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SPRING 2020NEW JERSEYConstructionThe Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey Magazine

2020 Focus on Apprentices: What Attracts Them, What Keeps Them?

2 | New Jersey Construction | Spring 2020

ACCNJ Leadership

Highway Representatives

Rolando Acosta Northeast Remsco Construction

Gerard Burdi Union Paving & Construction Co.

Harry Chowansky HC Constructors

Michael Criscola Crisdel Group, Inc.

David Earp Walker Diving Underwater Const. LLC

Nelson Ferreira Ferreira Construction Co.

Paul Koch Skanska USA

Michael Mergentime Merco Inc.

Clif Morris Tilcon

Tom Tuozzolo Keller

Tom Vollers Vollers

Richard Weeks Weeks Marine, Inc.

Andrew Wood J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc.

Building Representatives Michael Aliano Aliano Brothers

Clifford Blanchard Wm. Blanchard Co.

Charles DeAngelis Vericon Construction Company LLC

Michael DePalma DePalma Contracting, Inc.

John Devecchio TN Ward Company

Larry Drill Drill Construction Co., Inc.

Robert Epifano Epic Management Inc.

Michael Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick & Associates, Inc.

Robert Gamba Prismatic Development Corp.

Glenn Garlatti Albert Garlatti Construction Co.

Richard Nugent Massett Building

Robert Polisano Network Construction Co., Inc.

James Prisco, Jr. J.R. Prisco, Inc.

2020 Advisory Board

John Baumgardner BFC, Ltd.

Josh Benson Tilcon

Vince Borrelli Borrelli Steel Fabrication, LLC

John Epifano Epic Management Inc.

Robert Gariepy RCC Builders & Developers

Brad Jorrey J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc.

Chris Johnson Tutor Perini

Justin Lijo Trevcon

Steven Maggipinto Schiavone Construction Co. LLC

Jesse Ottesen Weeks Marine, Inc.

Greg Petrongolo JPC Group, Inc.

Anthony Polidoro William Walters Construction Group, LLC

Philip Prisco J.R. Prisco, Inc.

Paul Spatz V.A. Spatz & Sons Construction, Inc.

Gene Sullivan Railroad Construction Company

Brian Torcivia Torcon, Inc.

Chuck Yula Southern Steel Erectors of NJ

Board of Trustees Art Corwin, Chairman Railroad Construction Co., Inc.

Eric Jensen, Vice Chairman Michael Riesz & Co.

Jeff Waters, Treasurer Waters & Bugbee, Inc.

Paul Natoli, Secretary Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corp.

Past Chairmen: Benedict Torcivia, Jr., Torcon, Inc.

Alfonso Daloisio, Jr., Railroad Construction Co., Inc.

Mark Hall, Hall Construction Co., Inc.

Spring 2020 | New Jersey Construction | 3


Editor’s Note

The reality of 2020? We now have nearly 40 years of people who teethed on technology.

Technological advances are now the norm in the construction industry as well and our fea-

ture article on page 18 discusses the imperative of using those advances in the training of the

workforce. Apprenticeship training through our union partners involves both the hands-on approach

as well as education in 21st-century technology.

ACCNJ’s new Chairman Art Corwin presents his first message to the Association in this publication

with a glance toward the future. We look forward to working with Art during his tenure as Chairman.

Eric Jensen has been elevated to the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and is joined

by new officers Jeff Waters as Treasurer and Paul Natoli as Secretary. A brief biography has been pub-

lished on each of these four officers.

In his CEO column, Jack Kocsis lauds the strengthening of the Association through the recent

merger of BCA of South Jersey into the ACCNJ fold. Darlene Regina’s COO Message focuses on

changes in the business world that help make our members more efficient.

Also published is a Member Profile on Vollers, which has recently completed 70 years in construc-

tion! This highly successful and diverse company has been a leader in quality and safety.

Included in this issue of New Jersey Construction is an Associate Member Expertise article by ZenTek

Consultants on choosing the right software for your business. Withum has also provided a follow-up

from its Fall 2019 magazine article on the one-year deferral of the implementation date of ASC 842 by

the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) with regard to leases for nonpublic companies.

The popular Member News and Giving Back features are included, allowing us to congratulate our

members for their accolades and philanthropic endeavors. We welcome 11 new member firms into

ACCNJ and encourage them to fully utilize the services offered by the Association.

Jill Schiff ’s article on OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program is a must-read! We know our members

are committed to safety on the jobsite. Now we challenge you to partner with OSHA in a very tangible

demonstration of that commitment.

As mentioned in our last issue, New Jersey Construction is now being published three times per year.

The expanded printing of the magazine will give us an additional vehicle to inform our readers about

important industry issues. To a successful future!

Published by Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey Raritan Center Plaza II, Suite A-19 91 Fieldcrest Avenue Edison, NJ 08837-3627 tel: 732-225-2265 • fax: 732-225-3105 www.accnj.org

Publisher Jack Kocsis, Jr.

Editor-in-Chief Darlene Regina

Managing Editor Advertising Director Mike DeVito

Copy Editor Deb Teall

Contributing Editors Abby Adams, Leigh-Ann Brannigan, Carol Fulton, Jack Kocsis, Darlene Regina, Jill Schiff, Michael Travostino

Publishing Consultant Richard Ecke

New Jersey Construction Magazine is published by the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey. Copyright by the Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or reprinted without written permission of the Editor or Publisher. The Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey does not stand sponsorship for the opinions or facts of authors and does not necessarily agree with the opinions stated by its contributing authors.

© 2020 Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey. All rights reserved.

Technology Imperative and New-Year News By Mike DeVito, Editor


Table of Contents

2 ACCNJ Leadership

4 Editor’s Note Technology Imperative and New-Year News

9 Message from the Chairman Tackling Challenges: Always More To Do

11 Message from the CEO Mergers Have Made Us Stronger

13 Message from the COO Embracing Change

15 New Leadership Meet the Officers of ACCNJ’s Board of Trustees

18 Feature Article 2020 Focus on Apprentices: What Attracts Them, What Keeps Them?

24 Member Profile VOLLERS Celebrates 70 Years of Success and Service

30 Safety Q&A FOR VPP

34 Associate Member Expertise You Need Less Software, Not More

37 Associate Member Expertise UPDATE: FASB Offers One Year Deferral on New Lease Standard (ASC 842) for Nonpublic Companies

40 Giving Back Our Members Give Back with Care

45 Government Affairs Report 2020 Legislative Look at Home and in DC

48 Education & Workforce Development CIAP Career Fair: Employers and Prospective Interns Interview Each Other

52 Labor Management Cooperative Apprenticeship: A Better Way to Build

55 Labor Management Cooperative Recognizing a Great “Professor” – Bob Alesandro’s Legacy Builds the Future of Apprenticeship

57 Labor Management Cooperative Making an Impact on Partner Contractors

59 Labor Management Cooperative ELEC825: Connecting The Dots For Contractors

61 Labor Management Cooperative The Power of Networking

64 Diversity & Compliance Testimony Before State Commission

68 Member News Member News: Spring 2020

72 Welcome New Members

76 Membership Roster

79 2020 ACCNJ Calendar of Events

80 Advertisers Index

18 4824 30 40


Message from the Chairman

I am honored to succeed Ben Torcivia as Chairman of ACCNJ, and deter-

mined to continue his lead as the Association continues to grow and

change. Under his watch for the last two years, ACCNJ accomplished

tremendous things – negotiating nine collective bargaining agreements,

creating a Construction Leadership Alliance, passing P3 legislation, reviv-

ing a regulatory push to subdue employee misclassification and the under-

ground construction economy, conducting a DBE capacity study to help

government understand the need for realistic MWDBE goals…the list is

long and strong.

Under Ben, we grew our membership rolls through the mergers of BCA

of Atlantic County and BCA of South Jersey. We created a Director of

Diversity and Compliance position and founded new partnerships with the

African-American Chamber, the Hispanic Chamber and the New Jersey

State Veterans Chamber. We established a Safety Council and watched as

attendance at the quarterly meetings has grown to more than 60 safety pro-

fessionals, and we launched a social media platform to post all these activi-

ties and more.

Also under Ben, we expanded our relationship with Otteau Valuation

Group so we could more closely track the economic opportunities and

activities of our industry in the state. Quarterly MarketCASTs bring a

wealth of information that encourages us to be proactive in pursuing

strong markets.

One could say there’s nothing left for me to do, right?

But we know this industry better than that. There is always more to do.

On the positive side, we have come off a year in which construction

employment in New Jersey, every month, was higher than it had been the

year before. A predicted recession may not, in fact, be so predictable – and

if it does arrive, it won’t hit the construction industry with anywhere near

the force of the last one.

On the “let’s get to work” side, we have negotiations this year for new col-

lective bargaining agreements with the Operating Engineers, Local 825,

and Ironworkers, Local 399. Next year brings negotiations with the

Heavy/Highway Laborers, Locals 172 and 472; Ironworkers, Local 11; and

Teamsters, Locals 676 and 331.

We will host a reprise of the Mark Breslin Apprentice Program to help

our apprentices truly understand the industry – from their perspective and

from that of the contractors who hire them.

We will mount initiatives to find further funding for construction of

SDA schools, and funding for water and utility infrastructure. We will con-

tinue our vigilance in combatting misclassification and the underground

economy. As part of our endeavors to maintain fairness and a level playing

field for contractors in New Jersey, we will once again push for electronic

bid submissions.

In short, plenty to do. I am pleased to tackle the challenges, knowing the

members and staff of ACCNJ stand with me. Your support, intellect and

insight are just exactly what we need to succeed.

Tackling Challenges: Always More To Do By Art Corwin, Chairman

A predicted recession may not, in fact, be so predictable – and if

it does arrive, it won’t hit the construction industry with anywhere

near the force of the last one.


Message from the CEO

S even years ago this July, BCANJ and AGC of NJ merged to form

ACCNJ. Two years ago on January 1, BCA of Atlantic County

merged into ACCNJ. And this January 1, BCA of South Jersey

officially merged into ACCNJ. As with any business merger, the change

means growth – we’re bigger. But we’re also, in less definable but more

gratifying ways, stronger.

While we have always had a close relationship with BCA of South Jersey,

now we have the former leadership sitting on and advising the ACCNJ

Board of Trustees – positions established in perpetuity. The Trustees and

our members benefit from their fine minds, years of experience and an

insider’s view of the southern half of our state.

BCA of South Jersey has existed for decades, spending countless hours

working with BCANJ and now ACCNJ to strengthen and promote the con-

struction industry. This mutual dedication made it possible for members of

both organizations to recognize the value of merging. The support we have

shared through all the years has made our members strong as individual

companies and our associations strong as representative entities.

At the December 2019 Board meeting, our outgoing Board of Trustees

Chair, Ben Torcivia, emphasized the benefits of the merger. Our combined

strength has a greater impact in the arenas that most affect our members –

labor, government and state agencies. More members mean more partici-

pation at Association events, increasing opportunities for peer-to-peer

engagement. And because our members are a huge source of growth for the

Association, we will continue to grow exponentially.

With the merger, ACCNJ will enlarge its presence in our national

organization, AGC of America. In turn, AGC’s support for our perspective

on national initiatives – including multiemployer pension plan reform,

infrastructure funding and legislative fairness – will become even more

important, affecting more New Jersey contractors. Our partnership with

AGC of America is not always perfectly in step, but we are certainly a force

to be reckoned with and a voice that continues to be heard.

On a personal note, the staff at ACCNJ has worked with the members of

BCA of South Jersey for more years than we can count – and with Carol

Heron, who will still maintain the Moorestown office and provide her usual

resourceful and caring help to members. We are glad to have all of you

closer than ever.

