Pittsburgh, PA – (per the Pittsburgh Business Times Article by Jennifer Curry posted on May 13, 2016)
When Antonio Martini was working as a concrete subcontractor in the 1950s, he was lined up to do a project in Squirrel Hill. But when the general contractor on the project went bankrupt, Antonio wasn’t paid. So, he decided it might be best to become a general contractor himself, and A. Martini & Co. was born in 1951.
Or at least that’s the urban legend, according to Antonio’s grandson Anthony Martini, who now runs the business with his brother Angelo Jr. and father Angelo Sr.
Three generations have helped run the company, which started out doing retail strip centers and later evolved into work for the Kroger grocery store chain.
But after Kroger left the region in the early ’80s, management decided it was time to switch gears.
Today, the company does a wide range of work for several notable clients, including Google, Indiana Regional Medical Center, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
“It’s a very eclectic portfolio of work,” Anthony Martini said.
How the small family-owned business gets all this work is “pretty easy,” he added.
“In the construction industry, you are only as good as your last job,” he said. “By trying to do the right thing, do it well, satisfy your clients, it doesn’t take long for word to get out.”
As for who will take over the business in the future, Anthony said both he and his brother each have three children ranging from high school age to 26.
“Between the six of them, there will likely be [a successor], but they are a little young to start planning out who will take over the business,” Anthony said. “We’re starting to prep them, but we’ll see who is interested in doing it.”
Closer Look
General contractor/construction manager
Based: Verona
Top officer: Angelo Martini Sr., CEO
Year original business established: 1951
Number of employees: 18, with 70 to 80 people in the field at any given time
Website: amartinigc.com
Family Tree
First Generation: Antonio Martini
Second Generation: Angelo Martini Sr. and Clementine Pittore (Antonio’s children)
Third Generation: Anthony Martini, Angelo Martini Jr. (Angelo’s children)
“This is quite an honor for our company,” said Angelo Martini, Sr., CEO of A. Martini & Co. “We are gratified and excited to be recognized with such a distinguished group of multi-generational businesses across Western Pennsylvania. We know that the culture of our company has been built over three generations of family that has always been very responsive to our clients’ needs while understanding the key role our staff play in exceeding customer expectations.”
