Jerry Shapiro became President of Shapiro & Duncan in 1993, after mastering the economics of the mechanical contracting business as a member of our estimating team from 1978 to 1993. As President, Jerry oversees business development activities as well as operations of the Service, Design Build and Estimating Departments. He also reviews and approves final bids and job cost budgets. In addition, he takes a lead role in communication with subcontractors, vendors and general contractors. Jerry has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
M and T Bank presents CEOs You Should.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Know Power by iHeartMedia.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Let's meet Jerry Shapiro. He is the president of Shapiro
and Duncan, Rockville, Maryland based mechanical construction company that provides
a full range of services for commercial plumbing and HVAC systems,
including design, build, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. They work on
various projects for commercial, government, and institutional clients that are
known for their expertise in areas like energy management and prefabrication.
(00:29):
We'll also be visiting with Aaron Shapiro, he is the
business development director for the company. Now, before we talk
more about Jerry's company, I first asked him to talk
a little bit about himself, where he's from and his
origin story.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So it's born in Washington, c grew up in Montgomery County,
So my whole life in Montgomery County went through the
public school system Montgomery Blair High Schools where I graduated.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Then I went off to University of Maryland.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So the company is third generation. And I love to
talk about people that are lifers in this series. Jerry
from the area because they have such an intimate knowledge
of the people and the places and the things, and
I think it's really key, but I think before we
do that, i'd love to hear about the origin story
about the company, because you know, when you talk about
(01:14):
a generational company, you don't know if the next generation
is going to pick it up and take it from
where it started. But that has happened three different times.
So I'd love to talk about the origin, how it started,
the idea about it, and then where it is today.
But tell us about the origin story about the company.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
When my grandfather, born in Washington, d C. Started a
plumbing heating company right after World War Two. He was
a CB in World War Two in the South Pacific
doing plumbing, HVAC worker heating work. Back then, there wasn't
much air conditioning yet. My dad went to work for
him after college and left him and opened up his
own company. In nineteen seventy six, this company, Shapiro went
(01:50):
Duncan my grandfather. As he finished his business, his company
merged with us, and now, being third generation in the business,
I'm getting ready to pass it on to my children,
which would be fourth generation.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Well, I think that's wonderful and I always love to
ask is because you never know, and as we get
context about generations, kind of showing what the last one
did and handing it down. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't,
or sometimes it needs a little TLC. With that said,
was it a no brainer that you were going to
be a part of this company and a part of
this family continuing what your grandfather and your father had done,
(02:24):
Not at all.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I went to school and actually have a degree in
electrical engineering. So at the time, in the late seventies,
construction was not the place to be. Interest rates were getting,
you know, eighteen almost twenty percent, there was very little
going on in construction. So my idea was I better
study something that I can get a job, and at
that time it was computers or electrical engineering.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So that was my thought.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
But then as I graduated, I worked for my dad
over the summers and really wanted to continue the business.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
We were very small then.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We had less than twenty employees and did a value
both less than a million dollars.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Today we do almost two hundred million and a four employees.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, it's pretty extraordinary, and I want to talk about
that in a little bit, about the amazing things that
the company has done over the decades. But I did
want to talk to you about mission and vision, and
I don't know if it's changed originally from fifty years ago, Jerry,
But as we talk about mission and vision for the company,
what exactly are they Our.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Mission is to create success for our employees and our
vision do the right thing. Another vision is community, serve
the community, drive innovation, and take pride in our work.
So all these things have to do with our people
in the community. So that's a big, big part of it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well, let's do this. I know that there's a lot
of people that know your company, but we're also introducing
a lot of our listeners that are being introduced to
the first time to your company. And if you were
to give Jerry kind of a thirty thousand foot view
about what the company does, what would you tell them.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
We're a mechanical contractor and we do commercial plumbing, heating
and air conditioning building hospitals, schools, office buildings, data centers
in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Aaron, I want to bring you in here, and before
I get to a powerful letter that you sent out
early in this year about the industry that was just
a great read and resonated with me. And I'm not
in the industry, but it meant a lot to just
to read what you had said. Where the current industry
lands with people that work when it comes to what
you guys do in different third parties, especially with trades.
(04:32):
When it came to joining the company, what was your plan,
your thought, how long you have you been with them,
what did you want to do? And tell us where
you landed and what you do now.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, So I grew up starting as a summer helper
in the field, really never felt pressure from the family
that I had to do this, But as I learned
and grew, I realized pretty much the only thing that
I was good at. But I started, you know, summer's
work in the field, and Dad and uncle put me
(05:04):
installing grease interceptors in Montgomery County trash rooms and kitchens.
They try to find the dirtiest, the most difficult, the
worst possible job conditions they could find. And I think
get backfired a little bit because I loved it. I
love the people I worked with, I loved getting my
hands dirty, and it made me really appreciate what we
did and made you really want to get more involved
(05:25):
in the company.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
That's fantastic. I know that my next question for both
of you it could be its own podcast. Guys, we
could probably talk for hours of it and to get
some context of this. You know, I'm old enough to
know that when I went to high school back in
the seventies and the eighties, there was usually a trade
section in that high school or there were trade schools around.
