors around the country with an eye to analyzing and adapting their approaches.
Matz, 48, grew up working in his family's business, Matz Heating & Air Conditioning, which was sold in 1999 to a division of Lennox International Inc. Matz stayed on as Northeast district manager.
In 2004 he bought the Flanders company in Riverhead, a "friendly competitor." He's updated technology, created a service department, increased staff and overseen a sevenfold revenue increase.
