E-J Electric Installation Co. has had a busy year with lots of work including Superstorm Sandy recovery projects at locations including the Chelsea Piers sports and entertainment complex; as well as signal and communications work on the NYC subway system. Such activity helped the firm hold on to its No. 3 spot in ENR New York's ranking this year of specialty contractor firms. It also helped E-J, the nation's oldest independent electrical contractor, boost regional revenue last year to $306 million, up 65% from the prior year.

For its strong year-over-year revenue increase plus its standing on safety and community outreach initiatives, Engineering News-Record regional editors named this private, family owned business the region's 2013 Specialty Contractor of the Year.

J. Robert Mann, Jr., E-J chairman, attributes part of the firm's success to its technological experties. "We have the most construction engineers (30) of any other electrical firm," he says. To that end, the firms work includes a wide mix of services from communications services (data communications, LAN & fiber optics) to airport terminal expansions.

Under the leadership of Tony Mann, president, E-J has completed more than $1 billion in electric construction projects and has formed several divisions including transit, power, energy services and retail.

The firm has been recognized for its business performance and community outreach projects as well. In fact, Robert Mann recently received Ernst & Young's 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year award for the New York region.

Look for more details on this firm and its latest projects in ENR New York's Sept. 9 issue. The issue will also include the ranking, by regional revenue, of the top-50 specialty contractors that participated in our annual survey as well as a break out of their ranking by specializations.