Pat Rooney, the newly named Co-Chair of the BTEA, is a Vice President at Walsh Construction and leads its NY/NJ Heavy Civil Group. He is responsible for setting the strategy and marshaling the resources to deliver complex infrastructure projects for the firm’s clients. Over a career spanning more than three decades—including senior roles at Schiavone Construction and Railroad Construction Co.—he has helped build some of the region’s most technically demanding projects, from the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment and East Side Access to the Croton Tunnels and the Newtown Creek Treatment Facility.
In this month’s 5 Questions interview, Pat discusses his path to the BTEA through the General Contractors Association, his work on the Association’s Scaffold Law Reform Committee, and why New York’s union construction market—with its safe, well-trained workforce—remains a competitive advantage. He also shares what excites him about the region’s generational wave of infrastructure investment, from the Gateway Program to Penn Station Modernization, and what it will take to prepare the next generation of tradespeople and engineers for the future of the industry.
BTEA: Before we begin, could you tell our members a little about your role at Walsh Construction and some of the projects and experiences that have been most influential throughout your career?
I am currently a vice president for Walsh’s NY/NJ Heavy Civil Group where I am responsible for ensuring that our team has the correct strategy and resources to execute successful projects on behalf of our clients.
There have been so many projects that have been influential in my career. The ones that standout to me were the technically challenging ones where I worked side by side with incredible mentors, leaders, journeymen, and friends to develop innovative approaches to building infrastructure. Projects such as LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment, East Side Access, the NJ Turnpike Widening, Croton Tunnels, and Newtown Creek Treatment Facility are great examples of New York and New Jersey’s commitment to our complex infrastructure.
BTEA: What first drew you to become involved with BTEA, and how has your involvement evolved over the years — including your work on the Scaffold Law Reform Committee, one of the Association’s most important advocacy efforts?
I was introduced to the BTEA by way of the General Contractors Association. There are many common goals within the construction industry such as safety, legislative changes, regulations, and union workforce development. I feel that getting involved, increasing awareness of other industry viewpoints, and advocating as an industry as a united voice could help advance the industry.
It’s been a great experience to work with so many advocates on both sides of the discussion to introduce reform that both ensures the safety and rights of our union workforce while simultaneously introducing common sense changes and affordability. I have great respect for the federal and state legislators and the complex process that they must work within. It makes me want to revisit that “School House Rock” song about “I’m just a Bill!”
BTEA: New York remains one of the most ambitious construction markets in the world. What excites you most about the future of the industry, and what concerns you most?
The current construction market is one of the most exciting I have seen in a few years. There is an active commitment from so many stakeholders to rebuild and reimagine New York and our entire metropolitan region to ensure that we remain the capital of the world. The Gateway Program, 2nd Avenue Subway, JFK Redevelopment, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Willets Point Transformation, and Penn Station Modernization are the types of projects that change the lives and experiences of all New Yorkers, its diverse neighborhoods, and the millions of visitors that play a vital role in our economy. These are investments that literally last lifetimes!
And with reward comes responsibility. We must always invest in our people. Our engineers and union tradespeople are essential to ensuring that these projects come to fruition. Best in Class public schools, encouraging women and minorities into the math and sciences, and effective union apprenticeship programs are necessary to prepare for the future of our industry.
BTEA: In your view, what distinguishes union construction contractors and the union building trades in New York, and why is that partnership important to the industry’s success?
As a contractor, the reliability of having a safe and well-trained union work force with established wages and work rules allows for consistent expectations in the bid room and in the field. This is not the case in many other areas of the country where a unionized workforce remains unavailable.
The partnership between New York’s Union Construction Employers and their respective tradespeople allows thousands of workers and their families to earn and receive great healthcare and retirement benefits, unlike those less fortunate in the non-union markets.
BTEA: BTEA has expanded its work in recent years through advocacy, research, events, and new member initiatives. Where do you see the greatest opportunity for the Association to create value for members in the years ahead — and when you look back at the end of your tenure as Co-Chair, what would make you feel your time in the role was a success?
The BTEA is uniquely positioned to help coalesce the opinions, concerns, and needs of the union construction industry in New York. As an amalgamation of the leading New York construction associations, it has the ability to connect the strength of many voices and advocate for the industry as a whole on common issues such as the Scaffold Law.
My goal during my tenure is to earn the respect of my cohorts by advocating respectfully and responsibly for the union construction market with a focus on safety, market share, opening avenues for future constructors and engineers, and common-sense changes to local regulations and laws.