Art McCarthy Honored for Longstanding Contributions to Staten Island
By Danielle Wiseman
Arthur F. “Art” McCarthy, CEO and president of Mammoth Inc. Construction, lives by the motto “no problems, just solutions.”
McCarthy, a lifelong Staten Islander, first dabbled in entrepreneurship when he started a landscaping company while studying. Since he was taking business courses, McCarthy was equipped with the tools to start his own endeavor, and he opened McCarthy Landscaping during one of his summers back home.
The business grew so quickly and fervently that McCarthy was faced with the choice of running the business full-time or finishing his education. McCarthy ultimately decided to continue taking classes, knowing that he could always revisit entrepreneurship after completing his education.
McCarthy later began his career in the construction industry, working on job sites and running projects. After several years working for a large construction firm and gaining his footing on-site, McCarthy returned to his entrepreneurial roots and began planning the creation of Mammoth Inc. Construction.
“As a kid, I remember always being fascinated with how things were built,‘’ said McCarthy, who went on to take many architecture and design classes. ”I would wonder things like, ‘how do they build a tunnel or a bridge or a skyscraper?’ When I got older, my father and I bought a few pieces of property, and we eventually renovated them; that’s exactly how Mammoth started.”
In 1998, McCarthy started Mammoth Inc. Construction and began working out of his basement. McCarthy quickly realized that in order for the business to be successful, he would need to dedicate nearly all of his time to it.
“When I started my own business, one of the things that I knew right off the bat was that the commitment needed to be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and if I wasn’t willing to do that, I was going to fail,” emphasized McCarthy. “I had always had a close relationship with my father, and he had owned his own welding business before retiring. So a year into Mammoth, I brought my dad in as my partner and made him president of the company, and I took on the role of vice president. He remained my partner until he passed away in 2009.”
With both McCarthy and McCarthy Sr. at the helm, Mammoth Inc. Construction began to build its ironclad reputation on Staten Island. In the following years, Mammoth went on to complete various in-depth projects across Staten Island, including the creation of the Parkinson’s Building, a two-story glass building that serves as the national headquarters for the Parkinson’s Association.
On select projects, McCarthy has also had the opportunity to work with architects directly on design aspects. In 2008, McCarthy helped design and construct the award-winning facility Roller Jam USA, which attracted visitors from across the country until its closure in 2024.
“Ninety nine percent of my work is done on Staten Island, and we’ve been able to do that for over 25 years now,” said McCarthy. “We’re very fortunate to be so entrenched in the community because there are very few general contractors that work exclusively on Staten Island. We’ve never advertised, and most of our business comes from word-of-mouth (references). The work speaks for itself.”
Several years into the business and shortly after McCarthy Sr.’s passing, Arthur C. McCarthy, McCarthy’s son, joined the Mammoth team. The younger McCarthy decided to pivot toward the family business after years of watching his father and grandfather dedicate their lives to Mammoth.
“After my father passed, I asked my son to be my partner. My son is my best friend, and I’m lucky that I get to do this with him every day,” said McCarthy. “When he came in, he brought that young energy, and then the company really took off. The business has taken leaps and bounds since Arthur joined us, and I owe a lot of our growth to him.”
With Arthur F. McCarthy in the office and Arthur C. McCarthy onsite, Mammoth Inc. Construction operates a nearly flawless construction site, ensuring seamless communication, quick work, and a job well-done. In the years since Arthur C. McCarthy has joined Mammoth, the company has completed several more award-winning projects, including the Sonic on Richmond Valley Road, two daycare facilities, Inspiration Plaza, Project Hospitality’s adaptive reuse building on Vanderbilt Avenue, and the Angiuli & Gentile Building on Hylan Boulevard, which won the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award in 2018.
Its latest project was the transformation into Premiere Pickleball. To date, Mammoth Inc. Construction has received 56 industry awards.
In addition to his constant positive contributions to the community through his construction, McCarthy also goes above and beyond to give to those in need.
“I think sharing is extremely important, and it’s something that I learned from my parents,‘’ he said. ”When you’re blessed with things, like I have been, you have an obligation to share. Staten Island is my home, and I get the greatest joy from helping those who live here.”
McCarthy is currently a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau, and he formerly served on the Board of Directors at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. McCarthy also volunteered as a baseball coach at Tottenville High School for 10 years, in addition to sponsoring the South Shore Little League and giving time to the West Shore Little League. After his father’s passing, McCarthy started the Arthur McCarthy Senior Memorial Scholarship at Moore Catholic High School. McCarthy also regularly contributes to Project Hospitality and Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church.
For his accomplishments, Arthur F. McCarthy is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award, which he will receive in the Master Businessperson category. The awards, which are presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance, honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.
“When I was younger, I would get down on myself for all of the things that I couldn’t or wouldn’t be, but as I got older, I realized that instead of complaining about what I wasn’t, I had to be thankful for what I was,” said McCarthy. “That’s one of the reasons I’m so interested in mentoring young people. I always thought that God wanted me to be a teacher, but I wanted to be an entrepreneur. In the end, I got both.”
Current occupation and title: President/CEO, Mammoth, Inc.
Hometown: Staten Island
Community involvement: South Shore Little League, South Shore Babe Ruth League, West Shore Little League, Tottenville High School wrestling and baseball coach, Curtis High School baseball coach, Project Hospitality, Our Lady Help of Christians, A Chance in Life, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, Snug Harbor, and the Arthur McCarthy Sr. Memorial Scholarship at Moore Catholic High School.
Some of my life goals include: Always remaining close to God, helping those less fortunate, and creating something that I can leave to my family.
The best part of my job: Taking something and creating a useful and beautiful thing
The most difficult part of my job: Getting people to do things they think are impossible
My life philosophy: No problems, only solutions
I am most proud of: Building a company that has enhanced the lives of others and created a reputation for excellence.
Something that no one knows about me: I ran with the Bulls in Pamplona.
The quality I like best about myself: I treat people the way I would wish to be treated.
Personal interests and hobbies: Sports: watching, learning, playing, coaching; mentoring young people; and helping the less fortunate
I laugh at: People who tell me I can’t do something.