News Releases
Vecellio Group’s Florida Companies Participate In Career Fair
(4th Quarter 2001)
Ranger Construction, PAVEX Corporation, and White Rock Quarries, all members of the Vecellio Group, participated in a three-day event promoting the construction industry to Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County high school students.
The 2001 South Florida Construction Career Days, which drew participation from more than 30 area contracting firms, was co-sponsored by the Florida Transportation Builders Association and other key industry groups. It was promoted by the Florida Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Florida Department of Education, and local school systems
to address the shortage of workers entering the construction field, which is the nations largest industry.
Company representatives at the fair distributed promotional materials and answered questions about career opportunities with the Vecellio Group.
Vecellio & Grogan Adds Focus On Site Development
(3rd Quarter 2001)
With a new Executive Vice President of Construction overseeing an additional focus on private site development and coal-related construction, Vecellio & Grogan is not just a company with deep roots. Its also a company that continues to branch out.
Founded as a road-building
contractor in 1938, todays V&G, under the leadership of CEO Leo A. Vecellio, Jr., has a much broader reach. With five companies and eight divisions operating in more than a dozen states, the Vecellio Group performs everything from mass excavation to bridge and culvert work, aggregate production to asphalt and paving services. One of its divisions even builds golf courses.
So the additional focus onprivate site development is a natural growth strategy for the third-generation, family-owned contracting firm.
Bill Medcalf
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To implement this strategy, V&G has brought in H.W. “Bill” Medcalf as its new Executive Vice President of Construction, in preparation for the retirement of John Conkwright.
Formerly with APAC, Ashland’s major contractor subsidiary, Bill brings 25 years of knowledge and experience to V&G. He has been involved in structures, asphalt, grading, design/build, and executive management over construction operations in several states.
Renowned for its large heavy/highway projects, V&G has also performed a number of site development jobs for educational facilities, retail and entertainment complexes, and office buildings. With V&Gs sizable equipment fleet and well-trained personnel, the company can perform site development work quickly and efficiently.
Above: (L to R) At a recent Vecellio & Grogan Board of Directors meeting are Bill Medcalf, Dave Bashaw, Dante Castrodale, Christopher Vecellio, John Conkwright,
L.L. Gwinn, Byrd White, Jim Hurley, Leo Vecellio, Jr., Katie Vecellio, and Michael Vecellio.
Three V&G Supervisors “Un-Retire” To Help With Flood Repairs
(3rd Quarter 2001)
Beckley, WV-based Vecellio & Grogan has long been known for its commitment to the local community. But even retired employees can show the same commitment.
After the recent floods in southern West Virginia, V&G received three contracts in Wyoming County for emergency road and bridge repairs. With its management personnel on other projects, V&G turned to three retired supervisors for help. All three immediately answered the call.
Mike Sherwood, Sam Gibson and Charlie Redden with more than 120 years at V&G combined temporarily came out of retirement to help with the extra work. Mike is overseeing Cabin Creek Rd. repairs, while Sam is supervising the Davis St. Bridge project. Charlie stepped in to help run a quarry job, freeing up another supervisor for the Baileysville Rd./Rte. 97 flood repairs. The emergency work is expected to last for one to two months.
Special thanks also go to Larry McLaughlin and Dante Castrodale for all the extra coordination effort they have put forth on these projects.
Above: V&G hoe cleaning up in Wyoming County after the recent floods.
Vecellio Family Foundation Provides
11 College Scholarships Totaling $110,000
(3rd Quarter 2001)
The Vecellio Family Foundation has announced the recipients of its 29th annual college scholarship program, which this year is providing $110,000 for 11 awards.
The Foundation, established in 1973 by the owners of The Vecellio Group, provides $2,500 per year for four years to each recipient, in care of the chosen college or university.
Independent scholarship review boards select the winning candidates.
Three of the awards were given through the Employee Scholarship Program, designated for dependents of employees of The Vecellio Group and its subsidiaries.
This years college scholarship winners are:
Nicole Marie Walker, daughter of Steve Walker, Quality Control Technician at Ranger Construction in Grant, Florida. She graduated from Melbourne High School and expects to major in pediatric medicine at Brevard Community College.
Adam Louis Samet, son of Mindy Samet, Administrative Assistant at PAVEX in Deerfield, Florida. Adam graduated from J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida, and expects to major in electrical or computer engineering at Brown University, Providence, R.I.
Jason Michael Kracunas, son of Mike Kracunas, Estimator at Ranger Construction in West Palm Beach, Florida. Jason graduated from Palm Beach Gardens High School. He expects to major in marketing and hopes to play college baseball while at the University of North Florida.
Also receiving scholarships are eight individuals from high schools in West Virginia, the home state of Vecellio & Grogan, Inc.
Amy Marie Bair of White Oak, representing Shady Spring High School, has been selected to receive a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of Vecellio & Grogan’s co-founder and the father of Vecellio Group CEO Leo Vecellio, Jr.
Liberty High School graduate Joseph Edward Williams, of Rock Creek, also was selected to receive
a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr. Memorial Scholarship.
Representing Woodrow Wilson High School are three scholarship winners, all from the Beckley area. Penny Lee Beamon received a Rick Vecellio Memorial Scholarship, named to honor the late brother of Leo Vecellio, Jr.; Andrea Renee Bradford was granted a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr. Memorial Scholarship; and Mona Hdeib was given an Al Janutolo Memorial Scholarship, named for a long-time V&G employee who was instrumental in the companys early success.
From Independence High School, Lori Blankenship of Coal City was selected to receive a Leo A. Vecellio, Sr. Memorial Scholarship.
In McDowell County, representing Mt. View High School, Jessica Diane Musick of Kimball was awarded a Dr. Dante Castrodale Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of Leo A. Vecellio Sr.’s brother-in-law, who served as a physician in the McDowell County area for many years.
The winner of the annual Youth Conservation award is Cara Botkins of Alma, who received the Rick Vecellio Memorial Conservation Scholarship.
About Our Employee Scholarship Program
As part of its college scholarship program, each year the Vecellio Family Foundation awards two or more scholarships to dependents of employees of Vecellio & Grogan and its subsidiaries and divisions.
To be eligible, you must:
Be a child, including adopted or stepchild, of an employee who has had at least one year of continuous and active service on the first day of January in the year in which you apply.
Be a graduating senior in a secondary school.
Scholarship applications are available from the personnel office of your company or division. They must be completed and returned no later than March 1 of your senior year in secondary school. Selections are made by independent review boards based on SAT / ACT scores, school transcripts, and other indications of probable success in collegiate and post-collegiate life.
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