In 1953, Bob Garbarino joined his father, John, at what was then Boiler Feed Systems, Inc and set out to build a manufacturer’s representative network. Founded on shared core values, those early connections quickly grew into dynamic, long-lasting partnerships.
This year, as BFS Industries celebrates our 80th anniversary, we are taking a moment to honor the true backbone of our national presence: our incredible network of sales representatives.
Decades of Dedicated Partnerships
An 80-year milestone isn’t achieved alone. The growth of BFS, from a small NYC shop to our West Babylon expansion, and ultimately to our large facility in Butner, North Carolina, has been fueled by reps who believe in our equipment and represent our brand with pride.
Our rep relationships aren’t just vendor agreements; they are multi-generational partnerships:
- Several reps have partnered with BFS for over six decades.
- 16 of our reps have been by our side for 30+ years.
- 22 reps have maintained active partnerships with BFS for 20+ years.
Spotlight on Our Longest-Tenured Rep: Miller & Chitty Co.
To understand what makes these relationships stand the test of time, look no further than Miller & Chitty Co., our longest-tenured representative agency.
In June 1959, Art Miller, then-President of Miller & Chitty, became the official BFS representative for New Jersey, providing a premium line of boiler room equipment to complement their existing boiler sales.
Current President Dave Balogh, who has been with Miller & Chitty since 1969, credits the enduring partnership to four core values: honesty, responsiveness, quality, and a sense of family.
“We are thankful for BFS’ responsiveness to challenges,” Dave said. “BFS never says no; they always offer a solution. Over the years, if there were ever any issues with a BFS product, it was solved through a joint effort to satisfy the end user. No customer has ever been left living with a problem.”
Over six decades, the boiler room landscape has shifted dramatically. Evolving manufacturing demands, heightened specifications, and increased technical complexity have challenged equipment suppliers and representatives alike to adapt to the “new normal.”
“BFS has made the right choices to meet those demands with personnel, materials, and processes to maintain their leadership in the industry,” notes Dave.
As BFS transitions into its fourth generation of family leadership under President Michael Garbarino, our reps, like Miller & Chitty, are experiencing similar generational handoffs. Older team members are passing the torch to young engineers and sales representatives, instilling the rich history and trust built over decades.
“It’s a pleasure for us to pass along a simple truth to our next generation of employees: they can always count on BFS to provide innovative product solutions, unwavering support, and absolute integrity,” Dave concludes.
Thank You to Our Entire Rep Family
“BFS is proud of the long-standing relationships that we have maintained with our representative network. This is not only a testament to the outstanding job our reps have, but also the value that BFS places in these loyal relationships and the high level of service and customer support that we provide,” says Tom Garbarino, Chairman of BFS Industries.
Our reps are an extension of the BFS family, and just as BFS has transitioned through four generations of leadership, we have seen our reps’ leadership transition as well. The one constant has been the strong partnership and cooperation spanning decades.
Tom notes, “My grandfather and father worked with Art Miller and Bob Chitty; I have worked with George Halliday and John Ferko; and Michael and I have worked with Dave Balogh. Our relationship with Miller & Chitty has stood the test of time through many generations, and we expect continued mutual success for our companies into the future.”
To all of our sales representatives across the country, whether you’ve been with us for six months or six decades, thank you for your loyalty, hard work, and partnership. Here’s to continuing our shared legacy of excellence for many more decades to come!