Leadership
Peter Morandi – Chief Executive Officer, LEED AP
Peter comes from a long line of contractors. Growing up just outside Boston, he watched his father, grandfather, uncles and cousins build the business by managing workers’ personalities, keeping the equipment running and living up to clients’ expectations. He learned a lot in those formative years, and never doubted that construction would be his life’s work. Peter studied Construction Management and Engineering at Roger Williams University and headed south to New York shortly after graduation. After 10 years as a construction manager, director of operations and chief operating officer for a leading NYC contractor, Peter started Eastman Cooke in 2009. Taking great pride in his team and projects, he runs the company with a focus on collaboration, innovation, safety and reliability. He believes in asking clients the right questions, creating solutions, and delivering projects without surprises. “Using the experiences we have as a foundation, we build on a client’s individual needs. We always want to create value in everything we do.”
April Intrabartola – Vice President
As vice president, April plays a key role in Eastman Cooke’s industry growth. She leads the firm’s business development, strategic planning and brand and talent management initiatives. Her unlimited energy, meticulous attention to detail and creative problem-solving skills help make our firm a trusted advisor and partner to so many clients. Her in-depth knowledge of all facets of the business make her an invaluable resource for ensuring ECA’s business operations are aligned with the company’s long-term strategic plan. Active in the community, she is on the Board of Trustees of Family & Children’s Association and a member of numerous professional and charitable organizations. Her many industry accolades include SmartCEO’s 2016 Brava Award and Schneps Communications’ 2017 Power Women in Business Award. “We’re here to build our clients’ vision. We listen to their needs, come up with a solution, and build the job together. As a client-focused company, we have the freedom to do whatever it takes to get there. We’ll go to the end because we want our clients to be satisfied.”
Robert Hancock – Senior Project Manager
Robert brings more than twenty-five years of construction management experience to Eastman Cooke. As a project manager and former business owner, Robert has completed large commercial construction projects including renovations and new buildings as well as multi-million-dollar public sector projects. Robert manages his work proactively, finding creative solutions and strategizing how best to get the job done. Having the support of management and his colleagues through constant communication and collaboration is critical to his projects’ success. “Instead of saying something can’t be done, we think outside the box to say, ‘this is how it can be done.’ We are creative and we find solutions. As a result, the client knows their project means as much to our team as it does to them.”
Ray Ruggiano – Project Superintendent
In his role as superintendent for ECA, Ray supervises and coordinates all construction activities in the field including trades, materials, permitting and logistics. With over 20 years of industry experience, including the construction of major new buildings and interiors for retail, commercial institutional and residential clients, Ray tackles all of his projects with a client-centric approach. “ECA is a company that cares about its employees and its clients. It provides the environment I need to manage my projects with personal attention and exceed our clients’ expectations.”
Jonathan Gonzalez – Project Superintendent
With 10 years of industrial, residential and commercial construction experience, Jonathan joined Eastman Cooke as an Assistant Construction Superintendent and advanced quickly to his current position of Construction Superintendent. Whether contributing to predesign planning and scheduling or working alongside a senior superintendent on site with field coordination, Jonathan values the importance of collaboration. He has an expertise in safety procedures and earned his Site Safety Training (SST) card, assuring that NYC building codes and safety procedures are followed. Jonathan has played an integral role on many demolition, renovation and building projects at Eastman Cooke – among them, Jaguar Land Rover, 75 Spring Street and various medical projects for a long-time healthcare client. “The Eastman Cooke team is always building for the future, assuring that the best safety standards are in place, never leaving a project unfinished. It’s the people who make Eastman Cooke different from the competition. Every team member is supported and recognized. We work together to get the job done right and always on time.”
Imani Milima – Project Management
Imani joined Eastman Cooke as a results-oriented leader, who brings an entrepreneurial spirit to the project management team. She has two decades of experience in both general business management and project management, including several years in the construction industry and two years as an owner representative. Whether working on core and shell/new build projects or medical interiors, Imani anticipates stumbling blocks and coordinates day-to-day activities to stay on target. Imani’s well-rounded education includes earning a B.A. in economics from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, as well as an MBA from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She also received a Construction Management Certificate from the Mechanics Institute in New York City. Imani is no stranger to volunteering, as she demonstrated by helping rehabilitate homes, businesses and parklands in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. “Eastman Cooke is unique in that clients get a focused team that works well together to solve problems and deliver successfully. To every project, we offer a well-tested approach that brings consistency, while allowing for creativity. What further differentiates Eastman Cooke from competitors is its willingness to drive the success of a project by thoroughly understanding a client’s expectations.”
Aschelle Ferdinand – Project Management
Aschelle Ferdinand brings nearly two decades of construction experience to Eastman Cooke. From pre-construction and design review to field supervision, project turnover and closeout, Aschelle’s outstanding work touches every facet of the industry. After a short hiatus from the company in 2018, Aschelle has proven that you can go home again. Inspired by Eastman Cooke’s strong sense of structure, Aschelle continuously provides valuable support to our project teams, ensuring that our clients’ needs are met (and surpassed) every step of the way. Her excellent organizational skills, quality control and safety expertise, vast knowledge of contract administration, and inspiring “can do” attitude constantly steer our projects in the right direction. While contributing to the successful completion of many large-scale projects, Aschelle is always very detail-oriented and has helped to build and maintain excellent relationships with clients and architects. Audi of Queens and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are among many Eastman Cooke projects Aschelle has worked on, as well as the construction of a national used car dealership in East Meadow and multiple medical facilities for a leading healthcare provider. When she’s not showcasing her exceptional project management skills, you’ll often find Aschelle giving back to the community to help others in need. When Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica and other Caribbean islands in 2017, Aschelle led a large relief drive to help victims of the hurricane. She also donates to local food pantries and shelters. Aschelle holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. “Grasping what’s important to a client is key to the ECA approach. Our open communication and outstanding problem-solving skills lets our clients know that we’re always here for them. While working closely with their design teams, we strive to provide an end result beyond their expectations.”
Eugene Hermanski – Project Superintendent
As a valuable member of the Eastman Cooke team, Eugene brings a sharp eye for detail and quality, and an unwavering commitment to exceed client expectations. With more than two decades of construction experience, Eugene has supervised a variety of jobs – from large ground-up construction projects to major building renovations. His many responsibilities have included implementing safety and quality control programs, managing subcontractors, and conducting weekly meetings to review goals, schedules, and project milestones. Among the diverse group of clients that Eugene has worked with are Equinox, Morton’s Steakhouse, the World Center Hotel, the NYPD, and the United Wire Pension Fund.“Eastman Cooke provides a working environment where everyone cares about each other. That same care is exhibited to our clients, while showcasing superior collaboration and expertise to drive our projects across the finish line. We take great pride in building on the individual needs of our clients, and won’t stop until their vision is met.”
Andrell “Bud” White, ECA Estimator
Andrell “Bud” White is an estimator on the Eastman Cooke team with deep expertise in his field. Since joining ECA in 2021, he has put his unparalleled professionalism and over 30 years of construction experience to good use. As an estimator, he is a master at managing a client’s budget, leveling subcontractor bids and preparing the project management team for the scope of the project. Bud has an attention to detail and a collaborative spirit that make him incredibly skilled at coordinating project timelines, putting a bid together and keeping the estimating process on the right track. He has estimated and helped close several projects. Bud’s dedication to his work and his excellent rapport with clients and coworkers have established him as an invaluable part of ECA. Outside of work, Bud enjoys spending time with his son, golfing, scuba diving and traveling.