And you know, whether you wanted to be a plumber,
(05:48):
a pipe fitter, or a weld er didn't matter. There
were trade schools everywhere. And I know that's dried up
over the last several decades. With that said, I know
that you both in your company are doing everything you
can to bring back the resurgence when it comes to
the trades. And as we talk to a lot of
young people, I'm sure that there's not a lot of
that are interested, but I'm sure there are. I think
the one miss normal is it's a well paying job
(06:09):
whatever you get into when it comes to a trade.
But Aaron, you sent a really powerful letter out in
early twenty twenty five with this year about the industry hole.
Can you kind of go over that about why you
wrote it and what it entail. Please?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Sure, absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
The facts in the industry right now is there is
a five hundred thousand open positions in the construction industry
nationwide and the amount of people retiring the next ten years.
I believe it's about forty percent retiring the next ten years.
So there's a huge amount of opportunity and a little
(06:45):
scariness coming to this industry. So getting young people interested
into it, there's a lot of growth that can be
had for someone young that can move their way up,
but also a huge need.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So Jerry, with that data, that analytics and you knowing
the industry as well as you do, tell us what
the company and you specifically are doing to try and
grow that so we can get young people excited to
get about the trades, not only to join your company,
but just I think the industry in general, and what
can other people do in the DMV to do what
(07:18):
you're also doing to get everybody excited.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Again, we are.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Going to high schools in all different regions, you know,
we're going into the lower counties, upper counties and just
explaining you know, the you know, what's going on with
with construction, you know the different jobs available in construction
and explaining that you know, you're going to learn a trade,
(07:43):
We're going to pay you while you're learning that trade,
and you're going to have a great career with no
college debt. So we're just letting the parents parents hear
this too, that not college is not for everybody. So
going to the community and really explain that. And I
think it's our own thought. Over the years construction, we
(08:04):
just weren't promoting it as an industry, and I think
it's time to change that. And there's a lot of
people doing that or starting to do that. And finally parents,
schools and the students are listening and then and they're
seeing the opportunities right we are.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
We're making more headway than we ever have.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
We have more apprentices than we've ever had that are
starting in the trade. So we're making some progress with
getting people interested in the trade.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Well that's very exciting and I kind of you know,
the landscape we're in with jobs and people wanting jobs,
it makes a lot of sense that this is hitting
right now. And Aaron, it wasn't just hyperbole from me.
We're talking six figures once you get into a trade industry, right,
I mean, I don't think people realize that, you know,
depending on what you do, you can make really good money,
can't you.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
That's the biggest thing that we tell students is we're
not looking for someone to do a job. We're looking
for someone to start career. So join the apprenticeship. After
four years, very similar time frame as college, you can
be making close to six figures and then the opportunities
are endless.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
So Jerry, I want to talk about some of the
services that you offer, and then you know you don't
have to mention clients, but I know that when it
comes to hospitals and schools and some really big projects,
you really do have some amazing things. So I'd like
to talk about maybe some of the things you're either
working on or some of the things that you're proud
on that you've been a part of over the last
couple of years. But pre construction engineering, virtual design, construction,
prefab mechanical construction, special projects. You mentioned the HVACS, and
(09:36):
also service as well. When it comes to those and
many more, what are people really hitting on that your
most busiest that people say, I love what these guys
do and these are the kind of services that I
like from them.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Well, are customers and they're the bigger general contractors that
you'll see their signs like a clerk or a Whitey
turner on what DP are some of the bigger builders
in DC that are building career martials and we're we're
doing a large, large hospital. Our largest job now is
a new hospital in Northern Virginia and that's a big job.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
But when we do these big jobs and a lot,
we build it twice.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
We first build it virtually, which is a building model
of the of the whole thing of all our piping
equipment ductwork is built virtually first and then we build
it again for real on site. So that way we're
coordinating the whole project with a BIM which is the
building modeling drawings three D, and it becomes very efficient.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We're working out all.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
The coordination between different trades in this model, so when
we are on site, we are very efficient on site
and get these built as fast as we can for
the for the owner, and you know it's important to
get a hospital open quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's one of the one of the important things.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We have a prefat facility that after we draw it
prefab segments of the building in school pieces, do welding there,
pipe fitting, soldering, and well prefab.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
As much of it and then we bring it out
on site.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
So I imagine the hospitals are a really big deal.
And I'm sure that you know, I can't impress upon
you that, you know, you being a part of a
project like a hospital and all the changes that can
have that community are just gigantic. But I imagine there are
many other projects over the last decade that you've been
really proud of. Is there anything in the area in
the DMV that either us as listeners know or that
(11:33):
you like to educate us, that you and your team
are really proud of that you were a part of.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, I guess it's been really cool. Driving in the
city with my dad, it almost seems like there's a
lot that he had There's not a lot he had
been done, just driving through the city, Like, oh, we've
been a part of that office building, We've been part
of that school, been a part of that hospital. So
just all of it to be, you know, a part
of the community and build the infrastructure that we let
(12:00):
then we go to school and we work in is
really special.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You know, I'm glad that you mentioned that. And you know,
I'm a sports guy, so anytime I talk to athletes
or maybe I talked to musician at the radio station.
