Andrew DeAngelo takes over as GBPCA director
With Jeremy Ryan’s departure, Andrew DeAngelo took over as executive director of the Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association in February. Because he had been serving as the organization’s director of public affairs for about three years, the transition has been seamless.
“He has been working hand in hand with Jeremy and understands the issues,” says Joe Valante, president of Valante Mechanical and a past GBPCA president. “Andrew is going to do a great job.”
DeAngelo was the first person to hold the newly created director of public affairs position at the organization. He describes the post as a combination of public relations and lobbying. DeAngelo has been focusing on several regulatory initiatives and legislative issues such as medical gas and drain cleaning bills as well as paid family medical leave. He has also been representing the industry on climate policy legislation.
His work has also taken him into the community where he has worked with many organizations. DeAngelo has been serving as chairman of the plumbing advisory committee at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Roxbury and has also been serving on the plumbing advisory board of Somerville High School’s Center for Career and Technical Education. He has also been working closely with the pre-apprenticeship program, Building Pathways.
Prior to coming to the GBPCA, DeAngelo was a project coordinator for Building Pathways, which provides a gateway for low-income area residents into the construction trades. During his time there, he helped manage the program and established relationships with the training directors, business agents, and business managers of the area’s building trades, including Local 12. Earlier in his career, DeAngelo held other positions which brought him into contact with the region’s construction industry and gave him valuable experience.
Born and raised in Dorchester, DeAngelo grew up in a union household. His father is a retired electrician and member of IBEW Local 103.
“Andrew has a deep breadth of knowledge about our industry. He is highly intuitive and understands the market and the contractor base,” says Tim Fandel, business manager of Local 12. “He will be a great partner to continue some of the initiatives we have been working on to grow market share.”
“What Andrew has been able to do in the public affairs position is a testament to his knowledge of the construction industry in Boston as well as his ability to interact with people,” adds Ryan. “He is a great ambassador for the plumbing industry.”
In addition to the public affairs work he has been doing, DeAngelo has been involved with other GBPCA projects. For example, he started a mechanical aptitude prep course for candidates applying to Local 12’s apprenticeship program. He has also been working closely with Ryan on any number of the organization’s issues. The two describe their relationship as having been less of a boss and employee and more of a partnership.
“We have worked very well together,” says DeAngelo. “We are like-minded and have complemented each other well.”
DeAngelo says that he plans to pick up where Ryan left off and continue the momentum that the departing executive director has brought to the organization. “I want to maintain his vision moving forward, because I think Jeremy set a great tone and course,” he adds. “I also want to continue his spirit of innovation and advancing the industry.”
“Andrew is going to bring the GBPCA to higher heights,” Ryan says about his successor.
