Karen Grando, newly elected Treasurer of the BTEA, is the Founder & CEO of International Asbestos Removal, Inc. (IAR), the family-owned, WBE-certified environmental firm she launched in 1987 and has since grown into a company that has completed more than 20,000 projects — asbestos, lead, and mold remediation, demolition, firestopping, and mechanical and plumbing insulation for commercial and industrial facilities. IAR was named ENR New York’s 2022 Specialty Contractor of the Year, and its portfolio includes projects for CUNY Baruch College, Grand Central Terminal, and Moynihan Station. Karen also serves as President of the Environmental Contractors Association and sits on the board of Northwell Health South Shore University Hospital.
In this 5 Questions interview, Karen talks about what’s changed since for women in the field — and what she tells the next generation about earning a seat at the table. She also revisits the project that has stayed with her most: not a landmark job, but IAR’s work helping Long Island families rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. Karen makes the case for why environmental remediation deserves to be better understood, speaks candidly about the real cost of doing business in New York, and explains why she keeps taking on industry leadership roles — most recently as BTEA Treasurer.
BTEA: As a woman in a nontraditional role in this industry, what was it like when you started out thirty years ago? How has the landscape changed since then, and what would you want to share with women coming up in the field today?
Thirty years ago, the industry was a little like the Wild Wild West. There were fewer rules, less structure, less accountability, and certainly less oversight. Today, there are rules and regulations governing almost every aspect of what we do, from safety requirements and contractor qualifications to payment terms, retention, insurance, and compliance.
For women, I think there are also many more opportunities and resources available today than when I started. My advice to women coming into the industry is to get involved and stay connected. Especially in New York City and New York State, there are tremendous organizations and programs supporting women-owned businesses and women in construction.
The more involved you are, the more people you meet, and the more knowledge you gain. Knowledge gives you confidence, and relationships give you opportunities. Don’t be afraid to get involved, ask questions, and make sure you have a seat at the table.
BTEA: Looking back over everything IAR has built, is there one project that stands out as the most memorable — and what made it that way?
Being based in New York has given us the opportunity to work on some incredible and iconic projects (Madison Square Garden, the World Trade Center, Yankee Stadium, and most recently the new Buffalo Bills stadium). We performed the abatement at the old Bills stadium and completed the insulation work at the new stadium. It’s pretty amazing to be able to look at landmarks like these and know that IAR was part of them. But if I had to choose the work that meant the most to me personally, it would be what we did after Hurricane Sandy.
The destruction on Long Island was devastating. It wasn’t something we were watching on television, it was happening to our families, our friends, our employees, and our communities. We were able to use what we do as a company to help people clean up, restore their homes, and begin putting their lives back together.
We were doing our job, but it didn’t feel like just another project. It was personal, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
BTEA: Environmental remediation is a part of the industry that a lot of people don’t fully understand. What do you want people to know about the actual importance of that work?
I think people sometimes hear “environmental services” and don’t realize how directly our work affects people’s health, safety, and quality of life.
Our work includes mechanical insulation, which helps conserve energy and reduce fuel consumption, as well as asbestos, mold, and lead remediation. Right now, we’re performing a very large lead-remediation project for the New York City Housing Authority. Residents are temporarily relocated while we go into apartments and safely remove the lead hazards.
Lead is a perfect example of why environmental remediation matters. Loose or deteriorating lead paint can be extremely dangerous, particularly for young children. Exposure can affect a child’s learning, development, hearing, nervous system, and overall health. Long-term exposure can also have serious health consequences for adults.
So, when we remediate an apartment, a school, a hospital, or any other building, we’re not simply removing hazardous material. We’re creating a safer environment for the people who live and work there. That’s the part of our industry I wish more people understood.
BTEA: IAR operates not just in New York, but also in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. How does the cost of doing business in New York compare to those other markets, and how has your overhead here changed over the years?
New York is unquestionably our most expensive market in which to operate. Insurance is probably the clearest example. Depending on the coverage and type of work, our insurance costs in New York can be five or six times what we experience in markets like Massachusetts or Pennsylvania.
But it isn’t just insurance. Auto insurance, utilities, parking, labor-related costs, compliance requirements, and the general cost of operating a business are all significantly higher here.
Over the years, the amount of overhead required simply to operate and remain compliant has grown tremendously. You need more people dedicated to safety, compliance, insurance, documentation, technology, and administration than you did years ago.
New York provides tremendous opportunity and it’s one of the reasons we’ve been successful here for so many years, but there is definitely a significant cost associated with doing business in this market.
BTEA: As President of the ECA and through your work with the Insulation Contractors Association, you’ve spent years in industry leadership — and now you’ve added Treasurer of BTEA to that list. What’s driven you to keep taking on these leadership roles, and what perspective do you bring to this new seat?
It really goes back to what I said earlier about staying involved and staying connected. That has been one of the most valuable things I’ve done throughout my career.
No matter how many years you’ve been in business, there’s always something new to learn and always something you can improve. Being President of the ECA and now serving as Treasurer of BTEA gives me the opportunity to sit at the table with some incredibly knowledgeable and accomplished people in our industry.
What I’ve learned is that whether you’re an environmental contractor, an insulation contractor, an electrical contractor, or a general contractor, we face many of the same challenges. Hearing how other people approach those challenges gives you ideas and perspectives that you can bring back to your own company.
I think that’s even more important today. So much of our bidding, estimating, and communication happens electronically that we don’t interact face-to-face with our customers and industry counterparts as much as we once did. These organizations create those connections.
I hope the perspective I bring is that we’re better when we work together. Sharing information, discussing problems, and learning from one another doesn’t just make us better contractors, it can make our entire industry stronger and more successful.