Mr. C celebrated his 90th birthday on June 18th, within days of the company’s 60th anniversary. Reflecting on the time over the last 60 years brings many great memories. The first memory associated with the business was riding on the back of a small motorcycle to the first Watertown office, a two- car garage at 265 Pleasant Street. Mr. C was around 35 and I could not have been any older than 5 or 6, just old enough to be able to hold on. We lived at the other end of Bridge Street and at that time, there was only a footbridge, and the bike saved time by not having to back track through Watertown Square.
My Uncle Joe kept me busy by having me clean the ends of the junk copper, and wire brushing pipe wrench teeth with WD 40. Another shop favorite was repainting the used sanitary and storm cast iron fittings with asphalt for reuse. When I was 16, I was indentured as an apprentice with the state and worked on multiple projects, in all trades over the course of six years. One time while working at a new office building for Prime Computer, the plumbers left me in the bathroom cutting water closet bolts and installing toilet accessories and laughed when I worked through coffee. The next day I did not forget to wear my watch. The following summer, I worked with the pipe fitters at Walpole high school and spent weeks demolishing hundreds of cast iron radiator connections with a three pound hammer. Talk about getting your bell rung.
We worked very closely with Harrington Brothers, and they let me help out too, installing sheet metal flues and small ventilation duct work. Throughout these years, I went to many industry events and customer offices with Mr. C and met many industry professionals and masters of their trade.
The company started to self-perform Fire Protection in 1985. I would estimate and design using the pipe schedule design method. After seeing unsatisfactory cost reports on my first such project, Mr. C said: “get in the car, we’re going out to 35 Kneeland to have a word with the foreman.” After the brief meeting, the foreman quietly put his hand on my shoulder and said, “hey kid, I didn’t tell your father, but we had to recut almost every piece of pipe. Do me a favor and stick to estimating from now on.” He was a true gentleman for sure.
Building the company, my father was a tough cookie to say the least, but always there to support me, my brothers, and all employees.
This learning experience at a very young age is a gift that I will always cherish: The craftsmanship and knowledge in the trades; humility that everyone has good ideas to share; and most of all action with attention to detail and sense of urgency in business.
There is a tremendous sense of pride in a 60th anniversary. It is very rewarding to see continuous improvements coming from all projects, groups, and individual contributors alike. This positive culture of teambased trust is what will drive our success well into the future.
Please stay safe this Summer and thank you for your continued support!
John
It’s been a bit since the last update, but we are halfway through the year. Compared to last year we have improved, however, the bulk of our incidents came in the summer months (July/ August) last year and hit their peak in September. As the weather gets warmer, we tend to see an increase in eye incidents and lacerations due to lack of PPE use, but summer distractions also play part to the increased incident rates. We need to address those incidents before they happen by raising awareness. Make sure that we are focused and reminding folks of the fundamentals each day. We all want to be able to enjoy the summer months while
they are here and not to be out or injured due to a work accident. Hold others accountable so they can go home at the end of the day and enjoy the rest of summer. Let’s keep up the good work and incidents down!
I would also like to mention that we will be starting our safety committee back up in July. Last years group consisted of a mix of Field and Project Managers (see attached). The goal of the committee is to review and get feedback from recent incidents, develop corrective actions, and hear feedback on overall safety within the company. I would like to recognize and thank those
past members, as well as open it up to new members for the remainder of 23’ and into 24’. We will be working with Supers and Operations to select the new committee in the coming weeks, if you feel inclined to volunteer and have a voice in the company’s safety efforts, please let me know (don’t all jump at once)!
Let’s have a safe rest of summer!
Thank you, Matt
2023 in numbers
3 Hours worked 803,818
8 Lost Days
Total Injuries
43 Recordable Injuries
BCH
Karp 7, 9, 12 Atrium Reno
Wise Construction Corp.
