Leo Vercollone Recalls the Road to VERC's Success

DUXBURY, Mass. – VERC Enterprises Inc. President Leo Vercollone served as the keynote speaker at the recent New England Family Business Conference. The event, presented in partnership with the Family Business Association and Massachusetts Family Business magazine, serves as a day of education and networking for family business owners and managers in New England.

"You might say dad started the business to give us all jobs," said Vercollone, tracing the roots of VERC Enterprises to his father Eugene, who launched the business with a single car wash.

Today, Vercollone operates VERC Enterprises alongside his brother, Paul. Two other brothers moved on to head an auto-rental business, VERC Rentals.

"Family is more important than business," Vercollone said. "Had we not separated, the outcome might have been different; there is no conflict as our businesses are complementary."

Vercollone also discussed the growth and evolution of the business, as well as his pride in the level of community involvement it has maintained over the years and the recognition it's received for being a leader in the hiring of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Finally, he reflected on the difficulties the company faced along the road to success and urged the audience to "celebrate failure."

"Try new ideas, but don't be afraid to back away if they don't work," Vercollone said. "Try 20; if 15 didn't work, get away from them and keep the five that did."

Vercollone lives in Duxbury with his wife Joanne and serves on the Dealer Advisory Council for both Mobil and Gulf. He is also president of the New England Convenience Store Association.

Duxbury, Mass.-based VERC Enterprises is an independent chain of convenience stores and gas stations located throughout eastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire.