Vincenzo DeMartino is Vice President at Aarco Products, Inc., celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. An EDmarket member since 1998, Aarco Products is a visual display product manufacturer based out of Yaphank, New York. Founded in 1975, Aarco Products is now on its third generation of leadership providing innovative and collaborative products for professional environments. Vincenzo is Chair of the EDmarket Equipment Manufacturers Council and on the Board of Directors.
When was your company founded and how?
Aarco Products got its start on July 1st, 1975. It began with my father and grandfather, who built the business from the ground up as a small, family-run operation focused on making chalkboards, bulletin boards, and sidewalk signs for retail. My grandfather had previously been a partner in a similar company, and when that partnership dissolved, my father had just graduated college and was planning to work with him. His plans changed very quick and instead, they put everything they had — and more — into starting Aarco. It was a true bootstrapped beginning. That spirit of grit and hands-on commitment has stayed with us at the core ever since.
What makes your company unique?
We’ve lasted 50 years not by staying rigid, but by staying flexible. Our strength is in how we respond to change — whether that’s in design trends, customer needs, or how collaborators use space. We’re deeply hands-on in our manufacturing, which allows us to maintain quality, offer custom solutions, and respond quickly to project demands. We also strike a rare balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation — evolving our offerings while holding onto the values that built the company.
At the same time, we wouldn’t be here without our people. Our employees, our long-time partners, and everyone who’s supported Aarco over the years have made this possible. As much as our unique foundation guides us, their loyalty, ideas, and trust are what truly set us apart.
How are you commemorating your 50th year?
We’re taking this year to thank the people who got us here, starting with our team. We’ll be honoring long-standing employees, reflecting on key projects, and reconnecting with the customers and partners who’ve shaped our growth. It’s a milestone, but also a reminder: the work continues, and the best way to celebrate is by doing what we’ve always done….delivering for our customers!
What do you like best about the educational products industry?
There’s a real sense of purpose. The work we do has a direct impact not just on students, but also on the spaces they move through every day. With our whiteboards in a classroom or display cases in a corridor, our products play a role in how people learn, share, and connect.
I also love the process of manufacturing itself. There’s something incredibly rewarding about taking a concept, solving the challenges around it, and then producing it at scale. Every product that leaves our facility feels like a small accomplishment — and over time, those moments add up to something lasting.
What are you most proud of?
I’m proud of the culture we’ve built. People stick around here — not just customers, but employees. Some have been with us for decades. That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident; it means we’re doing something right.
I’m also proud that we’ve stayed nimble, even as we’ve grown. Change hasn’t rattled us…. It’s sharpened us. The last five years have been pivotal. We’ve grown as a company, but also as individuals. There’s been no shortage of changes made internally, but our team has met it head-on. I’ve seen our staff take real initiative, lean into the challenges, and keep pace with everything we’ve had to evolve. That kind of commitment makes a difference.
How has EDmarket helped you professionally?
EDmarket has helped us stay plugged into the bigger picture. Through their events and resources, we’ve had opportunities to learn, collaborate, and connect with others who are just as invested in the future of education spaces. Their recent initiatives have had a real, positive impact on the industry. There’s no other association quite like it, and it’s headed in an exciting direction.
What’s made a noticeable difference is how EDmarket brings the right people into the conversation. I’ve seen increased involvement from architects, school staff, and tech partners — and that cross-collaboration has directly influenced how we, as manufacturers, approach product design. That kind of hands-on feedback is invaluable to both the manufacturing and dealer side of the industry.
How can EDmarket best serve the industry?
By continuing to bring the right people together. When manufacturers, dealers, designers, and educators have space to exchange ideas, better solutions come out of it. That exchange is where real innovation is cultivated. I’ve seen many causal conversations output some of the most exciting products in the industry!
What would you like to see EDmarket champion?
That’s a tough question, especially with all the progress EDmarket has made since 2020. If anything, I’d like to see even more emphasis on how learning spaces are evolving. Schools are rapidly evolving by blending flexibility, technology, and collaboration in ways that redefine what educational environments look like. Industry insiders may understand this shift, but there’s a huge opportunity to spotlight it more broadly and bring more attention to the innovations happening across the country.
Aarco is living proof of what’s possible when you listen, adapt, and stick with people who genuinely want to make a difference.
Membership plays a critical role in making that happen. Whether individual or corporate, involvement fuels the initiatives that move the industry and grows our network of constituents. EDmarket Programs like the EDgallery, Bold Women Collective, NextGen Rising Star, scholarship opportunities, and the ECLPS Certification are already creating real value…not just for members, but for the whole industry. If we continue to bring more voices into the conversation, we’ll keep that momentum growing and ensure the future of educational spaces is shaped by those who know it best.
What advice would you give others in our industry?
Communication is everything. One idea might spark innovation, but it never happens in a vacuum. It’s always a team effort, like stacking blocks, where each idea supports the next. Things move fast, but the needs of the people we serve often move even faster. If you’re not paying attention to the conversations happening around you, it’s easy to miss what really matters.
And honestly, relationships are everything. This industry runs on trust, consistency, and just showing up again and again. Aarco is living proof of what’s possible when you listen, adapt, and stick with people who genuinely want to make a difference.