Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 24, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 7 in a downturn. The whole industry is brainstorming to come up with strategies to combat this. We have to find a way to reach Millennials and younger because we're all going to be out of business if we don't." His shop services about 1,000 motorcycles a year. Surprisingly, the towing side of his business has been steadily increasing. Speed Demon Cycles always provided a tow- ing service to pick up motorcy- cles. But over the years it has been inundated with calls to tow cars to local garages, likely because the shop pops up on internet searches for "towing." So, Ruggiero also finds himself in the car-towing business. He's not complaining. Towing cars is an added revenue stream that helps to buffer the seasonal na- ture of servicing motorcycles. "We have a limited time to make money," Ruggiero said. He sees his venture as a family affair and credits his three employees, wife, two chil- dren and other family members for helping him to pursue his passion. Learning the ropes Growing up in Hamden and Cheshire in the 1980s and 1990s, own- ing a business was not a priority for this stocky New Haven-born native, who sports a bald head, full beard and tattooed forearms. After gradu- ating from Cheshire High School in 1993, Ruggiero enlisted in the Army, where he learned discipline and leadership. After a three- year hitch, he secured a job as a motorcycle mechanic at Brothers Harley- Davidson in New Haven. The origi- nal job descrip- tion was for a bike washer, but when owner Bob Paolella noticed Ruggiero had auto-mechanic experience from a high school work-study pro- gram a new job was forged. Over seven years he evolved from mechanic — "wrench- ing" as he calls it — to service manager and managing people. In 2003, Ruggiero was hired as service manager by Skip Gengras of Gengras Harley-Davidson in East Hartford. There, he learned the business as- pects of how to run an operation. The experiences at both shops gave Ruggiero the confidence to open Speed Demon Cycles in 2006. As an entrepreneur, he continues to learn about how to best manage and in- teract with peo- ple. These skills are also useful in Ruggiero's work as a youth hockey coach and coach of an adult hockey team comprised of men who are physically disabled. (He proudly notes the adult team won a national championship in Chicago this year.) In order to sustain and grow business, Ruggiero relies on a loyal and capable staff. "I let them make decisions,'' he said. "I don't micromanage. I did a lot of that in the past. Working on motorcycles is high stress. I want my guys to be mentally healthy and like working here, where they are not stressed out by the boss.'' Stan Simpson is the principal of Stan Simpson Enterprises LLC, a strategic communications consulting firm. He is also host of Fox 61's "The Stan Simpson Show," which airs Saturdays, 5:30 a.m. and online at Fox61.com/stan. PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. Colonial Point Church | South Windsor, CT PDS Engineering & Construction served as Design- Builder for this new worship facility on Chapel Road in South Windsor, CT. The church offers recreational and meeting opportunities for members of the general community. Project Features: - Sanctuary - Lighted tower - Classrooms - Recreational spaces - Meeting spaces Total Project Size: 8,500 SF 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfi eld, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: RELIGIOUS PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD U.S. motorcycle sales Motorcycle sales Dollar (in 000s) value 2008 1,104 $9.98B 2009 655 $6.54B 2010 560 $5.87B 2011 555 $6.15B 2012 557 $6.31B 2013 540 $6.52B 2014 560 $6.95B 2015 573 $7.26B 2016 559 $7.02B 2017 538 NA Source: Motorcycle Industry Council Rob Ruggiero rides his Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide into work every day, a 31-mile trek from East Hampton to Bloomfield. Providing Big Benefits for Small Businesses For more information on how Delta Dental of New Jersey can serve your dental benefit needs, please call 1-800-624-2633 or visit aSmileSays.com.

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