Company History
The business was founded in 1913, by Michael Zenobio, Sr. His son, Michael Zenobio, Jr., entered the family business in 1963 with a background in accounting, finance and economics. Since that time, three grandsons have joined the firm. Trained in construction management, finance, real estate marketing, architecture and engineering, they follow the family tradition of entrepreneurial persistence.
Our Beginning
In 1913, Zenobio, Sr. founded what would ultimately become the family business. The company name was, “ABC Painting & Wall-Washing.” The early years were extraordinary times for opportunity. From the renovation of tenement buildings, to Park Avenue penthouses and Manhattan offices, factories and showrooms, no opportunity was turned away. Through the 1920’s and 30’s the company struggled; along with the rest of the country. Public school work and repairs, and the restoration of other government buildings were the primary source of work during these difficult days. 1939 brought about World War II and, for the company, this meant six years of work on projects at the Brooklyn Ship Yards. By the late 1940’s and early 50’s, the family business had developed a reputation of being a “Jack of all Trades.” By the early 1960’s the company specialized in restoring high and low-income housing during weekdays, and renovated and decorated commercial interiors during weekends. Thus, the company became well-known as a New York City General Contractor.
Expanding Our Services
In 1969, the firm’s second generation initiated incorporation under the name, Abcon Associates, now providing interior design as part of its full construction services. By the early 1970’s, the company’s experience in restoration and construction proved to be an important commodity in the growing housing market known as “cooperative conversions:” the conversion of Greenwich Village brownstones, old stables and warehouse buildings into luxury residences. Soon afterwards, the firm officially entered the world of Design-Build. The ability to provide Design-Build services soon opened the doors to projects for various New York City and State agencies. Under the Carter Administration, the firm developed relationships in city government that it would cultivate over the next fifteen years, relationships that would also factor in gaining important assignments such as the redevelopment of the South Bronx and the rebirth of the Apollo Theater, in Harlem, in 1983.
Continuing to Evolve
By 1974 the firm had become the sole Project Manager for companies such as Home Box Office Studio Productions, Manhattan Cable TV and, in 1979, for Warner/AMEX, a joint venture of Warner Communications and American Express to launch MTV, Showtime and Nickelodeon cable programming via satellite. This established the company as a leader in Project Management & Construction Management services for the Cable TV and Satellite Entertainment industries in metropolitan New York. Soon there would be project assignments from such companies as Time Inc., Warner Communications, Cox Cable TV Systems, Greater Rochester Cable Systems, Viacom International and the Apollo Theater Entertainment Group. Now under the direction of the third generation, the company has evolved again. TITAN Realty & Construction LLC continues to provide complete services in construction, value engineering, marketing and real state development, bringing together real estate solutions with investment capital. It is in this business that we see our future.