Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Troico COO and Co-Founder Vanessa Pinelli, whose full-service renovation company and in-house millwork shop has an ambitious five-year plan to really make a mark in Canada and the United States…
Elevator Pitch: Describe your business in a nutshell.
Troico is a full-service renovation company with an in-house custom millwork shop. We service other builders and developers on the millwork side and work with homeowners and designers on the renovation side.
Why did you start your business, what was the inspiration?
During university, I worked for my dad’s company while going to school. He has a cabinet shop and construction business in Ontario. We took his concept of a “one-stop shop” and tweaked it a little to make it our own, and voila, Troico was born.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part of my day is the ever-changing tasks I have. I’m never bored by doing the same thing; there is always something new and exciting going on. Different jobs mean different challenges, and that keeps it interesting.
The most challenging part of my job is managing Troico’s growth. We started with four employees and currently have 22. We want to continue to grow but maintain our standard of quality and core business values. Finding a happy medium is challenging.
Where do you see your business going in five years?
We have an aggressive business plan: five years from now, we hope to have Troico cabinets in all parts of Canada and the US. We are in the process of setting up a dealer network around Canada and the US. We are specifically targeting Western Canada and Western US right now. We can’t wait to continue our growth – it’s so exciting!
What does success look like to you?
I measure my success by how much fun I’m having. Going to work and being able to have a great time with my team while enhancing our clients’ well-being through improving their home is really rewarding. Even now, when I look back on projects we’ve done, I still think, wow, we did such a good job and still had such a great time doing it. It’s really rewarding to be able to have fun and enjoy what we do so much.
What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Being named as one of the top 30 under 30 for this past year’s National Kitchen and Bath Association. Being recognized among my peers in both Canada and the US was an honour, and certainly memorable.
Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Growing up, my mother always said to me “procrastination is the thief of time.” Back then I didn’t understand it. Now I find myself repeating that phrase three or four times throughout my day. Staying focused and being efficient is the key to succeeding as an entrepreneur.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Yes, my husband and I are avid supporters of Smile Train. Our son Jackson was born with a cleft lip and palate, so getting children in third world countries resources to repair their lips and palates is really important to us. They do amazing work helping kids. We are so fortunate to live in a country where healthcare is accessible to everyone. The care Jackson receives is unparalleled. We hope to give kids with cleft lips and palates, and their families, hope through Smile Train’s good work
What is Notable to you?
Referrals from people seeing our work. New clients are great, but having someone use our company after seeing our work is really special to us.
Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone 5s.
How do you keep active, energetic, and vibrant?
I take one day a week to be at home with my family and not work. Sunday is our family day.
#NOTABLE
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