When Kenneth Mercadante ’18 graduated from the business administration program at Cairn, he had in mind to one day be a business owner. He did not, however, have any intention of owning his family’s business.
Ken’s father began Dura-Plex, Inc. in 1972, a small home renovation business in New Jersey. While it would in some ways be natural for Ken to follow in his father’s footsteps, he had no interest. Growing up, he watched his father experience the grueling challenges of working in the home improvement industry, particularly in the aftermath of the 2008 recession. He wanted to follow his father’s example of business ownership, but this particular industry was off the table, at least so he thought.
Ken began working at Jersey Mike’s Subs shortly before graduation, with a goal of one day becoming a franchisee. While he enjoyed much of the work there, he decided the casual restaurant business was ultimately not for him. It was at this same time that his dad approached him and his brother Anthony about buying Dura-Plex. More willing than he was once before, and after much prayerful consideration, Ken left Jersey Mike’s and bought the business with his brother in 2020.
Over the past five years, Ken has learned a lot about the business of leading people. Dura-Plex is a small business, but the nature of their work requires a large number of staff. Business ownership comes with a long list of responsibilities, but Ken believes that person management is one of the most time-consuming but important investments. This is why his faith in Christ is so central to his business operations. As Ken shared, “Your team is relying on you as a leader everyday. Your mood sets the tone, and your work ethic is being used as an example. You need to be completely invested and interested in your people in order to run a successful business.”
His faith also directs the way Dura-Plex engages their customers. In an industry where large corporate companies play tricky sales games or pressure customers, Dura-Plex is committed to transparent pricing and a customer-first culture. Whether roofing, siding, decking, doors, or windows, most of Dura-Plex’s services are those that their customers will do once in their lives. These projects are important investments, and Ken and his team are committed to treating every project with that same level of value. Operating on these principles, Ken is pressing forward in his goal to make Dura-Plex New Jersey’s most trusted exterior remodel company.
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