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			Dealer Spotlight – Arista Air Conditioning Corp.
							DEALER SPOTLIGHT – ARISTA AIR CONDITIONING CORP.
							When Stanley Berger bought Arista Air Conditioning Corp. in 1973, he had hopes of making it one of the premier HVAC/R companies in the tri-state area. Today, the company has accomplished just that – with 140 employees and a fleet of 90 service vehicles, Arista has moved to the head of the HVAC/R pack. Scott Berger, current president of Arista and son of Stanley, said that much of the company’s success can be attributed to its commitment to customers and employees alike. “We look at our work, our customers, and our employees from the focus of trust,” Scott said. “We’re in an industry where gaining trust is the key to it all. We want to develop long-term relationships.” Scott said that Arista focuses primarily on commercial air conditioning, but has developed a strong and growing niche in customized, high-end residential applications, for the most part in Manhattan. “What makes this an interesting niche is that it often requires commercial equipment used in a sophisticated application,” he said, adding that the largest residence they have done was 49,000 square feet. “That required several different types of systems, including sophisticated controls, humidification, air cleaning – everything you could possibly imagine.” Arista currently serves downstate New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, with a number of other accounts extending into the Northeast Corridor. Scott said that about 45 percent of the work they do is installation for a small core group of general contractors. “What we do is definitely much more relationship-oriented, and we’re always looking toward the long term,” he said. Scott said that Arista does not do any paid advertising, and instead relies on word-of-mouth, as well as their uniquely designed trucks. “Our trucks are our strongest point of marketing – they’re new, clean, lettered the same way, and recognizable,” he said. Additionally, Scott said that Arista Air Conditioning Corp. has a comprehensive website, www.aristair.com, which they are in the process of updating. He added that he also belongs to several networking organizations, including industry organizations like IFMA (International Facilities Managers’ Association) and local groups like the MBN (Metropolitan Business Network). Scott said that in they have recently kicked off the Blue Sky Initiative, where they have embraced the green movement in two distinct ways. “In one way, we work to be good corporate citizens,” Berger said. “We’ve adopted many policies at our offices to be more sustainable. We use wind power, recycled paper, purchase recycled products. We’re working right now on a lighting retrofit, and we actually even installed a waterless urinal,” he said. On the customer end of the environmental movement, Arista has been encouraging customers to consider more energy-efficient air conditioning systems and to adopt preventive maintenance programs to help maintain system efficiency. Scott said that Arista strives to provide quality products to their clients, and one way to do this is through the use of Factory Authorized Parts. “We do feel that there is a quality difference with F.A.P. parts,” he said. “We do a lot of work with Carrier products, and F.A.P. is the best choice for that equipment. People consider the value proposition. To have to come back and make a repair again is much more expensive than using the right part the first time.” Scott said that he has been very involved in industry organizations over the years. He is a former local president of ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America), and is currently on the national board of the MSCA (Mechanical Service Contractors of America). Scott has also served on the IFMA board locally for approximately 10 years. Scott is also actively involved in the MCERF (Mechanical Contracting Education and Research Foundation), which helps fund educational programs for the HVAC/R industry. He said his company invests heavily in the training of technicians, most of which is done within the company. “We make in house training a priority.” Scott said that his company has built its success on the dedication of their employees, and that there is very low turnover. He said the company encourages morale by having weekly summer barbeques and annual events like the family company picnic and an international luncheon. “We really are a family oriented company, and it shows,” he said.
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