At JC&A, it has always been about the people and the relationships. We mean it when we say we’re a family, and Steve Robak—Executive Vice President, Partner and one of the JC&A “OGs”—is a perfect example of that.

Steve has been with JC&A for 22 years.

Or, as he puts it: “Yikes! I may be getting old, but fortunately, I am still younger than Jay and Tim!

And somehow, after all these years, he has also maintained one of the most consistently perfect heads of hair in the company.

Throughout his time at JC&A, Steve has played an important role in developing the processes and systems that have helped us grow, while mentoring countless people along the way. His methodical approach, attention to detail and commitment to doing things the right way have made our company and our teams better.

It Started with Mike Crowther

Steve and Mike Crowther met while attending Wentworth’s five-year Bachelor of Architecture program. Both were interested not only in design, but in how things were actually built.

When they were paired together for their thesis, they quickly decided Wentworth’s open architecture studio offered did not offer enough privacy.

So, naturally, they built an office.

One night, after security locked the building, they brought in tools, gathered lumber and plywood from the woodshop and constructed walls and a door around their drafting tables.

By morning, they had a private office—complete with a padlock.

“When the students and professors arrived the next day, no one questioned it. They simply thought it was a great idea,” Steve recalls. “I am fairly certain it would not go over quite as well today.”

Fast-forward a few decades, and Steve and Mike still value their private offices.

Finding JC&A

Steve and Mike eventually worked together again at a small design-build company during the telecommunications boom, an experience that taught Steve the importance of shared values, vision and commitment among business partners.

After later gaining experience on larger, more complex projects at Jackson Construction, Steve was considering a move to Suffolk when he called Mike.

Mike told him, “That’s great, but before you accept, I would like you to meet with Jay Calnan and see if there might be a fit for you at JC&A.”

There was.

Steve saw something special in the group that was coming together.

“I believed that Jay, Tim, Jim and Mike all shared the same drive and vision and that, together, we had an opportunity to build something special.”

Twenty-two years later, it’s safe to say he was right.

The Relationships Matter Most

Ask Steve to name his favorite project and he won’t pick one.

“Every project is unique and special. No matter how large or small, each creates opportunities for us to learn, improve and get better at what we do.”

What stands out to him even more than the projects is the incredible reach of the relationships JC&A has built over the years.

“Whenever I meet someone new and ask where they work or which charitable organizations are important to them, it is rare that I cannot say, ‘Oh, I know them. JC&A has some connection to that organization.’”

For Steve, that says a lot about what JC&A has built over the past 30 years. The projects matter, but it’s the connections formed through them—the clients, partners, teammates and community organizations—that last.

And when you’ve been part of JC&A for 22 years, there are plenty of stories that come with those relationships.

Because Steve is family, we’ve had more than a little fun at his expense over the years—including transforming his office into an actual golf course, complete with real sod.

Then there’s one of Steve’s favorite Jay stories. While Steve was on a family vacation, Jay asked him to come back to join him for an important client interview. Steve made the trip, arrived ready to go—and only then discovered that Jay had the interview date wrong. 

His Proudest Legacy: The People

Perhaps the greatest example of Steve’s impact at JC&A is the people he has helped develop along the way.

He points to colleagues including Dan Charest, Megan Kukal, Jeff Cameron, and many others whose careers he has watched evolve over the years.

“It is a gift to watch people develop their skills, gain confidence, take on greater responsibilities and become the respected industry leaders they are today. Knowing that I may have played even a small role in their growth and success is one of the things that makes me most proud.”

That may sum Steve up best.

His impact can certainly be seen in the systems he has helped develop, the processes he has improved and the countless projects he has helped deliver. But perhaps most importantly, it can be seen in the people he has mentored, the relationships he has built and the team he has helped shape.

Steve cares deeply about his own family and our JC&A family, and he takes tremendous pride in everything he does. For 22 years, his steady, thoughtful approach has helped JC&A grow while keeping the focus where it has always belonged: on our people, our relationships and doing things the right way.

And after 22 years, countless projects, plenty of pranks, lots of stories—Steve sums up his commitment by borrowing the words Maureen used when she became a partner:

“JC&A for life!”

For an “OG” like Steve, it’s hard to imagine it any other way.