Palm Beach Fire-Rescue members answer call of second career
By MEGAN V. WINSLOW, Daily News Staff Writer Saturday, May 16, 2009
Pete Codispoti,
41, of Boynton Beach
Battalion chief and owner of Town Management Services
As the owner of an island-based property management business, Pete Codispoti has performed or organized every task from installing hurricane shutters and organizing closets to searching homes for items his snowbird customers leave behind and need shipped north.
“It’s almost like they’re family to me,” Codispoti said. “I have some that they’re here in November and they leave in April, and they’re like, ‘You’ve got to come by and give me a kiss goodbye.’ ”
Codispoti began his firefighting career in November 1986 as a volunteer in Plantation, and Palm Beach Fire-Rescue hired him in 1989.
He first put his Home Depot-honed skills to practice on the island when a friend’s landlord requested the help of a handyman.
Lee Hershfield
Thirteen years later, his company juggles 22 clients with the help of employees working different shifts at the firehouse.
Pete Codispoti, battalion chief, owns a property management company. “I’m not a contractor in any way, but I’m the eyes and ears for the homeowner.”
“I’ve had pools resurfaced, buildings built,” Codispoti said. “I’m not a contractor in any way, but I’m the eyes and ears for the homeowner.”
While he took on the second job to pay for schooling, a home and his young family, Codispoti said he enjoys the work.
“It is fun, and we get to do quite a variety of things,” he said. “I think that’s why people like working with me or for me, because it’s always changing, and that’s very similar to what we do at the fire department. It’s not the same. There’s some redundancy to it, but when someone says, ‘Hey, can you bring my BMW up north?’ we say, ‘Why, yes we can.’ “
Lee Hershfield
Pete Codispoti, battalion chief, owns a property management company. “I’m not a contractor in any way, but I’m the eyes and ears for the homeowner.”