City & State Pennsylvania 030722

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CONSTRUCTION POWER

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Pennsylvania could be the second-most flooded state in 2022 – can anything turn the tide?

WATER HAZARD CIT YANDSTATEPA .COM

@CIT YANDSTATEPA

@CIT YANDSTATEPA

March 7, 2022

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS! City & State PA will recognize forty individuals under the age of 40 in Philadelphia, who have already distinguished themselves in their fields and are on their way to amassing accomplishments well beyond their age. Nominate your friends and colleagues for this honor!

Honorees will be featured in a special edition of City & State PA Magazine debuting on May 30, 2022 and event on June 2, 2022.

To be eligible, nominees must be a Pennsylvania State resident and must be 39 years of age or younger as of May 29, 2022.

NOMINATE HERE Nominations due by March 25, 2022.

March 7, 2022

Contents | MARCH 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

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DEEP IMPACT What can be done about the state’s flooding crisis?

EDITOR’S NOTE … 4

ALBERT LEE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

Meet the new members who will comprise City & State’s 2022 advisory board

FIRST READ … 9

Unbelievable Zillow listings for state landmarks

JON O’BRIEN … 12

An interview with the head of the Keystone Contractors Association

CITY & STATE SCENE ... 14

A recap of our first transportation summit

COMMENTARY ... 16

State Rep. Morgan Cephas on fixing the student loan crisis

ASK THE EXPERTS … 18

Understanding the past, present and future of the prevailing wage

THE CONSTRUCTION POWER 75 … 29

The most influential people building up Pennsylvania

WINNERS & LOSERS … 46

Who was up and who was down last month

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CityAndStatePA .com

March 7, 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE

Introducing City & State’s

PA’s 2022 Advisory Board

LINDY LI

This 19-person panel helps us select our power lists each month.

MICHAEL DAYS

Editor-in-chief

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E DECIDED TO seek out a wide variety of voices in 2022 and look for proven experts in a wide range of fields to help us pick the people who make our power lists.

This panel is part of our continuing commitment to reflect and represent all of Pennsylvania’s diverse communities. This board will offer valuable insights, including those that go towards shaping City & State’s power lists.

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BOARD CHAIR

MICHAEL DAYS Now retired from The Philadelphia Inquirer, Michael Days last served as Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at the paper, where he led cultural literacy programs. He spent 10 years as editor of the Philadelphia Daily News, which, under his leadership, won a Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for investigative reporting. Days is the author of “Obama’s Legacy – What He Accomplished as President.”

He is now a partner in Editorsoncall LLC, an editorial

services company founded by his spouse, Angela P. Dodson, which links freelancers to clients in need of writing, editing, graphic and editorial services.

LINDY LI After working for the CFO of Merck and then for Morgan Stanley investment banking, Lindy Li – endorsed by 18 members of Congress – was the youngest female congressional candidate in U.S. history at age 25. In 2020, she successfully ran to be a DNC delegate for PresidentElect Biden, garnering 108,556 votes from Philly alone, which was one of the state’s highest delegate vote totals.

Lindy works as a political commentator for news outlets like MSNBC and NBC and hosts her own show on cable TV in the Philadelphia metropolitan area called “Listening with Lindy Li.”

DENNIS OWENS Since 1993, Dennis Owens has been a part of the ABC27

DENNIS OWENS team and he’s played many roles at the station. He began as a weekend sports anchor at WHTM under legendary Sports Director Gregg Mace.

In that position, he reported on Super Bowls, World Series, bowl games, NASCAR races, baseball’s Spring Training and Penn State football. But he’s most proud of co-creating “Friday Night Football,’’ a show that celebrated its 25th year in 2021. The show continues to showcase high school athletes, cheerleaders and bands that make Friday nights special across Central Pennsylvania. In 1999, Dennis switched to news and coanchored “Live at Five,” which spotlighted his ability to connect with viewers and the community.

AL SCHMIDT Al Schmidt joined the Committee of Seventy as President & CEO in January 2022 after serving 10 years as a City Commissioner of Philadelphia. The Committee of Seventy is a nonprofit and nonpartisan good

government organization focused on strengthening democracy and combatting political corruption. As a City Commissioner, Al was one of three members on the bipartisan Board of Elections where he served as vice chairman. Al is a former senior analyst at the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and served as a policy analyst for the Presidential Commission on Holocaust Assets in the U.S.

BRIAN TIERNEY Brian Tierney is a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold three advertising/ strategic communications firms to publicly-traded companies; he led the group that purchased and ran the Pulitzer-Prize winning Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com, where he served as CEO and publisher. He launched a fourth agency specializing in digital marketing and strategic communications, Brian Communications, where

JOSEPH GIDJUNIS/VERACITY STUDIOS; MICHAEL GRAY/TML COMMUNICATIONS; RYAN DUNLEVY URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION; JOEL THOMAS

By Jenny DeHuff

March 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

5

MATT SMITH AL SCHMIDT

TERESA LUNDY

BRIAN TIERNEY he now serves as CEO; he is also chairman of Realtime Media. Tierney is a soughtafter advisor to Fortune 500 chief executives who trust his counsel. He serves on several public and private boards and chairs the Poynter Institute Foundation.

TERESA LUNDY Teresa M. Lundy is the principal and founder of TML Communications, an award-winning strategic public relations, crisis communications and community engagement firm. TML Communications, which celebrated its fiveyear anniversary in August 2020, recently received the Inspiring Excellence Award from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Lundy served as campaign manager for Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s election to defeat the twoterm incumbent and become the first woman to head the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.

In addition, she is a regular contributor to publications such as Metro Philadelphia,

SAMUEL CHEN writing articles to help entrepreneurs grow their business and find success.

SAMUEL CHEN Samuel Chen is the founder and principal director of The Liddell Group, an awardwinning political, policy and communications strategy firm. He hosts the television news journal, “Face the Issues’’ and is assistant professor of political science at Northampton Community College. He is also a member of the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network. Chen is the author of two books: “Thirteen Minutes: Winning, Losing, and Living as Taught by the 2016 Election” and the forthcoming, “E Pluribus Unum: The Scope of Church and State in American Liberal Democracy.”

MARY P. ISENHOUR Mary Isenhour is a partner in the government relations and strategic planning firm, Rooney Novak Isenhour Group LLC. She is the first woman

MARY P. ISENHOUR to serve on the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board in its 80-plus year history. She was nominated by Gov. Tom Wolf and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate in 2019.

Mary served as Secretary of Legislative Affairs and Chief of Staff to Governor Wolf. She served as Senior Advisor to his 2014 and 2018 campaigns and co-chaired his 2015 inaugural committee. She was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party during Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration. Prior to that, she was the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Committee.

MATT SMITH Matt Smith became president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, in June 2015.

Prior to joining the chamber, Smith represented the 37th Senatorial District serving in the Pennsylvania State Senate. During his Senate term, Smith was appointed to

JOSEPH HILL the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Basic Education Funding Commission, and the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee. Prior to serving in elected office, Smith worked as an attorney for the law firm of Babst Calland in Pittsburgh where he specialized in employment law.

JOSEPH HILL Joe Hill leads Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ government relations and public advocacy efforts in Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.

He previously served as statewide political director and deputy campaign manager for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s successful reelection effort and served in several roles with Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and the Democratic National Convention Committee. He currently serves on the boards of Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts and graduated from Georgetown

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CityAndStatePA .com

University with a degree in government and philosophy.

PAUL R. STEINKE Paul Steinke serves as executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, a membership-based organization whose mission is to promote the appreciation, adaptive reuse and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes. Paul ran for Philadelphia City Council in the May 2015 Democratic primary. Although he was not elected, Paul received numerous endorsements. Prior to his run for public office, Paul served as general manager of the Reading Terminal Market for 13 years, where he oversaw numerous improvements in the facility and tenant mix.

Earlier in his career, Paul served as a founding member of both the University City and Center City districts.

LAUREN VIDAS Lauren Vidas is an attorney and government relations professional who formerly served in the mayor’s office during Michael Nutter’s administration. She is founder of Enact Strategies, a fullservice public strategies firm.

Lauren’s years of experience navigating state and local politics has made her a trusted adviser to clients across a diverse array of sectors.

DAVE REED Dave Reed grew up in Homer City and graduated from Homer-Center High School and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the Robert E. Cook Honors College at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He continued his education at the University

March 7, 2022

of Pennsylvania, where he earned a master’s degree in governmental administration.

After graduating, Dave ran for the State House of Representatives at the age of 24. When first elected, he was the youngest member of the State House, twice elected by his peers to become the House Majority Leader. At the conclusion of his eighth term, Dave joined First Commonwealth Bank as their Regional President for the Pennsylvania Community Markets and today serves as their Pennsylvania State President.

PAUL R. STEINKE

RAY ZABORNEY During his more than a decade in politics, Ray Zaborney has played a key role in advising some of Pennsylvania’s leading political figures. Before co-founding Red Maverick Media, Zaborney served as a political strategist for some of the Republican Party’s top elected officials, party committees and corporate leaders. He and his team have helped lead Republicans to majorities across the country, including winning and protecting Republican majorities in Pennsylvania.

LAUREN VIDAS

SHARMAIN MATLOCK-TURNER Sharmain Matlock-Turner began her tenure as president and CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition in March 1999 with the special distinction of being the first woman to lead it. The Urban Affairs Coalition, formerly GPUAC, unites government, business, neighborhoods and individual initiatives to improve the quality of life in the region, build wealth in urban communities and solve emerging issues. In partnership with a diverse board of directors, made

RAY ZABORNEY

March 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

SHARMAIN MATLOCK-TURNER

up of business, nonprofit and community leaders, Ms. Matlock-Turner and her team of managers and more than 500 employees create partnerships and build consensus to help families reduce poverty and reach the middle class. Ms. MatlockTurner is co-founder and chair emeritus of the 22-yearold West Oak Lane Charter School.

WILLIAM PEDUTO

WILLIAM PEDUTO

DAVE REED

From 2014 to 2022, William Peduto served as mayor of Pittsburgh. Prior to that, he represented the East End (Ed/Med/Tech) District of the city from 2001 to 2013.

During this time, his district grew by over 10% – the only part of Pittsburgh to grow since the collapse of steel. From the late 1980s to mid 1990s, Peduto served over a dozen Pennsylvania Democratic candidates and elected officials through his company Allegheny Political Resources. His 27 years in city government is symbolized by Pittsburgh’s fall to the depths of near bankruptcy and return to prosperity and global economic recognition.

AL SPIVEY JR.

KEIR BRADFORD-GREY MICHAEL NEWMUIS

COZEN O’CONNOR; URBAN AFFAIRS COALITION; JOEL THOMAS

AL SPIVEY JR. Al Spivey, Jr., is a government relations and political affairs strategist with over 30 years of experience in campaign management, operations and issues management, having a reputation for winning elections, shaping public opinion and advocating for strong, engaged communities.

He served as chief of staff to Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. and led the councilman’s strategic and crisis communication efforts throughout his tenure. In 2016, Al was recruited to provide consulting to Morgan Cephas’ successful bid for the

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192nd Representative District and has been instrumental in winning campaigns for countless more Democratic candidates throughout Pennsylvania.

MICHAEL NEWMUIS Michael Newmuis is an accomplished executive with more than 15 years of achievement spanning economic development, public-private partnerships and organizational leadership.

