January 2026 New York Building Foundation Board of Governor Nominees
January 2026 New York Building Foundation Board of Governor Nominees
Steven R. Alessio
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Sweet Construction Group
An architect licensed by the state of New York, Steven Alessio, President/CEO, has over forty-five years of construction experience, having begun his professional career at Sweet Group in 1980, serving as an intern while still in college. Mr. Alessio was instrumental in the firm’s growth to its present size and stature in the industry while maintaining the standards of quality construction for competitive pricing upon which the firm was founded. As the principal in charge of Sweet Group LLC project team for all major endeavors, he spearheads the team in all phases, from planning and budgeting through project completion.
John O’Hare
Managing Director, Building Contractors Association
John O’Hare was elected managing director of the Building Contractors Association in February 2017. He assumed this position after eighteen years as the assistant managing director of the organization, where he was involved in all aspects of the BCA’s operations.
In his role as managing director of the BCA, Mr. O’Hare’s responsibilities include management of the experienced staff of the organization and addressing issues of concern to the more than 180 construction businesses that are members of the BCA, which range from some of the world’s largest construction managers and general contractors to specialty subcontractors.
Mr. O’Hare leads the BCA’s negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements with building trades unions in the industry in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties. Founded in 1933, the BCA and its members are actively involved in the full range of major public and private building projects throughout the New York City metropolitan area.
Jay Quackenbush
Director of Construction, Swinerton- New York Division
Jay Quackenbush is Director of Construction for Swinerton’s New York Division, where he supports the company’s continued growth and expanding presence in the region. He brings more than two decades of experience and has managed over $1.5 billion in construction projects in New York City, with additional work in major markets including Chicago and Miami. In his role, Mr. Quackenbush is responsible for advancing the division’s business plan by raising brand awareness, pursuing new opportunities, optimizing operations, and supporting local leadership. His deep knowledge of New York City building standards and experience leading teams of more than 150 professionals position him to successfully deliver complex, logistically challenging projects.
Prior to joining Swinerton, Mr. Quackenbush played a key role in Shawmut Design & Construction’s expansion into new markets and product types and previously helped establish Consigli Construction Management’s New York presence, including the opening of its Albany office. Since entering the industry in 2000, he has led projects across institutional, academic, healthcare, life science, hospitality, retail, and residential sectors.
Marilisa Stigliano
Chief Operating Officer, Infrastructure Solutions, AtkinsRéalis
Marilisa Stigliano is Chief Operating Officer, Infrastructure Solutions at AtkinsRéalis, where she provides strategic leadership focused on the successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects and the achievement of company performance goals. Prior to joining AtkinsRéalis, she served as Vice President of Project Support, Corporate Operations at STV Group, where she led initiatives to strengthen project management, reporting, and technical delivery through the identification and implementation of best practices. Earlier in her career, Stigliano held several leadership roles at AECOM, including Director of Operations for Metro New York, building deep expertise across regional and national infrastructure markets.
Throughout her career, Stigliano has served in a range of roles including Project and Program Manager, Operations Manager, and Director of Operations, and is widely recognized as an advocate for operational excellence. She has led transformative initiatives to drive cross–business unit collaboration, increase efficiencies, and enable strategic investment to support business growth. An engaged industry leader, she served as co-chair of the New York Building Congress Young Professionals Committee. She is also a passionate advocate for future generations, serving on the advisory board of Columbia University’s Center for Buildings, Infrastructure and Public Space and leading a first-of-its-kind practicum for Construction Management students focused on both traditional and agile project management methodologies.