At JC&A, we often talk about our secret sauce—and without question, it’s our people. We are competitive, we like to win, and we take pride in being not only exceptional at what we do, but also the kind of people others genuinely enjoy working with. Mike Garrity embodies all of those qualities.
Mike joined JC&A in March 2008 as a Project Estimator, but his connection to the company and its leadership goes back much further. Growing up in Wakefield, Mike knew Jim Cahill, who grew up in Woburn, through sports and local connections. The two played baseball against each other in high school and later became closer at Tufts University, where they both majored in Civil Engineering, shared classes, and were members of the same fraternity. Mike played football at Tufts, while Jim played hockey, and the competitive spirit they shared during those years helped build the relationship that would later bring Mike to JC&A.
After graduating from Tufts University, Mike began his career at Modern Continental. While he valued the experience, he wanted greater exposure to ground-up construction and the opportunity to broaden his expertise. When the opportunity arose to join a new start-up, Capitol Construction, Mike began exploring his next step. As he considered the move, he turned to his friend Jim Cahill for advice. Jim’s response was simple: “Skip going there and come straight to JC&A.”
While Mike appreciated Jim’s advice, he decided to take a chance on Capitol Construction. It was there that he worked alongside Maureen Rystrom, and the two spent the next couple of years building experience and collecting plenty of stories they still laugh about today. Looking back, their time at Capitol gave them both a deeper appreciation for what sets JC&A apart—the people, the culture, and the relationships that continue to define the company today.
Over the past 18 years, Mike has helped shape and grow JC&A’s estimating department while fostering strong partnerships with clients, trade partners, and project teams. His collaborative approach has been instrumental on numerous long-term preconstruction efforts, including Schneider Electric, 245 Fifth Avenue, and many other notable projects. He credits much of that success to the close relationship between estimating and operations, ensuring projects are positioned for success long before construction begins.
Outside of work, Mike is a devoted family man who enjoys spending time with his wife, Kara, and their children. Much of his free time over the years was spent coaching youth sports, cheering from the sidelines, and supporting his children in their many activities. While the sidelines may have changed, his competitive spirit hasn’t. Whether he’s hosting friends at a Patriots tailgate, competing in a cornhole tournament, or spending time with family, Mike values the relationships and camaraderie that have shaped both his personal life and career.
One of the highlights of Mike’s career has been seeing those worlds come together. Today, Sam is an intern in JC&A’s estimating department, giving Mike a unique perspective on just how much time has passed. He still remembers bringing Sam and his siblings, Matt and Kelcey, to company events as children—running through the halls in Halloween costumes during the annual Spooktacular or attending PawSox outings with the JC&A team. Looking around today, Mike sees many of the same coworkers he started with now celebrating milestones and raising families of their own. Hosting department outings at the Cape and sharing those moments together serves as a reminder of just how close-knit the JC&A team has always been—and, as Mike puts it, how fast time flies.
When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Mike’s answer reflects the team-first mindset that has defined his career. He describes construction as the ultimate team sport—one that requires preparation, trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to success. For Mike, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing people grow, overcome challenges, and celebrate achievements together. It’s a culture where people genuinely want each other to succeed. As Mike puts it, “It’s not like that anywhere else.”
Mike’s story is rooted in relationships, trust, loyalty, and competition—the same values that continue to drive JC&A forward every day. Whether mentoring others, leading a department, celebrating team victories, or enjoying time with family and friends, Mike represents exactly what makes JC&A special: great people who care deeply about the work, the team, and each other.
