Celebrating 50 Years:  1954 - 2004

Shown Above: 50^th Anniversary Commemorative Art  
Copyright 2003 One Of A Kind, Inc. more info

Mission Statement
Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., first and foremost a family business, aims to contribute to the growth, development and enrichment of the area we serve by providing quality construction at competitive prices, outstanding customer service and steady employment for our work force, while earning a fair profit.

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. is a family business in which all six of Leonard and Mary's children have been involved, as well as their grandchildren. Today, three of their sons operate and manage the business. .(In memory of Mary E. Fiore 1921 - 2004)

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Management Changes at Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. 

To kick-off Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.’s 50^th anniversary celebration at their Christmas party held in December 2003, Leonard “Lenny” Fiore Jr. announced to several hundred guests that in a major reorganization, his father, company founder Leonard Sr., has advanced to the position of Chairman of the Board Emeritus. Richard Sr. becomes President while Michael A. becomes Executive Vice President and Secretary. Michael A. also becomes President of Fiore Brothers, Inc., the company’s equipment leasing division. Leonard Jr. becomes Chairman of the Board of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.

 The promotion of the second generation of Fiores makes room for a third generation to move into key management roles. Richard, Sr. announced that Joseph “Joey” Irwin becomes Vice President and Assistant Secretary of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. while Patrick Irwin and Richard Fiore, Jr. also become Vice Presidents of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. Sara Fiore-Gunnett becomes Vice President and Secretary of Fiore Brothers, Inc.

                    Officers: 

From Left to Right :  Michael A. Fiore, Richard Fiore, Sr., Leonard Fiore, Jr. 

·         Leonard Fiore, Jr. studied Civil Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.1971, he also served in the US Army as an Intelligence Agent. With over 30 years of experience in all phases and types of building construction, Mr. Fiore has acquired the in-depth knowledge required to provide the effective management and oversight of a contract during the estimating and construction phases of a project. Mr. Fiore currently manages the company’s estimating and building process personnel and oversees the development, bidding, procurement and administration for all contracted work. Mr. Fiore resides in Altoona with his wife Frankie. 

·         Richard Fiore, Sr. is a graduate of St. Francis University with a Business Administration degree and is currently a member of their Board of Directors. Mr. Fiore joined Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. in 1971 and his  “hands on” approach and extensive knowledge of building systems and contracts has enabled him to quickly resolve problems that arise during construction by balancing the expectations of an architect, construction manager and owner against the goals of a project’s budget and schedule. Mr. Fiore currently is in charge of field supervision activities and personnel associated on all of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.’s projects.  He also coordinates the company’s excavating and billing services while also assisting in the estimating and building process department. Mr. Fiore resides in Altoona with his son and wife, Nancy.  

·         Upon graduating from Bishop Guilfoyle High School, Michael A. Fiore attended Pennsylvania State University majoring in the field of Mechanical Engineering. He joined the firm in 1982 and, in 1985, became Vice President and assumed the responsibility of overseeing the company’s risk, safety, business, financial and office management teams and departments, a role he still maintains today. He also currently directs the firm’s business development activities and represents the company as their liaison and ambassador for community held functions and events. Mr. Fiore also serves as the Managing Partner in various family-owned real estate, development and leasing companies. Some of Mr. Fiore’s professional affiliations include:   

- Board Member of the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese Foundation
            - Board Member of Schoolwires, Inc.
            - Past Middle Pennsylvania Chapter President and National Board Member of
              Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Inc.
            - Co-Chairperson of the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Blair County
              Golf Tournament
            - Co-Chairperson of the Fiore Family Golf Classic benefiting the
              Easter Seals Society

Mr. Fiore resides in Hollidaysburg with his three sons and wife, Barbara.   

·                Joseph Irwin graduated in 1989 from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Finance. After spending a year as a Specialist Clerk on the Options Floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Mr. Irwin joined Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. in 1991 working initially in the field. In 1993 he was promoted to Project Estimator. In this role, Mr. Irwin is responsible for the preparation of bid quotations; the negotiation of contracts among Owners, vendors and sub-contractors and the reviewing and the approval of change orders and additional services to projects under construction. Thanks in part to Mr. Irwin’s estimating skills, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. was able to procure new work, which recently included Garvey Manor’s new Our Lady of the Alleghenies Residence, State College’s new Kaufmanns Department Store, Georgian Court College’s new Student
                                            Residences and Chapel and Penn State’s new Life
                                            Sciences Building. Mr. Irwin is a Bishop Guilfoyle graduate
                                            & resides in Altoona with his son, daughter and wife,Becky. 


·        Patrick Irwin is a 1993 graduate of Penn State University, receiving dual degrees in Speech Communication and Business administration. In 1995 he received an additional degree in Structural Design and Construction Engineering technology, also from Penn State.  In his role as Project Manager, Mr. Irwin has managed and administered the majority of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.’s projects at Penn State and throughout State College and Centre County, since 1998. Some of his recent projects include Penn State’s new IST, Chemistry and Life Sciences Buildings; the new Bryce Jordan Apartments and the conversion of Bellefonte’s former Match Factory into the National Headquarters for the American Philatelic Society. Mr. Irwin is a Bishop Guilfoyle graduate and resides in Altoona with his two sons, two daughters and wife, Kim.  
 

