Success Stories
Shooster Holdings is committed to building successful businesses through operational improvements, strategic acquisitions, and organic growth. Over several decades, we have been involved in numerous success stories, each one a testament to our expertise in identifying and nurturing promising companies.
One of our key strengths is our ability to identify opportunities where others see only challenges. We are not afraid to take on businesses in competitive or rapidly-changing markets, and we pride ourselves on our ability to innovate and adapt to changing circumstances. This has enabled us to create successful businesses in a wide range of industries. We seek out businesses with untapped potential, and we work closely with their leadership teams to unlock that potential and accelerate growth.
We take a long-term view of our investments, recognizing that true success is measured in years and decades, not just quarters. This means we are willing to invest in businesses even when the returns may not be immediate, and we are committed to building enduring relationships with our employees, customers, and partners.
Overall, our success stories reflect our commitment to creating value through strategic investments and thoughtful management. We are proud of our track record and excited to continue building successful businesses for years to come.
Herman Shooster, Michael's father, acquired Ding-A-Ling Answering Service in 1974 and this was the inception of the Shooster family business. Ding-A-Ling is our roots and the company still exists today in Palm Beach, FL.
Harrell's Answering Service was the Shooster's second acquisition. After selling her business, Joan Harrell was only supposed to hang around for six months to help with the migration. 45+ years later, today, she is the Director of Operations for Answering Service Care, one of our portfolio companies.
Kelley's Telephone Answering Service was strategically acquired in 2010. The company was started by Max Kelley in 1950, over 80 years ago. We acquired the business from Max’s daughter Janie Kelley Choate and her husband, Jack Choate. The business had approximately 450 clients, all from the WA area.
In 2015, A-1 Message Center was purchased, located right outside of Princeton, NJ. The business was previously owned by Robert Manheimer, who had been operating the business for fifteen years. This business had approximately 450 clients located around NYC and Philadelphia areas.
This business comes out of Rocky Mount, NC. The company was founded by Gay Mathews, who started the business twenty-five years prior to the acquisition. The business had 150 clients, and 90 were in the funeral home business. All customers were local to the Rocky Mount area. Gay continued working with our team for a number of years until she retired. Athena Matthews, Gay’s daughter, continues to work for the company, has taken on various new duties during her tenure with the company, and is presently working in a managerial capacity.
The business is located in the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. Acquired from Julie Mooney in the spring of 2022. This business had been operating for over eighty years. The business had approximately 360 clients. Most of these clients come from Massachusetts or the Hudson Valley, NY area. While the company's name has been changed to Berkshire Receptionists, it continues to operate independently.
Our most recent acquisition is A-Ring-A-Ding Answering Service located down the street in Hollywood, FL.