Andrew “Andy” Schry is the president and manager of Culligan Water of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. Family-owned since 1954, the business has offered residents of Ellwood City the highest quality water treatment services, earning it several awards from Culligan International. Andrew Schry oversees the company’s operations including sales, inventory, accounting, and human resource management. The firm has 10 full-time employees.
At Culligan Water of Ellwood City, Andrew Schry prioritizes offering top-notch service to his customers. His team of professionals offer customers free water testing to evaluate the contaminants in their water and then recommend appropriate corrective measures. These may include installing a water softener, water purification, or home filtration system. Andy Schry backs his company’s services with a 30-day money back guarantee and regular maintenance work. He also offers salt and bottled water delivery as well as commercial water treatment services.
Andrew Schry graduated with a BA in marketing from Gannon University in 1991. He is a past president of the Ellwood City Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the Ellwood City Community Enrichment board of directors.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I’m an early riser. I’m usually up before 6:00 am and don’t use an alarm. Even on weekends.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Enabling smoother, more efficient processes; contributing to sustainability goals; and improving the quality of everyday life. By focusing on water treatment solutions.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Of course it’s AI. But I’m more concerned than excited. I can see it making a lot of professions obsolete.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I enjoy talking to co-workers. Most good ideas are a collaboration between multiple people.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Slow down and enjoy the little things.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Water systems and reverse osmosis systems.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Wake up early. You’d be amazed how much more you can accomplish when everyone else is still sleeping.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Walk away for a while. Otherwise, frustration will take over and affect your judgement.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
This involves more than just accumulating contacts; it’s about cultivating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships that can provide valuable insights, support, and opportunities. By actively engaging with others in your field, you can learn about new trends, identify potential career paths, and gain valuable perspectives that can help you advance.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Revolves around the inconsistent and sometimes difficult relationship with the franchisor, particularly concerning fluctuating franchise agreements and lack of consistent support. This can create confusion, hinder growth, and make it difficult for franchisees to plan and manage their businesses effectively. While overcoming this particular issue can be an ongoing process for individual franchise owners, some have chosen to focus on building a strong local brand and reputation based on excellent customer service and community engagement, effectively minimizing their reliance on the corporate brand.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Report systems to identify client trends.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Joe Rogan provides a good balance between humor and useful insights.
Key learnings
- Waking up early and collaborating with co-workers can improve productivity and progression toward goals.
- Take breaks to help you refocus and step away from tasks when feeling overwhelmed, as frustration may impair your judgement.
- Cultivating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships provides support, insights, and opportunities paramount to business growth and career advancement.