The 17-in-17 Program Recognizes Gianni LaCapra from DSA (Decorative Sales Associates)

The DPHA 17-on-17 Program recognizes up-and-coming influencers in the decorative plumbing and hardware business. This program will profile 17 DPHA members with 10 or less years of experience. Each month from June through October 2017, members will be inducted into the 17-in-17 club, and their stories will be featured in DPHA's weekly newsletter, Connections.  This week we recognize Gianni LaCapra of DSA (Decorative Sales Associates) in Miami, FL.

Gianni's has literally grown up in the DPH industry - her father is Noel Garcia and her aunt is Myra Montes, both from DSA.  Although Gianni graduated from medical school several years ago, she ended up joining the family business.  Since then, she has been instrumental in getting DSA more focused on architects and developers in her market.  Gianni's is also actively involved with her community, participating in the ride-for-cancer and the many other charity events in the south Florida area.

Connections: How long have you been in the DPH industry?

Gianni: That is always a good question.  I like to say that I officially started my career in the DPH industry when I was 12 years old, punching holes in Vita Bath literature over the summer. It is amazing how much you can learn by just staring at literature all day. I grew up in the industry making sales calls with my father and my aunt on my days off from school. So I guess one can say I have been in the DPH industry my whole life. Officially, I started my full time (adult) employment in 2008 working as the National Sales Manger for High Point as well as doing sales and marketing for DSA.

Connections: What has surprised you about the industry?

Gianni: You never stop learning. When you consider of Decorative Plumbing & Hardware, you think, how complicated can it really be? There is so much more to this industry than good looking plumbing fixtures. In order to be a true professional, you need to understand the basic of plumbing (what we like to call plumbing 101), understand customers, markets, trends and so much more. If someone would have told me in 2009 that 9 years later I would still have SO much more to learn, I would have never believed them.

 

Connections: What is the biggest challenge you have faced in our industry?

Gianni: My biggest challenge is also my biggest surprise. We are all so busy and set on our way of doing things that people forget to open their eyes and ears to new things. Just because you have always sold a certain product does not mean that you shouldn't be open to learning about another product or product category. Knowledge is the best tool that we have. I ask industry veterans to take time to consider new things and our industry rookies not to be scared to try something different and take time to learn.

 

Connections: What do you enjoy about being in this industry?

Gianni: I can really say that I love what I do. After so many years, your customers become like family. Work doesn't feel like work when you enjoy the people that you meet with daily. The DPH industry is so much than plumbing, it is about the relationships that have been built along the way. Few industries have people that are competitors and have been friends for 30 plus years.

 

Connections: Anything else you would like to add?

Gianni: I just want to say thank you for this honor. With so many people that have accomplished so much in the DPH industry, it is truly an honor to be included in the 17-in-17 program.

If you would like to nominate someone for inclusion in the 17-in-17 program,  click here to download the nomination form, complete it and send your nomination to Jim Babbitt via email at jbabbitt@dpha.net or fax to 866-623-6180. It takes only a few minutes to complete a nomination form, but isn't that time well spent for recognizing someone who is making an impact on your business and/or our industry?