About Us
TSE is owned and operated by James A. Valvano, a third-generation contractor.
Mr. Valvano became business-oriented at an early age working in the construction industry alongside his grandfather and father. After learning the business, Mr. Valvano formed his own business with the establishment of TSE in 2002. Through Mr. Valvano’s leadership, TSE experienced a dramatic rise in gross profits year over year, eventually taking the company from $300,000 in annual gross revenues to over $20 million in just a short period of time. What started as a single crew of approximately six (6) employees eventually grew in size to multiple crews and over one hundred (100) employees. TSE has become a well-recognized and reputable contractor in Northeastern Pennsylvania, performing a diverse and broad range of services for its customers, including utility construction, site development, road construction, and paving, trucking and hauling, and snow removal. TSE performs its work through the use of highly specialized equipment and trained/experienced personnel. TSE remains a go-to contractor in the industry.
TSE is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with anti-discrimination law, TSE prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
MANAGEMENT & PERSONNEL
April Valvano
CEO of Valacon Enterprises
April is operating as President of Valacon Enterprises inc since 2013 after her role as former Vice President of TSEinc. April was determined to show her two daughters that she could build a company and be successful in a construction business that is generally run by men. Over the past 9 years, she has grown the business and accomplished just that.
April's first experience in the construction industry started in or around 2002 when she began doing work for my husband’s construction business, TSE, Inc., a utility and general contractor. Over the years of being present and watching how the company grew from a dozen or so employees to over a hundred at its peak, April became even more educated on the day-to-day activities of the business operations and industry practices, including project bidding, planning, and management. She also formed important relationships with the various public utility companies and other private contractors TSE did work for and with. After working there and gaining a better knowledge and understanding of the business, April became the Vice President of the company, at which time she began to manage and oversee day-to-day operations of the business on a regular basis.
James A. Valvano
CEO
TSE is owned and operated by James A. Valvano. Under his direction, the company employs a highly qualified office and field workforce consisting of office management, bookkeeping, shop management, fleet management, safety personnel, PA One Call Coordinators, project superintendents/managers, job foremen, machine/equipment operators, truck drivers, pipefitters, flaggers, laborers, mechanics, and welders. TSE also employs staff legal counsel to navigate the company through the ever-growing regulatory and legal aspects of the construction industry. Its employees have well over one hundred (100) years of experience in the construction industry and are capable of handling any size project within the expertise of the company.
Frank J. Tunis, Jr., Esq.
GENERAL COUNSEL & VP
Frank J. Tunis, Jr., Esq. serves as General Counsel and Vice President of the Company. Attorney Tunis is an experienced attorney who, like Mr. Valvano, has a strong family history in the construction business. Attorney Tunis worked with his family in the construction business from the time he was a teenager up through his graduation from law school in 1999. Attorney Tunis is a graduate of the University of Scranton and a cum laude graduate of Widener University School of Law, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. While at Widener, he was named a Widener Scholar and elected by his peers to serve as member and editor of the School’s Law Review. After graduation, Attorney Tunis had the honor of serving as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk to United States District Court Judge William J. Nealon, Middle District of Pennsylvania, from 1999-2001. Attorney Tunis has regularly been selected by his peers as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” and “Super Lawyer” in Philadelphia Magazine -- an honor extended to only 2.5% of Pennsylvania attorneys each year.
Jennifer J. Cathrall
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Jennifer J. Cathrall plays an integral role in the day-to-day operations of the company. Ms. Cathrall is OSHA certified and receives annual Workplace Safety Committee Training Certification through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Ms. Cathrall serves as shop and fleet manager, overseeing and managing the company’s extensive fleet of vehicles, as well as the company’s garage facilities and operations, including mechanics and welders. Ms. Cathrall also serves as TSE’s purchasing agent, where she handles all aspects of the company’s purchasing and vendor relations. Prior to becoming a part of office staff, Ms. Cathrall worked in the field in many different capacities, including heavy machine operator, and she has extensive knowledge of what it takes to run the daily operations of a construction business.
Jeffrey J. Hessmiller
SAFETY OFFICER & PERMITS COORDINATOR
Jeffrey J. Hessmiller serves as the company’s safety officer, permits coordinator, and PA One Call Coordinator. Mr. Hessmiller holds various certifications, including OSHA and Workplace Safety Committee Training through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. He also regularly participates in Water Distribution Safety courses and Confined Space Entry training. In addition, he received certification for successful completion of Department of Transportation supervisor training through the Pipeline Testing Consortium, Inc. Mr. Hessmiller is also a Pennsylvania Public Notary. In these various capacities, Mr. Hessmiller plays an integral role in the hiring process, overseeing employee background checks, clearances, qualifications, and safety training. Mr. Hessmiller also handles compliance issues with the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as well as all state fuel tax matters. Mr. Hessmiller also has an extensive background and training with the ever-changing rules and regulations imposed on construction companies pursuant to the Underground Utility Line Protection Law (the “PA One Call Law”). As the company’s PA One Call Coordinator, Mr. Hessmiller handles all aspects of the company’s legal obligations under the PA One Call Law, including complex project meetings, site markings, one-call tickets, AVRs. etc.
Ronald McCullon
SUPERINTENDENT
Ronald McCullon has been with TSE since the company was founded in 2002. He has over thirty (30) years of experience in the construction business. Mr. McCullon serves as the company’s Superintendent, where he oversees and participates in all aspects of the business, including bidding, estimating, scheduling, and project management. He is OSHA certified and receives annual Workplace Safety Committee Training through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Mr. McCullon has extensive training and expertise in the operation of heavy equipment and machinery, including the specialized asphalt paving and milling machines utilized by the company’s Paving Division.
Mark Franceschelli
SUPERINTENDENT & PROJECT MANAGER
Mark Franceschelli, who has thirty (30) years of experience in the construction industry, has also been with the company since its formation in 2002. Mr. Franceschelli serves the company in many different capacities, including Superintendent and Project Manager. He is likewise OSHA certified and receives regular Workplace Safety Committee Training through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Mr. Franceschelli is a highly trained and experienced heavy equipment operator and oversees and manages all of the company’s site development projects, from the initial review and bidding process through project completion.
June Capooci
OFFICE SECRETARY
June Capooci is the office secretary. Ms. Capooci is in charge of the day-to-day inner workings of the office and works in coordination with all other company personnel to manage the daily business affairs of the company, including office billings and accounts. As the main contact person in the office, Ms. Capooci plays a vital role when it comes to customer interactions and client/vendor relations.