Doug Mapstone Inc.

Debbie Mapstone's husband, Doug, dreamed of making Doug Mapstone Inc, in Manlius, N. Y., into a successful, respected, full-service electrical, heating and air conditioning company. But, four years after forming the company, Doug passed away from cancer, and it was up to Debbie to continue to make her husband's dream come true.

Debbie Mapstone's leadership has led Doug Mapstone Inc to become a thriving, light commercial/residential heating, air conditioning and electrical service provider and it continues to grow. “It was my husband's dream, and it's a dream I did not want to lose along with him.” she said.

Keeping Doug Mapstone Inc going shortly after Doug's death wasn't easy, Debbie admitted. “I grieved and then realized that the first thing I had to do was talk to our customers and say no, nothing was going to change. Yes, he passed away but you will still get the same quality. You are in good hands.” She said the company did lose some business at first, so she began working to build relationships with new customers.

It didn't take long, though, for new and old clients alike to see that Doug Mapstone Inc. was continuing its honest, quality service. “It doesn't matter who the customer is; their house becomes my house,” Debbie said. And that's the philosophy that technicians servicing homes follow, too. “ I think Doug Mapstone Inc. makes a difference to people with the quality of work we provide, the loyalty and honesty.”

Doug Mapstone Inc. is truly a family business, but that family feeling extends beyond blood ties and Deb considers her employees to be family, too. “As for my relationship with my employees, I probably cross the line,” she said. “I am very tough but I am fair, and if they have a problem they can talk to me about it. I've had colleagues to Christmas dinner. They become family, they come first.”

The closeness and support of that Doug Mapstone Inc. family is one of the things that has helped Debbie succeed in what is traditionally a very male-dominated industry. “I think a benefit that Debbie brings to the business is that nurturing side that women have - the way of treating everybody like a family member, including her customers,” said Maria Ucchino, manager for marketing and advertising in the Northeast Distribution of Carrier Corp.

Even with all her success, though, Debbie is humble. She credits much of the company's achievements to loyal employees, her family, her faith and her husband. “ I think the odds were against me,” she admitted. “It was a challenge to take over the business, but we made it.”