Tomala. Photo provided.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 7, 2023 | It’s been enjoyable to get to know Wilson Tomala, now a Gwinnettian, who came to this country from Ecuador as a 16 year old in 1975, who has a knack for business, and has become a success through his innovations and drive.
He is the owner of a Paul Davis restoration firm off Reps Miller Road in Norcross.
He has an entrepreneurial spirit. One of his early jobs was installing whitewall tires on automobiles. “Back then, vehicles were more appreciated if they had whitewall tires. I rented a machine and started working with dealers, charging $3 per tire. I sometimes had 15 cars to put the whitewall tires on. It was very profitable.”
That led to repairing what was then new…electric windows on automobiles. “People thought it was a mystery, but it was a simple mechanism, and I made a lot of money.”
Later he worked his way through college at Stony Brook University on Long Island, graduating as a mechanical engineer at age 22.
“I worked for Ebasco Services on the 83rd floor of the World Trade Center, signing off on air conditioners for nuclear power plants. After the Three Mile Island problems, I realized that it was unlikely there would be more nuclear plants built, so was with Brooklyn Union Gas for 16 years as director of research before being recruited by an air conditioning firm to come south in 1998.”
Two years later, after taking retirement from the corporate world. “My wife said it was now or never on opening my own business.” He purchased a Paul Davis franchise for restoration and remodeling work.
“By getting a franchise, I had a business model, but it was up to me to do what we could to find work. The franchisee gave you some of the tools, and given that I was an engineer, and had done some remodeling myself, for me the barriers were not significant.”
The company started out “with myself and one other person. We were in a 500 square foot office in Stone Mountain.” Today he has a staff of 30, and 26 vehicles emblazoned with the Paul Davis name.
The firm now has activity in five area counties. The firm does water, fire, smoke, wind and storm damage repair, mold remediation, and trauma and biohazard cleanup.
One of the reasons for his success is that the firm has built a solid reputation with insurance companies “…since we make repairs correctly, and stay focused on value.” The company also has ties with property management firms, business development people, and property improvement companies.”
Tomala works closely with county fire departments. “For fire calls, we respond within one hour , and within four hours on insurance calls. For the Red Cross, we provide emergency clothing needs, find people a place to stay and initiate claim processes.”
Though Tomala is now age 64, he has no plans to retire. “My father sold his last business when he was 84. I’m now the president and general manager; I want to be just the president, and not deal with day-to-day items, but be the visionary.”
Tomala and his wife, Alexandria, originally from Colombia, live in Peachtree Corners and have three sons. Gabriel, 27, and Sebastian, 24, live in Atlanta, while Nickolas, 15, is a student at St. Pius High.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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