Presenta Plaque has been a family run business in Tempe for 23 years. “My in-laws started it from nothing,” said General Manager Maurice Fitzgerald. “They started it back on Long Island, NY.” That was over 30 years ago.
The business was already up and running when Maurice entered the Air Force after college. He was stationed at the former Williams Air Force Base in the Southeast Valley. “I stayed for six years in the Air Force and never left Williams Air Force Base.” He got out in 1991.
Since Maurice already established roots in the valley, he decided to stay and went to work for an airline. Well, the in-laws didn’t like the idea of being so far away.
“About the time they had their first grandson in Phoenix, they decided ‘why are we in New York and our only child and grandson is in Phoenix?,’” said Maurice. “So they pulled up roots and moved a portion of the business, sold the rest, and moved it out here.”
The timing couldn’t have been better for Maurice. “At the time, I was laid-off by an airline which was about the same time they showed up. So me and my six-month-old son and my in-laws started this location.”
Along with Maurice and his wife, there are three other employees. The founders have since retired. The company markets and sell plaques online to all over the United States and to many other countries.
As a veteran, Maurice supports other Veteran Owned Businesses.
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