From my perspective, it's always a wow factor for what
they do, but for them inside the looking glass, it's
just another day at the office, you know what I
mean by that? And as I look at what you guys,
(12:24):
do you know when it comes to large projects and
going back to hospitals, I don't know if there's a
profound experience when you walk by hospital that you've been
a part of, but you think something that you have
had your hands built on with your team and all
the thousands of lives annually that are going to be
saved and taken care of, does that have an effect
on you guys as being a part of things like that.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I think we don't do a good enough job in
the construction industry of embracing that and celebrating that, of
the saving the lives, of educating the future generations, and
building that in structure. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Well, I listen, You're not alone in that even in
my industry. You know, when we either have great ratings
or something special happened. Because the world's moving so quickly,
we have little time to celebrate some of the really
cool things that happen out there, and I think that's
something that I've learned in this series from a lot
of CEOs and founders and leaders of companies to take
a breath, acknowledge your team, and make sure that everybody
(13:24):
knows that we've done a great job and we're making
a difference out there. And I think that's really cool.
I did want to talk about maybe some current challenges
in the industry, Jerry, and I know, between tariffs and
chain supplies and everything else that's going on, it must
affect either you and your partners. With that set, I
imagine that you have to pivot and do what you
have to do. But in today's landscape, what are the challenges.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Well, the tariffs definitely, you know, controlling costs. You know,
we did a job and we have a fixed contract
and we really have to control costs, so we're really
spending time figuring out when to purchase and then how
to purchase it. So that's a challenge. And then people
get you know, as Aaron mentioned, you know, our industry
(14:09):
has a big hole of qualified people and we need
more people in the industry. So you know we're hiring today.
We you know, pipe fitters welders, plumbers, and we're hiring
them and we need them and there's not enough of them.
So that's the challenge is people.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Well, what I wanted to ask you about and this
is one of my favorite questions, and this is for
either of both of you. It's kind of this is
why we get up every morning kind of question. And
when you change people's lives and whether it's one person's
life for many people, depending on who you worked with
and what the building is and maybe Aaron, I'll throw
this so you first, But has there been a project
(14:44):
where you really made a difference and you said, you know,
this is cool that we were a part of this
and we really did change something for the better. We
help these people. We did this, We changed that person's life.
Is there's something in a project that maybe you had
work done with the comp but he worked on He said,
you know, that's why we get up every day. This
was pretty cool to be part of.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Yeah. Well, this past summer we actually had a really
cool experience. One of the hospitals that we built had
a patient with eternal illness and we actually went to
this four year old's house and built him a playground
in his backyard. There was about twenty people from our
(15:24):
company that went there. We teamed up with Rock Solid Foundation,
a charitable company, and we went there and built kind
of a full circle moment of a place where you know,
we built the building where he was being treated at
and then we went to his house and got to
see a smile like brought to a four year old face.
I love that playground.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I love that that you guys did that. That's a
great segue too, Jerry. I know that community is really
important to you and being third generation, you know the
landscape of not only this community so well, but the
people really well, the great things and not so great things.
But when it comes to philanthropic and charity work, whether
it's through the company or with your family, what do
(16:06):
you like to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Well, we do a lot of scholarships for both universities
and other foundations that have scholarships, and we am you know,
some of the places that we serve, some of the
hospitals we're active in their foundations, the different hospitals we're
working at. In schools, we work with the schools. Another
thing that really got really makes you feel good. We're
(16:30):
involved with a seeking employment equity and community organization called
Sikh that tries to provide jobs for adults with disabilities.
And we have a gentleman, Josh that's been here over
eight years that comes to work and just to see
this gentleman have a purpose and a work and his
(16:53):
family has told me that we've changed his life by
giving it you by giving him a purpose. So that
makes you feel good to give back, you know, it's easy,
it's you know. And then some of the things we
do as a company. We go down to the big
build down to the building museum and help kids with
our industry. We do during Christmas, everybody buys gifts. We're
(17:17):
in this in kind or kind age where they're giving
for needy families, so presence and we wrap them all.
We go and do the rebuild of houses during the
time and help the community for the needy that needs
help in their house to renovate it. These are things
you just don't you know, it's easy to write a check,
(17:38):
but these are things that we're getting the whole company
involved in and that's what we like doing. We do
a bolethon for junior Achievement where we're raising money and
it's not just the company or myself personally write a check.
It's getting our whole company involved in these things. I
think that's important. It's and it's one of our values
to serve the community.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So outstanding, Sanny. Thanks for sharing well. Listen. I wanted
to talk about leadership with you, Jerry, and in this series,
we have so many people that listen because everybody's got
a different version about what a leadership is. And sometimes
it's a small, medium, or large business. You pointed out
that you have over four hundred employees. That's a large company.
