Ιδρυτής της μεγαλύτερης εταιρείας διανομής τροφίμων στην Αμερική
Ο Τζον Παγιαύλας είναι ο ιδρυτής της μεγαλύτερης εταιρείας διανομής τροφίμων στην Αμερική, της “AVI Food Systems Inc”.
Είναι γιος μεταναστών που πήγαν στην Αμερική για ένα καλύτερο μέλλον. Άνοιξαν ένα εστιατόριο στο Γουόρεν στο Οχάιο των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών και αποφάσισαν να βάλουν μηχανήματα αυτόματης πώλησης. Αυτή η ιδέα άλλαξε έπειτα από λίγα χρόνια το προφίλ της εταιρείας.
Η φιλοσοφία του ήταν τα μηχανήματα αυτόματης πώλησης να περιέχουν πάντα φρέσκα τρόφιμα. Ήξερε από την αρχή πως δεν υπάρχει σύντομος δρόμος στην επιτυχία και εργαζόταν σκληρά για να εξυπηρετήσει τους πελάτες του και τις ανάγκες τους, μερικές φορές ακόμα και πριν καν του το ζητήσουν.
Η εταιρεία του, στα μέσα της δεκαετίας του ’80, πρόσθεσε στις υπηρεσίες της φαγητό για επιχειρήσεις και υπηρεσίες τροφοδοσίας. Έτσι, ανοίχτηκαν νέοι ορίζοντες αφού πλέον γινόταν διανομή σε κολέγια και πανεπιστήμια, σε νοσοκομειακές εγκαταστάσεις και το όνομα της εταιρείας καθιερώθηκε.
Το 1997 το κέντρο παραγωγής παρασκεύαζε 100.000 κομμάτια σε μία ημέρα και με τη χρήση της τεχνολογίας PocketSwab εξασφαλιζόταν το υψηλότερο επίπεδο υγιεινής των τροφίμων.
Το 2000 το περιοδικό Inside Business συμπεριέλαβε τον Τ. Παγιαύλα ανάμεσα στους καλύτερους επιχειρηματίες.
Το 2001 τα δύο παιδιά του, Πάτσι και Άντονι, πήραν τη θέση των Αντιπροέδρων της εταιρείας. Αξίζει να σημειωθεί πως από μικρή ηλικία συμμετείχαν στις δουλειές της εταιρείας παρασκευάζοντας τρόφιμα, βοηθώντας τόσο στην καθαριότητα όσο και τον πατέρα τους στο γραφείο. Έμαθαν από νεαρή ηλικία πως η επιτυχία ξεκινά με ακεραιότητα και τελειώνει με υπευθυνότητα.
Ο Τζον Παγιαύλας έδωσε τη σκυτάλη της εταιρείας στα παιδιά του το 2008.
Υπηρέτησε ως Πρόεδρος του “Leadership 100”, ενός συλλόγου που προωθεί την Ορθοδοξία και τον Ελληνισμό στην Αμερική, από το 2004 έως και το 2006. Επίσης κατέχει τον τίτλο του Archon Depoutatos από το Οικουμενικό Πατριαρχείο.
Marie Economus
-01/03/2017 11:03 μμ
The Payiavlas family without exception are the most generous, caring people in the world.
Shawn Pompelia
-15/03/2017 9:57 πμ
The City of Warren, Ohio is lucky to have the family in our community. Very generous family!
Steve Lewis
-15/03/2017 4:31 μμ
This article only scratches the surface as to John’s contributions, character, and humility. He has shunned the spotlight while not only building an amazing organization but supporting and enriching his hometown.
Enzo Cantalamessa
-14/03/2017 10:45 μμ
The Family is a true pillar of our business and philanthropic community. On behalf of the City of Warren, the recognition of John and his family is well deserved and a continuing source of pride for our City.
jon whaley
-14/03/2017 11:06 μμ
grew up in warren ohio and watched them grow. what a great company.
and hewing to the basics made them successful!!
Missy Elder
-14/03/2017 11:12 μμ
Wonderful family,and hard workers. Very involved in children school life,and always helping. Great roll models to those that are around them ..
Anna Nikolaides
-15/03/2017 12:31 πμ
It is an incredible accomplishment that was achieved from the ground up. He is living proof that the Ameican dream is possible with hard work and integrity. The entire Payiavlas family are down to earth, kind, caring generous people! Congratulations to all the family for their incredible achievement!
Ryan Neal
-15/03/2017 12:37 πμ
Mr.Payiavlas is a dying breed of businessmen. Truely a salt of the earth individual.
Tom Day
-15/03/2017 2:47 πμ
Haven’t been back in years. What happened to John Kouvas ? I know he ran Avalon golf course , but that’s the last I heard of him ?
Debbie VanWinkle
-16/03/2017 4:21 μμ
Had the pleasure of meeting this family about six years ago. They are so kind and generous. They are the true picture of “proud to be from Warren” ! So happy for their success. They work hard and deserve it!
Filly Kotsatos
-16/03/2017 5:11 μμ
Avi foods was an institution!
The new comers all started working in the Commisary!
I worked for them on summer breaks from school and it was a lot of fun listening to the wonderful woman that worked there talk about everything!
Jokes, recipes for Baklava, how the Hios friends made koulourakia and paksimadia, home made sesame candies from the Rhodian friends for my wedding in 1982! Loved every day even if we worked long hours on the food line making delicious sandwiches❤️❤️❤️
Mary. Maris
-19/03/2017 1:48 πμ
I grew up with all the family, great Family, proud to have them in Warren
Kenny
-06/08/2018 11:15 πμ
My mother’s family is Payiavlas from the island Chios Greece.
For sure we are related. Lol ..
I would need to look this guy’s history. All the great work about his kinds and morality seems to be on target. All the family on my mother’s side were exactly like this, kind and we’re hard working…. Me too! Lol
Franklin Manios
-27/12/2019 10:24 μμ
Great story/…..and aLL TRUE……the American Dream was personified.in John Payiavlas, life…….Made every one he touched BETTER…..Congratulations John,…..we are all proud of you…….
Lee Manios
-28/04/2020 6:12 πμ
He is a cheap Greek.
Pam Politsky
-27/12/2019 11:53 μμ
He’s a good man. I have much respect for him. He has built a great business from the ground up.
Jonathan wike
-28/12/2019 5:39 πμ
Proud to know this wonderful family and very proud of all they do for our community
Mark A. Herron
-28/12/2019 5:46 πμ
Mr. Payiavalas is one of the finest compassionate gentlemen that I have ever met in my life. He has been a blessing to the City of Warren and to me and my entire family. God blesss and keep John Payiavalas for his many anonymous act’s of kindness. Blessings.
Lorelei (Taylor) Milligan
-28/12/2019 9:51 μμ
Thank for all the hard work and dedication to excellence Mr. Payiavlas! I went to school with your daughter, Patsy. With all the hard work you put in, you also raised a very nice family and you, your family and your company are an asset to our community!
Dorothy Ross Hamer
-29/12/2019 5:05 πμ
John was a staunch supporter of the Warren YMCA when my father Joe Ross was working there. They were good friends and I remember their friendship as a very special bond.
K Garden
-03/03/2022 12:12 πμ
When John was involved in the day to day operation the company was successful and had integrity. The product was exceptional and John went out of his way to take care of the employees.
When Patsey and Anthony began to run their areas of the business vending no longer had integrity.
Periodic phone calls with Patsey were bordering on hysterical and verbally abusive. Issues that needed to be addressed were often blamed on the employee and emotions surpassed good business.
What started as the perfect company to work for turned into a high stress degrading work place.
This is only my opinion from the side lines.