Thirty Under 30: Daniel Formica

By Donna Heiderstadt

Daniel Formica, or Danny as he prefers to be known, has been the “kid” at the office ever since his high-school job at family-owned Formica’s Kitchen Design Center, Inc., where he did kitchen demo and later worked as a cabinet installer. Employed full-time at the Johnstown, PA-based company since graduating in 2018 with a degree in Business & Economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Danny was promoted to Operations Manager in 2022. “Besides enlisting in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, this is truly the only career I have ever considered and been involved in,” he says of joining the family business, which was founded in 1956 by his grandfather. “When your last name is Formica, you are born into the kitchen and bath industry.”

While his father, Carmen, describes his son as “hardworking, dedicated, motivated, competitive, and organized,” Danny prefers the word “steady.” It’s a quality that helped him move forward in his kitchen-and-bath career while also serving in his state’s National Guard (he retired in 2024 as a Staff Sargent after six years of service) and recently building his own 3,200-square-foot house — all before his 30^th birthday.

Danny has also been able to rack up several stand-out moments for his company, including earning the distinction of being a top 50 Wood-Mode custom cabinetry dealer in the U.S. in 2023 and a member of its Million Dollar Club for the past two years. He’s also proud to have managed a whole-house renovation for which Formica’s supplied every cabinet in the home. “The project forced me to be very diligent and have the confidence to work with other contractors, many of whom were much older than me,” he explains. “The project started when I was 25 and when it ended, I was 27 and married.” 

Danny, who said “I do” to his wife, Marissa, two years ago, also feels it’s vital to acknowledge how important the people he works with — from the skilled carpenters and other tradesmen to the office staff — are to the company’s success. “I learn from all of these guys every day and appreciate their hard work,” he says.

Regarding his own personal design style, Danny, who is currently working on his CKBD certification, says he favors classic and traditional styling done in a modern and up-to-date way. “I try to design kitchens in a way that will look good today, next year, and in ten years,” he explains, “and I am a sucker for a grainy, unique, one-of-a-kind piece of natural stone.” 

When he’s not working on kitchen projects, you’ll find Danny fishing, skiing, or enjoying a long hike with Marissa and the couple’s Australian Shepard, Reggie. Soon, there will be another Formica sharing their adventures in the great outdoors. The couple, whose dream is to visit as many U.S. national parks as possible, are expecting their first child in November 2025.