(18:19):
It's a lot of people. And I know that you
have a mission and you have a vision and you
have a voice, but that has to be funneled down
to your managers and then to their people and so
forth and so on, and it is it's a giant
telephone tag game, and it's not easy to communicate in
this day and age, especially when everybody's moving so quickly. So, Jerry,
when I talk about leadership to you and how you
(18:40):
executed it and what it means to you, can you
share that with our audience.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah, I can tell you how we were able to
become successful in watching my dad have a small business
and being able to delegate. He wasn't a very good delegator,
so he had to do everything himself. And when we
actually wanted to grow the company, that's when he started
to step back and let us grow it. So I
think you have to be not only be able to
(19:04):
dedicate delegate, but you have to let yourself let the
people you're delegating to prove themselves. And some people have
a hard time doing that. So I think it's being
able to delegate and let people earn your trust. You
have to let them earn your trust. Our growth was
somebody said, how did you grow your company from a
(19:25):
million of two hundred million?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
All we did was.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
I don't think we beat expectations. We just did what
we were expected to do. And in construction, that's a
lot harder than it sounds.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah, follow through, Yeah, yeah, I agree you That applies
to a lot of different businesses out there.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
And then we got repeat business because we succeeded and
we just met expectations, right we did well, Yeah, maybe
we'd see them here and there, but you know, just
to meet expectations to be your first goal.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Right, and and your reputation precedes you now too, And
that's really important word of mouth out there. I want
to talk to you about technology. I know that a
lot of people that you work with are working with
their hands, but still with that many people and that
many third parties, communication and technology have to be big.
So not just email and phones and social media.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
And all that.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
I know AI is coming into play. I don't know
if it is in your industry specifically, but when it
comes to technology, how is it taking over? What are
you embracing, what are you pushing back? What works what
doesn't work?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
When it comes to tech, yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Would say we want to be driving innovation in this industry.
I think the biggest examples is, like we have my
dad mentioned pre fabrication is prefabbing and using that three
D model to leveraging that for building faster, safer, so
we can do as much as we possibly can in
(20:49):
a control environment before brand to a job site. That
is really going to help make things faster, safer and cheaper.
So our prefab facility we use that three D model
and able to use a lot of machinery, a lot
of automation, and to make things run a lot smoother.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Jerry, I did want to get some final thoughts from you.
But before I do that, I'd love to ask you
about the state of the industry because we've talked a
little bit about what's happened, what's going on right now.
But as you look down the road and you continue
to hand off this company to family and make it
a four generation company, hopes not only for the company,
but maybe for the industry as a whole, how do
(21:28):
you see it going? What would you like to see happen?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
The industry is strong.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I think a lot of it has to do with
some of the data center work is absorbing a lot
of people's home labor. So you know, we are busier
now than we've ever been and have more backlog than
we've ever been. Healthcare, you know, as we mentioned, is
a big part of what we do. So I think
you know right now, like everything else, there's a bubble.
So are we in that bubble a bit? So there's
(21:52):
a concern things can slow down. But I feel if
you there's enough work in this area. You know, we
didn't see any back with the government yet. Some jobs
got we do some federal work. Some of those jobs
to get pushed a little bit, but they seem to
be solely going forward, and I think the future is strong,
you know, especially you know in this area.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Aaron, how about you. How's the state of the industry
and where do you see it going?
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Yeah, I think he said the industry is really strong
as far as amount of work that's coming out. The
one thing that just keeps on coming up as people.
So I think investing in our people and getting more
people to join the industry is always going to be
the struggle and what we're working towards undoing. We're definitely
hiring and we want we want to find the next
(22:39):
generation of leaders.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Good we're going to talk about then just a second
and give the website and talk about careers the company
and everybody can check out your great website where there's
everything that's easy to navigate on there. But Jerry just
want to get some final thoughts about our conversation and
then we'll have Aaron give the website and talk about careers.
But Jerry does some final thoughts about what we talked about.
The floor is yours.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
I think it's it's great that you're doing this series
on things to know or meet your CEO, So thank
you for doing that.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I'm in t Bank and happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Outstanding. Well, it's our pleasure and it's great to feature
people like you, Jerry. So Aaron, let's give the website.
Let's talk about careers. I popped on there this morning,
and I know there's a lot of jobs that are
available out there, and some really good ones. So let's
give that website to everybody and talk about careers and
anything else when it comes to the company.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Sure, website is shapiroand Duncan dot com. And we are
hiring at all pretty much all levels right now, so
looking for apprentices as early as you know, entry level
employees all the way up to senior mechanical engineers, looking
for technicians, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters, foreman, pretty much all
(23:47):
across the entire company.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Outstanding, Well, gentlemen, thank you so much. Eron, I really
appreciate your time. And Jared, I'm glad that we could
feature you one. It's a third generation of owning a company.
You've done great work almost fifty years of what your
grandfather started on. Your dad now you and now you're
going to pass it off to more of the kids.
And I think it's extraordinary and I know I don't
have to impress upon you that having a generational family
(24:09):
company is almost unheard of in America anymore. It just
doesn't happen when you pass it along to kids or
grandkids anymore. Whether it's not sustainable or people don't want
to get into that industry, but that the family still
being part of it, I think is really cool and
I know that means a lot to you, So I'm
glad we could feature you on CEOs you Should Know.
Thank you so much for your time and continued success.
Our community partner, M and T Bank supports CEOs you
(24:31):
Should Know is part of their ongoing commitment to building
strong communities, and that starts by backing the businesses within them.