Plumbing SPG, HVAC Sheet Metal
BCH
Ophthamology Reno - 1AU6
G Greene Construction Co
Plumbing SPG, HVAC SPG, HVAC Sheet Metal
BCH
Cardiology Offices FA1, FA2, BA2, BA6
G Greene Construction Co.
Plumbing SPG
BCH Waltham
Level 4 Cardio Echo Expansion
Wise Construction Corp.
Fire Protection SPG, Plumbing SPG
BCHW
Level 5 Infusion & Sterile
Pharmacy Reno
Wise Construction Corp.
Plumbing SPG
BMR
585 Kendall
Suffolk Construction Company Fire Protection
BWH
221 Longwood - Bay 1 MRI Upgrade
Wise Construction Corp.
HVAC Sheet Metal, Fire Protection SPG, Plumbing SPG, HVAC Pipe SPG
Consigli Office Expansion
313 Congress 4th Floor
Consigli Construction Co., Inc
Fire Protection SPG
DFCI
YCCC 1 & Smith 3 Updates - Phase 2
Wise Construction Corp.
Fire Protection SPG, Plumbing SPG, HVAC Sheet Metal, HVAC Pipe SPG
DFCI
10BP 1st Floor Office Reno
Wise Construction Corp. Fire Protection SPG
DFCI
DL1 CT Replacement
Walsh Brothers, Inc
Plumbing SPG, Fire Protection SPG
Eversource
71 Linwood Olsen Construction Services, LLC Fire Protection
FSB
Terminal E Modernization
Massachusetts Port Authority
Plumbing
ISOC
One Congress - Phase II
Elaine Construction
Fire Protection
Logan
Terminal E Modernization
Holt Construction Corp.
Plumbing SPG
Logan
Sal’s Pizza Quick Serve - Terminal E
Holt Construction Corp
Plumbing SPG, Fire Protection
MPA
Terminal E Modernization
Massachusetts Port Authority
Plumbing SPG
MGH
Mass Spec Room Reno
F.L. Caulfield & Sons Inc.
Fire Protection SPG
MGH
Gray/Jackson Homeless
Outpatient Care Reno
Turner Construction Company Plumbing SPG
NU
West Village G Dorm Reno
Turner Construction Company
HVAC Sheet Metal
NU
White Hall Interior Reno
Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Fire Protection SPG
NU
Dodge Hall Classroom Reno
Turner Construction Company
HVAC Sheet Metal
Sanofi
CCX Level 4 Reno
Consigli Construction Co., Inc
Fire Protection
Sanofi
Lab to Storage Conversion
AZ Corp
Fire Protection SPG
Sarepta
Project Bruins Lab & Office Fitout
DPR Construction
Plumbing
Simmons University
Park Science Demo/Abatement
Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Fire Protection
TD Garden
McDonald’s Upgrades
Consigli Construction Co., Inc
Plumbing SPG
On June 8th we celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new shipping container installation in the Boston Seaport called “Boxes at the Fish Pier”. This project was a wonderful collaboration between many different organizations including Artists for Humanity, Agency Landscape + Planning, BRM Productions, 10 World Trade, LOT-EK, Massport, Grayscale Collaborative and Wangro/ Zaragunda bringing together art, industry, and craft.
The boxes consist of two 40-footlong shipping containers stacked on top of each other with many intricate details – all welded and created at our Fabrication Facility, The FID. Peter Karas, a long-time welder and employee of Cannistraro, artistically crafted these boxes along with the help of Dave Dion, Fire Protection Outside Superintendent. The process involved cutting out corrugated sides of the containers using a plasma cutter. A skill saw was then used to cut the pieces into triangles and a flat bar was tack welded around the corrugated metal. The triangles were then mig welded all the way around on both sides and sheet metal was applied on the inside of the triangles to allow for a flat canvas for art. Once the triangles were welded back into the container Artists for Humanity put the finishing touches on the piece by beautifully painting them.
