The principal owners of Malatesta Paladino Inc. pose in 2018 at a holiday party. Pictured (from left to right): Corporate Secretary John Novello, Vice President Michael Paladino, Treasurer Patrick Pallentino and President Carmine Malatesta.

A stair and paver replacement was completed at 51 West 52nd St. for Malatesta Paladino’s client, CBS Corporation.

Malatesta Paladino Inc., a concrete and masonry contracting firm based in Jamaica, New York, started with humble beginnings. Initial owners Carmine Malatesta, President, and Michael Paladino, Vice President, founded the company in 1985 with an equipment list consisting of one pickup truck, one dump truck and one compressor. The pair rented a small garage for the equipment and wrote payroll checks in the pickup truck.

Shortly after Malatesta Paladino was formed, John Novello, Corporate Secretary and Principal Owner, joined the company by chance. The two original owners undertook a project at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The job required staying on it both day and night and over the entire weekend. They needed additional labor in order to accomplish the task and called Novello in the middle of the night to work. “I was under the impression they were calling for help for the following Monday, but found out they wanted me there right then. I showed up and have been with them ever since,” Novello says. He became a partner in 2000.

In 1992, Patrick Pallentino, Treasurer, began working with Malatesta Paladino part-time as a laborer during his summer break from high school. After attending Tallahassee Community College, Pallentino returned in 1997. He became a permanent employee working his way up to supervisor and was named a partner in 2010.

The business mainly serves clients in the heart of New York City. However, they also serve the boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, often extending service when requested to companies in Nassau County. Commercial projects include school/college/university, office building, retail store, nonresidential building and post office.

“We pride ourselves in the variety of services we can provide our customers, as well as our outstanding reputation—one which we worked hard to achieve and continue to work even harder to uphold,” Novello says. These services include, but are not limited to, decorative sidewalks, vaulted sidewalks, concrete restoration, structural steel/steel fabrication, fireproofing, waterproofing, plastering, stamped concrete, concrete arches, masonry restoration, brick and block work, reinforced concrete and steel-faced curbing.

The work crew, consisting of 30-plus members, includes people from all walks of life. “From no experience to decades of experience, we offer employment to anyone with a great work ethic and pride in what they produce. They must also believe in our vision of being committed to excellence,” Malatesta says. Workers have come for summer jobs and have continued employment for 15-30 years. Many personnel that were here from the beginning have stayed with the company.

“Everyone brings to the table our dedication, focus, honesty and integrity—most of all, our creativity and knowledge of our trade,” Novello says.

Fulfilling the Client’s Vision

Malatesta Paladino depends on very few subcontractors because most of the work is done in-house. While the owners are managing partners, they are heavily involved in the day-to-day operations and are pitching in on work sites much of the time. “We put on different hats when needed and can step in as project managers and site supervisors,” Malatesta says. “An owner meets with every new and potential customer to give them individual attention, making sure that their ideas for renovating their property are thoroughly understood,” he adds.

“We do our utmost to fulfill each client’s vision,” Paladino says. “Every job has a uniqueness of its own, and we intend to accommodate the demands of each project. Our customer service, perfectionism and workmanship are the qualities that have allowed us to reign as one of the most reliable and successful companies in the industry.”

High-Profile Projects

“Of the many projects that the company has completed in New York City, the New York Life Insurance Building at 51 Madison Ave., Cushman & Wakefield at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, Rudin Management Company at 1675 Broadway, Burberry at 444 Madison Ave. and CBS Corporation at 51 W. 52 St., provide a continued source of pride because each of these have been loyal, repeat customers,” Novello says. These projects involved repairing or replacing sidewalks and curbs, installing waterproofing, travertine and granite, and steel work.

Malatesta Paladino has also provided services to some of the most popular and well-known buildings in New York City, including abc7NY, the Empire State Building, John F. Kennedy International Airport and Valentino – New York Fifth Avenue. “Projects have ranged in cost from $5,000 to $10 million, and we explore options for every type of client,” Malatesta says. “We have helped numerous building owners beautify their properties by either offering our professional opinion or making alternative suggestions even if we didn’t receive the contract. We take satisfaction in that fact,” Malatesta adds.

Accomplishing work in the city requires consulting with several administrative entities. “We constantly work with city agencies, such as the NYC Department of Buildings, the NYC Department of Transportation, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to manage logistics when our projects may have an impact on pedestrians and commuters. To ensure public safety, we also coordinate with utility companies when working underground,” Paladino adds.

Craftsmanship and Creativity

“Our company stands out because we’re a small organization, but we are recognized for our amazing work,” Malatesta says. “We are regarded as an elite company within our industry and often receive high recommendations from building owners and property managers for our craftsmanship and precision,” he adds.

The Malatesta Paladino team has faced several occasions when a product was needed and either couldn’t be located or was unavailable. “During these times, we heavily rely on the ingenuity of our group to fabricate these items according to specification,” Paladino says.

Due to the challenges of New York’s blustery winters, Malatesta Paladino’s work is dependent on the weather. “Because our industry is seasonal, there are extremely busy days where everyone rallies as a team to get our project goals accomplished before winter sets in,” Novello says. From November through March, when ice and snow are prevalent and concrete cannot be poured, the company provides snow removal using Bobcats, backhoes, front-end loaders and dump trucks. “Making our service 100% complete, we also offer calcium mix and sanding for all foot and vehicle traffic areas,” Novello says.

Company Culture Reflects Owners’ Values

“The culture of the company is a mixture of hard work and excitement,” Novello explains. The firm rewards its employees’ earnest efforts with extra time off when needed, in-office lunches, Thanksgiving turkeys, holiday parties and Christmas bonuses, to name a few of the perks.

Another intrinsic part of company culture includes giving back to the community. This emanates from the top as Carmine Malatesta participates as a charity event committee member benefiting Covenant House New York, serving children who face homelessness or who have been trafficked.

Michael Paladino served as both Vice President of the Events Committee and Vice President of Tiro A. Segno Foundation Inc., which supplies aid to numerous foundations. He also served for 12 years on the board of directors and became President.

The Malatesta Paladino firm is an annual supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, the Food Bank For New York City and charities benefiting those suffering from breast cancer, AIDS and multiple sclerosis. It also supports The Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY), the Rogosin Institute, Outreach, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and many others that offer educational opportunities.

Dedication Unending

Dedication to service doesn’t stop after Malatesta Paladino has finished a project. “We make it our priority to maintain everyone’s complete satisfaction by keeping our warranties and maintaining communication long after our work is done,” Novello says. “We aim to create exclusive, dynamic, safe and unique projects that stand above the competition.”

“Our decades of experience and level of expertise is unparalleled,” Paladino states. ”We are meticulous with each project and strive to sustain high quality standards. Our motto is to never say no. We believe there’s always a way to meet our goals.”