In 1988 Enzo partnered with a college friend to open Fox Alarms & Communications. Their new venture would focus on two then-emerging markets – cellular telephones and home, business and automobile alarms. Like any new business, they worked hard to create sales. They sold a lot of cellular telephones at weekly flea markets in the Montreal area, and their heritage gave us an advantage to offer security systems and cellular phones to the close-knit Italian community.

In the early 90s, the partnership was dissolved, with each partner continuing on their own. Enzo, whose wife Ornella also worked alongside him since the beginning in the marketing and design capacity, realized that mobile communications was taking off as a necessity beyond a luxury. In 1991 Frank joined Enzo to focus primarily on the cellular side of the business, while Enzo concentrated on growing the security side. At one time Fox Alarms & Communications operated two retail cellular stores in Montreal, as well as their security company offices.

Enzo adds: “You might say we grew up together with John and Bill Georgoudes. These relationships were, as I say, both personal and business-related. Things like weddings, holidays and other significant events would at times be celebrated together – and even today, we consider friendship and loyalty as an integral part of our relationship.”

Business continued to grow, and in 2004 Enzo and Frank had their third brother, Vito join the firm.

When asked about the benefits and disadvantages of having family members as partners, Enzo readily suggested that whatever the disadvantages might be, they would be trivial. On the other hand, he cited things like trust, and being able to rely on one another as well as defining each member’s strengths and weaknesses and commitment to success as the major benefits of a family business.

“It’s reassuring and encouraging to know that you can take a vacation, and walk out of the office with full confidence knowing things will be well cared for while you are away. Of course like all brothers we have, from time to time, had differences of opinion – but we also have always respected the separation of responsibilities within the company. It has also helped, that like most Italian families, we gathered regularly for Sunday lunch at our parents’ home. Good wine and great food has always been a big part of those gatherings and any differences that might have been lingering were quickly set aside.”

They also are able to respect the special skills that each of them brings to the business. Although they are not big on titles, an outsider would suggest that Enzo is the President and CEO. Vito, having taken business training in college, is the man in charge of the purse strings, and would be identified as the Chief Financial Officer, while Frank uses his considerable people skills to advantage on the sales and public relations side of the operation.

Having a family of entrepreneurs is especially interesting, given that their mentor and father, Nicola, made an honest living as a construction painter. Mind you, after retiring, he too played a part in FoxSecur, offering his assistance with daily banking chores and other errands as needed to help the growth of their enterprise.

“If we do make a move outside Quebec, we would probably be looking for a company that could sustain itself and operate fairly independently. Ideally, it would come to us complete with a seasoned general manager type who could run it as a separate entity under our guidance,” says Enzo. He also emphasized that although he and his brothers play pivotal roles at FoxSecur, there is also room for growth for others who do not share the Ventulieri family name, acknowledging that good people are not easy to find, and are worth rewarding and nurturing when they do come along.