NJIT Community Members Honored with Inductions into the National Academy of Construction

Three prominent members of the New Jersey Institute of Technology community have been elected to the National Academy of Construction (NAC), a prestigious national organization that recognizes distinguished leaders in the field of construction. 

NJIT alumnus and New Jersey State Senator Paul Sarlo ’92, ’95, Foundation Board of Directors Vice Chairman Ken Colao ’77 and Foundation Board member Marjorie Perry ’05 have all earned membership to the exclusive Academy, which is limited to fewer than 500 professionals and academics. The NAC, headquartered at the University of Texas at Austin, provides technical expertise to government, higher education institutions, and industry leaders across the country. The new members will be inducted at the 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting Oct. 10, in San Antonio.

The newly-elected members join a group of NJIT-connected leaders already in the NAC, including Andrew Christ, NJIT’s senior vice president for Real Estate Development and Capital Operations and two-time alumnus; Andrew Ciancia, senior university lecturer in Civil & Environmental Engineering; Glenn Steiger, two-time alumnus and executive consultant for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority; Gregory Kelly, president and CEO of STV and NJIT master’s graduate; Nick DeNichilo, alumnus and co-chair of NJIT’s Board of Trustees; and Patrick Natale, alumnus and member of the NJIT Foundation Board of Directors.

Paul Sarlo

Senator Paul Sarlo is chief operating officer at Joseph M. Sanzari, Inc. and serves New Jersey’s 36th legislative district. Sarlo's election reflects his extensive leadership in the construction industry and his significant contributions to public service. As COO of Sanzari Inc., Sarlo has overseen more than $2 billion in infrastructure projects, including highways, bridges and utility systems, guiding a workforce of over 300 professionals in delivering an annual project volume of $250 million.

An accomplished civil engineer, Sarlo holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from NJIT, where he also excelled as an All-American baseball player and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2005. His professional accolades include being named the Construction Engineer of the Year by the New Jersey Professional Engineers in Construction and receiving NJIT’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. In 2022, he was honored with an honorary Ph.D. in civil engineering from NJIT.

In public service, Sarlo has served as a New Jersey State Senator since 2003, where he is currently Deputy Majority Leader and Chairperson of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. He has sponsored over 250 bills signed into law, leading initiatives to promote job creation, economic development, and infrastructure funding.

Ken Colao

Colao’s election to the NAC recognizes his 30+ years of leadership in the construction industry. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach, Colao has spearheaded numerous high-profile domestic and international projects. As the driving force behind CNY, a Manhattan-based firm, Colao has disrupted industry norms, championing ESG initiatives and advancing sustainability and social responsibility practices within the company.

An engineer by profession and a passionate builder, Colao has not only built large-scale urban developments but also fostered strong teams and mentored the next generation of industry leaders. His dedication to problem-solving and client satisfaction has positioned CNY as a leader in construction management. Beyond his professional achievements, Colao’s commitment to education and service is exemplified by his service to his alma mater as vice chair of NJIT’s Foundation Board of Directors and chairs the Board of Advisors for the Hillier School of Architecture and Design. He is also a key figure in the New York Building Congress, where he serves as vice chairman.

Colao's accolades include the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year award for the New York Region, recognizing his excellence in innovation and community engagement.

Marjorie Perry

Marjorie Perry is president and CEO of MZM Construction and Management. Her election recognizes her 30+ years of industry leadership and entrepreneurial excellence. Perry’s career has been defined by her innovative problem-solving and hands-on approach to business development and construction management. MZM Construction is a full-service construction management and transportation firm serving clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies.

A trailblazer for women and people of color in the industry, Perry’s influence extends beyond her business. She holds an MBA from NJIT, and she is also a graduate of Harvard Business School's Owner/President Management Program. Perry’s dedication to mentorship and community is evident through her service as a member on NJIT’s Foundation Board of Directors. A chair emerita, she was the first woman and first African-American chair elected to lead the Foundation Board. She also serves as a trustee for the Foundation for University Hospital in Newark.

Perry's accolades reflect her industry-wide impact. She has received the Woman Business Enterprise Star Award, the 25 Influential Black Women in Business Award, and was inducted into the New Jersey Business Hall of Fame. Her work has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the Small Business Administration, NJBIZ, ROI-NJ and The Network Journal. 

NAC Scholarship Supports Students

Larissa Cavalcante, a civil engineering student at NJIT, has been awarded the Paul Boulos NAC Scholarship, one of eight scholarships the organization presents. A first-generation college student, Larissa has excelled academically while also taking on multiple leadership roles, including president of NJIT’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) chapter and vice president of administration for the Student Senate.

Her accomplishments include organizing initiatives like Women’s Celebration, an event promoting networking among women engineers and completing internships at top firms like Gannett Fleming, Langan Environmental Engineering and Merck. Larissa’s dedication to her studies and passion for construction management have distinguished her as an outstanding scholarship recipient.