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Our History

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:
As of 2012, Frank Novak & Sons Inc. has seen, survived and played a role in 100 years of American history. What began as a small painting company in 1912, has grown into one of the largest commercial and industrial construction companies in the Midwest.

Frank Novak founded the company in 1912. Back then, its focus was mainly residential, building and designing homes in the Cleveland area. In the era after the two world wars, expansion of the company truly began.  Much of the company’s work was completed within a new Manufacturing Plant using new technologies. Frank Novak & Sons Inc. undertook many new projects in chemical coatings, concrete stripping, machinery painting and cleaning. These new developments allowed the company to grow into a commercial and institutional business, completing jobs on prominent buildings in Cleveland, such as Jacobs Field, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Tower City.

When Allen Pinchot joined the company in 1958, it became a four-person outfit, still primarily dedicated to residential and commercial work. The Paint and Chemical Coatings operations continued to grow during this period to include industrial applications. Frank Novak & Sons Inc. also expanded its talents to include a Flooring Specialties division. It began by installing all types of sport floor surfaces. In the 1990s, this division moved into other areas and it installed floors for the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital. Today, it specializes in all types of flooring.

As the new century came rolling in, so did new technology. Frank Novak & Sons Inc. added Barrisol to its product line. It expanded with another company, Barrisol U.S.A., which is totally owned and operated by Frank Novak & Sons Inc. In fact, the company became the sole distributor of the Barrisol stretched ceiling system for the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. Barrisol has endless design possibilities and a long list of unique qualities, making it one of the hottest architectural items on the market.

In recent years, as the commercial and industrial needs of companies are changing, Frank Novak & Sons Inc. added another division to meet specific needs. Molded Extrusion Specialties was created as a solutions based division. This division conducts projects all over the United States with focus on the architectural and construction markets.

Frank Novak & Sons Inc. impressive, always lengthening resume includes many of Cleveland’s most prominent buildings such as the public library, South Park Mall, the Galleria, the Great Lakes Science Museum, the 52-story Key Tower and the Cleveland Browns Stadium.  However, the company does not limit its talents to Cleveland; it has completed many projects outside of the city as well. What began as a local painting company in Bedford, Ohio, has now branched out with new offices in Boston, Chicago, New York, Washington and Cincinnati.

Frank Novak & Sons Inc. is currently comprised of five successful divisions, but is always on the lookout for the latest advancement in commercial and industrial construction. As it has expanded, Frank Novak & Sons Inc. has not lost sight of the priorities that existed back in 1912, of treating its customers and employees with honesty and integrity. These principles remain at the company’s core 100 years later, and give it a flawless reputation.

FAMILY HISTORY:

Frank Novak began his painting company in 1912 as a family business. Allen Pinchot joined the company in 1958 when he hired Frank Novak & Sons to rebuild his mother-in-law’s hair salon after a fire.  Allen oversaw the project as the General Contractor. Frank’s son, Frank Jr., was so impressed that he offered Allen a position with the company. In 1976, Allen became Frank Jr.’s partner until his death in 1989.  Allen has maintained the tradition of a family business, while expanding to meet the demands of the ever-changing industrial and commercial markets. 

Allen’s wife Gayle also became involved in the company, as well as thier kids, Brad, Mark and Pamela. The children all started at the bottom of the company and worked their way up, earning every promotion. The business is a huge part of who the family is, and this is what first got the children interested. All three learned from both Allen and Frank Jr. about the company and how it ran. Currently, Brad, Mark and Pamela are all vice presidents and equal shareholders. 

Together, the Pinchots are running Frank Novak & Sons Inc. with the help of many employees in all of its major divisions.