She is continuing what has become a family legacy, but Mary Fantozzi is building on the success of the J.D. Williamson Construction Company in her own way.
Fantozzi is proud to not only be serving as OCA’s 90th Chair and being the fourth woman to lead the 107-year-old organization this year but also being part of the first father-daughter duo to serve as OCA chairs. Her father, Joel Williamson, who founded J.D. Williamson Construction in 1969, chaired the association in 2009.
The 2025 OCA Chair also represents her family’s fourth generation of involvement in the construction industry. In addition to her, her father, Joel, and mother, Veronica, Fantozzi’s great grandfather, Otto Williamson, had a small steel erection business and grandfather, Robert Williamson, was a civil engineer and CEO of Mogadore-based Burger Iron Company (BICO Steel).
J.D. Williamson Construction was started by Joel Williamson as a part-time endeavor while he was working on his civil engineering degree at the University of Akron. Today, the bridge contracting company performs five to seven projects a year. “We’re really known for our bridges and for taking on complicated projects,” said Fantozzi. “There pretty much has to be a bridge of some sort for us to be interested in a project; it can be a highway bridge, county road bridge, pedestrian bridge, or trail bridge …” The company primarily works on ODOT-let projects but also works with counties, cities and metro parks. “We’re good at it; it’s what we look for,” she said of the company’s specialty. “And there are plenty of bridges that need repaired or brand new ones required to keep us busy.”
Asked how directing a construction company today compares to when her father led the Tallmadge-based business, Fantozzi said that while the keys to success are the same, building the relationships to be successful have evolved. “The workforce in general has greatly changed over the years …,” she said. “The younger generations these days are different from when (my father) was leading the company; it’s a different mindset; it’s not the same type of environment today, where you call the union hall and have someone come out the next day – the people are just not there.”
Fantozzi, who has led J.D. Williamson since 2012, said she shares her father’s high regard for the company’s 45 year-round employees – a number that grows to nearly 80-100 employees during the construction season. “I think my dad had the same perspective as me. … He knew that it was important to value your employees.
“I know every person that works at the company,” Fantozzi added. “I make it a point to meet them and not only find out what they’re working on for the company, but I want to learn about their family, their wife or their husband, their kids.” Reflecting on what she said about knowing her associates, Fantozzi smiled as she thought of her father. “He cared about people, but I think I go a little deeper into their personal lives. I enjoy learning about people. I think that they feel valued and like coming to work; they know they make a difference in the company.”
Fantozzi has fond memories growing up of not only attending equipment auctions with her father but also living just several houses from the family company, where her mother, Veronica, oversaw the accounting department. “The business has been a part of my life since birth … Until about age 5 we lived a couple of houses down from the company, so I have a lot of memories of walking down there and climbing on the big machines and helping out – probably annoying people more than helping out,” she said. As she got older her, “helping out” grew from office cleaning to mowing around the company’s facilities and painting buildings. “As I got older, I would do different odd jobs – sometimes for free, sometimes for a little cash money.”
At 16 she earned her first paid position by working in the shop. “I would clean the machines and the trucks and organize material. They would let me pick up parts and eventually go out to the jobsites and deliver them,” Fantozzi said, adding, “I got a lot of experience navigating paper maps, learning my way around. I got lost a lot, I remember having to call my dad, and he would ask: ‘Where?’ ‘How did you get there?’”
Despite the paid position and learning Northeast Ohio’s geography, Fantozzi admits her initial experience at J.D. Williamson wasn’t something she thought she would pursue. “… I really didn’t enjoy any of those jobs. It meant going in every day and you would get filthy dirty in construction. Being a teenage girl, that wasn’t a great job … I never really envisioned myself going into the family business,” she said, remembering the dinner table discussions that mostly centered on the company.
Early interests for Fantozzi involved horse riding and playing sports, as she showed horses in 4-H and played volleyball and softball at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville. Regarding her athletic prowess, she quickly added, “No one got cut those days,” referring to her days playing for the Knights.
Fantozzi attended The Ohio State University, a school she was familiar with through its agricultural program due to her 4-H involvement. Admitting to being undecided about what degree to pursue, Fantozzi chose Business, thinking it would provide the biggest range of options for a career. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting and Finance, Fantozzi turned an internship into a job offer doing credit analysis with American Electric Power.
Her business connections led to an opportunity in Houston, Texas, where she moved with her husband, Joseph Fantozzi, and worked for Citigroup Energy Trading. However, about a year later another offer opened back in her home state. “… My parents were down for a visit and said, ‘We need to talk to you about the business.’ They asked if I had any interest in coming back to Ohio and learning the family business.” Admitting to being a little homesick, Fantozzi agreed to give it a try.
