Meet Kris DiDomenico, Senior Director of Operations - Exteriors
Tell us about your role at Lessen.
My primary responsibility is managing the day-to-day, as well as the high-level functions, of Exteriors operations. I manage about 50 people. Our focus is managing Lessen’s extensive network of vendors – from landscapers to snow removal companies -- by region. We serve as a single point of contact for them to make sure they get what they need to successfully execute work orders for our customers.
What time of the year is the busiest?
Snow season, which is starting now and typically runs to May. During this time, we constantly monitor weather forecasts to determine which regions will be most impacted by the weather. Our analytics team uses certified forecasting data to determine which markets require us to mobilize so our customers aren’t left stranded once a storm hits.
What is unique about that approach?
Other companies have pre-storm processes, but what differentiates Lessen is our ability to manage our vendors so well. Our relationships with them are strong, so they tend to prioritize Lessen over our competitors.
What makes the relationship strong?
Our people and our planning. Our affiliate-to-site ratio is 6-to-1, so each vendor is responsible for only six sites, and they have time to really pay attention to every detail. That means the quality of our service is better, opposed to the kind of service you get when you rely on one vendor to service 100 sites. The depth of our network and the quality of our relationships means customers get the white glove treatment they deserve.
Why is it important to think about snow and ice early?
Snow creates a lot of liability for our customers. We want to make sure parking lots and sidewalks are in safe condition for all foot traffic. So, the earlier you start planning, the better. That way we can assure we have locked down vendors to serve your locations, no matter where they are. Planning for a storm the day it hits is creating a crisis. Lessen and its customers are really exposed, and that is avoidable.
How did you get into this industry?
I grew up in Ohio. During my freshman year of college, my dad wanted me to learn the value of a dollar. My brother and I became laborers on a landscaping crew. We had the contract to service the McCoy Center in Columbus which is not only the largest office building in the city but the second largest single-tenant office building in the US behind the Pentagon. That summer, my brother and I got to know every inch of that building’s exterior because we were responsible for the landscaping. And ironically, I now work with that same facility because it is a Lessen customer.
After school I started working for one of North America’s leaders in commercial landscaping for five years and in 2020 I relocated to Arizona to lead an operations team. I joined Lessen in January 2022 and never looked back. Next year will mark my 10th year of exteriors experience.
What did you learn from your experience on a landscaping crew?
It was blessing in disguise. I learned a lot about the challenges onsite crews encounter, and I’ve physically done the work that we ask them to do every day. From a business standpoint, it has allowed me to connect with our vendors in a way that’s more real. Because I’ve worked both in the field and in the office, I can speak to them in terms they understand and help them connect what they do on the ground to the overall scope of how Lessen serves our customers.
In addition to our vendor network, what else makes Lessen unique?
We have a very strong account management team that does everything possible to give our customers the white glove treatment they deserve. Because our network of vendors is vast, we can handle almost any request that comes in, and with great speed. We do a really good job of leveraging all our assets to perform for our customers, meet their goals, and remind them why they made the good decision to contract with us.
What do you enjoy outside the office?
I live in Scottsdale and love it out here. I like to golf, float in the pool, exercise, and I do a lot of hot yoga. Not only is it a great way to meet new people, but it’s the only form of exercise I can do that completely shuts off my brain. In fact, it gets so hot, that walking out of the studio afterward feels like breeze when it’s 115 degrees in Arizona!
I also have a niece and nephew. Being an “Unky” is, by far, the most important title I’ve had in my entire life.