24 | September 2024 PROFICIENCY Certification Spotlight Name: Erin Napoletano Location (city & state): Seymour, CT Title, Company: Owner/Operator of Absolute Radon & Home Inspections, LLC. What certification do you have? Certified radon mitigation specialist (NRPP) How long have you been working in radon? I have been working in the radon field for just about 10 years now. I started in radon measurement in 2014, and became certified as a radon mitigation specialist the year after. Describe your professional experience and how you got into radon mitigation/measurement? I was a home inspector intern at the time I began my journey into the world of radon, and I wanted to add some professional licenses to my background. I quickly got my radon measurement certification, and worked hard running all the radon tests for the company I was employed by. When I saw that the mitigation systems were something that I knew I could install, I signed up for radon mitigation courses at Rutgers University, and went and stayed in NJ for a week while I completed my classes and training. I passed my exam to become certified on my first try, and when I came home, I called a lawyer, opened an LLC, and started my business as a side gig for extra income at first. Then, when Covid came around, my son started distance learning and I could not work for the home inspection company I was with anymore. So my side business, Absolute Radon, LLC got expanded and renamed Absolute Radon & Home Inspections, LLC, and I made the jump to be 100% self-employed. It was the best decision I ever made. I’ve been running my business full time as of September 1st, 2020, and I couldn’t be happier! Describe what a typical workday looks like. A typical workday for me usually starts by driving all over the state to perform estimates for a radon mitigation system install, and dropping CRMs for clients that have scheduled a test. I am a 1-woman show, so I am answering all my phone calls for scheduling, which can run upwards of over 20+ calls a day. Then around 1pm, I arrive at my scheduled installation job for the day, and install a full active radon mitigation system. That typically takes anywhere from 1.53 hours, depending on how extensive the system is. After that, I head back to my office to complete all invoices and to download and create reports for any monitors I picked up from clients during the morning hours. The phone calls continue until around 7pm usually. Sometimes, I don’t know how I do it. I definitely need an assistant. But for now, I get it all done myself. What do you like about working in the radon profession? Saving lives of course is my number 1 priority, and it feels great to help my clients not only remain safe from radon exposure, but also to feel comfortable living in their homes, knowing that my company installed a system that protects them from being exposed to high levels of radon gas. Any challenges so far? If so, explain. Well, being a woman in a male dominated industry is always difficult, but I have built a reputation over these past 10 years, so it isn’t as challenging as it used to be. It’s also difficult competing with the large corporations that can employ numerous people and complete many more installs than I am able to. But I think my number 1 challenge is running the entire business from answering the phone and scheduling jobs, to drilling through concrete slabs, to completing all testing and reports, all by myself. All while managing a household and being a single mom. The struggle is real!
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