Husband and wife, Billy and Anne Marie Almasi of Almasi Contractors, LLC.

Almasi Contractors, LLC installed a pumping station at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for field drainage. The company also installed utilities at the stadium.

When the Almasi family comes together, its passion quickly emerges. Family members trade stories of construction projects with the same enthusiasm as children talk about their favorite toys. The family members remember nearly every detail of every project they’ve ever worked on together—and even some completed by generations before them.

The foursome that leads Almasi Contractors, LLC in Woodbridge, N.J.—Anne Marie and Bill Almasi, Anne Marie’s sister, Laura Bianchini, and cousin Ken Nagy—are part of a family with more than 50 years of construction experience. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Carrying on a Family Tradition

Almasi Contractors traces its roots back to the family’s patriarch, John Almasi Sr., who immigrated to the area from Hungary in the 1920s. Armed with a strong work ethic that more than made up for his lack of English skills, he started a bus business that transported workers from Newark to Woodbridge.

The venture was so successful that it caught the attention of Public Service Coordinated Transport, which purchased the company in 1929. The sale empowered John to purchase land in Woodbridge and launch a trucking and material supply business with his two sons, John Jr. and Bill Sr. (Bill’s father), who ran the trucking and excavating operations of the company.

Early on, the company excavated clay from its property for a variety of construction companies. Materials from the land helped build the Lincoln Tunnel that connects New Jersey to New York City, many of the tennis courts in New York City and the infields of baseball stadiums across the northeast.

Along the way, the family’s passion for construction was passed down through the generations. “We just do it,” Bill says. Much of this passion was instilled through osmosis. Sons and daughters saw how their parents conducted themselves and their business.

“You always lead by example,” Anne Marie says. “Billy, Laura, Ken and I work very, very hard. When you have a family business, it’s 24/7. You lead by what you do.”

The mentoring extended beyond that, however. John Sr. and Bill Sr. made a point of taking their children and grandchildren under their wings.

“I used to talk to my grandfather on the back porch along with my dad,” Bill says. “I absorbed a lot of knowledge there.”

An Evolving Business

In the last 25-plus years, Bill and Anne Marie seized opportunities to grow the business and blaze new paths. While maintaining an extensive fleet of trucks, Almasi Contractors has become a full-service sitework and specialized utility installations contractor.

“Our job is very special in what we do,” Laura says. “If it’s something that’s hard, if it’s something that’s special, that’s what we do. To be involved with all of these high-profile clients, it amazes me.”

One noteworthy project includes MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the National Football League’s New York Giants and New York Jets.

When potential clients saw the quality of Almasi Contractors’ work on the project, they were drawn to the firm for their own needs. As a result, Almasi Contractors has completed two school projects in Jersey City and the New Jersey State Police Headquarters in West Trenton. Additional work was performed for Rutgers University in Piscataway, the Prudential Center in Newark and the Georgian Court University Wellness Center in Lakewood.

“I always say we’re the biggest mom and pop you could be,” Anne Marie offers with a smile.

Trust, Honesty and Expertise

No matter how large the projects become, Almasi Contractors continues to operate on the principles of trustworthiness, honesty and expertise that stem from who the family is.

Construction is extremely complicated, particularly for companies and organizations that aren’t typically exposed to the work. Trust and honesty are key to a healthy working relationship, Anne Marie believes. When that foundation is laid and combined with expertise and hard work, projects are successful.

“In the work world, especially in construction, there’s many, many paths you can go down,” Anne Marie says. “We never go down the path that isn’t built on integrity. If it’s right, it’s right. If you follow the rules, you’ll be a winner.”

The team at Almasi Contractors values long-term relationships with those it serves. Customers become part of the family. Communication flows freely. Projects are reviewed thoroughly.

“There’s dedication,” Anne Marie says. “There’s integrity. We’re always here for each other. Nobody looks after your business like family. When a family member is involved, there’s a vested interest.”

With the Almasis’ deep roots in Woodbridge and New Jersey, Bill realizes each completed project is another way the company is contributing to the community.

“I always think of it as a sport,” he says. “You bring people together and work together to finish a project. We keep going and going.”

A Promising Future

The fourth generation of Almasis has already started working in the company, which includes Bill Almasi III and Maura and Ted Urlton. Each of them plays a crucial role in the business and they are poised to one day lead the company.

When Anne Marie and Bill Jr. look at their grandchildren, they see the fifth generation of Almasi Contractors coming quickly. Watching it happen brings them joy.

“I see the same signs in [my grandson] as my son and my husband,” Anne Marie says. “It’s probably going to go the same way.”