Let’s hope 2020 proves busy and profitable for everyone.

Mergers Have Made Us Stronger By Jack Kocsis, Jr., Chief Executive Officer

More members mean more participation at Association

events, increasing opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement. And

because our members are a huge source of growth for the Association, we

will continue to grow exponentially.


Message from the COO

Change. Sometimes it’s welcomed and other times it’s not. The

first time I heard the saying, “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” I

thought it was brilliant and profound. But just imagine if it was

literally applied. How different the world would be.

While certain tasks might be simpler, others would be burdensome

and unproductive. When you stop and think how much you accomplish

in a day due to technology alone and compare that to 20 years ago, it’s

astonishing. Take a moment and look at how many emails you send out in

a week and imagine making that many calls or sending that many letters to

achieve the same results.

As a Baby Boomer I will admit I am technology-challenged, but I know,

change must be embraced. In the last few years, I have learned so much

from my younger, more technically savvy co-workers by not just asking

them to fix something, but to explain to me why and what they did to

correct it.

Moving on, but not away from technology, change is occurring all

around us. The way we approach public relations and marketing, safety,

information management and finances, to name a few. So many new

means, methods, products and approaches are out there. The challenge is

identifying what’s helpful and worth further exploration. This is where

ACCNJ can be helpful.

Staff applies the appropriate research to determine if it’s something

worth sharing with our membership. If it is a regulatory change that affects

contractors, we are sure to educate our members in a timely manner. From

labor and craftworker issues to accounting and legal matters, our eyes are

always open to make sure we are providing you with what you need to

know to operate a successful business.

ACCNJ does practice what it preaches. We, too, have changed in recent

years. Because of our keen focus on succession planning, you have not only

likely met new staff, but have seen existing employees taking on or assisting

in different roles. This is an exciting time for us as we tap into the tremen-

dous talents and resources of our co-workers. Change is allowing ACCNJ to

grow and, in doing so, we have become the recognized voice for the con-

struction industry.

Although it’s 2020, we don’t proclaim to have perfect vision. But rest

assured, we are working hard to be responsive to our members and provide

you with what you need to be successful.

Embracing Change By Darlene Regina, Chief Operating Officer

So many new means, methods, products and approaches are out there.

The challenge is identifying what’s helpful and worth further exploration. This is where ACCNJ can be helpful.


New Leadership

Meet the Officers of ACCNJ’s Board of Trustees The members of ACCNJ elected a new Board of Trustees at the Membership Meeting in December 2019. We present the Executive Officers here.

Art Corwin, Chair

Previously Secretary, Art is now

Chairman of the ACCNJ Board of

Trustees. President of Railroad

Construction Company, Art also

serves as President of the General

Contractors Association of New York.

He had most recently been Chairman

of Moretrench, where he had worked

for 30 years.

With more than 40 years in the construction industry, Art is a knowl-

edgeable, insightful advocate for best industry practices. He graduated

from Polytechnic University of New York with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, is

a Fellow in the American Society of Civil Engineers and sits on the

Industrial Advisory Committee at Columbia University. Art was President

of The Moles in 2012 and received The Moles Membership Award for

Outstanding Achievement in Construction in 2016.

Eric Jensen, Vice Chair

Eric joined the Board following the

merger as a Building Representative,

was elected Secretary in 2016 and is

now Vice Chair. President of Michael

Riesz and Co., Eric is the fourth gener-

ation of his family to manage the firm.

He graduated from Lake Forest College

with a degree in business, and prior to

joining Michael Riesz and Co. was a

partner at Capital Control Group in Chicago, an investment consulting

firm for institutional pension funds.

Eric was a long-time member of BCANJ’s Board of Trustees, serving as

Secretary, Treasurer and Safety Committee Chair, among other positions.

Jeff Waters, Treasurer

President of Waters & Bugbee, Inc.

since 1995, Jeff is the third generation

to run his family-owned business. As

an expert in underground utility infra-

structure, Jeff was a founding member

of the ACCNJ Board of Trustees, serv-

ing as a Highway Representative

beginning in 2013. He graduated from

York College of Pennsylvania with a

degree in business management and a minor in marketing, after which he

joined the firm as a field laborer and worked his way up through estimating

and business administration to his current position.

Jeff is a Past President of AGC of New Jersey, a Director of the New Jersey

Alliance for Action, a Trustee of the New Jersey Heavy & General Laborers

Benefit Funds, Co-Chair of NJ LECET, a Trustee and twice Past Chair of the

Construction Industry Advancement Program, and a Committee Member

of the New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers Apprenticeship Program.

Paul Natoli, Secretary

As President, Chief Executive

Officer and Sole Principal of Natoli

Construction, Paul is responsible for all

company operations. Clients value his

hands-on approach and accessibility.

Paul graduated with Highest

Distinction from Purdue University in

1989, joined Natoli Construction, and

worked his way up the company’s ranks

to president. Under Paul’s leadership, Natoli Construction’s reputation

further expanded and the company was awarded high-profile projects with

prestigious clients, including major renovations of the Statue of Liberty

and construction of the New York Giants headquarters and training facili-

ties, among other notable buildings.

An advocate for the construction industry, Paul moved up to

Secretary on the ACCNJ Board of Trustees, having been a founding

member as a Building Representative since 2013. He served as Past

President of BCANJ as well as Legislative Co-Chair and as a member of

the Scholarship Committee.


Thousands of high school students stream into the Expo Center in

Edison for the annual Construction Industry Career Day. For

some, it’s a day out of class. For others, it’s a fun field trip. But

when they walk into the arena, the sound of power tools and the sight of

craftworkers on mock jobsites is mesmerizing. Every gaze is caught.

Attention is riveted. And for many, dreams are born.

The sights and sounds of construction still capture the imaginations of

today’s Millennials and Generation Zs, just as they did for Baby Boomers

and Generation Xers. What lures these younger generations into appren-

ticeships is much the same. What keeps them in is different.

The Lures of Apprenticeship

Training for free – and a matching payoff. The Generation Zs saw their

Millennial sisters and brothers crushed by college debt. The Millennials are

still struggling to get out from under. High-quality training in a skilled craft

with a tremendous emphasis on safety – all without paying the high cost of

a college education? There just might be something smart there.

Long-term? Over the course of a lifetime, a union construction worker will

earn just about as much as a graduate of a state college or university. So reports

a new Illinois Economic Policy Institute study, done in conjunction with

the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign: Union craftworkers will earn approximately $2.4 million dur-

ing their working lives; a person with a bachelor’s degree, after paying back

student debt, will earn about $2.5 million.

Salaries and benefits immediately – some things don’t change. When

you’re just out of high school, your mind isn’t on retirement, of course.

But when you can tell a young craftworker the pay starts immediately, the

benefits soon follow, with growth for both every year, you can light the

future with visions of comfort and security. Money has always pulled in

apprentices – and kept them in the trades.

AGC of America’s “Economic Impact of Construction in the United

States and New Jersey” offers these enticing wage facts:

• In 2018, construction industry wages in New Jersey averaged $72,658,

11% more than the state average for all private-sector employees.

• The five most numerous construction occupations in New Jersey had

higher median pay than the median for all the employees in the state.

Opportunities for advancement. More free training – skills and manage-

ment – turn apprentices into journeyworkers into highly professional

foremen and supervisors, union organizers and officers. They are the new

leaders, while they’re still young.

The Keepers – High-Tech Tools, Higher Purpose

High-tech tools. These are the generations that moved from

disassembling VCRs (age 2) to creating mobile apps (age 22). They’ve

been wired for high-tech since birth. If they don’t see it on the jobsite or

in the classroom, they aren’t interested. They really don’t need to know

how to dial a rotary phone.

Feature Article

2020 Focus on Apprentices: What Attracts Them, What Keeps Them? By Jack Kocsis, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, ACCNJ


Greater purpose. For Gen Zs and Millennials, a job –

especially one that becomes a career – needs a greater pur-

pose. It’s not just about providing basic personal needs.

Fortunately, construction allows tangible evidence of the

greater good all across New Jersey’s landscape: a multifamily

mixed-use that becomes a community; a new bridge built

to last a century; a municipal complex with state-of-the-art

technology for solving crimes and fighting fires; new pipes

that channel clean drinking water; a city streetscape that

eases traffic and protects pedestrians; a school with STEAM

labs and sound studios.

The union contractors and construction trades in the state

also encourage and emphasize giving back to the communi-

ties that provide the projects. As we are pleased to report in

every issue of New Jersey Construction, “Giving Back” for our

members and trade partners means collecting for food banks

and toy drives, reading to young students, building Houses

for Habitat, stringing a footbridge across a ravine in South

America, constructing a memorial to victims of 911.

Building for the greater good and giving back to commu-

nities are instruments of change that particularly appeal to our

younger generations.

Drilling Down: Keepers in the Trades

We provide a quick view of the apprenticeship programs in the trades

with which ACCNJ collectively bargains, presenting the high-tech, higher-

purpose keepers.

Operating Engineers of Local 825 move the earth with huge equipment –

and finely tuned, high-tech controls: The Electronic Total Station and more

than 90 pieces of sophisticated equipment…computer software that uses

coordinate geometry applied to field engineering…virtual reality training

simulators to teach skills and safety before apprentices climb on a crane or

a front loader.

In fact, the training center in Dayton – where massive cranes are visible

from the New Jersey Turnpike – is working toward becoming a two-year,

accredited technical college offering VR, robotics and AI.

Because they often work on security-sensitive jobsites, including the

ports in New Jersey, Local 825 Operating Engineers are required to have

credentials that prove their ID and skills sets. Local 825 ensures all

members receive the training and credentials they need, free-of-charge –

an investment of more than a million dollars to date.

Local 825 leadership is committed to making sure every Operating

Engineer, including the next generation, is “ready to work on day one.”

Carpenters frame the world on land and water. The apprentices and

journeyworkers learn in state-of-the-art, jobsite-simulated environments at

the training centers in Edison and Hammonton, using iPads and smart

TVs. They train on computer-directed cutting tools that mirror the best in

the industry, as well as traditional trade tools that reinforce successful

jobsite practices. The Apprentice & Skill Enhancement curriculums are

designed to support and meet the needs of each and every signatory

contractor partner to ensure a trained and highly qualified workforce is

at the ready. The training center in Hammonton opened and kicked off a

new program for Dockbuilder members from New Jersey and the entire

UBC Eastern District, and both centers are working to incorporate VR into

the curriculum.

Out on the jobsite, the UBC mobile app gives Carpenters instant access

to their individual certifications and skill sets training, assuring the

contractor they are prepared for the demands of high-quality work.

The CCT app, created by the Carpenter Contractor Trust, offers a wealth

of information, including a newsfeed, video press releases, local projects,

volunteerism and interactive features.

Ironworkers create the world’s foundations. And the apprentices and

journeyworkers of Local 11 and Local 399 come with the credentials to get

the jobs done. IMPACT, the Ironworkers’ Labor-Management organiza-

tion, has poured millions into training and certifying craftworkers in the

skills needed for one of the most dangerous crafts in the industry.

Carpenter apprentices use VR tools for training.


Recognizing the staggering need for welders – the American Welding

Society estimates there will be a shortage of 290,000 welding professionals

this year – IMPACT, the Ironworkers and the AWS developed the National

Welding Certification Program, which a year ago had 110 prequalified

welding procedures and was then in the process of adding 14 new proce-

dures. The advanced program gives craftworkers the opportunity to learn

how to weld carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Both programs uti-

lize virtual reality welding booths.

When craftworkers successfully complete the training, they get a certifi-

cation card, their certification is portable and employers can quickly verify

it at welderscertification.org.

