More than 1,000 members of the New York building community gathered to pay tribute to four industry legends and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey during the New York Building Congress 2013 Industry Recognition Dinner on November 12 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan.
Delta Air Lines Senior Vice President Gail A. Grimmett and Mancini Duffy/TSC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Anthony P. Schirripa, FAIA, IIDA, received Industry Recognition Awards.
This year’s George A. Fox Public Service Award was shared by E-J Electric Installation Co. Chairman J. Robert Mann Jr. and President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony E. Mann.
In addition, the Building Congress bestowed Special Recognition to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for its rapid and expert response to Superstorm Sandy. New York City Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott delivered greetings and praised the industry for its ongoing support and execution of the DOE’s capital plan.
“Over the past 10 years, we have allocated over $25 billion to New York City public schools. Our last two capital plans have generated 100,000 jobs. This year alone we opened 19 new school buildings. Thanks to you and all the members of the Building Congress for working with us.”
In presenting the George A. Fox Award to the Mann’s, Turner Construction Company Senior Vice President and General Manager Charles F. Murphy, who co-chaired the Dinner with Lend Lease (US) Construction LMB Inc.
President Ralph J. Esposito, said, “Bob Mann and his son, Tony Mann, have made substantial contributions to multiple charitable and civic organizations well beyond their professional accomplishments. They have taken leadership roles and lent their enthusiasm and expertise to organizations ranging from the Enterprise Foundation to the Salvadori Center and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.”
Murphy also noted Robert Mann’s charitable efforts on behalf of the Engineering Student Center at Yale, as well as Anthony Mann’s more than 25 years of service to the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services.
During his acceptance, Robert Mann said, “All of us here are blessed in many ways, and we understand that it is better to give than to receive. Guiding and helping those less fortunate is a reward in itself.”
Anthony Mann added, “I am fortunate to have parents who model wonderful philanthropic support. In addition, my wife Sally leads a non-profit The Summer Camp, which each year provides a camping experience for underprivileged girls. I also extend my unending gratitude to the management team at E-J Electric. Not only do they support numerous charities, but also they enable me to spend the time I do helping others.”
STV Executive Chairman Dominick M. Servedio presented Special Recognition to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
“When Superstorm Sandy hit the region last year, it resulted in $2 billion in damages to Port Authority facilities. Every bridge, tunnel, and airport was severely affected,” said Servedio.
“The Port Authority responded as only it knows how – with everything it has at its disposal – to protect and restore such widespread and critical services as quickly as possible. Despite the magnitude of the destruction, the Port Authority was able to return its systems to limited service within one week of Superstorm Sandy and is now rebuilding these systems more resilient than ever.”
Port Authority Executive Director Patrick J. Foye said, “Superstorm Sandy was the worst public transportation disaster in the nation’s history. Under the leadership of Governors Cuomo and Christie, the Port Authority, I’m proud to say, played a pivotal role in the region’s recovery.
“Staff at all levels, both yesterday’s hire and the 30-year veteran, both union members and senior managers, worked long and hard and smart to restore one of the engines of the region’s trillion dollar economy. On behalf of the Port Authority Board and all of my colleagues, I’m happy to accept this award.”
In presenting an Industry Recognition Award to Gail Grimmett, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan M. McDonald said, “In only four years in New York, Gail has established herself with a reputation for quality work and exemplary leadership. Gail and her colleagues have led a cross-functional team, working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to implement Delta’s $1.4 billion terminal redevelopment program at John F. Kennedy International Airport. She has also directed the largest hub expansion in 40 years at LaGuardia Airport, doubling Delta’s overall capacity of that airport.”
During her acceptance, Grimmett praised and congratulated her Delta colleagues and a wide range of industry leaders, companies and organizations for the role they played in Delta’s New York expansion, which she said is critical to the local economy.
“We have 9,000 New York based employees and carry 23 million people a year through New York. And as such we have a responsibility as well to the economic development of the City. Collectively on both projects, we had over 1,200 construction jobs, and our MWBE participation was over 19 percent and at LaGuardia over 21 percent.”
Kohn Pederson Fox Principal Jill N. Lerner and architect Terrence O’Neal presented the Industry Recognition Award to Anthony Schirripa.
Schirripa praised the entire industry for what it does to make New York one of the world’s greatest cities.
“Most people do not realize what it takes to make a great city like ours: it takes architects and engineers who imagine and innovate and create. But it also requires visionary developers and owners, experienced managers, expert contractors, skilled and dedicated tradespeople. It takes the patience and willingness to build relationships and consensus with industry, business, and the public sector. In other words, it takes teamwork—it takes the New York Building Congress.”
“Each year, we salute the extraordinary leadership and professional accomplishments of top leaders in our industry. Including this year, we have honored 53 exceptional individuals from design, construction, real estate and government in the City of New York,” said Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson. “We thank our Dinner Chairmen Ralph Esposito and Charles Murphy and our underwriters AECOM, Delta Air Lines, Lend Lease and Turner Construction.”
