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Founded in 1981, Agate Construction is based in Clermont, New Jersey, approximately 20 miles south of Atlantic City and 50 miles southeast of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James E. Johnston, Jr., chairman and CEO, is a civil engineering graduate of Manhattan College and licensed professional engineer. After starting with the Nuclear Division of the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. and then with Scientific Design, an international petrochemical design/build firm, Johnston gravitated to southern New Jersey and worked for two area contractors, becoming well versed in the nuances of the state's heavy highway and marine construction industry before starting Agate Construction. In 1992 Johnston's son James, III, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, joined the company. Since that time he has served in various capacities from project manager to director of operations. In June 2004, Johnston was named president of Agate. 1980's: Agate Construction's first large-scale work in southern New Jersey involved an addition to an existing wastewater treatment plant and expanding a county recycling center. Bridgework, additional treatment plant projects, stone sea walls and jetties in Cape May, North Wildwood and Monmouth Beach, NJ followed these efforts. One of Agate's most notable successes in the 1980's was the reconstruction of three timber bridges on Great Bay Boulevard in Tuckerton. At the time, it included the longest pre-fabricated timber bridge on the East Coast. 1990's: In pursuit of new challenges in the 1990's, Agate Construction ventured to areas north and west of southern New Jersey. Working in Manhattan, Agate constructed a new six-hundred-foot pier on the East River, just off Wall Street, as well as a 700 foot promenade in front of the new minor league baseball stadium in Staten Island. At the same time, Agate also completed work in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is home to the firm's largest completed work-to-date. Awarded a $22 million contract, Agate successfully installed 8,400 steel piles, at depths of 120 feet, at the Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard. Another notable project, in addition to this work, was the completion of the Route 322 & Interstate 50 in Mays Landing, which was an $8.4 million NJDOT modified design/build project. A number of key people have been instrumental in the growth and success of Agate Construction. Larry Zoerb, senior vice president of engineering and estimating, has been with Agate since 1983 and is at the helm of the estimating department. Overseeing all job sites is vice president of operations Ward Reese, who has been with us since 1986. We have grown over the years and now with approximately 25 full-time staff members, the office is comprised of Civil Engineers, three with Professional Engineering licenses, a full-time licensed surveyor, a full-time Equipment Coordinator and an administrative support staff. Although we are proud to note that many extremely talented and dedicated employees have been with the firm for 10 years or more, Agate continues to look towards the future. We are always looking for intelligent, aggressive, energetic engineers to work and grow with the company.