North Star Supply Co

North Star Supply Co. Inc. was founded by Frank N. Sausen in 1924 as a family-owned business specializing in the wholesale distribution of roofing, siding products, gutters, and downspouts. After World War II, Frank N. Sausen’s son, Francis J. Sausen, joined the business. In 1945, the company relocated to 255 Pratt Street on the corner of Broadway, where it remained until 2001. With the advent of the forced air gas furnace, North Star expanded its offerings to include a full line of heating and sheet metal supplies, and air conditioning was introduced in the late 1950s. Frank N. Sausen passed away in 1963, and the following year, his son Francis J. Sausen Jr. entered the business. In 1973, North Star expanded into the Rochester, NY market by acquiring Heating Products Co, an HVAC wholesale distributor. By 1975, North Star shifted its focus entirely to the HVAC industry, discontinuing its roofing and siding product lines. Francis J. Sausen Jr. became President in 1976, and in 1977, his wife, Donna A. Sausen, joined the company’s accounting department. The company continued to grow throughout the 1980s. In 1990, after graduating from Michigan State University, Francis J. Sausen (Trey) joined the company. In the mid-1990s, North Star entered the hearth products industry by becoming a distributor for Napoleon gas fireplaces, stoves, and inserts. Due to increased growth in its customer base and product lines, the company built a new office and warehouse facility on Thielman Drive, moving into the new location in 2001. Francis J. Sausen passed away in 2007. Today, Francis J. Sausen Jr. serves as Chairman, Francis J. Sausen (Trey) is the President, and Donna A. Sausen is the Secretary, leading and continuing to grow the company.