In addition, the IW Mobile App, a key tool for keeping craftworkers con-

nected and informed, brings a wealth of content – videos on diversity and

convention activities, training opportunities, even dues receipts.

Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers sculpt the world. The apprentices of

Local 4 & Local 5 are taught the unyielding precision of the trowel trades,

mathematical complexities that challenge both mind and body as they cre-

ate smooth walls, winding staircases, cathedral towers and towering luxury

hotels. While they use both simple and sophisticated hand and power tools

– from hammer and chisel to diamond-blade saw – it is the materials with

which they work that offer the most interesting and intricate results.

From the get-go, they learn through their brains and their hands the

strength and give of brick, tile, stone, marble, granite, plaster, concrete

and more. Most of all, they learn perfection, ensuring the buildings and

infrastructure last for generations.

Construction Craft Laborers perform varied tasks. LIUNA Training and

Apprenticeship Funds collaborate with ACCNJ, equipment and tool

manufacturers and workers to identify and prepare for the industry’s

newer technologies and work practices. Through computer simulation like

the Aerial & Boom Lift Virtual Reality Trainer, instructors provide a safe

and fully realistic experience for learning with instant computer analysis

of worker performance.

Demolition using machinery requires special training, and in response

to contractor need, LIUNA Training has added state-of-the-art instruction.

LIUNA Training works to develop the workforce that works for contractors.

Because of the multitude of environments they face, the apprentices also

have to focus on safety. LIUNA requires they take a basic skills course as

well complete the OSHA 30-Hour that most owners today require.

The Real Keeper: Work Opportunities

So as you can clearly see, the trades’ apprentice programs are structured

to graduate the skilled craftworkers signatory contractors need to be

successful. Apprentice programs typically do not have problems attracting

individuals to the trades. The bigger challenge lies with retaining them.

The number one reason for dropped apprentices is lack of work opportuni-

ties for them to earn while they learn.

ACCNJ urges all contractors to request apprentices as often as possible.

Not only will you benefit from having a skilled craftworker who is dedicated

and committed to working at a lower wage structure, but you will be provid-

ing an opportunity that allows apprentices to work side-by-side with veteran

craftworkers. This is a critical part of any successful apprentice program.

For the future of our industry, we all need to do our part.

Aerial & Boom Lift Virtual Reality Trainer


Member Profile

A strong team, definitive safety practices and quality customer

service. According to Chris Vollers, Vice President of VOLLERS,

those are the three things that lead to a company’s growth and

success. And he would know – VOLLERS is celebrating its 70th year as a

sitework and utility contractor.

Founded in 1949 by Herb Vollers and his wife Nancy, the firm has

continued its family roots while growing to include more than 50 people

in-office and nearly 250 craftworkers in the field. But even as it has grown,

says Chris, “At its core, VOLLERS is a family business and has employed

multiple generations of employee families.”

Modest in early days, with Herb operating equipment and Nancy

driving dump trucks, VOLLERS quickly became well-known in the local

residential market. The couple grew the company’s portfolio, staff and

equipment base, until they had made the switch from residential to

commercial projects – earning attention and a strong reputation with the

successful completion of the Somerville Drive-In Theater in 1961.

Now, though widely known for site and utility work, VOLLERS has

expanded its expertise into a diverse portfolio.

As Clients Ask, VOLLERS Adds Services

Responsibilities of excavation contractors go far beyond hauling dirt.

“As we continued to encounter contaminated and brownfield sites

throughout the tri-state, we felt adding environmental services to our port-

folio was necessary,” explains Chris. “Our ability to characterize and manage

the export of contaminated material in accordance with DEP regulations

has allowed us to further manage all aspects of site development.”

Though paving was traditionally outsourced, VOLLERS has made it a

key service offering to ensure quality and timely implementation. And

VOLLERS’ most recent addition to its list of specialties is demolition.

“In an ever-growing urban environment, the tri-state area is seeing an

increase in demolition projects,” Chris says. “We’ve added demolition to our

portfolio at the behest of our clients, enabling us to effectively manage a site

from beginning to end and reuse materials to the largest extent possible.”

From site preparation to grading, trenching to soil-related tasks, Chris

affirms VOLLERS ensures the job will be performed safely, efficiently and

on time.

Challenges Grow with High-Profile Projects

While VOLLERS has managed the challenge of a changing market remark-

ably well, some challenges are more difficult to surmount, says Chris.

VOLLERS Celebrates 70 Years of Success and Service By Leigh-Ann Brannigan, Membership Manager

Demolition, Ledgewood Mall

Paving, New Jersey Turnpike


In 70 years, the construction industry’s workforce has seen innumerable

new faces, but continuing to attract a talented and motivated workforce in

a time where college is often considered the only path for a bright future

has become increasingly problematic.

“Young people are not gravitating toward our industry as much as they

once did,” Chris shares. “VOLLERS is doing its part to motivate young

people to enter the trades by getting involved with the Scouts, collegiate

and construction-related internship programs to raise awareness and help

grow the leaders of tomorrow.”

While maintaining a constant talented workforce has its obstacles,

VOLLERS is pleased with how union training programs prepare appren-

tices for their day-to-day activities. As a firm that offers an abundance of

services and specialties, a solid affiliation with the unions is key.

“VOLLERS has always had a strong relationship with the unions and

greatly appreciates the level of availability and training offered,” Chris

remarks. “Whether it be OSHA 30/40-Hour training or special clearance for

federal projects, we have always been able to get the right labor for the job.”

Many of those jobs have been high-profile, challenging projects. Chris

considers VOLLERS lucky to have worked on projects with other ACCNJ

members, such as MetLife Stadium with Skanska USA, Princeton Medical

Center with Turner, Brookhaven National Labs NSLS II Project with

Torcon… the list goes on. Venturing into the public arena, VOLLERS has

completed projects directly for the owner and for general contractors.

Current public projects include the Amwell Road Reconstruction project

for Somerset County, the new Cumberland County Correctional Facility for

the Cumberland Improvement Authority and demolition of the former

Bergen County Probation Building.

Sharing Values, Staying Safe

Whether public or private, it is important to VOLLERS that their clients

share similar values. When deciding who to work with, integrity, profes-

sionalism and reputation are at the top of the checklist.

“VOLLERS strives to work with clients with a similar mindset to our

own,” Chris confirms. “We are very lucky to have so many long-term

relationships with our clientele.”

Emphasis on safety has significantly increased in VOLLERS’ 70-year his-

tory, but as safety requirements and expectations continue to ramp up,

VOLLERS goes far beyond. Two safety committees meet twice a month to

inspect projects for conformance and every employee is considered a safety

professional who can stop work at any time if something is deemed unsafe.

“It is our duty to ensure the safety of our employees, other trades and the

general public,” Chris says. “And it is our mission to ensure all employees

go home to their families safely at the end of each day.”

Parsonage Hill Road Phase II, Short Hills

Aerial view of Merck World Headquarters project


Member Profile

The Next 70 Years – Bright But Challenging Future

The construction industry will continue to change as VOLLERS works

toward another 70 years of service. VOLLERS’ team is optimistic about a

bright and prosperous future for the industry. They look forward to

more advanced technology utilizing drones and autonomous vehicles –

“Technology will continue to pave the way for more efficient and accurate

construction methods,” believes Chris. They expect a surge in public infra-

structure projects, a high demand for heavy, highway and utility work.

But they also see issues within the industry that need to be addressed.

Capital investment for national infrastructure and public utilities is desper-

ately needed and vulnerability to fluctuation in oil and material pricing has

become crippling.

As an active and valued member of ACCNJ, VOLLERS truly takes advan-

tage of ACCNJ’s services by always having a presence at events, employing

CIAP interns and doing its part to raise the standards in the construction

industry. The company provides its staff time generously and considers the

Association a strong partner in addressing issues.

“The Association has always been a valued source of industry news, best

practices and fellowship amongst contractors,” notes Chris. “The impor-

tance of working together with like-minded companies within our industry

toward common goals cannot be understated.”

Sitework, Prudential Tower

Carnegie Center, West Windsor Twp.

Whether public or private, it is important to VOLLERS that their clients share similar values. When

deciding who to work with, integrity, professionalism and reputation

are at the top of the checklist.


Safety

Q&A FOR VPP By Jill Schiff, Executive Director of Operations, ACCNJ

At the January 2020 ACCNJ Safety Council Meeting, nearly 70 partic-

ipants sat quietly and listened intently as Richard Brown of OSHA

and Mike Hennebery of ACCNJ member Torcon Inc. gave an infor-

mation-packed presentation on the benefits of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection

Program. For most, a symbiotic way to work with OSHA is hard to fathom. But

don’t be quick to doubt.

ACCNJ believes this is an outstanding way to partner with OSHA and show

your employees, craftworkers, coworkers, staff, that you care – really care – about

their safety and health. The ACCNJ threw down the gauntlet in January, chal-

lenging members to begin the application process in 2020 in each segment of con-

struction represented by our members. We have also accepted the task ourselves.

We encourage you to join us!

What is VPP?

The Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) promote effective worksite-

based safety and health. In the VPP, management, labor and OSHA estab-

lish cooperative relationships at workplaces that have implemented a

comprehensive safety and health management system. Approval into VPP

is OSHA’s official recognition of the outstanding efforts of employers and

employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health.

In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work together proactively to

prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on hazard

prevention and control; worksite analysis; training; and management com-

mitment and worker involvement. To participate, employers submit an

application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of

safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants

represented by a bargaining unit. VPP participants are re-evaluated every

three to five years to remain in the programs. VPP participants are exempt

from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.

When Did VPP Begin?

California began an experimental program in 1979. By 1982, OSHA for-

mally announced the VPP and approved the first site, with Federal work-

sites becoming eligible for VPP in 1998.

How Has VPP Improved Worker Safety & Health?

Statistical evidence for VPP’s success is impressive. The average VPP work-

site has a Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) case rate of 52%

below the average for its industry. These sites typically do not start out with

such low rates. Reductions in injuries and illnesses begin when the site

commits to the VPP approach to safety and health management and the

challenging VPP application process.

How Does VPP Benefit Employers?

Fewer injuries and illnesses mean greater profits as workers’ compensation

premiums and other costs plummet. Entire industries benefit as VPP sites

evolve into models of excellence and influence practices industrywide.

How Does VPP Benefit OSHA?

OSHA gains a corps of ambassadors enthusiastically spreading the message

of safety and health system management. These partners also provide

OSHA with valuable input and augment its limited resources.

Another benefit to OSHA is a safety and health advocacy group that

came into existence as a result of the VPP, the Voluntary Protection

Program Participants’ Association (VPPPA), a nonprofit organization

founded in 1985. As part of its efforts to share the benefits, the VPPPA

works closely with OSHA and State Plan States in the development and

implementation of cooperative programs. The VPPPA also provides

expertise in the form of comments and stakeholder feedback on agency

rulemaking and policies, along with comments and testimony to members

of Congress regarding legislative bills on health and safety issues.

What Are Some Unique VPP Innovations?

Particularly noteworthy is the OSHA Special Government Employees

Program (SGE) created in 1994. The SGE Program offers private and public

sector safety and health professionals and other qualified participants

the opportunity to exchange ideas, gain new perspectives and grow

professionally while serving as full-fledged team members on OSHA’s VPP

onsite evaluations.

If you are employed at a VPP site, you can help OSHA and VPP while

gaining valuable experience.

How Does VPP Work?

In practice, VPP sets performance-based criteria for a managed safety and

health system, invites sites to apply, and then assesses applicants against

these criteria. OSHA’s verification includes an application review and a rig-

orous onsite evaluation by a team of OSHA safety and health experts.

