President’s Bio

Leadership

Suzanne Kondra-DeFuria

Suzanne Kondra-DeFuria is President and sole owner of Potter Heating & Air Conditioning and Perrone Plumbing Services, a commercial and residential business founded in 1944. The firm provides heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing services as well as metal fabrication.

Suzanne’s biggest challenge was convincing customers that she was knowledgeable in the mechanical field even though she was only one of two women to receive her Mechanical License in Central New York.

In 1986 she was the only woman to complete a mentor ship program in the Syracuse Builder’s Exchange for women and minorities. She still enjoys her mentor relationship after all these years. She listen and learns from her staff every day.

She was the first woman elected President of the Syracuse Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, and served four terms as President. She also is the second woman elected, recently, as President of the Subcontractors Association of Central New York.

Suzanne was the first woman appointed by the mayor to the Mechanical Board for the city of Syracuse.

Suzanne is a cancer survivor for over 10 years. “A positive outlook makes a big difference. You can’t let it take you down,” she says. Indeed, this diagnosis and subsequent treatment did not slow her down in either her personal accomplishments or business as evidence by their double digit growth during this period and significant volunteer contributions.