Business Spotlight

Visit us online at www.paoneww.com or call us at 215-739-6634.

Paone Woodworking Corporation

Paone Woodworking is a family-owned business started in 1967 by brothers Joseph Paone, Jr. and Tom Paone. Their sons Mike, Joe and Angelo took over the business and now employ 50 workers in their 73,000-square-foot workshop. The Philadelphia-based company provides high-quality interiors and fixtures for businesses, institutions and homes in the mid-Atlantic region.

The company's main focus is commercial millwork – cabinets, reception desks, vanities, countertops and displays for restaurants, hotels, office buildings and retail stores. Paone Woodworking has done work inside nearly every significant building in Philadelphia. The company is proud of the unique millwork it produced for two of the city's newest attractions, the National Constitution Center and the new Phillies ballpark.

The Paone family business has changed quite a bit since Mike Paone, vice president, started helping in the shop at age 12. "Back then everything was done by hand," he explains. "The drawings, layout, machining – everything. Today our draftsmen draw with computer software that automatically programs the machines to do all kinds of shapes and mouldings. We get the most out of each panel with far less waste."

Paone Woodworking is committed to running a sustainable operation with decisions that benefit the community and the environment. Using environmentally friendly products whenever available helps the company meet its "green" goals.

Partnering with Conestoga Bank
Paone Woodworking is a new customer with Conestoga Bank. Mike says, "We choose to bank with Conestoga because of our business banker, Edward Fitzgerald. Through the years, he has managed our accounts and provided outstanding service to us. He understands how our business runs and we like the way he handles our account. That's why we stick with him now that he's with Conestoga."

Mike also likes the personal attention his business gets with a smaller bank. "The bigger banks really don't deal on a personal basis with small business," he says. "We like to sit down and talk with people – and you don't get that with a big bank."

Conestoga Bank provides financing for equipment upgrades to keep Paone Woodworking on the cutting edge. Mike explains, "Our computerized equipment becomes outdated every two or three years, so it's crucial for us to secure these loans and lines of credit with the bank."

Opportunity for Growth
Paone Woodworking has experienced a slowdown consistent with the regional and national economic downturn, most notably in restaurant and condominium projects. "It's slow, but we're holding our own right now," Mike states. "The work we do for area hospitals keeps us busy."

The company has potential to expand when the economy picks up. Beyond the tri-state area, Paone Woodworking has been hired for jobs from California to the Cayman Islands and as far away as Russia. "The equipment gives us an edge so we can compete in the tri-state area as well as nationally and internationally," Mike says.