|
|
| Frank DeAngelis, owner |
 |
| email: frank@closetohomevt.com |
| I am the founder and part owner of this wild and wonderful business. My fantastic wife Leslie Tucker is also part owner and she has been very instrumental in helping me grow the business from my meager start in 1999. I am originally from the suburbs of New York and grew up surrounded by the great punk music of The Dead Boys, The Stimulators, and scores of other powerful bands. I spent my late teens at rock clubs like CBGB’s and also produced a marginally successful fanzine magazine called CHAOS. Upon graduating high school I went directly into the world of plumbing and for 12 years worked side by side with my Dad as a plumber. In 1989 I got the rock climbing bug and moved to Vermont to be closer to the mountains. I worked a plumbing counter at Hulbert Supply and then later became a top salesperson at a great decorative hardware and lighting showroom called Conant Custom Brass. In 1999 I married the love of my life Leslie and she convinced me that I should open my own showroom. So I rented a 500 square foot storefront in an old house in the Village of Shelburne and started this whole Close To Home thing! I can recall the lucrative early days of the business when I made $8.00 in sales all in one day!!! I now enjoy a successful business and a sweet life with Leslie and our two Australian Shepards in the hills of Charlotte Vermont. Oh yeah and I still love the wild music and dancing in the clubs!! Long live the music of the 70’s and 80’s!!! |
|
| Leslie Tucker, owner |
 |
| email: leslie@closetohomevt.com |
Founder of Roundstone International
and co-owner of Close To Home. At Close To Home
I do the back of the house stuff, finances, IT and support our
fantastic sales and support staff. Unlike my other business I am more
of a behind the scene person, working to make our store both healthy
and strong creating a smooth running business for our staff and
customers.
I received my degree in psychology in 1993 but always loved business
and the mechanics of business. Curious about the nuances of
organizational dynamics, I intensively studied systems thinking, which
led to my passionate belief that organizations benefit from people
having a better attitude toward each other, management and their
company. For the past 18 years I have consulted businesses for profit
and not for profits around the world. Through fostering creative
partnerships that increase productivity and competitiveness my team
and I have produced many sustainable breakthroughs.
I am a 9th generation Vermonter, returning home in 1999 after living
in Canada, Europe then Northern Virginia for 10 years, I met my
fantastic husband Frank. We now we live with our doggies Nui and
Dunkin and together we enjoy bike riding, hiking, snowshoeing and
dancing whenever we get the opportunity. My daughter, Sage is a
painter and the gallery owner of Studio STK in Burlington VT. Along
with painting and running a vibrant gallery for emerging artists, she
and her team also designed this website. |
|
| Ernie Hathaway |
 |
| email: ernie@closetohomevt.com |
Background: managed Peel Gallery of Fine Art in Danby, VT for 11 years.
Education: BA in Art History specializing in Material Culture & Decorating Arts and currently working towards certification in Personal Property Appraising and Antiques.
Personal: avidly collects Early American glassware, early lighting and furniture, and likes to upholster.
Wow Factor: people say it's his depth of knowledge.
What You Didn't Know: directed the Handspinning & Handweaving exhibit at the Vermont State Fair for over 20 years. |
|
| Tom LaBarge |
 |
| email: tom@closetohomevt.com |
I am a father of two Caitlin 18 and Bryan 22 a step father
of 1 Nathan 25. Single, living in a log home in Williston, VT, hiking behind the house or the Long Trail, riding my motor cycle or one of my 5 bicycle which ever catches my fancy. I do a little canoe racing and a couple of bike races a year. Bryan and I do the Great Race together.
Bryan, Caitlin and I manage to go white water rafting in NY once a year.
In my spare time I feed the birds on the deck of the house looking out at camels hump over the Winooski river valley. I owned my own flower shop for 10 years, worked construction and for a plumbing supply house. I have always enjoyed sales and have seemed to be in it one way or another. I now work a very cool bath showroom with a group of fun people and silly dogs.
The owner is a little insane which always makes the days go quickly and helps keep the show room fun and exciting.. |
|
| Pam Swatkins |
 |
| email: pam@closetohomevt.com |
I have worked for:
The Boston Tea Party, an insurance company in Hartford, Carroll's Burgers in Rutland, a donut shop on Commonwealth Avenue, Hungry Charlie's in Harvard Square, Madonna Mountain cooking fries, East Avenue Nurshing home as a cook, child care worker at Baird Center, child care worker at Howard Mental Health.
Went to VTC for Construction Engineering and Design
Worked for 25 years in various construction companies in the areas of drafting, estimating, project coordination and project management.
I have been at Close to Home for over a year and love the products, my coworkers and my customers. |
|
| Randy Violette |
 |
| email: randy@closetohomevt.com |
Having completed my first career with a multinational computer chip manufacturer, I’m now enjoying purchasing for Close To Home. It’s a great place to work and shop! The only downside of spending my work day here, is that now, all of the hardware in my house seems woefully inadequate. It’s time to upgrade and this is the place to do it!
I’m a proud, lifelong Vermonter (past and future). My roots go deep here in the gently rolling green hills of Vermont and I can’t imagine living anywhere else - except for maybe January and February.
My partner John and I make our home in Malletts Bay, with our niece Caitlin, roommate Travis, and three canine companions – mutts Rockie and Shylo, and pugalicious Annabelle. Between us, we produce a lot of hair! In our house, you’ll often find furry little tumbleweeds that flutter through the air with the least little turbulence, just making your fingers itch to haul out the vacuum. |
|
|
| Suzanne Crum |
 |
| email: suzanne@closetohomevt.com |
Suzanne received a BFA in Graphic Design from R.I.T., then began working as
a commercial artist rep., and in advertising, as both a mechanical and
graphic artist. After 10 years out west, Suzanne and her husband Darby,
moved to beautiful Vermont to raise their two sons, Trevor and Colton. During
these years, she has enjoyed working with the local school districts, which
included appearing as guest artist in Shelburne, and as a kitchen and bath
designer. Ask for Suzanne for your design consultation needs! |
|
|
| Andrew Parker-Renga |
 |
| email: andrew@closetohomevt.com |
Though music is my first passion, I have been in the hardware business for ten years. I recently transplanted to Vermont from Boston 'to see about a girl' and stumbled upon Close to Home through the VT
contractor's underground grape vine. My specialty is making the business more money. Please check out my music www.aprmusic.net |
|
| NUI |
 |
My life's ambition is to catch lots of Frisbees, eat lots of steak & chicken, and greet customers at the store! I enjoy hanging in the warehouse with Mike, doing deliveries with Frank, and hiking with Leslie & Frank. Oh yea, and I like the water bowls from Yardbirds that we have in the store! Duncan is my pal but he can also be a royal pain.
|
|
| DUNCAN |
 |
I love to lay on the couch, on the floor, on the ground, and on the rug. I
get up occasionally for water, steak, chicken, or to get my tummy rubbed. I
will occasionally satisfy Nui with some playtime but generally she annoys me
when I am trying to lay around and focus on nothing. I love to sleep at
night upstairs next to Leslie's bed.
|
|
|
|