As Chief of Staff at Greater Philadelphia’s award-winning tourism marketing agency, VISIT PHILADELPHIA, Michael drives inclusive growth strategies to support workforce development, small businesses and commercial corridors through travel, tourism and destination marketing.

Michael also contributed to major international events, including the 2017 NFL Draft, 2016 Democratic National Convention and 2015 World Meeting of Families commemorating Pope Francis’ first visit to the U.S.

KEIR BRADFORD-GREY Keir Bradford-Grey is a partner in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation Department. She concentrates on complex commercial litigation and white collar and government investigations and draws on her deep government experience to advocate for her clients in state and federal trials. As a trial and appellate attorney, Keir achieved record-breaking wins while defending high-profile clients at the state and federal levels.

Prior to joining her firm, Keir was the Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia. As the chief executive, she led a staff of over 500 and managed an annual budget of $50 million.

With God All Things Are Possible Mr. Philadelphia

With Pennsylvania Construction Power 75 Darrell K Choates Sr.

March 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

ZILLOWING THE KEYSTONE OUT:STATE EDITION WHETHER YOU want to reside amid the bustling, historic downtowns of the state’s biggest cities or prefer to live in a rustic getaway in a far-flung corner of the state, Pennsylvania’s got it.

Both city-dwellers and nature-lovers alike can appreciate the many attractions of the Keystone State. With the housing market facing record demand for available properties, City & State wanted to give you a sneak peek of the latest offerings on HarrisburGTV, featuring some literally unreal property listings.

Check out these unbelievable property listings for some of the commonwealth’s most notable attractions.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL

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By Harrison Cann

THIRD AND STATE BURG STREETS, HARRIS 06 • COMPLETED: 19 OF E IC • PR CONSTRUCTION: $3 million S: 45 • CAPITOL GROUND s re ac feet • 629,898 square

PGIAM/GETTY IMAGES

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OVERVIEW Commonly known as the workplace of the state’s bridge-namers, Harrisburg’s centerpiece features a 272-foot, 52-million lb. dome notable for being one of the few places in the commonwealth able to graciously accommodate the heads of the state’s leaders. This one-of-a-kind listing also comes complete with a delicious veneer of scandal. Upon completion, the project ended up costing the General Assembly three times the original appropriation, resulting in architect Joseph Huston and others being convicted of price-gouging. Aside from a past history of sketchy financials and minor flood damage, this building is a premier architectural feat perfect for anyone in central Pennsylvania looking for an American Renaissance-style residence close to Hersheypark.

FACTS AND FEATURES • Semi-functional escalators included • Parking: You’re on your own • Maximum Occupancy: 253

HOME VALUE • Seller is happy to pull up a chair (or minority chair) and hash things out

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CityAndStatePA .com

March 7, 2022

PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL

RE, 1 PENN SQUA PHILADELPHIA 01 • COMPLETED: 19 re ua sq 00 0,0 63 re • Mo feet

FACTS AND FEATURES • Largest municipal building in the U.S. • William Penn and Octavius Catto statues included • Ventilation system in need of upgrades • Four separate portecocheres

OVERVIEW If you’re a history buff, scroll no further! Among this beauty’s many silver linings is the William Penn-topped Philadelphia City Hall – how many homes do you know that come with their very own Calder sculpture? The world’s tallest building from 1894 to 1908, City Hall’s sometimes-rocky history goes well beyond

ONT 2035 NORTHRRFR RG STREET, HA ISBU 68 19 D: TE LE • COMP • PRICE OF CONSTRUCTION: $2 million NDS: • RESIDENCE GROU 3.5 acres et • 30,000 square fe

housing City Council, the mayor’s office and the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Even 12 monkeys can see that the brick, white marble and limestone exemplify the building’s Second Empire style and maintain the historic landmark’s retro look. With a location and history like this, who wouldn’t want to be trading places with the current tenants as soon as possible?

GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE

FACTS AND FEATURES • On-site parking • Rose and Rain Gardens • Two grand pianos included • A good deal on custom cabinetry HOME VALUE • Subject to FEMA designation OVERVIEW Known as home to eight different Pennsylvania governors and their families, the Governor’s Residence is a hidden gem along the Susquehanna River. The waterfront location offers great views, but it has been flooded three times, including during Hurricane Agnes in 1972, when Gov. Milton Shapp and his family

were forced to evacuate through five feet of water. But even if this neo-Georgian-style home isn’t a good fit for a governor, it may still be a good fit for you. Although Gov. Tom Wolf has continued to reside at his childhood home in York County during his time in Harrisburg, the residence is still buzzing today with beehives that produce about 90 pounds of honey per year.

STEPHANIE HOHMANN/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES; THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR TOM WOLF; NINA MCCAMMON; MICHELLE STEINHAUSER

HOME VALUE • Wait to make an offer until the next round of property tax assessments

March 7, 2022

AD, 1491 MILL RUN RO MILL RUN 39 • COMPLETED: 19 : ST CO • PRICE OF $155,000 NDS: • BEAR RUN GROU 5,100 acres

City & State Pennsylvania

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FALLINGWATER

FACTS AND FEATURES • UNESCO World Heritage Site • Lots of natural light • Hydropower-friendly HOME VALUE • The price has to be Wright

OVERVIEW This eye-catching listing’s historic place in architecture and design will have you falling all over yourself as you reach for your checkbook. Fallingwater, a home built over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Fayette County, was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as a weekend home for Edgar Kaufmann, the

AMISH FARM AND HOUSE

owner of Kaufmann’s Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh in the early 20th century. The revolutionary design, including a cantilevered structure to stabilize the overhang, utilizes organic architecture to blend the views of art and nature. Anyone with a passion for creativity and the wilderness would adore the hidden gem that is Fallingwater.

RED BRIDGE 2395 COVENC R DRIVE, LA ASTE rly Ea D: TE LE • COMP 1800’s res • GROUNDS: 15 ac FACTS AND FEATURES • Schoolhouse included • Energy-efficient • Free (and free-range eggs!)

HOME VALUE • Make an offer

OVERVIEW No tour of the commonwealth is complete without a trip to Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Located in Lancaster, the Amish Farm and House is a perfect place for anyone yearning for the days of yesteryear. The picturesque farmlands, gardens and animal meadows offer tenants a life that’s simple, but it’s honest

work. You can take a horse-and-buggy ride around the countryside to see the stream, corn maze, barbecue barn and more. To top it all off, the grounds include a must-have covered bridge, which was built in 1855. The nearly 300-year-old farm isn’t for everyone, but for nature- and animal-lovers. It’s a listing you just can’t afford to Amish.

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CityAndStatePA .com

December 2021

Q & A with

Jon O’Brien The Keystone Contractors Association executive director discusses the mission of the KCA and changes needed now in the construction industry.

By Justin Sweitzer

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S THE executive director of the Keystone Contractors Association, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Jon O’Brien is one of the most vocal voices in Pennsylvania construction.

O’Brien has spent decades advocating for the interests of construction companies throughout Pennsylvania.

In the following interview, O’Brien reflects on his work in the industry, examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed how business is done, and offers ways that state lawmakers can help construction workers and companies alike in the years to come.

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Tell me about the mission of the Keystone Contractors Association.

The KCA is a commercial construction trade association. We were founded in the 1940s to be a collective bargaining agent on behalf of contractors.

We’re the management side of the labor-management relationship in construction. Our original purpose was to help construction companies so they don’t have to go out on their own and negotiate union contracts. We get all the management firms together and negotiate together, and we work with the non-mechanical trades – we negotiate with the carpenters, laborers,

cement masons, operating engineers and bricklayers and millwrights. That was kind of our sole purpose. And probably for the first 20 years, that’s all we focused on; then, we shifted to include safety services. Today, we do a lot of marketing, promotion and worker recruitment – which is huge today.

Those are core services that we offer.

We kind of bill ourselves and market ourselves as being an extension of a construction company staff. Whatever they need, we’re here to help.

From your perspective, what are some of the most pressing issues facing the construction industry?

Tell us about your background.

After high school, I was in the Navy for four years, working in supplies – kind of an accounting role. And then I went to college – to Pitt – where I was a sports journalism major. Right after college, I started working for a painting society; I was a technical writer to certified bridge painters. I started out in the early 2000s. Then I worked for the Master Builders Association – a similar group to the KCA – for almost 15 years, which is when this job opened up. I grew up in Mechanicsburg and after college, I spent 20 years in Pittsburgh – and now I’m back.

December 2021

City & State Pennsylvania

How can state lawmakers help the construction industry?

MITCH HANNA OF THE BUTZ FAMILY OF COMPANIES

It seems like every attempt at legislation – it’s more rules. I constantly hear from the legislature, “Well your guys follow the rules, your contractors follow the rules. So we’re just creating more rules in hopes of catching these bad companies, these bad actors.” And I’m like, “Well, why don’t you just enforce what we already have on the books?” It just seems like there’s a never-ending search for more regulations and more rules for construction companies to follow and the bad actors aren’t following them in the first place and they’re already breaking the law by the way they operate. So why are we creating more laws for them to break and more laws for the good characters of KCA to follow?

The most pressing issue is probably the workforce, with retirements and trying to encourage and promote careers in our industry. I can remember having these conversations 20 years ago when I first got into the industry.

It seems to be getting worse … something’s got to give.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the industry?

I think on the positive side, we do have cleaner job sites and cleaner professionals and workers on the job sites. People are understanding germs and viruses more – that was

never really a big deal a couple of years ago. Other long-lasting effects are contracts. The material prices seem to fluctuate so much, so there’s closer attention being paid to that on the front end. Owners, when they hire contractors, they want to see the numbers that go up: “Lumber has gone up X amount, I want to see this firsthand.” You’re seeing a lot more open books and more transparency – I think that’s great – especially on the front end of projects.

What can be done to attract more construction and development to the state?

This is more on the real estate side when I talk to developers, but I constantly hear when they work with other states that those states are more welcoming, more owner-friendly. The permitting process is expedited. There was one developer telling me recently that he works in North Carolina – he said the same type of process for permitting to get your permits in North Carolina takes less than a month – and here you’re looking at like six months at least. So it’s little stuff like that – it kind of all adds up and it rubs people the wrong way. If I have options where I can go, why would I choose a place that could be a hassle? ■

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March 7, 2022

Mark Compton, CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, was the keynote speaker at the City & State PA Transportation Summit, held at the Hilton Harrisburg.

A recap of City & State’s 2022 Pennsylvania Transportation Summit More than 120 people packed the Hilton Harrisburg last month for City & State’s 2022 Pennsylvania Transportation Summit, which featured public officials, government affairs professionals and advocates discussing the state of Pennsylvania’s transportation systems and infrastructure – and how best to improve them.

M.R. GRUBER PHOTOGRAPHY

Seth Kaplan, transportation reporter and analyst for ABC27 News and for NPR’s “Here and Now,” moderated the second panel.

WITF’s Blake Lynch moderated a panel on the future of transportation.

March 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

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All three panels featured robust question-and-answer sessions with attendees.

More than 120 attendees packed the Hilton Harrisburg to hear three panels and engage in networking.

The first panel, which dealt with building sustainable and efficient transportation systems, featured, from left: moderator Al Spivey; Esteban Vera Jr., business manager of Laborers’ Local Union 57; Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.; state Rep. Tim Hennessey; and Andy Taylor, Cubic Transportation Systems senior director of global strategy.

