Construction Outlook October 2026 by UCANE

ATION CI O

UTILITY CO

TO RAC RS’ A SS NT

, ENGLAND

OCT | 2026

UCANE

Est. 1926

CONGRATULATIONS to UCANE's 2026 Contractor & Associate Members of the Year Lou Tonry | Commercial Insurance Kris Bibbo | Personal Insurance Kristin Erickson | Bonds & Specialty

BRAINTREE 150 Grossman Drive Suite 200 Braintree, MA 02184

Tonry Insurance Group, Inc.: 100 Years of Family, Relationships, TONRY.COM and Building Alongside UCANE (617) 773-9200 LEXINGTON

238 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420

Proud UCANE Member since 1954

(781) 861-1800

Insurance & Bonding Professionals

UCANE Interview:

Senator Sal DiDomenico

Lou and Kelsey Tonry

Proudly providing quality products and services for water, wastewater, and stormwater solutions to New England since 1955. Interested in integrating technology into your waterworks system? Contact the Team EJP’s Smart Utility Professionals.

EJPRESCOTT.COM

1-800-EJP-24HR

UTILITY CO

ATION CI O

OFFICERS

, ENGLAND

IN THIS ISSUE

President CHRIS VALENTI

3 President’s Message:

GVC Construction, Inc.

The UCANE Family, Charity, Citizenship, and America’s 250th Anniversary

President Elect QUERINO PACELLA

5 Legislative Update: • Massachusetts Primary Results See Several Key Races Resolved • Closeout Budget for FY26 Filed; Potential Tax Relief Floated • Administration Announces $330 Million for Economic Development and Housing Projects Across Massachusetts • News in Brief

RJV Construction Corp.

Treasurer LISA FRENCH KELLEY

W. L. French Excavating Corp.

Secretary JUSTIN GOODHEART

J. F. White Contracting Co.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARCELLA ALBANESE

Albanese Brothers, Inc.

19 UCANE Interview:

Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Middlesex & Suffolk)

25 Legal Corner:

The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General Issues its 2026 “Labor Day Report”

GERRY CARNEY, JR.

C. N. Wood Company, Inc.

BRIAN COONEY

C. C. Construction, Inc.

29 Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Visits UCANE Headquarters 33 UCANE’s Safety Corner:

Fire Prevention on the Jobsite: Look Below the Surface

JULIA D’ALLESSANDRO D’Allessandro Corp.

JERRY GAGLIARDUCCI

Gagliarducci Construction, Inc.

MARCO GIOIOSO

P. Gioioso & Sons, Inc.

MARK LANGEVIN

Phoenix Communications, Inc.

WILLIAM LEONARD

Aqua Line Utility, Inc.

KARIN MARSHALL

Boston Concrete Corp.

41 Breakfast Reception with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell 42 Tonry Insurance Group, Inc.: 100 Years of Family, Relationships, and Building Alongside UCANE 49 UCANE Attends New England Council Conversation with Senator Whitehouse 51 Insurance Perspective:

How Data Center Growth is Reshaping Utility Construction

MIKE McCARTHY J. Derenzo Co.

54 UCANE Members Tee Up for Two Great Causes at 3rd Annual Topgolf Event

RYAN McCOURT

57 The Construction Talent Problem Starts Before the Job Posting

JOHN McGRATH

61 Technology in Construction:

MICHELE NORTON

McCourt Construction Company

Modern Reality Capture Connects the Office and the Field

Methuen Construction Co. HUB International New England

RICHARD PACELLA, JR.

UCANE

OCTOBER, 2026

TO RAC RS’ A SS NT

Three Leadership Phases Define Construction Firms. Which One are You In?

R. M. Pacella, Inc.

FRED ROGERS

Scrap It, Inc./Minichiello Bros., Inc.

MARK SZELA

Insituform Technologies LLC

CHRISTOPHER WALSH

W. Walsh Company, Inc.

JOSEPH NOLAN

Executive Director

Editor: Joseph F. Nolan; Magazine Designer/Associate Editor: Sherri Klayman; Associate Editor: Suzanne Hatch; Writer: Brandon Ward Construction Outlook Chair: Chris Valenti Editorial Board: Chris Valenti, Querino Pacella, Lisa French Kelley, and Justin Goodheart CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK published monthly by the Utility Contractors’ Association of New England, Inc., 300 Congress Street, Suite 101, Quincy, MA 02169; Tel: 617.471.9955; Fax: 617.471.8939; Email: jnolan@ucane.com; Website: www.ucane.com. Statements of fact and opinion are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of UCANE and the Construction Outlook editorial board and staff. Subscriptions are included in dues payments for UCANE members. Presorted Standard postage paid at Brockton, MA. POSTMASTER, please send form #3579 to Construction Outlook, Crown Colony Office Park, 300 Congress Street, Suite 101, Quincy, MA 02169.

JOINING FORCES TO BETTER SERVE YOU The Jack Farrelly Company, Putnam Pipe and HR Prescott have united, as part of the Core & Main family. • W. Boylston, MA 508-835-4431

• Hopkinton, MA 508-435-3090

• Norwood, MA 781-407-9133

• Bloomfield, CT 860-769-6760

• North Haven, CT 203-777-5548

• Taunton, MA 508-880-8736

• East Lyme, CT 860-739-5457

• Westbrook, ME 207-464-0585

• Worcester, MA 508-752-7473

• New Britain, CT 860-826-0517

• N. Billerica, MA 978-459-6701

• Loudon, NH 603-263-7350

• New Milford, CT 860-210-6262

• Springfield, MA 413-732-8400

• Johnston, RI 401-725-0140

We’re still the dependable experts you’ve always known, but now as one team, continuing to handle all your water, wastewater, fusible, and storm drainage material needs.

Service Work Available. Give us a call at 860-243-9714. Scan the QR Code to Learn More.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

The UCANE Family, Charity, Citizenship, and America’s 250th Anniversary As fall begins, we are reminded that strong communities start with people who care about one another. We saw that at UCANE’s recent Topgolf event, where over 100 members and guests came together for a night of fun, friendly competition, and conversation. The event also supported two important charities: the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and the Gavin Foundation of Boston.

hank you to everyone who attended and made the evening a success. Your support shows that UCANE members care not only about their work, but also about the people and families in our communities. Events like this strengthen our association while helping organizations that do vital work. Family is a big part of what matters most. It teaches us to work hard, keep our promises, and help others. These values guide how UCANE members run their businesses, support their employees, and give back to their communities. They remind us that we succeed not just through individual effort, but by standing together. As the saying goes, charity begins at home. That means looking out for our families, employees, and one another, especially when times are tight. Fuel, materials, and other costs continue to rise, and many municipalities are cutting back on infrastructure investment. These pressures affect our businesses and the communities that depend on our work. We are better prepared to face these challenges when we share ideas, support each other, and work together toward solutions. OCTOBER, 2026

Charity is one way we can help. Citizenship is another. Being a good citizen means doing our part to make our communities better. In our industry, we help by building and maintaining the water, power, fiber, sewer, and other public systems people rely on every day. We also make a difference when we lend a hand, support local groups, and help the next generation learn and succeed. This year, our country is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. It’s a chance to remember the people whose hard work helped shape America—and a reminder that the future depends on all of us. When we take care of one another and work together, we help make our communities stronger. This fall, UCANE will celebrate its

72nd anniversary at our Annual Gala Banquet on October 24. I hope you’ll join us for an evening with friends, colleagues, and fellow members as we celebrate UCANE, our members, and America’s 250th anniversary. Tickets are going fast, so get yours soon. I look forward to seeing you there. n

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

VIDEO PIPE INSPECTION • CCTV Live Video Feed • Large and Small Pipes

PIPE CLEANING SERVICES • High Pressure Jetting • Vactor Services

Southern New England’s

FOREMOST NAME Since 1940.

in Sewer and Drain Services

HI-RAIL VAC SERVICE • Hi-Rail Guzzler • Demo & installation

SEWER ACCEPTANCE SERVICES • Low Pressure Air Testing • Vacuum Testing of Structures

PodgurskiCorp.com

781.828.0821 Office@podgurskicorp.com 8 Springdale Ave • Canton, MA 02021 Commercial • Municipal • Residential

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Mark Molloy, Esq.

Massachusetts Primary Results See Several Key Races Resolved

assachusetts voters went to the polls on September 1 for the 2026 state primary elections, settling a number of closely watched contests for Congress and the Massachusetts Legislature while offering some early indications of how Beacon Hill may change when the 2027–2028 legislative session begins in January. At the federal level, United States Senator Ed Markey decisively defeated Congressman Seth Moulton in the Democratic primary, winning approximately 65 percent of the vote. Several incumbent members of Congress also survived significant primary challenges, including Congressman Richard Neal in the First Congressional District and Congressman Stephen Lynch in the Eighth District. The results demonstrated the continued strength of many established officeholders, but races further down the ballot also showed that intraparty angst remains. One of the most closely watched congressional contests was in the Sixth Congressional District, where Congressman Moulton’s decision to run for the United States Senate created an open seat stretching across much of northeastern Massachusetts. Former Biden Administration and Boston City Hall official Dan Koh prevailed in a crowded Democratic field with 40.9 percent of the vote. State Representative Tram Nguyen of Andover finished a strong second with 29.4 percent, receiving more than 34,000 votes. Representative Nguyen, currently Chair of the House Committee on Climate Action and Sustainability, mounted an energetic campaign across a large and politically diverse district and gained considerable momentum during the closing weeks of the race. Mr. Koh will now advance to the November general election. OCTOBER, 2026

Although Representative Nguyen ultimately fell short, her campaign deserves particular recognition. Since joining the House in 2019, she has developed a reputation as an engaged legislator and coalition builder while maintaining strong ties to the communities she represents. Running for Congress requires an enormous commitment of time and energy, particularly while continuing to carry the responsibilities of elected office, and Representative Nguyen’s performance demonstrated both the organization she assembled and the relationships she has developed throughout the region. At the State House level, the race to succeed retiring Senator Patricia Jehlen in the Second Middlesex Senate District produced another highly competitive contest. Representative Erika Uyterhoeven prevailed with 36.9 percent of the Democratic primary vote, while Representative Christine Barber finished a strong second with 30.4 percent and more than 10,000 votes. Cambridge Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem received 18.2 percent and Somerville City Councilor Matt McLaughlin received 12.4 percent. Representative Barber, House Chair of the Joint Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, ran a vigorous campaign centered on her years of legislative experience and ability to work collaboratively on complex policy issues. Like Representative Nguyen, she balanced the demands of a highly competitive campaign with her ongoing responsibilities as a member of the House. While the result was disappointing for her supporters, Chair Barber’s campaign reflected the hard work, accessibility, and commitment to public service that she has demonstrated throughout her tenure on Beacon Hill. continued on page 7

