“Armand Corporation endowed a Scholarship in Civil Engineering at Rowan University in October 2016. Since then, the Endowment has awarded five scholarships totaling $14,550. The fund provides essential financial support to deserving students in the Rowan University Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.
Barbara Armand Kushner served on the Rowan University Board of Trustees from 2006-2010. In November 2016, Mrs. Kushner was a guest speaker at the Scholarship Reception and Dinner, a gathering of over 130 donors and their student recipients. In May 2017, she was the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.”
Rowan University will become a new model for higher education by being inclusive, agile, and responsive, offering diverse scholarly and creative educational experiences, pathways, environments, and services to meet the needs of all students; maintaining agility by strategically delivering organizational capacity across the institution; and responding to emerging demands and opportunities regionally and nationally. *Approved June 14, 2017 by the Rowan University Board of Trustees.
Since its founding in 1995, the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering has earned regional, national and international recognition for its unique approach to preparing future engineers through interdisciplinary, hands-on learning. Most recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rowan University’s undergraduate engineering program #17 for 2021 among colleges in its category, a four-place bump in just one year. Additionally, U.S. News ranked Rowan’s Mechanical Engineering program #13 in the nation and its Electrical Engineering program #16 among colleges in its category.
The College’s Bachelor of Science programs in biomedical, chemical, civil, environmental, electrical, computer and mechanical engineering have been accredited through the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) since 1999.
*All information specifically for Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering as of September 2020.
The Armand Corporation Endowed Engineering Scholarship was established to provide financial support in the form of scholarship awards to students with demonstrated financial need, with first preference given to students majoring in Civil Engineering with an interest in pursuing Construction Management as a profession.
Since the 2017-18 academic year, five recipients have received $14,550 in support.
Barbara Armand Kushner served on the Rowan University Board of Trustees from 2006-2010. In October 2016, she generously contributed $50,000 to the Rowan University Foundation to establish the Armand Corporation Endowed Engineering Scholarship. The fund provides essential financial support to deserving students in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. In November 2016, Mrs. Kushner was a guest speaker at the Scholarship Reception and Dinner, a gathering of over 130 donors and their student recipients. In May 2017, she was the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree.
In honor of Henry M. Rowan and his legacy, the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering is committed to preparing students for careers in the engineering industry and related fields, and for advanced degree study. The College’s programs provide students with a strong foundation
in engineering science and design, and emphasize the development of effective communication and team-work skills, as well as professional responsibility in preparation for careers in a diverse global workforce.
Rowan University recognizes Mrs. Barbara Armand Kushner as a close friend of the institution who dedicates her financial resources for the continued betterment of the University. The Rowan University Foundation and Rowan University are deeply appreciative of your generosity and through this generous endowment, the lives of Rowan students will be enriched in perpetuity.
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.