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CityAndStateNY.com

November 22 – November 29, 2021

T

HERE ARE SO many ongoing crises within our communities and in our nation that take up much of the oxygen in our political arena. Whether it be the fight to end COVID19, rising rates in gun violence or disagreements on chamber floors — it seems like everyday something new is top of mind for legislators in both Harrisburg and Washington.

But there is a crisis that has long been brewing and impacting communities across our commonwealth, regardless of age or political affiliation. The student loan crisis is undercutting Pennsylvanians’ ability to prosper.

According to LendingTree, the average Pennsylvanian has $33,426 in student loan debt. This debt materializes to nearly 2.1 million borrowers in our commonwealth with average payments of around $300 per month. In addition, Black students take on student loan debt at higher rates, and also borrow greater amounts to fund their higher education.

This figure of the “average Pennsylvanian” is staggering, and yet, it’s something I, like so many of my constituents, live with every day. I have student loan debt that’s followed me my entire career, impacting so many of my decisions, from the jobs I’ve taken to the places I lived. It truly seems like a cloud hovering over your every move.

During this period of pandemic forbearance, Americans got a taste of the power of financial freedom without the weight of student loans.

While student loan payments have been temporarily placed on hold due to the pandemic, personally, I’ve been able to put more away than ever, and when I do choose to spend, my dollar goes further in the economy. These are tangible benefits to business owners and

WE CANNOT DELAY ADDRESSING THE STUDENT LOAN CRISIS It’s time to act.

By Morgan Cephas

State Rep. Morgan Cephas has pushed for more education funding for public schools in and around Philadelphia.

the long-term financial future of Americans.

Going to college was once something that was supplemental to high school, and a chance to get ahead. As the cost of college has skyrocketed and more careers become out of reach to high school graduates, so has the mountain of debt that students, families and graduates have to take on just for a chance to land their first job.

This system isn’t working, and we know it’s leaving bor-

rowers without options.

Just this past month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro settled with student loan processor Navient over allegations that they engaged in abusive practices and “targeted students who it knew would struggle to pay loans back.”

This is just one example of how student loans are working against young people and their families who are just trying to better themselves through higher education, and while

I’m grateful that borrowers in the Navient case will see some relief, there are communities across our state and millions across America who are still saddled with this type of compounding debt.

We can’t delay this any further. Millions of Pennsylvanians are held back by the weight of loans that just won’t seem to go away. This debt means that people put off some of the most important milestones of their lives, including buying houses, saving for critical emergencies, starting and growing families and even someday retiring. Addressing the student loan crisis is particularly important to closing the racial wealth gap.

Young Black graduates, with higher rates of debt, deserve a chance to start their own business, invest in their future through homeownership and accumulate savings for the unexpected “rainy day.”

With the anticipation of inflation and the rising cost of goods and services, the time has never been more critical for the student loan crisis to be addressed by our colleagues in Washington. The pandemic forbearance program has shown us the endless possibilities when Americans have the freedom to save, spend, and invest the money they earned.

As we approach the midterm elections, it remains critical now more than ever for the administration to deliver on its campaign promise and use executive power to cancel student loan debt and give everyone a fighting chance at true prosperity.

State Rep. Morgan Cephas is a Democrat representing the 192nd District in Philadelphia County. She sits on the Appropriations Committee and the Committees on Committees, Health, Insurance and Labor & Industry.

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COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES

COMMENTARY

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WEATHER: Philadelphia: partly sunny, highhigh of of79; cloudy, high of 78; Pittsburgh: mostly cloudy, 76. Ha cloudy, high of 78; Pittsburgh: mostly cloudy, high of FROM CITY & STATE

* Republican state Rep. Jim Cox has introduced legislation t FROM CITY & STATE

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Friday to impeach Philadelphia elections officials if they cou ballots from the May 18 primary, The Philadelphia Inquirer re

NEW THIS MORNING:

* With the state’s wide-open races for governor and U.S. Se shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Donald Tru * Republican thecontenders state House of Represent and leaders consideredof strong for the party’s nomination ated Press reports.

Friday to impeach Philadelphia elections officials if th

ballots from the May 18 primary, The Philadelphia Inq * Democratic state Rep. Amen Brown is crafting legislation t

get rid of a $5 copay state prison inmates are required to pa

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care after prison officials said inmates had avoided COVU * With the cal state’s wide-open races for governor and because of the fee, NBC Philadelphia reports. shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Don * Peoplestrong receiving contenders unemployment are about nom the and considered forconcerned the party’s weeklong shutdown of the online unemployment claims sys ated Pressoverhaul, reports.

Spotlight PA reports.

* U.S. Sen. Bob Casey called GOP senators who haven’t su * Democratic state Rep. Amen Brown is crafting legis January 6 commission, voting rights protections or gun con get rid of a“impediments $5 copaytostate prison inmates require change” in an interview withare MSNBC. care after prison officials said inmates had avoided C

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CityAndStatePA .com

ASK THE EXPERTS:

What to do with the prevailing wage?

Ask a construction worker: It’s a must.

By Justin Sweitzer

P

REVAILING WAGE laws may not get the attention that minimum wage debates do, but state and federal laws mandating certain wages and benefits for those working on public construction projects have been a point of contention between lawmakers, advocates and workers for years.

Both the state Prevailing Wage Act and the federal Davis-Bacon Act, passed in 1931, require construction workers to be paid a base wage – plus benefits – for any construction project that requires taxpayer dollars to complete. Proponents of the laws say the mandates result in higher wages and better standards of living, while critics argue that such requirements artificially inflate the cost of construction projects, leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.

City & State reached out to the following experts about the benefits and drawbacks of prevailing wage requirements: Frank Gamrat, executive director of the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy; Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council; Republican state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill; and Democratic state Sen. Christine Tartaglione, minority chair of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee. The following responses have been edited for length and clarity.

How does the state’s Prevailing Wage Act affect workers and the economy as a whole?

Frank Gamrat: For the economy as a whole, the prevailing wage law is more of a signal to employers who are looking to locate or expand. It signals that the state is not afraid to meddle in the affairs of private businesses by issuing mandates that will likely raise the cost of doing business.

It makes Pennsylvania very uncompetitive when compared to states that don’t have prevailing

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Phillips-Hill represents the 28th Senate District in York County.

Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law was enacted in 1961 to protect construction workers from out-of-state competition.

BGWALKER/GETTYIMAGES; SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

wage laws or right-to-work laws. As a result, Pennsylvania’s private job growth continues to lag the national average and that of states without such mandates.

Ryan Boyer: I think the state’s prevailing wage is a great law designed to protect area wages and standards to make sure that we don’t have unscrupulous contractors coming from other low-wage places, such as the South and the Sun Belt states. It rolled out area wages and standards. It gets workers more spending power, so it makes the economy more resilient. Here’s a fun fact about the prevailing wage in Pennsylvania: It was actually the small business contractors that wanted it because they wanted a fair shot at winning work.

When it was first enacted, it was to fight back out-oftown competition, mainly from the south and certain parts of Appalachia, so that we could protect the area wages and standards so the workers could actually have decent pay. I think that today, with the haves and have-nots, it’s actually more important.

Kristin Phillips-Hill: Pennsylvania has had a prevailing wage requirement in place for over 60 years. Our state and our economy have drastically evolved over the last six decades, but this requirement still remains in place. In York County, for example, an out-of-state contractor is working on a major interchange project.

The delay in the project has now exceeded the original project completion timeline. The project is now three years late. It’s unacceptable. If the goal of the original law was to protect Pennsylvanians from outof-state contractors, it has clearly failed the people of York County.

Christine Tartaglione: It contributes to the creation of high-paying, family-sustaining jobs, both union and non-union. It also allows for both non-union and union contractors and employers that provide quality wages and safer conditions to be competitive in the bid process for public projects. These laws have also helped retain talent in the construction industry.

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Tartaglione represents the 2nd Senatorial District, serving Philadelphia County.

State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have touted the state’s prevailing wage as a tool to create high-paying, blue-collar jobs with good benefits.

What positive impacts do prevailing wage requirements have for the state?

Frank Gamrat: Even though many groups support the repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act, there are other special-interest groups that are steadfast in their support of it. Davis-Bacon gives union contractors an advantage over non-union contractors in the bidding for government projects. Davis-Bacon not only dictates the wages that must be paid to workers on government contracts, but it also dictates the hourly price for “fringe” benefits. Fringes for union workers are programs that are paid from trusts that have been built from dues payments and are not subject to payroll taxation. However, for the non-union firm, the absence of such programs means that fringes must be paid directly to the employee as a supplement to the hourly wage and thus subject to payroll taxes.

Therefore, not only are non-union firms required to meet the wage being paid by union firms, but they must exceed them through fringe payments – and then must pay more in payroll taxes than their union counterparts. As a result, many non-union contractors pass on government projects, further biasing upward the cost of construction.

Ryan Boyer: It provides very high-paying, family-sustaining jobs with benefits so that the state of Pennsylvania doesn’t, in effect, subsidize some big companies. When you don’t pay people, then they become a drain on the state’s coffers. The prevailing wage rate says: “Let’s pay these people what they deserve, what the prevailing wage in the area is, and give them benefits – medical and health benefits – so that they become

The DavisBacon Act requires contractors to pay a prevailing wage.

self-sufficient and not a ward of the state.”

I think that’s important. When you have a good job, you send your kids to college, you spend more – all the tertiary effects – they’re unquantifiable. When people make a decent wage, they can actually do some investments, spending. They can invest in their children. They can invest in college.

We’ll just have a better citizenry.

Kristin Phillips-Hill: I think prevailing wage should be an option – and not a mandate – for public works projects. If the elected decision-makers believe the benefit outweighs the cost, that should be their decision. As a former school director, the last thing any school board official wants is an unfunded mandate. This legislation provides a resource to our local officials to address the significant budget constraints they are under and allows them to maximize the investment made by taxpayers to address the greater public need within their community.

Christine Tartaglione: The Prevailing Wage Act is crucial for protecting high-paying jobs across the commonwealth. It also helps indirectly by boosting the funds paid

into the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. When times get tough, workers need a strong safety net behind them.

Additionally, the health care benefits provided by prevailing wage jobs help reduce the number of individuals that apply for the state Medicaid system.

Critics of prevailing wage laws argue that they artificially inflate the cost of construction projects. What do you make of that claim?

Frank Gamrat: By their very existence, they are a mandated wage increase over what the market wage may be. But the real discrepancy happens when fringe benefits are added to the mix. Union contractors pay fringe benefits through programs that are run from trusts and are not subject to payroll taxation. However, for the nonunion firm, the absence of such programs means that fringes must be paid directly to the employee as a supplement to the hourly wage and thus subject to payroll taxes.

When adding the cost of the fringe benefits to the hourly wage, the average payment that is to be made to a worker under the prevailing wage law is pushed even higher.

Union conCity & State Pennsylvania

COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES; DAVID H. WELLS/GETTY IMAGES; U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

September 2021

Ryan Boyer: I think that’s a specious argument and it doesn’t work, because obviously when you have a prevailing wage, you have to fill out surveys and it’s the wages most frequently paid. It makes a fair playing ground so everyone could play on a level playing field. No one is getting exploited, so it also protects the worker against unscrupulous bosses. It’s a very fair and transparent system – everyone knows what everyone gets paid for every job.

