LAWRENCE, MA – Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a unit of NiSource Inc., announced the next phase of recovery and replacement activities for the Greater Lawrence Area following the tragic events of September 13, and has appointed Commodore Builders founder and CEO Joe Albanese as Chief Recovery Officer.
Columbia Gas announced that Navy Captain Joe Albanese, Ret., Founder and CEO of Commodore Builders, a construction management firm, will serve as the Chief Recovery Officer for the project. He will be assisted by Rear Admiral Richard E. Cellon, Ret., President of Cellon and Associates.
Mr. Albanese spent 25 years of military service with the naval construction forces, most recently leading more than 2,000 Navy SeaBees in contingency operations and more than 2,000 SeaBees throughout the Middle East in 2007. He will be responsible for command, control and communications.
“Many people are still hurting in the wake of last week’s disaster,” said NiSource CEO Joe Hamrock. “We owe it to this community to fully address the community’s needs and rebuild your trust in us.”
Hamrock said Columbia Gas’ recovery and replacement plan will: (1) aim to have service restored to all homes and workplaces by November 19; (2) bring immediate help to people who need it most; (3) replace and upgrade appliances and other natural gas equipment damaged in customers’ homes and businesses; and (4) provide the assurance of a safe and modern energy system, installed with the highest levels of scrutiny and accountability.
Mr. Albanese has 28 years of military service and retired as a Captain in the United State Navy Civil Engineer Corps and is the Founder and CEO of Commodore Builders, a construction management firm started in 2002.
He spent 25 year of military service with the naval construction forces, where he focused on thinking strategically about world defense, security and the global economy. Most recently, he led more than 2,000 Navy SeaBees in contingency operations and more than 2,000 Sea Beas throughout the Middle East in 2007. Mr. Albanese’s priorities have been on driving development and change locally by attracting entrepreneurs, creating affordable housing, improving commerce and the economy in Massachusetts.
He has deep ties and strong roots in Massachusetts, working at the executive level at a number of local construction firms and serving on the advisory board of UMass Lowell College of Engineering, as past chairman of the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts and as current Chairman of the Board of Directors, New England Center for Homeless Veterans. Albanese graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from UMass Lowell and has an MBA from Boston University.
