History of Adelio's
After emigrating from Italy in 1969, Adelio DiFranco worked for a local contractor for several years. In 1976, he started his own company, Adelio’s Electric Sewer Cleaning Company.
Adelio’s Electric Sewer Cleaning Company started off with Adelio and his brother-in-law. They specialized in drain repair services as well as basement waterproofing. They also bought sewer snakes to be able to clean residential drains of all sizes. They kept the company small and manageable with just a few dump trucks and a service van.
In 1985 Adelio purchased his first sewer jet (or hydro jet), which is used to clean mud and debris and to cut stubborn tree roots inside downspout drains, drain tiles, footer drains, and sewer pipes.
Business started gravitating towards the Heights neighborhoods on the east side of Cleveland because neighbors continued to recommend us to one another.
We have found that there is no advertising, quite like a recommendation from a neighbor!
Uncle Armando, Sergio, cousin Walter and Adelio after completing a waterproofing project
Adelio’s son, Sergio, began working with him on summer breaks and loved riding along in trucks to help his dad. After graduating from Cleveland State University with a degree in Business Management, Sergio came back to work with his father and started growing the business on the foundation that Adelio built.
Sergio became to owner of the company in 2006 when Adelio retired. Through his vision and leadership, Sergio was able to significantly expand Adelio’s Contracting to be able to help additional customers in both the Heights and new neighborhoods. He focused on carrying on the morals, values, and high-quality craftsmanship that Adelio had founded the company on. In 2024 Sergio was able to retire from the business and remains an advisor to the business and leadership team.
In 2024, Alex Alten, who served as Sergio’s Operations Manager and had been with Adelio’s Contracting since 2011, stepped into the role of General Manager. Having worked closely with both Adelio and Sergio, Alex is deeply committed to carrying on the values and mission on which Adelio’s Contracting was founded. He is dedicated to maintaining the company’s family-oriented culture, delivering high-quality work, ensuring strong customer satisfaction, and supporting continued growth to better serve the community.
Meet Our Team
Adelio’s Contracting takes pride in hiring great people with strong work ethic. We have a great core with extensive construction backgrounds, which helps make our crews run smoothly and efficiently.
Project Managers
Alex
Alex has worked in the plumbing and waterproofing trades since 2006. He enjoys working for family-oriented businesses because he prefers a personal interaction with every client and the personal nature of the work. He has completed state plumbing certifications and carries licenses in various specialty techniques in residential, commercial, and industrial drainage, plumbing, and mechanical systems. Alex has taken the role of General Manager of Adelio’s after being the Operations Manager for over a decade. He looks forward to carrying on the amazing work that Adelio’s has performed for over 48 years.
Alex enjoys spending time hiking, fishing, and enjoying time outdoors with his wife, 2 sons, and two dogs named Moose and Freya. He enjoys watching and attending Cleveland sporting events and exploring new cuisine. He loves managing Adelio’s for the ability to help our customers with their basement problems and providing an exceptional environment for our team to grow and succeed.
Nicolette
Nicolette has worked for Adelio’s since February 2023. She came to the Waterproofing industry from a 15-year career in Management in the Food and Beverage industry. She is a hardworking and dedicated professional who is grateful for being able to work with like-minded individuals who put a high value on customer satisfaction and integrity. Working in a family-focused company is a joy for her, and she is grateful to be able to help our clients solve their waterproofing and basement needs with high-quality and custom solutions that she would be happy to have installed in her own home.
Nicolette is the mother of 2 children. She is a Cleveland transplant and was born and raised in California. Living somewhere with four seasons and a rich sense of culture and community is very important to her, and she loves it here. She loves working at Adelio’s for the balance it provides her and her family, and the ability to have time for the best of both worlds.
Oscar
Oscar is a results-driven leader with a proven track record of career progression and operational excellence. Starting as an Assistant Production Manager and Assistant Project Advisor, he advanced to Production Manager and now occupies the role of Operations Manager. Oscar brought with him five years of Manufacturing Management experience before joining the Construction industry. He is known for his outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, and strong commitment to excellence. Throughout his career, he has played a key role in streamlining production processes, improving team performance, and driving overall operational efficiency.
Oscar enjoys working alongside a team of like-minded individuals who share the same core values and dedication to delivering high-quality work. He is grateful for the opportunity to continue growing in a role where teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement are highly valued.
Nick
Nick has worked in the waterproofing industry since 2012. He started his career as a technician, and in the subsequent years has move his way up to Crew Chief, Foreman, and then became an Operations Supervisor. In 2021 he moved to the diagnose and sales side of the business taking a role of Project Advisor at Adelio’s Contracting, where he can diagnose and provide custom solutions designed to address the needs of each and every homeowner. Nick is now our Lead Project Advsior. He loves customer engagement and educating!
Nick enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking and reading in his spare time. He has two cats Percy and Apollo. He enjoys challenging himself for continual growth to help him in his professional and personal development.
Jennifer
She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication. Born in the U.S.A but raised in Venezuela, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her culture, values and deep appreciation for community.
She has many years of experience in customer service and a strong passion for helping others. What she appreciates most about Adelio’s is their professionalism, long-standing reputation, and genuine commitment to serving the community.
Jennifer enjoys spending her free time watching sports and traveling. At home, she is a proud mom of three and a dog-mom to her sweet pup, Parchita.
Above all, family is what matters most to her, and it guides the way she shows up both personally and professionally.
Adam
Adam has spent over 13 years in the waterproofing and foundation repair industry and has built a reputation for being calm, steady, and dependable in even the toughest situations. As Production Manager at Adelio’s, he leads all structural repair work and oversees a variety of exterior and interior waterproofing projects. Adam is the team’s primary expert for structural issues, including bowing walls, sagging floors, settlement repairs, piering, and wall pushback procedures. He takes pride in giving homeowners clear answers, custom solutions, and high-quality results they can trust. One of Adam’s favorite parts of the job is helping train crews and seeing their skills grow, knowing that a strong team makes every project smoother and every customer experience better.
Adam appreciates working for a company that values honesty, integrity, and people first. Being part of a positive and solutions-focused team is something that motivates him daily.
Outside of work, Adam is married with three children and loves spending time outdoors with his family. Whether it’s hiking, boxing, woodworking, or just being outside with his kids, he brings the same mindset of patience, growth, and intention into his home life that he brings to every job at Adelio’s.
Mike
Mike is a skilled trades professional with over a decade of experience in irrigation system installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. After 10 years in the field, he transitioned into the waterproofing industry, where he brings a strong foundation in problem-solving, site assessment, and hands-on technical expertise. Mike is committed to delivering reliable, long-lasting solutions and takes pride in providing high-quality workmanship on every project.
When Mike’s off the clock, you’ll probably find him with a fishing pole in hand, pretending he’s about to catch “the big one.” If he’s not out on the water, he’s hitting the golf course, hanging with friends and family, or planning his next trip—because exploring new places is pretty much his favorite hobby. He’s all about good vibes, good company, and finding fun wherever he goes.
Jason
Jason has decades of waterproofing and construction experience and has been a valuable, reliable, and professional employee of Adelio’s Contracting for 20 years. Jason is a dedicated and very hard-working employee. He takes every precaution to keep his team members safe while on the job and makes sure each job, no matter how big or small, is done correctly.
Jason enjoys spending time with his family and is an enthusiast about working out and staying in shape. He enjoys playing sports and practicing his golf swing.
Kenan
Kenan has been a project advisor for over a year at Adelio’s. During his time, he has proven to be the go-to guy in the field, helping our crew start jobs, and is not afraid to hop in the trench alongside them. He also oversees most of our commercial clients with their projects & is dedicated to delivering the best custom solutions possible to our customers.
Outside of work, Kenan enjoys fishing, hiking, playing piano & spending time with family. He knows two languages and is a cat dad to Dahlia, whom he found here at the Adelio’s shop.
