Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
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Good Neighbor Podcast: Tri-Cities
EP# 139: From Firefighter to Electrician: Greg Tuccitto's Journey with Tuccitto Electric in the Tri-Cities
What makes Greg Tuccitto with Tuccitto Electric a good neighbor?
Greg Tuccitto, our guest on this episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, made a bold transition from fighting fires in Johnson City to lighting up homes across the Tri-Cities. Greg's story is one of transformation and resilience, and he shares how an unexpected mentorship ignited his passion for the electrical trade. Starting from the back of his personal vehicle in 2017, Tuccitto Electric has grown into a respected local business specializing in new construction, remodels, and repairs. Greg opens up about his journey from New York City to the heart of the Tri-Cities, and how his experiences have shaped the successful, family-owned company that stands today.
Listeners are treated to Greg's insights into the electrical industry, dispelling myths and addressing common misconceptions about engaging professional services for electrical work. With a growing team and increasing demand, Greg emphasizes the importance of expertise in handling electrical tasks safely and effectively. He candidly discusses the dynamic nature of the business and how his team navigates the challenges of a booming construction landscape. Tune in to discover more about Greg's inspiring path, his impact on the community, and valuable advice for anyone hesitant about hiring a professional electrician.
To learn more about Tuccitto Electric go to:
https://www.facebook.com/TuccittoElectric/
Tuccitto Electric
(423) 220-0925
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Monty.
Speaker 2:Hello everyone and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast of the Tri-Cities. So we have a very special guest with us today that I'm super excited to learn more about him and his company because, if you're like me, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy unless it comes to something that can kill me, and if you don't know what you're doing me, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of guy unless it comes to something that can kill me and if you don't know what you're doing, and electricity is one of those things. So today I have the great pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, mr Greg Tucito of Tucito Electric. Greg, welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:Hey, how are you doing? Thanks for having me Skip.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Like I said, we're thrilled to have you, and I know a lot of folks are like me. They don't like to touch anything that can fry them, you know, if they can help it, because you know it's dangerous work, and so having a professional is really important. And so, with that in mind, greg, why don't you kick us off by telling us about your business?
Speaker 3:Sure, well, we're a small family-owned residential new construction, remodel and repair company, started out back in the summer of 2017 as just a one-man operation under the back of a personal vehicle that I commandeered for professional work and over the years, just making good relationships and servicing different areas of the Tri-Cities, we've kind of grown in business and grown in demand. So now we're a three to four man operation, plus myself overseeing. We probably do 50% new construction right now, which is obviously a big thing in our area, still as far as the booming construction and about 25% remodel and 25% service and repair as kind of how we're currently structured.
Speaker 2:Very good, very good. So started out in a car, in the back of a car. Did you always have an interest in electrical work, or how did you get started in this business?
Speaker 3:Well, interestingly so, I'm originally from New York City and when I met my wife of 17 years I was in the process of applying to the electrician's union up there for apprenticeship. And that's a very long and drawn out process Not to go into too much detail on there, but it's a very, very large pool of applicants that they just kind of keep chopping down and chopping down until you get to a certain number they want for classes. Well, in the interlude of that we met, we dated, we got married and moved here. So I was interested in it, but that opportunity sort of fell to the wayside as life just took me in a different direction. Well, I eventually became a Johnson City fireman.
Speaker 3:I worked for the Johnson City Fire Department for almost five years and the gentleman who, incidentally, I was on an engine with and actually went into my first real house fire with, owned a electrical company for new construction and I sort of poked and prodded, asking him you know if on our off days I can come be a helper, learn something, be the gopher, so to speak, and started with him. Learn something, you know, be the gopher, so to speak, and started with him, and that just kind of slowly rolled itself into learning the trade and then more work. Eventually I exited the fire department to pursue this full time, worked full time for a couple other companies in between, sort of rounding out my knowledge and experience. And then, once I felt good about where I was professionally, I decided it was time to give it a shot for myself.
Speaker 2:Very cool. Now you're from New York City. How long have you been in the Tri-Cities, Because you sound like one of us.
Speaker 3:Well, so I moved here in December of 2007. So actually me and my wife got married December 1st and then moved here 10 days later, December 10th, first and then moved here 10 days later, december 10th Gotcha, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, you, like I said, you've acclimated, well, cause you got the accent. So what, what are some Greg? What are?
Speaker 3:some myths or misconceptions in the electrical business. I would say one of the big ones is, especially for people like you mentioned people who like to try to do things themselves and be efficient in their homes is that because something works, it's safe. Those can sometimes be two very different things in the electrical field. A lot of times, especially in a home, there's a lot of things that's just color to color. Right, I'm going to put these two white wires together and these two black wires together and it turns on and that's great. But there's actually a lot of nuance to installing something properly, both for the longevity of the product and your use of it, but also for the safety and well-being of your home. And so a lot of issues that I come across as an electrician when it comes to existing homes is that something was put in and it works great, but it's not actually correct or safe for long-term use.
