Danforth Newsroom

**PRESS RELEASE** – Courtesy of Phil Pantano of Pantano & Associates, LLC.

John W. Danforth Company, one of the largest mechanical contractors in the northeast, announced that Nick Optis, an Executive Vice President, will retire at the end of the year after 33 years with the company.

“Nick is an exceptional leader and has been central to our growth and success as a company over the past three decades, particularly in the Rochester and Syracuse markets,” said Robert Beck, Danforth President. “We are thrilled for Nick and happy to see him enjoy this next phase of his life. More than anything, we are profoundly indebted to him for his leadership, professionalism, and countless contributions he has made to Danforth’s history during his career with us.”

As Executive Vice President, Optis is responsible for Danforth’s overall business operation in the Rochester and Syracuse markets, helping to grow the company’s market presence in the region. He joined Danforth in 1986.

“It’s hard to believe that the past 33 years have gone by so quickly, but I’m excited for what comes next,”Optis said. “Being part of the Danforth team has been extraordinary. Aside from the projects we were able to take on with our clients, the culture and the people at Danforth have always impressed me. There’s a sense of ownership that everyone, to a person, really embodies. The people make the job, whether they’re your clients, co-workers, fellow contractors, etc. That camaraderie is what stands out more than anything, and what I will always appreciate the most from my career.”

Optis’s duties will now be assumed by John Samar, who was named Executive Vice President of Western New York Operations earlier this year. A licensed Professional Engineer, Samar joined Danforth in 1997 and has held a series of project management and leadership positions with the company. He is president of the WNY Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association.

Today, Danforth has more than 1,000 employees across a geographic footprint that includes offices in Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Poughkeepsie, in addition to its Buffalo-area headquarters. The company works collaboratively with its union labor partners including the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers, and several other labor partners across many local union jurisdictions throughout the northeast and beyond. Danforth operates an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, giving the company’s workforce an ownership stake in the company.

Earlier this year, Danforth was named Mechanical Contractor of the Year by Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, a leading national industry publication.