Business First, December 26, 2024 

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Michael Casciano became Noco’s president in May.
• Noco launched new divisions and acquired two companies.
• The company has about 415 employees, up 55 from a year prior. 

Each year, Buffalo Business First celebrates multiple companies of the year for their work in the preceding months — whether it’s goals achieved, challenges overcome or even recognition on a national scale. Noco is one of the 2024 honorees.

 

Noco’s new president Michael Casciano has a lot of plates to spin as the energy company continues to expand into new lines of business. 

Just this year the company launched home energy assessments, a real estate division, a commercial solar division and an electric vehicle charger business. It acquired Magic Foam Insulation and Global Environmental Industrial, companies that provide cleaning services for industrial customers. 

All these acquisitions and new divisions, and the many others over the last few years, have been to expand far beyond its fossil fuel roots, aiming to become a one-stop shop for the energy needs of residential and commercial customers. 

“We have the headwinds with energy prices going up, so we are not interested in riding that wave,” Casciano said and it’s his job to ensure all these newly acquired companies work in unison.

He was promoted from chief operating officer to president in May. Former president James Newman remains Noco CEO and chairman of the board. 

“When you bring these new businesses into the company… there are all kinds of emotional obstacles for integration,” Newman said. “They’re not insurmountable, but they are unique.”

Noco’s expansion isn’t stopping anytime soon with plans to launch a residential solar division next year. Additional sectors that could work well within its mission are under consideration including windows and battery storage, Casciano said. 

Noco is working with Farm, a Lancaster marketing agency, to publicize the expanded lines since the company is often associated with propane, diesel and natural gas, which still account for the bulk of revenue, Newman said. 

“We knew we needed a rebranding in the hearts and minds of our customers,” Casciano said. “We’re on TV, we’re on radio, we’re on digital, we’re on billboards, we’re doing all kinds of outreach.”

Newman said the company has strong brand recognition locally and the challenge is to steer that positive recognition toward its new business lines. 

“When they start to think about ‘who would I call when I have these issues?’ we want to be first on that list,” Newman said. 

The company has about 415 employees, up 55 from a year prior. 

Casciano is the first non-Newman to be a Noco president. Newman said he wanted to help future-proof the company so that it could continue whether or not family is there.

“You need someone with fresh legs, fresh ideas and a new, higher level of energy and intensity to get this next move forward,” he said.