Across the Northeastern United States, from Massachusetts to Long Island and into the heart of New York City, Shepardville Construction has built a name synonymous with precision, craftsmanship, and reliability. The company’s hallmark is high-end interior finish carpentry; millwork, doors, trim, and custom installations that turn structures into homes, workplaces, and living communities. Yet the company’s success has also brought an unexpected challenge: finding enough skilled people to meet the demand.
“If there’s one message we want to get across, it’s that we’re always hiring,” says Mark Belanger, Director of Operations. “Our workforce is getting older, nearing retirement, and it’s harder to find people.”
This challenge isn’t unique to Shepardville. Across the construction sector, particularly in interior and finish carpentry, a shortage of skilled labor is tightening schedules and straining project capacity. But Shepardville is tackling the problem head-on with an ambitious recruitment drive, new outreach to schools, and a commitment to showing young people that craftsmanship still has a future.
Based in Plainville, Massachusetts and Naugatuck, Connecticut, with a satellite office in New Hampshire, Shepardville Construction has been serving the U.S. Northeast since its founding in 1991. Now a subsidiary of UFP Industries, the company offers turnkey interior finish carpentry services across most of New England, northern New Jersey, Rhode Island, Long Island, and New York City.
Its scope of work is vast: furnishing and installing custom millwork, prefabricated doors, frames, and hardware, as well as kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, vanities, and closet shelving. The company’s hallmark is high-quality execution delivered through a lean, highly experienced team supported by a flexible network of subcontractors.
“We work for a lot of general contractors throughout the Northeast,” Belanger says. “We keep setting targets and then having to exceed them. It always amazes me when people talk about a housing shortage, because we see a backlog that is plentiful.”
Even with annual sales of roughly $15-$20 million, Shepardville maintains a compact in-house team of about 30 employees. To meet surging demand, it flexes its labor capacity by drawing on subcontractors — sometimes bringing total manpower to 200 people on active projects. “It allows us to handle more work without losing control over quality,” Belanger explains. “Our technical and high-end work is always done in-house, but subcontractors help us scale on the more standardized and production items.”
That blend of efficiency and expertise has helped Shepardville deliver consistent results for three decades. Its principal markets include colleges and universities, multi-family housing, custom millwork projects, and senior and assisted-living facilities. Each sector calls for meticulous craftsmanship, scheduling precision, and the ability to coordinate with large general contractors on complex projects, skills that have become the company’s trademark.
To keep pace with growth, Shepardville is investing heavily in recruitment and education. As of this autumn, the company is running a major outreach campaign that emphasizes the opportunities in finish carpentry, a trade that combines artistry with technology.
A recent ad through LinkedIn directed at young jobseekers promised “specialized and in-demand work” using the latest digital tools for estimating and scheduling, alongside strong career advancement potential and “a workforce that takes pride in creation.”
Those aren’t just slogans. Shepardville is backing up its words by partnering with local high schools, offering co-ops, internships, and early training opportunities that introduce students to the craft and its career paths. “We want people to see this as a long-term profession,” Belanger says. “If you like to build, if you like to see something tangible at the end of the day, there’s a place for you here.”
Shepardville’s story began modestly. Founded in 1991 under John Adams, the company established itself through a foreman-led approach emphasizing accountability and pride in workmanship. By 2005, Shepardville had grown rapidly, acquiring AW Construction of Wolcott, Connecticut to expand capacity and regional reach. Later, its acquisition by what is now UFP Industries brought new resources and stability, allowing it to pursue larger, more complex work while maintaining its small-team culture.
“The nice thing about being corporate-owned is that we have the capital to succeed,” Belanger says. “We never fail on a project — ever. If we make a mistake, we finish the project no matter the cost. That’s a huge difference, because other contractors may have to walk away when they run out of money.”
Being part of a publicly traded company also gives Shepardville the ability to pivot with market demand. Whether it’s a new university housing complex, a senior living community, or a large-scale mixed-use development, Shepardville has the backing to deliver at scale without sacrificing detail.
The company’s work can be seen across the region in several high-profile developments. At Station Yards in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, Shepardville has contributed its craftsmanship to one of New York’s most ambitious mixed-use communities. Managed by TriTec Building Company, the project reimagines a 53-acre site into a transit-oriented neighborhood of 1,450 homes, 360,000 square feet of commercial space, 190,000 square feet of retail, and 60,000 square feet of hospitality. Two phases are complete, with a third now underway.
“It’s very popular,” Belanger says. “A lot of these general contractors are building big complexes next to railroad stations for public trains to New York City. They’re basically self-contained communities; residents can park for the train and go right into the city without needing a car.”
In Torrington, Connecticut, Shepardville completed extensive millwork at Keystone Place at Newbury Brook, a senior living community offering independent, assisted, and memory-care residences. The latest expansion added 39 apartments and 36,754 square feet of new space. “These buildings are getting more complex,” Belanger says. “They have exercise rooms, lounges, and many types of spaces. We handle all the high-end finish work in those areas.”
Back on Long Island, Shoregate in Bay Shore is another showcase project, a 416-unit luxury apartment community located between a commuter train station and Montauk Highway’s vibrant Main Street. Shepardville handled all interior carpentry and millwork, including door installation, bath accessories, closet shelving, and trim.
Working once again with TriTec, the company’s repeat partnership underscores its reputation for reliability. “Developers like TriTec are reshaping communities with modern, sustainable construction,” Belanger says. Shoregate includes EV-charging stations and renewable-energy features, reflecting Shepardville’s growing role in projects that balance comfort with environmental responsibility.
Belanger credits the company’s flexibility and loyalty to its people for its continued success. “We’re proud of our crews,” he says. “They’re highly skilled, and they care about what they do. We may have a small core team, but with our subcontractor network and our leadership in the field, we can take on just about any project that comes our way.”
The company’s structure also allows it to scale responsibly. Shepardville’s own employees handle the technical, custom, and high-end finish work, while trusted subcontractors supplement production on standardized components like doors and cabinetry. This model enables Shepardville to maintain quality while adapting quickly to shifting schedules or labour availability.
Beyond logistics and business structure, Belanger sees Shepardville’s strength in its people. “What keeps us moving is pride,” he says. “Every project we complete represents our team’s skill, commitment, and professionalism.”
“Every project we complete represents our team’s skill, commitment, and professionalism.”
As the demand for housing, mixed-use spaces, and senior living facilities continues to rise, Shepardville Construction remains focused on both growth and craftsmanship. The company’s recruitment efforts and educational partnerships aim to ensure that the next generation of builders is ready to carry the craft forward.
“We’ve always built our reputation on trust and follow-through,” Belanger says. “We’ll continue to grow, but we’ll never do it at the expense of quality. Our clients know that when Shepardville is on a project, it’s going to be done right.”
From high-end millwork to large-scale multi-family housing, Shepardville Construction’s story is one of steady evolution; a company that continues to expand its reach while holding true to the craft that built it. And as Belanger reminds the next generation of tradespeople: “There’s no better feeling than seeing what you’ve built. We need more people who want to feel that.”
