Q&A With Albanese Brothers' President, Marcella Albanese
From Construction Outlook Magazine
Q: How did you get started in the underground construction industry, and what was your first job?
A: I’ve been around construction my whole life. I started by attending the Albanese Brothers office after school, answering phones, matching slips, and posting and paying invoices. I learned how to do payroll and put together pay requisitions, etc.
When I graduated High School, instead of attending college full time, I went straight to the
field and took college courses in the evening. My first on-site field job was in Bedford, MA.
The project entailed installing new sewer lines with lots of rock/ledge removal, blasting, road
reconstruction, and all associated work for the town. This is where I learned how to set line
and grade, do layouts, keep a field book, and support the crew on whatever they needed.
I learned to be a laborer and pipelayer while doing field engineering work. I never forget those
days. I did everything from labor to being an engineering assistant. It was fun learning all the
new things I never did before. I absorbed everything like a sponge. That was it, I fell in love
with the challenge and I have not looked back. I wanted to learn everything, so I pushed myself
into every task I could, no matter whether I was accepted or not. I didn’t want to be the owner’s
daughter, I wanted to be a respected coworker for my capabilities and not my last name.
Q: How long have you been with the company for which you currently work?
A: I’ve worked at Albanese Brothers since 1983. I started while I was in school. I would go to the office after school to work. From school, I would take the bus to the office, and the secretary/office personnel working then would tell me what they wanted done, and that’s when I began learning construction administration.
Q: How long have you been involved with UCANE?
A: I have been involved with UCANE for as long as I can remember. I remember going to UCANE dinner meetings with my dad when I was a teenager. I also attended many UCANE events. There I had the opportunity to meet many contractors and key people in the industry, and later I served on various committees every chance I got.
Q: How and why did you decide to get involved with UCANE?
A: I was actually recommended to get involved on the Board of Directors by another UCANE contractor member, Leon Asadoorian of Methuen Construction Co. I was on the board, I believe in 1999, for a few years; then I came off for a couple of years, and went back on a few years later. I was then invited to climb the ladder and become a UCANE Officer. I was fortunate enough to be elected to the office of Secretary, and I am currently serving as UCANE Treasurer. I look forward to one day serving as UCANE President.
UCANE has been part of my life for almost all of my life. The why? because I love this industry... It is like no other. It is just as challenging as it is rewarding.
Q: What would you like our membership to know about being a UCANE Officer/Board Member?
A: Good question… I would have to say the most surprising thing to me when I first got involved in the
Board was the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes in our industry that most people don’t
even think about it so that contractors can actually get a job and go to work. And, everything that we
work for benefits our entire membership (and non-members alike, by default).
UCANE has done some amazing things for our industry, whether it be political, regulatory, chasing funding, fundraising, parties, or just being human by caring about one another. UCANE is a family.
