Like so many students at the beginning of their college careers, Joe Laraiso was unsure of which path to take after graduating from Lancaster High School in 1965. Ultimately, he decided to enroll in mechanical engineering technology at Alfred State College (ASC), a decision that created a solid base for a long and remarkable career in the construction industry.
...all students who have aspirations of success can achieve it, and that starts with their education and life’s lessons learned at Alfred State. Joe Laraiso
Today, Joe, who is an owner of M&C Utilities, LLC, remains thankful for the strong foundation that Alfred State provided for his future. As a Development Fund Board member and Major Gifts Campaign donor, he’s doing his part to ensure that other Pioneers are also able to find the path that’s just right for them.
Joe was born and raised in the Village of Lancaster, where he has spent almost his entire life and where he currently lives. Upon enrolling at Alfred State in 1965, he initially resided in Robinson Hall on campus, but was asked to find other accommodations for his remaining time at Alfred after the first semester. “I was a bit of a prankster,” he admits.
Joe then took up residency at “Rosebush,” a group of apartments above the original location of The Collegiate Restaurant. During his time at Alfred State, Joe made many cherished memories, from playing in a rock ‘n’ roll band at the Lake Lodge, to establishing “morgue hours” for studying with his fellow Rosebush residents.
“I would say my fondest memory of Alfred was the friendships made and the sincere effort made by the instructors to instill in us the importance of learning. They established a base for moving forward with our education, which was particularly true since Alfred State was only a two-year school,” he said.
Upon graduating in 1967, Joe was still unsure of which path to take, so he enrolled in engineering science at Alfred State. After just one semester, however, he decided to enlist in the US Marine Corps.
Once he completed boot camp and basic infantry training, he was classified as a machine gunner. But Joe was next sent to the Language Institute in Monterey, CA to learn Vietnamese. Upon completing the three months of schooling, he was tested and graded as being fluent in speaking, reading, and writing the Vietnamese language.
“With that in mind, I thought for sure I would land a cushy job as an interpreter or something in intelligence,” he said. “Well, it’s the Marine Corps – go where needed. I arrived in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. Being classified as a machine gunner by Military Occupational Services (MOS), off to the jungles south of Da Nang I went. I spent 12 months in active combat. I received the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat ‘V’ for valor along with other unit citations.”
Upon his return from Vietnam in 1970, Joe knew he needed to further his education, so he enrolled at the University at Buffalo. In 1974, he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, with a minor in accounting. He then began working as an office engineer at a construction company called ABC Paving Co. Still unsure of his career path, he was considering an entirely different occupation at the time: lawyer. “The following year, I attended law school but did not take the bar exam because of my inability to complete law school after starting a family and working full time,” he said.
As it turns out, Joe was already on the right path after all, and had been ever since he first became an engineering student at Alfred State almost a decade prior. His educational background had landed him a position as an office engineer at ABC Paving. Plenty of hard work enabled Joe to climb the corporate ladder, becoming job superintendent, then project manager, and eventually president of the company.
In 1978, ABC Paving Co. Inc. purchased Buffalo Crushed Stone, a stone quarry in Williamsville that Joe oversaw as executive vice president. In 1982, Buffalo Crushed Stone acquired Buffalo Slag Co. and absorbed it into the company.
In 1987, ABC Paving acquired Energy Resources Services Corp. (ERSC) from Harrison Western Mining out of Denver, CO and began performing high-voltage power line work across the lower 48 states. At the same time, the company also acquired Newberry Alaska, which focused on high-voltage power line installations and underground facilities locations for the various utility companies in the Anchorage area.
“I was also executive vice president of those companies, which required a great deal of travel and time away from family,” Joe said.
Also in 1987, Buffalo Crushed Stone acquired the northern portion of the former Bethlehem Steel property, and thus Gateway Trade Center, Inc. in Buffalo was born. Joe served as executive vice president of that company, as well.
Over the years, these companies grew and flourished under the guidance and direction of Richard Garman and Melissa Garman-Baumgart. Both of them were Joe’s mentors and inspiration in business and in life. In 2000, all of the companies were sold to New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co., Inc. of New Enterprise, PA. Joe stayed on as executive vice president until his retirement in 2014 from ABC Paving and its affiliates after 40 years.
However, as someone whose involvement in the construction industry dates back to age 12 when he worked for a family-owned construction company named Twin Village Construction Co., retirement was not an option for Joe. He joined a couple of former employees, who had formed M&C Utilities, LLC. Joe became one of the owners and the company now has 44 employees. M&C primarily performs underground maintenance and installation of underground utilities for the various utility companies in western New York.
Looking back, Joe realizes that Alfred State and the education he received there played a big part in his life’s journey. One way he has given back to his alma mater is by serving on the Alfred State Development Fund Board, which helps raise and manage funds for the college.
“My continued participation on the Development Fund Board allows me to ensure that all students who have aspirations of success can achieve it, and that starts with their education and life’s lessons learned at Alfred State,” he said.
Joe noted that he has a great admiration for Dr. Sullivan, mainly because he is a student-oriented president. At one of the Development Fund Board meetings, President Sullivan mentioned that a number of students were having monetary issues – some personal, some needing funds to buy books or even pay student fees to enroll and remain a student at Alfred. “This led me to informally establish the special needs fund, which is funded by existing Development Fund Board members,” Joe said.
Wanting to make the fund permanent, Joe decided to make a difference in the lives of Alfred State students through his recent major gift to the college. As a result, he established the Skip Sullivan Student Special Needs Fund to help students who have emergency needs.
Finding your path isn’t always easy, but as Joe Laraiso has shown, if you work hard, follow your instincts, and employ that Alfred State Pioneering spirit, you can find great success!
