Randy’s first job at Sunshine in 1978 was as a part-time window cleaner. A Broward College baseball player, his coach and Sunshine founder, Larry Calufetti, offered all players summer and part-time jobs. Randy took full advantage of that opportunity and continued to work on and off for Larry for the next 10 years, even when he played at East Carolina University.
In 1989, Randy returned to baseball as a professional scout and operator of a baseball academy but continued to remain close to Larry and his family. His career took him to the Montreal Expos and finally the Florida Marlins. Then in 2006, he saw an opportunity to return to Sunshine. The company had more than doubled in size and Larry was balancing his love for growing the business with the daily operational duties. Randy stepped in to help as the “Very Important President’s Assistant or VIPA,” as Larry dubbed him.
He still remembers what remains one of his favorite career moments in 1985 when Sunshine won the contract to serve the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, a relationship that remains in place today.
Fourteen years after becoming VIPA, Randy continues to guide Sunshine as COO. “Always giving more than the customer expects, following through with promises, doing quality work and being available 24/7” are among the qualities he says continue to make Sunshine stand out in the industry.
Randy is also a proud family man, having recently celebrated 41 years of marriage to his wife, Darlene “Dee.” Together, they raised three daughters and now enjoy three grandchildren. Besides precious family time, he enjoys golfing and staying in touch with a few of the players he guided, including the current general manager of the Atlanta Braves.
As in baseball, Randy says that the leaders at Sunshine are always looking for ways to get even better. “I try to hire people willing to be trained like I was -- people willing to do the work, get things done and make customers happy,” he said.
