🔒O&G strives for construction excellence

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Any conversation about family business has to include Torrington construction services provider O&G Industries and the Oneglia family.

Now in its third generation of leadership — with the fourth eagerly getting more involved every day — the Oneglia name has been synonymous with O&G since the company was founded in 1923 by Andrew Oneglia and Flaviano Gervasini.

Perhaps not unsurprisingly to anyone who knows them, the Oneglias heap much praise and credit beyond those bearing the family name.

“The O&G family extends beyond the Oneglia family,” said Gregory Oneglia, vice chairman who has been with the company for 45 years. “Two hundred of our 1,000 employees are related to other members of the O&G family in some way. This includes direct relatives and second-generation O&G households working for the company. That's really a testament to sound family values. You wouldn't ask your son or daughter to work for a company that you didn't truly believe in.”

Grace Viera, an accounts-receivable supervisor for the past four years, said working for a family business allows employees to be involved with management and owners on a more personal level.

“You are treated like a valuable asset to the business and not just a number,” Viera said. “It's not uncommon to walk down the hall and be personally greeted by an owner, who at times will strike up a conversation and show that they are genuinely interested in what you have to say.”

Seth Duke, corporate marketing and communications manager, said he not only enjoys working for, but with, the Oneglia family.

“They've built a culture of leadership the old fashioned way,” Duke said. “They give you a job, and it comes with an opportunity to take the ball and run with it. What you do with it is up to you.”

With core products and services that include highway construction, building construction, construction materials and mason products, O&G is one of the largest school-construction contractors in the state. The company offers mason products, including brick and natural stone products through its Mason Supply Stores and Earth Products Showcase locations.

In the past year, O&G has seen its building division continue to expand. The company completed its 230th school construction project, including the new state-of-the-art, aerospace-themed CREC (Capital Region Education Council) Academy of Aerospace in Windsor that sits in the approach zone to Bradley International Airport. O&G also finished the Arnhold Emergency Department at New Milford Hospital that will serve 20,000 patients annually, and an operating room at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.

In addition, the company completed work on a major piece of the I-95/I-91/Route 34 Interchange in New Haven for the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, being renamed from the Q Bridge.

“This is a critical piece in what has been touted as one of the most complex transportation initiatives Connecticut has ever undertaken,” Oneglia said.

 O&G's multi-faceted business has enabled the company to reach a wide ranging customer base with projects that include everything from state-funded civil construction, public and private schools, universities, healthcare facilities, industrial manufacturers and corporations to municipalities, contractors and retail customers.

Oneglia said it is that broad base of products and services that sets O&G apart from the competition.

“This is a direct result of our family leadership,” Oneglia said. “Each member of the family is responsible for a different aspect of the business. Each one of O&G's lines of business is overseen by a member of our family, who is directly involved on a day-to-day basis. For our clients, that means they can always count on us to deliver.”

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