Every company has a starting point, but not every story begins with opportunity. Ours began with sacrifice, resilience, and a mother who made everything possible behind the scenes.
In the mid-1970s, when work was scarce, co-founder Frank Montesano Sr. took a chance on himself. With no formal training in paving or excavation, he started with a small truck, a roller, and a vision, paving driveways throughout Westchester County.
But while Frank Sr. was out working long days and nights, building the business from the ground up, the real foundation of Montesano Bros. was being held together at home.
Vitina Montesano.
She was raising four growing boys, managing a household on a tight budget, and making every dollar stretch further than most people could imagine. There were no shortcuts, no safety nets, just determination and sacrifice. While the business was still just an idea, she made sure the family stayed strong.
Meals were made, bills were managed, and somehow, everything worked. Her strength and discipline gave Frank Sr. the ability to keep going, even when things were uncertain.
Humble Beginnings
The early jobs were simple. Driveways, patch paving, small residential work. But every job mattered. Every dollar counted. Every opportunity was earned.
Frank Sr. built a reputation for showing up, working hard, and doing the job right the first time. That reputation started to grow, one project at a time.
And at home, Vitina continued to do what she had always done, keep the family grounded, supported, and moving forward.
The Turning Point
The true turning point came when Frank’s oldest son, Dominick Montesano, joined the business.
Dominick brought a new vision. He saw the opportunity to expand beyond residential paving and move into heavy construction. With the support of his brothers Vito, Frank, and Richie, the company began to evolve in a major way.
Behind the scenes, Dominick’s wife, Toniann, played a critical role, managing the phones, supporting operations, and helping keep everything running smoothly during a time of rapid growth.
Together, the family expanded into excavation, underground utilities, and large-scale site development. Not long after, around 1980–81, Montesano Bros. secured its first bonded project with the Westchester Joint Water Works, solidifying the transition into heavy construction and setting the stage for decades of growth.
Dominick remembers, “My mom, used to ask us all the time, do you have work?” Which she would then respond over and over, “I’m going to pray for you.” He truly believes that’s what opened doors and kept them going even in the slow seasons.
Over 50 Years Strong
Today, Montesano Bros. has been in business for over 50 years and is a respected name in heavy construction, known for quality, precision, and reliability. The equipment is bigger. The projects are larger. The impact is greater.
But the foundation is still the same.
A hardworking man who took a chance.
A family that showed up and built together.
And a mother who made sure everything else didn’t fall apart.
Because before the trucks, the crews, and the large-scale projects, there was a home held together by grit, sacrifice, and a woman who knew how to make a dollar stretch and a family thrive.
That’s where Montesano Bros. truly began.
