< PreviousMcEntee's teenage years in Ireland were characterized by a strong work ethic and a drive to succeed. Growing up in a large family, Gerry was expected to contribute to his family's welfare. As soon as he was old enough, McEntee took after- school jobs, and he quickly developed a taste for earning. At the age of 16, Gerry made a pivotal decision to leave school and pursue a regular income. This decision led him to work in a factory close to home, where he witnessed the long- term effects of complacency and lack of ambition. McEntee recalls, “I was working in the factory beside my house. I was just loading furniture on the trucks and one day I was talking to an older guy who has been there forever. I said ‘How long have you been working here?’ And he said, ‘45 years.” I thought to myself, ‘Oh my! If I don't get out of here, that's gonna be me.’ So that day I was walking home. It was a lovely, sunny day, and there was a plane going overhead and I just said to myself, there and then, ‘I'm getting on one of them!’”. Motivated by a desire for a brighter future, Gerry made the bold move to immigrate to the United States at the age of 21, driven by a determination to achieve success and fulfill his dreams. Gerry McEntee's journey into the construction sector began in 1993 when he moved to the United States. Starting as a laborer and bartender, he quickly immersed himself in the industry, learning from every opportunity that came his way. After gaining valuable experience with various companies, Gerry established his first company in 1999. His journey from humble beginnings in Ireland to becoming the founder of L.I.C Builders is a testament to his resilience, work ethic, and unwav- ering belief in the power of hard work to overcome adversity. L.I.C Builders emerged as a culmination of Gerry's dedication and proficiency in the construction field. With a top-notch team of skilled tradespeople and estimators, the company prides itself on its ability to self-perform tasks, ensuring quality con- trol and timely project completion. The team's commitment to excellence is evident in its meticulous attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving. Under McEntee's visionary leadership, L.I.C Builders has become synonymous with innovation and quality, garnering the trust and respect of clients and peers alike. Through its unwavering commitment to excellence, L.I.C continues to be | 40 JUNE 2024a trusted partner for clients seeking high-quality construction services. As the company looks to the future, it remains hum- ble but steadfast in its mission to deliver superior results and uphold its legacy of excellence in the construction industry. L.I.C Builders' success can be attributed to its forward-think- ing approach and commitment to customer satisfaction. By embracing new technologies and materials, the company delivers superior results while adhering to strict timelines and budgets. “Our philosophy is: every day is a learning day. We take on something new and we work hard to become the best at it,” says McEntee. For their clients seeking reli- able and skilled construction services, L.I.C promises to be a transparent, trustworthy, and dependable partner. Focused on quality, safety, and efficiency, the company strives to set new standards in the construction industry. L.I.C Builders sets itself apart from other construction com- panies through its innovative approach and commitment to providing comprehensive solutions. One key factor that distinguishes L.I.C is its ability to tackle complex challenges and find practical, cost-effective solutions where others may struggle. This problem-solving prowess allows the company to deliver projects with unmatched versatility, regardless of the building requirements, zoning laws, or budget constraints involved. L.I.C Builders takes a proactive approach to work. By meticu- lously planning and anticipating potential issues, the company is often able to catch mistakes before they occur. This not only saves time, but also prevents costly change orders, ultimately leading to a smoother and more efficient construction pro- cess. The company’s diversification into new areas, such as glass office fronts and partitions, further sets it apart from its competitors. Its strategic expansion has enabled the company to offer a streamlined, full-service experience, simplifying proj- ect coordination and elevating the customer experience. L.I.C Builders has recently completed several high-profile projects that showcase the company's expertise and ver- satility in the construction industry. One of these projects is the St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, where L.I.C Builders served as the exterior envelope specialists for a ground-up new medical facility building. The company designed, engineered, and built the entire exterior envelope, including load-bearing GWB walls, exterior ACMP panels, and PAC-CLAD Kynar fin- ish metal panels. L.I.C Builders also installed windows and waterproofing around them, demonstrating its comprehen- sive approach to construction. “L.I.C Builders sets itself apart from other construction companies through its innovative approach and commitment to providing comprehensive solutions.” | 