Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Company: Century Leasing Corporation
Location: Plaistow, New Hampshire, United States
Mike Panniello Jr., president and chief executive officer at Century Leasing Corporation, has been recognized by Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in commercial storage and equipment rental services.
Mr. Panniello’s stellar career is deeply rooted in his family’s legacy, having spent his formative years working summers at Century Leasing Corporation, the business founded by his grandfather in 1969. He developed a strong foundation in trucking as well as dry and refrigerated storage leasing. The aforementioned company originally operated near the New England Produce Center in Chelsea, Massachusetts. In 2007, his father relocated Century Leasing Corporation to Plaistow, New Hampshire, to accommodate growth and operational needs, a move that provided Mr. Panniello with expanded opportunities to contribute to the evolution of their business.
Assuming the role of president and chief executive officer at Century Leasing Corporation in 2017, Mr. Panniello has overseen daily scheduling, financial tracking and dispatch operations. He likewise monitors refrigeration systems remotely across the active rental fleet and serves as a backup driver and emergency responder for customer service issues. Additionally, he leads the design and engineering of the company’s mobile refrigerated trailer product line while delegating operational leadership across dispatch, fleet builds and shop management to a growing internal team.
Among Mr. Panniello’s most significant achievements is the creation of Century Leasing Corporation’s mobile refrigerated trailer product line. Alongside his father, he transformed a single uninsulated landscape trailer into an innovative product that now operates on standard wall outlets using advanced German refrigeration technology. This pioneering approach not only elevated the company from a small player to an industry leader but also inspired numerous competitors to replicate their design. Today, major national firms such as Polar Leasing and Polar King Mobile have adopted similar models, with approximately 15 companies attempting to emulate what Mr. Panniello built when Century Leasing Corporation had only three employees.
Prior to leading Century Leasing Corporation, Mr. Panniello gained valuable experience as a realtor with Lillian Montalto Signature Properties from 2012 to 2014 in Andover, Massachusetts. Working alongside one of the nation’s top residential real estate teams provided him with critical sales acumen and customer service skills that would later benefit his leadership in commercial storage solutions. From 2010 to 2014, he also worked as a general manager at Campus Crate, where he further developed his operational management capabilities.
Mr. Panniello’s educational background has played a vital role in shaping his professional journey. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Southern New Hampshire University in 2011. His academic pursuits also included undergraduate coursework at the University of Vermont. The knowledge gained through these programs equipped him with essential business management principles that have underpinned his success in overseeing complex operations and driving innovation within Century Leasing Corporation.
A member of the National Portable Storage Association, Mr. Panniello remains engaged with industry trends and best practices while building relationships with peers across the sector. He actively supports organizations such as Special Olympics of New Hampshire through donations while participating in events and local golf tournaments that benefit community causes.
Mr. Panniello credits much of his success to values of working hard and treating people right, which were instilled by his father and grandfather and continue to guide both his personal conduct and business philosophy. Becoming a father himself has further deepened his sense of purpose, motivating him to provide his children with an upbringing grounded in integrity and perseverance. Mr. Panniello’s advice for those entering the field is clear: be persistent and handle every aspect of the business personally when needed, as there are no shortcuts to success.
Throughout his career, Mr. Panniello has learned that prioritizing people is essential for sustainable growth. He emphasizes customer service as a top priority for Century Leasing Corporation, remaining available around the clock because clients often require immediate assistance to protect their products or operations. By fostering lasting relationships through trustworthiness and responsiveness, Mr. Panniello has helped retain customers in an industry with relatively few competitors.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Panniello intends to continue expanding Century Leasing Corporation within New England by increasing its mobile refrigeration fleet while maintaining close relationships with customers throughout the region. He sees significant opportunity locally given the thousands of school systems and businesses still unserved by modern cold storage solutions. As the company matures and stabilizes its inventory to reliably meet demand, Mr. Panniello hopes eventually to devote more time to family pursuits while ensuring that Century Leasing Corporation remains synonymous with quality service and innovation.
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