After decades in the construction and utility industry, Clement "Clem" Ferri Jr., owner of JR Contracting LLC, has announced he will retire and close the Bentleyville, Pa.-based company by mid-summer.
Ferri founded JR Contracting on Oct. 2, 2021, continuing a family legacy in construction that began with his father and grandfather at Ferri Contracting. Growing up in the family business, Ferri said he developed a deep appreciation for the utility industry, heavy equipment and trucking at an early age.
"It was just a love of the business and a love of the utility industry — the equipment, the trucks — being around that my entire life," Ferri said. "When my dad retired and liquidated, I started my own company."
JR Contracting specialized primarily in underground utility work, including water and sewer line installation. The company also constructed structural concrete tanks, built water tanks, completed river crossings and performed extensive hauling services with its truck fleet. In addition, the firm provided oil and gas industry services, including pipeline construction, equipment rentals and containment liner installation.
The company's client base included Pennsylvania American Water and numerous publicly owned water and sewer authorities throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
One of Ferri's largest projects involved installing approximately 80,000 ft. of pipe in West Virginia.
At its peak, JR Contracting employed approximately 70 workers. The company currently has 43 to 44 employees. Ferri noted that several employees have been with the business for decades, some having worked for his father before transitioning to JR Contracting.
"We're talking 30 years with some people," Ferri said. "I'm going to miss the people the most — talking with them, knowing them and their families."
Ferri said his decision to retire comes as he looks to slow down, spend more time with family and pursue other interests. The company has completed its active projects, and remaining contracts will be finished by subcontractors this spring. Operations will officially cease by mid-summer.
A full liquidation auction of the company's assets will be conducted by Hunyady Auction Company, headquartered in Hatfield, Pa. The sale will include approximately 20 trucks used for hauling services, including heavy-haul Peterbilt tractors, lowboy, flatbed and step-deck trailers, day cabs and sleeper cabs. The auction also will also feature straight trucks, tri-axle and single-axle dump trucks, pickup and medium-duty trucks, as well as heavy equipment such as Cat excavators ranging from a 325 to a 305 model, Cat loaders from a 938 to a 908, skid steers, a Cat roller and various attachments, tools and inventory.
Ferri said he chose Hunyady Auction Company based on a longstanding relationship. His father previously worked with the company during earlier liquidations.
"That relationship started when my father first had his first liquidation with Mike Hunyady [president and founder of Hunyady Auction Company] years ago," Ferri said. "I regard him very highly in how he handles himself, his company and his employees. Mike also is able to provide all the auction services to a company like mine, and he brings the buyers to his auctions."
"I have always enjoyed working with Clem over the years," Hunyady said. "His professional acumen, in all respects, attention to detail and efficiency and commitment to family and employees has always been quite impressive. We are proud and honored to be chosen by Clem to assist in this important milestone in his career and congratulate him on business well done and wish years of health and happiness to he and his family."
While Ferri looks forward to retirement, he acknowledged the transition will be difficult.
"I'll probably miss everything," he said. "Getting up and going to job sites, watching the equipment work, being proud of what we accomplished and the quality of work we put forward."
Ferri added that honoring his father's legacy was a driving force throughout his career.
"One of the reasons I did what I did was because of my father and the respect I had for him," he said. "I just wanted to make him proud — so he could see me succeed."
The online auction will be held March 25 and 26, 2026. Hunyady Auction Company celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2025. Please see Hunyady Auction Company's ad on page 89 for more details about this auction. For more information, visit hunyady.com. CEG