OSHA approves qualified sites to one of three programs:

• Star: Recognition for employers and employees who demonstrate exem-

plary achievement in the prevention and control of occupational safety

and health hazards as well as the development, implementation and

continuous improvement of their safety and health management system.


• Merit: Recognition for employers and employees who have developed

and implemented good safety and health management systems but who

must take additional steps to reach Star quality.

• Demonstration: Recognition for employers and employees who operate

effective safety and health management systems that differ from current

VPP requirements. This program enables OSHA to test the efficacy of

different approaches.

The VPP were designed primarily for fixed worksites; however, mobile

workforces and corporations can also participate. Site-Based participation

continues VPP's traditional acceptance of applications from fixed worksites

and some long-term construction sites. Mobile Workforce participation is

for companies that typically function as contractors or subcontractors and

for those companies whose employees move site-to-site. VPP Corporate is

designed for corporate applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment

to employee safety and health and VPP.

What is Site-Based Participation?

OSHA welcomes site-based VPP participation and accepts VPP applica-

tions from the owners and site officials who control site operations and

have ultimate responsibility for assuring safe and healthful working

conditions of:

• Private-sector fixed worksites in general industry and the maritime

industry

• Construction worksites/projects that will have been in operation for

at least 12 months at projected time of approval and that expect to

continue in operation for at least an additional 12 months

• Federal-sector fixed worksites

• Resident contractors at participating VPP

sites for the contractors' operations at

those VPP sites

• Resident contractors at non-participating

sites for the contractors' operations at those

sites, so long as the resident contractors are

part of a larger organization approved to

participate under the corporate option

What is the Mobile Workforce Way to

Participate?

Because VPP was designed primarily for fixed

worksites, many businesses were excluded from

participation because of the "mobile" nature of

their operations. Based on positive experiences

with past VPP Mobile Workforce Demonstrations and other VPP

Demonstrations, OSHA introduced a new VPP program designed for

mobile workforces that became effective in 2009. OSHA believes this new

way to participate will work for companies that typically function as

contractors or subcontractors who may or may not have the authority for

safety and health for an entire worksite and for those companies that have

employees that move site-to-site such as a specialty trade contractor or

repair and maintenance company regardless of size or length and duration

of the project or service.

What is VPP Corporate?

VPP Corporate applicants, typically large corporations or Federal Agencies,

have adopted VPP on a large scale for protecting the safety and health of

their employees. VPP Corporate applicants must have established,

standardized corporate-level safety and health management systems, effec-

tively implemented organization-wide as well as internal audit/screening

processes that evaluate their facilities for safety and health performance.

Under VPP Corporate, streamlined processes have been established to

eliminate these redundancies and expand VPP participation for corporate

applicants in a more efficient manner. Current participants are Jacobs

Engineering Group, Inc., Morton Salt Corporation, Delta Air Lines,

General Electric Company and Parsons Corporation.

We look forward to working with our members, labor partners and OSHA as

we strive to make VPP the gold standard of safety for our Association. Check

us out on social media as we will begin to post our members’ success stories later

this year!

Torcon’s VPP team at the Bristol-Myers Squibb Hopewell Campus site in 2015.


Associate Member Expertise

For decades now, we’ve been told that the answer to all our business

problems is software. Are you struggling with organizing your

email? You need a new program. Do you need a way to issue and

track RFIs? There’s a great app for that. Are your projects taking too long to

complete? You need better, faster, more powerful enterprise software that

will do everything except wash your work truck!

I hate to tell you, folks, but we’ve all been lied to.

The Software Scam

Full disclosure here, I own a company that sells, supports, configures and

trains construction and design firms on all that software, and I’m telling

you that “more” is never the right answer. The truth is, software develop-

ment companies are the ones who usually write all the blogs and articles

and tech papers on the need for advanced technologies in construction

with names none of us understand, like: “Synergistic 6D Project Integrative

Design Solutions.” They tell you constantly you need the latest and greatest

tools, that will solve all your problems and make us all multi-billionaires.

Now, I know this will come as a shock, but that’s all a scam to get you to…

(gasp!) buy their new software! I know, you’re amazed, right?

Don’t misunderstand, I am a huge fan of software. I’ve made a career,

and built a successful business, helping construction firms implement the

right systems for their needs. Software can be amazingly helpful, but it can

also become a major detriment in your daily workflow. Every program you

add to the project lifecycle increases your overhead and extends the length

of the job, decreasing profits.

In this industry, we understand that each step in the supply chain slows

down a job. Whenever somebody has to touch, transfer or adjust a piece of

material it adds both cost and time. The same is true of your software.

Every system has its own learning curve, steps to memorize, processes and

procedures to learn, and the more software packages you have, the more

hoops your people need to jump through just to get basic construction

tasks complete.

Too Much Software Seeps Productivity

Let’s put it into perspective. The average construction Project Manager

uses 12 to 15 software programs on a regular basis. If we assume each sys-

tem requires 30 minutes per week of additional time (and that’s being con-

servative; I’d argue it’s possibly double that), then your workers are losing

7.5 hours of production time every week. Almost a full day, 20%, of their

productivity is lost dealing with multiple software systems.

Now, the software sales people tell you the savings you’ll see from the

latest amazing new version will more than make up for that loss, but the

numbers just don’t bear it out. Construction firms are noted as the slowest

adopters of technology and it’s not because you’re Luddites, it’s because the

systems are so complex and have such steep learning-and-use curves

they’re neither feasible nor profitable.

The design/build world is driven by the speed with which you can

complete projects and keep them under budget. The excessive promises of

software developers are rarely balanced against the reality of real-world

construction requirements. At the end of the day, software companies need

You Need Less Software, Not More By Rocco Parisi, Principal, ZenTek Consultants


to add/change/adjust their system processes regularly to justify those hefty

annual fees they charge you to use them. That may work fine in the

accounting world, but in the construction industry even small process

changes can lead to weeks of delay, so you tend to ignore technology until it

can be proven to be a net positive on your jobs.

Simplicity is Key

When it comes to using software and technology in the construction world,

simplicity is key. I work with my clients to try and reduce the number of

systems they use regularly down to five or less whenever possible. Too

many construction firms are dealing with “fragmentation,” where many of

your programs perform the same task while some teams use one system,

other folks use another. This causes confusion, slow-down and regular mis-

communication on even the simplest processes, all of which leads to proj-

ect lag and profit loss.

Reviewing the systems you currently have – eliminating overlap and inef-

ficiency, freeing your people to do the jobs you need them to do instead of

fighting through dozens of computer programs – is the single most effective

step you can take to increase your profitability. The problem, of course, is

how do you do that? You’re a construction expert, not a software guru. How

do you know what to eliminate, what processes to merge, and what to keep?

Well, that’s where a solid Technology Consultant comes in. They can find

the pain points in your current process by talking to your staff and identify-

ing duplications. A good Technology Consultant will optimize your whole

work process by eliminating software and procedures you just don’t need.

Construction companies aren’t opposed to technology, they just need

good Technology Partners to filter out the sales and marketing noise and

show them how to effectively use the software and systems they already

own. More – and newer – software is never the answer. Better staff train-

ing, intelligent configuration and actual understanding of what your com-

pany needs – those really are the only true technology answers for the

construction world.

ZenTek Consultants helps AEC firms collaborate, communicate and optimize the

entire design-build process, configuring and customizing workflows from initial

concept planning to final client turn-over.

Contact ZenTek Consultants at www.zentekconsultants.net or 866-824-4459.


Associate Member Expertise

In the Fall 2019 issue of New Jersey Construction, we published an article from

Withum that succinctly detailed the possibility of FASB delaying the effective

data of the new lease standard for nonpublic companies. Withum kindly

provided an update on the decision.

As expected, on November 15, 2019, the Financial Accounting

Standards Board (FASB) officially delayed the effective date of

the new lease standard (ASC 842) for nonpublic companies

from years beginning after December 15, 2019, or calendar year 2020, to

years beginning after December 15, 2020, or calendar year 2021. As a

reminder, it is already effective for public companies and is eligible for

early adoption, if you’re feeling ambitious.

This is good news considering the sweeping changes that many contrac-

tors have been subject to with the new revenue recognition standard

(ASC 606) for years beginning after December 15, 2018, or calendar year

2019. This is also an opportunity to start gathering lease documents and

begin analyzing the impact on your company’s financial statements, as the

new standard requires substantially ALL lease agreements to be reported

on the balance sheet, when, previously, operating leases were only dis-

closed in the footnotes, and will impact financial ratios that may be

subject to loan covenants.

For more information, contact the author via email at Withum:

Donald Foster: [email protected]

UPDATE:

FASB Offers One Year Deferral on New Lease Standard (ASC 842) for Nonpublic Companies By Donald Foster, CPA, CCIFP, Withum


Giving Back

Railroad Construction Company Builds Two for Habitat

In October 2019, co-workers from Railroad Construction Company and

Beach Electric Company, both of Paterson, plus a few friends, built two,

two-story, three-bedroom houses for Habitat for Humanity, helping fulfil

the organization’s mission, centered on the belief that affordable housing

plays a critical role in strong and stable communities. The purchase of each

home will be available to deserving families in Paterson with access to low-

rate mortgages.

The teams constructed and erected exterior walls, installed floor joists

and added plywood sub flooring.

The companies proudly recognize these individuals:

•From Railroad Construction – Al Daloisio, Jr., Amy LaRocco, Charlie

Montalbano, Eric Bitler, Gene Sullivan, Greg Fallon, Joe Occhiogrossi,

Jonathan Fischetto, Lauren Elsaesser, Luz Carrillo, Rich France, Sophia

Bitler and Tony Allgood.

•Claire Caputo with Beach Electric Company, Inc. lent a helping hand and

Deb Brim of M&T Bank, Paul Belliveau of Zurich North America, Dave

Shafer and Keith Poopor of Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Julie Gentile

and Steve Kuhnert of Valley National Bank volunteered their time to

help this cause the companies and especially the teams hold close to

their hearts.

Hundreds Volunteer During Withum Week of Caring

During the annual Withum Week of Caring, more than 700 team members

volunteered at organizations across seven states.

Members of the Withum Construction Services Team in Red Bank gave

their time at Monmouth Day Care Center, Fulfill Food Bank of Monmouth

& Ocean Counties, the Salvation Army and a host of other New Jersey loca-

tions. As always, the Withum team affirms it is proud to serve and support

its local communities.

Our Members Give Back with Care Our members are generous of their time and resources, and supportive of their communities. We are honored to share your spirit of volunteerism with the ACCNJ community.

Back row, l to r: Charlie Montalbano, Jonathan Fischetto, Gene Sullivan, Steve Kuhnert, Paul Belliveau, Greg Fallon, Claire Caputo, Keith Poopor, Al Daloisio and Lauren Elsaesser

Middle row, l to r: Rich France, Julie Gentile, Deb Brim

Front row, l to r: Eric Bitler, Amy LaRocco, Joe Occhiogrossi, Dave Shafer, Luz Carrillo, Sophia Bitler and Tony Allgood


Kiewit Builds Bridges Across the World

Over the past six years, Kiewit employees have teamed up with Bridges to

Prosperity to build eight bridges in Africa, Central America and South

America, providing more than 25,000 residents in remote areas year-round

access to essential health care, education and economic opportunity.

This past January, Kiewit sent a team of 12 employee volunteers to

Rwanda to help build a 160-foot suspension bridge that will serve two com-

munities and more than 1,500 people.

The team included Mike Schmitzer, Victoria Peterson, Ryan Yanosh, Tap

Tasker, David Baratta, Dave Nicholson, Zack Hill, Ben Wickboldt, Alex

Flunker, Jeremiah Leyba, Carissa Maes and Madison Brunk.

