121: Building a Destination with Tony Nigro, Tuscan Village Salem

Tony Nigro is the Senior Vice President of Design and Construction at Tuscan Village in Salem, New Hampshire. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Tony has been an instrumental figure in the development of Tuscan Village—a significant project turning a once empty area into a vibrant city-like environment. Prior to his current role, Tony garnered substantial expertise at companies like William A. Berry and Suffolk Construction, working on large-scale projects such as the Boston Convention Center. 

In this episode, Tony shares his experience and lessons learned under the mentorship of Joe Faro, the visionary principal behind Tuscan Brands. From understanding the importance of balancing qualitative experiences with quantitative results to ensuring quality control and thoughtful design, Tony brings to the forefront the essential elements of innovative development. 

Key Takeaways:

• Visionary Development: The creation of Tuscan Village reflects a commitment to excellence and community, transforming an empty space into a vibrant, multifunctional environment.
• Balancing Quality: Joe Faro's approach to development emphasizes qualitative impacts over immediate quantitative gains, resulting in a more engaging and sustainable community.
• Leadership and Teamwork: Tony Nigro draws on his extensive experience, including his military background, to highlight the importance of alignment, trust, and collaborative problem-solving in construction projects.
• Quality Assurance: Successful projects like those Tony has led at Suffolk Construction and Mill Creek necessitate robust QA/QC programs that set clear standards and processes.
• Career Evolution: Tony's journey across different sectors displays his adaptability and commitment to growth, reinforcing the value of pursuing new challenges and opportunities.

Notable Quotes:

• "For him, his famous saying that I've learned painfully over and over is that he is incapable of building something that he doesn't love."
• "It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit."
• "What Joe Faro looked at and took his version of the best from all of those."
• "You have to cut that waste out before you become a fan of Lean."
• "Sometimes when you convince yourself that you can walk on water, every once in a while you kind of do."

Resources:

• Tuscan Village: Tuscan Village Website
• Suffolk Construction: Suffolk Construction Website
• Good to Great by Jim Collins: A book that inspired Tony's leadership style.

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