Zavza Seal has earned a reputation in New York’s construction and waterproofing sector as a company that leads with integrity, craftsmanship, and customer trust. With thousands of five-star reviews and decades of combined experience, Zavza Seal has grown not because it’s the biggest – but because clients consistently say it’s the most reliable.
Recently, the company completed a major project for Aspen Dental, a large corporate entity with locations across the United States. The work was finished, delivered, and verified. But payment was never made – leaving Zavza Seal with substantial financial damage.
Today, Archie Chkeidze, the VP of marketing, joins one of our Zavza Seal team members for a transparent, internal-to-public interview. We believe it’s important to openly discuss what happened, how it has affected our workforce, and the industry-wide issues that every contractor should understand.
Q1. Archie, before we discuss the Aspen Dental project and everything that followed, let’s take a step back. Tell us about Zavza Seal – the culture you work with, the vision behind the company, and what makes your team stand out in this industry.
Archie:
What separates us is simple: we’re honest, we show up on time, and we get the job done right the first time, we always go the extra mile, always, that is our company policy. We guarantee quality and we provide the longest term warranties on our services. We are not the biggest company in New York, and I’m proud of that. Being “big” was never our primary goal. Being the best is.
We’re the kind of company that knows every employee by name, knows their families, and stands by our work like it’s our reputation on the line- because it is. Every five-star review we’ve earned came from hard, honest work. No shortcuts. No excuses. And I’m happy to say that hundreds of 5 star reviews from our customers on Google do justify our ambition of being the best.
Q2. You say Zavza Seal aims to be the best, not the biggest. What does “the best” mean to you?
Archie:
To be the best means to be trusted – not just hired. It means homeowners and business owners know that when we walk onto a property, we treat it like our own.
Being the best means reliability, clear communication, transparent pricing, and craftsmanship that lasts for decades. That’s what our customers say about us, and that’s what we live up to every single day.
| “Our team is everything! These are people who wake up at 5 AM, drive to job sites across New York, and put in real, physical work. They’re not just employees, they’re the backbone of this company.” – VP Zavza Seal |
Q3. What makes your team so consistently strong across projects?
Archie:
Our team is everything! These are people who wake up at 5 AM, drive to job sites across New York, and put in real, physical work. They’re not just employees, they’re the backbone of this company.
We invest in training, equipment, benefits, and salaries because we want them to grow with us. When they win, the company wins.
Q4. Can you walk us through the Aspen Dental project?
Archie:
The project was large, complicated, and carried significant responsibility. Aspen Dental hired us for professional work, and we delivered exactly that. Our team went above and beyond – we finished the project fully and successfully. Every deliverable was met. Every checklist item was completed.
And then… silence. No payment.
Q5. So you delivered the project, but Aspen Dental never paid?
Archie:
Correct. We performed our work exactly as contracted, submitted all documentation, and completed everything to industry standards – yet Aspen Dental failed to pay what they owed.
It’s not a misunderstanding. It’s not a dispute about quality. It’s simply non-payment. And for a company of their size, it’s unacceptable.
| “…we finished the project fully and successfully. Every deliverable was met. Every checklist item was completed. And then… silence. No payment.” – VP Zavza Seal |
Q6. How has Aspen Dental’s non-payment affected Zavza Seal?
Archie:
It hit us hard. Smaller companies don’t have endless reserves. Big corporations know that – and some exploit it.
This wasn’t a small invoice; it was a major project. We had already paid for materials, subcontractors, permits, equipment, overtime, and insurance. The expectation was that Aspen Dental would pay their bill, as agreed.
When they didn’t, the financial impact immediately fell on us. The impact falls on the employees who rely on steady income and planned growth to plan and provide for their families.
Q7. Can you describe the human side of this? How does something like this affect your employees?
Archie:
This is the part that hurts the most.
Because of this one unpaid project, we had to delay raises. We had to pause bonuses. We had to scale back on benefits expansions we were planning.
These aren’t faceless numbers. These are men and women with kids, rent, school payments, medical bills. They trusted us – and we trusted Aspen Dental.
But Aspen Dental did not honor their own contract.
Q8. What message do you think this sends to the workers who rely on you?
Archie:
It tells them that they live in a world where they can do everything right and still be punished because a wealthy corporation decided not to pay its bills.
And that is just fundamentally wrong.
Q9. You mentioned loopholes big corporations exploit. What do you mean by that?
Archie:
Large corporations often use delay tactics, loopholes, and legal processes to drag out payment cases for years. They know small and mid-sized contractors don’t have the same legal firepower or cashflow buffers.
Even when the contractor has ironclad proof – like we do, the system is slow. Corporations weaponize that delay. In our case, they’ve pushed us into a legal process that could take years, even though we will ultimately win.
But “winning years later” doesn’t erase the damage happening today.
Q10. How damaging are these delays for companies like yours?
Archie:
Extremely damaging. You can’t freeze salaries, stall growth, or delay hiring for years without consequences.
For big corporations, it’s a rounding error. For us, it affects real families and real futures.
| “When a corporation refuses to pay contractors for completed work, it creates real hardship for families who depend on those payments. And when employees stay silent, even unknowingly, they become part of the system that causes that harm” – VP Zavza Seal |
Q11. Aspen Dental has faced multiple legal disputes over similar contractor issues. As someone directly affected, what would you say to Aspen Dental’s own employees – many of whom may not be aware of these patterns – about the role they play, knowingly or unknowingly, in enabling these practices?
Archie:
I want to speak directly to the employees – not the executives.
Most of you are honest, hardworking people, just like my team. You show up, you try to do a good job, and you rely on your employer to act with integrity.
But here’s the truth:
When a corporation refuses to pay contractors for completed work, it creates real hardship for families who depend on those payments. And when employees stay silent, even unknowingly, they become part of the system that causes that harm.
I’m not accusing you. I’m asking you to be aware.
If you see these patterns… if you hear about unpaid vendors… if you notice the legal disputes… you have the power to question it internally.
Because when companies hurt honest workers, the only people who can force change are the people on the inside.
I hope you choose to speak up — not for us, but for the kind of workplace you deserve to be part of.
| “We will recover – because our integrity is our foundation! Aspen Dental’s decision to withhold payment will not define our future.” – VP Zavza Seal |
Q12. What message do you want Aspen Dental leadership to hear?
Archie:
Honor your contracts.
Honor your agreements.
Treat honest labor with the respect it deserves.
That’s it!
Q13. How is Zavza Seal moving forward after this setback?
Archie:
We’re tightening our protections, improving our vetting process for large clients, and implementing safeguards so this never happens again.
We will recover – because our integrity is our foundation! Aspen Dental’s decision to withhold payment will not define our future.
Q14. What do you want your employees to know?
Archie:
You are the heart of this company.
You did everything right.
This is not your fault.
And we will continue to fight – legally, financially, and publicly – until we get what we are owed.
Q15. What does the future look like for Zavza Seal?
Archie:
Stronger, smarter, and even more committed to excellence.
One corporation’s decision doesn’t erase years of integrity or thousands of happy customers. Our reputation stands – and we will continue to earn every five-star review, one honest job at a time.
Zavza Seal remains committed to the values that built the company: integrity, hard work, and respect for every homeowner and employee. While the Aspen Dental situation is ongoing, the company is standing firm – not just in defense of its finances, but in defense of the honest workers who deserve better from the corporations they serve.