As a Bank for Communities, M and T believes in
dedicating time, talent, and resources to help local businesses thrive,
because when businesses succeed, our community succeed
M and T Bank presents CEOs You Should.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Know Power by iHeartMedia.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Let's meet Jerry Shapiro. He is the president of Shapiro
and Duncan, Rockville, Maryland based mechanical construction company that provides
a full range of services for commercial plumbing and HVAC systems,
including design, build, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. They work on
various projects for commercial, government, and institutional clients that are
known for their expertise in areas like energy management and prefabrication.
(00:29):
We'll also be visiting with Aaron Shapiro, he is the
business development director for the company. Now, before we talk
more about Jerry's company, I first asked him to talk
a little bit about himself, where he's from and his
origin story.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
So it's born in Washington, c grew up in Montgomery County,
So my whole life in Montgomery County went through the
public school system Montgomery Blair High Schools where I graduated.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Then I went off to University of Maryland.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
So the company is third generation. And I love to
talk about people that are lifers in this series. Jerry
from the area because they have such an intimate knowledge
of the people and the places and the things, and
I think it's really key, but I think before we
do that, i'd love to hear about the origin story
about the company, because you know, when you talk about
(01:14):
a generational company, you don't know if the next generation
is going to pick it up and take it from
where it started. But that has happened three different times.
So I'd love to talk about the origin, how it started,
the idea about it, and then where it is today.
But tell us about the origin story about the company.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
When my grandfather, born in Washington, d C. Started a
plumbing heating company right after World War Two. He was
a CB in World War Two in the South Pacific
doing plumbing, HVAC worker heating work. Back then, there wasn't
much air conditioning yet. My dad went to work for
him after college and left him and opened up his
own company. In nineteen seventy six, this company, Shapiro went
(01:50):
Duncan my grandfather. As he finished his business, his company
merged with us, and now, being third generation in the business,
I'm getting ready to pass it on to my children,
which would be fourth generation.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Well, I think that's wonderful and I always love to
ask is because you never know, and as we get
context about generations, kind of showing what the last one
did and handing it down. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't,
or sometimes it needs a little TLC. With that said,
was it a no brainer that you were going to
be a part of this company and a part of
this family continuing what your grandfather and your father had done,
(02:24):
Not at all.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
You know.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
I went to school and actually have a degree in
electrical engineering. So at the time, in the late seventies,
construction was not the place to be. Interest rates were getting,
you know, eighteen almost twenty percent, there was very little
going on in construction. So my idea was I better
study something that I can get a job, and at
that time it was computers or electrical engineering.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
So that was my thought.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
But then as I graduated, I worked for my dad
over the summers and really wanted to continue the business.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
We were very small then.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
We had less than twenty employees and did a value
both less than a million dollars.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Today we do almost two hundred million and a four employees.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Well, it's pretty extraordinary, and I want to talk about
that in a little bit, about the amazing things that
the company has done over the decades. But I did
want to talk to you about mission and vision, and
I don't know if it's changed originally from fifty years ago, Jerry,
But as we talk about mission and vision for the company,
what exactly are they Our.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Mission is to create success for our employees and our
vision do the right thing. Another vision is community, serve
the community, drive innovation, and take pride in our work.
So all these things have to do with our people
in the community. So that's a big, big part of it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well, let's do this. I know that there's a lot
of people that know your company, but we're also introducing
a lot of our listeners that are being introduced to
the first time to your company. And if you were
to give Jerry kind of a thirty thousand foot view
about what the company does, what would you tell them.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
We're a mechanical contractor and we do commercial plumbing, heating
and air conditioning building hospitals, schools, office buildings, data centers
in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Aaron, I want to bring you in here, and before
I get to a powerful letter that you sent out
early in this year about the industry that was just
a great read and resonated with me. And I'm not
in the industry, but it meant a lot to just
to read what you had said. Where the current industry
lands with people that work when it comes to what
you guys do in different third parties, especially with trades.
(04:32):
When it came to joining the company, what was your plan,
your thought, how long you have you been with them,
what did you want to do? And tell us where
you landed and what you do now.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, So I grew up starting as a summer helper
in the field, really never felt pressure from the family
that I had to do this, But as I learned
and grew, I realized pretty much the only thing that
I was good at. But I started, you know, summer's
work in the field, and Dad and uncle put me
(05:04):
installing grease interceptors in Montgomery County trash rooms and kitchens.
They try to find the dirtiest, the most difficult, the
worst possible job conditions they could find. And I think
get backfired a little bit because I loved it. I
love the people I worked with, I loved getting my
hands dirty, and it made me really appreciate what we
did and made you really want to get more involved
(05:25):
in the company.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
That's fantastic. I know that my next question for both
of you it could be its own podcast. Guys, we
could probably talk for hours of it and to get
some context of this. You know, I'm old enough to
know that when I went to high school back in
the seventies and the eighties, there was usually a trade
section in that high school or there were trade schools around.
And you know, whether you wanted to be a plumber,
(05:48):
a pipe fitter, or a weld er didn't matter. There
were trade schools everywhere. And I know that's dried up
over the last several decades. With that said, I know
that you both in your company are doing everything you
can to bring back the resurgence when it comes to
the trades. And as we talk to a lot of
young people, I'm sure that there's not a lot of
that are interested, but I'm sure there are. I think
the one miss normal is it's a well paying job
(06:09):
whatever you get into when it comes to a trade.
