Moles Present 2026 Outstanding Achievement Awards

Carl E. Petrillo and Todd T. Semonite, P.E. USACE (Ret.) received the Outstanding Achievement Awards by The Moles during the organization’s Annual Award Dinner Jan. 7 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Petrillo accepted The Moles’ Member Award and Semonite received The Moles’ Non-Member Award. Leon Topalian, President and CEO of Nucor Corporation, was the Principal Speaker.

Carl E. Petrillo has been at the helm of Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc. (“YCC”) for the past 35 years as the Chairman of the family-owned company, originally founded by his father in 1945. After graduating Lehigh University in 1962, Carl joined YCC as an assistant superintendent, where he gained hands-on experience that made him particularly in tune to the value of the company’s employees while advancing up the corporate ladder. The heavy civil contractor has focused on infrastructure projects for both the public and private sectors throughout the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Under Carl’s leadership, the company has diversified from a county-level, earthwork contractor to delivering design-bid-build and design-build mega projects.

Carl was inducted into The Moles nearly 50 years ago, in 1976 at the young age of 36. Carl’s early projects included YCC’s role as lead partner in a JV with Weeks Marine and Bayshore Precast to construct “Home Port,” a Naval facility authorized by the US Navy. The berthing pier constructed in Staten Island was a quarter mile long by 90 feet wide and was awarded the Concrete Industry Board’s Annual Award of Excellence. In the 1990s, YCC rehabilitated the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges. In 2002, YCC led a tri-venture that rebuilt the WTC PATH Station, the PATH Tubes E and F as well as major modifications to the Exchange Place PATH Station, which enabled the PATH service to resume in 20 months. Over two decades later, YCC continues to be awarded major contracts including the Gowanus Canal CSO (a $329M JV) and the $517M Design-Build Replacement of two Bronx River Parkway Bridges.

The Moles’ 2026 Non-Member Awardee for Outstanding Achievement in Construction is Mr. Todd T. Semonite, P.E., USACE (Ret.), President of the Federal Programs business at WSP USA, a leading engineering and professional services consultancy. In his current position, Todd currently leads a multi-disciplinary team that delivers dynamic engineering solutions for U.S. government agencies. The Federal Programs’ focus includes supporting clients in facilities design; master planning; national security programs; logistics and emergency management, and environmental services.

With over four decades served in the U.S. Army, Todd Semonite served in numerous leadership roles, including Commander of the 130th Engineer Brigade; Executive Officer to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe; and Deputy Commander, Task Force Restore Iraqi Electricity. Semonite also served as Deputy Commanding General of USACE coordinating a comprehensive response to Superstorm Sandy. In 2014, he served as the Commander for Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, responsible for building the 352,000 Afghan Army and Police force. Prior to his retirement from the USACE, Mr. Semonite served as the 54th Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the USACE from 2016-2020, during which time he led the USACE’s construction of 38 alternate care facilities that created 15,000 beds for COVID-19 patients across the U.S.

Mr. Semonite has received the 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) OPAL award for Construction; 2020 Engineering News-Record’s Top 25 Newsmaker of the Year Award; 2020 ASCE President’s Award; 2020 SAME Industry Engagement Award; 2022 Army Engineer Association Gold DeFleury Award and in 2023, was inducted into the National Academy of Construction and awarded the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Golden Eagle Award.

The Moles’ Awards were instituted in 1941 as a means by which this organization signalizes the honor it pays to outstanding ability and accomplishment in the heavy construction field. Two awardees are recognized each year—one member and one non-member. Recipients of the non-member award are also granted honorary membership in The Moles.

For the complete list of past award winners, click here.