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PA's new home improvement contractor law has detractors
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times
by Ben Semmes
Starting in July, Pennsylvania will join many other states in the union by enacting basic protections for owners looking to renovate their homes.
The law, known as the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, is a start in establishing a registration process for home improvement contractors statewide, said John McCloskey, president of J. Francis Co., a North Side-based remodeling company.
“We are one of only a few states left that don’t have this type of protection in effect,” McCloskey said. “Reputable contractors have been shouting for this for a long time.”
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John McCloskey and Jean M. Krak interview in Remodeling Magazine
Subvert the gloomy headlines; make upbeat buzz
Source: Remodeling Magazine
by Leah Thayer
December 3, 2008
Get on business "lists." One of the best stealth-marketing tools for Pittsburgh remodeler J. Francis Co. is the Pittsburgh Business Times , whose readers are the company's target audience. For the last four years, JFC has made the paper's list of the city's 100 fastest-growing privately held companies.
Most major U.S. cities have business journals with a variety of nomination programs - women in business, top CFOs, 40 under 40. Visit Bizjournals to find the closest journal to you.
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As home sales continue decline, homeowners choose renovation.
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times
by Tim Schooley
October 3, 2008
John McCloskey, president of North Side-based J. Francis Company, a general contracting firm that specializes in commercial & residential work, wasn't expecting to see a strong uptick in business from homeowners seeking to upgrade their living space.. "I don't think people are worried about sticking their money into real estate in Pittsburgh," he said. "Maybe our home is our safest place to put our money."
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Jean M. Krak
interview in Professional Remodeler
Forget Me Not
Source: Professional Remodeler
by
Jonathan Sweet
May 1, 2007
Since J. Francis Company ( www.j-francis-company.com ) relies on repeats and referrals for almost all of its business, when past customers would say, "We didn't know you were around anymore," the company knew it had a problem.
"It happened so many times," says Jean Krak, business development manager for the Pittsburgh-based, full-service remodeling company. "We knew we needed a vehicle for staying in front of people."
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John McCloskey featured in Pittsburgh Business Times
Building a portfolio, one house at a time
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times
by
Patty Tascarella
September 15, 2006
John McCloskey started buying residential properties in 1987, around the time he launched his contracting company, J. Francis Co. LLC . But it was just five years ago that he chucked his stock portfolio to concentrate on real estate investments.
"The best way to sum it up is I know what I'm doing in real estate, and I don't know what I'm doing in the stock market," said McCloskey, 45.
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Jean M. Krak featured in this REMODELING Magazine article from September 2006
E-Newsletters: In-Box Standouts
Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2006-09-01
By Leah Thayer
J. Francis Co., of Pittsburgh, sends a monthly e-letter to about 500 targeted recipients. "Our e-mail list is a living, breathing thing -every new contact goes in our newsletter database," says Jean M. Krak, business development manager. She had to call 18 years' worth of past clients to get their e-mail addresses, but most of them happily obliged.
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A master suite renovation improves the health and lifestyle of the homeowners.
Remodeling Therapy
Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2006-06-01
By Nina Patel
Doni and Leonard Felman wanted to renovate the master bathroom in their Pittsburgh condominium to accommodate Leonard's water therapy for scoliosis. They called on designer Michael Braun of Braun Architectural & Interior Design and contractor J. Francis Co. to help them accomplish this task and update the room.
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Condo Rules
Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2006-06-01
By Nina Patel
Dave Myers of J. Francis Co. says that for this bathroom remodel his crew had to follow the strict guidelines of the condominium building on access and work hours. "It's a concrete building so noise transmission is horrific," he says.
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Jean M. Krak featured in Remodeling Magazine Dec.'05 Issue
Learning From Losing
Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2005-12-01
By Stacey Freed
When the folks at J. Francis Co., Pittsburgh, don't win a job, they don't just shrug it off. Because the company is 100% referral, it's particularly important to find out why the potential client chose another remodeler, says business development manager Jean M. Krak. "There's critical information you have to capture in order to know what you're doing well and where you need to improve. When you keep getting the same feedback, you have to pay attention to that."
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John McCloskey featured in Remodeling Magazine Nov. '05 Issue
Profile: John McCloskey
Source: REMODELING Magazine
Publication date: 2005-11-01
By Leah Thayer
Sky-high housing prices have pushed home ownership beyond the reach of millions of workers, including many in the remodeling field. "These people are in the business of renovating all day long," says John McCloskey (Big50 2005), who owns J. Francis Co., Pittsburgh. "For them not to own their house is heartbreaking."
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John McCloskey featured in Pittsburgh Business Times "Entrepreneur" Section
Building Loyalty
Desire to promote home ownership helps J. Francis Co. retain valued employees
Source: Pittsburgh Business Times
by Tim Schooley
John McCloskey has turned to some of Pittsburgh's neglected houses as a way of retaining employees. Through his general contracting firm J. Francis Company and a companion firm, J. Francis Restoration , McCloskey has purchased and restored a number of old houses in the city, selling some and renting out others.
He has used those houses to train new carpenters and laborers for bigger contracting jobs. But McCloskey, an accountant by training and carpenter by passion, looks at these restoration projects as more than just a training tool. He also often uses them as a way to promote home ownership among his employees and limit turnover in a field in which that's often difficult to do.
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Gateway Towers Condominiums Residential Remodeling
Gateway Towers still offer stunning view of city
Spectacular views never get old
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Saturday, April 16, 2005
By Kevin Kirkland
A friend told Carol Farley that once she had lived in Gateway Towers for a while, the views of Downtown and the North Shore would become routine, "almost like wallpaper."
Hasn't happened yet.
"After two years, I still haven't gotten used to it. It changes all the time. You get thunderstorms, snow squalls. I can see 10 bridges from here."
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J. Francis Company featured in North Side Community Development Fund Newsletter
Local and National Recognition for J. Francis Company, LLC
Source: North Side Community Development Fund Newsletter
Four years ago, when John McCloskey, owner of J. Francis Company, was looking to relocate he told the realtor to show him properties "anywhere but the Northside!" In 1988 while studying at the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University, McCloskey founded J. Francis Company, a professional full service General Contractor doing commercial, residential and institutional renovations and remodeling.
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Commercial Construction Project (see Company News/Contracts Section)
Dateline Pittsburgh: 5/12/04
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
J. Francis Co. LLC was awarded a contract with Rockler, a Minnesota-based company specializing in woodworking and hardware supplies. Rockler is opening a 5,700-saquare-foot store on Mc-Knight Road.
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Residential Remodeling
Storm damage led to whole house makeover
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Saturday, April 17, 2004
By Kevin Kirkland John Benzinger didn't particularly like his house, even after living in it for 10 years and doing some remodeling. But he loved the location, on a country road in Middlesex, Butler County, with mostly farms and small houses as neighbors and a pond across the road.
"Where could I go in Cranberry with a view like that?" he says, gesturing toward the pond from his spacious side porch.
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Gateway Towers Condominiums Remodeling
Gateway Towers apartments open up to Pittsburgh's beauty
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Saturday, November 1, 2003
By: Kurt Shaw
TRIBUNE-REVIEW ART & ARCHITECTURE CRITIC
When entering the newly renovated apartment of Carol and Larry Farley in the Gateway Towers Condominiums, Downtown, it's the sweeping, panoramic views of the city that command attention. That's saying a lot, considering that the Farleys, former owners of Dargate Auction Galleries in Shadyside, are well-heeled travelers and connoisseurs of art and antiques. The couple has amassed an amazing collection of objects over the 20-plus years that they've been together.
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North Side Community Website
J. Francis Company
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