Control Electric: Celebrating 25 Years with the Chamber

By Michael Anderson, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Control Electric Contracting Corp. was founded in 1996 by Joseph Cafiero and Chris Pallarino. Despite the company’s prevalence today, the duo faced a humble beginning.  

“We had some connections, but we pretty much started from scratch. We started with an old beat-up van, and I remember with one of our first jobs, we looked at the job, and we wondered if we could afford the $400 extension ladder that we would need,” laughed Cafiero.  

Both men were married with three kids each, so there was added pressure.

“It was one thing being a good electrician, but there was nothing to prepare me for being a good businessman. So, I had to learn on the fly. And our families depended on us,” said Cafiero. 

“Chris and I both started in the mid-1980s as apprentices. So, we both have about over 35 years in the business each,” added the co-owner. “We worked for 12-plus years in the industry before we started our business. We were friends through the apprenticeship.”      

The risk certainly paid off. In the years since its inception, Control Electric Contracting Corp. has played a role in the construction of some significant commercial and industrial properties. Some of those projects include work on New York City’s tunnels, the Richmond County Bank Ballpark in St. George, Maimonides Park in Brooklyn, the Hilton Garden Inn expansion as well as other Nicotra Group properties, the Ikea and Amazon warehouses, Dana Ford, and the Regal Bricktown Charleston movie theater.

“When we look back at the projects, we can look at them and say, ‘Wow, look at what we’ve accomplished in all these years. We have had the privilege of working with many good people on Staten Island,” he added. “Over the years, we have maintained and grown those relationships. Our reputation grew due to their loyalty and trust. For us doing the right job was always the easy part.

“We’ve been in Stapleton in the same building (85 Tompkins St.) since we pretty much started. We worked out of our houses that first year-and-a-half, and then we got bigger, so we rented the building that we’re currently in,” said Cafiero. “I remember renting it then for $1,000 back in 1998. Just that we were paying $1,000 per month in rent was just so scary. But then, after a couple of years, we decided to buy the building. And we’ve been here ever since.”

After starting with just two electricians, Control Electric Contracting Corp. now employs a staff of over 40 people.

“And most of my employees have been with me for many years. So there really hasn’t been much turnaround with my staff, which is also a source of pride. We’ve kept all these people who are supporting their own families for all these years,” he added.

At Control Electric Contracting Corp. loyalty runs deep. In fact, Cafiero has been loyal to the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce: in 2021, the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the Chamber. That means their membership dates back to the establishment of the company.

“As a new company back then, I thought at the time that would give me some degree of credibility as an established company since I was working with an organization that was around for so long,” said Cafiero. “Over the years, supplying information plus all the things that the Chamber stands and lobbies for in the community has been very important to us as a local business.”