Small Business Today Magazine MAR 2016 AMERICAN SERVICES | Page 8

COVER STORY

Larry Carney and Tony Samper American Services
Longtime Friends in Business for the Long Haul
By Barbara R. Davis and Colleen O’Brien

L

ongtime friends and business partners, Larry Carney and Tony Samper,
break the mold when it comes to the
success rate of most business partnerships. Research shows that the failure
rate for business partnerships is up to
80 percent so it is truly remarkable that
Tony and Larry have been in business
together since 2000 when they started American
Services, a commercial and residential air conditioning, heating, and electrical services company! Perhaps their success can be attributed to
the fact that they were longtime friends before
they went into business and that they share the
same values in how they treat their customers.
Larry and Tony believe in always giving their clients more than they expect to the point that they
exclaim, “WOW!” By doing so, they have built
long term relationships. In addition, they are
consistently searching for new ways to enhance
their business and provide momentum for the
long haul. Tony stated, “In an effort to continuously innovate and improve, we believe that if
we are not green and growing, then we’re dry and
dying.”
When Larry and Tony started American Services, the company focus was on air conditioning and electrical services, both residential and
commercial. The only employees at the time
were the two of them. Tony recalled, “When we
started out, it was Larry on the ladder saying to
me, ‘Tony hand me the screwdriver; Tony hand
me this; Tony hand me that!’” Since then, their
workforce has grown to over 30 team members.
In addition, their services now include specialty
construction, storm shutters, and installation of
lightning protection systems.

Larry & Tony have an amazing
partnership and really do “back each
other up!” Photo by Gwen Juarez
6 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ MARCH 2016 ]

Neither Tony nor Larry had any exposure to
entrepreneurs while they were growing up. In
addition, their parents always worked for others in completely different industries. In spite
of the differences between the Samper and Carney families, Larry and Tony’s parents did instill
in their children like-minded values including
working hard, being goal oriented, having pride
in doing a great job without having a big ego,
being honest, having integrity, and always giving
back more than what is expected. These values
have been the foundation for American Services
and as a result, everywhere they go, their stellar
reputation precedes them.