Kristin Phillips-Hill: We need to learn from the experience of other states that embarked on the reforms that I am supporting. For example, Ohio exempted school construction from its prevailing wage requirements. They found an aggregate savings of nearly $500 million, or 10.7%, over a five-year period. This translates into more public projects being completed at a cost that respects the taxpayers who pay for these projects.

Christine Tartaglione: Prevailing wage laws don’t artificially inflate costs of projects – they show the true cost of completing projects correctly the first time while

tractors pay fringe benefits through programs that are run from trusts.

ensuring workers receive fair wages, safer workplaces and quality benefits. When unscrupulous contractors lowball bids, they don’t represent the cost of doing good business in Pennsylvania. They show what it would cost to cut corners and not provide safe and quality jobs. Furthermore, the vast majority of studies done comparing the costs of prevailing wages from states that have eliminated their prevailing wage laws show that there are no statistical savings on the overall cost of construction.

However, they do show lower wages, less insurance coverage, less retirement savings, and a significant reduction in investment toward apprenticeship programs. We must also remember that labor only makes up around 18 to 22% of the total cost of a project, while materials, fuel, equipment and engineering will make up a much larger share of the cost.

What impacts would a repeal of the state’s Prevailing Wage Act have on the state’s economy? What about workers?

Frank Gamrat: It would likely increase the number of jobs available and push wages upward without government intervention as firms compete for talent. We already see this competition result in higher wages as firms coming out of the pandemic have pushed wages up without that intervention. Furthermore, it would result in more construction projects being completed and more economic activity across the state.

Ryan Boyer: It would be horrible. You wouldn’t be able to get stuff done. Now is the absolute worst time as we face what people call the “Great Resignation” – I like to call it the “Great General Strike.” People have found that jobs that don’t pay good,

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family-sustaining, union wages and sectors like construction, like hospitality – it doesn’t even pay them to work because they’re not being paid adequate wages. So if you repeal the Prevailing Wage Act, you’ll have fewer workers, and the cost of construction will go up because workers aren’t working for sub-standard wages when they’re working on roads and bridges; they know how important it is to connect Pennsylvania together and keep our roads and highways safe. You want the best workforce to do that. Do you want a bridge put up with a worker that’s not getting paid his right rate? Just think about that.

Kristin Phillips-Hill: If you apply the Ohio changes to how we monitor school construction projects in Pennsylvania – the benefits for taxpayers and our public school system are incredible. For example, school districts here spent more than $7 billion in school construction and renovation projects between 2000 and 2010. If you apply the saving percentage realized in Ohio here, that would amount to an additional $700 million that could be refunded to the taxpayers, stave off school property tax hikes, or flow directly into the classrooms.

Christine Tartaglione: Repealing the Prevailing Wage Act would let the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Bad actors would underbid projects, and in turn underpay workers, which would decimate the middle class. It would also destroy apprenticeship programs and cripple local workforce development initiatives. It would also put workers’ safety in jeopardy ... If we repeal the Prevailing Wage Act, fewer unionized contractors and employers would be able to win bids for projects, making worksites less safe.

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December 2021

Troubling The Waters A new study finds that Pennsylvania could face over $1 billion in structural damage and related costs due to increased flooding in 2022 – more than any state except Florida.

By Harrison Cann

COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES

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A study from First Street Foundation found that Pennsylvania is at high risk for structural damage from flooding, both from natural and manmade disasters.

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NATE KRESGE/GK VISUAL

million in damages, and Harrisburg, with an estimated $148 million in damages, rank 11th and 15th in the nation, respectively.

Richard Vilello, deputy secretary of community affairs and development at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, said flooding has become a growing issue across the commonwealth.

“This is getting more and more serious every year,” Vilello told City & State. “One of the things that we’ve seen is the trend to more isolated flooding events, larger storms kind of parking over an area … neighborhoods that have never been flooded before getting flooded.”

Disaster relief funds and flood insurance are critical for businesses and property owners to facilitate the cleanup and recovery from flooding. Relief funds typically come from the federal government through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Depending on the size and impact of a storm or flood, emergency declarations can come from local officials, the governor or the federal government. Counties must meet individual thresholds based on population and the state must reach $19.6 million in damages to be eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Following the devastation from the remnants of Hurricane Ida last summer, particularly in the southeast, Gov. Tom Wolf called on FEMA to lower the threshold for federal aid.

“While my administration is working diligently to support recovery efforts, substantial gaps remain when these localized events do not meet federal damage assessment thresholds. As a result, victims are left to pick up the pieces with little to no financial support,” Wolf said in a statement at the time. “I’m requesting that FEMA adjust the thresholds to better reflect current weather trends that, as a result of climate change, are causing these intense rainstorms and impacting communities, including those that typically do not experience flooding.”

When asked what kind of response Wolf received, his office responded with the following: “We have not yet received a formal response from FEMA. However, Gov. Wolf continues to believe this is a necessary action to be considered as the frequency of these intense weather events increases as a result of climate change. We must be able to support Pennsylvanians impacted by this global crisis, which is why Gov. Wolf proposed a $10 million State Disaster Assistance Fund in his 2022-23 budget proposal.”

Ida is just the most recent example of Penn-

COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES

F

ROM JOHNSTOWN to the remnants of Hurricane Ida, almost every town in the commonwealth has a flood story.

In 1972, the remnants of Hurricane Agnes battered the Harrisburg area, causing more than $13 billion in damage in 2022 dollars and forcing Gov. Milton Shapp to evacuate the governor’s mansion. Just a few years later, Johnstown experienced the third most devastating flood in its history, resulting in 84 deaths and damages totaling $2 billion in 2022 dollars. Then, in 2004, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan swept through central Pennsylvania causing more than $300 million in damages.

While officials at all levels of government have worked to improve flood prevention, mitigation and recovery efforts in the decades since these disasters, a troubling new report indicates that they may still not be ready for what’s to come.

A study conducted by the nonprofit research and technology group First Street Foundation analyzing the potential impact of increased flooding has found that the commonwealth trails only Florida for potential structural damage, and that three Pennsylvania cities are at serious risk of office, retail and residential damage.

The foundation’s 4th National Risk Assessment on Climbing Commercial Closures takes into account the potential structural damage, lost days of operation and downstream economic impacts based on current and future estimates of flood hazards. The analysis, which measured the flood risks and impacts in metropolitan areas, found that Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg will face significant damage-related losses, and that Pennsylvania as a whole will see the second-highest aggregate total structural damage costs of $1.22 billion among all states this year.

“As flooding severity and frequency changes along with a changing climate, increasing commercial flood risk understanding is especially important,” according to the study.

“Understanding the flood risk to commercial markets is crucial to providing communities and policymakers the information needed to guide investment, mitigation and adaptation.”

In the Pittsburgh region, about 36% of all office, retail and multi-unit residential properties are at risk of flooding this year. The region’s total estimated damages amount to nearly $450 million – the third-highest in the nation. Philadelphia, with an estimated $208

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Experts say the issues related to water damage boil down to prevention, mitigation and recovery.

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sylvanians dealing with major flooding and water damage. What began as a Category 4 hurricane in Louisiana became Tropical Storm Ida by the time it made its way north and ultimately causing the Schuylkill River to crest just below its 17-foot record set in 1869, wreaking more than $100 million in public infrastructure damage.

Philadelphia-area businesses are getting more acclimated to dealing with flooding from natural and manmade disasters. A water main break in Center City Philadelphia in 2018 caused substantial damage to roads and businesses. It created about six inches of flooding and led to almost a year’s worth of repair work before several blocks of Sansom Street could be reopened. While the break stood out for its scope, such failures have become increasingly common: The city’s water department repaired 677 water main breaks in 2020 alone.

Jason Evenchik, owner of several Philadelphia restaurants, including Time and BAR on the 1300 block of Sansom Street that suffered significant damage from the break, said Time experienced about $275,000 worth of water damage. He said that although it took a month or two to reopen, the lack of foot traffic resulted in rev-

The dots represent the model’s expectation of flood risk in a given area, with darker dots representing increasing depth, severity, and likelihood of flood.

enue being cut in half for about six months before returning to pre-flood numbers – just before the pandemic hit.

“I don’t know why [the city] is spending money on river projects when there are infrastructure issues to deal with,” Evenchik told City & State. “These projects are going forward, yet there’s major infrastructure that needs to be taken care of … that’s being ignored.”

The issues related to water damage boil down to prevention, mitigation and recovery. The City of Philadelphia assists business owners in connecting with disaster relief funds, and, in the case of Ida, coordinated with FEMA on cleanup and property damage assessments, Karen Guss, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections, said in an email.

The federal infrastructure bill passed last year is expected to bring billions of dollars to the state to help address issues related to its crumbling infrastructure, storm and wastewater management systems and more.

With instances of flooding and severe storms expected to increase, government agencies must consider holistic approaches to not just react to floods, but be proactive in lessening the damage caused by

them, Vilello said. Having also served four terms as the mayor of Lock Haven, Vilello said that the study and response efforts fall short of identifying the impacts in smaller communities around the state.

“There are 2,500 other municipalities where this is an issue. It’s a growing issue,” Vilello said. “We really need to look long-term on resiliency, mitigation and prevention.”

The three Pennsylvania metropolitan areas examined in the National Risk Assessment have flood implications that go beyond the city limits. According to the study, areas near Philadelphia, like Levittown and Chester, are expected to experience the most significant increases in structural damage and lost operational days due to flooding. In central Pennsylvania, Enola, Hershey and Shippensburg are expected to experience similar upticks, and near Pittsburgh, Tarentum and West View are among the areas most at risk.

One of the groups tasked with combating this growing problem is the State Planning Board, which is comprised of local and business officials, legislators and agency leaders. It works with the governor’s office and DCED to prepare a land use and

FIRST STREET FOUNDATION; ALBERT LEE FOR THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

First Street Foundation Flood Map

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Water flooded the Schuylkill Expressway last summer after Hurricane Ida hit Philadelphia.

Many roads were closed, leaving drivers immobilized and people stuck for days.

The new infrastructure bill is expected to bring billions of dollars to the state to help address these types of issues.

growth management report every five years. Vilello said now the board is finalizing development and zoning recommendations to best handle flooding issues.

“There are places in the world that have done a better job. I mean, there are places in Europe that have flooded for years and have had levee systems and have dealt with it,” Vilello said. “We’re going to have to deal with it with the Delaware River, the Ohio River Basin in Pittsburgh, the Susquehanna River. All of that is going to be affected. We have to look generationally, not just for next year; we have to look, 30, 40 and 50 years down the road.”

The proactive measures are necessary because the reactive policies are very limited, Vilello said. In many cases, flood insurance may cover structural damage but not any damage done to equipment or inventory, meaning it would come out of the pockets of business owners. Business interruption insurance could offer more coverage beyond just the property damage, but that can also be pricey.

“They’re pretty expensive policies with a pretty high deductible,” Vilello said.

“That’s why we really lean on preventative measures and mitigation measures.

Following the devastation from the remnants of Ida last year, Gov. Tom Wolf called on FEMA for more federal aid.

Because after the fact, there’s not a lot of good coverage, there’s not a lot of good programs, and it’s a challenge getting up and running again for both businesses and communities.”

Evenchik joked that the loss of business following water damage was the “gift that kept giving.” While there are options to offer more relief grants or low-interest loans to businesses affected by flooding, loans aren’t helping the business owners in the long run.

“Low-interest loans basically kick the ball down the road,” Evenchik said.

