Soon after Superstorm Sandy struck hard in 2012, Armand Corporation mobilized to meet the need for damage assessment and repair in the New York metropolitan area. Since then, Armand has developed a strong reputation for providing exacting oversight of the recovery dollars being spent to put homes, businesses and lives back together.
To date, our project and program management teams have delivered more than $55 million in contracted services for projects in New Jersey, New York City, Long Island and upstate New York. These projects incorporate not only disaster recovery, but also resiliency and hazard mitigation – that is, efforts to decrease a building’s or community’s vulnerability to future disasters. Effective resilient construction and hazard mitigation not only saves lives, but also saves money for business, individuals, insurers and taxpayers down the line.
An important aspect of Armand’s work involves assisting clients with balancing the significant pressure to maintain an aggressive schedule as communities yearn to “return to normal” and the equally important conditions and requirements of municipal, state, and federal funding sources. To do this, Armand’s projects enforce a “culture of compliance” from day one with the mandate to be audit-ready at any time. This is accomplished through work processes and reporting methods that advance, rather than inhibit, the work to be done.
Beyond merely providing reporting, Armand Corporation provides incisive, transparent metrics to inspire and drive its project management. These metrics are incorporated into information-sharing that illustrates and explains complex requirements to everyone from project personnel to agency staff to funders to business owners and residents – disaster victims who are often a community’s most vulnerable. Armand understands that all these stakeholders have a vested interest in project completion and all have a role in participating in the progress of a project.
Compliance 101 for Emerging Firms
Armand also brings to its projects a long history of emphasis on local hiring, with the resources in place to identify and properly train businesses and workers from within local communities affected by the disaster.
Smaller subcontractors often gain their first exposure to public agency contracting under Armand and benefit from Armand’s orientation programs for work order contracting, work assignment processes, invoicing and invoicing documentation standards, and periodic compliance reporting required by HUD, FEMA and other agencies exercising jurisdiction over the disaster recovery process. Armand invests in making technical assistants and quality reviewers available to contractors to guide the clarification and correction of incorrect or unclear reporting, invoicing, and other documentation.
These approaches serve the dual goals of every disaster recovery project: to wisely and accurately expend the resources needed to complete the work and to allow all those affected by a disaster to recover as quickly as possible and move on with their lives.
Interested in joining Armand’s disaster recovery team? Click here if you are a business seeking partnering opportunities. Click here if you are an individual and would like to submit your resume.
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.