Speaker 2:It could potentially burn your house down, depending on what it is Exactly, wow.
Speaker 3:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Well, outside of work, Greg, what do you like to do for fun?
Speaker 3:I'm a little bit of a I guess I'll use the term nerd at home. I like comic books. I like video games. When it's football season, I do love football A New York Jet fan, as unfortunate as that might be and then I just like to spend time with my family. I've got a son who's three years old, who's got more energy than I can ever hope to have and I said no and a wife of 17 years, and so we just spend most of our time trying to keep up with him.
Speaker 2:I understand. I have five kids, so I know where you're coming from. 17 years Congratulations. That's awesome.
Speaker 3:Thank you, appreciate that, so I know where you're coming from. 17 years Congratulations. That's awesome, thank you.
Speaker 2:Appreciate that. So, absolutely, absolutely. So let's switch gears for a minute. Can you describe a hardship or a life challenge that you've gone through that, either personally or professionally that when you came out the other side you were stronger and better for it?
Speaker 3:Anything come to mind you came out the other side, you were stronger and better for it. Anything come to mind, you know um. It's interesting in that I think that there's a lot of um, a lot of people I talk to whether it's people who I interview with um, who come to work for the company, or even just people I know um in particular say who are a little bit younger than I am, or you are and there's not. They feel like there's not a lot of place to, to maneuver to, to, let's say, get ahead in life as I like to say, and I found that was the case for me. You know I was. I was engaged at 19, married at 20, not old enough to drink at my wedding and then moved here 10 days later, like I said.
Speaker 3:So I started off like a lot of people. I did customer service, I did retail, I did some call center work. So I did a variety of things that don't tend to necessarily pay a lot, that don't have great hours, that are just maybe less than ideal for some people, and I found that I just needed to keep pressing forward to find better opportunities. Eventually, I applied with the John City Fire Department, went through the testing process there, got hired on there, as I mentioned earlier, eventually met Ben and his company and worked with them and just kept putting in the time.
Speaker 3:So most people might look on the surface and say married, young, no college degree. You know my father is a retired police officer, so you know trades aren't necessarily something that was handed down to me, not necessarily something I would have learned as a kid, but just keep working with the process, keep working on that next opportunity and being able to go from that working every Friday, saturday and weekend, not shift sort of position in retail into a nine to five. You know Ben's personal business ownership position was definitely a journey and there's adversities along that way, but it's in my mind. I guess it's an example of you can do it too, somebody else can do it too.
Speaker 2:Very good, very good, and I meant to ask you this earlier, when you were talking about what you do for fun, but you said you like comic books. Are you a Marvel or a DC guy?
Speaker 3:I'm going to toe the line and say both. I'm a Superman fan at heart, but I'll read just about anything superhero related.
Speaker 2:So anyway, anyway, well, if, greg, if you could think of any one thing that you would want our listeners to remember about Tuxedo Electric, what would that be?
Speaker 3:You know it's that we strive to be professionals. You know it's that we strive to be professionals. I don't want anybody to interact with us in their home or at their business and feel like they just got another person who's in and out and there to do the job, taking our time on getting it right, on knowing the product, on educating the customer, sort of that step above just for lack of a better phrase a worker and really being a professional at what you do and why you do it Very good thing to remember and that makes all the difference in the world, especially in something like this.
Speaker 2:You trust somebody to come into your house and not burn it down, that you know somebody that you can call again and again, not just you know one and done and you never see them again. You want somebody, so that's awesome. Well, greg, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you being here. And, oh, if, if we have somebody, a listener is interested in giving you a call and having you come out to look at something, how can they learn more about your company?
Speaker 3:So we do have a Google listing business page so you can just look up Tocito Electric on there. We of course, have a Facebook page as well where you can see some examples on either side of our work and the things that we do, and the number on there again personal business owner. So that's my cell phone. If you call or text that number, you're getting the guy with the name of the company, so feel free to reach out and let me know what you need.
Speaker 2:You know what that? That means a lot to people, especially I don't know if it up North too, but in the South. That's having somebody to do work, that you have their phone number and you can call them and say hey, greg, got a problem here. What do I need to do Instead of, like I said, googling some blind ad that you don't have any?
Speaker 3:idea. It means everything.
Speaker 2:It means everything. Very good, all right. Well, greg, I appreciate you taking the time to be on the show and we wish you and your family and Tucedo Electric all the best moving forward. Thank you, I appreciate it. Thank you and your family, and to Cito electric all the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you, I appreciate it. Thank you for your time here.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and maybe we can get you back on the show one day. Please, please do. Thank you. All right Sounds good.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the good neighbor podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNP. Try dash citiescom. That's gnptry-citiescom, or call 423-719-5873.