“We’re still incurring debt.” He said officials should consider offering need-based grants to businesses that are struggling.

The study recommends government officials utilize the vulnerability data to adapt their strategies, particularly weighing the difference in impacts among urban and rural communities. It states the indicators are “useful for governments to understand the risk as it relates to their local tax base and to plan accordingly ... Outside of these investment concerns, the results provided here can be used as inputs for areas which hope to develop more comprehensive risk models, especially as related to economic impacts.”

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”This is getting more and more serious every year.”

– Richard Vilello

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EAS CARPENTERS Proud Sponsors of

The 2022 City & State PA Construction Power List

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters is part of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and is made up of over 41,000 highly skilled men and women living andworking in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Learn more at EASCarpenters.org William C. Sproule, Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Anthony N. Abrantes Asst. Executive Secretary-Treasurer

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March 7, 2022

City & State Pennsylvania

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THE 2022 CONSTRUCTION POWER 75 These are the people building and rebuilding the Keystone State.

T

HERE ARE PRECIOUS few industries whose effect on our daily lives can be felt, seen and experienced more than construction.

The roads we drive on, the bridges we cross, the malls we shop in, the places we live, the skylines we love – all are tangible examples of the impact the construction industry has had and continues to have in Pennsylvania.

Despite being hampered and, at times, kept in stasis for close to two

years by the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania’s construction industry continues to be an essential driver of the state’s economy, creating goodpaying jobs and offering a clearly defined path to the middle class.

City & State’s first Construction Power 75 list identifies the leading builders, contractors, public officials, construction managers, consultants, lawyers and advocates who are building – and rebuilding – the commonwealth.

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Knox is the owner of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, both of which were founded by her father.

of building materials in the country. In 2020, it did almost $4 billion in revenue and expanded into kitchen and bathroom textiles.

CHAIR & CEO

2

Day & Zimmermann

MAGGIE HARDY KNOX

Harold L. Yoh III oversees one of the largest companies on this list, the 121-year-old, Philadelphia-based Day & Zimmermann, which employs more than 50,000 people in more than 150 locations.

The family-owned company, which has annual revenue of $2.7 billion, specializes in all aspects of construction and engineering and staffing and defense. Over the years, Day & Zimmermann’s clients have included Hershey’s, the Phillies, NBC and the U.S. military. Yoh became

OWNER

CLIFFORD ROWE

84 Lumber

CEO

Maggie Hardy Knox runs 84 Lumber, the building supplies company founded in 1956 by her father, Joseph Hardy.

Knox took over 84 Lumber, headquartered about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh, in 1992, when she was only 27 years old. The company operates more than 250 stores and employs more than 5,000 people and is the largest privately held supplier

PJ Dick-Trumbull-Lindy Group

HAROLD YOH

3 A 40-year veteran of the industry, Clifford Rowe is a hands-on leader of all projects handled by the Pittsburghbased PJ Dick-TrumbullLindy Group, which calls itself Pennsylvania’s largest contractor. Trumbull and Lindy deal more with road construction, while PJ Dick consistently ranks as one of

the top builders whose recent projects include construction management and risk management services for the Tower at PNC Plaza, PNC’s corporate headquarters, PPG Paints Arena and UPMC hospitals.

4 ROSS MYERS CEO Allan Myers Another Pennsylvanian with construction in his DNA, Ross Myers runs the company his father founded with his grandfather in 1939, when they sold six dairy cows from their struggling farm to pay for the purchase of a dump truck.

JORDAN MILLINGTON

1

chair in 1999, following his father, “Spike” Yoh and his grandfather, Harold Yoh.

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City & State Pennsylvania

Myers joined the company in 1972, when the firm’s annual revenue was $200,000 and they employed just 20 people.

Now, with Myers’ two sons also in the fold, the company has grown into the largest civil construction and materials producer in the Mid-Atlantic region.

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Central Pennsylvania, as well as West Virginia and Maryland. Under Cleveland’s leadership, construction sites aren’t the only place to see its Caterpillar equipment at work: the company recently announced a multi-year partnership to become the “Official Heavy Equipment Supplier of Pocono Raceway.”

5 PAUL DETWILER PRESIDENT & CEO New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Paul Detwiler has served as head of New Enterprise Stone & Lime, a fifth-generation heavy construction contractor and supplier of construction materials, since 1972. Over the past five decades, he has continued to grow the company, which started with just one quarry. Last year, they added the construction material assets of Harrisburg’s Hempt Brothers. The firm provided concrete support risers for Beaver Stadium, PNC Park and Lincoln Financial Field. Thanks to his work, Detwiler has been inducted into the Pit & Quarry Hall of Fame.

6 THOMAS GILBANE JR. CHAIR & CEO

KEVIN BIRCH; LIUNA

Gilbane, Inc. Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr., the chair and CEO of Gilbane, Inc., knows the importance of keeping it all in the family.

The seventh family member to lead the company since it was founded in the 19th century, Gilbane has led the company’s expansion efforts in both the U.S. and international markets. Gilbane served as the chair of the ACE

Ryan is vice president and operations manager at Turner Construction.

Mentor Program of America, is a member of the National Academy of Construction, and serves on the board of advisors for the Institute for Family Entrepreneurship (IFE) at Babson College.

7 GREG RYAN VICE PRESIDENT & OPERATIONS MANAGER Turner Construction Greg Ryan has been with Turner since 1979, starting as an engineer in Philadelphia after graduating from Penn State University with a degree in architectural engineering.

Over the years, he’s worked in many areas of the company and was named a vice president in 2014, overseeing the company’s Pennsylvania

office, where he has been involved in projects for Allegheny Health Network and the Erie Insurance Arena. In his current role, he oversees all areas of the company’s projects in Philadelphia from start to finish.

8 JAY CLEVELAND PRESIDENT & CEO Cleveland Brothers Equipment Cleveland Brothers Equipment President and CEO Jay Cleveland is the third generation of his family to take the helm of this Central Pennsylvania heavy equipment firm that now services the commonwealth from the northeast corner all throughout Western and

Cleveland is a major supplier of Caterpillar construction equipment.

9 RYAN BOYER BUSINESS MANAGER Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council Following the bribery conviction of Philadelphia labor leader John Dougherty in November, Ryan Boyer was chosen to replace him as the business manager of the Building & Construction Trades Council for the Philadelphia area – the first Black man to serve in that role.

Boyer, who is renowned for his coalition-building skills, says one of his goals is to increase diversity in the building trades throughout the region.

10 GREG L. BUTZ PRESIDENT Alvin H. Butz, Inc. The third generation to head up this Allentown-based construction management

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13 DAVE GOSWAMI CHAIR & CEO Integrated Project Services

Vera is business manager of Laborers' International Union of North America Local 57, based out of Philadelphia.

company, Greg L. Butz follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in a family business that goes all the way back to building covered bridges in the Lehigh Valley.

Butz has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and an MBA from Lehigh University.

He now oversees some of the largest construction projects from central to northeastern Pennsylvania, from shopping malls to universities.

11 ADAM STASHICK PRESIDENT JJ White JJ White is a fourth-generation, family-run business, founded in 1920 and now led by Adam Stashick, who has more than 20 years of experience in all areas of construction. Stashick was named president last year, replacing James White, after the Clough Company completed its purchase of

the firm. Recent JJ White projects include the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and Aramark, in addition to working on the reactors for the Sunoco Low Sulfur Gas Project in Philadelphia.

When Dave Goswami took over Blue Bell’s Integrated Project Services in 2007, he changed the company’s mission from focusing on design and construction to solving a wide range of client issues. Under Goswami’s leadership, the firm’s expansion efforts continued in 2019 with a major investment in The Cardinal Group, providing a larger footprint in the life sciences and health care markets throughout the northeast, and again in 2021, with the acquisition of the consulting firm Linesight.

12 ESTEBAN VERA JR. BUSINESS MANAGER Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 57 In 2016, Esteban Vera Jr., a North Philadelphia-raised Army veteran, became the first Latino labor leader of a major Philadelphia union.

Local 57 has approximately 3,000 members, two-thirds of whom are Latino or African American. Vera represents and advocates for union members who work in roofing, cemeteries, road construction, lumber yards and scrap yards. Last March, Vera was appointed to SEPTA’s board

14 FRANK STULB PRESIDENT LF Driscoll In almost four decades with LF Driscoll, Frank “Mack” Stulb has risen through the ranks, from estimator to company president – a position he has held since 2005. Stulb, who led Driscoll to become part of Structure Tone International in 2009, helms this Philadelphiaarea construction firm with more than 4,000 employees

and 47 offices around the country through all aspects of the construction process.

Recent projects he has shepherded include the Wells Fargo Center, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Barnes Foundation.

15 FRANK SIRIANNI PRESIDENT Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council He started out as a journeyman glazier in State College, and now as president of the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, Frank Sirianni represents and advocates for 16 regional councils and tens of thousands of construction workers. His responsibilities include lobbying legislators on issues affecting his members and the industry. Recently, Sirianni came out against Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, claiming it would adversely affect electricity rates and member jobs.

16 THOMAS VERDERAME VICE PRESIDENT OF PRODUCTION IMC Construction Thomas Verderame, who has been in construction for 35 years, joined IMC Construction a decade ago and was promoted to vice president in 2017. A national, full-service construction firm, Malvernbased IMC has a varied client base that has commissioned recent projects from the firm that includes an office building in Philadelphia, the Vanity Fair

LF DRISCOLL

of directors, breaking ground as the board’s first Latino member.

BUILDING OUR REGION We are proud to be recognized leaders in Pennsylvania’s construction industry.

Congratulations to the GBCA members named in the Construction Power 75.

BENJAMIN J. CONNORS President & CEO General Building Contractors Association

LANCE CLAIBORNE Director, Industry Affairs General Building Contractors Association

A.T. Chadwick Company, Inc. Albert Chadwick

PJ Dick/Trumbull Corporation/Lindy Paving Cliff Rowe

Armor Masonry Restoration, Inc. Connie O’Shea

Pride Enterprises, Inc. Craig Williams Rosenberg & Parker Elizabeth Cervini

BFW Group LLC Blane Stoddart

Shoemaker Construction Co. Maura Hesdon

Bittenbender Construction, LP Emily Bittenbender Angela Vacante Gilbane Building Co. Shawn P Carlin Paul Choquette III Thomas F. Gilbane, Jr.

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

Haverstick-Borthwick Company William Cobb, Jr.

Skanska USA Building Jim Lane Target Building Construction, Inc. Richard Goodman Eileen Macario Patrick Pondok The Watson Organization, Inc. Ivan Watson

INTECH Construction Craig Sabatino

Torcon, Inc. Michael Armento

LF Driscoll Matthew Guinan John Haught Mack Stulb P. Agnes, Inc. Patrick Pasquariello III PDM Constructors, Inc. Craig Melograno

Turner Construction Company Greg Ryan 84 Lumber Maggie Hardy Magerko

Perryman Building and Construction Services, Inc. Angelina Perryman

@theGBCA

@GBCA

GBCA

@theGBCA

gbca.com

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Center in West Reading and the U.S. headquarters for Endo Pharmaceuticals in Malvern.

serving as president and Patrick as secretary/treasurer at the company, which is now headquartered in Crum Lynne.

Their diverse slate of projects includes work for UPS, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab, Wawa, Wal-Mart and the First African Baptist Church.

