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Terryville, CT ~  Nick Ververis and his associates, in a phoenix bird-like saga, have breathed new life and new purpose in what was a seven-year abandoned modular factory here.
   Today, President and CEO Ververis and his associates have gotten the plant up and running in a most solid fashion, building both commercial and residential structures.  They have 60 line workers and eight in the office, and they expect their sales to go from around $4 million last year to more than $8 million this year.
   "We are extremely happy with the progress we have made to date," says Ververis, "and we are looking forward to a brilliant future in supplying high quality modular structures and commercial needs.  What's more, we are getting outstanding support from our local area, the community at large, and even our elected representatives.."

Connecticut Congresswoman Nancy Johnson has been very supportive of the modular plant's rebirth.  At her left is Nick Ververis, president & CEO.

   Ververis explains that the plant American Modular Corporation, LLC acquired was a plant once operated by a commercial modular company called Arthur Industries, Inc.   After Arthur closed its plant almost a decade ago, they switched into a full-time distributor for modular structures.
   "The situation worked out perfectly for us," says Ververis, "because we were able not only to obtain the services of the ex-Arthur president, Gregg Kelly, but we were also able to pick up most of the factory's workforce.  We were able to come in, add a little imagination to the mix, and come up with what we are beginning to see as a highly successful modular operation serving a host of needs in our region."
   As one example of the firm's "new departure" in marketing, because of a mix-up in marketing communication American Modular ended up with a partially finished modular duplex.
   Ververis had wanted to become involved with Habitat for Humanity in the past, and he saw an opportunity to become involved.  Ververis offered the modular weather-tight shells to the local Habitat Group at a reduced price, and although it was not in keeping with their normal site-built practice, the Habitat Chapter went for the idea.  There was some work to be done in the building to make it totally habitable, and this became the "sweat-equity" for the family which moved into it.
   "Down the road," says Ververis, "I visualize a situation in which we may be able to work closely with Habitat Groups by offering them weather-tight shells for their homebuyers to finish themselves.  Our units could be finished by the Habitat homebuyers doing the drywalling, the interior painting, the flooring, cabinetry, fixtures and other tasks.  This may even be a way for our modular plant and others as well, to fill the production lines during the slower winter months while supplying scores of buildings that the Habitat movement so desperately needs."

Interior of the American Modular plant shows both commercial modulars and residential units going down productions lines side by side.

   Asked how he managed to get into the residential and commercial modular manufacturing business, Ververis admitted that it was a somewhat convoluted approach.   Some years ago Ververis was in the insurance business and one of his customers was George Hession, who was involved in developing retirement communities and facilities for the local Catholic diocese of Connecticut.  Hession told Ververis that there had to be a better way than building buildings one at a time at a job site, and he volunteered the thought that modulars would be a great way to go for the Catholic buildings he was involved with.  That started the men agreeing that it was time for them to do some due diligence and find out if the modular idea was feasible.  In short order they ran into the ex-president of Arthur Industries, Gregg Kelly and the rest is history.
   Today, American Modular works in the 68,000 sq. ft. plant building which has three production lines.  The lines can run either on a track or on a flat floor and the plant can accommodate both commercial and residential units at the same time.
   Their customers include Arthur Building Systems, William Scotsman, Resun Leasing, and Vanguard/Schiavi Modular dealers.  In the first couple years of operation American Modular has produced affordable construction offices, classrooms, dormitories, health facilities, two-story commercial buildings, small homes and apartments.
   It certainly seems like American Modular's success is assured by the fact that they've learned the lesson preached so professionally by world famous marketer, Marshall Field, when he said, "Just give the customers what they want."
   In addition to President and CEO Ververis, other officials at American Modular Corp, include: John Leader, chairman of the board;  George Hession, secretary-treasurer;  Gregg Kelly, senior operating officer;  Robert Lindsay, vice-president, manufacturing;  Tom Burbank, purchasing director;  Brian Hobbs, director, project management;  Dennis Boucher, director, production and Marcus Broadwell, quality control director, and Mathew Gothers, director of design and engineering.