But Aaron, you sent a really powerful letter out in
early twenty twenty five with this year about the industry hole.
Can you kind of go over that about why you
wrote it and what it entail. Please?
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Sure, absolutely so.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
The facts in the industry right now is there is
a five hundred thousand open positions in the construction industry
nationwide and the amount of people retiring the next ten years.
I believe it's about forty percent retiring the next ten years.
So there's a huge amount of opportunity and a little
(06:45):
scariness coming to this industry. So getting young people interested
into it, there's a lot of growth that can be
had for someone young that can move their way up,
but also a huge need.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
So Jerry, with that data, that analytics and you knowing
the industry as well as you do, tell us what
the company and you specifically are doing to try and
grow that so we can get young people excited to
get about the trades, not only to join your company,
but just I think the industry in general, and what
can other people do in the DMV to do what
(07:18):
you're also doing to get everybody excited.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Again, we are.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Going to high schools in all different regions, you know,
we're going into the lower counties, upper counties and just
explaining you know, the you know, what's going on with
with construction, you know the different jobs available in construction
and explaining that you know, you're going to learn a trade,
(07:43):
We're going to pay you while you're learning that trade,
and you're going to have a great career with no
college debt. So we're just letting the parents parents hear
this too, that not college is not for everybody. So
going to the community and really explain that. And I
think it's our own thought. Over the years construction, we
(08:04):
just weren't promoting it as an industry, and I think
it's time to change that. And there's a lot of
people doing that or starting to do that. And finally parents,
schools and the students are listening and then and they're
seeing the opportunities right we are.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
We're making more headway than we ever have.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
We have more apprentices than we've ever had that are
starting in the trade. So we're making some progress with
getting people interested in the trade.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Well that's very exciting and I kind of you know,
the landscape we're in with jobs and people wanting jobs,
it makes a lot of sense that this is hitting
right now. And Aaron, it wasn't just hyperbole from me.
We're talking six figures once you get into a trade industry, right,
I mean, I don't think people realize that, you know,
depending on what you do, you can make really good money,
can't you.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
That's the biggest thing that we tell students is we're
not looking for someone to do a job. We're looking
for someone to start career. So join the apprenticeship. After
four years, very similar time frame as college, you can
be making close to six figures and then the opportunities
are endless.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
So Jerry, I want to talk about some of the
services that you offer, and then you know you don't
have to mention clients, but I know that when it
comes to hospitals and schools and some really big projects,
you really do have some amazing things. So I'd like
to talk about maybe some of the things you're either
working on or some of the things that you're proud
on that you've been a part of over the last
couple of years. But pre construction engineering, virtual design, construction,
prefab mechanical construction, special projects. You mentioned the HVACS, and
(09:36):
also service as well. When it comes to those and
many more, what are people really hitting on that your
most busiest that people say, I love what these guys
do and these are the kind of services that I
like from them.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Well, are customers and they're the bigger general contractors that
you'll see their signs like a clerk or a Whitey
turner on what DP are some of the bigger builders
in DC that are building career martials and we're we're
doing a large, large hospital. Our largest job now is
a new hospital in Northern Virginia and that's a big job.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
But when we do these big jobs and a lot,
we build it twice.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
We first build it virtually, which is a building model
of the of the whole thing of all our piping
equipment ductwork is built virtually first and then we build
it again for real on site. So that way we're
coordinating the whole project with a BIM which is the
building modeling drawings three D, and it becomes very efficient.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We're working out all.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
The coordination between different trades in this model, so when
we are on site, we are very efficient on site
and get these built as fast as we can for
the for the owner, and you know it's important to
get a hospital open quickly.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
That's one of the one of the important things.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
We have a prefat facility that after we draw it
prefab segments of the building in school pieces, do welding there,
pipe fitting, soldering, and well prefab.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
As much of it and then we bring it out
on site.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
So I imagine the hospitals are a really big deal.
And I'm sure that you know, I can't impress upon
you that, you know, you being a part of a
project like a hospital and all the changes that can
have that community are just gigantic. But I imagine there are
many other projects over the last decade that you've been
really proud of. Is there anything in the area in
the DMV that either us as listeners know or that
(11:33):
you like to educate us, that you and your team
are really proud of that you were a part of.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Yeah, I guess it's been really cool. Driving in the
city with my dad, it almost seems like there's a
lot that he had There's not a lot he had
been done, just driving through the city, Like, oh, we've
been a part of that office building, We've been part
of that school, been a part of that hospital. So
just all of it to be, you know, a part
of the community and build the infrastructure that we let
(12:00):
then we go to school and we work in is
really special.
Speaker 1 (12:03):
You know, I'm glad that you mentioned that. And you know,
I'm a sports guy, so anytime I talk to athletes
or maybe I talked to musician at the radio station.
