New York, NY As John Gallin & Son prepares to celebrate 130 years in business, the company takes a moment to reflect on its past and how it has become the oldest and one of the most respected construction firms in the city.
Over the course of those 130 years, much has changed in the landscape of New York construction. From advances in building materials to unimaginable architectural feats, the constant of the industry has been change. One thing that has not changed for John Gallin & Son is the idea of family.
Founded in 1886 by Irish immigrant John Gallin, the modest masonry and concrete company was seemingly destined to become part of the foundation of New York City. The city, and the country found itself in the midst of a post- Industrial Revolution boom and John Gallin was there to stake his claim. A member of the Gallin family has been at the helm ever since.
Family First
Gallin is not the only name that has been passed down over John Gallin & Son’s 130 years. Five generations of the Gallin family, four generations of the Ziegler family, three generations of the Kondracki and Terry families, plus eight second generation and five first generation families.
“The most important rule to follow is – you work your way up from the entry level, no job is ‘handed’ to you,” said Chris Gallin, president of John Gallin & Son. “Mike, Tom, and myself all started in the field working as laborers and worked our way up through the ranks to the present management positions.”
Working alongside uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, and sometimes a parent has proven to be the perfect formula at the firm. While most family run businesses don’t survive the second and third generations, this team considers itself a “functional family.” All members of the company work together closely but each member maintains their own area of responsibility. Consultation is encouraged but at the end of the day each member is responsible and makes the final decision for their department, which is backed up by the rest of the team.
What We Do
John Gallin & Son has earned its reputation as one of the premier construction management and general contracting companies for commercial interiors in New York City. Building repeat business with clients such as Havas Worldwide, Warner Music, the City University of New York, Ann Taylor, and Wells Fargo is no easy feat. By always dedicating their full resources, John Gallin & Son is able to deliver the highest quality, on schedule, every time.
“We explain how we will run the job, how the team will stay together and be there 100% for them, and that what we say in interviews and first meetings will come true. Our clients believe us and trust in us – so we focus on making their decision to use John Gallin & Son a good one for their companies,” said Chris Gallin.
John Gallin & Son treats each client, regardless of job scope or budget, exactly the same. This dedication to their profession and their clients is why they maintain such a diverse field of clients. Education, fashion retail, finance, technology, media, and commercial real estate have all been represented in the John Gallin & Son portfolio over these past 130 years.
Gallin – 130 Years
John Gallin & Son historic storefront.It is truly an amazing feat for a company to maintain this level of success over thirteen decades. John Gallin & Son has changed hands from generation to generation, celebrating history’s highs and managing through the lows. Through all of these changes they have maintained the same drive and dedication to their craft at year 130 as if it was still year one.
“So many people are impressed with Gallin getting to 130 years old! To us, it is an achievement to be very proud of since so many things had to work correctly to make this happen. John Gallin created a core value of how to approach work, and it has manifested itself over the years in so many Gallins. We were also fortunate enough to bring great people who shared these same core values into our company. Some of these incredible people and their families have stayed with our company through two, three, and four generations. It is great to have so many people over all these years continue sharing our enthusiasm for John Gallin & Son,” said Michael Gallin, principal.
Future Forecast
Over the next 10, 25 and 130 years, John Gallin & Son foresees itself as still being family-owned including the many families that have contributed to their success over the years. They will continue doing a great job for their clients, supporting their sub contractors, and proving that choosing John Gallin & Son is a great decision.
Looking towards the future, John Gallin & Son plans to continue developing new clients, bringing the best people into their company, innovating new ways to provide the best construction and customer service keeping John Gallin & Son a leader in the construction industry and maintaining their legacy as a founding member of New York culture.
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