NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Mark Falotico, Account Relationship Manager at Haskris

Welcome to EFBC! It’s great to meet you. Can you tell us a bit about your role and what Haskris does? 

Thanks! It’s great to be here. Haskris is a third-generation family business—my dad and sister are both EFBC members and my dad’s actually been in EFBC for 30 years now. We design and manufacture custom process water chillers, primarily for high-tech applications. MRIs are our biggest market, but we also serve industries that use electron microscopes, semiconductor tools, and other advanced technologies. A lot of what we do involves tight temperature control—some machines cost over $10 million and need extreme precision.

That’s a lot more advanced than what people probably expect when they hear “water chillers.” Have you worked on anything unexpected?

Yeah, one of the more interesting shifts came about three years ago when the cannabis industry started reaching out to us. They needed chillers that could handle extreme temperature ranges—up to 300°F and down to -80°C—and there just wasn’t anyone else in North America making them at the size or quality they needed. That opened the door to working with distillation companies too, for things like incense and food extracts. It’s a pretty niche but fast-growing area.

Have you always been involved in the family business, or did you take a different path before joining?

I always had a feeling I’d end up at Haskris, but I wanted to explore other opportunities first. I went to Illinois Wesleyan University, studied economics, and minored in entrepreneurship. After graduating in 2019, I joined BMO Harris. I ended up on the asset-based lending team, which gave me great experience and exposure to different businesses. But when Haskris was expanding, the timing felt right to come back. I joined about four years ago and started in our customer relations team, learning the technical side, quoting systems, and supporting OEM accounts. Now I lead that team and manage relationships with our OEMs. 

Did growing up in the business shape how you saw your career?

For sure. I grew up around the business—literally. After church on Sundays, we’d stop by the office to get the test units running for Monday. I’d run around the shop and hear business conversations at the dinner table. It was a full immersion. But I still went into college and banking with an open mind. If I’d found something I loved, I might have stayed on that path. Coming back to Haskris gave me a new appreciation for what we’ve built. I love working with my family, and we’ve built a great culture here. It’s competitive in the best way and really collaborative. 

As a new EFBC member, what are you hoping to get out of the experience?

I’m excited to learn from shared experiences of EFBC members.  There are unique challenges that come with being in a smaller family business and hearing how others have navigated those situations is incredibly valuable. I also want to give back. EFBC has done so much for our family over the years, helping shape our policies and structure, especially in the earlier generations. I’d like to share what I’ve learned too—because a lot of that learning comes from the hard stuff, the mistakes and missteps. If I can help someone avoid a few of those, that’s a win.

That’s amazing. I didn’t realize your family’s connection to EFBC went back that far!

For me, EFBC is my version of getting a business degree. 

I was a nurse—I didn’t go to school for business. But here, I have access to people who are experts in different areas. 

Also, I finally have a real sounding board beyond just Mike. I can ask questions, learn from other people’s experiences, and be part of a community of business owners who “get it.” 

Ultimately, I want to learn how to grow my team in a smart, strategic way. The goal is to scale the business so I can focus on big-picture growth while my team handles the day-to-day. 

Welcome to EFBC, Mark!