J.D. Williamson Construction’s succession from its first to second generation began in 2008, when Fantozzi began learning about the company in an area she already had experience. “They let me start in the Accounting Department since my background was in Finance.” From there, she became involved in the company’s operations department. “I learned how to bid and estimate jobs, project management, purchasing, scheduling; I got to go out in the field and watch projects being built that I got to bid; and also analyze the job’s financial aspect … I really enjoyed it …” In 2012, while serving as Vice President, Fantozzi bought the majority of the company.
“I have loved being a part of this industry and seeing the teamwork it takes to build a bridge from start to finish,” she said. “The sense of accomplishment is very rewarding, and I am excited for what the future holds.”
Helping Fantozzi lead the company are three managers with a combined 75 years of experience with J.D. Williamson Construction – Steve Hermann, who serves as General Manager; Chris Hermann, who is Steve’s brother and serves as Project Manager/Superintendent; and Adam Rennick, who is the Operations Manager. Fantozzi said each have played integral parts in the success of the company and she’s “grateful for the leadership, knowledge, support and friendship” they have provided.
Along with the asset of having experienced leaders in the company, Fantozzi said she is seeing the benefits of having J.D. Williamson Construction becoming a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)-certified company.
“When I bought the majority of the company, that qualified for us to apply to be a DBE. It was a very long process, but there have been a lot of benefits of having the certification,” she said, adding that when serving as a project’s prime contractor – which they do 90% of the time – they are able to fulfill the DBE goals themselves. Fantozzi added that the company’s DBE status is also advantageous in the subcontractor’s role when partnering with the project’s prime contractor. “We’ve been able to do some bridges for other contractors that might not have a Bridge Division. That’s been nice to work with other companies, meet their people and see how they do things and learn from them.
“Being a DBE is an asset to our company because it gives me not only opportunities I wouldn’t have as a non–DBE but it also gives me a community of people to rely on and ask questions,” she added. “I’ve been able to network with other DBE companies and many I would consider good friends. We can bounce ideas off each other or ask questions when a problem arises …”
Another asset Fantozzi and the company has enjoyed is J.D. Williamson Construction’s nearly 37-year membership in OCA.
Fantozzi, along with earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Case Western Reserve University since her return to Ohio, has been involved with OCA since 2008. “For us, the top benefits of being in OCA are the staff and networking opportunities,” she said. “… The OCA staff has many years of experience in this industry and can help with any problem you encounter. And if they don’t know the answer, then they can direct you to the person who can.” Her heavy involvement in OCA has ranged from helping organize the Akron-Chapter’s events, community service projects and serving as Akron-Canton Chapter Chair to rising thru the Executive Committee positions and now chairing the Board of Directors. She also serves on the OCA DBE, Heavy/Highway Specification, Human Resources, Finance and Safety committees, as well as an Employer Trustee for the Laborer’s Pension Board. “If OCA has a committee,” Fantozzi said. “I usually try to be involved and am happy to help.”
This year, as OCA Chair, Fantozzi’s top priorities for the association includes funding being at the forefront; ensuring passage of the Ohio Public Works Commission’s Local Public Infrastructure Bond Amendment (State Issue 2) in May; continuing to partner and strengthen good relationships with ODOT, work zone safety; workforce development; and securing Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions.
Outside OCA, Fantozzi and J.D. Williamson Construction are involved in the National Association of Women in Construction-Akron Chapter, Akron/Canton Safety Council, Summit County Bridge Building Competition and is a supporter of the Kent State University Construction Management program.
Up and over her commitment to the company, OCA and other organizations that she and J.D. Williamson Construction are involved in, Fantozzi is strongly committed to her family. Mary and Joe Fantozzi, who is an attorney for the Summit County Fiscal Office, met at Ohio State and have been married 21 years. The couple’s busy schedules make time spent with their children, 13-year-old twins Joey and Anna, and Goldendoodle, “Gunner,” even more important.
“… There isn’t a lot of free time with a family and running a business, so my most favorite things to do are things I can do spending time with my family,” she said. Along with traveling and supporting the twins’ activities, the family enjoys boating in the summer and skiing in the winter. And during those trips from Tallmadge-to-Columbus, if not handling work calls via hands-free, Fantozzi is an avid audiobook listener.
Regarding her family, the J.D. Williamson Construction family and friends, Fantozzi is thankful for their continuing support – especially this year serving as OCA Chair.
“I just want to give thanks to my family and employees for supporting me to serve in this role, because it takes a toll on everyone. I’m appreciative to Joe and the kids, and I’m grateful to my parents for encouraging me to go down this path,” she said. “Because if they never showed me OCA and encouraged me to come back into the business, I would never have known this association and all the wonderful people in it.”