Martin Laviero Contractor Inc.

In 1941 Martin Laviero founded Martin Laviero Contractor Inc. (MLC), a small masonry business in Bristol, Conn. For over 70 years, the business has grown exponentially while remaining grounded in trusted, family ownership.

Martin’s nephews, Greg and Gary Laviero, now operate the company. The duo continues to abide by the values of hard work and integrity, building a strong team, as well as durable projects for clients in a number of sectors. This allows the MLC team to focus on quality projects using local labor, supporting clients and communities simultaneously.

Initially, the company focused solely on masonry work. When Martin retired, his nephews Morris and Richard Laviero took over the reins and shifted directions. Over the years, MLC has changed shape, with two generations adding to the company’s list of services.

While clients can still count on the team for masonry, MLC also added concrete installations and repairs, asphalt paving and maintenance, foundation repairs, streetscape projects, trucking and flatbed moves, drainage, excavation and snow removal services.

With such a diverse line of services, Greg considers the company to be a service contractor first and foremost. MLC has carved out a niche, offering a one-stop shop to serve the needs of clients in a number of sectors, with customers ranging from homeowners to commercial businesses and government municipalities, amongst others. Based in Bristol, the company operates throughout central Connecticut to satisfy clients’ varying needs.

Building Long-term Relationships

While Greg remains open to new opportunities, the business has found growing success with repeat clients across the region. The company has proven reliable, which means when the town needs something done, MLC is called. The company’s esteemed reputation allows MLC to work regularly with a number of municipalities, performing road expansions, curb work and other highway construction services.

“We have several recent projects for municipalities in the area,” Greg says. “We are currently working on a project in New Britain, which is fairly straightforward. We did a simple streetscape terrace with new curbing, drainage and traffic control.”

Greg is quick to note that although the team is highly capable, complications do arise. “We ran into some communication issues with subs on that project, but we managed to work everything out and deliver the project,” he details. “We also did a similar project in Torrington, which had almost the same scope but without traffic control lights. That was probably around $350,000. We also completed work in Cheshire, widening the road and upgrading drainage and sidewalks.”

Due to the team’s notable reputation and proven track record, MLC has also established long-term relationships with several educational institutions. “We have been working for Central Connecticut State University [CCSU] for a long time,” Gary elaborates. “We’re the on-call contractor for concrete and paving, and a number of other services. We did a project for them within the last couple of years putting in a few ball fields, a running track and new bleachers. Our contractors with clients such as CCSU have helped us through hard times.”

A Changing Market

MLC felt some of the shockwave resulting from the recent economic downturn. Fortunately, public and municipal projects have kept the team busy. In addition to those contracts, the company’s long-term customers have regularly reached out for work.

Still, a shrinking market has not been the only threat to the business. Like many contractors, MLC has had to work in a more competitive atmosphere in recent years. “For a while, we had a tough time with out-of-state contractors breaching the market and driving prices down,” Greg notes. “We were able to weather the storm and it looks like things are starting to pick up again. Prices have come back up, towns are spending more money and private businesses have been more confident with spending, as well.”

Throughout the recession, Greg and his team have tightly managed internal operations. The company’s diverse capabilities have come into play in order to maintain a broad market reach. The business also offers concrete repair services through Concrete Raising Corporation of America; MLC operates as a franchise and makes certified structural repairs to settling and unstable concrete surfaces.

With a number of successful in-house services available, MLC is making connections in a number of sectors. The team has received high praise from clients and often works on referral or repeat basis. One job leads to another, allowing the team to self-market through word-of-mouth. Greg estimates a busy few years ahead, noting a number of large projects down the pipeline and the addition of more carpentry services to the company’s line.

Above all else, MLC stands by getting the job done right the first time. Greg and the crew have broad capabilities, but accept that every business has limits. Therefore, if the company cannot perform a project, Greg is happy to direct clients to an appropriate and reliable contractor. This kind of integrity can be hard to come by and is one of many reasons Martin Laviero Contractor Inc. continues to build lasting relationships.