Steve
Steve is a waterproofing and foundation specialist who used to operate a home and commercial inspection company. Even though he has over 10 years of experience in the industry, he still enjoys continuing to learn and work on creative custom solutions for homeowners.
He enjoys spending time with his family, music, and loves dogs.
Nina
Nina is an administrative assistant and brings a strong customer-focused approach and commitment to supporting her team’s success. With her previous experience at Adelio’s of 10 years, she has developed technical knowledge of the industry and a passion for organization and efficiency, which helps keep projects and operations running smoothly.
Outside of work, Nina enjoys staying active outdoors and spending quality time with her family, whether that’s exploring new places, tackling home projects, or simply making the most of time together.
Val
With over 5 years of experience in the Administrative world, Val has learned how to keep things running smoothly no matter how busy the day gets. She is passionate about organization, clear communication, and helping teams stay on track so they can focus on what they do best. She enjoys working in a family-focused company as she takes pride in building lasting relationships along the way.
Val enjoys spending time with family and her dog, Beni, outdoors where she spends time hiking & kayaking. She is passionate about staying active and enjoys her time in the gym as much as exploring new food spots in the Cleveland area.
Hillary
As a dedicated bookkeeper with over a decade of experience in construction accounting, I excel in managing financial records and ensuring accuracy. My task-oriented approach has enabled me to streamline processes and enhance efficiency, making a significant impact in the organizations I’ve worked with.
While my professional journey has been rooted in the construction industry, my prior role as a stay-at-home mom has further honed my organizational and multitasking skills. I am passionate about creating order and ensuring that everything runs smoothly, both at home and in my professional life. This is why I choose to work for family-friendly companies like Adelio’s.
Ron
Ron is an accomplished inventory and equipment manager with over a decade of experience in shop management and the repair industry. Specializing in inventory control and equipment maintenance as an ASE-certified technician, he is streamlining operations and reducing costs through effective supply chain management and innovative inventory systems. His commitment to fostering collaborative relationships with suppliers and team members is helping to enhance productivity and operational efficiency.
Ron is an outdoor enthusiast who loves hunting, fishing, and capturing the beauty of his surroundings through photography. Ron cherishes playing with his two kids and spending quality moments with his wife. Their home is a lively haven shared by three cats, two dogs, two ferrets, a frog, and a horse, making every day an exciting and joyful experience.
Sergio
Sergio has been working in the family business since he was a young kid. He enjoyed driving along with his dad, Adelio, and helping him in any way he could. It eventually turned into summer work when school was out, and Sergio was on the crew driving dump trucks, digging trenches, and pushing wheelbarrows. After Sergio graduated from college with a degree in Business Management and Labor Relations, he became more involved in the business side, helping with advertising, marketing, managing, and sales. Sergio eventually took over the business in 2006 and built a great team around him to help the company grow. He currently serves as an advisor to the business.
Sergio loves spending time with his wife Alexis and 3 daughters. He enjoys traveling, playing bocce, dining out at some of Cleveland’s greatest restaurants & watching Ohio State & Cleveland sports.
Alexis
Alexis was with the company 9 years. Prior to working for the family business she was an account manager at marketing firms in the Cleveland area. She currently serves as an advisor to the business.
Alexis is the wife of former owner, Sergio DiFranco and mother of their 3 girls. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and being active outdoors.
Alex
General Manager
Nicolette
Assistant General Manager
Nick
Lead Project Advisor
Oscar
Operations Manager
Adam
Production Manager
Steve
Project Advisor
Jason
Supervisor
Jose
Supervisor
Kenan
Project Advisor
Olivia
Administrative Assistant
Ron
Shop & Inventory Manager
Hillary
Bookkeeper
Alexis
Business Advisor
Sergio
Business Advisor
Michael
Assistant Production
Mateo
Supervisor
Be Part of the Team That Built Cleveland’s Trust
For over 50 years, Adelio’s Contracting has been Cleveland’s go-to for waterproofing and sewer services. Our success starts with dedicated professionals who value quality, integrity, and teamwork. Join us and grow with a company built to last
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