17 CRAIG SABATINO PRINCIPAL & CO-FOUNDER INTECH Construction Having co-founded the Philadelphia-based INTECH in 1986, Craig Sabatino now runs the construction firm, which has completed a wide array of projects, including the Philadelphia headquarters for Passage Bio, the Pennovation Lab for the University of Pennsylvania and the Graham Athletics & Wellness Center at William Penn Charter School.

Among the company’s current projects: a new space for the American Bible Society, an apartment building in Philadelphia and a hotel in Conshohocken.

Sabatino is principal and cofounder of the Philadelphiabased INTECH Construction company.

JIM LANE

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VICE PRESIDENT OF PRECONSTRUCTION

JOHN MASCARO, JR.

Skanska USA

PRESIDENT & CEO

RICHARD GOODMAN & PATRICK PONDOK

When Jim Lane joined Skanska USA’s Pennsylvania office as vice president of preconstruction, he brought a wealth of experience with him, including a 17-year stint with LF Driscoll as a preconstruction team leader.

Lane, who has more than three decades of expertise in preconstruction, and the health care and construction industries, received a BS in civil engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Among his projects: the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion Addition at the Franklin Institute, Fashion Outlets Philadelphia and Inspira Healthcare Network.

Mascaro Construction The Pittsburgh company Mascaro Construction was founded by John Mascaro Sr. in 1988. John Mascaro Jr. joined the company as a field superintendent and worked his way up through all areas of the business before taking the reins in 2007. Recent projects include Live! Casino Pittsburgh, renovations of Pittsburgh’s St. Paul of the Cross Monastery Church, the Carnegie Science Center, the Pennsylvania State Archive Building in Harrisburg and renovations to the Petersen Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh.

PRESIDENT; SECRETARY/ TREASURER Target Building Construction Richard Goodman and Patrick Pondok have come as a package deal for more than three decades – ever since they co-founded Target Building Construction together in Springfield in 1990. They have worked side-by-side ever since, with Richard now

STEPHEN MUCK CEO Brayman Construction In addition to his role as CEO of Brayman Construction, a firm specializing in building bridges, dams and other large infrastructure, Stephen Muck is a serial entrepreneur. During his career, he has either created or purchased some 20 businesses – including Brayman, which he acquired in his first leveraged buyout in 1993. That combined accounted for more than $200 million in annual revenue.

Under his leadership, Brayman has been named an ENR 400 Top Contractor and received an ENR Most Innovative Contractor award.

Muck oversees roughly $200 million in annual revenue at Brayman.

FELICIA PERRETTI PHOTOGRAPHY

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PAUL CHOQUETTE III EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Gilbane Building Company In his role as executive vice president for Gilbane, Paul Choquette III runs the company’s operations for the entire mid-Atlantic region – Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C. – a $500 million, 200-person endeavor. Choquette, a fifth-generation Gilbane family member, also heads the company’s Transition Planning & Management and Facilities Management Service consulting services. Outside the office, Choquette is chair of the ACE Mentor Program of Washington, D.C. and serves on numerous boards.

23 GARY MASINO PRESIDENT & BUSINESS MANAGER Local 19 As the president and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local Union No. 19, Gary J. Masino represents and advocates for more than 4,000 union members. His other leadership roles include serving as a general vice president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation

Workers, being appointed to be a board member of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board and being elected to be the assistant business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades.

24 YASSMIN GRAMIAN SECRETARY Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian is a rare example of bipartisan consensus: She was confirmed unanimously by the state Senate on May 27, 2020. Gramian leads her department through oversight of programs and policies affecting highways, urban and rural public transportation, airports, railroads, ports and waterways. Also under her purview: PennDOT and its annual budget of $9.5 billion dedicated to maintaining and improving 120,000 miles of highways and 32,000 bridges.

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Gramian is a professional engineer in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Florida.

totaling more than $6 billion in assets.

26 JAMIE VAN BUREN

27 WILLIAM SPROULE EXECUTIVE SECRETARYTREASURER

BENJAMIN CONNORS

PRESIDENT & CEO

PRESIDENT & CEO

PennStress

Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

General Building Contractors Association

Jamie Van Buren holds a unique place on this year’s Construction 75 list: the president and CEO of PennStress, a company focused on prestressed/ precast concrete, is also the only honoree who is a university entrepreneurin-residence – in his case, Carnegie Mellon. Van Buren has consistently applied his many years in the construction materials and heavy highway construction industry to create and acquire companies like PennStress, which he purchased in 2014.

William Sproule has been involved with carpenters for more than three decades.

In 1999, he became a council representative with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, which represents more than 40,000 carpenters from all different trade groups from New Jersey through Virginia.

Sproule’s responsibilities include overseeing collective bargaining agreements, growing work opportunities and setting council-wide policies. He also serves on

As the head of the General Building Contractors Association, Benjamin Connors is leading the 131-year-old organization’s strategic growth and the expansion of its services offered to member companies, from providing networking opportunities for members to advocating legislation beneficial to the construction industry and safety initiatives.

He serves as a trustee on training and benefit funds

ROSE NAVALTA/LOCAL 19 SHEETMETAL WORKERS UNIONS; COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES

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Congratulations to all 2022 awardees and our own Chairman, Craig J. “Sab” Sabatino, on being selected to City & State Pennsylvania’s Construction Power 75.

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numerous carpenter boards in Pennsylvania and throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.

Kimmel Cancer Center in Philadelphia and UPMC’s Outpatient Center in Western Pennsylvania.

28 PAT PASQUARIELLO CEO P. Agnes, Inc.

29 BRUCE FICKEN CHAIR, CONSTRUCTION LAW Cozen O’Connor As the leader of Cozen O’Connor’s Construction Law Group, Bruce Ficken has continued to distinguish himself, his group and his firm by his representation of clients in the construction industry, including dozens of successful trials and arbitrations. His work has been recognized repeatedly, including by Best Lawyers twice as the Philadelphia Construction “Lawyer of the Year,” by Lawyer Monthly as “Lawyer of the Year“ for Construction Law in the U.S., and by Law360, which named his group as “Construction Practice Group of the Year.“

Berrier is secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.

30 JENNIFER BERRIER SECRETARY Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Jennifer Berrier joined the Department of Labor & Industry in 2006 as assistant counsel and now heads the state department responsible for administering programs that have an important impact on the construction industry ranging from the Apprenticeship and Training Office, the Prevailing Wage Act, Construction Workplace Misclassification, Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code and Workers’ Compensation Workplace Safety Committees.

Prior to her current role, Berrier served as Deputy Secretary for Safety and

Labor-Management Relations, where her responsibilities included certifying the safety of buildings and building components.

31 TODD CASTRINOES VICE PRESIDENT Bluestone Communications Todd Castrinoes is the point person for Bluestone Communications, which focuses on telecommunications installation and maintenance services. Castrinoes leads operations for Bluestone, which is a subsidiary of Hatzel & Buehler, the oldest electrical contractor in the U.S. – founded in 1884. Bluestone’s recent high-profile projects include installations done for Jefferson Health’s Sidney

Bittenbender served as the first woman to chair the board of the GBCA.

32 EMILY BITTENBENDER OWNER Bittenbender Construction A graduate of Moore College of Art & Design, Emily Bittenbender started as an interior designer at EwingCole before becoming vice president of design and construction at the National Constitution Center. Since 2003, she has completed hundreds of projects throughout the region. Bittenbender says her commitment to diversity and bringing up the next generation of talent is what has led to the company’s success. Bittenbender is also the first woman to chair the board of the General Building Contractors Association.

33 M. DEAN MOSITES PRESIDENT & CEO Mosites Construction & Development When M. Dean Mosites’ grandfather immigrated to Pittsburgh from Greece in 1917, he started a painting business that his sons eventually expanded over the years into

COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES; HAPPY HOUR HEADSHOTS

The grandson of Pellegrino Agnes, who founded the Philadelphia-based, fullservice construction firm P. Agnes in 1918, Pat Pasquariello heads this family business – and a fourth generation is waiting in the wings. The company has done a lot of recent work for universities and hospitals, including the window renovation and replacement at the University of Pennsylvania’s historic Palestra, plus work at Drexel and Temple, Shriners Hospital for Children and more.

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City & State Pennsylvania

focused on expanding its reach beyond the state’s borders. As a result, this supplier of foundation equipment now has nine locations to answer the needs of contractors across the country and into parts of Canada as well.

36 ANDREW VOLOVAR PRESIDENT Walton & Company

As CEO at ECA, Kern has successfully expanded the company's reach.

a full-scale construction firm.

Mosites has built on the family legacy to head one of the largest contracting businesses in Pittsburgh, with more than 3 million square feet of leasable space for offices, retail, residential and more. Mosites’ recent projects include Ansys Hall at Carnegie Mellon University and the renovation of Pittsburgh’s Greenfield Bridge.

34 JOHN HAUGHT & MATT GUINAN

GITTINGS

VICE PRESIDENT; DIRECTOR LEED AP

major building projects like those at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Matt Guinan, who has been with Driscoll since 2004, is the company’s director LEED AP. In addition to leading the company’s efforts in creating green buildings that meet the stringent LEED specifications, Guinan is the treasurer for the nonprofit Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.

35 ROY KERN PRESIDENT & CEO

LF Driscoll

ECA

John Haught started as a project manager with LF Driscoll in 1994, ultimately working his way through the ranks to become a vice president at the company.

Along the way, he’s overseen

Roy Kern has been with ECA for more than 30 years, the last 18 of which he has spent as president and CEO. As the third generation to run this Coraopolis-based company founded in 1918, Kern has

Andrew Volovar heads up this York-based mechanical contractor and metal fabricator. He served as CFO of the company from 2003 to 2021, when he took over as president following the retirement of John Hettle.

As people try to return to work and school safely, one of the projects the company is working on is an environmentally friendly method of disinfecting buildings called “fogging,” which uses a CDC- and EPAapproved disinfectant.

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38 MIKE ARMENTO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Torcon Mike Armento has been part of senior management at Torcon for a quartercentury, and now serves as senior vice president. He has overseen 4.5 million square feet of construction since 2006 and now leads some $2 billion in projects out of the Philadelphia office. Recent projects at Torcon have included a major campus infrastructure efficiency project at Villanova University and work at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. In 2021 Armento became chair of the General Building Contractors Association, a Philadelphiabased trade organization.

37 ALBERT CHADWICK CEO A.T. Chadwick Albert Chadwick founded his eponymous Bensalembased mechanical contracting company in 1966 and has been cooling, heating and providing water to major buildings across the Delaware Valley ever since.

Recent projects include the installation of the plumbing at the Comcast Center, providing air conditioning to the Please Touch Museum, and installing the plumbing and HVAC systems for the Buerger Building at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

39 STEVEN WILLIAMS & LISA WAMPLER PARTNER; PARTNER Cohen Seglias If you’re involved in a major real estate dispute in Harrisburg and the surrounding region, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the name Steven Williams recommended to you. As the administrative partner for the law firm Cohen Seglias – and as its managing partner for its Harrisburg office – Williams

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40 MICHAEL SHIRK CEO The High Company As the CEO of the High Company since 2015, Mike Shirk brings a world of academic and real-world experience to his role at the family-owned firm. He previously was an executive at Armstrong World Industries and Bain & Company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bucknell University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree from MIT. Based in Lancaster, High

is now a diverse group of companies in multiple sectors of construction and real estate.

