STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Eric Campione, co-owner and vice president of PAC Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, leads by example, strengthening the community every day through his fierce dedication and ever-positive attitude.
A lifelong Staten Islander, Campione attended Tottenville High School and worked part-time at his family’s plumbing business while growing up. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, continuing to work at PAC during school breaks and holidays. Founded in 1978 by his grandfather and father, the business grew over time and evolved into the Staten Island staple, where Campione built the foundation of his career.
“After a year of job-searching and serving as a plumber for PAC, my mom, who was PAC’s office manager at the time, pulled me aside and encouraged me to switch to an office job for the company,” says Campione. “She knew that I had a college degree and wanted me to put it to good use, so I started in purchasing and eventually moved over to project management.”
Campione’s life took a major turn on Jan. 6, 2011, when his two older brothers tragically passed away in a car accident. Both of Campione’s brothers, Paul III and Christopher, worked as plumbers for PAC and helped to teach Campione the trade.
“It was incredibly difficult to deal with, both for us as a family and as a company. We were already having a hard year business-wise, and my brothers’ passing really took a toll on everyone,” reminisces Campione. “I knew that something needed to change if we wanted to continue operating, so I started putting a ton of work into the business. I leaned really heavily on the Chamber to help me through that time.”
Through the Chamber, Campione was matched with a mentor, John Amodio, who helped to guide Campione both with the business and personally. Campione also joined the Chamber’s Young Professionals Group (YPG), taking on a leadership role and developing a network of like-minded individuals to rely on.
“Rob Myers, who was also in the YPG at the time, told me about New York City Economic Development Corporation’s (NYCEDC) Best of NYC awards, which was a business development program with potential grant funding, and I threw my hat in the ring,” says Campione. “I got into the program, wrote my business plan, and ended up winning the grand prize of $50,000, which we put toward new computers and operating software to enhance our customer experience. That technology really helped us get back on our feet and integrate new practices.”
Campione dove headfirst into the business, enrolling in a business coaching and training organization called the Nexstar Network that focused on leadership, marketing strategies, and business best practices. PAC began to thrive again under Campione’s leadership, becoming a one-stop-shop for all things plumbing and HVAC home services. Rebuilding from the ground up, Campione pivoted from new construction jobs to home services, entirely changing the company’s target market.
“I make sure that I’m always keeping my head up and tackling the big hurdles,” said Campione. “You’ll never grow without pushing through those and learning. I’m constantly thinking, ‘How can we improve here? What new marketing tactics do we need to employ? What issues are getting in my way?’ That’s how the business gets better.”
Above all, Campione’s heart is what sets him apart. Constantly checking in on his employees, Campione fosters an environment of growth, dedication, and service, implementing daily huddles, one-on-ones with staff members, and frequent, personal check-ins.
“My dad instilled in me that we do this for others, for the community, for our employees,” says Campione. “Yes, we do it to make a living too, but at the end of the day, it’s about helping people. It feels so good to be able to support our employees and give them a great job that they really love going to.”
Campione is currently running a campaign at PAC called Unclogs for Dogs, where every time PAC unclogs a drain, the company will donate five pounds of dog food to a local shelter. In less than two months, the business has already donated over 400 pounds of dog food.
For his accomplishments, Eric Campione is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which he will receive in the Established Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader. Campione is the second person in his family to receive the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, following his father, who was a recipient in 2007.
Outside of his work with PAC, Campione is also an active member of the community, giving back whenever he finds a moment of spare time. Campione currently serves on the Board of Directors for the chamber of commerce, the Staten Island Business Outreach Center and Community Agency for Senior Citizens. Campione is also a member of the Chamber’s YPG Council, as well as the Rotary Club of Staten Island.
“When I was a lot younger, I was honestly a little kid at this point, my dad used to bring me to rotary events,” he recalled. “Being in that environment really instilled their mission, ‘service above self,’ into me at a young age. He taught me how important it is to give back to people, and it made me incredibly grateful for all of the people who helped me along the way, too. Giving is just what we do, there’s no question about it.”