Meet the Team: Vic Fotia
APEX Group, a Diverzify company, recently promoted Vic Fotia to the role of vice president, sales and operations, for RD Weis floor care, which serves the company’s East Coast locations. He previously served as regional operations manager. In his new role, Vic will be responsible for developing and managing sales strategies that drive operational excellence and profitable growth.
“I’ve known Vic for many years, and his passion for the business is second to none,” said Thomas Holland, president of APEX Group. “As a 30-year industry veteran, Vic is fully prepared to guide our sales and operations at RD Weis floor care to a new level of success.”
We recently sat down with Vic to learn more about him, both personally and professionally.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I began my journey with RD Weis Companies in 1994. At the time, RD Weis was a local business in my hometown of Port Chester, New York. My uncle had a business on the first floor of a building, and RD Weis occupied the second floor. As neighbors, my mom and Randy Weis became friendly, and back then, borrowing things like a fax machine or copier paper from your neighbor was common.
2. What excites you about your new role?
For the past 31 years, I’ve been working in operations, which has been my comfort zone. In my new role, I have the opportunity to step outside that comfort zone and take on fresh challenges. While I’ve always worked collaboratively with our sales team to meet client needs, this new position allows me to work even more closely with them. I’m excited to offer my perspective on how we can work together to maintain our margins, grow our maintenance business, and expand our services to both new and existing clients.
3. How has your past experience prepared you for your new role?
With my deep knowledge of the New York/New Jersey metro area market and strong relationships with our clients, I believe I have a unique edge in my new role. This familiarity will help me and the sales team drive growth in our maintenance business, building on a proven track record that spans nearly four decades.
4. What are your hobbies?
I truly cherish spending time with my 8-year-old son, Kai. Whenever I have free time, I make it a point to involve him in whatever I’m doing. I’m a coach for both his local and travel baseball teams, and I love being part of his growth and development on and off the field. Outside of that, I enjoy traveling (I visited Japan last August), attending baseball games, and listening to music, particularly hip-hop and Latin jazz.
5. What’s the most interesting article or book you’ve read lately?
I recently finished Coltrane: The Story of a Sound by Ben Ratliff. The book primarily focuses on John Coltrane’s early life, his journey to playing the saxophone, and his career up until his final days of recording. What I found particularly fascinating was learning how other jazz legends regarded Coltrane. He was deeply respected and admired by his peers, fellow musicians, and critics alike. After reading the book, I believe John Coltrane stands as the most imitated jazz musician of all time, even surpassing icons like Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, and others.
6. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m a cereal fanatic with a modest collection to show for it. My all-time favorite cereal, now discontinued, is Kaboom, which was even featured in a Kill Bill movie. I didn’t watch the film myself, but someone sent me a clip where Kaboom is prominently displayed on the counter during a kitchen fight scene. I love all kinds of cereal, from Chex and Cocoa Puffs to Fruity Pebbles and Apple Jacks and everything in between.
7. What’s on your bucket list?
I’d love to walk on the Great Wall of China and visit AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Another goal of mine is to visit every Major League Baseball stadium in the country. I have 11 more to go before completing all 30 major league stadiums. Additionally, I’ve always wanted to attend a World Series game. I was a season ticket holder for the New York Yankees and have attended over 1,000 games, including World Baseball Classic matchups featuring Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, and Puerto Rico. However, despite watching every pitch of the World Series on TV, I’ve yet to experience the excitement of being at one in person.