MAHWAH, NJ—J. Martin Associates, an elevator consulting business that offers its clients comprehensive design, engineering and code inspection services for elevators, escalators, moving walks, material lifts, dumbwaiters and special applications in new and existing buildings throughout the United States was awarded the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2019 Regional Prime Contractor of the Year Award for Region II, it was announced today.

In making the announcement, SBA Regional Administrator Steve Bulger said J. Martin Associates competed against several other firms from Region II, which encompasses all of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for the award.

According to Bulger, the Mahwah-based company was nominated for the award by Nadia Shorkry-Burns, contract specialist for the U.S. General Services Administration of New York where the company has provided new construction, modernization and inspections for the agency’s facilities throughout New York City and the Upstate New York Region.

Led by its President Michele O’Toole, J. Martin Associates was selected for the award based on criteria that measures a firm’s technical and management capability; financial strength; customer interface and support; innovativeness of products or services offered; and the ability to deliver quality services and products on time and at a competitive cost to the U.S. Government.

After working 20-years for the Otis Elevator Company, O’Toole decided to venture out on her own by purchasing J. Martin Associates in 1998. Today, the company has 12 employees and continues to provide engineering and consulting services on an international basis, specializing in all facets of the elevator consulting profession including new design, modernization, equipment and maintenance evaluation, quality control audits, life cycle analysis, repair, upgrading and inspection of elevators/escalators. Many of the company’s clients include: New York City Housing Authority, New York City Economic Development Corporation, AECOM, GSA, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Princeton University, Port Authority of NY and NJ, Con Edison, Long Island Railroad, Hardesty & Hanover, Parsons Brinkerhoff, HNTB Engineering, MTA and The LiRo Group,

“In 2018, the federal government issued $464.4 million in contracts to New Jersey women-owned small businesses like J. Martin Associates,” said Bulger. “This represented 5% of the total of $9.3 billion in contracts issued to all business in the state. The good news is that the contracts that New Jersey women-owned businesses received is equal to the 5% national goal set by the federal government. We certainly expect to see that trend to continue to increase. With SBA’s proposed changes to the Women-Owned Small Business Certification process, we believe that a more transparent process will lead to more women receiving an even greater number of contracts from federal government agencies.”

O’Toole was presented with her award during a ceremony held at the GSA Regional Office located at One World Trade Center in Manhattan. Joining Bulger at the presentation were Regional Administrator of GSA’s Northeast and Caribbean Region John A. Sarcone III, SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone and SBA Procurement Center Representative from the New York Government Contracting Office Isaac Charles Roper.

“Small businesses like J. Martin Associates continue to play an important role in providing goods and services to the federal government.” said SBA New Jersey District Director Al Titone. “If you want to compete for contracts with the federal government, then you have to develop an expertise and provide exceptional services to the U.S. Government like Michele O’Toole has done.”

During his remarks at the awards ceremony, Regional Administrator Sarcone said, “GSA, through its Office of Small Business Utilization, connects small businesses with people and resources to help them grow. We promote access to GSA’s procurement opportunities, and engage in activities for the small business community to meet key contracting experts and receive counseling on the federal procurement process. Businesses like J. Martin Associates, Inc. are at the heart of our efforts to save taxpayer money through better management of federal real estate.”

J. Martin Associates competed with nine other prime contractors across the country for the title of SBA’s 2019 National Prime Contractor of the Year. The national award was presented to Michelle Hicks, president of MedVed Global, Inc., a woman-owned 8(a)-certified construction company from Dolores, Colorado by Acting SBA Administrator Chris Pilkerton during National Small Business Week ceremonies held in Washington, D.C. in May.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.