The Kiewit team built a footbridge in Kagogo, a sector in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Kagogo Suspension Bridge open to foot traffic!


HeadingGovernment Affairs Report

We are reporting in early February on legislative matters in a column

you won’t see until mid-March. Therefore, some of what we include

here may have progressed by the time you read it. However, as we

advocate for the issues that benefit the construction industry, we will keep you up-

to-date through emails, bulletins and social media as appropriate.

Prior Ballot Referendums Yield Potential Work Opportunities

In November 2018, a $500 million statewide bond referendum in New

Jersey, “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act,” was approved. For

months leading up to the passage of the ballot question, ACCNJ and our

labor partners strongly advocated for public support. With a growing need

for facility expansion around career and technical education programs,

increased security systems in K-12 settings and water infrastructure repairs

across many school districts, time is of the essence.

The New Jersey Department of Higher Education will finalize adminis-

trative regulations in the coming weeks to determine school districts’

requirements to obtain state funding for these projects. Specifically, $275

million will be made available for facility expansions to foster career devel-

opment, $100 million for school district water infrastructure projects, $75

million for school security system upgrades and $50 million for county

vocational school improvement projects.

As we have reported to our members, several critically important

statewide bond referendums may be on the horizon in 2020. With that

said, it’s important to see previous construction bonding programs like

“Securing Our Children’s Future” and 2017’s “Library Construction Bond

Act” take shape for potential work opportunities.

ACCNJ Continues Water Infrastructure Advocacy

As we did at the end of the last legislative session, ACCNJ started the 219th

session of the New Jersey Legislature in mid-January 2020 supporting water

infrastructure repair efforts. At the time of this writing, the first bill, S253

(Singleton), would require public water systems to develop a lead service

line inventory and schedule the replacement of lead service lines in its dis-

tribution system. Under the bill, public water systems would be required to

compile and submit to the state an inventory of all its known lead service

lines, where the information would be handled by the Department of

Environmental Protection.

The second bill, S-647 (Greenstein), would revise asset management and

related reporting requirements in New Jersey’s "Water Quality

Accountability Act.” The bill would require water utilities to submit

detailed asset management plans that outline planned water infrastructure

improvements. With statewide water infrastructure bond referendum dis-

cussions ongoing between legislative leadership and the Murphy adminis-

tration, ACCNJ and our labor partners stand ready to continue supporting

clean water advocacy issues.

Federal Infrastructure Spending: Congressional Policy Discussions

With much of Washington paralyzed by partisan political variables, infra-

structure spending is a policy area where both parties could naturally come

together. In late January, Congress began committee hearings in the US

House of Representatives that seek to identify revenue options for a federal

infrastructure spending bill. The House Ways and Means Committee then

met to review potential funding for a multi-hundred-billion-dollar highway

and infrastructure legislative proposal. In addition to an always-sensitive fed-

eral gas tax increase, Public-Private Partnerships, vehicle-miles-traveled sur-

charges, extra tolling and infrastructure banks were discussed in committee.

AGC of America will continue to work with the committee on funding

options. ACCNJ will continue to advocate for increased federal infrastruc-

ture spending.

2020 Legislative Look at Home and in DC By Michael A. Travostino, Government Affairs Director


HeadingEducation & Workforce Development

Every January, students from New Jersey

colleges and beyond arrive at the Pines

Manor in Edison to take advantage of

the CIAP Career Fair. Here, students with con-

struction-related majors have the opportunity

for short interviews with as many employers as

they can fit into a three-hour time span.

Applications for 2020 CIAP internships came

in record numbers this year. Initial candidates

were interviewed in late 2019 to narrow down

applicants to attend the Career Fair in January

2020. Invitations were extended to 90 students

to meet with 40 employers, including three New

Jersey state agencies: NJDOT, NJ Transit and the

NJ Turnpike Authority. If offered a summer

position, students may have the opportunity to

experience the field as well as learn the ins-and-

outs of a position in-office.

This year, students came from The College of

New Jersey, Rowan University, Stevens Institute

of Technology, New Jersey Institute of

Technology, Rutgers University, Fairleigh

Dickinson University, several New Jersey commu-

nity colleges and even a few out-of-state schools.

Look for a feature on the interns in the

Fall issue of New Jersey Construction, where

they share experiences and affirmations about

their career choices after 12 weeks on the job

with contractors.

CIAP Career Fair: Employers and Prospective Interns Interview Each Other By Jill Schiff, ACCNJ Executive Director, Operations

Students listen as Jill Schiff, Executive Director of ACCNJ, gives tips on how to best navigate the room of employers.

Danny Li, Trevcon, Inc., explains current marine projects to a student.


A student listens intently as Kristen Jimenez, Conti Enterprises Inc., explains what a summer internship would consist of at her company.

The Ferreira team focuses on Muhammad Akhtar as he relays his relevant course work.

Robert Dinger (TCNJ ’21) tells of his achievements during his time as an undergraduate while at Union Paving’s table.

A student explains her career goals to Anna Camooso and former CIAP Intern Zack DeRocco at Northeast Remsco Construction.


HeadingLabor Management Cooperative

Workforce development isn’t easy. Apprenticeship allows contractors to share the burden and reap the benefits.

You are an ACCNJ contractor. You work hard, take pride in what

you do, and rely on the benefits of association membership to

help advance your business. We get it. As one of the building

trades unions—the Laborers’ International Union of North America

(LIUNA)—you hire us for a variety of construction tasks in numerous

industry sectors. Sure, we are construction workers, but in a lot of ways, we

are also part of your human resources staff. After all, someone must recruit,

train and provide you your workforce. And through our labor-management-

led training and apprenticeship funds, that is just what we do.

Turning new workers into ready workers

Recruiting, interviewing, and hiring workers isn’t easy. It takes time. It

takes personnel. It takes money. The Society of Human Resource

Management, or SHRM, knows about this through their most recent Talent

Acquisition Benchmarking Report. Recent data shows that the median total

cost-per-hire is $1,633 (and an average of $4,425!). Multiply those numbers

by numerous jobs, numerous employees, and the costs get crazy.

But there is a practical solution—federally approved apprenticeship and

training programs like the New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers

Apprenticeship Program, NJCCLAP. Research has shown that apprentice-

ship offers a myriad of benefits to employees and employers alike. We

probably all know this, but sometimes it is good to remind ourselves (and

put it in writing). Here are the top five ways employers benefit from hiring

an apprentice.

A stable pipeline of qualified workers. Apprenticeship is an ongoing

process of projecting the right size of an available workforce and determin-

ing the skills they need to work in the construction industry. Mike

Cackowski, director of NJCCLAP, lists these important factors to consider

when recruiting and training new apprentices: feedback from contractor

associations like the ACCNJ, forecasts for upcoming work, diversity targets

and membership attrition.

“Our work never stops, but it does change based on industry need and

worker availability,” he explained. “When contractors call, we must have

apprentices who are ready, willing and able to perform the work. The main

reason we do this for contractors is so they don’t have to.”

Safer workers. Before they ever step onto a jobsite as a union laborer,

LIUNA’s apprentices are required to take an 80-Hour General Construction

course (basic skills) as well as complete OSHA 30-hour Construction

Industry Outreach Training. According to OSHA’s Safety Pays Program,

just one lost work-time strain could cost a contractor close to $70,000 in

direct and indirect costs, which, if a contractor works at, say a 3% profit

margin, will require an addition $2.3 million worth of work just to recoup

costs. Developing safe workers definitely pays.

Reduced turnover rates. A recent study by the North American Building

Trades Union showed that 91% of apprentices who complete an apprentice-

Apprenticeship: A Better Way to Build By Robert Lewandowski, Communications Director, NJ LECET


ship are still employed nine months later. By properly recruiting, vetting,

training and supporting apprentices, we are able to retain more workers,

which reduces costs and increases reliability and productivity.

Customized training at a lower cost. Developing highly skilled employees

is in the interest of both the worker and the employer. For a construction

craft laborers apprentice, at least 400 hours of classroom instruction are

required as well as 4,000 hours of on-the-job training. Of course, based on

skills and experience, apprentices are paid anywhere from 60% to 90% of a

journeyworker’s rate.

A systematic approach to training. In an ultra-competitive and constantly

changing industry like construction, training is a key component to com-

petitiveness. Apprenticeship helps set the standard and creates the expecta-

tion that successful careers include upgrading and expanding skills, as well

as obtaining certifications and licensing.

According to the North American Building Trades Union it costs approx-

imately $10,000 a year to train an apprentice. With that kind of invest-

ment, it is imperative to get things right. Fortunately, according to the

Construction Institute at the University of Texas-Austin, each dollar

invested in craft training can yield $1.30 to $3.00 in benefits. Productivity

is 11% better while worker turnover is reduced by 14%. Amazingly the rates

for injuries and re-work are also lower by 26% and 23% respectively.

“Our labor-management led apprenticeship program is industry-respon-

sive and creating value for workers and employers alike,” said LIUNA

International Vice President and Regional Manager Raymond M. Pocino.

“We won’t get complacent but it is also important to recognize the good

things we have so we can make them even better in the future.”

Sure, we are construction workers, but in a lot of ways, we are also part of your human resources staff. After all, someone must recruit, train and

provide you your workforce. And through our labor-management-led

training and apprenticeship funds, that is just what we do.


Heading

Recognizing a Great “Professor” – Bob Alesandro’s Legacy Builds the Future of Apprenticeship By Richard E. Tolson, Director Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers District Council of New Jersey

For the past 154 years, the International Union of Bricklayers

and Allied Craftworkers has organized, represented and trained

the “Best Hands in the Business” for the masonry, concrete and

plastering industries.

Certainly, over the years our needs and requirements have changed.

As our industry evolved in methods and materials, so has our training to

meet these advances. Every year the Bricklayers Union in New Jersey alone

invests well over a million dollars toward training. Utilizing two training

sites, one in Bordentown, one in Fairfield, we afford opportunity for tomor-

row’s craftworkers throughout the state.

Hands-on training is

provided year-round, five

days a week. Our training

centers and the instructors

we employ do more than

teach our apprentices the

trade. Labor history and

what it means to belong to a

Union is also emphasized.

We host visits from high

schools, vocational schools,

architects, engineers, the

New Jersey Schools

Development Authority, the New Jersey Department

of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Labor.

Beyond the training supplied here in New Jersey, our International

Union and the International Masonry Institute operate our national

training center in Bowie, Maryland. More information is available at

www.IMIWEB.org.

But like any educational program or facility, the effectiveness is more

about the instructors than the money! Recruiting from our own rank and

file, our trades are passed on to future generations by those who know our

work best. Most of our instructors have served in the field in positions of

supervision for companies throughout the state. Their field experience,

ability to work with others, and general knowledge of our crafts and

industry have provided first-class education to tomorrow’s craftworkers.

In June of 2006, our International Union chartered a statewide District

Council. Shortly thereafter, we selected Bob Alesandro as our first

statewide apprentice coordinator. A gentle giant of a man, Bob was more

like a father figure than an instructor. Now, after a 48-year career in the

masonry industry, Bob has decided to collect the fruits of his labor and

retire. This raises no concern for our program as Bob has laid the founda-

tion for its continuance, prepared those others that will follow him, and left

a blueprint for future generations to follow.

Initiated in April of 1971, Bob served a three-year apprenticeship in

Hudson County. In joining the BAC, he became the third generation of his

family in the masonry industry. It wasn’t long after becoming a journey-

man that Bob distinguished himself as a first-class craftworker. Working

for employers such as Antinori Brothers and Peter Sorsi and Sons, he soon

became a layout man and served as a deputy foreman and foreman on

many jobs in New Jersey, notably including NJIT, AT&T in Warren County,

Newton Hospital, Monmouth University, Cicely Tyson Performing Arts

Center and Princeton University. In addition to all these jobs, Bob has

shared his expertise on volunteer projects throughout the state. Just last

year he was recognized by the American Labor Museum and the Botto

House National Landmark, for his commitment to the maintenance of that

precious facility! Bob’s career encompassed the full gamut of what a craft-

worker should be. That is what made him such an easy choice to serve as

New Jersey’s first statewide coordinator.

So, as we talk about what separates Union crafts from our competition, it

clearly is the training we invest in and provide. There are countless stories

of opportunity given and careers fulfilled. Whether it be the Wharton

School of Economics, Harvard Medical School, Georgetown Law, or a

Building Trades apprenticeship program, the “Professor” delivering the

program is key to its success. Robert Alesandro is one of those Professors!

Labor Management Cooperative

Bob Alesandro



IMPACT’s mission is to create job opportunities for ironworkers and

their contractors. IMPACT participants have access to a plethora of

programs, services and resources to help them succeed. IMPACT

offers professional development education opportunities to support partic-

ipant ironworking contractors who want to start or advance a business.

Since 2013, nearly 6,000 participants have completed IMPACT training

courses and attested to the effectiveness. Participation in IMPACT training

courses has doubled since 2014.

Training courses such as Construction Contracting Business

Fundamentals Academy (BFA), Fundamentals of Cost Estimating &

Bidding and Cash Management & Change Order Control have helped

many startup and small business contractors stay in business and succeed.

Since its inception in July 2015, 465 participants have completed the BFA

course, one of the most popular IMPACT training courses, and 91% of the

participants have reported improvement in job performance and growth.

They have reported improved confidence in their ability to take on more

work, increase efficiency, attract and retain customers, boost profit mar-

gins and employ more ironworkers.

Robyn Ryan from Force Installations completed a BFA course offered

in Pennsylvania. “We learned everything from developing an operations

plan, securing business loans, setting up an accounting system to under-

standing contract terms and conditions, identifying insurance require-

ments, establishing a safety program and finding work. I definitely feel

more confident after taking the course.”

Superior Steel Erectors in Kansas saw a significant jump in revenue

after participating in IMPACT training programs. The company reported a

gross revenue increase from $13,000 in the first year of participating in

IMPACT training to $280,000 in the second year, nearly $700,000 by the

fifth year and $1.1 million the following year.

Mike and Kim Settles of Midwest Premium Contractors Inc. in Iowa

found IMPACT’s BFA course a godsend when they launched their busi-

ness three years ago. In addition to business acumen, it granted them a rare

and valuable opportunity to network with other small business contractors

and vendors. The company recently secured a few high-profile rebar instal-

lation jobs in the area, including a county courthouse/jail and the floodwall

in Burlington, Iowa. The company performed work on several lock and

dam projects in the area and secured more projects for 2020, which will

double its 2019 annual revenue.

Redinger Steel Erectors Inc. in Michigan had been in business for

20 years when Butch Redinger, former ironworker with 45 years of experi-

ence and president of the company, completed IMPACT business training.

The knowledge Butch acquired from the BFA course made him and his

team re-evaluate daily business operations. It helped them implement

efficient processes for recordkeeping and financial management. Butch

found that his business revenue nearly tripled within a couple years after

taking the course.

The principal of Architectural Unlimited, Richard Diaz, attributes his

success partly to the resources and services IMPACT provided in the early

days of establishing his business. The company generated 217,217 work

hours for the ironworkers from 2014 to 2018. As a Hispanic entrepreneur,

Richard struggled with securing a line of credit and bonding. While

Richard was knowledgeable about the industry as an experienced career

ironworker, he lacked a business plan, legal counsel, construction insur-

ance, a system for accounting and managing finances, knowledge about

construction contracts and established labor rates, how to get paid, and a

plan for business development. After completing the BFA course, his busi-

ness revenue tripled from $500,000 in 2013 to $1.5 million in 2018.

IMPACT continues to support its participants in more ways than one

could imagine.

Making an Impact on Partner Contractors By Kevin Hilton, IMPACT CEO



Operating Engineers move the equipment that moves mountains

– and the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC825)

puts them to work building the most essential projects for our

region’s transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. Since ELEC’s

inception in 2012, the vision of 825 Business Manager Greg Lalevee was to

create an organization with specialty focuses that included a credentials

reimbursement program to limit monetary barriers for members seeking

additional training and certifications as well as develop new advocacy tools

that created work opportunities for contractors.

That vision has been driven relentlessly by Director Mark Longo. For

example, at the time of this writing, ELEC825 has reimbursed nearly $1

million back to Operating Engineers for more than a dozen separate cre-

dentials and licenses – continuing to ensure that 825 members are part of

the most highly skilled and trained workforce in New Jersey, ready on day

one for contractors.

However, as the world has evolved, so has organized labor. The leader-

ship of Lalevee and Longo have pushed ELEC825 into even more areas that

create opportunities to protect market share for members and contractors

– that of a public policy leader.

Ever-changing rules, regulation, and requirements continue to compress

the marketplace even before contractors are made aware of the changes.

The perfect example of this evolution of advocacy intersection has been the

New Jersey Energy Master Plan – Governor Murphy’s roadmap to a Clean

Energy Future. If handled incorrectly, this document will set New Jersey on

a dangerous course that will adversely impact all infrastructure, utility, resi-

dential and commercial projects going forward. A decade of progress could

see a quick reversal. How this will directly impact our members and union

contractors has been one of the leading focuses for ELEC825 during the

past 12 months.

In draft form, the public policy roadmap indirectly calls for a wholesale

move away from clean natural gas-based energy to renewable forms such as

wind and solar. While industry professionals universally believe this would

come at astronomical cost to both the state and the end-user…this policy

document has yet to address any potential costs.

Simply looking across the river to our neighbors in New York, one can

easily see what the economic impacts a lack of natural gas supply will cre-

ate. In Westchester County, for example, gas hookup moratoriums were

enacted by utility providers who had repeatedly informed policymakers of

the need for supply expansion. Unfortunately, those cries fell on deaf ears.

The hook-up moratoriums resulted in a total freeze on all development

projects with no end in sight. In additional, similar moratoriums were

enacted for Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens.

ELEC825 has been engaged with legislative and regulatory leaders

through testimony and public affairs, as well as in the media running pub-

lic education campaigns to ensure the general population is aware of the

potential impacts. The fear is that New Jersey could be next to experience

rolling brownouts, lack of heat in the deep cold, and a self-inflicted halt to

one of the strongest economic periods we have seen in some time. This is

something every New Jersey resident – especially our contractors – should

be tuned into.

ELEC825: Connecting The Dots For Contractors How Advocacy Efforts and Public Policy are Impacting the Future of Work

By Katie Gibbs, Deputy Director, ELEC825


HeadingLabor Management Cooperative

In the past decade, the influence of digital marketing has permeated

business, including the construction industry. Agencies and market-

ing departments continue to spend hours and dollars on an effort to

tease out more measurable impact and results of their message or prod-

ucts. There remains, however, one traditional standby approach that con-

tinues to wield enormous influence in the business sphere: Networking.

What has changed, and one that serves as a pillar of the Carpenter

Contractor Trust’s (CCT) approach, is a focus on networking that combines

elements of the digital age with the continuous impact of face-to-face rela-

tionships.

People sometimes ask, is this an effort to change hearts and minds? It is.

But the key to success is how wisely we shape the direction of our efforts.

For example, several years ago, we made a sustained review of our com-

mitment to industry trade shows. In theory, those we attended all fit under

the rubric of “construction,” but we asked a simpler yet penetrating ques-

tion: Were these venues that could add to the influence of union contrac-

tors and carpenters, and could we form relationships that resulted in

additional work hours and new projects?

Our efforts led us to discard venues when we applied the results criteria.

Interestingly, this pruning process allowed us to add several venues that

were a perfect fit for our contractor audience. For example, when we began

attending the SPECS Show that focuses on physical retail, the constant

refrain was, “I didn’t know you did that.” These were welcoming words

because they indicated interest.

Networking, whether it’s through industry mega-trade shows or a pres-

ence at the local chamber of commerce, provides fodder for our efforts to

promote our contractors. The former might inform builders about the

breadth of our skill set, and the latter confirms that we are partners in our

community.

Networking, when judiciously pursued, gives entrée to new opportuni-

ties and potential referrals and creates a positive impression. At the risk of

oversimplifying, if potential customers and clients don’t know who you are,

what you do and how you can get it done, they will never consider you in

their deliberations for projects. We believe that carefully chosen network-

ing events are the door-opener for gaining entrée to these decision-makers.

Moreover, there is a broad and sturdy underpinning to our networking

endeavors, and that is our overarching efforts to build and expand our

brand. As the “Voice of the Industry,” it is fundamental that we implement

networking as one of many branding approaches to meet, educate and

inform influencers in our various markets. The more recognizable our

brand, the greater entrée we create for future business possibilities on

behalf of contractors and carpenters.

Reduced to the essentials, our branding efforts, through networking,

deliver recognition to the business and local communities, increase our

value as experts, help generate more clients and add to pride on behalf of

our employees.

A broader assessment buttresses these efforts. Who among us in busi-

ness has not developed a fruitful and sustained relationship that began in a

modest, initial meeting but flourished over time? The very nature of suc-

cessful relationships rarely develops because of a one-time effort or contact.

Rather, they blossom over time, provided that you constantly review the

stated goals associated with the relationship.

This is why the CCT has made our networking activities a time-tested,

results-proven component of our marketing efforts on behalf of our con-

tractor partners.

The Power of Networking By Kevin P. McCabe, President, Carpenter Contractor Trust


Diversity & Compliance

On January 15, ACCNJ testified before the Disparity in State

Procurement Study Commission to discuss challenges and barriers

General Contractors and Construction Managers experience in

reaching MWDBE goals on New Jersey construction projects. The Commission

was created to assess the procurement of goods and services by state and local

government units to determine if there are disparities between the availability

and utilization of small, disadvantaged, minority- and women-owned business

enterprises in certain market areas. Hester Agudosi, Chief Diversity Officer of the

State of New Jersey, chairs the Commission.

ACCNJ was able to cover many topics of concern and answer questions from

members of the Commission. The following is a synopsis of the Association’s tes-

timony and responses.

Shortage of Specialty Contractors in Construction

The Commission has announced it will release a Request for Proposal

(RFP) for the purpose of conducting a statewide Disparity Study. Disparity

Studies are conducted throughout the country to measure possible race or

gender discrimination that may explain disparities in contracting opportu-

nities for MWDBE firms, but ACCNJ strongly believes a statewide capacity

study should be conducted as well.

Diversity goals are not always formulated based on the true capacity and

qualifications of available MWDBE, VOB and DVOB firms. We believe it’s

important a capacity study be conducted statewide to determine the realis-

tic number of MWDBE firms able to perform the specialized work required

for public and private construction projects in New Jersey.

There are subcontracting and supplier opportunities on construction

projects, but there is a real shortage of MWDBE firms qualified to perform

specialty work. General contractors make every effort to subcontract work,

but with so few companies qualified to perform specialized construction,

the general contractor will self-perform the work. This results in the gen-

eral contractor falling short of meeting the aspirational goals set for

projects. Several public agencies are adjusting their aspirational goals on a

project-by-project basis as determined by the pool of qualified MWDBE

contractors capable of performing the work required, but more needs to

be done. Here is where a capacity analysis would be beneficial.

Inaccurate Construction Craft and Commodity Codes and Company Information

Certifying agencies must do a better job of vetting companies to verify they

are able to perform a Commercially Useful Function (CUF) prior to assign-

ing commodity or construction craft codes. Contractors spend valuable

time and resources reaching out to MWDBE firms only to realize they do

not have the expertise or capacity to perform the scope of work required

for a construction project. It has become incumbent upon general contrac-

tors to insure CUF, as MWDBEs are so often classified inaccurately as it

relates to appropriate categories of work.

In addition, certified firms are not required by the state to update their

company information in the appropriate databases, making it difficult for

general contractors to achieve good-faith efforts.

Standardized “One Shop” Database

General contractors and certified firms would benefit from the creation of

one standardized database that reflects accurate commodity and construc-

tion craft codes. A standardized database should display updated company

contact information, certification status and prequalification information.

We are pleased to hear this standardization process is underway.

ACCNJ Initiatives

These issues and more have been a long-standing frustration for ACCNJ

general contractors. To better understand the challenges they face in

achieving aspirational goals, ACCNJ, with industry partners, commis-

sioned a study to look at the capacity of diverse firms qualified to perform

Testimony Before State Commission By Carol Fulton, Diversity & Compliance Director


construction contracts for the New Jersey Department of Transportation

and NJ Transit. The results of the 2017 study showed the state is lacking

MWDBE contractors capable of performing the “bricks and mortar” work

needed for building, heavy and highway, civil and utility construction.

It was evident from the study that agencies and industry need to do

more to concentrate on building capacity where it’s needed most. The

results of the study were presented to agencies and the State Office of

Diversity and Inclusion.

Following the study, ACCNJ recognized the need to increase efforts to help

our members and expand outreach to the MWDBE community. In 2017, the

association hosted its first Diversity Conference, bringing MWDBE and vet-

eran-owned firms together with general contractors, construction managers

and public agencies to learn more about processes for certifications, prequal-

ification and opportunities for work in the construction industry. In October

2020, we will host this successful conference for the fourth time.

In 2019, we established a Compliance and Diversity Council comprised

of general contractors, SMWDBEs and veteran-owned companies within

ACCNJ membership, and are finding it an effective vehicle for interactive

discussions about practices and policies and ways to improve outreach,

communication and alleviate unnecessary barriers that may exist during

the RFP or procurement process. The Council meets quarterly to address

issues as they arise.

This year, we will launch a mentoring program, pairing MWDBEs with

our general contractors to provide technical expertise in areas of need to

enable them to pursue larger public projects.

Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey supports the inclu-

sion of qualified MWDBE companies in the union construction industry.

Opportunities are abundant, as are the challenges. We will continue to

work with the MWDBE community, New Jersey public agencies and

authorities, and the State Office of Diversity and Inclusion to promote the

first and overcome the second.

In 2020 and beyond, ACCNJ will host educational seminars led by qualified

member experts on topics relating to compliance requirements, bonding and

insurance, and other topics of importance to general contractors and MWDBE

firms. We are pleased to report Hester Agudosi attended the January Council

meeting as our guest and was an attentive listener as our members expressed their

challenges. We will continue to work with the New Jersey African American

Chamber, the New Jersey Hispanic Chamber and the New Jersey State Veteran’s

Chamber to expand our outreach and promote opportunities to work on ACCNJ

member construction projects in the state.


Member News

Member News: Spring 2020 J.R. Prisco Inc. Announces New EVP

J.R. Prisco of Summit is pleased to announce its

re-connect with Stephen G. Prisco, Sr., who will

hold the position of Executive Vice President.

Prior to his separation from corporate,

Stephen spent 16 years expanding the client

base at J.R. Prisco, which allowed for excep-

tional growth. Not only will Stephen oversee the

company’s expanding pharmaceutical services,

he will continue to service the new base he brings with him.

Railroad Construction Company Announces Awards

Railroad Construction of

Paterson is pleased to recognize

Robert Gariepy, PE, Vice

President, who received the Port

Authority Mentor-Protégé

Program’s 2019 Mentor Award

for Building & Advancing Protégé

Knowledge. The award was given

during the Mentor-Protégé

Graduation “Entrepreneurship”

on December 13, 2019.

Railroad is also proud to announce the

2019 Matthew Klemchalk Co-Worker of

the Year Award was presented to Sebastian

Marin for his dedication to the company

and willingness to help others.

Withum Claims Honors, Milestone, Expansion

Withum celebrated 45 years in business in 2019 – a milestone success the

firm attributes to its clients, employees and communities served.

The firm announces it was ranked 15th in Construction Executive’s Top

50 Construction Accounting Firms. Withum’s Construction Services Team

is active in many New Jersey organizations, focused on educating, improv-

ing and protecting the construction community.

Withum extends congratulations to Matt

Trubenbach-Byrne, a vital member of the

Withum Construction Services team, on

obtaining his Certified Construction Industry

Financial Professional (CCIFP) certification.

And Withum is proud to have joined forces

with Rucci, Bardaro & Falzone, PC (RBF), an

accounting and advisory firm in Woburn, MA.

Five partners and 30 team members joined Withum’s roster in August

2019, four of whom joined the Construction Services Team.

Vericon Takes Top Honors

Vericon Construction of Mountainside reports it is honored to have

received the New Jersey Subcontractors Association 2019 General

Contractor of the Year Award. The company credits its work ethic, relation-

ships, safety culture and collaborative atmosphere with its valued subcon-

tractors and suppliers, stating “they are integral members of our team who

contribute directly to the success and quality of our work.”

Vericon is also honored to be ranked #6 as an NJBIZ Fast50 Award, an

annual ranking of the top 50 most dynamic businesses that progressively

contribute to the success of the state’s economic growth and stability.

Robert Gariepy stands with Glenessa Gordon, P.E., General Manager - Business Diversity and Civil Rights at the Port Authority, as he receives his award.

Withum Team Leader Group (l to r): Ron Martino, Diane McNulty, Lou Sandor III, Joe Malfettano

Stephen G. Prisco, Sr.

Matt Trubenbach-Byrne

Sebastian Marin


Forsa Construction LLC Wins Municipal Award

Forsa Construction of Little Ferry was selected for the

2019 Best of Little Ferry Awards in the category of Construction. The

annual awards, given to one company in each category, note business suc-

cess and contribution to the local community.

Connell Foley LLP Achieves NJBIA Honor

Connell Foley of Roseland received a 2019 Member of the Year Award from

the New Jersey Business and Industry Association in October, in recogni-

tion of the law firm’s help in guiding “NJBIA business owners through

complex new state laws impacting minimum wage, unpaid family leave,

paid sick leave, employment contracts, changes to federal overtime rules,

cybersecurity…and more.”

A YouTube video shares more of Connell Foley’s contribution to NJBIA:

https://youtu.be/qrpbF6XJDFk


Welcome New Members

ARI Products, Inc.

Having installed more than 10 million square feet of raised access flooring,

ARI is the #1 access flooring company in the New York and Philadelphia

metro areas. The firm is located at 102 Gaither Drive, Mt. Laurel NJ 08054

and on the web at www.ariproducts.com, where visitors can see the

gallery of projects from offices to data centers to roof decks and more.

Ross Gilfillan, President, may be reached by phone at 856.234.0757 and via

email at [email protected].

The Barclay Group

The Barclay Group offers expert specialists in commercial, group health

and personal insurance, serving New Jersey businesses, school boards,

municipalities, utility authorities, emergency squads and residents since

1945. Through the years, the firm has grown through acquisitions,

giving it coverage across Southern New Jersey. Headquarters are located at

202 Broad Street, Riverton NJ 08077. Robert Nuss, Consultant and

Account Executive, may be reached by phone at 856.829.1594 and email

at [email protected]. Visit the firm on the web at

www.barclayinsurance.com.

Steven A. Berkowitz & Associates, P.C.

The law firm of Steven A. Berkowitz & Associates has been dedicated to

serving clients in the construction industry for more than 20 years. With

extensive experience in construction contracting, bonds, bid challenges,

prevailing wage law, and construction and municipal liens, the firm has

clients in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Steven A. Berkowitz,

Esq., represents the firm, which is located at 10000 Lincoln Drive East,

Suite 202, Marlton NJ 08053. He can be reached at 856.350.6060 and

[email protected]. Visit the firm online at www.berkpc.com.

Cornell & Company, Inc.

For nearly a century, Cornell & Company has been a privately owned

business specializing in structural steel erection and precast concrete,

rehabilitation and fabrication of bridges, street and highway work, and

providing equipment for multistory buildings, waterfront and other

industrial projects. Certified as a woman-owned enterprise, Cornell is

located at 226 Cornell Lane (PO Box 807), Woodbury NJ 08096.

Kevin Ducey, Vice President, represents the company and can be reached

by phone at 856.742.1900 and by email at [email protected]. Visit

the company on the web at www.CornellCraneandSteel.com.

MJJ Construction

General Building Contractor MJJ Construction, located at 471 White Horse

Pike, Atco NJ 08004, also specializes in alterations and additions to com-

mercial buildings. Joseph Prokapus, Treasurer, represents the firm in

ACCNJ, and can be reached by phone at 856.768.9440 and by email at

[email protected].

Newport Construction Management Corp.

In addition to its general contractor services, Newport also offers

design/build services, construction management, CPM scheduling, claims

analysis and project management. For more than a quarter-century,

Newport has enjoyed a reputation for unparalleled industry expertise, proj-

ect dedication and 100% customer satisfaction. Gregg Cooke, President,

may be reached at 856.662.9500 and [email protected].

The company is located at 5032 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken NJ 08109 and

on the web at www.newportconstruction.com.

We are pleased to welcome 11 new members approved by the Board of Trustees at the

December 2019 Membership Meeting. And we offer a warm welcome to the BCA of South Jersey members who are now part of ACCNJ. We look forward to seeing everyone at our 2020 events.


Arthur J. Ogren, Inc.

For more than five decades, Arthur J. Ogren has flourished as a general

contractor, providing the mid-Atlantic region with expertise in general

construction, pre-engineered steel buildings and design/build. Visit

www.ogrenconstruction.com for a view of completed projects and areas of

expertise. Arthur J. Ogren, Jr., President, may be reached by phone,

856.692.4226, and email, [email protected]. The firm’s address is 178

East Garden Road, Vineland NJ 08360.

Joseph Porretta Builders, Inc.

Joseph Porretta Builders, located at 551 Anderson Avenue, Hammonton NJ

08037, operates with expertise as a general contractor or subcontractor on

virtually any project in the commercial, industrial and institutional arenas.

David Porretta, Vice President, represents the firm and can be reached by

phone at 609.651.6391 and email at [email protected].

Pullman Services

Pullman Services, a structural technology firm, operates as a general or sub-

contractor with expertise in the repair and maintenance of concrete/steel

infrastructure and building envelopes for commercial, industrial and insti-

tutional buildings. Located at 2227 High Hill Road, Swedesboro NJ 08085,

Pullman’s Industrial Division Manager David McGee represents the

nationwide organization in New Jersey. He can be reached by phone,

877.701.5236, and email, [email protected]. Visit the firm’s

gallery of projects and find more at www.pullman-services.com.

Union County Construction Group, Inc.

Union County Construction Group is located in Gloucester County, at

638 Cherry Street, Gloucester NJ 08030. This versatile subcontractor

proves its expertise in light gauge structural framing, rough carpentry,

insulation, doors, frames & hardware, drywall and acoustical ceilings.

Dane H. Shiplee, President, may be reached by phone at 856.456.8845

and email at [email protected].

USA Environmental Management, Inc.

