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This well known and
respected name got its start in 1923, when Camillo Iacoboni, an
Italian immigrant from the town of Teramo in the province of
Abruzzi, started his own construction business. Born in 1897, he had come from
Italy in 1913 at the age of
sixteen with few prospects but found work as a laborer in the
construction industry. Unable to speak the new language, which proved
to be such a limiting barrier to so many in similar circumstances, Camillo soon realized the urgent need to learn English as well as to
master his new trade. He learned both quickly and was soon rewarded.
Camillo was promoted to Foreman because of his trade skills
and his ability to communicate with the many other Italian immigrants
who had gravitated towards the construction trade.
This also exposed him to a wider range of work experiences expanding his knowledge of his new trade.
After a number of years and acquired
experience, the entrepreneurial spirit touched him. Camillo
felt that he could better himself by starting his own
business. He was ready to set out on his own. He began by installing
water and sewer house connections for a few developers in the
Baltimore area.
The company began
before the advent of machinery and was essentially a pick and shovel
business. In the beginning, it was a sweat and blisters operation. Camillo worked for private developers and hired other Italian
immigrants who had been discriminated against and who also could not
initially speak the language. Again his communication skills served
him well. The company grew through the years, some of which were
obviously rough and difficult. His wife Anna did the paperwork, the
contracts and payroll, while Camillo and his crews did the field work.
The company prospered and eventually in 1956, the business was
incorporated as Camillo Iacoboni and Sons, Inc.
Camillo passed away in 1976. He worked and was active in the
business until his death. At
that time his two sons, Anthony and Thomas took full control of the
company.
In 1983, the two
brothers decided amicably to split the business into two separate
companies. They dissolved the parent company and with the same
entrepreneurial spirit that touched their father, formed two new
companies. They did the same type of work and competed against each
other. Anthony started his own company, Anthony Iacoboni and Sons,
Inc. After a few years in business, he retired and sold
his company. Thomas C., along with his son Thomas J. and son-in-law,
Bill Francik started Thomas C. Iacoboni and Sons, Inc.
Thomas
J. Iacoboni first began working for the company in his early teens, getting calloused
hands during the summers and after school. Bill entered into the business after his marriage into the family.
Thomas J. continued his part-time work for the company until he
graduated from Loyola College in 1982 with a degree in Business
Administration. He then went to work full-time in his
father’s business, the only business he says he knows and loves. Tom
and Bill took the same path in the company and became
partners with Thomas C. in 1983. Thomas C. remained the
majority stockholder while both Thomas J. and Bill were minority
stockholders.
1991 was a pivotal
year for Thomas J. Iacoboni. It was the middle of
a recession, and the construction industry was being particularly hard
hit.
For a number of reasons,
including the recession and his desire to slow down, the senior
Iacoboni decided it was an opportune time to retire. He sold all of
the equipment of Thomas C. Iacoboni & Sons at
auction.
Thomas J. Iacoboni took this
as an opportunity to start his own firm. It was not easy! Bonding
and financial assistance in the form of equipment loans and a line of
credit were essential. Even though he had been in the business for 8
years, as far as banks were concerned, this was a new business with few
assets. No one would loan to him at favorable terms.
After a number of rejection
letters from various banks, Tom was able to secure a Small Business
Administration loan at First National Bank of Maryland (now M & T Bank).
His bonding agent,
HMS, was able to obtain bonding from Reliance Insurance. This provided the new
company with the ability to operate until such time as receivables for
work performed were collected. Iacoboni Site Specialists, Inc.,
started operating on October 24, 1991. Bill Francik accepted a
position of Vice President of the new company. Bob Francik, Bill’s
brother and former employee of Thomas C. Iacoboni and Sons, accepted the
position of Secretary/Treasurer.
The company started
operations with about a dozen employees which included two full sized
utility crews and one small rubber tire crew. Work was very hard to
come by and competition was fierce for what little work was available.
Tom’s father helped out by allowing the new company to complete some
of the former company’s projects and to use some of the small tools
that had not been sold at auction. Since Tom had been in the
business since 1983, he had developed many business contacts that
helped him find enough work to last through the tough times.
One of Iacoboni’s first jobs
to be completed was the Gudeisky Medical Building
in Baltimore City for Turner Construction. This job required extensive knowledge and expertise of site preparation. The building was deep in the
ground and connected to an existing building. This required
extensive underpinning and sheeting of the existing building while at the same time excavating a deep hole for the
proposed building. The contract included the sediment control,
sheeting, underpinning, excavating, hauling off of excess dirt and
utilities installation. The job was completed ahead of schedule and
below budget. It also set the tone for expansion into performing a
complete site package scope of work.
Iacoboni Site Specialists,
even during the recession, was a profitable and growing company. As
the economy grew, so did the company. In 1991, the company’s revenues
came to about $600,000, but the following year saw them leap to $4.5
million. Currently, the company's revenues are in the $20 million per
year range and still growing.
The SBA loan was soon repaid and the Small Business
Administration rewarded Thomas J. Iacoboni as the Small Business
Person of the Year in 1998. A new bonding company, The Hartford,
replaced Reliance who had financial problems and eventually
declared bankruptcy. Banks that had
previously rejected Tom's requests for loans were now clamoring for the
opportunity to work with a proven company, but the firm has stayed
loyal to the bank that helped them get started in business and has not
accepted their offers. |
