First Annual Founders Awards Presented

At our annual board meeting on December 9, we gave out four awards for our newly established "Founders Award." The purpose of the award is to honor those employees of the DiGeronimo Companies who consistently demonstrate our core values of commitment, loyalty, respect, integrity, innovation and quality workmanship. The award is named after the founders of our company, our parents, Serafino and Mary, and our brother Don. Our gratitude goes to Lisa DiGeronimo, daughter of Bobby and Cindi, for tirelessly spearheading this effort.

This year, all the DiGeronimo family members working across the organization were asked to submit names of individuals who exemplified our core values. A list of candidates was compiled, and each family member was asked to vote. The four individuals receiving the most votes were selected.

There were many nominations, and to narrow it down to four was very difficult, to say the least. Each subsequent year, not only will the family members participate in this process - the prior recipients of the award will too. The individuals selected for this year's Founders Award are:

Ed Wilk - An employee for 43 years who started with us at a very young age, and yes, as you would guess, sweeping the shop floor. Ed always was, and continues to be, one of the most dedicated, hard working employees we have ever had. He was very instrumental in the early development of our company. He and I worked on many projects together going through the ranks as laborer, truck driver, operator, and currently as project superintendent and my brother Bobby;s right hand man. He is also from the era when our "line of credit" was not to cash your paycheck for a few days. Thanks Ed, for being a great asset, and a great friend. I must also mention his two sons, Steve and Rich who work with us and have those great Wilk genes.

Ron Brocco - An employee for 25 years and Vice President of Independence Recycling. Ron started at the age of 15, cutting grass at my home and in the process a few new fruit trees that I had planted. Before that, when he was in the 5th grade, my daughter, Mary, invited him to dinner on a Sunday. She asked me to cook something that he could swallow easily because he would be too nervous to chew! Ron started working with me, and then with my son Vito, in the early days of pioneering our concrete recycling business. He has helped the company immensely, making it the 2nd largest recycling company in the U.S., Vulcan Materials being the largest. He is responsible for all of the logistics of setting up the 16 crushing plants throughout the country, including our local shale crushing at the Haydite quarry in Independence. Thanks Ron, for being a great person, friend and worker. 

Sergio Mauretti - A second-generation employee for 21 years. Sergio's father, Joe, started with us in the sixties, and was one of the hardest working laborers our company has ever employed. Sergio brings the same old school attitude to the job everyday as a professional laborer who is hardworking, honest and trustworthy. He never complains and sets out to get the job done right the first time around. We are anxiously awaiting a 3rd generation Mauretti. Thanks Sergio, for all of your diligence.

Ed Butler - An employee for 19 years, and our controller, but he is far more than that. Ed is one of the greatest friends anyone could ever imagine. He takes the core values to extremes. In all of the years Ed has been with us, he has never turned down any task that I or anyone else has asked him to do. Many times, people asked him for help, and he has never refused. He has worked all night on several occasions to get tasks accomplished. Although he has been with us for only 19 years, if you counted his hours worked, they would add up to far more than 19 years. Thanks Ed, for always being there when we need you, and for being such a great person and friend.

The above four award recipients have accumulated 108 years of service. Absolutely remarkable! These are four of the many, many employees who have contributed to the early success and growth of our companies. We are proud and fortunate to have them with us and to honor their service with this prestigious award.

Arrivederci!