41 RAOUF GHALI CEO Hill International Hill International CEO Raouf S. Ghali, who has been with the company since 1993, leads this Philadelphia-based global player in full-service construction. Hill, with more than 100 offices around the world, is currently working on projects in Geneva, Switzerland, Washington, D.C., and, of course, Pennsylvania.

Under Ghali’s direction, Hill has taken on the renovation of the William J. Green Federal Building in Philadelphia, and in 2017, the company was chosen to provide construction management services for the new federal courthouse in Harrisburg slated to be completed later this year.

42 DARRELL K. CHOATES SR. CEO Choates Family of Companies The Minority Business Enterprise-certified Choates Family of Companies is anchored by CEO Darrell Choates Sr., who has overseen the rapid growth of both the organization’s core construction business as well as an expanding portfolio of other ventures. Choates, one of the four generations

Keating represents the third generation of the family to lead the Keating company.

Ghali is CEO of Hill International, which handles highway assessments for PennDOT and the PA Turnpike.

of his family working at his eponymous enterprise, has more than four decades of experience in the construction industry, which he draws upon when leading the company’s several large-scale development projects, the nonprofit Logan Community Enterprise Center and home health care ventures.

43 MARK MORRIS FIRMWIDE MANAGING PARTNER Fox Rothschild In addition to his role as the firmwide managing partner for Fox Rothschild, Mark Morris’ 35-plus years of experience specializing in real estate law, including everything from residential and retail projects to commercial developments and industrial parks, office buildings, make him the go-to lawyer for construction and development representation.

Morris, who has been with the firm for more than three decades, has been known to refer to himself as a “dirt lawyer” – a tongue-incheek way to underscore his expertise in real estate transactions.

44 SHAWN CARLIN VICE PRESIDENT Gilbane Building Company Since 2017, Shawn Carlin has overseen construction projects in Philadelphia and the surrounding area for the privately held Gilbane Building Company, which can trace its roots in construction back to 1870.

Recent projects include Live!

Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, the Temple University Multi-Purpose Health Science Center, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology. Previously, Carlin was a vice president for 21 years at P. Agnes Construction in Philadelphia.

45 PIERCE KEATING PRESIDENT, CHAIR & CEO Daniel Keating Co. Pierce J. Keating became president of his family firm,

HIGH COMPANIES; HILL INTERNATIONAL

is involved in virtually all aspects of commercial litigation, real estate, and construction law. Williams’ colleague, Lisa Wampler, performs similar functions in her leadership roles at the firm as co-chair of the firm’s Construction Contracts & Risk Management Group and as the former managing partner of the firm’s Pittsburgh office – the first woman in company history to hold such a role. Wampler, named a 2017 Distinguished Leader by The Legal Intelligencer, represents clients through all phases of the construction process.

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The Keating Company, in 1993, and added the chair and CEO titles in 2006. The Keating Company has been a prominent part of Philadelphia construction projects for more than a century, with Keating serving as the third generation of his family to run it. Recent company projects include the transformation of the Philadelphia Inquirer building into the Philadelphia Public Services Building, the renovation of Dilworth Park, and the construction of the La Salle University School of Business.

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City & State Pennsylvania

Over the years, Haverstick Borthwick has worked with Boeing, Verizon and Merck, as well as neighborhood churches.

50 KEVIN BOYLE BUSINESS MANAGER Ironworkers Local 401

Molotsky is a partner at Duane Morris, where he practices in the areas of real estate law.

BRAD MOLOTSKY PARTNER Duane Morris As the head of Duane Morris’ Project Development/P3 industry group and as one of the leaders of the law firm’s opportunity zones practice group, Brad Molotsky continues his focus on development. Before joining Duane Morris, where he is a partner, in 2016, Molotsky spent almost two decades at Brandywine Realty Trust in leadership roles. He has been named a national influencer in the Opportunity Zone space by OZ Magazine, General Counsel of the year by the Philadelphia Business Journal, and one of The Legal Intelligencer’s Pennsylvania Trailblazers.

SHOEMAKER CONSTRUCTION CO.

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Restoration couldn’t have picked a better base of operations than Philadelphia.

Company President Connie O’Shea, who heads up Armor’s general operations, brings more than two decades’ experience to her role. As the leader of a Certified WBENC Woman’s Business Enterprise formed in March 2013, O’Shea has driven her company’s growth and success through the successful completion of projects for companies and institutions like W Hotels, Princeton University and Pennsylvania Hospital.

48 STEPHANIE SCHMIDT PRESIDENT

CONNIE O’SHEA

Poole Anderson Construction

PRESIDENT

Poole Anderson Construction President Stephanie Schmidt, who has been in the construction industry for nearly 40 years, joined the company in 1999 and was named president in 2010. She is the chair of the Associated

Armor Masonry For a company dedicated to the restoration and preservation of historic buildings, Armor Masonry

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Builders and Contractors National Board of Directors, a national trade association representing more than 21,000 member companies. Poole Anderson projects can be found on the Penn State and Bucknell campuses, as well as in health care and commercial real estate.

Kevin Boyle started as a representative for Local 401, a chapter of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Ironworkers, in 1986 and became business manager in 2017. In his role, Boyle supports ironworkers, and in their roles, ironworkers support skyscrapers, bridges and roads across the state through their installation of structural steel and iron. A graduate of Delaware Valley University, Boyle is skilled in negotiations, budgeting, value engineering and customer service.

49 WILLIAM COBB PRESIDENT Haverstick Borthwick Celebrating its 100th year in business this year, this Plymouth Meeting-based contractor/construction management company has one of the most experienced teams in Pennsylvania. That includes company president William Cobb, who has more than 50 years of construction experience himself. Cobb’s father ran the company until he retired in 1987 – before that, Cobb’s grandfather was at the helm – and his brother Arthur is company vice president.

51 MAURA HESDON GENERAL MANAGER Shoemaker Construction Maura Hesdon joined Shoemaker Construction in 1999 and is now general manager for the company’s greater Philadelphia area operations. She has overseen more than $1 billion in projects across all areas of construction, and in

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54 PRESIDENT & CEO

56

BFW Group

JON O’BRIEN

Blane Stoddart’s résumé has taken him from the Wharton School to Goldman Sachs to a West Philadelphia community development group to Innova Services. Now, Stoddart works on urban economic challenges and development/ equity/inclusion initiatives with EConsult while also overseeing the development company BFW, which he co-founded in 2009 to create sustainable, cost-efficient construction projects. Recent projects include the Mormon Temple in Philadelphia and Penn Medicine’s New Patient Pavilion.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BLANE STODDART

her present role, provides executive leadership in all phases of work. Hesdon also serves on the board of directors of the General Building Contractors Association and is one of the founders of MAGIC (Mentoring a Girl in Construction).

52 ANGELINA PERRYMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION Perryman Construction Angelina Perryman is the third generation of the Perryman family to work in the company her grandfather started in Philadelphia in 1954. In her current role, the Temple graduate manages contracts, risk avoidance, human resources, technology and strategic planning. Recent Perryman projects include the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Community Health and Literacy Center, the Phillies team store at Citizens Bank Park, parking garages at the Philadelphia Zoo, and parts of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

53 KEVIN LOFTUS FOUNDER & PRESIDENT Loftus Construction After banking several years’ worth of experience being part of high-profile heavy construction projects, Kevin Loftus formed his eponymous construction company in 1994.

Almost 30 years later, Loftus Construction has flourished by offering everything from turnkey solutions to preconstruction services to full-bore construction.

Loftus has led his firm to win contracts for prominent projects like rehabilitating the oldest bridge in the U.S., which resulted in his firm winning an American Society of Highway Engineers Project of the Year award.

55 CLAYTON MITCHELL

Keystone Contractors Association Jon O’Brien heads the Keystone Contractors Association and its more than 100 members dedicated to growing and improving construction in Pennsylvania.

O’Brien and the association advocate on issues ranging from opioid awareness and workplace safety to government relations and developing the construction workforce of the future.

O’Brien, who has been on the job since 2016, is also responsible for the group’s strategic planning and working as a liaison between construction entities and the government. He also co-hosts The Building PA Podcast.

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, REAL ESTATE & FACILITIES Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health When the coronavirus pandemic created unprecedented stressors for Jefferson Health System and its related academic facilities, Clayton “Mitch” Mitchell was the person charged with leading the digital transformation for work and classes during COVID times.

Alongside a staff of 400, he also executed Jefferson’s real estate and facilities strategies.

At Jefferson, Mitchell uses his degree in civil engineering and

Raising the profiles of women in construction has been a Perryman priority.

57 DAVID DAQUELENTE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania As head of the Master Builders’ Association of Western Pennsylvania, David Daquelente serves as a leading voice for constructionrelated issues while focusing on supporting the commercial

INTVNETWORK, LLC; MASTER BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, INC.

Stoddart is president and CEO of BFW Group, which he co-founded in 2009.

his time in the U.S. Navy, where he worked on more than $7 billion in facilities projects.

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construction industry in the region. The association, which dates back to 1886, was recognized a century ago as one of the founding chapters of the Associated General Contractors of America, which now represents more than 33,000 contractors across the country.

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60 MARIA COUTTS

BUSINESS MANAGER

As president of the Coutts Group, a Hawley-based, family-owned home builder, since 1995, Maria Coutts has partnered with her husband Kevin to make their firm one of the top builders in Northeast Pennsylvania, responsible for building three communities in Pike County and Wallenpaupack Estates in Wayne County. The Coutts Group builds yearround and vacation homes in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Coutts, a licensed Realtor, was the 2019 president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association.

59 GEORGE PEGRAM BUSINESS MANAGER Plumbers Local 690 In November 2020, George Pegram, who had long been a business agent for Plumbers Local 690, replaced John Kane (now a state senator representing Delaware County) as its leader. Now in its 91st year, Local 690 represents plumbers working in the heavy industrial, commercial and residential sectors of the construction industry. Pegram oversees all operational aspects of the union, including making

Sloan is president of the Pennsylvania Builders Association.

PRESIDENT The Coutts Group

A member of Iron Workers Local 3 for nearly 50 years, where he also served 13 years as business manager, Tom Melcher became business manager of the Pittsburgh Regional Building & Construction Trades Council in 2018. In addition to his stated goal of supporting, advocating and growing the building trades unions in the western part of the state, Melcher also serves as vice president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and co-chair of the Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania.

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sure members complete a 5-year apprenticeship program that mandates more than 1,000 hours of classroom work and 10,000 hours of on-the-job training.

TOM MELCHER Pittsburgh Regional Building & Construction Trades Council

COURTESY OF PBA

City & State Pennsylvania

61 CATHY SLOAN PRESIDENT Pennsylvania Builders Association Cathy Sloan has been involved in home building for three decades and became the Pennsylvania Builders Association's 72nd president on Jan. 1, 2022, replacing Cindy Capko. She has stated she will advocate for association members by promoting and protecting the home-building industry through efforts in networking, education, lobbying and membership. Sloan has also served as the head of the Home Builders Association of Berks County since 2017.

62 LAWRENCE F. WILLIAMS II EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Philadelphia Chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors While its national parent organization was founded in 1969, the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Minority Contractors was begun in 2002, with the goal of advocating for minority contractors in the region. The nonprofit offers networking, education and training events to increase the visibility of its members. As the principal of his own firm, NRM Construction management, Williams, a licensed insurance broker and associate of risk management, uses his expertise for the benefit of his clients and to help minority contractors grow their companies.