From my perspective, it's always a wow factor for what
they do, but for them inside the looking glass, it's
just another day at the office, you know what I
mean by that? And as I look at what you guys,
(12:24):
do you know when it comes to large projects and
going back to hospitals, I don't know if there's a
profound experience when you walk by hospital that you've been
a part of, but you think something that you have
had your hands built on with your team and all
the thousands of lives annually that are going to be
saved and taken care of, does that have an effect
on you guys as being a part of things like that.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I think we don't do a good enough job in
the construction industry of embracing that and celebrating that, of
the saving the lives, of educating the future generations, and
building that in structure. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Well, I listen, You're not alone in that even in
my industry. You know, when we either have great ratings
or something special happened. Because the world's moving so quickly,
we have little time to celebrate some of the really
cool things that happen out there, and I think that's
something that I've learned in this series from a lot
of CEOs and founders and leaders of companies to take
a breath, acknowledge your team, and make sure that everybody
(13:24):
knows that we've done a great job and we're making
a difference out there. And I think that's really cool.
I did want to talk about maybe some current challenges
in the industry, Jerry, and I know, between tariffs and
chain supplies and everything else that's going on, it must
affect either you and your partners. With that set, I
imagine that you have to pivot and do what you
have to do. But in today's landscape, what are the challenges.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Well, the tariffs definitely, you know, controlling costs. You know,
we did a job and we have a fixed contract
and we really have to control costs, so we're really
spending time figuring out when to purchase and then how
to purchase it. So that's a challenge. And then people
get you know, as Aaron mentioned, you know, our industry
(14:09):
has a big hole of qualified people and we need
more people in the industry. So you know we're hiring today.
We you know, pipe fitters welders, plumbers, and we're hiring
them and we need them and there's not enough of them.
So that's the challenge is people.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Well, what I wanted to ask you about and this
is one of my favorite questions, and this is for
either of both of you. It's kind of this is
why we get up every morning kind of question. And
when you change people's lives and whether it's one person's
life for many people, depending on who you worked with
and what the building is and maybe Aaron, I'll throw
this so you first, But has there been a project
(14:44):
where you really made a difference and you said, you know,
this is cool that we were a part of this
and we really did change something for the better. We
help these people. We did this, We changed that person's life.
Is there's something in a project that maybe you had
work done with the comp but he worked on He said,
you know, that's why we get up every day. This
was pretty cool to be part of.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
Yeah. Well, this past summer we actually had a really
cool experience. One of the hospitals that we built had
a patient with eternal illness and we actually went to
this four year old's house and built him a playground
in his backyard. There was about twenty people from our
(15:24):
company that went there. We teamed up with Rock Solid Foundation,
a charitable company, and we went there and built kind
of a full circle moment of a place where you know,
we built the building where he was being treated at
and then we went to his house and got to
see a smile like brought to a four year old face.
I love that playground.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
I love that that you guys did that. That's a
great segue too, Jerry. I know that community is really
important to you and being third generation, you know the
landscape of not only this community so well, but the
people really well, the great things and not so great things.
But when it comes to philanthropic and charity work, whether
it's through the company or with your family, what do
(16:06):
you like to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
Well, we do a lot of scholarships for both universities
and other foundations that have scholarships, and we am you know,
some of the places that we serve, some of the
hospitals we're active in their foundations, the different hospitals we're
working at. In schools, we work with the schools. Another
thing that really got really makes you feel good. We're
(16:30):
involved with a seeking employment equity and community organization called
Sikh that tries to provide jobs for adults with disabilities.
And we have a gentleman, Josh that's been here over
eight years that comes to work and just to see
this gentleman have a purpose and a work and his
(16:53):
family has told me that we've changed his life by
giving it you by giving him a purpose. So that
makes you feel good to give back, you know, it's easy,
it's you know. And then some of the things we
do as a company. We go down to the big
build down to the building museum and help kids with
our industry. We do during Christmas, everybody buys gifts. We're
(17:17):
in this in kind or kind age where they're giving
for needy families, so presence and we wrap them all.
We go and do the rebuild of houses during the
time and help the community for the needy that needs
help in their house to renovate it. These are things
you just don't you know, it's easy to write a check,
(17:38):
but these are things that we're getting the whole company
involved in and that's what we like doing. We do
a bolethon for junior Achievement where we're raising money and
it's not just the company or myself personally write a check.
It's getting our whole company involved in these things. I
think that's important. It's and it's one of our values
to serve the community.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So outstanding, Sanny. Thanks for sharing well. Listen. I wanted
to talk about leadership with you, Jerry, and in this series,
we have so many people that listen because everybody's got
a different version about what a leadership is. And sometimes
it's a small, medium, or large business. You pointed out
that you have over four hundred employees. That's a large company.
(18:19):
It's a lot of people. And I know that you
have a mission and you have a vision and you
have a voice, but that has to be funneled down
to your managers and then to their people and so
forth and so on, and it is it's a giant
telephone tag game, and it's not easy to communicate in
this day and age, especially when everybody's moving so quickly. So, Jerry,
when I talk about leadership to you and how you
(18:40):
executed it and what it means to you, can you
share that with our audience.
