Robert Roselli of Morristown, New Jersey is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in Business and a Masteral in Administration Science.
His managerial career began way back in 1996 in New Jersey. In 2000, he was promoted to operations management. As he rose through the ranks, Roselli’s responsibilities grew and included area operations. He managed vendors as well as executed their contracts to meet annual budgets that exceeded $10 million. During that time, he had been actively participating in industry groups, ensuring an adequate supply of chassis to keep up with the demands to both at home and abroad.
He is the vice president of 34 Sherman LLC, a company committed to providing customers with affordable housing. 34 Sherman LLC, NJ is a construction business that provides a variety of services, including site design for new houses, expansions, and restorations. Single-family homes, multi-family apartments, and townhouses are among their specialties. Three houses in a neighborhood in Hanover Township, as well as residences in Toms River and Morris Plains, are among 34 Sherman LLC’s successful projects.
In volunteer work, Robert Roselli is very active with Habitat for Humanity. He has been serving this organization that has been dedicated to fighting homelessness since 1991. In this volunteer role, he helps raise awareness on the importance of volunteerism and how it helps the community.
How long did it take before you could finally tell yourself that you’re successful?
It was while I was doing volunteer work that I knew this is the kind of success I want for 34 Sherman LLC, which is to build affordable housing for people who need it most. It took a couple of years for me to say that it’s a success. The first year was very difficult because I had to put in a lot of volunteer hours before 34 Sherman became an LLC, which was when I felt it was officially successful. By that time, the volunteer hours gave me connections with future clients including my first renovation project in Toms River and then later Morris Plains New Jersey where I built townhomes in each area.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think what makes me successful is that I have the capacity to give back to the community. I was able to volunteer in so many homes, and it gave me a lot of experiences that I would not have gotten from just the four corners of the school. This volunteer experience put me in a position where potential clients would see that 34 Sherman LLC has the skills needed to build a great yet affordable home in New Jersey. I was able to build a solid trust between the companies and the clients. Another thing is being in a good team. Having a good team with a common goal and passion is another secret to our success.
Why did you choose to volunteer?
My desire to help others and see the people around me have a comfortable shelter and that they could wake up each morning with lesser stress led me to volunteer. My experience with Habitat for Humanity was very rewarding because it allowed me to see the impact I was making in other people’s lives. It also provided me the opportunity to volunteer on projects all over New Jersey. I learned how important volunteer work was and how it could influence others around such as friends, relatives, and hopefully future clients. The volunteer experience has been an eye-opener for me and has helped put things into perspective.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
There were multiple instances where I doubted myself. As a first-timer in the business field, I second guess myself a lot especially the decisions I make, for example on what I should do next and how it could affect the business going forward. There were days where I even got discouraged when things did not go according to plan. This experience has taught me that if you fail at something the first time around, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be successful in the future. Despite these challenges, I knew that if I didn’t take the risks, I would never have found out whether 34 Sherman would be successful or not.
Naysayers are always going to be there to tell you that your idea won’t work. They say things like “it takes money to make money” and “I have my doubts.” Without the volunteer experience, which gave me the knowledge of what it takes for a company to become successful, I wouldn’t have been able to convince myself that 34 Sherman LLC can become what it is now even though I didn’t have that much start-up capital available. The volunteer experience allowed me to take on challenges head-on without feeling insecure and unsure especially on taking risks.
How did you get your first customer?
The volunteer experience helped me attract my first client. One of my volunteer experiences included a renovation project for Toms River, New Jersey where the homeowner referred 34 Sherman LLC to another family member looking for renovations. After that initial project, I received referrals from these customers which allowed 34 Sherman LLC to build homes in Hanover Township, New Jersey and do renovations in Morris Plains, NJ.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Marketing is very important if you want your company to grow. I started by getting myself out there by working volunteer jobs which allowed me to see more opportunities for marketing my business, especially on social media. If you do volunteer work, it’s easier to get the word out about your company because people will see you in action and they can relate to what you are trying to accomplish, and of course when people see you doing a great job.
