Congratulations Carl Petrillo
Joining Yonkers Contracting Company Chairman Carl Petrillo at podium, from left, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace
Company Paved the Way for Tri-State Region’s Economic Growth
Nearly 400 employees and guests including Westchester and Yonkers elected officials were on hand October 3 for a joyous celebration of Yonkers Contracting Company’s 80th anniversary led by its visionary Chairman Carl Petrillo.
Among those speaking at the event held at the company’s maintenance facility on Midland Avenue were Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace. They spoke of Carl Petrillo’s inspired leadership and the company’s many contributions to the economic growth of Yonkers, Westchester County and entire Tri-state region.
Founded in 1945 by Edward Petrillo and now led by his son Carl, YCC has grown from a traditional road and bridge builder into a diversified infrastructure powerhouse. The company has transformed the region’s infrastructure from major highways to bridges to tunnels to commuter rail lines. In a sense, Yonkers Contracting has literally paved the way for the region’s economic growth. For 80 years, Yonkers Contracting has been at the center of New York’s growth story — not only building infrastructure, but also building opportunity, resilience, and a reputation for excellence.
“Our business strategy values relationships. Many people here today have developed long-term relationships with Yonkers Contracting Company that ultimately elevate the performance of our company and at the same time provide good business for our partners. It is our goal to maintain existing relationships and seek out new ones,” said Carl Petrillo.
“The focus of today’s celebration are Yonkers Contracting’s employees,” he said asking all Yonkers employees attending the event to please stand. “In our 80th year these are faces of Yonkers Contracting, this is the 2025 team we fielded. Please join me in recognizing this most important resource of our company – the people.”
Among its many milestones, the company has completed more than 1,350 projects at an estimated cost of $13 billion across Westchester and the New York Metro region. Its fleet of modern traditional equipment and specialized foundation and road machinery is geared to today’s complex construction challenges — resulting in winning bids, meeting schedules, and delivering profitable, high-quality outcomes.
YCC’s evolution reflects its ability to adapt and expand with the times. Beyond bridges and highways, the company now constructs electrical substations, treatment plants, parking structures, railroad facilities, and commercial and industrial buildings. This breadth of expertise is a testament to the YCC team’s ability to grow, pivot, and capture new markets while delivering successful projects to both public and private owners. And it has remained true to its roots, calling Yonkers home for 8 decades and counting!
The company’s most challenging project to date was the World Trade Center PATH Restoration Program (2002) following the 9/11 attack which involved restoring critical transit links for the Port Authority.
The company’s single largest project is the Design/Build Contract in 2024 for the NYS Department of Transportation on the Bronx River Parkway toreplace a multi-span bridge over MTA Train Yard with a new 1,500 linear foot viaduct. Other landmark projects include the Brooklyn Bridge Emergency Deck Replacement, LaGuardia Airport East Parking Garage, and Route 17 Design-Build Project toreconstruct the highway interchange of Route 17 & Route 32, including a diverging diamond interchange that increased safety in the corridor by 50%.
“I believe my father would be very proud of his business today. We best honor his memory by continuing to conduct business in the same manner people have come to expect of us. – a corporation that provides gainful employment, has a social conscience and renders a distinctive service to its clients,” Petrillo said.
“The secret of our success is that we have people here who want to be here and stay here for a long period of time. You have this incredible expertise. I really credit that to Carl Petrillo. He’s very involved in every bid. He sets where we’re going. He’s steering the ship. He has the vision and leadership skills. That’s why I came here,” said Jack Donnelly, Vice President and Project Manager 28 years with the company.
“Carl wants you to think out of the box. He promotes that and rewards that. I think that has helped the company progress over the years. The people at Yonkers Contracting are very talented. You have to be doing something right if you’re going to be here for 80 years. Construction is not a business for the weak at heart. It’s a very tough business,” said Bill Jordan, former Senior Vice President of Construction who retired in 2022 after spending 39 years with the company.
“A lot of our employees have been here for many, many years. Quite a few, 20 plus and 30 plus year employees. I don’t think our competition could boast that same thing. I think that’s one of the keys to our success. And I think it’s a testament to Carl Petrillo. We are extremely loyal to Carl. We admire his vision and his leadership and where he’s taken the company and continues to grow and improve the company,” said John Merola, Senior Vice President Construction, 27 years with the company.
“I think the key has always been the people who work for the company, and the loyalty that Carl has had for the employees and the long-term relationships with all of us that have been around for a long time,” said Louis Marino, Vice President Equipment, 35 years with the company.
