On May 29, 2025, Armand Corporation proudly joined the 2025 MWBE Connect Summit, hosted by the New York Chapter of Professional Women in Construction (PWC-NY). Held from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Steelcase WorkLife Center in Manhattan, the event included breakfast, a fireside chat, and multiple panel discussions focused on navigating industry challenges, infrastructure, and MWBE success.
As a Table Sponsor, Armand reaffirmed its enduring commitment to supplier diversity and inclusive growth. Surrounded by fellow advocates like Turner Construction and Structure Tone, we stood alongside partners who share our vision for equity in the built environment.
A standout moment was Panel 2: MWBE Success Stories, featuring our President & CEO, Barbara Armand Kushner. Drawing from her long journey—founding Armand in 1991, leading as PWC-NY President, and earning an honorary engineering doctorate—Barbara conveyed the powerful lessons of mentorship, perseverance, and representation.
Her message echoed:
“In every challenge, there’s an opportunity to build something lasting—not just for yourself, but for the generations behind you.”
This heartfelt reflection underscored the summit’s essence: to forge connections, uplift underrepresented voices, and chart a more equitable industry path.
We extend our deepest gratitude to PWC-NY—especially Kayla Dunn and the MWBE Committee—for orchestrating such a well-curated, inspiring gathering. Leaving energized and empowered, Armand returns to our work with renewed purpose: championing lasting opportunities and setting equity as the gold standard in construction and beyond.
https://members.pwc-ny.org/events/Details/mwbe-connect-summit-2025-1376296?sourceTypeId=Hub
#MWBEConnect2025 #SupplierDiversity #ArmandCorporation #BarbaraArmandKushner #ChangingLivesForGood #EquityInConstruction #PWCNY #WomenInConstruction #MinorityOwnedBusiness
Shamsell Abdill brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry to her role as Vice President at Armand Corporation. She oversees the company’s building and infrastructure programs, serving as Project Executive, and is renowned for her expertise in contract administration, project management, problem resolution, and M/WBE compliance. Her career highlights include contributing to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center as part of the Procurement and Change Order Management Team, where she gained extensive experience in procurement and negotiation. Shamsell leverages her comprehensive industry knowledge to build strong professional relationships with agencies and utility companies, minimizing impacts on construction schedules. Her diverse project portfolio spans corporate, correctional, healthcare, educational, and landmark building restorations, as well as masonry renovations. She is adept in various project delivery methods, including construction manager as agent, construction manager at risk, design-bid-build, and design-build, making her an invaluable leader in delivering successful projects for Armand Corporation.
Robert “Bob” Mello is a seasoned construction professional with over 35 years of experience managing both new construction and renovation projects. As Associate Vice President of Pre-Construction at Armand Corporation, Bob specializes in overseeing planning and construction-related services for public and private clients.
A licensed Professional Engineer in New York State, Bob’s extensive expertise includes managing projects across urban environments and on-call contracts. His skill set encompasses facility planning, property condition assessments, constructability reviews, quality control and compliance, energy efficiency initiatives, and scope and schedule reviews.
Bob’s comprehensive approach ensures effective construction management from initial phases through project close-out, making him an invaluable leader in delivering successful outcomes for Armand’s clients.
CariAnn Palmese is a senior program manager with nearly 20 years of experience delivering program management and administrative support for large, complex, multi-million-dollar projects. Her expertise includes developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure the successful execution of challenging initiatives.
A highlight of CariAnn’s career was guiding the Nassau County Department of Public Works in managing community reconstruction projects under a $36 million CDBG-DR capital program. Currently, she works alongside Armand’s team to provide construction management services for disaster recovery capital programs, showcasing her dedication to driving successful outcomes in high-stakes environments.
Jerome Wright is a seasoned financial analyst with nearly 20 years of accounting experience across diverse industries. As Associate Vice President of Operations at Armand Corporation, Jerome excels in managing and tracking vendor invoices, ensuring timely processing using project-specific templates, and providing hands-on assistance to vendors with invoice submissions.
Jerome’s expertise includes preparing detailed invoice summary reports for Program Manager approvals and collaborating with Program Managers to resolve billing discrepancies. He has a proven ability to reconcile financial data, comparing and correcting invoice details while working closely with project management and accounting teams to address invoicing issues.His commitment to precision and collaboration makes him an integral part of the operations team.
At Armand Corporation, We are committed to maintaining a secure and transparent hiring process. Please be aware of potential job scams that misuse our name to solicit sensitive or personal information. We do not request Social Security numbers, bank account details, or payment of any kind during the initial stages of the hiring process. Additionally, we never offer employment without a formal interview process. All applicants are required to participate in one or more interviews before any job offer is extended. While we may request verification of education, certifications, or licenses during the later stages of the hiring process.
If you receive suspicious communication claiming to be from Armand Corporation or are uncertain about the legitimacy of a job offer, please contact us directly at careers@armandcorp.com for confirmation. Protecting your privacy and ensuring a fair and professional hiring experience is our top priority.
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Phillip Grant is responsible for overseeing the company’s daily operations and driving the execution of strategic initiatives. He manages key relationships with stakeholders, including boards, owners, consultants, and contractors. Phillip is also responsible for negotiating contracts, resolving budget and schedule challenges, and integrating innovative technologies. He has over 20 years of extensive expertise in economic development, engineering, and public infrastructure. Phillip has successfully managed multi-billion dollar capital construction programs, focusing on sustainability, compliance, and efficiency. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York, a Certified Construction Manager and holds a BS in engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MBA from Mercy University. He is also a member of the Construction Management Association of America, National Society of Professional Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