Speaker 3 (18:43):
Yeah, I can tell you how we were able to
become successful in watching my dad have a small business
and being able to delegate. He wasn't a very good delegator,
so he had to do everything himself. And when we
actually wanted to grow the company, that's when he started
to step back and let us grow it. So I
think you have to be not only be able to
(19:04):
dedicate delegate, but you have to let yourself let the
people you're delegating to prove themselves. And some people have
a hard time doing that. So I think it's being
able to delegate and let people earn your trust. You
have to let them earn your trust. Our growth was
somebody said, how did you grow your company from a
(19:25):
million of two hundred million?
Speaker 2 (19:27):
All we did was.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
I don't think we beat expectations. We just did what
we were expected to do. And in construction, that's a
lot harder than it sounds.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah, follow through, Yeah, yeah, I agree you That applies
to a lot of different businesses out there.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
You know.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
And then we got repeat business because we succeeded and
we just met expectations, right we did well, Yeah, maybe
we'd see them here and there, but you know, just
to meet expectations to be your first goal.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Right, and and your reputation precedes you now too, And
that's really important word of mouth out there. I want
to talk to you about technology. I know that a
lot of people that you work with are working with
their hands, but still with that many people and that
many third parties, communication and technology have to be big.
So not just email and phones and social media.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
And all that.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
I know AI is coming into play. I don't know
if it is in your industry specifically, but when it
comes to technology, how is it taking over? What are
you embracing, what are you pushing back? What works what
doesn't work?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Right now?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
When it comes to tech, yeah, I.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Would say we want to be driving innovation in this industry.
I think the biggest examples is, like we have my
dad mentioned pre fabrication is prefabbing and using that three
D model to leveraging that for building faster, safer, so
we can do as much as we possibly can in
(20:49):
a control environment before brand to a job site. That
is really going to help make things faster, safer and cheaper.
So our prefab facility we use that three D model
and able to use a lot of machinery, a lot
of automation, and to make things run a lot smoother.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Jerry, I did want to get some final thoughts from you.
But before I do that, I'd love to ask you
about the state of the industry because we've talked a
little bit about what's happened, what's going on right now.
But as you look down the road and you continue
to hand off this company to family and make it
a four generation company, hopes not only for the company,
but maybe for the industry as a whole, how do
(21:28):
you see it going? What would you like to see happen?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
The industry is strong.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
I think a lot of it has to do with
some of the data center work is absorbing a lot
of people's home labor. So you know, we are busier
now than we've ever been and have more backlog than
we've ever been. Healthcare, you know, as we mentioned, is
a big part of what we do. So I think
you know right now, like everything else, there's a bubble.
So are we in that bubble a bit? So there's
(21:52):
a concern things can slow down. But I feel if
you there's enough work in this area. You know, we
didn't see any back with the government yet. Some jobs
got we do some federal work. Some of those jobs
to get pushed a little bit, but they seem to
be solely going forward, and I think the future is strong,
you know, especially you know in this area.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Aaron, how about you. How's the state of the industry
and where do you see it going?
Speaker 4 (22:18):
Yeah, I think he said the industry is really strong
as far as amount of work that's coming out. The
one thing that just keeps on coming up as people.
So I think investing in our people and getting more
people to join the industry is always going to be
the struggle and what we're working towards undoing. We're definitely
hiring and we want we want to find the next
(22:39):
generation of leaders.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Good we're going to talk about then just a second
and give the website and talk about careers the company
and everybody can check out your great website where there's
everything that's easy to navigate on there. But Jerry just
want to get some final thoughts about our conversation and
then we'll have Aaron give the website and talk about careers.
But Jerry does some final thoughts about what we talked about.
The floor is yours.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
I think it's it's great that you're doing this series
on things to know or meet your CEO, So thank
you for doing that.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
I'm in t Bank and happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (23:10):
Outstanding. Well, it's our pleasure and it's great to feature
people like you, Jerry. So Aaron, let's give the website.
Let's talk about careers. I popped on there this morning,
and I know there's a lot of jobs that are
available out there, and some really good ones. So let's
give that website to everybody and talk about careers and
anything else when it comes to the company.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Sure, website is shapiroand Duncan dot com. And we are
hiring at all pretty much all levels right now, so
looking for apprentices as early as you know, entry level
employees all the way up to senior mechanical engineers, looking
for technicians, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters, foreman, pretty much all
(23:47):
across the entire company.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Outstanding, Well, gentlemen, thank you so much. Eron, I really
appreciate your time. And Jared, I'm glad that we could
feature you one. It's a third generation of owning a company.
You've done great work almost fifty years of what your
grandfather started on. Your dad now you and now you're
going to pass it off to more of the kids.
And I think it's extraordinary and I know I don't
have to impress upon you that having a generational family
(24:09):
company is almost unheard of in America anymore. It just
doesn't happen when you pass it along to kids or
grandkids anymore. Whether it's not sustainable or people don't want
to get into that industry, but that the family still
being part of it, I think is really cool and
I know that means a lot to you, So I'm
glad we could feature you on CEOs you Should Know.
Thank you so much for your time and continued success.
Our community partner, M and T Bank supports CEOs you
(24:31):
Should Know is part of their ongoing commitment to building
strong communities, and that starts by backing the businesses within them.
As a Bank for Communities, M and T believes in
dedicating time, talent, and resources to help local businesses thrive,
because when businesses succeed, our community succeed
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