Honoring the legacy that has defined it for over 75 years, L&L Companies comprises four union construction firms serving the New York metropolitan area and the surrounding Northeast. Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner, tells us more about the organization’s proud history and progressive vision for the future.
BUILT ON GRIT. DEFINED BY LEGACY. DRIVEN BY VISION.
“Construction is the best industry in the world. It’s where tough people build beautiful things.”
The passion expressed by Catherine Moss, CEO and Majority Owner of L&L Companies (L&L), not only represents her feelings towards the industry but also the outlook that the organization displays in its daily practices and business endeavors.
Founded in 1949 by Willie Levine, L&L has proudly grown through generations of leadership and a long-standing commitment to quality, reliability, and integrity.
Currently, the organization is under the majority ownership and leadership of Moss, who works in collaboration with the Levine family to ensure the continuity of values and expertise while positioning L&L for future growth, innovation, and expanded impact across the industry.
Moss entered the construction field by sheer determination – and admittedly, a little bit of luck.
“I didn’t have family in the business or a clear path laid out for me. I put myself through college, worked as a waitress and barback, and eventually found myself on a job site. That’s when it clicked. Construction had grit, purpose, and a sense of camaraderie I’d never experienced before,” she details.
Over the past two decades, she has held nearly every role – from Site Superintendent to Project Executive to Senior Vice President. Today, Moss proudly leads not just with experience, but with a deep belief in what’s possible when integrity and hard work are one’s compass.
QUALITY AND INTEGRITY
L&L is a group of four union construction firms serving the five boroughs, the greater New York metropolitan area, and the Northeast US. It provides specialty services in architectural coatings, bridge painting, flooring systems, tile and stone installation, and heavy civil infrastructure.
The organization’s clients include public agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Department of Transportation (DOT), alongside leading general contractors, developers, private owners, and institutions.
“With over 300 employees across our companies, we’re known not just for the quality of our work – but the integrity behind it,” details Moss.
L&L remains focused on delivering exceptional craftsmanship with reliability and a people-first approach, all while evolving with advancements in technology and construction practices that honor the legacy that has defined it for over seven decades.
The four companies that comprise the organization include L&L Painting Co., Inc., L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, L&L Specialty Flooring, LLC, and VMR Civil, LLC.
“When I stepped into ownership, my goal wasn’t to change what made L&L great – it was to carry it forward, strengthen it, and position it for the next 75 years. With Ross, Michael, and Marni Levine as partners, we’ve kept the heart of L&L intact while modernizing every corner of the business,” expands Moss.
The company provides top-quality surface projects, on schedule and at reasonable prices, taking pride in its ability to offer reliable services to every single customer and client without sacrificing workmanship.
For long-lasting results, quality installation, and superior tile and stone products, there is L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, which offers tile installation, interior and exterior stone, and countertops.
“L&L Stone & Tile, LLC, is a specialty subsect in large-scale tile and stone installations for civic, healthcare, and commercial environments,” explains Moss.
The organization’s flooring division – L&L Specialty Flooring, LLC – provides expert service in epoxy, methyl methacrylate (MMA), and other niche flooring systems with a reputation for precision and code compliance.
Finally, VMR Civil, LLC is all about people, infrastructure, and progress, dedicated to delivering quality projects in the safest and most innovative ways while remaining environmentally responsible.
“VMR Civil, LLC is our civil arm, performing concrete, drainage, site utilities, and heavy infrastructure work – both as a sub and a primary contractor,” summarizes Moss.
“Each company operates with the same set of values – do it right, do it safely, and do it with pride.”
LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
L&L differentiates itself from the competition through its most important priorities – people, principles, and performance.
“We’ve never been interested in being the biggest – we’re focused on being the best. That means showing up with precision, being transparent with our clients, and never sacrificing integrity for profit,” prides Moss.
As such, the organization invests in its craft, teams, and the systems that make its delivery consistent and excellent. Most importantly, it leads with a people-first mindset, treating its employees like stakeholders, not just staff.
Furthermore, L&L boasts a history of leadership and commitment to quality, reliability, and integrity. Built on family values, including loyalty, fairness, and pride in its accomplishments, the Levine family has carried that legacy for generations.
“When I stepped into ownership, it wasn’t a break from that – it was an extension of it. Together, we’ve fortified what made L&L great while modernizing it for the future. Every decision we make, from field tools to financial strategy, is rooted in protecting what we’ve built and ensuring it thrives for the next 75 years,” insights Moss.
For L&L, being woman-owned and led is more than a certification – it’s a responsibility. It’s about representation, perspective, and proving that leadership in construction can look different and still deliver exceptional results.
Moss has been the only woman in the room more times than she could count, but has led with confidence, experience, and a vision that leaves room for others. She wants women to see themselves in this industry – in boots, in hard hats, in boardrooms.
Through C-Suite State of Mind and Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), L&L is creating career pipelines for tradeswomen, mentoring the next generation of executives, and changing what leadership looks like in the industry.
“When more voices are included, the work gets better – and so do our cities,” Moss asserts.
BREAKING BARRIERS
L&L has participated in a plethora of exciting projects, such as its work on the Waldorf Astoria New York restoration, several MTA projects, and mission-critical government jobs.
“But it’s not just about what we build – it’s how we manage it,” emphasizes Moss.
The organization has implemented Bid Board Pro Bid Management Software to streamline estimating, Microsoft Power BI for live dashboards, and Microsoft 365 for collaborative, cloud-based operations. Equally, it is exploring artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve compliance tracking, contract management, and jobsite safety – always to support, not replace, human expertise.
Additionally, empowering and recognizing its team members is of the utmost importance to L&L.
“I believe leadership is about seeing people – their effort, ideas, and growth. We mentor from within, promote talent based on performance, and make sure people are equipped with the right tools and information,” informs Moss.
“Whether it’s at the Waldorf Astoria New York job, watching our paper hangars hang grasscloth in ornate hallways with the same care as restoring fine art, or climbing down 40 feet (ft) on a VMR Civil site into the guts of an MTA substation in Brooklyn, knowing the work we are doing is essential to keeping the city moving is empowering.”
At JFK International Airport, the Stone & Tile team maneuvered massive stone panels, nearly 40ft in the air, with millimeter precision. Every piece was carefully prepared and installed in spaces where there was no room for error. Travelers from around the world will pass through that terminal for decades, never knowing the hours of planning, problem-solving, and sheer determination it took to make it perfect – but those at L&L will know.
“And there are the quieter moments – walking a job site upstate for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the August heat and seeing our crews push through the day, or getting a call from a client saying, “your team saved us on this one”. Those are the moments that tell me we’re doing it right,” she continues.
As L&L continues to look toward another 75 years of success, it is focused on sustainable growth, operational visibility, and expanding its public sector footprint.
“We’re also investing in leadership development internally – ensuring our next generation of foremen, supers, and executives are ready to step up. Across the board, we’re modernizing our systems while staying grounded in what works,” Moss positively concludes.
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