ENDICOTT — Bernard J. (Bernie) Marchuska graduated from Marywood University in Scranton in 1993 with a degree in biology and was admitted to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marchuska chose building medical offices rather than practicing medicine, while retaining the holistic, osteopathic view of a hands-on approach in dealing with patients […]
ENDICOTT — Bernard J. (Bernie) Marchuska graduated from Marywood University in Scranton in 1993 with a degree in biology and was admitted to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Marchuska chose building medical offices rather than practicing medicine, while retaining the holistic, osteopathic view of a hands-on approach in dealing with patients (in this case, clients). So, he opened a construction business after graduation.
Marchuska, a member (president) of Marchuska Brothers Construction (MBC), LLC, builds more than medical offices. He and his brother Justin also include commercial offices, airport renovations, educational facilities, retail plazas, and residences in their portfolio. The company is located in a 5,000-square-foot headquarters building at 436 Airport Road in Endicott.
MBC and its subsidiaries — Marchuska Glass, LLC and Marchuska Productions, LLC, a real-estate development company — employ 20, including the owners.
“The companies generated $5 million in 2012, and we anticipate the same volume in 2013,” says Bernie Marchuska. “Twenty- five percent of our work is residential and the remaining 75 percent is commercial, which includes our government projects … MBC buys only 17 percent of the Marchuska Glass production while outside customers buy the [remainder] … The glass business is growing 15 to 20 percent annually, with demand for store-front glass, insulated-glass units, custom shower doors, glass enclosures, and, of course, glass repair.”
In addition to its construction and glass business, MBC also consults on land development and building projects, produces custom cabinetry and millwork, specializes in flood damage, and contracts with national corporations to maintain their premises. “For the past 15 years, we have repaired local restaurant chains like Ruby Tuesday and T.G.I. Friday’s, as well as large retailers like Barnes & Noble, Wegmans, and Pizzeria Uno … MBC has three people on staff dedicated to respond … They can fix any problem,” says Bernie Marchuska.
MBC markets to an area 100 miles west, north, and east of its headquarters. To date, Marchuska has not focused on work in Pennsylvania. “We’re very aggressive in our marketing … not through advertising but in our pricing and scheduling … Our work comes through word-of-mouth, with 80 percent repeat business,” says Marchuska.
Bernie Marchuska brings a number of specialty skills as well as long experience in the construction business.
“My father was an industrial-arts teacher. Every summer, I helped him rehab apartments. I was cheap labor … I’m also a registered locksmith, a specialist in making 18th-century Philadelphia furniture, and knowledgeable in plumbing, electrical [work], carpentry, roofing-and-siding, and flooring,” he avers.
The Marchuska team
Bernie and his brother Justin are equal partners in all the companies’ ventures. Justin’s background is in construction management for both commercial and residential projects. He holds a degree in building-construction technology.
Melody Harford and Alton (Tony) T. Butkewich round out the MBC management team. Harford is the office manager who holds a degree in financial services from Broome Community College and had 19 years of banking and management with the former Binghamton Savings Bank. Butkewich holds degrees in industrial and mechanical engineering from SUNY and from Pennsylvania State University. He performs both estimating and project-support functions.
Commenting on key company vendors, Bernie Marchuska says “… we work closely with a number of banks, but in particular with Peoples Neighborhood Bank (headquartered in Hallstead, Penn.) … MBC also relies on Hinman, Howard & Kattel, LLP. and Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP. [Binghamton law firms] for support in our real-estate contracts, corporate work, and bonding … And we rely on Dannible & McKee, LLP (Syracuse) for our accounting.”
Marchuska’s only regret is that he spends too much time “… handling paperwork when I would rather be building something and meeting with clients.” The hands-on approach that Marchuska brought to the business when he incorporated 20 years ago is still the driving force behind the company’s success.
Contact Poltenson at npoltenson@tgbbj.com