Pieralisi North America Sets Sights

from My Sanford Magazine - Fall 2022

Cover Story: Serving our Sanford Community

PIERALISI NORTH AMERICA

SETS SIGHTS ON CENTRAL FLORIDA

BY JENNIFER LUCE

“Sanford was chosen because of its strategic location within the North American economic sector. Another point that was considered in the choice of Sanford was the cost and benefit of the place, according to our studies in the business plan, in comparison to other North American cities.”

— Estela Testa

Estela Testa Estela Testa, a successful executive and prominent business leader, is the current president of the Association of Manufacturers of Sanitation Machines. Estela Testa's professional history shows the executive's pioneering role as one of the first women leaders in the sanitation field. Full of energy, Estela is qualified to contribute to the positive results that the sanitation field needs to achieve in the future. Estela graduated in Food Engineering from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), one of the best universities in Latin America.

The challenges and the purpose of participating in projects that make the world a better place for everyone have always driven Estela Testa. Convinced that women are increasingly taking a prominent role in the professional market, Estela was a pioneer as one of the first women to work in various fields of the sanitation sector. She built her career working in positions that allowed her to become an expert in all stages of projects in water and sewage treatment—from working inside a treatment plant to occupying administrative positions.

Besides her position as a business leader, holding positions such as the presidency of Sindesam, Estela Testa is an engineer and CEO of the Pieralisi Group for Latin America. She has taken on the challenge of managing Pieralisi North America, which is recognized as one of the key players in the worldwide sanitation market.

My Sanford Magazine interviewed Ms. Testa because we were thrilled to find that Pieralisi is moving its headquarters from West Chester, Ohio to beautiful Sanford, Florida. Estela said, “Sanford was chosen because of its strategic location within the North American economic

“Persistence and preparation are two skills that should be a priority for anyone who really wishes to build a path of professional success.

sector. Another factor that was relevant to the choice was the diversity of ports that facilitate the transit of our equipment. The logistics of the place suits perfectly our business project in the US. Another point that was considered in the choice of Sanford was the cost and benefit of the place, according to our studies in the business plan, in comparison to other North American cities.”

One of Pieralisi’s missions is to spread the benefits of olive oil extraction wherever olive oil is produced. The benefits of olive oil have been known since biblical times. In the Bible, the fruits of the olive tree are described as important food, and olive tree leaves were used as medicine. Another company mission is to provide the market with solutions to treat effluent sludge. Proper effluent treatment directly impacts care for the environment, which means boosting life. In 2019, a report by the U.S. Water Alliance and Dig Deep estimate that over 2.2 million people in the United States did not have access to clean water and sanitation. There is much to do to ensure a better quality of life and to protect nature around the globe. a worldwide network of units that bring the brand closer to global customers. Pieralisi’s equipment is robust, long-lasting, and requires low maintenance. They provide technical assistance to the entire planet. One more competitive edge is that the company has the “made in Italy” advantage. Their products are created with plenty of research, technology, sophisticated design, and high-quality standards that meet ISO 9001 and include high-production accuracy. The goal is to offer the best to their customers. They want to make Italian technology and design available to United States sanitation.

Estela has been working at the company for almost 30 years and has witnessed many changes along her journey to make the business more dynamic and provide the best solutions in the market. Pieralisi went from a familyoperated business to a successful company with investment funds. Their view is focused on results, competence, talent retention, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance). “We are very strong, and success is embedded in our DNA,” Estela proclaims. One of her goals for the next five years is for their subsidiary in the United States to increase Pieralisi fivefold within North America. The United States and Canadian markets are significant to the company's overall long-term strategy.

Professionally, Estela sets the pace by making a difference in the business environment for the people who work with her. “Persistence and preparation are two skills that should be a priority for anyone who really wishes to build a path of professional success,” Estela advises. She has a desire to develop her skills even more as a leader and help support professionals that she works with to reach their full potential within their own careers. Estela lives a passionate life full of purpose and puts forth every effort to transform the world, to make it a better place—not only for the moment but also for future generations. n

Jennifer serves as the VP of Global Human Resources at Jeunesse, a wellness company dedicated to redefining youth. She has proven leadership abilities, creating a culture where employees enjoy coming to work. As a dedicated community member, Jennifer sits as a Seminole County Chamber of Commerce Member and serves as the managing editor at My Sanford Magazine. Outside of work, you can find Jennifer on the courts cheering on her son, Austin.