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Brownsberger survived one of the closest races anywhere in Massachusetts, ultimately defeating For UCANE and other organizations that reguchallenger Daniel Lander by 35 votes, 12,293 to larly work with legislators on infrastructure, eco12,258, in the Suffolk and Middlesex Democratic nomic development, workforce, and environmenprimary. The razor-thin result followed a recount tal issues, Chairs Barber and Nguyen have been process in portions of the district and underscored accessible and thoughtful presences at the State how progressive challengers are focused on unHouse. Their willingness to undertake an extremeseating progressive champions who they deem ly demanding campaigns while continuing to serve “not sufficiently” progressive. In the Norfolk and their constituents is worthy of recognition regardSuffolk Senate District, longtime Senator Mike less of the election’s outcome. Rush was not as fortunate. Challenger Persis Yu defeated Rush by 15,730 votes to 15,103—a margin Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (Dof just 627 votes, or approximately 51 percent to 49 Melrose) secured a decisive victory in the Demopercent. Senator Rush’s defeat represents a signifcratic primary for the 5th Middlesex State Senate icant change at the Senate, where he has served District, winning approximately 63% of the vote in since 2011 following eight years in the House. the three-way contest to succeed outgoing Senator Jason Lewis. Representative Lipper-GarabediRepresentative Marjorie Decker, meanwhile, an received 15,890 votes, defeating Malden City successfully turned back another primary chalCouncilors Carey McDonald, who received 23%, lenge in Cambridge’s 25th Middlesex District. Repand Ryan O’Malley, who received 13%. Her supresentative Decker, House Chair of the Joint Comport extended broadly across the district, with parmittee on Public Health, defeated Evan MacKay ticularly strong showings in Melrose, Winchester, 4,311 to 3,750, or 53.4 percent to 46.5 percent. The Wakefield, Reading, and Stoneham, while McDonrace was a rematch of their exceptionally close ald carried his home community of Malden. 2024 contest, which Decker won by only 41 votes. This time, she expanded the margin to more than Elsewhere, several incumbent legislators faced 500 votes and secured the Democratic nomination unusually strong challenges. Senator William “Will” for another term. As UCANE has highlighted, the Legislature that convenes in January 2027 will confront major Water Works Specialist decisions theInc. CommonJohn Hoadleyinvolving and Sons Water Works Specialist Tel:781-878-8098 Fax:781-878-5298 Water Works Specialist wealth’s aging water, wastewater, Tel:781-878-8098 Fax:781-878-5298 Tel: 781-878-8098 Fax: 781-878-5298 and transportation infrastructure, the cost of municipal construction, “Our Products the Most Trusted NamesNames in theinIndustry” “OurIndustry” Products Are the Most Trusted Names in the Industry” “OurAre Products Are the Most Trusted the workforce availability, permitting, � U.S. Pipe ● Cultec Chambers � U.S. Pipe ● Cultec Chambers � Mueller Fire Hydrants Pipe & Plastics • U.S. Pipe • Cultec Chambers and● National environmental regulation. Mueller Tapping Sleeves & Valves ● ADS Pipe & Chambers � Mueller Fire & Plastics • Hydrants Mueller Fire Hydrants ● National •Pipe National Pipe�� &Smith Plastics While Massachusetts continues Blair Clamps & Couplings ● General Foundry Castings � Mueller Tapping Sleeves & Valves ● Valves ADS Pipe Chambers • Mueller Tapping Sleeves & • &ADS Pipe & Chambers Mechanical Services to make substantial investments � Tapping Sleeves & Gates Installed / Cut • Clamps Smith & Blair Clamps & Couplings • General Foundry Castings � Smith Blair Couplings ● General Foundry Castings through the Clean Water and � Line Stop / EZ Valves Mechanical Services � Cutting of Chilled Water Lines & Steam Lines State Revolving Drinking Water Mechanical Services � Pressure Testing & Disinfection of New Mains Funds, communities continue to � Tapping Sleeves & Gates Installed / Cut � Installation & Testing of Backflow Preventers 24 Hours • Tapping Sleeves & Gates Installed / Cut Sales& Service face enormous long-term infra� Large Diameter Hydraulic Pipe Cutting � Line Stop EZ Valves Serving all of • Line Stop / EZ/ Valves � Hydrant Installation & Repair New England structure needs and pressure on � Cutting ChilledWater WaterLines Lines&&Steam SteamLines Lines � Electronic Leak Detection • Cutting of of Chilled local ratepayers. UCANE will con“Water-Sewer-Drain Supplies at a Competitive Price” • Pressure Testing &&Disinfection � Pressure Testing DisinfectionofofNew NewMains Mains tinue advocating for predictable www.hoadleyandsons.com • Installation && Testing ofof Backflow � Installation Testing BackflowPreventers Preventers 24 24Hours Hours672 Union Street Rockland, MA federal 02370 state and investment, poli• Large Diameter Hydraulic Pipe Cutting Sales& Service Sales & Service � Large Diameter Hydraulic Pipe Cutting cies that help municipalities move • Hydrant Installation & Repair Serving ofof Servingallall � Hydrant Installation & Repair projects from design to construcNew • Electronic Leak Detection NewEngland England � Electronic Leak Detection tion more quickly, and sufficient resources to maintain and mod“Water-Sewer-Drain Supplies at Supplies a Competitive Price” Price” “Water-Sewer-Drain at a Competitive ernize essential underground inwww.hoadleyandsons.com www.hoadleyandsons.com frastructure.

Legislative Update continued from page 5

John Hoadley and Sons Inc. John Hoadley and Sons Inc.

672 Union Street MA Rockland, 672 Union Street Rockland, 02370MA 02370

OCTOBER, 2026

continued on page 9

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

rainforrent.com

BUILD WITH CONFIDENCE

28 Trolley Crossing Charlton, MA 01507 (508) 248-4607

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Legislative Update continued from page 7

Closeout Budget for FY26 Filed; Potential Tax Relief Floated

overnor Maura Healey has filed her fiscal year 2026 closeout supplemental budget, a $2.24 billion spending package that would close the books on the fiscal year while advancing several policy initiatives aimed at reducing costs for Massachusetts residents and businesses. Among the most noteworthy provisions for UCANE members is a proposal to suspend the Commonwealth’s 24-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for two months. The Administration estimates the suspension would cost approximately $120 million and proposes replacing the lost transportation revenue with surplus fiscal year 2027 Fair Share surtax collections, thereby avoiding any reduction in currently planned transportation projects. The proposal comes as fuel prices have risen dramatically: when Governor Healey announced the plan on September 22, average Massachusetts diesel prices were approximately $6.40 per gallon, compared with $4.20 in February, while gasoline had increased from approximately $2.90 to $4.41. For contractors operating fleets of dump trucks, service vehicles, excavators, loaders, generators, and other

diesel-powered equipment, any reduction in fuel costs is certainly welcome. Without applicable cost adjustment provisions under state or municipal contracts, a contractor purchasing 10,000 gallons of taxable diesel during the proposed two-month period could theoretically save approximately $2,400 if the entire 24-cent reduction were to go into place. In her accompanying press release, Governor Healey emphasized the potential for this initiative for fuel-intensive businesses as intended beneficiaries, arguing that lowering diesel costs can also help reduce some of the transportation costs ultimately passed along throughout the economy. The practical challenge, however, is that the proposal appears increasingly unlikely to provide actual relief to contractors. House Speaker Ron Mariano has been openly skeptical of suspending the fuel tax, saying the Legislature has historically rejected such proposals because they provide limited consumer savings while potentially complicating infrastructure funding. Senate President Karen Spilka has been more measured, praising efforts to address affordcontinued on page 11

NOW AVAILABLE: BOSTON GRAVEL PLANT LOCATION:

200 LEGACY BLVD. DEDHAM, MA 02026 Plant: 617-590-0024

MATERIALS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: • 1” MINUS PROCESSED GRAVEL • ¾” & 1½” CRUSHED STONE • SCREENED LOAM • SCREENED SAND MATERIALS ACCEPTED: • BROKEN ASPHALT • NON & REINFORCED CONCRETE • CONCRETE WITH WIRE MESH • ROCK • BLASTED LEDGE

OCTOBER, 2026

OFFICE:

1039 EAST STREET DEDHAM, MA 02026 Office: 781-329-4111 Fax: 781-329-1039

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY-FRIDAY: 6:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. SATURDAY: 7:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

DELIVERIES AVAILABLE ON LARGE ORDERS. PLEASE CALL FOR PRICING.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Bob doesn’t skip PPE. Neither should you. Bob Terjesen, damage prevention professional and your guide to PPE lessons, is part of our FREE online excavation safety course designed to help crews work safer around underground utilities.

Visit ngridsafety.com/ utility-safety-course and connect with us on

Legislative Update continued from page 9 ability while saying that she and her Senate colleagues would review the proposal as part of the supplemental budget. As of early October, legislative leaders had shown little indication that the provision will advance, leaving the suspension facing a difficult path before the end of the session. The ongoing fuel tax suspension debate also highlights an important balancing act for UCANE members. While contractors benefit from lower operating costs; they also depend on sustained investment in the roads, bridges, water systems, and other infrastructure supported by public revenues. Whether or not the two-month fuel-tax suspension ultimately survives the legislative process, the dramatic rise in diesel prices is a reminder that policymakers need to consider the real-world operating costs borne by the contractors responsible for building and maintaining the Commonwealth’s essential infrastructure. To review the Governor’s FY26 closeout budget, please visit: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/ HD6339. For a reflection on other states actions relative to rising fuel prices, see the National Conference of State Legislature’s recent post on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/states-suspend-fueltax-gas-prices-iqtze/. continued on page 13

21st century solutions for 21st century problems.

Green Beam Pipe Laser Compact & Powerful! • 500 ft. (150 m) operating range • High visibility Green Beam excellent for use in dark pipe conditions • Stop by for a complete demonstration on this NEW state-of-the-art Pipe Laser • From the leaders in Pipe Laser technology - Spectra Precision Model DG613G

5 Eastpoint Drive, Unit 1, Hooksett, NH 03106 Phone: 603-623-0188 • www.eastpointlasers.com

OCTOBER, 2026

Need a lightweight cover that fits into many cast iron frames, has no scrap value, and resists corrosion? The DUROSTREET® composite cover does it all without compromising strength.

Learn more at ejco.com/durostreet or call 508 586 3130

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

CRANE RENTAL • RIGGING • SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT

THE HEAVY LIFTING SPECIALISTS

(781) 858-7777 • www.nacranes.com LIKE US: facebook.com/northamericancrane

• • • • •

MOBILE CRANES CRAWLER CRANES TOWER CRANES INDUSTRIAL CRANES BOOM TRUCKS

• LOWBED SERVICE • INDUSTRIAL RIGGING

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Legislative Update continued from page 11

Administration Announces $330 Million for Economic Development and Housing Projects Across Massachusetts

he Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced $330 million in Community One Stop for Growth awards, providing funding for 403 economic development and housing projects in 207 Massachusetts communities. According to the Administration, the FY27 awards are expected to support more than 27,000 housing units, 13,000 permanent jobs, seven million square feet of commercial development and approximately $24.6 billion in private investment. A substantial share of this funding will support the roads, water, sewer, drainage, utility, and site-preparation work that must occur before new housing and commercial development can move forward. Of particular importance to the underground utility construction industry are the HousingWorks Infrastructure Program and MassWorks Infrastructure Program, which together account for approximately $214.8 million of the overall awards. HousingWorks

will provide nearly $109.7 million to 54 projects, while MassWorks will provide approximately $105.1 million to 59 projects. These programs have become increasingly important tools for municipalities seeking to address infrastructure constraints that otherwise prevent development. Projects frequently include water and sewer extensions, roadway reconstruction, drainage improvements, utility relocation, streetscape work, and other public infrastructure necessary to prepare sites for housing and economic development. An additional $51.1 million through the MBTA Community Catalyst Fund will support 24 projects in communities subject to the Commonwealth’s MBTA Communities housing requirements. Other One Stop programs will finance brownfield remediation, site readiness, downtown redevelopment, rural development, coastal economic projects, and underutilized continued on page 15

DigSafe.com or Call 811 Before You Dig It’s smart. It’s free. It’s the law. Follow these steps for a safe excavation: • Pre-mark the location of intended excavation using white stakes, paint or flags. • In MA, ME, NH, RI and VT, notify Dig Safe® at least 72 hours in advance, not including weekends and holidays.

• If a line is damaged, do not backfill. Notify the affected utility company immediately if the facility, its protective coating, or a tracer wire is damaged.

• Notify non-member facility owners.

• Call 911 in the event of a gas leak, or if a damaged facility poses a risk to public safety.

• Maintain the marks placed by underground facility owners.

• Know your state’s excavation requirements.

• Use caution and dig by hand when working within 18” of a marked facility.

• Go to digsafe.com for educational material and current laws.

DGS UCANE COM.indd 1

OCTOBER, 2026

7/18/24 5:04 PM

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

For over 75 years, Shea Concrete Products has proudly served the New England construction market by providing industry leading product quality and service to our customers and industry partners. Our robust product line of precast concrete products provides solutions for all project types and our truck fleet ensures on-time delivery.

800.696.SHEA (7432) Nottingham

160 Old Turnpike Rd Nottingham, NH 03290

Wilmington

773 Salem Street Wilmington, MA 01887

Rochester

153 Cranberry Hwy Rochester, MA 02770

Amesbury

87 Haverhill Rd Amesbury, MA 01913

Legislative Update continued from page 13 properties. Taken together, the awards demonstrate the increasingly direct relationship between the Commonwealth’s housing agenda and infrastructure investment. The connection is especially important as municipalities confront both aging infrastructure and rising construction costs. Many communities have developable properties or redevelopment opportunities but lack the local resources necessary to finance the public improvements needed to make those projects viable. State programs such as MassWorks and HousingWorks help close that gap and leverage significantly larger private investments. The geographic reach of this year’s awards is wide with 207 communities, including rural communities, Gateway Cities, Housing Choice Communities, and MBTA Communities, with 13 municipalities receiving One Stop UCANE will continue advocating for strong and predictable funding for the public infrastructure that makes those goals possible—and for policies that allow municipalities to move projects from planning and design into construction as efficiently as possible. To review the specific awards under the One Stop program, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/ info-details/community-one-stop-for-growth-awards.

TRENCH SAFETY

PREVENTS CAVE-INS

SAVES LIVES EXPLORE OUR SERVICES AT SUNBELTRENTALS.COM OR CONTACT US AT 888-846-1078 TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP

continued on page 17

Asphalt Paving • Excavating • Site Development Hot Mix Asphalt Lawrence-Lynch Corp.

White Bros. – Lynch Corp.

P.O. Box 913 • Falmouth, MA 02541

P.O. Box 155 • Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

396 Gifford Street • Falmouth, MA 02540

20 Vineyard Ave. • Oak Bluffs, MA 02557

PH 508-548-1800 • FX 508-457-1825

PH 508-693-0845 • FX 509-693-0312

Visit our website @ www.lawrencelynch.com

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

NORTHEAST

BIG. We Think

We Deliver

SOLUTIONS. flo w l e vel

PIPE RENEWAL OR REPLACEMENT, MANHOLE REHAB • Geopolymer Lining • Pipe Bursting • Manhole Rehabilitation

PIPE RELINING • CIPP Lining • UV CIPP Lining • Slip Lining

flo w l e

vel

flow l e

vel

fl o w l e

vel

INSPECTION, CLEANING & ASSESSMENT • Clean & CCTV • Multi-Sensor Inspection • Specialty Cleaning

Serving the municipal and industrial markets, you can count on Vortex Services Northeast for end-to-end trenchless rehabilitation services!

GROUTING • Leak Stoppage • Soil Stabilization • I&I Prevention

1-855-WHY-DIG1

Legislative Update continued from page 15

News in Brief •

•

Imagine a Day Without Water: October 15. This year’s Imagine a Day Without Water, taking place on Thursday, October 15, 2026, will once again bring together utilities, businesses, policymakers, and communities across the country to highlight the essential role that reliable water and wastewater systems play in public health, economic growth and everyday life. UCANE will mark the occasion a day early with its 2nd Annual State House Day on Wednesday, October 14, bringing members and state leaders together at the Massachusetts State House to focus attention on the need for sustained investment in the Commonwealth’s aging water and underground utility infrastructure. The event provides an important opportunity for UCANE members to reinforce a simple message with policymakers: Massachusetts cannot meet its housing, economic development, public health, and climate-resilience goals without continued investment in the water and wastewater systems that make those priorities possible. Learn more about the Imagine a Day Without Water initiative at: https://thevalueofwater.org/imagineaday. ELM Names New Leadership; Bowers Interim President. Ms. Elizabeth Henry, President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and the ELM Action Fund, announced her departure from the organization after nearly a decade of leadership. Ms. Henry plans to work next on solutions to global decarbonization as Executive Director of the Blue Horizons Foundation. Serving as Interim President will be Ms. Casey Bowers, who most recently has worked as Executive Director of the ELM Action Fund and Executive Vice president of Government Relations. Ms. Bowers is widely known and respected on Beacon Hill as a strong and reasonable advocate for environmental initiatives ranging from reducing the Commonwealth’s carbon footprint and growing the renewable energy sector, among many other initiatives. Before joining ELM and the ELM Action Fund in 2018 as Legislative Director, Ms. Bowers previously worked as Mas-

•

sachusetts Director of Public Policy for the American Lung Association of the Northeast. MassDOT Undersecretary Gulliver Inducted Into National Academy of Construction. MassDOT Undersecretary of Transportation and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver has been inducted into the National Academy of Construction (www.naocon.org/), a national organization of distinguished leaders from across the engineering and construction industries. Election to the Academy is considered a significant professional honor recognizing leadership, innovation, integrity, safety, project delivery, and contributions to the advancement of the construction profession. Undersecretary Gulliver, who has overseen some of the Commonwealth’s largest and most complex transportation projects during his tenure at MassDOT, was formally inducted during the Academy’s Annual Members Meeting held September 25–27 in Nashville, Tennessee. Here Come the Ballot Questions: Record 9 Questions Await Answers. With a record-tying nine statewide ballot questions appearing before Massachusetts voters on November 3, CommonWealth Beacon has developed a useful 2026 Ballot Question Voter Guide to help residents understand what each proposal would do. The nonpartisan guide provides concise summaries, historical background, explanations of what a “yes” or “no” vote would mean, campaign-finance information, and an overview of the major organizations supporting and opposing each question. The measures cover a wide range of issues, including public records, all-party primaries, Election Day registration, tax policy, conservation funding, starter homes, recreational marijuana, and gun laws. For UCANE members looking for a straightforward resource before heading to the polls, the guide offers an accessible way to review the issues and the potential implications of each measure. To view the ballot guide, please visit: https://commonwealthbeacon.org/ballot-question/ n

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Manufacturer and Installer of Bituminous Concrete Products 100 Wales Avenue-Rear Avon, MA 02322 Office: 508-583-2029 Plant: 508-587-6953

OCTOBER, 2026

www.tledwards.net

226 Nicks Rock Road Plymouth, MA 02360 Scale House: 508-732-9148 Asphalt Plant: 508-732-9140

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Middlesex & Suffolk) Before entering state elected office, Senator DiDomenico spent 12 years working in the hospitality industry at Sonesta International Hotels and Marriott International. This was a true calling for him as he grew up above his father’s flower shop, helping out with deliveries and getting to know all the customers who quickly became like family. Prior to his election to the State Senate in 2010, he began work in public service by holding four terms as an Everett City Councilor from 2004-2010 and serving as President of the Everett City Council. He was drawn to working in state government and served as Chief of Staff to former State Senator Anthony Galluccio before he resigned and ran for the same seat. Politics shares many similarities with the hospitality industry, and he wouldn’t be where he is today without the skills he picked up in his father’s shop and the years working at hotels in his community.

As costs continue to rise and federal aid decreases, please give your thoughts on how the state will continue to support local aid to cities and towns to help support basic municipal services, specifically water, wastewater, and underground utility infrastructure.

Cuts to federal investments across Massachusetts have had a huge negative impact on communities I represent and every city/ town across the Commonwealth. I was proud to support the increased municipal investment in this year’s budget, bringing the total unrestricted general government aid to $1.363 billion. This funding empowers our municipalities to provide the best public services and infrastructure to their residents, and I will always be a champion for these direct investments.

Representing the Middlesex and Suffolk District, which is comprised of parts of the City of Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett and Charlestown in the City of Boston, what are the biggest challenges for your district and the accompanying region with regard to continued economic growth?

OCTOBER, 2026

Each community I represent is unique and vibrant in their own way, but they all face similar economic challenges in these times, even if the challenges come in varying severity. Housing affordability is one of the greatest obstacles to achieving continued economic growth because if we can’t keep people in their homes or entice new families then we will quickly lose our economic engine, small businesses will suffer, and we will attract fewer companies to our region. The federal attacks on the social safety net also threaten our economic growth. When people can’t eat, access healthcare, or keep a roof over their head, they won’t be able to work and their kids won’t be able to learn in school. Ensuring we provide quality public services to our neighbors in need will improve lives and be a boon for our local economies.

The #InvestInWaterMA campaign, sponsored by UCANE, highlights the importance of water infrastructure to a wide variety of industries. Will you please share a sampling of some of the specific industries in your district that benefit from investments in water infrastructure? continued on page 21

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

P.A. Landers, Inc. The Smart Choice For All Your Site Development Needs “WE DELIVER QUALITY BY THE TRUCKLOAD”

NEW LOCATION 608 Main St. Mashpee, MA 02649 800.660.6404

351 Winter St. Hanover, MA 02339 800.660.6404 781.826.8818 F: 781.826.6377

152 Route 130 Forestdale, MA 02644 800.834.4333 508.477.8818 F: 508.477.9692

228 Cherry St. Plymouth, MA 02360 508.747.1800 F: 508.747.6017

www.palanders.com

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Interview continued from page 19

Every industry relies on and benefits from reliable, safe, and efficient water infrastructure. From protecting public health to facilitating new developments to creating jobs, water infrastructure is absolutely essential to the development of every city and town across Massachusetts. Without that infrastructure, no place of business or community would be able to thrive.

and technical schools, workforce training programs, and unions, which all play a huge role in bringing new people into this trade and keeping them there.

When I hear water infrastructure, I also think about our parks, rivers, and bodies of water because they rely on sewer infrastructure that works well and keeps our public spaces clean for all to use. We must continue improving these systems to ensure everyone can enjoy our state’s beautiful environment.

It is important to not only attract new workers into the industry as older members retire but also ensure that every single worker gets the pay they have earned and deserved. This is why I have been a champion for wage theft legislation, alongside union members, that would increase penalties on bad actors who steal from their employees, and empower the attorney general to hold those criminal bosses accountable. This is about protecting workers’ wages and stopping companies from undercutting costs by shorting their own employees. This bill will protect construction industry leaders who are doing the right thing as it relates to paying their workers the wages and benefits they’re owed.

I am proud to support the construction industry through these programs and schools to help meet their growing workforce needs.

Can you share your thoughts on how the construction industry might be able to meet its growing workforce needs as older members of the industry retire?

It is critical that we ensure there is a sustainable pipeline of talented young individuals signing up for the construction industry. Through legislation and local funding, I have worked to support vocational

Will you please share some of your legislative or regulatory priorities for the 2025-2026 legislative session? continued on page 23

(774) 213-9190 Wrentham, MA Carver, MA Burrillville, RI

Number 1 for a reason. Stop by to demo the world’s #1 Selling Compact Excavators Maximum breakout force Minimal tail swing Advanced hydraulics

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

EFFICIENT, SAFE, RELIABLE SOLUTIONS. » HYDRO EXCAVATION » UTILITY LOCATES » POTHOLING » POLE + ANCHOR HOLES » & MORE!

MASSACHUSETTS

Maurice Anderson 617.721.1761 MASSACHUSETTS + NEW HAMPSHIRE

Joe MacEachern 508.450.7667

24 / 7 / 365 SUPPORT BADGERINC.COM 22

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Interview continued from page 21

Below is just a handful of priority bills that I have been spearheading this session:

• Preventing wage theft: This legislation would ensure there is strong accountability for contractors and subcontractors who steal wages from hard-working employees, and it would expand the Attorney General’s enforcement powers to include bringing a lawsuit against those employers.

•

Lifting kids out of deep poverty: This legislation would increase cash assistance to families below 50% of the poverty line.

•

Expanding tax credits for families: This legislation would expand earned income tax credit eligibility, increase the children and family tax credit per qualifying dependent, and allow for periodic payments of the tax credits.

•

Addressing PTSD: This legislation will make it easier for police, firefighters, and other public safety personnel to get the healthcare they need and deserve when suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

•

The SUPER Act: This legislation would remove barriers to the social work field, incentivize social workers

to remain in the field and bolster our workforce. •

Promote high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction: This legislation would ensure that Massachusetts schools teach high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction to our students to improve reading and writing outcomes for our children. (This bill has been signed into law by the governor)

•

Encourage retirement planning: This legislation would create a statewide retirement planning program to ensure that workers all over the state can access a retirement savings account even if their employer doesn’t offer one.

•

Compensation for work-related scarring: This legislation would eliminate the restrictive requirement that compensation can only be given to employees who endure work-related scarring that is exclusively on their face, hands, or neck, and allow those employees to access more comprehensive compensation as a result.

•

ENOUGH Act: This legislation will create an innovative strategy to fight poverty by investing resources in high need neighborhoods and collaborating with community residents to help drive decisions that will ensure investments increase economic mobility. n

Business & Insurance Solutions

Insuring Contractors for Over 50 Years Providing tailored solutions in risk management, surety, claims and more to meet all your business needs.

The information contained here is provided for information purposes only and should not be viewed as a substitute for any legal, regulatory or other advice on any particular issue or for any particular reason. The advice of a professional should always be obtained before purchasing any insurance product or service. Please contact your Acrisure representative or see Acrisure.com for details. 2026 © Acrisure, LLC. All rights reserved.

100 Unicorn Park Drive • Suite 201 Woburn, MA 01801 Paul Patalano | Jordan Tirone |

781-569-0146 781-569-0134

ACRISURE.COM

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Highest Level of Quality, Greatest Level of Skill

Dagle Electrical Construction Corp.

Construction: • • • • • • •

Heavy Industrial Commercial Multi-Unit Residential Design Build Ground Up Renovation Pumping Stations

Other Services: • • • • • • •

Tel/Data Fiber Optic Fire Alarm Stand By Power Systems Sports Lighting Marine Power Installations Special Event Lighting & Power

Transportation: • • • • •

Traffic Signal Systems Highway & Street Lighting Systems Intelligent Transportation Systems Parking & Snow Melt Systems Rail Transit Installation

Alternative Energy: • Wind Turbine • Photo Voltaic • Green Technology

WBE Certified

68 Industrial Way • Wilmington, MA 01887-3434 T: 800.379.1459 • F: 781.937.7678 • Email: dec@deccorp.com www.deccorp.com

Construction & Public Contracts Group, Hinckley Allen, LLP

Christopher Morog Partner

Robert T. Ferguson Partner

The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General Issues its 2026 “Labor Day Report” In September, the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General (the “AGO”) released its annual “Labor Day Report,” stating that the members of its Fair Labor Division have “continued to stand as steadfast protectors of workers’ rights across the Commonwealth.” Statistically speaking, the AGO reported that, in the past year, it “has taken more than 1,200 enforcement actions affecting 16,410 workers” and “has assessed more than $8 million in wage restitution” and “more than $4.6 million in civil penalties.” The AGO stated that “[e]very dollar of wages recovered strengthens not only a family’s financial security but also our state’s economy.”

s in prior years, the AGO’s Labor Day Report addressed the construction industry. According to the AGO, the construction industry ranked in the “Top Five” industries with respect to enforcement amounts. In fact, the construction industry was number one. Of the total $12,687,655.00 amount assessed by the AGO in restitution and penalties, $2,542,845.11 was attributable to the construction industry. This was more than any of the other “Top Five” industry, with the restaurant/hotel industry coming in second with $2,479,307.67 in assessments. For reference, last year, the construction industry ranked third in assessments, behind the restaurant/hotel and transportation/delivery industries. Across all industries, non-payment/failure to make timely payment of wages was the most frequent violation by far, with failure to keep true and accurate payroll records trailing at a distant second. The AGO confirmed that the “construction industry remains a top enforcement priority for Fair Labor because protecting workers and ensuring a level playing field for law-abiding employers go hand in

OCTOBER, 2026

hand.” Its enforcement actions this past year in the construction industry resulted in restitution payments to more than 1,300 employees. Importantly, the AGO highlighted the fact that a “dedicated, multilingual investigative team continues to conduct unannounced compliance visits to active construction sites throughout the Commonwealth . . . .” According to the AGO, this team visited 37 sites last year and engaged with more than 160 employers and almost 400 workers. The AGO continued on page 27

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Legal Corner continued from page 25 also referred 136 matters to the Massachusetts Council on the Underground Economy, a “partnership of agencies” that “share information and coordinates targeted actions to eliminate worker misclassification and foster an equitable economic environment.” The AGO highlighted three case studies. In one case, a millwork company had allegedly failed to properly pay its workers and also misclassified workers as independent contractors. In another case, the Fair Labor’s Construction Field Team investigated a work site and issued five citations to a company that had allegedly failed to pay overtime, failed to furnish suitable pay slips, misclassified employees as independent contractors, failed to permit employees to earn and use sick time, and failed to keep true and accurate payroll records. According to the AGO, these issues impacted 14 employees. In the third case, the AGO reported a settlement with a construction contracting company that allegedly failed to properly pay employees. Each one of these reported cases resulted in six-figure restitution and penalties. The construction industry has been a focus of the Fair Labor Division for several years. Contrac-

tors may expect that focus to continue to sharpen now that the construction industry topped the list when it comes to assessments this past year. Contractors in the Commonwealth should continue to diligently comply with applicable laws, including wage and hour laws. Importantly, depending on the facts and circumstances, violations may extend beyond company liability and into the realm of personal/individual liability. Not only that, non-compliance can also give rise to potential exposure under other statutes, such as the False Claims Act. As a result, contractors should be sure to install, administer, and enforce appropriate company policies. Notably, the fact that a contractor may have robust policies and procedures in place may not be of much practical value if the company does not actually implement those policies and procedures. In some cases, contractors may have “off the shelf” policies that include requirements that are simply not applicable to their business. These types of facts can sometimes work against contractors. In addition, contractors should train their teams, including with respect to visits or inspections by governmental authorities, such as the AGO or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). Preparation is critical, particularly when it comes to unscheduled/unprogrammed or unannounced visits to a contractor’s facilities or jobsites. n

Products and Services

25 Concord Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 Tel: (401) 722-4488 Fax: (401) 312-0992 pawtuckethotmixasphalt.com

OCTOBER 2026

Hot Mix Asphalt Paving Fine Grading Cold Planning Reclaiming RI & MA DOT Approved

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Your Partner for HDPE Product & Services More contractors are turning to High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) piping—and F.W. Webb’s Water Works team

delivers everything you need to get the job done right. For guidance on the unique HDPE installation process,

the knowledgeable team at F.W. Webb is ready to help. From our large selection of in-stock materials and

McElroy fusion equipment to pre-project planning,

certified training, rentals and service, we’re your single source trusted partner. Our experts review your plans,

recommend the right HDPE pipe, fittings, and tools, and guide you through installation—eliminating guesswork and saving time.

Whether you’re specifying HDPE for the first time or scaling up, our team helps you do it right—from the ground up.

End to End Approach GUIDANCE

Pre-project guidance on all the necessary materials and equipment

PRODUCTS

Full range of HDPE pipe, fittings, accessories and tools

EQUIPMENT

McElroy Certified Dealer, Rental Distributor and Authorized Service Center

TRAINING

Fusion Training Center in Springfield, MA or job site training

Contact your local Water Works • fwwebb.com/waterworks

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Visits UCANE Headquarters UCANE was honored to welcome Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll to our Quincy headquarters on October 1 for a special luncheon and wide-ranging conversation with leaders from the Commonwealth’s utility construction industry.

ieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll was greeted by UCANE’s Board of Directors, Government Relations Committee, members, industry partners, and friends of the Association. Her visit provided a unique opportunity for UCANE members to engage directly with one of the Commonwealth’s top leaders on the Massachusetts economy, affordability, infrastructure investment, and the challenges facing contractors and businesses across the state. The Lieutenant Governor stayed beyond the luncheon at UCANE, answering questions and participating in a candid discussion about the economic pressures facing Massachusetts residents and employers. Affordability, the cost of doing business, housing, and the importance of continued state investment in public infrastructure were among the major topics discussed. “Having the Lieutenant Governor come directly to our office and spend this kind of time with our members is extremely valuable,” said UCANE Executive Director Joseph Nolan. “Our members are building the infrastructure that communities and

OCTOBER, 2026

businesses depend on every day. Opportunities like this allow policymakers to hear directly from the people doing that work about what is happening in the field and how government policies affect our industry.” A significant portion of the discussion focused on UCANE’s ongoing concerns and conversations with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities regarding the Dig Safe program and the adjudication of violations and related fines. UCANE members emphasized their unwavering commitment to worker and public safety, damage prevention, and responsible excavation practices. At the same time, contractors raised concerns about the consistency and transparency of the adjudication process, the level of contractor education and training available, and the need to ensure that penalties are administered fairly and constructively. The conversation also reinforced the important connection between infrastructure investment and Massachusetts’ broader economic goals. Efforts to continued on page 31

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

If you can… then GRANITE CITY ELECTRIC has all your underground products IN STOCK! We have it and we’ll deliver it!

No job is too BIG!

Granite City Electric has all the inventory you need and the trucks to deliver it to your job site. Our distribution centers are fully stocked with all the underground products to complete your job.

All of our New England distribution centers provide Moffett Truck daytime delivery services. For your convenience, these trucks come with a forklift that attaches directly to the back of That means no more waiting for days to get your the delivery vehicle and go with the delivery to unload your products at the job site. Our products delivered to the job site. delivery services can support any combination Count on our inventory and superior service for of conduit, pipe, and enclosures you need. Best all your Underground Utility installation needs. of all, we unload it for you at the job site at no extra cost! Call today to schedule your next Moffett delivery!

1-800-850-9400

www.GRANITECITYELECTRIC.com

Scan the code to see how Granite City Electric has you covered with over 30 branches throughout the Northeast.

Lt. Governor continued from page 29

FORMERLY MINUTEMAN TRUCKS!

2181 Providence Highway Walpole, MA 02081 Toll Free: 800-225-4808 SALES

expand housing, create jobs, and strengthen communities ultimately depend upon reliable water, wastewater, gas, electric, and telecommunications infrastructure. UCANE greatly appreciates Lieutenant Governor Driscoll taking the time to visit our headquarters, listen to our members, and engage directly on the issues affecting our industry. Her visit demonstrated the value of maintaining an open dialogue between government and the contractors responsible for building and maintaining the Commonwealth’s critical infrastructure—and UCANE looks forward to continuing that conversation. n

SERVICE

PARTS

LEASING & RENTAL

Commercial Trucks fit to Your Application • Multiple locations in MA, CT, and NY • Ford & International • Class 4-8 Truck Sales New & Used • Gas, Diesel, & Hybrid Options • Complete Medium & Heavy-Duty Truck Support

• All Makes Truck Parts Wholesaler • Over $2.4 Million Parts in Stock • Mobile Maintenance • Factory Trained and Certified Technicians • Full-Service Body Shop & Paint Booth

www.AllegianceTrucks.com

Est. 1926

PROTECTING YOUR ASSETS WHILE YOU BUILD YOUR FUTURE. Insurance & Bonding Professionals Lou Tonry | Commercial Insurance Kris Bibbo | Personal Insurance Kristin Erickson | Bonds

BRAINTREE 150 Grossman Drive Suite 200 Braintree, MA 02184

(617) 773-9200 LEXINGTON 238 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420

(781) 861-1800

OCTOBER, 2026

Proud UCANE Member since 1954

TONRY.COM

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

SITECH NORTHEAST

GRADE CONTROL COMPACTION CONTROL DRILLING/PILING/SHEETING POSITIONING SURVEY/LAYOUT TOOLS PRODUCT TRAINING DRONE SERVICES SITE POSITIONING PAVING CONTROL SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS COMPONENT REPAIR TECHNOLOGY RENTAL

YOU DO THAT?

Offering you a complete range of services to help you save time, money and resources. Visit www.sitechnortheast.com to find your representative or call 855-748-3244.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2017

Patrick W.Underhill Saltmarsh Blake Corporate Safety Director President Industrial Safety & Rescue J. Derenzo Companies

Fire Prevention on the Jobsite: Look Below the Surface For New England contractors, fire prevention means more than extinguishers and hot-work permits. Underground gas and electric utilities, changing excavation conditions and temporary equipment can turn an ordinary workday into an emergency.

very October, Fire Prevention Week offers an opportunity to review jobsite hazards. Construction sites change daily as equipment moves, temporary power is installed, fuels arrive, and crews begin new tasks. For underground utility contractors, an additional hazard may lie just inches below the work area: an energized electric cable or pressurized gas service. Preventing a fire starts well before smoke appears.

Two Massachusetts Incidents: Lessons for Utility Crews Recent incidents show why underground hazards deserve a place in every fire-prevention discussion. On November 4, 2023, a contractor performing gas service work at a Needham home damaged an active natural gas line during excavation. Escaping gas entered the house and ignited minutes later, causing an explosion and fire. The home was destroyed and a worker was injured. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities investigated the incident. On October 21, 2025, a series of explosions erupted at a Quincy road construction site near Southern Artery and Broad Street while crews were performing water and sewer work. A utility worker in the trench was injured. Police said investigators were examining whether an underground electrical line had been struck; the initial reporting did not establish

OCTOBER, 2026

the cause. Taken together, these events show that work on one utility can create dangerous exposure to another.

Know What Is Underground Before You Dig Utility identification is a fire-prevention measure as well as a damage-prevention requirement. Notify Dig Safe before excavation, review available utility records, verify markings, and discuss nearby services during the pre-task briefing. Markings indicate approximate locations, not a guarantee of exact depth or position. Existing services, abandoned lines, and private facilities may not be fully represented by public markings. continued on page 35

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Built on Experience, Focused on Results. With a track record of excellence and positive outcomes, our nationally recognized Construction & Public Contracts practice is committed to delivering results for you and your business. We understand construction and our clients’ needs and businesses. Our experienced attorneys thrive on addressing complex challenges by leveraging their extensive industry knowledge, partnering with industry leaders, and participating in a vast network of professional affiliations. Our comprehensive suite of services includes contract analysis, drafting, negotiation, procurement and bid protest issues, strategic project advice, crisis management, claims preparation, prosecution and defense, and all forms of dispute resolution, such as mediation, arbitration, litigation, and appeals. We also assist with compliance and investigations, OSHA investigations, insurance recovery, and risk management. We can help you navigate any phase of your project and protect your interests through practical advice and effective legal strategies.

Safety Corner continued from page 33 Use appropriate, non-destructive methods to expose utilities when required, follow applicable tolerance-zone requirements, and stop work whenever markings and actual site conditions disagree. An operator should never have to guess what a bucket, saw, or drill is about to contact. Coordinate with the facility owner before work that could affect a live utility.

A Utility Strike Is an Emergency, Not a Repair Job The first few moments after a gas or electrical strike are critical. Stop work, keep people away, and call 911 and the utility owner. Do not attempt to locate Boston Area or operate a damaged gas valve unless that action Locations is specifically authorized, trained, and safe. Do not

move equipment or enter an excavation where an energized cable may be involved until the electric utility has made the area safe. Personnel and bystanders may also be exposed beyond the excavation itself. For a suspected gas release, eliminate potential ignition sources only when it can be done without entering the hazard area. Do not start vehicles, operate switches, or use equipment near escaping gas. Evacuate nearby structures when warranted and allow emergency responders and the utility operator to control the scene. The emergency plan should identify who calls, who accounts for the crew, and who keeps others out.

Hot Work: Control the Spark

Welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, and grinding remain significant jobsite fire 2 Dexter Street hazards. Near underground utiliEverett, MA 02149 ties, hot work must also be evaluBoston Area Boston Area ated for possible gas migration, Locations Locations 431 Second Street adjacent services, and confined or Everett, MA 02149 below-grade spaces where flam2 Dexter Street 2 Dexter Street mable atmospheres can accumuEverett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 late. Check conditions before work and whenever they change. Keep 431 Second Street 431 Second Street combustibles away, provide apEverett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 propriate extinguishing equipment, BOSTON AREA LOCATIONS and establish a fire watch when re100 Fremont Street 2 Dexter Street 431 Second Street Worcester, MA 01603 quired. Everett, MA 02149 Everett, MA 02149 A hot-work permit should represent an actual inspection, not a signature. OSHA addresses welding and cutting fire prevention in 29 CFR 1926.352, including additional personnel to guard against fire when normal precautions are inadequate.

Minichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc., Minichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc.

Serves over 2500 customers a week and is one of New England’s largest Serves over 2500 customers a week and is one New England's largest buyers, buyers, sellers, and processors of scrap metal. Forour overgoal 60 years goal sellers and processors of scrap metal. For over 60 years has our remained remained the same - to in provide the best along prices in thetop industry along with the same - tohas provide the best prices the industry with notch top notch service! Fred Rogers at 617-595-5505 customer service! Callcustomer Fred Rogers at Call 617-595-5505 Minichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc.,

Temporary Power, Fuel and Equipment

Generators, compressors, pumps, saws, and excavators bring heat, electrical energy, and combustible liquids into changMinichiello Bros./Scrap-It, Inc., ing work areas. Inspect cords and Serves over 2500 customers a week and is one New England's largest buyers, connections, protect temporary sellers and processors of scrap metal. For overa60week years ourisgoal Serves over 2500 customers and onehas Newremained England's largest buyers, wiring from traffic and water, and he same - to provide the best in theof industry along with notch sellers and prices processors scrap metal. Fortop over 60 years our goal has remained keep generators and hot exhaust customer service! the Callsame Fred -Rogers at 617-595-5505 to provide the best prices in the industry along with top notch away from fuel cans, debris, and customer service! Call Fred Rogers at 617-595-5505 dry vegetation. Never refuel hot or running equipment unless the manufacturer expressly permits Turn your metal into money today! it and the task can be performed Turn your metal into money today! safely. Minichiello Bros. Inc./Scrap-It Inc. Minichiello Bros. Inc.,/Scrap-It Inc. continued on page 37

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Turn your metal into money today!

BUILDING SUCCESS TOGETHER

Proudly Supporting UCANE Since 1974

e tion nspems p yst

i e

Pipe IInspection P Systems S

Hydro Excavation Trucks

Need Support? Call or Text... Parts: 800-557-0704 Service: 800-561-4939 Sales: 800-539-8905 Rentals: 800-560-3819

Sewer Cleaners

Visit Our Website... www.cn-wood.com

Safety Corner continued from page 35 Operators should report leaking fuel, oil, or hydraulic fluid, damaged wiring, unusual odors, overheating, and accumulated debris around engines. When utility crews move between sites, regular inspections and sound housekeeping may be the only consistent fire-prevention controls they carry with them.

Temporary Heat and Seasonal Conditions October brings colder mornings across New England, followed by temporary heaters in trailers, buildings, and enclosed work areas. Inspect heaters before use; maintain manufacturer-required clearances, suitable ventilation, and correct fuel storage. Fuel-fired heaters can also create carbon monoxide hazards. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.154 addresses temporary heating devices on construction sites. Dry leaves, brush, and construction debris can increase the consequences of an otherwise small fire. Keep combustible materials clear of exhaust, hot-work locations, and temporary heat. Arrange equipment and material storage so fire apparatus can reach the work area if needed.

Fire Extinguishers Are Not the Primary Plan Portable extinguishers have an important role in small, incipient-stage fires, but they cannot make a leaking gas line or energized cable safe. Workers should only attempt to use an extinguisher when the fire is small, the correct equipment is available, they have been trained, and a clear escape route remains. Never delay evacuation to fight a spreading fire or a fire involving an uncontrolled utility release. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.150 requires a fire-protection program during construction and accessible firefighting equipment. Confirm extinguisher locations, inspections, and access as the work zone moves.

Build Fire Prevention Into the Daily JSA Add two questions to each pre-task meeting: “What could ignite a fire here?” and “What utility could we damage while doing this work?” Reassess when excavation limits change, a new subcontractor arrives, work approaches marked utilities, or equipment is repositioned. Make sure crew members understand stop-work authority and know the emergency assembly point. continued on page 39

YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER IN QUALITY & CONVENIENCE We are proud to offer solutions for utility contractors, sitework and road builders, as well as municipalities across the region. Recycled gravel Sand bedding & crushed stone Delivery services Mobile crushing Accepting excavated materials On-site credit card payments

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS:

Canton Yard

90 Cedar Street, Canton, MA 02021

OCTOBER, 2026

South Boston Yard

300 West First Street, South Boston, MA 02127

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

RJVCONSTRUCTION.COM/PRG

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

DEWATERING | BYPASS PUMPING | ONE-PASS TRENCHING | POWER GENERATION

Mersino is the premier specialty contractor that provides solutions to meet your challenging needs nationwide. 24 HOURS | 7 DAYS A WEEK | 365 SERVICE WWW.MERSINO.COM | 866.637.7466

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Safety Corner continued from page 37

sonal use.

Fire prevention belongs to everyone: the excavator operator who notices an unexpected pipe, the laborer who finds an unmarked cable, the welder who sees nearby combustibles, and the foreman who recognizes that the original plan no longer matches conditions. Coordination is especially important when gas, electric, water, and sewer contractors share a tight work zone.

Fire Prevention Week: A Quick Jobsite Check • • • • • • •

Confirm Dig Safe notifications, utility markings, and required exposure methods. Review the utility-strike response plan and emergency contact numbers. Identify gas and electrical hazards near excavation and hot work. Inspect temporary wiring, generators, pumps, and other equipment. Review hot-work controls and fire-watch responsibilities. Keep combustible debris, fuel, and dry vegetation away from ignition sources. Inspect heaters and check ventilation before sea-

•

Check equipment for fuel, oil, and hydraulic-fluid leaks.

•

Locate and inspect extinguishers; keep access routes open.

•

Include changing utility conditions in the JSA and toolbox talk.

Prevention Starts Before the Smoke Construction will always involve changing conditions, but a utility strike should never become a routine occupational risk. The Needham and Quincy incidents are reminders to verify what lies underground, keep ignition sources controlled, and prepare crews to respond immediately when something goes wrong. During Fire Prevention Week—and every week—the objective is not simply to put fires out. It is to recognize and control the hazards before an emergency begins. Safety references and incident sources: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.150, 1926.152, 1926.154 and 1926.352; Massachusetts DPU, “126 Prince Street, Needham” incident report (Nov. 4, 2023); Boston 25 News, “Video captures moment a contractor was injured in a series of explosions in Quincy” (Oct. 24, 2025). Verify applicable federal, state, local, and utility-owner requirements for each project. n

We are BORING

HENNIKER DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Over 20 years drilling in tough New England terrain HDDBORE.com | 603-428-6333 | daniellem@hddbore.com Visit us on FB and Instagram

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Norton, MA

trench box Sales & Rentals

Road plates “WE'LL HELP KEEP THE TRENCH...AND OSHA OFF YOUR BACK!”

Family Owned & Operated 30+ Years of Industry Experience New England’s Only Kundel Trench Box Dealer

gla n

of all

Servi ng

(

New

North East Shoring Corp., Inc.

422-43 ) 8 Call us today for more info

Norton, MA

northeastshoring.com

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Since 1996

888-422-4343

OCTOBER, 2026

Breakfast Reception with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell UCANE was proud to join fellow construction industry associations on October 6 in hosting a breakfast reception with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell. The event brought together leaders from UCANE, CIM, ABC, AGC, ASM, and Hinckley Allen, providing an opportunity for UCANE's Legislative and Membership Administrator Brandon Ward and other members of the construction sector to engage with Attorney General Campbell. UCANE appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with our industry partners and looks forward to continuing to advocate for the issues important to our contractors and the broader construction industry in Massachusetts. n

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Braintree, MA 02184

(617) 773-9200 Proud Tonry Insurance Group, Inc.: LEXINGTON UCANE Member since 1954 238 Bedford Street 100 Years of Family, Relationships, and Lexington, MA 02420 (781) 861-1800Alongside TONRY.COM Building UCANE

Insurance & Bonding Professionals

For Lou Tonry, it is almost impossible to drive around Greater Boston without thinking about work. A truck passes on the highway, and he instinctively looks to see whose name is on the side. A familiar bridge, building, or stretch of roadway can trigger a memory of the contractor that built it. For years, when his children were younger, Lou would point these things out from the driver's seat: “We insured that building when it was built. That highway was built by one of our clients. There's a truck we insure.” It used to drive his daughter Kelsey crazy. "Now I do it," Kelsey admitted with a laugh during a recent interview at Tonry Insurance Group's Braintree office. That small family story says a great deal about Tonry Insurance, which in 2026 is celebrating 100 years in business. The company has passed through four generations of the Tonry family, developing deep roots in the New England construction industry along the way. Its relationship with UCANE dates to the association's earliest days, while its client relationships often span generations themselves. For Lou, now President and third-generation owner of Tonry Insurance, the connection to construction is personal. "This is where we live. This is what we do," he said. "It's not like a side hustle."

Four Generations in the Family Business Tonry Insurance traces its roots to 1926, when

Lou's grandfather, Albert Tonry, founded the agency. Lou's father and uncle joined their father following World War II and operated the agency for approximately 25 years before another generation eventually took the reins. Lou joined the company after graduating from college in August 1986. By then, however, he had already spent much of his life around the business. "My father was 40 years older than me, so when I was in my teenage years and early 20s, his friends were all clients," Lou recalled. "I was around these people all the time." Those relationships provided Lou with an early introduction to a construction industry that was itself heavily populated by family businesses. Contractors who were clients of his father became familiar faces in the Tonry household. As the years passed, Lou would eventually find himself working with the sons and daughters of people his father had known. He remembers his father, even later in life, asking about contractors and families he had worked with

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Lou and Kelsey Tonry decades earlier. "When my father was still alive," Lou recalled, "he'd say, 'How are the D'Amicos doing?' Because he used to do business with the D'Amicos." Sometimes Lou would explain that a company had changed hands, family members had gone in different directions, or a new generation was now running the operation. They were the kinds of conversations that could only happen after decades spent working in the same industry. Today, the generational cycle is continuing. Kelsey Tonry joined the agency in 2017 and now serves as Operations Manager and Commercial Lines Account Manager. She handles bookkeeping and other back-office operations, while also managing a substantial commercial book of business. Tonry's current management team also includes Bonds & Specialty Lines Manager Kristin Erickson and Personal Lines Manager Kris Bibbo. The company currently has offices in Braintree and Lexington. Like her father, Kelsey's introduction to insurance began long before she officially joined the payroll. "I grew up in the business," she said. "I would go to the office after school and sort papers." There were less formal activities too. Kelsey remembers hitting golf balls down the hallway from her father's office, while longtime Tonry employees like Kristin and Susan Jones knew her when she was still a child. During summer breaks, she answered phones, filed paperwork, and helped wherever she could.

OCTOBER, 2026

"I always kind of saw myself growing up in the office," Kelsey said. "Even during summer breaks, I was answering the phones or just helping out however I could." Her mother also worked in insurance, which led both father and daughter to joke during the interview about how much "choice" she really had in joining the family industry.

Growing While Remaining Family-Owned Tonry Insurance has changed considerably since Lou joined the company 40 years ago. When the agency moved out of Boston's Prudential Tower in 1989, Lou remembers having approximately nine employees. Today, Tonry employs 25 people. The company has grown organically and through acquisitions, at various points operating additional offices in places including Webster, Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire. Its business has broadened as well. Construction insurance and surety bonding remain central to Tonry's identity, but the company now works across a wider range of industries and coverages. The insurance needs of contractors have also become more complicated. General liability, commercial auto, and workers' compensation remain fundamental, but businesses today must consider risks and products—from cyber insurance to management continued on page 44

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Tonry continued from page 43 liability—that were not part of a typical insurance program decades ago. Yet perhaps the most significant thing about Tonry's growth is what the company has chosen not to do. "We're very unusual in that we have not been acquired," Lou said. "Almost all of our competitors have been acquired." At a time of considerable consolidation within the insurance brokerage industry, Tonry has deliberately remained independent and family-owned. "We've chosen to remain independent, familyowned," Lou explained. "We think it's better for our clients." Lou readily acknowledges that selling could provide an attractive financial opportunity. But that is not his priority. "If I sold out, I could get a nice check and go about my own way," he said. "But that's not really what I'm interested in doing. I like the fact that we've been in business for 100 years and like to keep it going." For Lou, independence allows Tonry to make decisions based on what makes sense for its clients, employees, and long-term future rather than answering to a private equity investor or publicly traded parent company. He also believes the agency's independence has increasingly become a competitive advantage. Tonry hears from prospective clients who have watched their former agencies go through acquisitions and no longer recognize the businesses they once worked with. As Lou described one common complaint: "I don't even know who I do business with anymore." The account manager a client knew may have left. The familiar point of contact may have changed. The client, Lou said, starts "looking for that connection again." That is exactly the connection Tonry wants to preserve.

UCANE: A Relationship as Old as the Association For UCANE members, Tonry Insurance's family history has an additional layer. Tonry has been involved with UCANE since the association's founding in 1954, and Lou has photographic evidence to prove it. During the interview, Lou points out a photograph of UCANE's first dinner meeting, which includes his father. "I can find my father in that picture," Lou said.

Lou Tonry "So, we've been members since UCANE started." The relationship became even more literal in 1989. As Tonry prepared to leave Boston before construction of the Big Dig, the company began looking for new office space. One of the locations under consideration was Crown Colony in Quincy, where UCANE was already located. For an insurance agency with a substantial roster of construction clients, including numerous UCANE members, the proximity was attractive. "One of the reasons was because UCANE was there," Lou recalled. Tonry moved into the building and spent roughly 25 years at Crown Colony, much of that time directly across the hall from UCANE. Lou also became personally involved in the association, serving on the Board of Directors, Government Relations Committee, and in other capacities over the years. But when asked about his strongest UCANE memories, he did not immediately mention a particular policy victory or board decision. Instead, he talked about the people.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

"When I first started on the board and going to the meetings and stuff, you get to know people, and then we always used to go out after the meetings," Lou said. "It was the after-meeting meetings." Kristin quickly supplied another name for them: "The debrief." Those informal gatherings became part of the rhythm of UCANE membership. Members might spend the formal meeting discussing government affairs, specifications, or association business, then head somewhere nearby and continue talking. "That's how I got to know some of these people," Lou said. "A lot of them became not just business friends but friend-friends." A core group continued the tradition outside of UCANE meetings, at one point getting together as often as weekly. Even today, some of those longtime friends still meet for dinner, although Lou admits it happens less frequently. There was a practical value to those gatherings too. Before text messages, social media, and constant online updates, an association meeting might be the first time in months that members had seen one another. "You catch up," Lou explained. "Part of it was like, 'What's going on?'" For an industry built largely around family businesses and long-term relationships, those interactions mattered.

The Next Generation of Relationships That history is now repeating itself in a new form. When Kelsey and her brother were children, many of Lou's friends were clients. The children of those contractors became part of their social circle as well. During the interview, Lou pointed to Kelsey's friendship with Julia D'Alessandro, another next-generation member of a longtime UCANE family. As both have become involved in their respective family businesses, those childhood connections have taken on a new professional dimension. "It's been nice," Kelsey said of seeing friends become involved in their family companies at the same time she has become more involved with Tonry. The parallel is hard to miss. Lou grew up around his father's contractor clients and eventually did business with their children. Kelsey grew up around her father's clients and their families and is now developing professional relationships with members of that next generation.

OCTOBER, 2026

For UCANE, which is increasingly focused on engaging emerging leaders within member companies, Tonry's experience offers a reminder that some of the industry's most durable professional relationships begin simply by getting people in the same room.

A Family Culture Beyond the Family Name The family atmosphere at Tonry extends beyond Lou and Kelsey. That became evident during the interview when another member of the office unexpectedly wandered into the conversation: Willow, Kristin Erickson's dog. "That's a Tonry dog," Kristin joked. Willow is the office's most consistent canine presence, but apparently not the only one. Other employees occasionally bring their dogs to work as well. "Occasionally, we have three at one time," Kristin said. It was a lighthearted interruption, but it fit the larger discussion about the company's workplace culture. "Everybody feels like a family member here," Kristin said. "They make you feel like you belong. They care." That philosophy can be seen in Tonry's approach to employee flexibility and professional development. The company places significant emphasis on education. Kristin estimated that at least 80 percent of employees are on some type of educational track. Tonry's hiring philosophy has evolved accordingly. "We gave up many years ago on trying to hire people that had [only insurance] experience and knowledge," Lou explained. Instead, the company often hires based on relationship and fit, then teaches the insurance business. "We have several employees that started literally at the front desk," Lou said, before progressing to assistant positions and eventually becoming account managers. One of the clearest examples of Tonry's employee longevity is Susan Jones, whom Kristin hired in 1989. "She's still here," Kristin explains. Tonry's own description of its culture emphasizes employees who "work hard, learn continuously, support each other, and support our community." Their website highlights support over the years for organizations including Rotary International, the Pan-Mass Challenge, CORSE, and DOVE. continued on page 47

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Tonry continued from page 45

Using Technology to Protect the Relationship Tonry's emphasis on personal relationships does not mean the company is operating like it did in 1926—or even 1996. The agency has invested heavily in technology and workflow improvements, but with a specific objective: spend less employee time on repetitive processing and more time working directly with clients. "We're constantly trying to find ways to be more efficient in what we do," Lou said, "so that we don't have to sacrifice customer service and any kind of relationship stuff, because that's the stuff that we need to focus on." The company has outsourced some back-office processing, for example, allowing its local staff to devote additional time to customer-facing responsibilities. That same philosophy can be seen in its bond operation. Existing clients can submit different bond requests online, and Tonry says its bond department responds to requests within two hours—either with approval or a request for additional information. For contractors facing bid deadlines, managing multiple projects, or trying to increase their bonding capacity, responsiveness matters. And for Tonry, technology is most useful when it makes the human side of the business stronger rather than replacing it.

A Century Built Around Construction Near the end of the interview, Lou returned to the subject that has connected four generations of his family: construction. "We've been committed to the construction industry as a whole since my grandfather started the agency in 1926," he said. That commitment has given the Tonry family a unique perspective on the region around them. Lou recalled that Tonry once occupied space in the Prudential Tower in part because Perini, a client of the agency, had built the landmark. Other clients have constructed highways, bridges, buildings, and infrastructure throughout Greater Boston and New England. That is why Lou still looks at trucks when they pass. He wants to know whose they are. He still notices projects and remembers the contractors behind them. He sees the physical results of businesses Tonry has helped insure and bond over generations.

OCTOBER, 2026

"I like to look around and see those things," Lou said. For a company celebrating its 100th anniversary, it is a fitting way to measure its history—not simply in years, policies, or office locations, but in the people, companies, and projects encountered along the way. Four generations after Albert Tonry opened the agency, Tonry Insurance remains family-owned, independent, and closely connected to the construction industry. And more than 70 years after Lou's father attended UCANE's first dinner meeting, the Tonry family remains deeply connected to the association and the contractors who comprise it. The insurance industry has changed. The construction industry has changed. Tonry itself has grown from a small family agency to a 25-person operation serving clients from multiple offices. But Lou believes the fundamental approach has changed remarkably little. Relationships still matter. Knowing a client's business still matters. Being available when someone needs help still matters. And apparently, so does checking the name on every construction truck that passes by. n

UCANE would like to congratulate longtime member Tonry Insurance Group, Inc. and the Tonry family on 100 years in business.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

UCANE Attends New England Council Conversation with Senator Whitehouse

On Monday, September 14, UCANE Executive Director Joe Nolan and Legislative and Membership Administrator Brandon Ward traveled to Providence, RI to attend the New England Council’s “Capitol Hill Report” event with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The discussion between Senator Whitehouse and New England Council President and CEO Jim Brett focused heavily on federal permitting reform and other issues affecting infrastructure development and the regional economy.

f particular interest to UCANE members, Whitehouse shared that bipartisan negotiations on a federal permitting reform package were nearing their final stages. As Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Whitehouse is directly involved in negotiations alongside Committee Chair Senator Shelley Moore Capito and leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He indicated that the emerging legislation could amend several major federal statutes that affect infrastructure permitting, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Historic Preservation Act, Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act. For contractors working on water, sewer, and other underground infrastructure projects, efforts to make federal permitting more predictable and efficient could have important implications for the delivery of publicly funded construction projects. While Whitehouse emphasized that the proposal is intended to streamline timelines without changing underlying environmental standards, he also emphasized the importance of providing greater certainty that

projects that successfully complete the permitting process can move forward without being unexpectedly halted by changes in federal policy. The conversation also touched on broader energy and infrastructure policy, including the need to expand the nation’s electric transmission system, encourage investment in major infrastructure improvements, and provide developers with greater long-term regulatory certainty. Whitehouse highlighted that despite the bipartisan nature of the ongoing negotiations, hurdles remain to reaching a final agreement that can advance through both branches of Congress and be signed by the Administration.

With New England facing significant long-term infrastructure needs, UCANE continues to closely follow and support federal policies that can positively affect how quickly infrastructure investments move from planning and funding to construction. n OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

CONSTRUCTION RISK SOLUTIONS

Starshep.com · 800-854-4625 50

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Christopher Clark

World Insurance Associates, Inc.

How Data Center Growth is Reshaping Utility Construction Data centers are being built across the country to support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital services, and the growing amount of data businesses and consumers use every day. But behind every new data center is another need that may be less visible: electricity.

he U.S. Energy Information Administration expects electricity demand to continue growing, with data center development and increased manufacturing activity contributing to higher commercial and industrial electricity use. The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects data centers could account for roughly half of the growth in U.S. electricity demand through 2030. For utility and earthwork contractors, that growing demand is worth watching. Data centers may get the headlines, but they cannot operate without the electrical and utility infrastructure needed to support them.

Why Are Data Centers Increasing Electricity Demand? Data centers can require significant amounts of electricity to power servers, networking equipment, cooling systems, and other infrastructure around the clock. As more facilities are developed, utilities may need to determine whether existing generation, transmission, and distribution systems can accommodate these concentrated loads. In some areas, that can lead to new infrastructure, system upgrades, and expanded capacity. There is also a timing challenge. According to the IEA, a data center can typically be constructed in one to three years, while new grid

OCTOBER, 2026

infrastructure can take considerably longer to plan, permit, and build. That difference puts additional attention on the infrastructure required to connect large new loads to the grid.

What Could Growing Power Demand Mean for Utility Contractors? The construction of a data center extends well beyond the walls of the facility. Depending on the project and location, supporting infrastructure may involve transmission and distribution upgrades, substations, underground electrical systems, conduit and duct banks, trenching, grading, drainage, access roads, and other site and utility work. That creates an important connection for contractors already working in utility construction and earthwork. continued on page 52

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Insurance continued from page 51 As utilities and developers respond to increasing electricity needs, contractors may find themselves bidding on larger projects, working with new project partners, or expanding into scopes of work that differ from their traditional operations. Those opportunities can also change a contractor's risk profile.

How Can Larger Utility Projects Change Contractor Risk? A contractor's insurance program is generally built around its operations: the work it performs, where it performs it, the equipment it owns, and the size and type of projects it takes on. When those factors change, the risks can change with them. For example, a contractor moving into larger utility projects may purchase additional equipment, add vehicles or employees, travel into new territories, use more subcontractors, or work around higher-value infrastructure. Larger contracts may also include insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, bonding requirements, or other risk-transfer obligations that

deserve careful review. Excavation around existing underground infrastructure has always had the potential for utility strikes, property damage, worker injuries, service interruptions, and project delays. As the scale or complexity of a project increases, the financial consequences of an incident may increase as well. What is the cost of a loss when a Data Center is shut down? That makes it important to evaluate risk before work begins.

What Should Contractors Consider Before Bidding on this Type of New Work? Before pursuing a project that is larger or substantially different from the work your company typically performs, consider how it may affect your operations. • Have project values increased? • Will your crews perform unfamiliar work? • Are you relying more heavily on subcontractors? • Have equipment or fleet values changed? • Does the contract create new insurance or riskcontinued on page 53

LARGE RESOURCES. LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS.

IS YOUR INSURANCE PROGRAM KEEPING PACE IN TODAY’S MARKET? Let us review your programs and recommend improvements to ensure you are fully protected should the unexpected happen. COMMERCIAL INSURANCE & BONDS • All forms of liability and property coverages • Bonds including Express Bond Program • Competitive terms • Personalized service • Highly experienced with Construction programs

RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS • Employee and executive benefits • Retirement planning services • Investment advisory services • Private wealth management • Personal and high-net-worth portfolios

CHRISTOPHER CLARK, PRINCIPAL, CLIENT ADVISOR World Insurance Associates LLC, 50 Prospect Street, Waltham, MA 02453 O 781-642-9000 | D 781-398-9318 | M 508-400-4010 | christopherclark@worldinsurance.com

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

worldinsurance.com

OCTOBER, 2026

Insurance continued from page 52 transfer requirements? •

Are your existing coverage limits appropriate for the size of the work?

