2021 Ones to Watch: Mark Montalvo, McAlpine Contracting

Name: Mark Montalvo

Title: Director of Construction

Company Name: McAlpine Contracting

Real estate associations or organizations that you are currently a member of: Assisting Children Today, Real Estate and Construction Group; Cooley’s Anemia.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of?
Two of my recent and current projects are both challenging and very satisfying. The new Manhattan flagship store of the luxury furniture brand Timothy Oulton was just completed on an accelerated construction schedule of only three months. McAlpine has completely renovated a 7,170 s/f section of the original Lord & Taylor building at 901 Broadway to build the new retail showroom. The project called for many unusual features, including a life-size replica of NASA’s Apollo 11 command module, converted into an intimate lounge; a three-ton fish tank; and a lower level bar. My other exciting project, currently in a pre-construction phase, is an upcoming phased renovation of 17,000 s/f of medial offices, nurse stations, and an imaging suite for ProHealth in Bethpage, N.Y. This important project will serve the healthcare needs of the local community.

How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
A positive attitude, fairness, respect, keeping people accountable, and sense of humor help in managing teams of McAlpine’s employees, subcontractors, and consultants. This approach was particularly helpful during the stressful and challenging initial months of the COVID pandemic, allowing our firm to deliver, without delays, the $70 million, 250-unit The Lois rental building in Brooklyn, and several other significant projects in the greater New York area.

Who was/is your mentor and how did s/he influence/help you in your career?
My father and uncles, all union carpenters, introduced me to the construction industry while I was in high school. They brought me in as a laborer during summers and weekends to work on prefabricated building projects. My father helped me discover the immense satisfaction one feels upon completing a project. He also instilled in me the importance of work ethics, honesty, responsibility, hard work, and self-reliance. I later worked as a union carpenter as well, before pursuing a career in construction project management. I was recently promoted to McAlpine Contracting’s director of construction.