Glen Pisani of MAS Building & Bridge has a piece of advice for general contractors when it comes to steel erectors: “Make sure the people on your site are qualified, because mistakes can be catastrophic and skimping on quality isn’t the way to save money.”
That approach is at the core of how MAS operates. They are among the minority of steel constructors that are AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) certified.
The company has created a culture around making sure that the “boots on the ground” are ready for anything that will come their way. MAS offers competitive pay and benefits, including paying 100 percent of employee health care, a 401(k), quarterly bonus program, and also contributes to annuities for workers.
MAS also focuses on creating career paths for those looking to advance. The company hires from within, giving employees wanting to advance the opportunity to do so. In addition to trade training, it also offers training in management and soft skills.
“If our people want training that we don’t provide, just show us the receipt – we’ll reimburse them for it,” said Pisani, who heads MAS’s Steel Division.
The combination of treating employees well, providing them with extensive opportunities and training has produced impressive results. When it comes to safety, MAS has earned a 0.69 MOD rating in a particularly dangerous trade.
The company also has expertise in planning and is looking to work even more closely with general contractors to help them plan their steel erection projects.
“I wouldn’t go to the lumber yard with a material order to build my house and ask the forklift driver if he knew of a carpenter who could build it. The installer is most important on the jobsite,” Pisani says. “The same is true with steel.”
These are among the reasons why MAS is the largest open-shop steel erector in New England, serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, northern Connecticut and southern New Hampshire. In addition to steel, the company also includes Bridge and Marine Divisions.