Founded in 1994, USA Environmental is a multi-disciplined environmental

consulting, contracting and engineering firm with corporate headquarters

at 8436 Enterprise Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19153-3802, and a branch

office in Trenton. The firm specializes in environmental abatement and

is dedicated to quality service, attention to detail to reduce liability

exposure, assured regulatory compliance and responsiveness 24/7.

James E. Harris., Vice President, may be reached at 215.365.5810 and

[email protected]. Visit on the web at www.usaemi.com.

New members as of January 31, 2020. We will feature additional new members

in the Summer 2020 issue.


HeadingMembership Roster

ACTIVE MEMBERS A.P. Construction, Inc.

Abatement Unlimited Inc.

AbateTech

Acoustical Services, Inc.

Advanced Scaffold Services LLC

Aliano Brothers General Contractors, Inc.

Allan Briteway Electrical Utility Contractors Inc.

American Pile and Foundation LLC

J. Anthony Equipment Co.

Archer Steel Construction Inc.

ARI Products, Inc.

Aspen Landscaping Contracting, Inc.

A-Tech Concrete Co., Inc.

ATG Trading LLC

Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc.

Atlas Concrete

B & G Restoration, Inc.

Bf Italia, Inc.

Barr & Barr, Inc.

H. Barron Iron Works LLC

Bayshore Rebar Inc.

Beach Electric Company Inc.

Bel-Con Construction Services Inc.

Bergen Engineering Co.

Berkowsky & Associates, Inc.

BFC Ltd.

Wm. Blanchard Co.

Bond Brothers Inc.

Borrelli Steel Fabricators, LLC

Brandenburg Industrial Service Co.

BrandSafway

Brennan Industrial Contractors

Bristol Environmental Inc.

Brockwell & Carrington Contractors Inc.

Buck Construction

Carson Concrete Corporation

Cashman Dredging & Marine

Contracting Co. LLC

CCA Civil, Inc.

Ceco Concrete Construction LLC

Central Jersey Wrecking & Recycling Inc.

Central Salvage Co., Inc.

Century 21 Construction Corp.

Certified Installation Services Inc.

CJ Drilling Inc.

Clemens Construction Co., Inc.

Coastal Steel Construction of NJ, LLC.

Complete Installation Inc.

Conti Enterprises, Inc.

Kyle Conti Construction

Cornell & Company, Inc.

J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc.

Crisdel Group, Inc.

E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc.

CS Energy LLC

Dale Construction Company Inc.

Degmor Inc.

Dell Pumping Company

DePalma Contracting Inc.

Donaldson Interiors Inc.

Drill Construction Co., Inc.

Dryden Diving Company Inc.

Willard Dunham Construction Co.

EDA Contractors, Inc.

Empire Office

Epic Management, Inc.

Everlasting Contracting

Exterior Wall & Building Consultants

Fabi Construction, Inc.

L. Feriozzi Concrete Company

Ferreira Construction Co., Inc.

Filling Marble & Tile, Inc.

Fioresi Tile LLC

Fitzpatrick & Associates, Inc.

Five Star Installations

Force Concrete & Masonry Corp.

Forsa Construction L.L.C.

Foster Contracting, Inc.

Fromkin Brothers, Inc.

Louis Gargiulo Co., Inc.

Albert Garlatti Const. Co.

Global Installation Resources

Golden Crown Contractors, Inc.

Grace Industries LLC

Gramercy Group Inc.

Grove Construction LLC

H.C. Constructors Inc.

Hall Construction Co., Inc.

Helitech

Henegan Construction Co., Inc.

Arthur R. Henry, Inc.

Heritage Flooring, LLC

Charles J. Hesse, Inc.

Hi Tech Data Floors, Inc.

HK Panel Systems

JP Hogan Coring & Sawing Corp.

Hunt Construction Group

Hutton Construction, L.L.C.

IEW Construction Group

InstaSpace LLC

Joseph Jingoli and Son, Inc.

JK Crane

JPC Group, Inc.

JR Cruz Corp.

J-Track, LLC

JVN Restoration Inc.

Kane Communications LLC


Keller

KHS&S Contractors of NJ

Kiewit Infrastructure Co.

Kiska Construction Inc.

The Lane Construction Corp.

Lanyi & Tevald Inc.

C. LaTorre Construction LLC

John D. Lawrence, Inc.

Layout Inc.

Lend Lease, Inc.

Edward Leske Co.

Lindblad Construction Company

Linde-Griffith Construction Co.

LRC Development Corp.

LVC Window Blinds Inc.

Macedos Construction Co., Inc. of NJ

Madison Concrete Co.

Marbro Inc.

M.B. Markland Contracting Co.

Massett Building Co.

McCloskey Mechanical Contractors Inc.

McCrossin Foundations LLC

McPhee Electric

Merco, Inc.

Merritt Construction Services, Inc.

Metal Structures, Inc.

Michels Corporation

MJJ Construction

Molba Construction, Inc.

T. Moriarty & Son, Inc.

Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corp.

Network Construction Co., Inc.

Newport Construction Management Corp.

Nicholson Construction Company

Nordic Contracting Co., Inc.

Northeast Remsco Construction, Inc.

Northfield Construction Corp.

Nurminen Construction Corp.

Arthur J. Ogren, Inc.

O’Kane Enterprises Ltd.

Oradell Construction Co., Inc.

Our Rental Pumps LLC

Pala Construction Corp.

Philadelphia D&M

B. Pietrini & Sons

Pinnacle Environmental Corp.

Joseph Porretta Builders, Inc.

Pow-R-Save Inc.

Pravco Inc.

Prestige Millwork LLC

J.R. Prisco, Inc.

Prismatic Development Corporation

Pristine Services Inc.

ProContractor Inc.

Pullman Services

Railroad Construction Company, Inc.

RCC Builders & Developers

Reicon Group, LLC

Michael Riesz & Co.

Rocket Construction Co., Inc.

M.E. Sabosik Associates

J.A. Salerno Sr. & Sons Inc.

Schiavone Construction Co., LLC

Fred M. Schiavone Construction, Inc.

Schifano Construction Corp.

Schleifer Associates, Inc.

Schnell Contracting Services LLC

J.F. Shea Construction, Inc.

Simpson & Brown

Skanska USA

South State, Inc.

Southern Steel Erectors of NJ

Sparwick Contracting, Inc.

V.A. Spatz & Sons Construction, Inc.

State Line Construction Co., Inc.

Suburban Enterprises Terrazzo & Tile Co., Inc.

Sundance Construction Co., Inc.

Taas Contracting LLC

Techno Acoustics Holdings, LLC

Tilcon New York, Inc.

Tishman Construction Corporation of NJ

Torcon, Inc.

Trevcon Construction Co., Inc.

TriState Construction Inc.

Tuckahoe Tile, Inc.

Turner Construction Co.

Tutor Perini

Twenty-Four 7 Contracting

Union County Construction Group, Inc.

Union Paving & Construction Co. Inc.

Upright Installations

USA Environmental Management, Inc.

US Tank Painting

Vericon Construction Company LLC

Vineland Tile Company

Vollers

W.E.S. Works LLC

Wade Ray & Associates Construction

Walker Diving Underwater Construction LLC

Walsh Construction Company

William Walter Construction Group, LLC

Walters Marine Construction Inc.

TN Ward

Waters & Bugbee, Inc.

Weatherby Construction & Renovation Co.

Weeks Marine, Inc.

West Bay Construction Inc.

Wetlands, Inc.

Wyndham Construction, LLC

Yonkers Contracting


HeadingHeadingMembership Roster

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS J.M. Ahle Co., Inc.

Alliant Insurance Services

Aluma Systems

Ambassador Medical Services, Inc.

American Global LLC

Chris Anderson Roofing & Erecting Co, Inc.

The Barclay Group

Bayshore Recycling Corp.

BCA Insurance Group

Steven A. Berkowitz & Associates, PC

Boswell Engineering

Brent Material Company

C & H Agency

Capital Steel Service, LLC

Chubb Surety

Clarity Testing Services Inc.

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman, PC

CohnReznick

Connell Foley LLP

Conner Strong & Buckelew

Construction Information Systems

Construction Risk Partners, LLC

Fred A. Cook Jr., Inc.

County Concrete Corp.

DGI-Menard

Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc.

Eii, Inc.

Enterprise Fleet Management

Floor Covering Institute of New Jersey

Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Capelli, LLC

Foley, Inc.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Garden State Precast

General Contractors Association of NY

Genova Burns LLC

Glenn Insurance Inc.

Golden, Rothschild, Spagnola, Lundell,

Boylan & Garubo PC

Gordian Group

Graham Company

Grassi & Co.

Haftek Concrete Washout Systems

Hankin Sandman Palladino & Weintrob

Haydon Bolts, Inc.

Hays

HazTek Safety Management

HD Supply White Cap

Hedinger & Lawless L.L.C.

Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas, LLP

Jesco, Inc.

Jovin Demo, Inc.

Kelken Construction Systems

R.S. Knapp Co.

Komatsu Northeast

LDA Compliance Consulting, Inc.

Let It Grow, Inc.

Liberty Mutual Surety

Lockton Companies

Lubowicki Insurance Agency

Lum, Drasco & Positan

M&T Insurance Agency

MMC Contractors

Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers

New Jersey Alliance for Action

NFP

Northwestern Mutual

Peckar & Abramson, P.C.

People’s United Equipment Finance Corp.

Perimeter Protection Products LLC

Pro Safety Services LLC

RCC Fabricators Inc.

Resolution Management Consultants, Inc.

Re-Steel Supply Co., Inc.

Rosenberg & Parker

Sax LLP

Schultheis & Panettieri LLP

Selco Manufacturing Corporation

Shore Supply

Shorelands Construction, Inc.

Signature Safety, LLC

Stark & Stark

Steel Mountain Fabricators LLC

Stone Industries Inc.

Super Stud Building Products, Inc.

Susanin, Widman & Brennan, P.C.

Syrstone, Inc.

Taylor Oil Company

Tenna LLC

T.E.S., Inc.

Traffic Safety Service LLC

Travelers

True & Associates

Unique Scaffolding Systems

United Rentals/Trench Safety

USG Corp.

USI Insurance Services

Weldon Materials Inc.

Wiss & Co.

Withum Smith + Brown, PC

ZenTek LLC

Membership as of January 31, 2020


HeadingAdvertisers Index

American Global LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Associated Construction Contractors of NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Bayshore Family of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Berkowitz & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Wm. Blanchard Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers . . . . . . . . .54

Building and General Construction Laborers Local Union No. 77 . . . .66

C & H Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Carpenter Contractor Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Central Salvage Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Clarity Testing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Connell Foley LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Construction & General Laborers Union Local No. 172 . . .Inside Back Cover

Construction Industry Career Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Construction Risk Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Country Concrete Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

J. Fletcher Creamer and Son, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Epic Management Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Fitzpatrick & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Foley, Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Hall Construction Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover

Hankin Sandman Palladino & Weintrob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75

HazTek Safety Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Heavy and General Construction Laborers Local Union No. 472 . . . . .62

Ironworkers Local Union No. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) . . . . . . . . . . .51

Masonry Contractors of NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

NFP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council . . . . . . . . . . .74

Nordic Contracting Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Northeast Carpenters Apprentice Training and Educational Fund . . . .38

Northeast Remsco Construction, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63

Operating Engineers Local Union No. 825 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Peckar & Abramson, PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Perimeter Protection Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

J.R. Prisco, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Prismatic Development Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Pro Tapping Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Railroad Construction Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Sax LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Schiavone Construction Co. LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Cover

Taylor Oil Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Tilcon New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Torcon, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Unique Scaffolding Systems, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Vericon Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Vollers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Withum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey Raritan Center Plaza II, Suite A-19 91 Fieldcrest Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837-3627

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ PERMIT #667

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