Nothing measures progress better than technology. Fifty years ago the biggest breakthrough in communication technology was the introduction of AT&T's touchtone telephone. It was also 50 years ago when the U.S. Postal Service first adopted zip codes as numerical labels for regional identification. From that point on, the delivery of written communication was simple, quick and easy. Fifty years ago was the year 1963; a year that saw the incorporation of J.C. Cannistraro, as well as the New England Real Estate Journal. Back then both companies were upstarts in their respective fields, but since then, things have certainly changed!
Cannistraro began as J.C. Cannistraro, Inc. with a lone employee (John Cannistraro, Sr.), a truck and $1,500. With dreams of entrepreneurship for many years, Mr. C used his own skill, determination and competitive nature to make a name for himself and his company in the Greater Boston area. One of Cannistraro's first opportunities to make an impression in the large-scale construction market came in the mid-1960s on a project for Massport at Boston's Logan Airport. More than 40 years later, Logan Airport is still growing and Cannistraro is still delivering plumbing, HVAC and fire protection projects to Massport. In fact, Cannistraro has been involved in the mechanical construction for nearly all of the airport's major renovations ranging from the original international terminal, to the Terminal A and E expansions and the latest upgrades soon to be occurring in Terminal B and the Logan Airport Tunnel.
Through all the growth and expansion at the airport and the area's countless hospitals, universities, multifamily residences and offices, the New England Real Estate Journal has been there to document the changes. As AEC and CRE firms leveraged technology to enhance their capabilities for design, construction and facilities management through the use of tools like CAD, BIM, CMMS and energy auditing software, New England Real Estate Journal told their stories. And while the world may no longer be amazed at the ability to "reach out and touch someone" by phone, each of us looks to new technology to connect us with others and perform our work more efficiently. Today's technology leaders find value in the use of tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices that store and access data in the "cloud." The New England Real Estate Journal facilitates this connection through digital and social media communication to supplement its traditional printed publications. At Cannistraro, project managers and field foremen are using iPads to improve project communication and streamline field activities.
Industry changes are driven by technology. The organizations that are poised for long-term success are those that are ready, willing and able to accept change and adapt to the new marketplace. There is no question that the continuous adoption of new technology is one of the many contributing factors to staying power and competitiveness of firms like Cannistraro and the New England Real Estate Journal.
As Cannistraro celebrates 50 years of building with intelligence, we salute the New England Real Estate Journal for its accomplishments and look forward to many more years of communications excellence!
Tom Palange is the director of marketing for J.C. Cannistraro, LLC, Watertown, Mass.