These conversations are most useful before a contract is signed, when there is still time to identify potential concerns and address insurance requirements. The growth of data centers is one example of how economic shifts can create ripple effects across the construction industry. The facilities themselves may attract attention, but their growth depends on the infrastructure beneath them and the electricity flowing into them. For utility contractors, growing electricity demand may bring new opportunities. Understanding how those opportunities could change your operations and your risk is an important part of preparing for the work ahead. Sources: • •

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Short-Term Energy Outlook: Electricity, Coal, and Renewables, September 2026. International Energy Agency (IEA), Electricity 2026: Demand. n

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

UCANE Members Tee Up for Two Great Causes at 3rd Annual Topgolf Event

CANE members gathered at Topgolf in Canton on Wednesday, September 16 for the Association’s 3rd Annual Topgolf event. The popular evening drew just over 100 members for a night filled with friendly competition, camaraderie, and networking in a relaxed setting. Now in its third year, the event continues to provide UCANE members with an opportunity to connect away from the jobsite with colleagues from across the industry, while supporting two important charitable organizations. All net proceeds from this year’s event benefited the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and the Gavin Foundation. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, founded in Massachusetts in 1994, works to increase awareness and early detection of brain aneurysms while providing education and support to patients and families, as well

as funding research aimed at improving outcomes and saving lives. The Gavin Foundation has served Massachusetts communities since 1963 and provides comprehensive, community-based substance use disorder education, prevention, treatment, and recovery services to thousands of individuals and families each year. UCANE thanks everyone who attended and supported this year’s Topgolf event, helping make the evening another successful opportunity to bring the UCANE community together while giving back to two organizations making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families. Lastly, UCANE extends a special thank you to AAA Work Trucks (Corporate Sponsor) and Pat DiCerbo/Doug DiCerbo, Sentry Hill Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual (Dinner Sponsor). n

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

978.658.5300

900 Salem Street - Wilmington, Ma. www.beneventocompanies.com

Asphalt

Concrete

Aggregates

Recycling

Sales • Rental • Service • Parts

Your full-line Case dealership. Sales. Rentals. Parts. Service.

With 71 years as a CASE dealer in NY, we are excited to be in New England serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. And with our latest move from Worcester MA to Westborough we look forward to serving customers from our state-of-the art facility. Regardless of the brand you own, we are here to keep you doing your job.

*Westborough MA 97 Turnpike Road 508.845.4343

Woburn MA 192 New Boston Street 781.933.4217

Hartford CT 6 Sandra Drive 833.836.9800

We are a Certified Women’s Business – monroetractor.com *We’re bringing CASE back to Westborough! Stop by, we’re conveniently located for customers traveling Routes 495, 90, 30 and 20.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

The Construction Talent Problem Starts Before the Job Posting The best onboarding teaches people how the business thinks. The construction industry has spent years talking about its labor shortage as a recruiting problem. Contractors need more project managers, superintendents, estimators, skilled tradespeople and future leaders, so the answer seems obvious: Find more people. But hiring more people into a business that does not know how to develop them is not a workforce strategy. It is a revolving door.

construction company can recruit exceptional talent and still struggle to grow if employees enter an organization where expectations are fuzzy, critical knowledge lives in a few people’s heads, leadership development happens by accident and no one can explain what it takes to advance. In construction, those weaknesses get expensive fast. Margins are tight. Schedules are unforgiving. Mistakes compound. One person who does not know when to raise a red flag can create consequences far beyond his or her job description. The industry needs to recruit, certainly. But contractors also need to get much better at turning good hires into capable, accountable leaders. That is not just HR’s job. Talent development is an operating discipline.

Tribal Knowledge Is Not a Growth Strategy Construction businesses run on an enormous amount of institutional knowledge. An experienced superintendent knows when something on a jobsite does not look right before anyone else sees the problem. A senior estimator knows which number deserves another look. That knowledge is incredibly valuable. The problem is when it exists nowhere except inside that person’s head. For a while, businesses can get away with it. People learn by watching. Questions get answered in

OCTOBER, 2026

the field. The founder is available to weigh in. Experienced employees teach newer ones informally. Then the company grows. More projects come in. New managers are promoted. Teams spread across jobsites or geographies. The founder cannot be everywhere. Suddenly, the informal system that worked for 20 people starts breaking at 50. That is when tribal knowledge stops being an asset and starts becoming a liability. continued on page 58

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Construction Talent continued from page 57 Companies become dependent on a handful of people. New employees take too long to become productive. Managers create their own standards. Decisions keep traveling to the top because no one is quite sure who has the authority to make them. The answer is not more bureaucracy. Nobody in construction is asking for another 100-page manual collecting dust somewhere. The answer is clarity.

Onboarding Should Teach People How to Think Too much onboarding is an information flood: policies, software, benefits, processes and organizational charts. Necessary? Yes. Enough? Not even close. The best onboarding teaches people how the business thinks. A project manager needs to know how to use the company’s software. But that person also needs to understand when a project issue should be elevated, how the company communicates bad news to a client and which tradeoffs are never acceptable just to protect a schedule. That judgment is what separates someone who

completes tasks from someone who takes ownership. Construction leaders should look at their strongest employees and ask a simple question: What do these people know instinctively that everyone else needs to be taught? What does a successful project look like beyond finishing on time? Which numbers matter every week? Which problems cannot wait until Monday’s meeting? If leadership cannot clearly answer those questions, employees probably cannot either.

Stop Promoting Great Builders and Hoping They Become Great Leaders Hope is not a strategy. Construction has a habit of taking someone who is exceptional at the job and assuming that person will naturally be exceptional at managing people. That is a dangerous assumption. A superintendent can have decades of field experience and still have no idea how to coach a struggling employee, for example.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

continued on page 59

OCTOBER, 2026

Construction Talent continued from page 58 Managing people requires an entirely different set of muscles like; setting expectations, giving honest feedback, navigating conflict, delegating, communicating priorities and holding people accountable. Companies cannot hand someone a bigger title and expect those skills to magically appear. When they do, the new manager struggles and the people underneath that manager pay the price. Eventually, the company pays it too through disengagement and turnover. Leadership development does not require an elaborate corporate academy. Start with the basics: regular one-on-one conversations, clear performance expectations, defined decision rights and direct feedback. Employees should not have to win the manager lottery to receive good leadership.

HEARD IT ALL BEFORE? WE ACTUALLY DELIVER. The Equipment You Need Backed by People Who Know the Job.

Show People Where They Can Go Construction is competing for talent against industries that often do a much better job selling people on their future. Someone may accept a job as an assistant project manager without having any idea what the next three positions could be or what it takes to earn them. That is a missed opportunity. Career paths do not need to promise promotions. They need to make progress visible. What separates an assistant project manager from a project manager? What must a project manager demonstrate to become a senior project manager? What does the company expect from someone who wants to run a division? Spell it out. When expectations are clear, advancement becomes less mysterious and less subjective. Employees know where they stand, where they can go and what they need to learn to get there. That is especially important for people who did not grow up around construction. The industry offers incredible career opportunities, but outsiders do not automatically know they exist.

Turnover Is an Operating Problem Turnover is often treated as an HR statistic. Leadership teams should look at it the same way they look at schedule performance, project profitability, backlog, safety and cash flow. continued on page 60

OCTOBER, 2026

877-DIG-LIFT MAINE | NEW HAMPSHIRE | VERMONT MASSACHUSETTS | RHODE ISLAND

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Construction Talent continued from page 59 Every unnecessary departure costs something. Knowledge walks out the door. Managers lose time. Recruiting starts again. Existing employees absorb more work. A client or project may lose someone it depends on. Not every employee should be retained. Accountability matters, and sometimes the right outcome is for someone to leave. But when strong people repeatedly walk because expectations are unclear, managers are inconsistent or advancement feels arbitrary, that is not a labormarket problem. That is a management problem. Companies should know how quickly new employees become independently productive, where turnover is highest, where talented employees tend to stall and whether the people capable of becoming tomorrow’s leaders are actually being prepared for it. If talent matters to the business, it deserves the same discipline as every other critical operating metric.

Build the Workforce Before It Is Needed No single contractor is going to solve construc-

tion’s labor shortage. But every contractor can decide whether it is going to become better at developing the people it already has. The companies positioned to grow will not simply be the ones that recruit the most people. They will be the ones that transfer knowledge faster, create strong managers, make expectations clear and develop new leaders before they desperately need them. That work is easy to push aside when there is a position to fill, a project behind schedule or a client demanding attention. But workforce development is capacity development. A contractor cannot sustainably add projects, enter new markets or grow revenue if every step forward makes the organization more dependent on the same five people who already know how everything works. Recruiting matters. But getting someone through the door is the beginning, not the victory. The real test is what the business does with that talent once it gets there. Written by Joanna Tomczyk, a Hartford, Connecticut-based business leader, keynote speaker, independent consultant and entrepreneur with extensive experience building, scaling and transforming businesses across North America, with a strong focus on the construction and heavy equipment industries. n

60 YEARS SERVING MAJOR CONTRACTORS We understand the unique risks, insurance requirements, and surety demands of the construction industry

Same Team, New Name Starting in June, we will be branded under the Cross Insurance name T: 781.681.6686

141 Longwater Drive, Suite 203, Norwell, MA 02061

CrossAgency.com

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Nathan Patton Trimble

Modern Reality Capture Connects the Office and the Field Advances in technology open up new opportunities, and embedding reality capture within project management systems can multiply the collaboration benefits for utility contractors.

he gap between office expectations and field reality is a fundamental threat to the performance and profitability. Now, reality capture is changing the game, and contractors that embed modern capabilities within their project management solutions maximize the visibility and collaboration advantages. Discrepancies between design, schedule, budget, and operational understanding in the office and actual as-built status and dynamic, daily adjustments made on the jobsite are not surprising. Keeping teams on the same page is inherently difficult, and contractors have historically relied on fragmented, labor-intensive processes to do it. Field-fit changes not communicated to the office can have downstream effects. Office updates and assumptions not relayed to the field lead to operational errors. Even when communication is effective, the information often flows outside of the tools needed to operationalize it and must be entered manually.

Sharing Visual Documentation Reality capture is essentially the process of creating a digital depiction of a physical jobsite at a point in time. Advances in 360-degree cameras, mobile devices, cloud computing, and AI have made it easier than ever for contractors to digitally capture jobsite activity without the limitations and lag time of logs, phone calls, photos, and other outdated tools. This

OCTOBER, 2026

is enhancing opportunities to visually document and analyze progress, improve collaboration, and make more informed decisions throughout construction. As technology has advanced, the number of reality capture solutions available has exploded. Today, contractors can choose from a rapidly growing list of standalone options. But capturing reality is only part of the equation. Value multiplies when photo and video data from the jobsite is seamlessly integrated within tools contractors already use to manage projects. Standalone solutions require them to upload imagery into a separate application, switch between platforms, or manually connect data. Natively embedded reality capture solutions allow visual site documentation to become part of everyday project workflows—making information continued on page 62

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Technology in Const. continued from page 61 easier to access, collaborate around, and act upon.

The Connected Ecosystem Approach This is the approach Trimble is taking. Trimble ProjectSight 360 Capture integrates directly with standard 360-degree cameras, and the imagery flows seamlessly into the Trimble ProjectSight project management application and the Trimble Connect collaboration platform. Reality capture is a native part of the same environment where project teams already manage construction. Walk the jobsite with an off-the-shelf 360-degree camera, such as an Insta360 device, and the software application does the rest. Instead of managing another application, separate logins and additional integrations, ProjectSight 360 Capture embeds reality capture directly into existing project management workflows. Using AI, the solution automatically maps captured images to project drawings, creating an interactive visual timeline that teams can access from anywhere. Teams can quickly navigate from a drawing or model to a specific location, compare progress over time, and collaborate around visual project information—all without leaving the project management system.

Everything lives within one ecosystem. Imagery, drawings, RFIs, issues, documents, and collaboration tools remain connected. Project teams get a more complete view of the jobsite while eliminating the friction of disconnected workflows. The results? Faster access to information, better visibility into progress, and fewer surprises.

More Confidence on the Jobsite Contractors should manage projects, not a collection of applications. An embedded reality capture tool replaces scattered files, multiple software applications, and contracts and confusing integrations with a single ground truth and proof of accountability. Capturing the job walk takes no technology expertise, and the data works natively right inside the project management platform with no other integration or import/export steps required. The result is the ability to identify, visualize, communicate, and document events on a project with ease and context. Nathan Patton is the senior manager, office-tofield and AI solutions at Trimble. With a background in geomatics engineering and surveying, he focuses on developing practical technologies for connected digital workflows. n

www.unitedconcrete.com

Your single source for precast concrete solutions

Pump Stations, Prefabricated Buildings

˚ Bridge Structures ˚ Pump Stations, Buildings ˚ Underground Tunneling ˚ Culverts/Arches ˚ Retaining Walls ˚ Prestress/NEXT Beams ˚ Custom Structures

Prestress (PCI (PCI Certified) Certified) Prestress

RCP

Box Culverts

Toll Free: (800) 234-3119 Fax: (203) 265-4941 Jason Lindsey jlindsey@unitedconcrete.com Cell 203-464-7667

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Three Leadership Phases Define Construction Firms. Which One are You In? There’s a difference between putting out an immediate fire and shaping a business for long-term growth and success, writes a construction consultant.

n our work with 100-plus contractors, we’ve identified three primary leadership team archetypes: Tier 1: Stabilization Tier 2: Optimization Tier 3: Maximization

Each tier indicates a company’s readiness for growth measured by their leadership team’s ability to advance initiatives and work on the business. It’s worth identifying where your leadership team lands on this spectrum today because it will emphasize the next best steps on the business’s growth journey.

