Some things are fairly predictable when it comes to this Holiday Season. Somewhere in television land, the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” is being shown. And one of your neighbors will, once again, way-overdo his Christmas lighting display! In the movie, we’re all quite certain that George Bailey, and his Home Loan Company, have had a positive effect on the building and housing business in Bedford Falls. We can speculate that George took pride in his tangible accomplishments, as did the following generation of Baileys. And perhaps they felt pride in knowing that their work helped to avert the glitz and tacky neon lights that would have surely framed the community of Pottersville? So, what does any of this have to do with Trumbull-Nelson Project Manager Jim Odorisio?

Well, George Bailey (eventually) recognized, with pride, how his daily efforts brought life to his community, and how his work made a difference to so many. Question Jim Odorisio, or almost any Trumbull-Nelson field or management personnel on why they’re in construction, and you’ll hear talk of the satisfaction that each achieves in viewing the tangible results of a job completed by their own labor. Jim Odorisio admits that his commitment to building and construction has much to do with this sense of pride, perhaps instilled by his father, who was a custom homebuilder and finish carpenter in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jim recalls how his father would drive the family around the various local neighborhoods at this time of the year to look at Christmas lights, and how his dad would point out the homes that he had built or worked on. Here was something that his children and grandchildren would see, for years to come. His many building efforts had really made a difference in the community.

So, it’s easy to imagine how Jim got his start in construction. At the age of 14, he was swinging a hammer in his dad’s business. His interests turned to Civil Engineering, and he found an excellent program of study offered at Lehigh University. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with Turner Construction in Philadelphia as a Field Engineer, and later accepted a position with Sordoni as a Project Superintendent. It was during this time of his life that he encountered some of his most challenging work activities. Shortly after assuming Supervisory duties on a $3 million on site tertiary treatment facility, he learned that a key Sordoni manager had resigned his duties as Project Superintendent on the Pepsico World Headquarters job. This was work that carried a contract price of $96 million. Jim was asked to take over Superintendent duties on this landmark Project. He readily admits that this work offered an incredible learning opportunity, but effectively put his life “on-hold” for the next 2 years, until the project was complete.

Jim Odorisio admits that his commitment to building and construction has much to do with this sense of pride, perhaps instilled by his father.

Throughout his career, Jim has encountered a variety of interesting work. As a hockey player and coach, his work as Construction Superintendent on the new Middlebury College Hockey Facility was admittedly ‘a labor of love’. Working closely with the School’s Hockey Coach, Bill Beaney, and his staff while massaging the nuances of the facility to insure a Middlebury “ home advantage” brought Jim tremendous satisfaction. To be sure, this was an example of why Jim Odorisio is recognized by many as a Project Manager who continually looks for ways to create value throughout the building process.

Jim’s home is located northeast of Rutland, in Chittenden, Vermont, where he resides with his wife, Kelley. He has a stepdaughter, Eileen, who attends a fashion design institute in Milan, Italy, and a stepson, Michael, who is a student at Vermont Community College.

Recreation is a very important part of Jim Odorisio’s life. He is an active bicycle racer, dedicated golfer, tele skier and hockey player. His hobbies include woodworking and model building, and he enjoys World War II history. Jim is also an avid Formula 1 racing fan. And even though his home is New England, his “heart” still lies with the Philadelphia Flyers and Eagles. Given the current NFL standings, Super Bowl Day in February could be very interesting for Jim and fellow Eagle fans!

Trumbull-Nelson is proud of the role that Jim Odorisio is playing, and the pride that he takes, in creating excellence on such successful Projects as the Robert Mesropian Community Care Center. We appreciate his strong, continued commitment to the industry. In his own way, like the movie character George Bailey, he is helping to transform the wider, building community through this commitment, and through his workmanship.