Another I think is social media. Some tools exist within social media channels where you can download analytics on how many people have reached your posts that could link back to your website. With the data, it gives you more idea on what market gets interested in your service, and how often people check similar services. It always helps me strategize my next moves. You also need to be creative with the language on your posts. 34 Sherman LLC is known for its volunteer experience and its ability to build all over New Jersey through volunteer work. Those are some of the best marketing strategies that I can provide that actually worked for us. Although they sounded very lame and maybe no-brainer for some, but always remember that the most ignored strategies are usually the best ones when executed properly.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months? How did you come to that decision?
I had to decide whether or not I should volunteer in 2022. After much thought, I decided that volunteer work was very important and could help me grow as an individual, from which I could share with 34 Sherman LLC as its second in command. In my volunteer work, I have been able to meet many new people from different walks of life who share my beliefs on volunteerism. This environment has been quite empowering for me that has motivated to keep going even when the going gets tough which happens often in volunteerism especially during bills and times where we attend construction meetings etc.
The construction meetings take place at least three times a month and last up to four hours. The volunteer work involved at these meetings is not simple; it requires both mental and physical strength. Anyway, I will continue the volunteer work for as long as the company stands and many people still believe in what we do.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The volunteer experience has taught me that success is not always easy, well I guess this is the same for everything, but the actual work made me realize that hard work doesn’t equate to an “overnight” success. Usually it is more of 60% hard work, 40% failures. There are going to be challenges along the way, but taking risks can lead to big rewards. 34 Sherman LLC has grown from being a volunteer company to being one of New Jersey’s home builders in just under three years. That’s very satisfying because I know how much work went into building 34 Sherman LLC and how many sleepless nights and countless rivers of tears we’ve gone through. It’s rewarding to help others by volunteering for an organization because you’re able to give back while allowing your company to acquire new clients at no cost while having the potential to make a profit all at the same time.
Building homes is something that we’re good at, and this gives us the opportunity to help my clients by making their dream home a reality. 34 Sherman LLC is all about building affordable homes which has allowed us to volunteer our time in New Jersey so that more families can experience the satisfaction of having their own homes. It’s great working with homeowners who need renovation or new construction services because they are excited about having our company build unique houses for them tailored to their needs.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future for 34 Sherman LLC is bright, and I know that, because our goal is to volunteer as much and as long as we can. We volunteer with the New Jersey Builders Association by attending events on their behalf, which often result in networking with potential clients while increasing our volunteer experience. 34 Sherman LLC will continue to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and other non-profit organizations that need help building homes or renovating existing homes. We are excited about that because volunteer opportunities allow us to acquire new leads, build relationships, and provide affordable housing options for families in New Jersey.
What advice can you give people looking to take on volunteer work?
The volunteer experience has taught us that anyone can actually volunteer and it’s very rewarding. Volunteering is much more than just helping people and seeing them smile, volunteering is a way of sharing the missing piece with others so you both can make a whole, if that makes sense. Life is about meeting people from all walks of life, learning from others’ mistakes and scomplishments, and helping those who need a hand when they’re in need. It was great being able to help people by giving them a house which allowed them to be self-sufficient and start building better lives for themselves. Volunteer opportunities open our eyes and make us realize that the vulnerability of others are actually the windows to their happiness, and we’re grateful that through affordable homes, 34 Sherman LLC gets to be a part of that piece in their lives.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future include, of course volunteering, and continuing to build affordable housing in New Jersey, hopefully to other cities as well. And upping our game in marketing our company while we’re also improving on the quality of service we bring to people. We also want to continuously share the joy by hiring more people and join our team.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Well, to start seeing the good in every person. When I was younger, I did not know that I’ll be volunteering and that it will actually become my job. A lot has happened, and I was just thankful that it was not yet too late for me to go the right direction. I’d probably tell him as well to stay active and healthy, and that mental health is also important, to get my younger self ready for all the challenges along the way. But I’ll reassure him that everything’s gonna be worth it.