UPHOLDING PEOPLE, PRINCIPLES, AND PERFORMANCE
BUILT ON GRIT. DEFINED BY LEGACY. DRIVEN BY VISION.
Honoring the legacy that has defined it for over 75 years, L&L Companies comprises four union construction firms serving the New York metropolitan area and the surrounding Northeast US. Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner, tells us more about the organization’s proud history and progressive vision for the future
Writer: Lauren Kania | Project Manager: Michael Sommerfield
Construction is the best industry in the world. It’s where tough people build beautiful things.”
The passion expressed by Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner of L&L Companies (L&L), not only represents her feelings towards the industry but also the outlook that the organization displays in its daily practices and business endeavors.
Founded in 1949 by Willie Levine,
L&L has proudly grown through generations of leadership and a long-standing commitment to quality, reliability, and integrity.
Currently, the organization is under the majority ownership and leadership of Moss, who works in collaboration with the Levine family to ensure the continuity of values and expertise while positioning L&L for future growth, innovation, and expanded impact across the industry.
Moss entered the construction field by sheer determination – and admittedly, a little bit of luck.
“I didn’t have family in the business or a clear path laid out for me. I put myself through college, worked as a waitress and barback, and eventually found myself on a job site. That’s when it clicked. Construction had grit, purpose, and a sense of camaraderie I’d never experienced before,” she details.
Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner
Over the past two decades, she has held nearly every role – from Site Superintendent to Project Executive to Senior Vice President. Today, Moss proudly leads not just with experience, but with a deep belief in what’s possible when integrity and hard work are one’s compass.
QUALITY AND INTEGRITY
L&L is a group of four union construction firms serving the five boroughs, the greater New York metropolitan area, and the Northeast US. It provides specialty services in architectural coatings, bridge painting, flooring systems, tile and stone installation, and heavy civil infrastructure.
The organization’s clients include public agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Department of Transportation (DOT), alongside leading general contractors, developers, private owners, and institutions.
“With over 300 employees across our companies, we’re known not just for the quality of our work – but the integrity behind it,” details Moss.
L&L remains focused on delivering exceptional craftsmanship with reliability and a people-first approach, all while evolving with advancements in technology and construction practices that honor the legacy that has defined it for over seven decades.
The four companies that comprise the organization include L&L Painting Co., Inc., L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, L&L Specialty Flooring, LLC, and VMR Civil, LLC.
“When I stepped into ownership, my goal wasn’t to change what made L&L great – it was to carry it forward, strengthen it, and position it for the next 75 years. With Ross, Michael, and Marni Levine as partners, we’ve kept the heart of L&L intact while modernizing every corner of the business,” expands Moss.
The company provides top-quality surface projects, on schedule and
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN STRATEGY AND VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS?
Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner: “Our vendor and subcontractor relationships are the backbone of what we do. In this industry, you can only deliver at the highest level if every link in the chain is strong. We view suppliers and subcontractors as strategic allies.
“We lead with transparency, clear communication, and fair terms, and we build loyalty over the long term. That mutual respect and very long relationship tenure is what gets us through challenges like tight schedules, material shortages, or price volatility.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to trust. When our partners know we stand behind our word, they stand with us – and together we deliver.”
“WE’VE NEVER BEEN INTERESTED IN BEING THE BIGGEST – WE’RE FOCUSED ON BEING THE BEST. THAT MEANS SHOWING UP WITH PRECISION, BEING TRANSPARENT WITH OUR CLIENTS, AND NEVER SACRIFICING INTEGRITY FOR PROFIT”
– CATHERINE MOSS, CEO AND MAJORITY OWNER, L&L COMPANIES
at reasonable prices, taking pride in its ability to offer reliable services to every single customer and client without sacrificing workmanship.
For long-lasting results, quality installation, and superior tile and stone products, there is L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, which offers tile installation, interior and exterior stone, and countertops.
“L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, is a specialty subsect in large-scale tile and stone
installations for civic, healthcare, and commercial environments,” explains Moss.
The organization’s flooring division – L&L Specialty Flooring, LLC –provides expert service in epoxy, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and other niche flooring systems with a reputation for precision and code compliance.
Finally, VMR Civil, LLC is all about people, infrastructure, and progress,
dedicated to delivering quality projects in the safest and most innovative ways while remaining environmentally responsible.
“VMR Civil, LLC is our civil arm, performing concrete, drainage, site utilities, and heavy infrastructure work – both as a sub and a primary contractor,” summarizes Moss.
“Each company operates with the same set of values – do it right, do it safely, and do it with pride.”
LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
L&L differentiates itself from the competition through its most important priorities – people, principles, and performance.
“We’ve never been interested in being the biggest – we’re focused on being the best. That means showing up with precision, being transparent with our clients, and never sacrificing integrity for profit,” prides Moss.
The Intersection of Style and Quality
The best paint, the best advice, and the best service, Willis Paints offers the most refined and design-forward paint and finish lines available in the current market
As Benjamin Moore’s largest independent dealer and a trusted name in the New York metropolitan area, PaintPlaceNY is proud to be a family-owned and operated business – bringing tradition, trust, and expertise to every one of our locations. Willis Paints and Design Center (Willis Paints) is part of the greater PaintPlaceNY organization as one of its eight locations. It has been in business for over 35 years, helping to provide Long Island with affordable and luxurious coatings that make our neighborhoods unique, beautiful, and desirable.
As the go-to source for contractors, designers, developers, and homeowners, you can find us at the intersection of style and quality. We couple the premium experience you expect from Benjamin Moore – a household name in all things paint – with our huge design center where we have the latest in home fashions on display.
Willis Paints is proud to be the primary supplier of Benjamin Moore to L&L Companies, supporting the business from start to finish on all its projects across the New York area. We are enthused by our partnership with L&L Companies and the important part we play in its operations.
Proven Expertise – Supplying New York’s Most Iconic Projects
We have been supporting L&L Painting Co., Inc. (L&L Painting) throughout myriad high-profile projects, including the likes of TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 3ELEVEN at 601 West 29th Street, Waldorf Astoria, Hard Rock Hotel New York, The Spiral at 66 Hudson Boulevard (Hudson Yards Project), The Greenwich at 125 Greenwich Street, and so many more.
Our decades-long partnership with L&L Painting has resulted in projects that push the boundaries of luxury and innovation.
Willis Paints is also a preferred coatings partner for major real estate and construction ventures throughout New York. We are there for our clients
from submittals to final delivery of paint, preparing drawdowns for general contractors and architects.
Willis Paints also takes the guesswork out of getting your look right with our state-of-the-art exact colourmatching service, where our consultants help you tailor the look to your room through custommatched colors. Equally, we have a fleet of over 30 vehicles, which make daily deliveries from Montauk to Westchester County and beyond, ensuring prompt and timely service to get the job done. They are trained to help you make the best decision based on the environment, direct lighting, as well as factors such as ambient lighting depending on outside exposure.
Interior Design and Home
Luxury – Long Island’s Design Destination
Our expansive showroom in Roslyn Heights offers services such as Hunter Douglas window treatments, including motorized options, which bring the future to your home.
Our design experts can work with you to get the perfect look for your windows. Whether you’re starting with a simple shade or looking to fit an entire room with blinds and layered custom drapes, we’re ready to help you with your project – no matter the size.
We also offer designer wallcoverings from brands such as Phillip Jeffries, Thibaut, and more, alongside custom reupholstery, fabrics, and design consultation services that allow you to update your current aesthetic. Willis Paints also provides inhouse design consultations with industry experts to ensure the service we provide meets the results of your dreams.
As Long Island’s premier destination for interior design resources, we have hundreds of wallpaper, window treatment, and fabric sample books to choose from – making your home the epitome of luxury.
Our vast collection of fine wallpaper, wall coverings, papers, and fabrics includes designs guaranteed to please any décor vision. From English countryside to cutting-edge contemporary, our experts are on-hand to guide you through selecting colors,
textures, and patterns to breathe new life into your interior spaces and create unique, beautiful looks to enjoy for years to come.
Willis Paints carries premium products at competitive prices; however, more than just that – we have something you can’t buy, world-class paint advice built from decades of experience, staff who love what they do, and the latest products and techniques.
No matter what trend you’re looking to add to your home, we will help you make it a reality. From high mirror glass looks to simple feature walls, we assist you not only with the products and tools, but also with the knowledge to nail your project and achieve your dreams.
Specialty Finishes and Exclusive Brands
Willis Paints offers the most refined and design-forward paint and finish lines available today.
Some of our exclusive offerings include a high-end Portola Paints dealer with lime wash and Roman clay, a premier Meoded decorative finishes dealer with various Venetian plasters and metallic finishes, and Faux Effect products.
Stop by our Long Island shop for Fine Paints of Europe, who offer high-end oil and water-based coatings, most famous for their Hollandlac Brilliant 98 paint. This is an oil-based high gloss used for door moldings and trim; however, it can transform an entire room into a stunning mirrored look.
