Zacotinsky, who is board chairman of the 500-member Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce, terms his firm “a unique dual shop,” which repairs motor vehicles of all kinds as well as outdoor equipment. In the current poor economy, he says that he finds his business swamped as customers strive to hold onto what they own rather than replacing it.
Competing for attention in the shop are motor vehicles ranging from motorcycles to trucks, as well as lawn mowers, tractors and other power equipment.
Right now Zacotinsky is coping with the spring deluge of demands for outdoor equipment repairs.
“We are fortified by a large parts inventory and staffed by technicians who know their trade,” he said. “We are small in square footage, but equipped with the latest fully computerized equipment and have earned the New York State Sign of Automotive Excellence.”
The East Road Motors proprietor is proud of the fact his operation is one of 15 in the United States that is a John Deere authorized service provider. “They came to us,” he says proudly. “We also do the work for all the Home Depot and Lowe”™s stores in the area.”
Zacotinsky learned his craft without formal schooling. In fact, he followed earlier career paths before finding what he really wanted to do.
Zacotinsky began his working life as a technician with Johnson & Johnson, which made medical instruments that counted blood cells using lasers. When the operation moved to Boston, he moved with them for several years, but yearned to return to New York state. He joined McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Elmsford, which was part of the space program. He became a liaison to NASA in Maryland at the Goddard Space Flight Center. “McDonnell Douglas took a big hit after the Challenger disaster in l986 and within a year shut down the entire division,” he says. “I would have had to move to St. Louis or been out.” He declined the transfer.
Longing to own a business, he had started East Road Motors as a sideline in l983 while working full time with McDonnell Douglas. He transformed it into a full-time operation in 1987.
Zacotinsky credits his parents with imparting the work ethic to him and his two older sisters.
“We were not allowed to just slap on paint if we were doing a paint job,” he recalls of life under the parental roof. The trio of children was directed to mask and sand before they ever dipped a brush in the paint can.
The Zacotinsky family of five enjoys motorcycling and snowmobiling. The family consists of wife, Pamela, who is in advertising sales, and three sons: William, 26, engaged in construction management in New York City; Andrew, 22, who is studying business and marketing in preparation for running East Road Motors, and Brad, 15, “who wants to invent something big,” his father relates.
For more on East Road Motors, go to eastroadmotors.net.
Challenging Careers focuses on the exciting and unusual business lives of Hudson Valley residents. Comments or suggestions may be e-mailed to Catherine Portman-Laux at cplaux@optonline.net.
