About a year and a half ago, one up-and-coming Rosenbauer sales man was working for his father’s company, a Rosenbauer dealer for eight years. However, since that time, the father sold his company and the division was closed, leaving the son, Brian Franz, with only one choice–start his own Rosenbauer dealership with his father’s help. And so began the new family-owned dealership, Franco Fire Equipment Supply LLC.
Brian Franz, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Franco Fire Equipment Supply LLC in Arnold, Missouri, got his start in the fire industry at the age of 16 when he began working in the service department helping mechanics. After high school he became the service manager and continued the job while going to college. After two years of college, he took an interest in sales and sold his first fire truck at the age of 18.
“When my father’s company closed, I knew that I still wanted to be part of the industry,” said Brian. “Fire trucks are what I wanted to sell; there was no doubt in my mind.”
Franco Fire opened its doors on April 1, 2008, in a small store front; three months later it moved into a 6,000-sq. ft. facility and hired eight new employees. It has a full size service center with on-site repair capabilities. Franco Fire has a 700-sq. ft. retail store, stocking everything from flashlights and badges to breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras. Brian, as the new generation, handles all apparatus sales as well as the service department, while his father, Bill Franz, is responsible for equipment sales.
“It has been interesting for me going from just a sales role to being the vice president,” said Brian. “I never realized how many behind-the-scenes things have to take place just to keep the company running. However being the younger generation and in-charge has given me the opportunity to do things differently and bring a new, fresh taste to the industry and our customers.”
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