COPIAGUE, N.Y. - Steven Durante opened Able Supply here on Long Island in June, a month before United Rentals acquired Durante Equipment, which he had managed with his cousin and two brothers since 1994.
"I prefer to remain independent. It was just something I wanted to do because it is what's right for me," Durante, 28, said of his decision to open Able Supply. He runs the center with Steve Laganas, 35, who also owns a local aerial and high-reach forklift company called Able Equipment.
Durante said Able Supply offers equipment and services that appeal to a broad range of contracting needs.
"When you're starting out, you can't be too much of a specialty rental center," he said. "This is a new market for me. Even though it's in my hometown, I still have to learn a new customer base. But we're not looking to grow past our internal operations. We'll only grow as quickly as we allow ourselves. We're a couple of young guys, and we'll wait to grow."
Durante said owning a company has been enlightening and has enabled him to tackle other facets of the business such as sales and administration.
"It's amazing. You never realize what you're capable of doing until you do it," he said. "My role at Durante was in service, so I already have the toughest part down pat. Service is the core business - nothing works unless service is there."
Durante managed the rental division and the service department at Durante Equipment, established in 1969 and ranked No. 64 on the RER 100, before United acquired it. He said United offered him a two-year contract, but he never made it to the negotiating table. The rest of the Durantes decided to stay - John Jr. as branch manager, Anthony in sales and Thomas also in sales at the Hicksville branch.
"It was inevitable that [United was] coming to New York, and I left before the takeover," he said. "I wish them all luck. It's a friendly competition."