41 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAnother notable project is the Terminal Warehouse in Jamaica, NY, where L.I.C Builders was responsible for all interior walls, columns, and ceilings of a new warehouse building for Terminal Logistics. The company also designed, engineered, and built the entire exterior envelope, including load-bearing GWB walls and PAC-CLAD Kynar finish metal panels. L.I.C Builders handled waterproofing, exterior insula- tion, and the installation of all windows, showcasing its ability to deliver complex projects from start to finish. At Wagner College's new sports complex in Staten Island, L.I.C Builders custom-built YKK aluminum storefront glass entry doors and windows for the new campus football facil- ities, highlighting its attention to detail and commitment to quality craftsmanship. Another exciting project to note is the company's involve- ment with Eastdil Commercial Real Estate Agency on W 57th St in New York City. This project showcases L.I.C’s expertise in office renovations, including the installation of special wooden fixtures, waffle ceilings for sound absorption, and various glass and mirror fixtures for restroom areas. Eastdil exemplifies L.I.C’s expertise in combining beautiful design with function and space usage. The current market conditions have posed challenges for L.I.C Builders, as with many other companies, leading to a slowdown in business. Factors such as the upcoming elec- tion year and global events have contributed to a sense of hesitancy among clients, resulting in fewer major projects in hand. Despite these challenges, L.I.C Builders is not sitting idly by. The team is busy preparing for the expected upturn by honing their skills and best practices on the products and ser- vices they have brought on board and pitching and pricing for projects upcoming in the season. “Right now, we are working hard to fine-tune our work with our new product lines. As we perfect our glass and metal work, we will add new lines and products to continue to offer our clients an expanded service. We don’t want to run to the end. We want to take careful, cal- culated steps to deliver excellent solutions to our customers,” says McEntee. This strategic approach ensures that when the market rallies, L.I.C Builders will be well equipped to take on bigger, more challenging contracts with a broader scope. By offering clients a full-service experience and being ready to meet their evolving needs, L.I.C Builders is positioning itself for future success. | 42 JUNE 2024| 43 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY MEGHAN BARTON I s the future of life safety seamlessly integrated? The merger of NSG Life Safety and Norel Service creates a groundbreak- ing end-to-end service model in New England, combining decades of expertise with innovative solutions to meet evolv- ing market demands and set new industry standards. Founded in 1974 by Thomas Norton, an industrious elec- trician, Norel Service has evolved into a leading life safety service company, deeply embedded in the Boston area and across New England. Over its fifty-year history, Norel has specialized in servicing and maintaining life safety systems, Dan Chauvin President of NSG George Aguiar President of Norel | 44 JUNE 2024strategically positioning itself as a post-installation service provider, complementing the pre-construction and installa- tion expertise of companies like NSG Life Safety. NSG Life Safety is a systems integrator focused on life safety, integrated security, and critical communication systems in the construction market. Life safety encompasses the systems in a building that control fire detection, voice evacuation, and mass notification. The company was founded by Dan Chauvin, current President of NSG and Principal with Norel, who brings over thirty years of industry experience with companies like Simplex and SIGNET. NSG specializes in identifying opportu- nities, engineering solutions, and executing pre-construction services for life safety systems, leveraging Chauvin’s expertise in product innovation and market needs. NSG Life Safety excels by collaborating with architects, engineers, and contrac- tors from the initial to the final stages of construction projects, delivering tailored solutions and integrating life safety systems into both new and existing buildings. With one fortuitous phone call, an exceptional opportunity was set in motion. A pivotal discussion with George Aguiar, current President at Norel, introduced Chauvin to Autocall™, a brand of fire detection systems by Johnson Controls that combines advanced technology with proven performance to ensure people and facilities are safe every day. Recognizing the potential to break away from closed distribution models, Chauvin championed this line, crucial for fire detection, voice evacuation, and mass notification. This marked NSG's entry into the market with a focus on open distribution—a strategy that enabled NSG to offer flexible, customer-centric solutions and set the groundwork for its future growth. | 45 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe merger between NSG Life Safety and Norel Service marks a significant step forward, merging NSG's technical