Throughout this summer, the installation will serve as the venue for a variety of public events, including a scheduled seafood market as well as musical performances. Organizations interested in hosting pop-up events will have the opportunity to utilize this unique space. Visitors are encouraged to explore the interior of the Boxes, which showcases a “mini museum” exhibit covering the Boston seafood industry, the history of the Boston Fish Pier, and highlights the dedicated business owners and employees who keep it thriving.
We are glad to have played a part in this wonderful collaboration and encourage everyone to check it out!
We have recently refreshed our Learning Management System and redesigned the user dashboard to make it easier to find the training you want and the training you need right from the Absorb homepage. This includes new trainings and categories specifically for new managers, Project Managers, and training covering Microsoft Office software tips and tricks and more. Your Absorb dashboard can be accessed from the quick links on the intranet homepage or directly at https://cannistraro.myabsorb.com
You may notice new enrollments on your Absorb dashboard for courses you may have completed in the past. Corporate Services has identified 3 courses which are mandatory annually recurring training for all office staff. You will be asked to complete these if you have not already done so in the past year. After that, you will be automatically reenrolled in these courses each year prior to the course expiration. These recurring trainings are:
1. Global Workplace Harassment Prevention
2. Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
3. Cybersecurity Short: Avoiding Phishing Attacks
Your enrollments should be automatic, so please do not hesitate to reach out to the L&D team if you have any questions or issues accessing or completing these courses.
We are proud to share that 5 of the college students picked as this year’s Greater Boston Plumbing Association (PCA) scholarship winners were children of our own employees!
Joe Bryan - Wesley Bryan
Will Collins - Ethan Collins
Paul Ferrao - Hayden Ferrao
Eric Heim - Therese Heim
Ed Holden - Colin Holden
The recipients were chosen based on their exceptional academic performance, leadership qualities, and community involvement. Congratulations and good luck with your endeavors!
may 1-5, 2023
This is a simple question that doesn’t get asked often enough. Checking in on how others are doing on the job can really have a positive impact in the workplace. It can lead to the start of a conversation, help build trust and friendships, prevent injuries, make someone’s day better, or even save someone’s life.
It’s nearly impossible to leave a mental health issue or personal crisis at the door when you get to work. But you don’t have to. We all have days when we can feel overwhelmed, stressed, distracted or just not like ourselves. When we take the time to connect and understand the needs of our team, and ourselves, we are better able to show up to support one another and keep everyone safe. Whether you’re suffering from grief, depression, substance abuse, or just having a bad day, we see you, we get you, and we’re here for you.
60 kilmarnock
600 main street
one charles park
Thank you to everybody who joined us on June 21st! A day we certainly will remember for years to come. It was wonderful seeing so many of our employees enjoying the space and celebrating this new and exciting chapter for Cannistraro. 60 years is a big milestone, and to enter it with a brand-new space that better represents who we are is something we are all looking forward to.
A huge thank you again, to everybody who helped with the party, everybody who helped with the 5th floor and all our employees for their continued patience and willingness to cooperate as we navigate everything that is new!
Summer has arrived, and New England is abuzz with excitement, offering an array of delightful family activities. Handpicked by our marketing department, these carefully curated activities promise fun experiences for families seeking adventure and quality time together. So, gather your loved ones, embrace the warm sunshine, and embark on a journey through the wonders of New England!
Block Island lures summer visitors with dramatic bluffs overlooking pristine beaches, saltwater ponds, and twin lighthouses — all waiting to be admired on foot, by bicycle, or in a kayak.
Be sure to check out the exotic animal farm at the 1661 Inn, which includes camels, llamas, kangaroos, and more!
blockislandresorts.com/exotic-farm-and-gardens/
Combining a working seaport with a diverse arts and cultural scene, and colonial history with cutting-edge restaurants, Portsmouth, NH, packs a lot of things to see and do into its modest coastal footprint.
The link below has tons of fun and family-friendly adventures to do in Portsmouth.
familydestinationsguide.com/fun-things-to-do-in-portsmouth-with-kids-nh
The Maine Lobster Festival is five days of fun and feasting on the fabulous coast of Maine! This annual seafood festival takes place during the first weekend of August, from Wednesday through Sunday (August 2-6).
mainelobsterfestival.com/
The Boxes at the Boston Fish Pier is an installation on Northern Avenue. The programmable containers house a seasonal seafood market, musical performances, and are available for organizations interested in pop-up events.
Throughout the summer, Boxes will host weekly seafood markets, featuring Fish Pier tenants, as well as rotating sessions by local non-profits providing information about the seafood industry, aquatic ecosystems, sustainability and resiliency,
massport.com/massport/business/real-estate/boxes-at-the-boston-fish-pier
Located along the Annisquam River and Ipswich Bay, Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester is a white-sand beach scattered with large rocks and tide pools where sea treasures tend to accumulate. This beach is also a family favorite thanks to the small waves and ample entertainment of the crustacean variety.
Be sure to arrive early to get a parking spot!
gloucester-ma.gov/299/Beach-Information
Ingredients (1 3/4 to 2 lb lobster per person)
15 to 20 salt-free ritz crackers, finely minced
15 to 20 salt-free soda crackers, finely minced
2 to 3 tbsp. celery, finely diced
Juice of ½ lemon
Splash of Tabasco
Splash of Worcestershire
¼ lb lobster meat, chopped
1 tbsp melted butter
1/3 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Add all ingredients to mixing bowl and add water to obtain a moist consistency.
1. Cut lobster from head to tail
2. Form mixed ingredients into a ball
3. Open up stomach cavity and fill with ball of stuffing
4. Place lobster in shallow baking pan with a little bit of water
5. Bake at 350 °F for 22-28 minutes
Ingredients
1 pound small white boiling potatoes
1 pound small red boiling potatoes
2 tbsp good dry white wine
2 tbsp chicken stock
3 tbsp Champagne vinegar
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
10 tbsp good olive oil
1/4 cup minced scallions (white and green parts)
2 tbsp minced fresh dill
2 tbsp minced flat-leaf parsley
2 tbsp julienned fresh basil leaves
Directions
1. Drop the white and red potatoes into a large pot of boiling salted water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until they are just cooked through. Drain in a colander and place a towel over the potatoes to allow them to steam for 10 more minutes. As soon as you can handle them, cut in 1/2 (quarters if the potatoes are larger) and place in a medium bowl.
2. Toss gently with the wine and chicken stock. Allow the liquids to soak into the warm potatoes before proceeding.
3. Combine the vinegar, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion
4. Add the vinaigrette to the potatoes.
5. Add the scallions, dill, parsley, basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Thank you Amy Cannistraro and Allison Bates (Local 537) for organizing another amazing Cannistraro Women’s United Luncheon. Thank you to the field leaders for supporting and encouraging the women on their crews. We hope you all continue to encourage ALL Cannistraro women to participate and are looking forward to the next one.
We exist to empower the life-changing impact of mastering a trade.
For us, a trade is any skill, in any role, contributing to our company’s betterment and to the care of our customers. Everyone at Cannistraro works in a trade; we believe that everyone can maximize the value of their contributions and most significantly improve their own wellbeing by continuously sharpening their craft and growing in their trade.
We support this journey by advancing craftsmanship and shining a bright light on the importance of progress and professionalism in our industry. We treat all team members like family and provide the best possible training and coaching. We nurture trusting and highly valued business partnerships in order to create opportunities for everyone to thrive.
SafetyProtection from danger, risk, or injury
Integrity -
Honest and strong moral principles
Continuous ImprovementThe pursuit for perfection in everything we do
CompassionCare and concern for others
CommitmentDedicated to a cause, activity, and/or people
CollaborationWorking together for a shared purpose
