Follansbee business marks 25 years of building construction

Contributed
A VARIETY OF PROJECTS — Since opening in 1999, Lombardi Development Co. of Follansbee has been involved the construction and renovations of many buildings for government and private entities, including renovations to the dining hall and kitchen at Bethany College.

FOLLANSBEE — From academic and athletic facilities at West Virginia colleges to luxurious homes in Florida, Lombardi Development Co. has produced a wide range of buildings for a variety of purposes in its 25 years of operation.

On Wednesday, the owners and staff of the Follansbee business celebrated its 25th anniversary with the help of members of the Follansbee, Wellsburg and Weirton chambers of commerce and the Hancock and Brooke County Young Professionals as well as many other guests.

Between greeting each of the many visitors, owners Paul and Karolee Lombardi reflected on their business’ development through the years.

Before opening its current headquarters at 649 Virginia Ave. about a dozen years ago, the business began in the Lombardis’ home. Paul said he worked initially from his basement, later expanding to a building on the property.

He said he’d always been interested in carpentry and as a teen, did various jobs for neighbors. He also found he had a knack for being able to look at a set of blueprints and visualize the final product.

“It always came naturally to me,” he said, while adding he also learned various construction skills from many family members.

Karolee, his wife of 31 years, had always supported his efforts but became officially involved five years into the business’ operation. Drawing on her background in economics and computer science, she oversees the business’ finances.

Paul said his initial goal was to build new homes in the Ohio Valley, but a demand for construction from hospitals, schools and other public entities led to a broader scope he was more than happy to pursue.

Among his first projects were the construction of a new, five-bay station for the Bethany Volunteer Fire Department on state Route 88 and a new headquarters and warehouse for Waldorf Distributing, a local Anheuser-Busch distributor, on state Route 2 in Beech Bottom.

Since then, Lombardi Development has built the Disciples of Christ Archives Center near Bethany College, a 9,662-square-foot addition to Brooke Hills Free Methodist Church; the multi-tenant White Oaks Retail Center in Bridgeport, W.Va.; and the Monongahela Valley Association Pediatric Clinic and Financial Operations Center in Fairmont, a two-story, 9,800-square-foot medical facility.

The company has received awards from the American Institute of Architects for the Raleigh County Judicial Center in Beckley, W.Va., and the Frank and June Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University.

Establishing an office in Morgantown, the company has been behind several projects at West Virginia University. Those have included the creation of a new tile floor, ballroom style ceilings, information desk and additional offices in the Mountainlair Information Center; two floors of renovations the addition of snack bar at its Evansdale Library; and creation of the Alexis and Jim Pugh Media Innovation Lab for WVU’s journalism and media students.

More recently, Lombardi Development has been engaged in the construction of the nation’s second Appalachian aquatic conservation center at West Liberty University and a $5.9 million addition for Weir High School’s physical education department.

Perhaps the most impressive of Lombardi’s structures, which many local residents haven’t seen, are several 4,600-to-5,000-square-foot custom-made homes it has completed in Florida.

Occupying 6,900 square feet of coastal property, one includes four adjoining bedrooms, a study, gourmet kitchen, spacious upper room and an expansive outdoor area with a private terrace, gas fireplace, kitchen, dining area and bar overlooking a swimming pool.

Lombardi said he branched out to Florida because he has family in Naples. An office was opened in Bonita Springs, near Fort Lauderdale, to serve the company’s market in the Sunshine State.

Lombardi Development also has completed projects in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Kentucky.

Through the years, the company has employed 40 to 50 staff members, including several working full-time from its Morgantown and Bonita Springs offices.

Paul Lombardi said he considers himself “extremely lucky” to have a hard-working, highly qualified staff.

Longtime employees have included Jason Nuzum, Maria Belback-Nuzum, Bernie Elliott, John Clark, Terry Taft, Terry Ridgely, Jean Galownia, Brian Jacobs, Scott Bradley, Rob Barbetta and Mike Terek.

Paul also has been aided for the last several years by his brother Joe, who serves as director of business development.

He said he’s also felt very fortunate to have been able to operate a successful business in his hometown.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)