At Arista, we are proud of our history of serving the NYC Metro area since 1949. Here’s how we grew from a start-up to the leading NYC HVAC service company.
A snowflake is born
A WWII G.I. named Leo Stern started a mechanical contracting firm and named the company Arista, which means “the best” in Greek, to reflect his ambitions for the business. Known as “Mr. Fix It” to his friends, Leo guided Arista for almost 25 years, laying the groundwork for the service innovation Arista is known for today.
A new beginning
Leo sold the company to Stanley Berger, a young accountant and passionate businessman. Starting with 13 employees and 7 trucks, Arista grew as a heating and cooling company , expanding its resources by 11% every 18 months during the period of Stanley’s leadership.
Growing by leaps and bounds
In a decade of spandex, hairspray and Reaganomics, Arista experienced unprecedented growth. While most people were working up a sweat getting “physical,” Arista was doing its best to keep the NYC Metro Area cool and comfortable.
Generations to come
After graduating from Syracuse University with a degree in Marketing, Scott Berger joined Arista as an account executive and became passionate about the client-facing side of the business.
A breath of fresh air
The EPA’s Clean Air Act became law, defining responsibilities for providing better air quality and protecting the Earth’s ozone layer. Arista responded with its Ozone Guard Program, becoming among the first HVAC companies to adopt sustainable building practices that help reduce harmful emissions in NYC.
The Kelnard acquisition
With the acquisition of Kelnard Refrigeration, a NYC refrigeration company founded in 1942, Arista doubled its volume of refrigeration work. The addition of resources allowed Arista’s capabilities as a refrigeration company to match the high level of service and technical sophistication we provide to HVAC customers.
Industry leadership
Scott Berger became President of Air Conditioning Contractors of America, NY Metro Chapter. ACCA is dedicated to promoting best practices in the industry and keeping homes and buildings safe, clean and comfortable. As NYM Chapter President, Scott began to distinguish himself as a thought leader in the HVACR community.
A family of leaders
Stanley Berger was named Chairman of the Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA), taking on Arista’s most prestigious industry role to date. MSCA is the nation’s leading HVACR industry association and a subsidiary of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA). Stanley’s position enabled him to promote Arista’s service standard to more than 1000 industry professionals through education, marketing tools, labor management initiatives, regulatory information and environmental leadership.
New president, new initiatives
Scott Berger became President of Arista, carrying on the proud tradition of Berger family leadership. Believing that client education builds stronger relationships, Scott began introducing initiatives to provide practical knowledge for Arista clients and the public, leveraging the expertise of partner organizations such as the Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation and the Advanced Leadership Institute.
Arista awarded MSCA Star
Arista was the first HVAC provider in the NY Metro-area to earn the prestigious MSCA Star designation for commercial, institutional and industrial HVAC service excellence. This award is the highest distinction for any heating and cooling company in the industry and serves to differentiate Arista’s reliable support, quality workmanship and safe practices.
Lifelong pursuit achieved
Continuing his lifelong dedication to the industry he loves, Stanley Berger took on the role of MCAA President. MCAA is the parent organization of MSCA and helps contractors in all mechanical contracting industries obtain the tools and education they need to provide better service.
Arista partners with Capstone Microturbine
Arista advanced its environmental initiatives by becoming a dealer for Capstone MicroTurbine, a company on the forefront of energy-saving and environmentally-friendly HVAC technology. With an air-cooled design that requires no cooling system maintenance and no coolant disposal, Capstone MicroTurbines can operate on a variety of fuels and emit very low emissions, making them a clean and reliable energy source.
Kitchen services introduced
Arista added a new service for its base of restaurant and food service clients: hot side kitchen equipment maintenance.
Commitments to green building
Arista joined the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and Scott Berger became a LEED Accredited Professional to expand Arista’s commitment to provide environmentally-conscious solutions.
Blue Sky Initiative Launched
Arista introduced its Blue Sky Initiative, a three-fold plan to contribute more significantly to the environmental movement by increasing internal efforts to be better corporate citizens; encouraging consumers to choose energy efficient equipment; and educating the community about the impacts that HVAC has on air quality and energy consumption.
Arista earns MSCA GreenSTAR
Arista became a recognized leader in the green HVAC movement by earning the prestigious MSCA GreenSTAR award for exceptional commitment to sustainable mechanical services. Scott also joined the MSCA board to advance Arista’s industry leadership.
Dedication of Leo Stern Education Center
Arista opened an education center dedicated to its founder, Leo Stern. As a company committed to providing quality services, ongoing employee training has always been a top priority. Arista’s education center offers a curriculum that’s unmatched in the industry, providing thousands of hours of classroom education, manufacturer training, equipment demonstrations and hands-on troubleshooting. Employees are also provided with field training and even instruction in customer service skills.
Scott Berger named MSCA Chairman
Scott Berger took on his most ambitious leadership role yet when he was selected as MSCA Chairman. The role involves acting as a voting member of the board, promoting the organization’s educational initiatives, and working with other trade groups and customer-affiliated groups. Scott also promoted the HVACR trade as a career, and facilitated the sharing of information and ideas among members to improve the way they operate and serve customers.
TODAY: The forecast for snow
After seven decades (and counting) of mechanical and service excellence, Arista has become the most respected heating, cooling and refrigeration company in the NYC Metro Area. With several ambitious initiatives in the works, Arista is positioned to continue growing its tradition of hard work, reliable service, and industry innovation for the next 70 years and beyond.