63 ANGELA VACANTE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Bittenbender After serving in five different positions with Bittenbender

Construction since joining the company in 2007, it’s safe to say that Angela Vacante has earned her title as COO and partner. As a key part of the Philadelphia region’s first 100% female-owned and operated general contracting construction firm, Vacante, who graduated from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a degree in business administration and legal studies has helped the company increase its annual revenues from $11 million to $70+ million.

64 EILEEN MACARIO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Target Building Construction When it comes to dealing with anything and everything financial at Delaware Countybased Target Building Construction, the buck invariably stops with Eileen Macario, the company’s chief financial officer. From cash flow and reporting requirements to relationships with financial and IT partners, Macario is a key part of the team behind recently completed projects for clients like SAP, M&T and Citizens Bank.

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management, finance and accounting.

69 CAMERA BARTOLOTTA & CHRISTINE TARTAGLIONE

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CHAIR; MINORITY CHAIR State Senate Labor & Industry Committee Tartaglione has represented the 2nd District in Philadelphia since 1995.

DIRECTOR OF SURETY OPERATIONS Rosenberg and Parker Elizabeth Cervini, the director of surety operations for Rosenberg & Parker, brings over a decade of experience in surety underwriting to her leadership role with the Delaware County-based surety bond broker: Before coming to the firm, she worked at the largest privately-held surety, International Fidelity Insurance Company. A recent 40 Under 40 honoree by the Construction Financial Management Association, Cervini also served as president of the Philadelphia Surety Association for five years.

66 LANCE CLAIBORNE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY RELATIONS GBCA Lance Claiborne, the director of industry relations for the Philadelphia-based General Building Contractors Association, wears a number of hats. He is the organization’s go-to answer man for members about politics, labor and association relations. His expertise in government relations – he held a number of positions with the

City of Harrisburg – means he is called upon to represent GBCA and its members during interactions with politicians like Philadelphia City Council members. The Carnegie Mellon graduate was a 2019 recipient of the Association Trends Leading Association Lobbyist award.

67 ELIZABETH BALDWIN CHIEF CODE ENGINEER Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections If you want to get a construction project going in Philadelphia, then you will be dealing with Elizabeth Baldwin at some point in the process.

Baldwin, who oversees the city’s codes for buildings, brings more than 20 years of public-sector experience to her job, including 15 years in Licenses and Inspections. She has a civil engineering degree

from Drexel University and serves on the state’s Uniform Construction Code Review & Advisory Council.

68 YAEL TACHER PROGRAM COORDINATOR Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Yael Tacher runs one of the more innovative programs devoted to improving the prospects of minority- and women-owned businesses to win contracts in both the public and private sectors.

As coordinator of programs for the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tacher runs the organization’s Build Latino initiative, which helps small businesses in the construction industry learn and master the process, as well as connect them with industry leaders in contracts, project

Baldwin brings more than 20 years of experience to her job as an engineer.

Among the many roles and responsibilities state Sen. Camera Bartolotta has taken on since winning her seat in 2014 has been her appointment to chair the chamber’s Labor & Industry Committee. Bartolotta, who represents constituents in Beaver, Green and Washington counties, is joined by her Democratic counterpart, state Sen. Christine Tartaglione, the committee’s minority chair.

The veteran lawmaker first won election to represent residents of Northeast Philadelphia in the state Senate in 1994. Together, the two work on flashpoint issues like worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation, workplace safety, building codes and workforce development.

70 JIM COX & GERALD MULLERY CHAIR; MINORITY CHAIR State House Labor & Industry Committee In 2007, State Rep. Jim Cox first took office to serve the people of the 129th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives. In addition to focusing on issues like property tax reform and increasing transparency in the legislative process, since 2019, he has been the chair of the chamber’s Labor & Industry Committee, where he oversaw

DREW SENTIVAN; SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS

ELIZABETH CERVINI

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passage of bills that created workforce development initiatives and programs. He shares the committee with Minority Chair Jerry Mullery.

Mullery, who is not seeking reelection this year, has devoted his remaining time in office to push for workplace safety, good jobs and strong unions.

City & State Pennsylvania

Williams is founder and CEO of the Norristownbased firm, Pride Enterprises.

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Record’s "2020 Mid-Atlantic Specialty Contractor of the Year." Recent projects include renovations of the Wells Fargo Center common areas, the expansion of the Mount Airy Casino Resort and the expansion of the King of Prussia Mall.

74 CRAIG WILLIAMS FOUNDER & CEO Pride Enterprises

71 JESSICA MEYERS OWNER JEM Group

PAUL CSIHAS

The Camp Hill-based construction services firm JEM Group was founded by Jessica Meyers in 2003 after she spent a decade working for others in the construction industry.

Recent projects include the rebuilding of the entrance to Hershey Park, renovations of the Iberian Lounge at the Hotel Hershey and guest room renovations at the Hershey Lodge, exterior renovations to the REI in Mechanicsburg, renovations to I-81 rest

stop areas, and a major expansion of the SchaedlerYesco Distribution Center in Harrisburg.

72 SEAN MCDERMOTT PARTNER Precision Mechanical Sean McDermott has been with Precision Mechanical Services since its founding in 2007. McDermott, a partner in the Malvern-based company, which specializes in HVAC, heads efforts on consultation and installation of refrigeration

McDermott has been with Precision Mechanical since its founding in 2007.

and process piping for sectors like health care, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and research facilities. Recent clients include the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania, Johnson and Johnson and Bryn Mawr College.

Craig Williams took over and reinvigorated his father’s construction business in 1996.

Recently, his Norristownbased firm oversaw construction on Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School and worked with Gilbane on building Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. Pride is also involved with Phase III of the Schuylkill River Park Trail and has worked with the University of the Sciences, among others. Pride has a program to ensure that contractors and neighborhood workers are involved with local projects.

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73

IVAN WATSON

CRAIG MELOGRANO

Ivan Watson’s minority-owned company made a big move in 2020 when he formed a joint venture with the Pittsburghbased PJ Dick to create a full-service construction firm for the Philadelphia area. PJ Dick’s Exton office will help the Watson Organization grow by drawing on its resources and experience with projects totaling more than $12 billion.

Recent Watson clients include Comcast, Citizens Bank Park, Exelon and the University of Pennsylvania.

PRESIDENT PDM Constructors & Durapods Since Craig Melograno became president of PDM Constructors & Durapods in 2007, he has focused on expanding the business beyond its origins as a drywall contractor. In 2020, the North Wales-based company was named Engineering News-

PRESIDENT & CEO Watson Organization

46 CityAndStatePA .com

March 7, 2022

CITY & STATE PENNSYLVANIA MANAGEMENT & PUBLISHING Publisher Susan Peiffer speiffer@cityandstatepa.com Group Publisher Tom Allon Event & Sales Director Lissa Blake Vice President of Operations Jasmin Freeman Comptroller David Pirozzi

Who was up and who was down last month

CREATIVE Creative Director Andrew Horton Senior Graphic Designer Aaron Aniton Photo Researcher Michelle Steinhauser Junior Graphic Designer Izairis Santana

THE BEST OF THE REST

DR. MEHMET OZ The prognosis for celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz’s U.S. Senate bid looks pretty good right now, based on a new poll from The Trafalgar Group on Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race.

The survey found that 27% of likely GOP voters would support Oz in the Republican primary, giving him an 11-point lead over the second place candidate, Dave McCormick.

MARIA MONTAÑO Maria Montaño made history last month after she was named press secretary for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

A former communications specialist for SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, she has experience helping workers across the state form unions. Now the first openly transgender press secretary for the mayor’s office, Montaño said that in this new role, she has vowed to “listen to everybody,” echoing Gainey’s promise to create a more inclusive city.

SUSAN WILD There are plenty of winners and losers this year, all thanks to the new congressional map picked by the state Supreme Court in February. One incumbent whose reelection effort just got harder is U.S. Rep. Susan Wild. The Lehigh Valley Democrat will be facing more pressure this cycle as her district now includes the conservative Carbon County.

THE REST OF THE WORST

LEIGH CHAPMAN The Department of State, led by acting secretary Leigh Chapman, was a noshow at a Senate State Government Committee hearing on election reforms last month. State Sen. David Argall, a Schuylkill County Republican, ripped Chapman for not engaging with the legislature. Argall said it was not a case of “government that works” but of “government that doesn’t even show up.”

MARK ORNSTEIN Mark Ornstein was set to testify in February as a witness for legislative leaders in the state’s landmark school funding trial, but it was ultimately not to be after Dan Cantor, an attorney for the petitioners, pointed out that certain portions of Ornstein’s expert report were allegedly copied from other sources without citations, according to a report from LNP. Put another way, Cantor said they were plagiarized. Ornstein was eventually withdrawn as a witness from the case.

ADVERTISING advertising@cityandstatepa.com Senior Sales Executive Michael Fleck mfleck@cityandstatepa.com Sales Executive Frank Feinberg ffeinberg@govexec.com Media Sales Associate Matt Syrvalin msyrvalin@cityandstatepa.com Sales and Events Coordinator Laura Hurliman events@cityandstatepa.com DIGITAL Digital Director Michael Filippi mfilippi@cityandstateny.com Marketing & Special Projects Manager Caitlin Dorman cdorman@cityandstateny.com Digital Marketing Associate Ben Taha ADVISORY BOARD Chair Michael Days Board members Keir Bradford-Grey, Samuel Chen, Joseph Hill, Mary Isenhour, Lindy Li, Teresa Lundy, Sharmain Matlock-Turner, Michael Newmuis, Dennis Owens, Bill Peduto, Dave Reed, Al Schmidt, Matt Smith, Paul Steinke, Al Spivey, Brian Tierney, Lauren Vidas, Ray Zaborney

Vol. 2 Issue 3 March 7, 2022 THE

CONSTRUCTION POWER

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Pennsylvania could be the second-most flooded state in 2022 – can anything turn the tide?

WATER HAZARD CIT YANDSTATEPA .COM

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March 7, 2022

Cover illustration: Alex Law

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LOSERS CONOR LAMB U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb has entered 2022 in a strong position. The U.S. Senate candidate came close to receiving the state Democratic Party’s endorsement last month, had more than $3 million in the bank heading into the new year, and this month, he earned the support – and financial backing – of a super PAC tied to political strategist James Carville.

OUR PICK

OUR PICK

WINNERS

You know what they say, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. In this case, the month’s coming in strong for one lamb, Conor. Much like the end of the winter season, some officials are dealing with a cold and stormy political climate, while others are seeing clear skies ahead. And as we get closer to the primary election, things are only expected to heat up. Here are some people who are springing forward and others who could be in for a slow march.

EDITORIAL editor@cityandstatepa.com Editor-in-Chief Jenny DeHuff jdehuff@cityandstatepa.com Senior Editor Greg Salisbury gsalisbury@cityandstatepa.com Senior Reporter Justin Sweitzer jsweitzer@cityandstatepa.com Staff Reporter Harrison Cann hcann@cityandstatepa.com

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HONORING DISTINGUISHED WOMEN IN PENNSYLVANIA This March, City & State PA will recognize exceptional women in Pennsylvania for their accomplishments across various sectors including politics, media, education, nonprofit, and beyond with a special edition magazine and awards event in Philadelphia. Join us as we shine a light on these powerful women who distinguish themselves in their respective industries with a night of networking & celebrating!

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