prowess with Norel's extensive service infrastructure to redefine life safety solutions across New England. This strategic alliance delivers a full spectrum of services from initial design to ongoing maintenance, leveraging advanced safety technol- ogies to set new industry standards and meet the evolving needs of the construction and safety sectors. “I think the way we're executing this strategy is definitely having a disruptive impact in the New England marketplace,” says David Raftery, Chief Revenue Officer for both entities. “You just look at the growth that our business is experiencing and clearly the market wants this level of service across the full life cycle of a building and its life safety technology. We hope it sets a new bar for the industry where expertise mat- ters because that's what we're investing in.” Together, NSG and Norel become a comprehensive life safety solutions provider, integrating pre-construction system design with robust post-installation service. This partnership ensures that all life safety systems are not only up-to-date and compliant, but also consistently reliable. By offering an uninterrupted lifecycle solution, the merged entity simplifies the client experience and stands out as a leading full-service provider in a market where such extensive capabilities are exceedingly rare. “There are few providers in our market that can offer the level of expertise on life safety solutions from cradle to grave that we can. We have experts in design and implementation with NSG and the Norel team is phenomenal at delivering service with its response times, its ability to make corrections quickly, and its ability to detect deficiencies. Now, together, with our combined resources, we offer the highest level of life safety solutions and service possible,” says Chauvin. “What's been liberating for us is not having to worry about projects and whether they're engineered and put together properly. Working with the experts at NSG that has been taken off our plate and we can focus on providing industry-leading service and support from the day we turn that fire alarm on till the day it needs to be replaced. That's something that's enabled the team at Norel to focus on being the best at what we do (service) at our core,” says Aguiar. The synergistic partnership allows them to leverage each other’s strengths, optimize operations, and attract a broader client base by meeting diverse needs across different phases of the construction and maintenance process, boosting their competitive advantage in the region. The integration of Norel and NSG has significantly enhanced the capabilities and culture of both entities, creating a more unified and skilled workforce. Initially, Norel, with its hands-on workforce, and NSG, with its technologically advanced team, faced challenges merging their distinct cultures. This cultural integration necessitated adjustments and provided an oppor- tunity for both groups to elevate their professional standards and technical skills. This partnership pushed Norel's team to engage with more complex systems and higher-end client environments, a shift from their traditional projects. Such exposure broadened their expertise and increased the value they brought to the table, encouraging professional growth and adaptability. NSG benefitted from Norel's robust, practical insights into system implementation and maintenance, ensuring that theoretical designs were feasible and practical in real-world applications. By facing these challenges together, both companies have fostered a more comprehensive, adaptable, and skilled work- force, well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the Explore an Axis Experience Center https://bit.ly/4aLEXZM See, hear, and touch the latest technologies. | 46 JUNE 2024industry. This synergy has improved their internal operations and enhanced their service offerings to clients, proving the integration a strategic success in aligning their operations and cultural values toward common goals. Norel Service and NSG are now strategically navigating their partnership with a client-centric approach, emphasizing a seamless transition and unified branding. They are launching a rebranding effort that includes a consolidated website and a new logo that symbolically merges both entities, repre- senting them as a single, cohesive unit to the market. This thoughtful integration ensures that, to their clients, the part- nership appears fluid and integrated, maintaining continuity in service quality and client interactions. By carefully planning this merger and its public face, they aim to foster client trust and satisfaction, reinforcing their commitment to providing exceptional service under a united brand identity. Under their new partnership, one of NSG and Norel's banner projects is the River Court Condominiums in Cambridge, MA. This development is three 15-story ultra-luxury, residential buildings connected by a three-story garage. The project showcased their ability to work closely with engineers to refine designs and execute the installation of a $1 million+ system seamlessly. Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions, the team delivered exceptional results, earning high praise from the owner. Their performance led to a six-figure recurring service agreement for all life safety systems in the building, including sprinklers and suppression systems. This type of project is the quintessential model of the class of contracts the partnership will continue to pursue. Another notable project for NSG and Norel was the University of Massachusetts Amherst dormitory complex, boasting an impressive 800-bed capacity. The team collaborated closely with the design and construction teams, adhering to strict code requirements and ensuring a seamless implementa- tion. This project culminated in a very substantial service agreement, underlining their success in delivering top-notch solutions for large-scale projects. The dormitory complex stands as a testament to their expertise in handling complex installations and their ability to provide ongoing maintenance and support for such critical facilities. NSG and Norel recently completed a retrofit contract at Mount Wachusett Community College. This project involved the installation of a brand-new network system serving the entire campus, including fiber optics, voice, and mass notification systems. The team collaborated closely with a contractor and engineer, ensuring a high-end technical solution that met the college's needs. The successful execution of this project resulted in upgraded crucial campus facilities and positioned Norel and NSG as leading providers of continued service through the life-cycle of significant educa- tional infrastructure. Mount Wachusett Community College | 47 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNSG and Norel's successful completion of the Cleveland Rudman Federal Courthouse project in Concord, NH, demon- strates their capability to deliver complex, high-value solu- tions for critical federal buildings. The project involved the design and installation of a state-of-the-art fire alarm system. Despite facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, NSG and Norel fulfilled the requirements of the General Services Administration (GSA) for this multi-million-dollar project. The recognition as a Gold Star provider by the GSA further validates their expertise and commitment to excellence in the industry. This achievement enhances their reputation and opens up new opportunities for future projects within the federal government sector. NSG and Norel have secured two major projects in Boston that are currently underway and present significant techni- cal and logistical challenges. The first project involves the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Laboratories in Jamaica Plain, known for its innovative and experimental work. This project includes a Tier 2 design collaboration with electrical engineers, material acquisition, logistics, pro- gramming, and a multiphase implementation spanning five years with six phases. The complexity of this project lies in ensuring the new system's compatibility with the existing infrastructure while meeting the stringent standards of both state and local authorities. The second project is the Shattuck Hospital in downtown Boston, which presents a unique challenge due to its dual nature as a prison hospital. With one-third of the facility dedi- cated to detention and two-thirds functioning as a traditional hospital, NSG and Norel must design and implement a secu- rity system that meets the complex requirements of both environments. This project includes the installation of lock- ing mechanisms, hardware, biometric devices, closed-circuit video surveillance, critical communications, two-way rescue communications for the building, and facial recognition tech- nology, making it one of their most comprehensive security solutions to date. So, what is the future of NSG Life Safety and Norel? Accord- ing to Chauvin, “Our future is intelligent, calculated growth.” The team emphasizes the importance of continuing to do what they do best while striving to improve. They aim to expand their capabilities without overextending themselves, ensuring they maintain their core competencies. The key, as they see it, is to approach growth methodically, avoiding unnecessary risks that could harm their reputation or oper- ations. By keeping a careful eye on their strategy and main- taining a steady pace, they aim to continue their success and further establish themselves as leaders in the industry. The partnership between Norel Service and NSG is poised to revolutionize the life safety industry in New England. By offering an end-to-end solution, from design to maintenance, they are setting a new standard for service and expertise. This strategic merger not only meets the market's demand for comprehensive life safety solutions but raises the bar for “The partnership aims to deliver consistent, high-quality service that sets them apart in the industry.” | 48 JUNE 2024industry expertise and customer service. With a focus on quality and responsiveness, the partnership aims to deliver consistent, high-quality service that sets them apart in the industry. Their vision is to become synonymous with quality and reliability, setting a new benchmark for the life safety industry as a whole. | 49 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >