Team
Our people are our foundations
The level of experience, expertise, and knowledge within our team is matched only by the passion our people have for seeing each other excel and delivering the best results for our clients, their customers, and our construction partners. Our culture is rooted in promoting teamwork, nurturing talent, and always seeking to exceed expectations.
“Exceptional teamwork is essential to our success. We blend a wealth of expertise with clear and constructive communication, in order to develop industry-leading value engineering solutions, and to consistently deliver projects on time.”
WILLIAM DE PAOLA
Chief Operating Officer
ARA Construction
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John Shanahan
PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PARTNER
John Shanahan
PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PARTNER
John joined the company in 2007 and has previously held the positions of COO and CFO. He has served as president of the company since 2014 overseeing the strongest revenue and income growth in company history. In his current role John is responsible for all aspects of financial planning, auditing, banking, accounting, human resources, and risk management. He was instrumental in developing our internship program which nurtured many of our current management team. He shares responsibility for business development and corporate planning. John holds a BA in Business from Mercyhurst College and an MS in Business & Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia.
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William DePaola
CHIEF OPERATING OFFiCER & PARTNER
William DePaola
CHIEF OPERATING OFFiCER & PARTNER
Bill joined the company in 2006 as a project estimator. Bill moved through the ranks taking on roles of increasing responsibility in field construction, project management, and executive leadership. In addition to overseeing our project management team and daily operations, Bill is responsible for all facets of preconstruction, construction and post construction. Including general estimates, budgets, contracting, scheduling, and overall project performance. He also provides critical oversight on all ARA projects. Bill is a truly dynamic force; his energy and enthusiasm have contributed greatly to ARA’s growth. Bill is a LEED Accredited Professional and a graduate of the University of Maryland.
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Paudie Mulvihill
VP Operations & Partner
Paudie Mulvihill
VP Operations & Partner
A seasoned industry veteran, Paudie joined ARA in 1993. During his tenure he worked through the ranks as a carpenter, superintendent, and project manager, culminating in his appointment as vice president. He is also a qualified plumber and has a deep understanding of all project needs. Paudie is responsible for weekly manpower scheduling. He also oversees operations in the New York region where he advocates for clients, and continuously manages relationships with our valued community of subcontractors.
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Jeanine DeSilva
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
Jeanine DeSilva
ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER
Jeanine joined ARA in 2005 and has become an integral component of our operation. Jeanine began her journey with ARA as an administrative assistant and was then promoted to assistant project manager. In her role, Jeanine is responsible for all paperwork relating to jobs. This includes permitting, issuing subcontracts, processing change orders, customer billing and project close out. She has a tremendous understanding of all facets of our business. She has worked with all our customers and represents all that is great about ARA. Jeanine is a graduate of Grove City College.
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Julian Dickerson
PROJECT ENGINEER
Julian Dickerson
PROJECT ENGINEER
Julian joined ARA in 2024. He has a strong project management background in multi-family, mixed use and preservation construction. Over the years Julian has spent extensive time in the field, working his way up to construction management in the pipe fitting & plumbing trades. He has an extensive background in the NYC market, working with the DOB and FDNY. He is OSHA 30 certified. Julian attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
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Conor Doran
ESTIMATOR
Conor Doran
ESTIMATOR
Conor joined ARA in 2009 and graduated from our internship program. He quickly solidified a permanent position with ARA as an estimator. His skillset and attention to detail allowed him to perform at a very high level. He has developed a strong rapport with our sub-contractors and continues to enhance the quality of our partnerships on a daily basis. Conor builds conceptual budgets and leads design-build and hard bid estimates for the company. He has prepared the most notable and biggest budget jobs for ARA Construction. Conor graduated from the Institute of Technology, Carlow.
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Brendan Dunphy
PROJECT MANAGER
Brendan Dunphy
PROJECT MANAGER
Brendan joined ARA in 2011 on an internship program. He was a field superintendent working for various clients and quickly worked his way up to project manager due to his dedication and diligence in the management of projects. His portfolio ranges from nationwide rollouts of retail stores to extensive remodels for flagship brands. As an accomplished project manager, he leads with impact and purpose, constantly fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, architects, engineers and other members of the project team. Brendan is a certified LEED Green Associate and a graduate of The University of Limerick Construction Management program.
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Jeff Greeson
ESTIMATOR
Jeff Greeson
ESTIMATOR
In 2005 Jeff began his career with ARA as a junior estimator, before embracing increased responsibilities as estimator and director of safety compliance. He has extensive knowledge of remodel estimating. He is responsible for toolbox talk distribution, onsite safety inspections and OSHA log maintenance. He is OSHA 30 certified. Jeff is a graduate of the Indiana State University Construction Management Program, which is renowned for producing future leaders in the construction industry. He is one of our longest serving employees.
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Bill Harton
PROJECT MANAGER
Bill Harton
PROJECT MANAGER
Bill is an experienced project manager and MBA graduate with more than 14 years of experience in the commercial construction industry. He joined ARA in 2016 and has led design-build projects in a wide range of building asset classes and scopes of work. Bill is a natural problem solver and leads teams to maximize productivity and deliver results. He is passionate about exceptional client service, routinely exceeds schedule milestones and delivers value-engineering opportunities. Prior to ARA, Bill ran operations in building envelope construction. Bill earned his MBA from Loyola University of Maryland, and is a graduate of UMass Amherst.
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Ivan Houlihan
PROJECT MANAGER
Ivan Houlihan
PROJECT MANAGER
Ivan is another product of ARA’s internship program. In 2012, Ivan joined the company after graduating from the University of Limerick Construction Management Program. He began his career as a superintendent where his strong carpentry background was a real asset. He gained invaluable experience and was then promoted to project engineer. In this role he was the conduit between the field and the office. In 2023 Ivan was promoted to project manager. He specializes in open-store remodels in the grocery sector. Ivan is a LEED Green Associate and OSHA 30 certified.
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Chad Innerarity
ESTIMATOR
Chad Innerarity
ESTIMATOR
Chad joined the ARA estimating team in 2024. Over the last 8 years he has gained valuable project management and estimating experience working in various construction sectors. He is technically proficient and has provided strong support to the estimating department, and we’re delighted to have him on the team. Chad graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management.
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April Lozzi
ASSISTANT CONTROLLER
April Lozzi
ASSISTANT CONTROLLER
April has been with the company since 2010 as a bookkeeper. Over the years April has transitioned to assistant controller, where she supervises all accounts payable and receivable transactions, payroll management, sales tax and all matters related to insurance. She is also responsible for human resources as well as managing our benefits package. April has worked in the construction sector for over 20 years and is a highly valued and trusted member of the ARA team.
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Garth Merson
PROJECT ENGINEER
Garth Merson
PROJECT ENGINEER
Garth joined the ARA ranks in 2023. Over the last 20 years he has accumulated experience in all facets of construction including that of superintendent, project management and estimating. This experience spanned the residential, commercial and government sectors. He is also a skilled tradesman. Garth attended TESST College.
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Brendan Nagle
Project Manager
Brendan Nagle
Project Manager
Brendan is a veteran project manager with a wealth of experience. Brendan began his career with ARA as a superintendent, progressing to assistant project manager, before graduating to Project Manager. Brendan has been with ARA since 2004 and is our longest serving employee. Throughout his distinguished career Brendan has collaborated with customers to always deliver projects in a timely manner. He manages relationships with some of the largest global brands. Over the years Brendan has managed some of our largest and highest-profile projects. He has taken increased responsibility in his stride and is greatly respected by colleagues, subcontractors and customers alike.
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Michael Overbey
Warehouse Manager & Commercial Driver
Michael Overbey
Warehouse Manager & Commercial Driver
Michael is an experienced warehouse manager and commercial driver. He oversees receiving, warehousing, distribution, and is also responsible for deliveries to our sites. Michael also manages our fleet management program and maintains service intervals for all ARA equipment. Michael has been with ARA since 2016.
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Angie Saso
Office Manager
Angie Saso
Office Manager
Angie joined the company in 2007 as an administrative assistant. Over time her position evolved into that of office manager. She is experienced in handling a wide range of administrative duties and executive support-related tasks. She is very well organized, and her efforts are vital to the everyday operation. She is a great favorite among all ARA employees, and a consummate team player.
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Richard Van Bel
ESTIMATOR
Richard Van Bel
ESTIMATOR
Richard joined ARA in 2023. While he is a relative newcomer to the company, he brings over 25 years of estimating and project management experience. Richard has estimated projects from the design stages to completion for the industrial, private, residential, commercial, industrial, civil, highway, state and federal sectors. He works closely with project management in the preconstruction phase to determine project milestones. Richard is a graduate of Ocean County College.
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Antony Petrocelli
Job Title
Antony Petrocelli
Job Title
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Vivienne Westwood
Job Title
Vivienne Westwood
Job Title
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Would you like to join the ARA team?
What makes ARA is the skills, expertise and dedication of our people. If you enjoy solving problems and working with people who love a different challenge every day, we can provide you with the opportunities and the training to realize your potential.
If you want to work with a construction contractor serving some of the biggest names in retail, distribution and hospitality, contact us today.