Stabilization When a contractor is in stabilization, they’re doing little more than treading water.

OCTOBER, 2026

The leadership team cannot effectively work on the business without significant support and handholding. Typically, they struggle to communicate across departments without an outside facilitator in the room — sometimes because there are foundational trust issues. Other times, they simply have not developed the type of executive thinking and communication needed for big-picture conversations. The problems they do solve are usually focused on immediate, burning fires. They may have no job descriptions or little business development strategy. They need to attack lots of small problems quickly and remain nimble in doing so. These contractors need the most development, but they also represent the best opportunity for quick improvement. For example, three years ago, we began working continued on page 65

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Make Your Project Stand Out:

Expert Construction Signage Solutions

SAND & STONE CORP. 192 Plain St. North Attleboro, MA 02760 (508) 699-1922 www.borocorp.com

• Indoor/Outdoor Signage • Flyers/Brochures • Target Marketing • Direct Mail • Banners

Contact Ernie@websterprinting.com 781.447.5484

WE'VE GOT YOUR BLADES. YOUR TEETH.

AND YOUR BACK. Visit one of our locations to find cutting edges, bucket teeth, wear steel, and many other products for all of your needs.

333 Reservoir St. Needham Heights, MA (781) 444-9500

321 Albany St. Springfield, MA (413) 781-4170

44 West Clark St. W. Haven, CT (203) 932-5991

380 Jefferson Blvd. Rear Warwick, RI (401) 736-9724

Phone: 877.436.2526 | Email: sales@genalco.com | genalco.com

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

347 Rockingham Rd. Londonderry, NH (603) 239-3910

Getting things done since 1947

OCTOBER, 2026

3 Leadership Phases continued from page 63

functioning at a much higher level. All they needed was guidance on the structure, and a bit of help with what “good” actually looks like.

with a $17 million subcontractor in the Southeastern U.S. Everyone in the company reported to the president; they had no department heads, they had no job descriptions, they had never considered building an org chart.

The business quickly outgrew the stabilization tier and was able to focus on bigger and harder problems.

In 12 months, the business pulled off a complete makeover. Leadership implemented a scalable org structure and found people to fill every major department lead position. They also developed the sales skills and pursuit selection practices they needed to refine their estimating strategy.

Companies with leaders on the optimization tier have learned to advance their own initiatives, but still struggle to “see” the future beyond what’s immediately in front of them.

In just three years, the contractor grew from $17 million to $44 million, all while maintaining 10%+ net profitability. Meanwhile, the leadership team began

Optimization

When I say “see the future,” I am talking about the team’s ability to extend their planning horizon as far as one to five years out and ask themselves: What do we want the business to look like in the long-term? And, perhaps more importantly: How will we get there? Looking into the future — and working backwards to make that future a reality — are learned skills that are in high demand but often in short supply in the construction industry. Most leaders have never been asked to think into the future and rather have been directed to look at the problems immediately in front of them. As a result, the problems they are good at solving are usually the three-to-six-month problems that go along with making a department stronger and more effective. They may be building out key performance indicators and developing a standard quarterly review cadence; sometimes they build out their leadership development programming.

1200 Worcester Road 625 Pleasant Street Watertown, Framingham, MA . 617 (508) 532-3200 MA. - 924 - 3673 MATel: Ask for: Chris Uhl

watertownford.com mcgovernfordofframingham.com 3 Locations to– Serve You& TRUCK in Eastern SALES – SERVICE PARTS – CAR RENTAL MA

OCTOBER, 2026

While leadership teams at the optimization level need a lot less handholding to advance initiatives, they often need significant support in building out a vision. Usually, this is done by the owner or an outside consultant to help them think bigger. This is a learned skill. One way to advance your continued on page 66

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

3 Leadership Phases continued from page 65 long-term strategic thinking ability is to simply answer the question: What would need to be true for me to be proud of this business three years from now? This can unlock some amazing answers from your leadership team. Suddenly, they can clearly see where they want to go. Once they do, they just need to work backwards and build a plan to make that future a reality. Don’t be discouraged if developing your team’s “long-term” visioning abilities takes months or years — this is normal. But it is essential if you want your business to grow and dominate long into the future. You cannot afford to wait in developing this skill in the top people in your organization.

and revenue. For example, one $350 million-plus subcontractor client fits the maximization mold well. Rather than focusing on low-level issues like building standard operating procedures, they have moved on to much harder problems, like how to open their third geographic location doing more than $100 million in revenue. They are worried about working capital, gross profit variance and creating a corporate structure that can scale as they grow. They often need high-level advisory input and a knowledge of best practices, but otherwise, they get stuff done and solve gigantic problems that help hundreds of people.

Maximization

These are the companies that almost always seem to be winning over and over again. They have the best reputations and their clients love to have them on their projects. That is a recipe for success.

The maximization tier is the dream — only 2% of the contractors in the country exist here.

No Tier is Guaranteed

Essentially, it means your executive team has proven its ability to advance initiatives, clearly sees into the future and regularly turns that future into reality. Usually, these executive teams are highly effective at finding unique ways to capture profit

Fascinatingly, we have found that leadership teams don’t live in the same tier forever. They can grow from one tier to the next, or even regress depending on the state of their business. continued on page 67

Your trusted partner in construction For over a decade, we’ve proudly supported UCANE, and our commitment to protecting what matters most. We partner with construction professionals to navigate risk and build with confidence: Owners Developers General contractors Designers Subcontractors

At The Baldwin Group, we’re not just protecting projects — we’re Protecting the Possible.

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

3 Leadership Phases continued from page 66 For example, a general contractor building a multifamily during COVID-19 was on the maximization tier when interest rates were low and market potential was high. The executive team was humming. But as interest rates increased and the development market slowed, they slipped back into optimization and had to focus on shorter-term problems — like where to get work and build their backlog. It was a matter of survival.

If you’re reading this and thinking: “Where does my team fall?” I’d advise you to spend the next month evaluating your leadership team’s ability to: Advance initiatives on their own. See into the future clearly, one to five years at a time. Work on the biggest, most complex problems. Then, determine what tier you fall into and start developing the skills to level up.

Written by Matt Verderamo, a consultant at Baltimore-based Well Built Consulting. Opinions are the author’s own. n

IF YOU LIVE FOR IT, WE’LL HELP YOU PLAN FOR IT.

Patrick Di Cerbo

CFP®, MSFS Wealth Management Advisor 518-281-8200 pat.dicerbo@nm.com www.patdicerbo.com

OCTOBER, 2026

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

Advertisers’ Index 21st Century Concrete, Inc.................................................................... 68 ATS Equipment, Inc. .............................................................................. 26 Acrisure..................................................................................................... 23 Allegiance Trucks.................................................................................... 31 Badger Daylighting................................................................................. 22 The Baldwin Group................................................................................. 66 Benevento Companies............................................................................ 56 Blue Collar Customs............................................................................... 46 Boro Sand & Stone Corp........................................................................ 64 Dennis K. Burke, Inc............................................................................... 53 Concrete Systems, Inc....................................................Inside Back Cvr. Core & Main............................................................................................... 2 Cross Insurance....................................................................................... 60 Cumberland Quarry Corp..................................................................... 41 Dagle Electrical Construction Corp.................................................... 24 Darmody, Merlino & Co., LLP.............................................................. 56 Dedham Recycled Gravel......................................................................... 9 Dig Safe System, Inc................................................................................ 13 EJ................................................................................................................. 11 Eastpoint Lasers, LLC............................................................................. 11 T. L. Edwards, Inc.................................................................................... 17 Ferri Equipment....................................................................................... 67 Genalco, Inc.............................................................................................. 64 Granite City Electric............................................................................... 30 Henniker Directional Drilling, LLC.................................................... 39 Hinckley Allen LLP................................................................................. 34 John Hoadley & Sons, Inc........................................................................ 7 P. A. Landers, Inc..................................................................................... 20 Lawrence-Lynch Corp............................................................................ 15 Lorusso Corp............................................................................................ 18 Lorusso Heavy Equipment, LLC........................................................... 48 McGovern Ford of Framingham.......................................................... 65 Mersino Dewatering............................................................................... 38 Milton CAT..............................................................................Back Cover Milton Rents............................................................................................. 59 Monroe Tractor........................................................................................ 56 National Grid........................................................................................... 10 North East Shoring Equipment, LLC................................................... 40 Norfolk Power Equipment, Inc............................................................. 21 North American Crane & Rigging LLC.............................................. 12 Northwestern Mutual............................................................................. 67 Ocean State Oil........................................................................................ 58 Pacella Recycled Gravel.......................................................................... 37 Pawtucket Hot Mix Asphalt.................................................................. 27 Podgurski Corp.......................................................................................... 4 E. J. Prescott, Inc................................................................ Ins. Front Cvr. Rain For Rent-New England.................................................................... 8 Read Custom Soils................................................................................... 53 Scituate Concrete Products Corp........................................................... 6 Scrap It, Inc............................................................................................... 35 Shea Concrete Products, Inc. ................................................................ 14 SITECH New England............................................................................ 32 Starkweather & Shepley Ins. Brokerage, Inc....................................... 50 Sunbelt Rentals........................................................................................ 15 Tonry Insurance Group, Inc.................................................................. 31 United Concrete Products..................................................................... 62 Vortex Services......................................................................................... 16 F. W. Webb Company............................................................................. 28 Webster Printing..................................................................................... 64 C. N. Wood Co., Inc. .............................................................................. 36 World Insurance Associates LLC......................................................... 52

“BUY FROM THE ADVERTISERS IN CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK”

OCTOBER, 2026

Concrete Systems, Inc.: Manholes & Catch Basins, Box Culverts, Utility Structures, Special Box Structures, Containment Vaults, Fire Cisterns, CSI Arc-Span™ Bridges, Rigid Bridge ™ Systems, Bridge Deck Slabs, Permanent & Temporary Median Barrier, Uwall™ Retaining Wall Systems, Stablewall™ Retaining Wall, Headwalls & Wingwalls. Clampcrete Construction Systems: TL-4 Anchored Barrier for Roadway Structures. Tunnel Systems: Precision Segmental Tunnel Lining Rings. Cleco Manufacturing: Precision Fabricated Forms & Forming Systems, Complete Plant Design, Batch Plant Computer Automation, Countercurrent Mixers & Concrete Delivery Systems.

SEALED CAB PRESSURIZED INTERIOR A/C

TR AVEL CRUISE CONTROL

COLOR LCD MONITOR EFFORTLESS CONTROL

STICK STEER MODE

ADJUSTABLE DIG SPEED

TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES EASILY

CUSTOMIZE YOUR HYDRAULICS

JOYSTICK CONTROL

CAB COMFORTS

EASY COUPLING

WRIST RESTS, CUP HOLDER, STORAGE , PHONE HOLDER

FULL LINE OF ATTACHMENTS

SWING ASSIST STOP SWING AT SET POINTS EASE-OF-USE FEATURE

BUCKET ASSIST

MAINTAIN LAST KNOWN BUCKET ANGLE EASE-OF-USE FEATURE

E-FENCE

INDICATE

BL ADE FLOAT

EASY ACCESS

DIG EXACT DEPTH, LENGTH & SLOPE EASE-OF-USE FEATURE

CONTROL THE BLADE INDEPENDENTLY

TO ENGINE & HYDRAULICS

AVOID OBSTACLES EASE-OF-USE FEATURE

CAT’S NEXT-GEN EXCAVATORS

HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS YOUR NEXT MACHINE? THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE. Take a look at Milton CAT’s Next-Gen line of mini-excavators. This is what applied innovation looks like: clean-sheet thinking that makes all things possible. You’ll find technology at work, inside and out. Creature comforts that make your cab seem more like your office. And enhancements that give you more control, awareness and access than ever before. Interested in ratcheting up your efficiency, productivity and earning potential? Just follow the signs.

FINANCING AVAILABLE INCLUDES A 2-YEAR/2,000 HR. STANDARD WARRANTY.

SEE AND HEAR FOR YOURSELF. VISIT COMPACT.MILTONCAT.COM. MILFORD

100 Quarry Dr

NORTH READING 84 Concord St

STOUGHTON 207 Page St

WAREHAM

14 Kendrick Rd

SCARBOROUGH

16 Pleasant Hill Rd

BREWER

79 Robertson Blvd

RICHMOND 150 Cat Ln

LONDONDERRY

30 Industrial Dr

CRANSTON

2158 Plainfield Pike