Title: 1) Founder and President; 2) Founder
Company: 1) Element 119; 2) Exoban LLC
Location: Plainville, Connecticut, United States
Andrew Zeppa, Founder and President at Element 119 and Founder at Exoban LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements and leadership in the Chemical Manufacturing Industry.
Mr. Zeppa is recognized for his work as both an entrepreneur and innovator in the manufacturing and technology sectors, most notably as the president of Element 119. Over the past 15 years, he has guided the company from its inception in 2010 to its current status as a leader in high-performance coatings. Founded in his garage with only $2,000 in seed capital and a modest 100-square-foot workspace, Mr. Zeppa grew Element 119 organically, eschewing outside investors and significant loans. Today, the company employs nearly 50 people and operates out of a recently acquired 120,000-square-foot facility in Plainville, Connecticut, that accommodates both office and warehouse operations.
As the president of Element 119, Mr. Zeppa divides his responsibilities among administration and strategic vision, research and development (R&D), and scaling up manufacturing operations, which focuses on delivering high-performance coating technologies to its clients. He is instrumental in setting the company’s direction, ensuring that team members are aligned with organizational goals. In R&D, Mr. Zeppa leads efforts to create new products and oversees contracts with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army for specialized projects. His leadership has been pivotal in expanding manufacturing capabilities, including investments in advanced bottling lines, packing equipment and the construction of a chemical plant valued at over $1 million.
Element 119 initially focused on car care products, with Mr. Zeppa developing a polymer sealant similar to New Finish. He personally handled sales outreach, targeting fleet operators such as fire and police departments. A breakthrough came when Sikorsky tested Mr. Zeppa’s product on its helicopter fleet, but it required a solution for paint distortion caused by extreme heat near exhaust ports. Rising to this challenge, he researched emerging technologies and developed the company’s first ceramic coating, an innovation that set Element 119 apart in the industry. The company’s products are now used at more than 4,500 professional installation shops worldwide.
In 2020, Mr. Zeppa founded Exoban LLC, marking another milestone exactly 10 years after establishing Element 119. Exoban LLC, which manufactures paint and coating products, has rapidly achieved nearly $9 million in annual revenue and has consistently doubled its growth each year since its founding.
Before his entrepreneurial ventures in manufacturing, Mr. Zeppa built a foundation in information technology consulting with a focus on e-commerce solutions during the early days of Magento software. He became both front-end and back-end certified, recognized as the only individual in New England to hold both certifications at that time, and established a consultancy serving clients such as Carpark King, StriVectin and Vilebrequin. Mr. Zeppa’s expertise led him to serve as the chief technology officer at a startup for two years before launching Element 119.
Mr. Zeppa began his academic journey with college coursework while simultaneously launching his first business venture, Satellite Solutions, a telecommunications company specializing in two-way satellite communication systems for clients like Ford Star and Hanscom Air Force Base. As Mr. Zeppa’s business flourished during his college years, he decided to pursue entrepreneurship full-time rather than complete his degree program.
As a reflection of his dedication, Mr. Zeppa’s professional affiliations include several manufacturing consortia through the U.S. Department of Defense. Civically, he remains engaged with his local chamber of commerce and the Young Presidents’ Organization.
In light of his achievements, Mr. Zeppa has been recognized with numerous awards. In 2024, Element 119 received the President’s “E” Award for Exporting, a prestigious national honor presented at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., as well as inclusion among the Top 100 Small Businesses in America by the United States Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Zeppa’s company also earned the Outstanding Community Business Award for its contributions to the local community.
Attributes his success to determination, a healthy tolerance for risk, and an unwavering willingness to invest in future opportunities, Mr. Zeppa has been able to overcome challenges and drive sustained growth across multiple ventures. Committed to expanding his businesses internationally, he also intends to scale operations and introduce new products across both Element 119 and Exoban’s product lines. Furthermore, Mr. Zeppa remains focused on commercializing advanced coatings technologies developed through extensive R&D efforts, aiming to bring these innovations to market while continuing to grow his companies’ global presence.
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