·        Richard Fiore, Jr. received his Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University in 1996 and immediately, thereafter, received a Structural Design and Construction Engineering Technology Degree in 1998, also from Penn State. Mr. Fiore’s Project Management role involves extensively more corporate administrative tasks, which are supplemented with specific project responsibilities such as scheduling, coordination, planning, submittal review and processing. Mr. Fiore’s roster of recent work includes some of the company’s most unique and challenging efforts for work involving New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company’s new Corporate Headquarters; Garvey Manor’s new Our Lady of the Alleghenies Residence; The Village @ Penn State’s new Senior Living Apartments and the expansion of the prison for
                                            Blair County. Mr. Fiore is a Bishop Guilfoyle graduate and
                                            resides in Altoona with his twin sons and wife, Stacy.  
 

            Sara Fiore-Gunnett graduated cum laude in 2000 from St. Francis University where she received her degree in Business Management. She was also recognized for her academic achievements by being inducted into Sigma Beta Delta, the National Honor Society for Business Management and Administration. Upon graduation from St. Francis, Mrs. Fiore-Gunnett joined Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. and Fiore brothers, Inc. and now oversees the entire management of both company’s payroll, equipment and computer operations while also assisting in the daily management of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.’s Accounts Receivable Department. Mrs. Fiore-Gunnett is a Bishop Guilfoyle graduate and resides in Hollidaysburg with her daughter and husband, Bill.

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Qualifications:

Jurisdictions for General Construction trade category:

Pennsylvania
Maryland
West Virginia

Other areas:

Southern New York
Eastern Ohio

Bonding Company and Agent:

Liberty Bond Services
701 Route 73 South
Suite 350
Marlton, NJ 08053
Anthony P. Bellano

Striewig Bonding Agency, Inc.
P.O. Box 161
Camp Hill, PA  17001-0161
1-800-762-4243
717-737-1947
Robert N. Striewig, Jr.

Financial  
Information:

Harry Sickler and Associates
P.O. Box 12
Tyrone, PA  16686

Trade References:

Degol Brothers Lumber
R.D. #1 
Hollidaysburg, PA  16648
David DeGol

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co.
New Enterprise, PA  16664
814-766-2111
Bob McGill

Nittany Building
105 West Plank Road
Port Matilda, PA  16870
814-692-5533
Terry Deavan

In House Capabilities:

Excavation
Concrete
Erection of structural & misc. steel
Masonry
Carpentry & carpentry related trades
Metal studs & drywall
Painting
Demolition
Surveying

History:

What began half a century ago as a series of odd jobs has grown into Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., one of Central Pennsylvania's leading general contractors with up to 250 regular employees and an annual volume of some $50 million.
Leonard S. Fiore Sr. went to work in 1939 as a pipe fitter in the Altoona Car Shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad. There, he faced periodic furloughs. In 1948, to cushion these economic setbacks, he started using his building skills to do small construction and repair jobs, building a reputation for top quality work completed on time at reasonable cost.
In 1954 he experienced what was to be his last enforced furlough. His conscientious attention to detail and the quality of his workmanship as a builder let him support his family by devoting full time to home construction and repair work.
Leonard Fiore Sr. expanded into the commercial construction field in 1957, building the Altoona Skating Center and the St. Rose of Lima Church in Altoona. Expansion since has been rapid and steady with over 300 commercial buildings completed to date.  In 1966 Leonard S. Fiore became incorporated and expansion beyond the confines of Blair County ensued. Today the name Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. is well known throughout Central Pennsylvania.

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. is building Central Pennsylvania for the Twenty-First Century. As a general contractor, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. oversees every aspect of construction. General construction services by our own work force include demolition, excavation, concrete and steel erection, carpentry and carpentry-related trades, metal stud and drywall work, landscaping and painting along with supervising and coordinating electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning work and then performing contract maintenance of the finished structure. 

For commercial, educational, institutional and industrial structures and also multi-family dwellings, no job is too large, no need too small. With dedication to excellence, every job of any size, large or small, gets the same attention to detail and unexcelled quality of workmanship.

In brief, Leonard S. Fiore started the firm when furloughed from the Altoona Car Shops in 1954, doing home construction and remodeling. He expanded into commercial construction in 1957 and incorporated in 1966. Involving family members in key management, the firm today employs up to 300 skilled and dedicated workmen and conducts up to $50 million worth of business annually.

Awards and Recognition

Altoona Streetscape
Project Wins 1997 Concrete Award

Along with being an attraction within itself, the Omni-stone Streetscape project is also part of a multi-faceted revitalization of downtown Altoona. This first phase of the project, which took twelve months to complete, has won 2nd place in the prestigious Concrete Pavement Award. Leonard S. Fiore, General Contractor, was part of a team of professionals who won the national award.

Overall design was created by Icon Architecture of Boston, Massachusetts. Pelligrini Engineering Inc. of Altoona, PA did the final design and engineering and East Penn Pavement Co. of Slatington handled the installation. The Landscaping Products Division of R.I. Lampus Co. provided the 32,000 square feet of Omni-stone.

The award-winning project includes a plaza area, new sidewalks, lighting and plantings. Because the City of Altoona has long been a hub for the Pennsylvania Railroad, the concrete paver design and patterning replicates the line’s keystone. 


The pavers help to give the appearance of a larger plaza by extending out of the plaza area across the street and onto the adjacent sidewalk. By using the paving stones, the crosswalks could be delineated without the use of paint. They also allow the warping of the surface for ramps. The project continued in 1998 and 1999 with the installation of more Omni-stone.

Pennsylvania Quality Initiative
Highway Support / Enhancement Award
Presented To
Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.
S.R. 9900, Section PED
Thirteenth Street Pedestrian Crossovers
Blair County
March 30, 2000
 

Pennsylvania Quality Initiative
Transit Award
Presented To
Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.
Joseph M. McDade Trade & Transit Intermodal 
Centre Project
March 30, 2000
 

LSF Construction Projects Earn Top State Quality Awards

Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. has been honored with two top Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Awards for the Thirteenth Street Pedestrian Crossovers in Altoona and for the Joseph M. McDade Trade & Transit Centre in Williamsport.

 "We are deeply honored that the excellence we build into every project is recognized by such a prestigious award," said vice president Richard Fiore, Sr. when accepting the awards from Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Bradley Mallory during recent ceremonies in Hershey, PA. 

The Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Awards Program is conducted annually to recognize quality achievements in the design and construction of highways and related transportation projects throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The 2000 Quality Awards Program has been developed to be a combination of the PennDOT Excellence in Transportation Design/Construction Awards and the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Awards. 

For the excellence of work on the Thirteenth Street Pedestrian Crossovers in Altoona, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. received the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Highway Support and Enhancement Award. The selection was based on a constructed project that involves aspects such as integration with the Transportation System, relationship to surroundings and community impact.

 Crossing the railroad mainline tracks and 10th Avenue, The Crossover is built in two sections spanning a total of 230 feet and weighing in excess of 90 tons. Connected to the Crossover from the Transportation Center is a 65-foot walkway traversing 13th Street which brings the total to 295 feet of elevated infrastructure.  Altoona Mayor Martin, in remarks dedicating the structure, made special note of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.'s efforts to coordinate construction while maintaining both highway traffic on 10th Avenue and rail traffic on the tracks that have separated Altoona for a century and a half.  Jim Meagher and Richard Jr., construction superintendents on the job, accompanied Richard Sr. to accept the PQI award. The Thirteenth Street Crossover was also a finalist in statewide competition for the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways Award. 

 The Leonard S. Fiore, Inc.-built Joseph M. McDade Trade and Transit Intermodal Centre Project in Williamsport received the Pennsylvania Quality Initiative Transit Award. Selection for this award is based on factors such as integration with the transportation system, design and construction challenges and community impact.

 Located at the corner of Third and Pine Streets in the heart of downtown Williamsport, the McDade Trade & Transit Centre consists of four components: the Trade & Transit Centre building, the Third Street Parking Garage, the L.L. Stearns & Sons Plaza and the reconstruction and substantial streetscape enhancement of Pine and Laurel Streets between Third and Fourth Streets. The total cost for the Trade & Transit Centre Building, L. L. Stearns & Sons Plaza, Pine & Laurel Street renovations and streetscape enhancements is $13.2 million.  Construction costs for the Third Street Parking Garage totaled $6.5 million. Britt Williams and Bill Dembowski served as superintendents of construction on the McDade Center.
 

Contractor Quality Award
  
  Dedication Date:  August 23, 2000
  Project: DuBois Area High School, DuBois Area School
  District
  Architect:  KTH Architects

  In recognition of superior quality workmanship at DuBois
  Area High School from the Foreman Program and
  Construction Managers. Inc. 

50th Anniversary Commemorative Art

On display in the Corporate Headquarters of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc., Altoona, PA
Size: 76” x 60” x 8”

This 3-dimensional work of art was commissioned by the Fiore family to celebrate the first 50 years of Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. and honor founders Leonard S. Sr. and Mary E. Fiore. The art is designed as an inverted pyramid, symbolizing the growth of the company and family, starting with a photo of the founders on their wedding day. With $35 worth of dimes and strong work ethic, they went on to build a dynamic enterprise that has contributed significantly to the regional construction industry and their local community. 

Major projects are photoengraved in metal on the border. The art’s unfinished crown of rebar, concrete and construction tools suggests the exciting future growth that is yet to come as the third generation family members join in leading the efforts of Leonard S. Fiore Inc.
A descriptive key was also created and installed as a plaque next to the art. 

50^th Anniversary Commemorative Art:  Copyright 2003 One Of A Kind, Inc. Art Studio,  Silver Spring, MD
Created by Lawrence M. Romorini, www.oneofakindinc.com .