EnTrends

Lucca likes the free time that being an
entrepreneur brings and the ability to
be his own boss. Although he works
long hours at times, he travels with his
ski equipment in the winter and diving
equipment in the summer. Both are
tools of the trade for avalanche
control and underwater blasting. But
they also give him a reason to have
fun. Lucca says, "All work and no
play makes Frankie a dull, dull boy."

Lucca said that if he were a part of
corporate America, he would be
travelling and sitting in meetings.
Now, however, decisions are made
quickly and his work and play time
are balanced out.

When EnTrends inquired about what
else Lucca does in his free time, he
responded that he has a wonderful
family that he tries to spend as much
time with as possible. Lucca claims
that if it were not for his wife, his
business would not be doing as well
as it is. She takes a small but active
part in the company, and also takes
care of things at home. Lucca says
his wife gave up her career and hasn't
looked back, in order to support his
endeavor.

Lucca's children, a seven year old
daughter and two year old son,
already ski. The family spends lots of
time together doing things that Lucca
says he was not able to do as a kid.

That's right, business is literally
booming for Frank Lucca, the
President and owner of Terra
Dinamica, LLC. Frank started the
company two years ago in July of
1998, with $1800 in credit cards. He
had his first long-term contract two
weeks after opening his doors. Since
then, Terra Dinamica has attained
revenues of over $400,000 with a
20% net profit.

Terra Dinamica, located in Granby,
CT, provides technical services and
outsourcing for the explosives
industry. They utilize the latest
techniques and technologies to bring
their customers programs that solve
their problems in a timely and efficient
manner. Terra Dinamica provides a
full line service that combines
experience with technology. Lucca
says that blasting is an art and a
science that few people have the
background required to bring the two
components together successfully.

Terra Dinamica's clients are legal users
of explosives in the construction and
mining industries. The explosives are
used to fracture rock for mineral
extraction or building purposes.
Believe it or not, Lucca says that 95%
of what people touch and use
everyday would not be economically
possible without blasting. This includes
everything from silverware, concrete,
and computers.

EnTrends asked Frank what makes
his business unique. He responded
that Terra Dinamica is the only
technical services/engineering
company in the explosive industry that
takes a hands-on approach and
combines it with technology. The
company is building a niche business.
While there are several engineering
and consulting companies, few people
offer the experience and services that
Terra Dinamica offers.

Another thing that makes Terra
Dinamica unique is how they run a
virtual business and spaghetti
organization. Everyone in the company
can work from home. Depending on
the project, anybody can report to
someone else.

Lucca puts key employees in charge
of each project or product. He then
hires subcontractors to work for the
key employees. These key employees
then work for each other throughout
the year. They do not have titles,
however. Lucca says, "They can make
them up if they want." However,
Lucca remains the only boss.

Terra Dinamica is now going global.
The company markets in multiple
languages and brings technology to third
world countries. Lucca also has virtual
offices in Chile, Colombia, Bogota,
Santiago, Chile, and Europe.

EnTrends asked Lucca what a typical
day at work involves for him. His
response was, "Typical? Wow, I wish I
could have one." Lucca usually wakes
up between 3:30 and 7:00 A.M.,
depending on his schedule. If he has to
be on site for a blast, it's usually 3:30
when he wakes up. This occurs about
2-3 days a week.

First of all, Lucca checks his E-mail
from customers and employees. After
cursing and deleting junk mail, he gets
down to answering employee questions
and responding to current and potential
customers. He responds to all E-mails
as soon as possible, usually within
twenty-four hours, unless he's out of the
country.

Lucca then heads down the road with a
gigantic mug of coffee. After that, he
starts to make calls on his cell phone.
Lucca then arrives on the job site and
checks on his employees. If he's running
a project alone, he talks to the people
who will be doing the blasting. Lucca
lifts heavy boxes of explosives in either
the blistering sun or freezing cold.
Finally, he must figure out how to load
the blastholes and get started.

Lucca then crosses his fingers and
hopes the job goes well. Afterwards, he
either heads home or back to the hotel
where he does paperwork until going to
sleep around 11:30 P.M. The next day
he starts again. Lucca says, "It's funny,
the harder I work, the luckier I seem to
get."

EnTrends then asked Lucca what he
enjoys the most about his lifestyle as an
entrepreneur. He responded that
recognition and money is definitely not
his motivator. He feels that he is doing
well because he is not seeking out these
things.

Finally, EnTrends asked Lucca if his
success as an entrepreneur has
cultivated a preference for any
clothing designers or home furnishing
companies. He says that it has not for
two reasons. First of all, at 6'3" and
240 lbs., he claims that it is hard to
find designer clothes that look good
and fit him well. He buys what does
look good and fits. Sometimes that
means getting things custom made.

Second, he feels that sometimes
designer clothes may put the wrong
impression in a customers mind,
depending on what line of work you
are in. Also, Lucca says he would
rather spend the money on vacations
and new toys for the family.