05/13/2026
Back in August of 1994, at the age of 36, Jim Amato started Tekserve. And despite what you may picture when you hear “CEO,” there were no fancy corner offices, no executive chairs, and definitely no luxury air conditioning.
Tekserve started with one office, one warehouse, one folding table, and one guy doing absolutely everything himself. Jim picked, packed, hand-wrote invoices, and shipped every order by hand. The warehouse also had exactly ONE window-unit air conditioner… which apparently believed in clocking out around 2:00 PM every summer afternoon.
Jim still remembers days so hot that the invoices would literally stick to his arms while he worked.
Over the past 32 years, Jim’s drive, ambition, and work ethic helped grow Tekserve into what it is today. Along the way, he also expanded into several other business ventures, including businesses in France and the UK. Through it all, he’s had the incredible support of his wife Terri of 41 years and his daughter Kathryn.
When he’s not “being the CEO” (a title he’d probably rather avoid anyway), Jim enjoys spending time with his family, hanging out with his dogs Baxter and Buddy, and cheering on the New York Yankees and Jets — even when they occasionally test his patience.
Tekserve would not exist without Jim’s determination, vision, and willingness to work through the heat, literally. We’re incredibly grateful to have such an amazing person leading the company and proving that great businesses can start with nothing more than hard work, persistence, and maybe a struggling window AC unit.