As an authorized Farrow & Ball dealer – a worldrenowned paint and wallpaper manufacturer – we have the ability to provide paint with a truly impressive and unique finish. Specifically, Dead Flat is a very low-sheen product that is washable and scuff-resistant, making it perfect for long-term function. It is also extremely ecofriendly, so much so that you can paint toys with many of them and feel confident they are safe for your family.
With innovative and competitively priced products, knowledgeable paint and home décor experts, and fast service from a vast inventory across our eight locations, we are here for whatever New Yorkers demand. Our full-time staff pride themselves on customer service you’ll struggle to find elsewhere.
At Willis Paints, we are not just a paint place –we’re the place for home fashions.
PaintPlaceNY’s offerings at a glance
• Benjamin Moore paints
• Paint and cleaning supplies
• Specialty paint
• Hardware and supplies
• Hand and power tools
“EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, FROM FIELD TOOLS TO FINANCIAL STRATEGY, IS ROOTED IN PROTECTING WHAT WE’VE BUILT AND ENSURING IT THRIVES FOR THE NEXT 75 YEARS”
– CATHERINE MOSS, CEO AND MAJORITY OWNER, L&L COMPANIES
As such, the organization invests in its craft, teams, and the systems that make its delivery consistent and excellent. Most importantly, it leads with a people-first mindset, treating its employees like stakeholders, not just staff.
Furthermore, L&L boasts a history of leadership and commitment to quality, reliability, and integrity. Built on family values, including loyalty, fairness, and pride in its accomplishments, the Levine family has carried that legacy for generations.
“When I stepped into ownership, it wasn’t a break from that – it was an extension of it. Together, we’ve fortified what made L&L great while modernizing it for the future. Every decision we make, from field tools to financial strategy, is rooted in protecting what we’ve built and ensuring it thrives for the next 75 years,” insights Moss.
For L&L, being woman-owned and led is more than a certification – it’s a responsibility. It’s about representation, perspective,
and proving that leadership in construction can look different and still deliver exceptional results.
Moss has been the only woman in the room more times than she could count, but has led with confidence, experience, and a vision that leaves room for others. She wants women to see themselves in this industry – in boots, in hard hats, in boardrooms.
Through C-Suite State of Mind and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), L&L is creating career pipelines for tradeswomen, mentoring the next generation of executives, and changing what leadership looks like in the industry.
“When more voices are included, the work gets better – and so do our cities,” Moss asserts.
BREAKING BARRIERS
L&L has participated in a plethora of exciting projects, such as its work on the Waldorf Astoria New York restoration, several MTA projects, and
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mission-critical government jobs.
“But it’s not just about what we build – it’s how we manage it,” emphasizes Moss.
The organization has implemented Bid Board Pro Bid Management Software to streamline estimating, Microsoft Power BI for live dashboards, and Microsoft 365 for collaborative, cloud-based operations. Equally, it is exploring artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve compliance tracking, contract management, and jobsite safety – always to support, not replace, human expertise.
Additionally, empowering and recognizing its team members is of the utmost importance to L&L.
“I believe leadership is about seeing people – their effort, ideas, and growth. We mentor from within, promote talent based on performance, and make sure people are equipped with the right tools and information,” informs Moss.
“Whether it’s at the Waldorf Astoria
New York job, watching our paper hangars hang grasscloth in ornate hallways with the same care as restoring fine art, or climbing down 40 feet (ft) on a VMR Civil site into the guts of an MTA substation in Brooklyn, knowing the work we are doing is essential to keeping the city moving is empowering.”
At JFK International Airport, the Stone & Tile team maneuvered massive stone panels, nearly 40ft in the air, with millimeter precision. Every piece was carefully prepared and installed in spaces where there was no room for error. Travelers from around the world will pass through that terminal for decades, never knowing the hours of planning, problemsolving, and sheer determination it took to make it perfect – but those at L&L will know.
“And there are the quieter moments – walking a job site upstate for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the August heat
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and seeing our crews push through the day, or getting a call from a client saying, “your team saved us on this one”. Those are the moments that tell me we’re doing it right,” she continues.
As L&L continues to look toward another 75 years of success, it is focused on sustainable growth, operational visibility, and expanding its public sector footprint.
“We’re also investing in leadership development internally – ensuring our next generation of foremen, supers, and executives are ready to step up. Across the board, we’re modernizing our systems while staying grounded in what works,” Moss positively concludes.
Ph: (516) 349-1900 info@llpaint.com www.llpaint.com
