It’s only fitting that as we celebrate JC&A’s 30th anniversary and We Build…® Our Legacy, Together, we spotlight the man, the myth, the legend — and JC&A’s very first official employee, Barry Ledin.

There’s a scene in Jerry Maguire when Tom Cruise decides to leave and start something new and asks, “Who’s coming with me?”

For Jay Calnan, Barry was that guy.

Jay had decided to go out on his own, cashing in his 401(k) and starting JC&A with little more than a desk, a phone and a vision. Barry, who had worked with Jay before, showed up ready to get to work.

Although, as Barry remembers it, he didn’t even have a chair.

Officially, Barry started as a superintendent. In reality, he did whatever needed to be done. He answered phones, worked in the field, solved problems, built things and helped wherever he was needed.

Barry was JC&A’s original jack-of-all-trades.

One of Jay and Barry’s first opportunities came from BankBoston with a small cafeteria renovation and repairs to the first floor of a building. They approached that project the same way they would countless others: take pride in the work, pay attention to the details and take care of the client.

That relationship helped open doors to Hewlett-Packard and Liberty Mutual, which eventually led to work with Philips, Reebok, Talbots, TJX, MathWorks and many more.

Thirty years later, JC&A has grown tremendously, but many of the principles Barry lived from day one are still at the core of The JC&A Way.

For Barry, it has always been pretty simple:

Take care of the little things so the owner doesn’t have to, and treat everyone the same no matter what their role is.

Whether someone was a client, subcontractor, laborer, superintendent or CEO, Barry treated people with the same respect.

And people noticed.

Everyone who has ever worked with Barry seems to have a story about his work ethic, his character or his willingness to help. As JC&A’s longtime General Superintendent, he helped shape our field operations, mentored generations of superintendents and set the standard for quality, hard work, teamwork and pride.

Some of Barry’s proudest memories aren’t tied to one particular project, but to the relationships that came from the work — people like Sally Bahr and Bill Conroy, along with his longtime connection to Cardinal Cushing Centers.

Barry’s commitment to Cardinal Cushing also reflected something deeply rooted in JC&A’s culture: showing up for people and giving back to the communities around us.

And while Barry may technically be retired, anyone who knows him knows he is never really far away.

Whatever someone needs, Barry is still the guy.

He continues to help Jay personally, has done work for longtime JC&A clients and remains connected to the company he helped build from the ground up.

Those who pass the Super Wall in our office every day even get a firsthand look at Barry’s craftsmanship. The metal sign honoring JC&A’s superintendents was built by Barry himself.

That craftsmanship carries over into his personal life, too. Barry loves working with his hands and enjoys making wood furniture in his workshop.

Outside of JC&A, Barry’s greatest legacy is his family. He and his wife, Marilyn, have been married for 55 years and have three children, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. These days, you’ll often find him doing what he loves most — being Grandpa and heading to the kids’ games, including plenty of football.

Loyalty runs deep with Barry.

Loyalty to his family. Loyalty to Jay. Loyalty to JC&A. And loyalty to the people he has worked alongside throughout his career.

Barry has too many favorite JC&A memories to count, from projects like Conroy Development and Dunkin’ headquarters to traditions like passing out the Bongi turkeys— a tradition that continues today.

But perhaps Barry’s greatest contribution isn’t any one project or tradition.

It’s the example he set.

Show up. Work hard. Take care of people. Pay attention to the little things. Treat everyone with respect. And always be willing to help.

Thirty years later, Barry’s influence can still be seen in the people he mentored, the projects he helped deliver, the communities he supported and the values he helped establish.

Barry Ledin didn’t just help build JC&A projects. He helped build JC&A.

And his legacy will always be part of The JC&A Way.